Take me (Heart and soul) - Sad Café

The English soft rock band Sad Cafe was very successful in the late Seventies, but during the Eighties they faded more and more into obscurity. What made matters worse was that band member Paul Young joined the side project of Genesis member Mike Rutherford, Mike & the Mechanics.

Paul Young re-joined Sad Cafe in the late Eighties, splitting his time between the two bands. Sad Cafe released the album 'Whatever it takes' in 1989, from which this unsuccessful single was taken.

My collection: 7" single no. 971
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 29, 1989
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Take me (Heart and soul)' / 'Universe'

Every day hurts / My oh my - Sad Café

Released in September 1979, 'Every day hurts' was the biggest hit of Manchester-based band Sad Café in the UK. It peaked at number 3, making it the only top 10 hit the band ever had in that country. On this 'Old gold' single, the track is coupled with 'My oh my', their second biggest hit, released in March 1980 and reaching number 14 in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 1326
Found: London, October 16, 1990
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Every day hurts' / 'My oh my'

Keep us together - Sad Cafe

More than a decade after its release, I heard Sad Cafe's 'Keep us together' by chance. I knew about this band because of 'Every day hurts' and 'Follow you anywhere', and this was another ballad in that style: powerful, slightly sentimental and most of all, melodic. It took me some time to find this single, but when I did, I grabbed it immediately. For me, this is one of the great lost classics of the Eighties: it didn't chart anywhere as far as I know.

My collection: 7" single no. 3087

Found: London, May 12, 1999

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Keep us together' / 'Hold out'

Download: here

Follow you anywhere - Sad Café

The band Sad Café formed in Manchester in the late 1970's. Their best known song is 'Every day hurts', which was a big hit worldwide. By comparison, Sad Café's 1981 album 'Olé' fared less well. Fact is, I didn't even know this song, 'Follow you anywhere', when I bought the single. It was cheap and I was kindof convinced that this band would be able to produce more than one great song. I was rewarded: 'Follow you anywhere' is a powerballad in the best traditions.

My collection: 7" single no. 1668

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, June 20, 1992

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Follow you anywhere', '# Nine'

Download: here