Knocked out - Paula Abdul

As I'd written before, 'Knocked out' was Paula Abdul's debut single in 1988. I bought the re-released version from 1990 in January this year, and now I found the original release as well. I didn't know there was a limited edition poster sleeve of this debut single, but now I have it.

This version only managed to reach number 98 in the UK singles chart, despite the very pretty poster.

My collection: 7" single no. 4919
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, June 5, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Knocked out' / 'Knocked out (instrumental)'

Knocked out - Paula Abdul

'Knocked out' was originally Paula Abdul's debut single, released in February 1988. The song was written by Babyface, Daryl Simmons and LA Reid. In the UK, 'Knocked out' was released three times. It originally charted on September 24, 1988, peaking at a lowly number 98. Following the success of 'Straight up' and its follow-up 'Forever your girl', 'Knocked out' was re-issued and peaked at number 45 on 19 August 1989, just missing out on the top 40.

This single is a copy of the third and last re-release. This limited edition is housed in gatefold sleeve with a competition to win a week in California for two. All the owner had to do is send in the answer to three questions about Paula Abdul (this is before the Wikipedia age, remember!) and send in a postcard. The disc features a remix of 'Knocked out' by Shep Pettibone. The track finally cracked the UK top 40, peaking at number 21 in July 1990.

My collection: 7" single no. 4498
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Knocked out (Pettibone edit)' / 'Knocked out'

Opposites attract - Paula Abdul

Paula Abdul's single 'Opposites attract' was notable mostly for its colourful music video featuring a cartoon cat, MC Skat Kat, with which Abdul is dancing and singing. The vocals of the Kat were performed by Bruce DeShazer and Marv Gunn (The Wild Pair) and Derrick 'Delite' Stevens, who performed the rap in the song.

The idea of MC Skat Kat came from the Gene Kelly movie 'Anchors aweigh', in which Kelly dances with Jerry, the mouse from the Tom and Jerry cartoon series. Paula even choreographed the animated character's moves to match her live-action dance moves in the video. The single peaked at number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the Dutch Top 40. In the UK it was released as a limited edition with a free pull-out poster, featuring stills from the music video.

My collection: 7" single no. 1190
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'Opposites attract' / 'One or the other'

Straight up - Paula Abdul

'Straight up' was the third single from Paula Abdul's debut album 'Forever your girl', but the first one to be a worldwide success. The single spent three weeks at number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaked at number 2 in Australia and number 3 in the Netherlands, Germany and the UK.

I bought the single within months of its release, since I liked this song as it played on the radio. In later years, I learned to appreciate it less for its synthetic sounds and the thin voice of Abdul. But now I have to say my judgement lies somewhere in the middle: despite its flaws it's still a nice song. I bought a poster edition of the single in the UK, but only just realised that the B-side of the poster edition is different. Hence, here's the last addition from my London shopping spree.

My collection: 7" single no. 871 / no. 3999
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, June 2, 1989 / Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 6 guilders / 50p
Tracks (1): 'Straight up' / 'Cold hearted'
Tracks (2): 'Straight up' / 'Straight up (Power mix)'

My love is for real - Paula Abdul

'My love is for real' was the first single from Paula Adul's 1995 album 'Head over heels'. The middle-eastern sounding groove is given more depth by guest vocals performed by Israeli singer Ofra Haza. The single did not become as big a hit as expected, peaking at number 28 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and the UK singles chart. In the Netherlands, it didn't even make the Dutch Top 40.

This 7" single is another surprise for me: while I was ordering some other singles this one popped up in the list. I wasn't aware it had been released on this format, so I snapped it up.

My collection: 7" single no. 3995
Found: eBay.com, received August 6, 2009
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'My love is for real' / 'Didn't I say I love you'

Forever your girl - Paula Abdul

I won't beat around the bush: the sexy sleeve helped my decision to buy this particular single, showing that the right artwork can make an item more desirable. 'Forever your girl' was the title track from Paula Abdul's 1989 debut album.

The single went number 1 in the USA and Canada. In Europe, its appeal was considerable less great: in the UK the single stalled at number 24, in Germany it peaked at number 17 and in the Netherlands at number 13.

My collection: 7" single no. 3921
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, July 31, 2009
Cost: 0,25 euro
Tracks: 'Forever your girl (remix)' / 'Next to you'

Will you marry me? - Paula Abdul

Released as the fifth and final single from her 1992 album 'Spellbound', 'Will you marry me?' is, as the title suggests, a rather sloppy ballad. It is embellished by a harmonica solo performed by Stevie Wonder. The single was released right as Abdul became engaged and married to Emilio Estevez. They married in California on April 29, 1992 but then divorced two years later in May 1994.

The single only reached number 74 in the UK, but did rise to number 8 in Canada and number 14 in Germany. I bought the single in London when I found it in a bargain bin, completing my set of Paula Abdul singles from that album.

My collection: 7" single no. 1730

Found: Virgin Megastore, London, October 17, 1992

Cost: 25p

Tracks: 'Will you marry me? (edit)' / 'Goodnight my love'

Vibeology - Paula Abdul

I had high hopes for 'Vibeology' when it was released as the fourth single from Paula Abdul's 1991 album 'Spellbound'. Unfortunately the release was marred by bad remixes in a house style. I had a lot of doubts whether I would even buy this single, but since I had the other singles I couldn't let this one go. I did wait a couple of years, though.

It was still a reasonable success in various countries: in America it peaked at number 16, it went to number 19 in the UK and in the Netherlands the single got to number 13. The biggest success of this track was in Canada, where it made number 3.

My collection: 7" single no. 2351
Found: Record Exchange, London, June 26, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Vibeology' / 'Vibeology (Hurley's House 7")'
Download: here (password: http://popgems.blogspot.com)

The promise of a new day - Paula Abdul

The second single from Paula Abdul's 1991 album 'Spellbound' was the upbeat 'The promise of a new day'. A number one hit in the USA, it fared less well in Europe. Probably because this part of the world is less vulnerable to hollow phrases like 'Tides are turning bringing winds of change'.

Despite the tacky lyric, I did like the song and had no qualms about buying this single. 'Spellbound' was one of my favourite albums of 1991 but it has not aged so well, unfortunately.

My collection: 7" single no. 1512
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, August 23, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'The promise of a new day' / 'The promise of a new day (West Coast 7 inch edit)'

Rush rush - Paula Abdul

Paula Abdul was born on June 19, 1962. In the 1980s, Abdul rose from being a cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers to being a sought-after choreographer at the height of the music video era, then to being a pop singer with a string of hits in the late Eighties and early Nineties. After her debut album 'Forever your girl' had been incredibly successful worldwide, she released her second album 'Spellbound' in 1991.

The first single from that album was 'Rush rush'. The single was promoted with a music video with a 'Rebel without a cause' motif featuring Keanu Reeves in the role originally played by James Dean. As the first ballad ever released by Abdul as a single, it seemed like a risky choice, but it paid off: 'Rush rush' was a number 1 hit in America, peaking at number 6 in the UK and number 9 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 1444

Found: June 1, 1991

Cost: 6,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Rush rush (7" edit)' / 'Rush rush (Dub mix)'