Manchild - Neneh Cherry

This 12" single was a bit of a gamble: a rap artist who by chance had made a reasonable track, remixed by a triphop band that had made a reasonable track as well. Unfortunately, all this didn't add up: the remixes on this disc are not very interesting at all.

Also, while I thought this 12" was quite rare, it turns out it is offered on discogs.com for less than 5 euros. Sometimes you're less lucky with a gamble than you think.

My collection: 12" single no. 291
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 1993
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Manchild (Massive attack remix)', 'Manchild (Massive Attack bonus beats)' / 'Manchild (Smith n Mighty remix)', 'Manchild (More bass less vocal style)'

On the chart tip EP - Various artists

The British music magazine Record Mirror released an EP with four tracks from various artists from time to time. This, apparently, was the first, released in 1989. It brings together two album tracks from INXS and Black plus an exclusive track from Transvision Vamp and an exclusive remix from Neneh Cherry.

I bought the EP mainly for 'You don't always do what's best for you', a track from Black's then-current album 'Comedy'. Although this is the album version, it fades away 30 seconds earlier and so this is an exclusive edit of the track.

My collection: 7" single no. 2032
Found: Sounds Familiar, London, October 19, 1993
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'Johnson's Aeroplane' (INXS), 'Child of the age' (Transvision Vamp) / 'Buffalo stance (The There's Nothing Wrong Mix (Sukka Mix II))', 'You don't always do what's best for you' (Black)

Money love - Neneh Cherry

'Money love' was the first single from Neneh Cherry's second album 'Homebrew'. Both the single and the album disappointed in commercial terms: after the multimillonselling 'Raw like Sushi', everyone involved expected more of the chart performance of both.

The single reached number 23 in the UK singles chart and number 22 in the Dutch Top 40. I bought the single at discount price after it left the chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1788
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, Nvoember 14, 1992
Cost: 4 guilders
Tracks: 'Money love' / 'Twisted'

I've got you under my skin - Neneh Cherry

In 1990, the album 'Red Hot and Blue' was released in order to raise funds for AIDS research. Twenty artists contributed cover versions of Cole Porter songs to the album. Neneh Cherry's version of 'I've got you under my skin' was released as the lead single from the album.

She did a rather creative cover version of the track, with some added raps and lyrics, a strong bassline and a little less melody. Still, the track stands up well. The single reached number 25 in the UK singles chart and number 14 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2136
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, August 2, 1994
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'I've got you under my skin' / 'I've got you under my skin (instrumental)'

Manchild - Neneh Cherry

Neneh Cherry was born as Neneh Marianne Karlsson on March 10, 1964. She dropped out of school at 14 and moved to London, where she joined the punk rock band The Cherries. She then moved through several bands, including The Slits, New Age Steppers, Rip Rig & Panic, and Float Up CP.

She began a solo career with 'Stop the war', a protest song about the Falkland Islands. She also worked with The The and musician Cameron McVey, who co-wrote most of her debut album 'Raw like sushi', and whom she would eventually marry. After having had a big seller with 'Buffalo stance', the first single from 'Raw like sushi', she released the slower 'Manchild'. The song actually had a melody, although some irritating raps were still in the song. Despite this, I decided to buy the single. I wasn't the only one: the single peaked at number 3 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 925
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, July 1, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Manchild' / 'Manchild (Original mix)'

Slow train to dawn - The The

'Slow train to dawn' was released as the fourth single from The The's 1986 album 'Infected'. The single stalled at number 64 in the UK singles chart, which was a disappointment since previous singles had done better, especially 'Heartland' which had peaked at number 29.

This track featured guest vocals by Neneh Cherry, who was unknown at that point but would go on to make a name for herself in 1989 with her debut album 'Raw like sushi'. Drums were performed by David Palmer, who had previously been in the band ABC.

My collection: 7" single no. 2459

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 9, 1995

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Slow train to dawn' / 'Harbour lights'