We'll be together - Sandra

The last record I'm describing this year is also the last 12" single by Sandra I have to describe. After 'We'll be together' a few more 12" singles were released, but as they were also available on cd-single with the same content, I preferred buying those for some reason.

'We'll be together' was released in 1989, almost a year after the release of the album 'Into a secret land', and so got the 'trendy' label "'89 remix". The extended and dub versions certainly add some punch to the pop song. It's a lovely sentiment to end the year with... We'll be together!

My collection: 12" single no. 612
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, 2002
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'We'll be together (extended version)' / 'We'll be together (dub version)', 'We'll be together (single version)'

Secret land - Sandra

Personally I consider 'Secret land' to be one of Sandra's best ever tracks. The 12" single was particularly interesting for its inclusion of both an extended remix (called the 'reverse mix') and a dub version. The melody of the track and the rhythms are engaging enough to keep the listener interested throughout the length of the entire disc.

'Secret land' was taken from Sandra's third album, which again I consider to be her best. After this album, her music became increasingly 'Enigma'-ish, and less pop.

My collection: 12" single no. 204
Found: Marik, Vienna, July 1994
Cost: 99 Schilling
Tracks: 'Secret land (Reverse mix)' / 'Secret land (single version)', 'Secret land (dub mix)'

Heaven can wait - Sandra

Sandra released 'Heaven can wait' as the first single from her third studio album 'Into a secret land'. Sandra had just gotten married to her producer Michael Cretu and they had moved to Ibiza. The album would showcase a more open sound, and stronger melodies than in the two previous albums.

The 12" single contained three versions of the song, all of them quite similar to the album version that appeared shortly afterwards.

My collection: 12" single no. 203
Found: Marik, Vienna, July 1993
Cost: 99 Schilling
Tracks: 'Heaven can wait (extended version)' / 'Heaven can wait (dub mix)', 'Heaven can wait (single version)'

Stop for a minute - Sandra

'Stop for a minute' was released after Sandra's first two albums as a new track on her first compilation album 'Ten on one'. It was a surprisingly strong track, it sounds a lot less dodgy than a lot of her early work.

This 12" single features an interesting extended version of the track, as well as the A- and B-side of the 7" single.

My collection: 12" single no. 223
Found: Record fair, 1994
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Stop for a minute (extended version)' / 'Two lovers tonight', 'Stop for a minute'

Everlasting love - Sandra

Sandra recorded and released 'Everlasting love' in 1987 after becoming familiar with the song via the 1968 version by Love Affair. She commented: 'I have always loved it...Even as a little child I heard that song and I said that I would like to sing it sometime.'

This 12" single features the original extended version of the track, released in Germany at the time of its original release. In 1988 the track was acquired by Pete Waterman who had it remixed by Pete Hammond and released it as the 'PWL mix'.

My collection: 12" single no. 314
Found: Record fair, 1995
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Everlasting love (extended version)' / 'Change your mind', 'Everlasting love (single version)'

Loreen - Sandra

German singer Sandra released 'Loreen' as the fourth and final single from her second album 'Mirrors'. It was less successful than the three previous singles, but still managed to peak at number 23 in Germany and number 29 in Switzerland.

This 12" single, unfortunately, doesn't contain a remix of the track. It happened more often in the Eighties: a 7" single and a 12" single with exactly the same tracks on them. Well, at least the sleeve and the disc were bigger.

My collection: 12" single no. 313
Found: Record fair, 1994
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Loreen' / 'Don't cry (The breakup of the world)'

Midnight man - Sandra

By the time German singer Sandra released 'Midnight man', her success had become limited to Central Europe only. She was still making melodious pop songs, but they sounded too much like her early hits, 'Maria Magdalena' and 'In the heat of the night'.

The 12" singles also offered much of the same: extended versions that were simply, well, extended. I have to say that I quite like these mixes, but I guess it wasn't everyone's cup of tea.

My collection: 12" single no. 202
Found: Marik, Vienna, July 1994
Cost: 99 Schilling
Tracks: 'Midnight man (extended)' / 'Mirror of love'

Innocent love - Sandra

There isn't much point in denying the good looks of Sandra during the mid-Eighties. It may have been part of what her career was all about. With sleeves like this, people are bound to buy your records. Fortunately, she also made some pretty good pop tunes, as this 'Innocent love' - despite the slightly inane lyrics - proves.

The 12" single features an extended version that was quite common at the time: with more instrumental passages and an extra chorus here and there.

My collection: 12" single no. 201
Found: Marik, Vienna, July 1994
Cost: 99 Schilling
Tracks: 'Innocent love (extended)' / 'Innocent theme'

Hi! Hi! Hi! - Sandra

Being a Sandra fan these days can be considered very uncool, given her recent albums, but back in the Eighties she was still dealing out the pleasant pop songs effortlessly. 'Hi! Hi! Hi!' was another example of a chart-friendly song, although Sandra didn't get to the charts outside of Central Europe.

This 12" single features both the A- and the B-side of the 7" single, but also an extended remix of the title track, which is actually quite good. Give it a virtual spin and I'm sure you'll agree.

My collection: 12" single no. 311
Found: Record fair, 199X
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Hi! Hi! Hi! (extended)' / 'You'll be mine', 'Hi! Hi! Hi!'

Little girl - Sandra

I have the 7" single of Sandra's 'Little girl', so it's no surprise that I would buy the 12" single as well. Like the single, this maxi has two tracks, but the A-side comes in an extended version.

Like many 12" singles of the mid-Eighties, the extended version is just that: an extended version of the regular track. It contains some interesting variations on the song, including a drum track that keeps the listener interested.

My collection: 12" single no. 200
Found: Marik, Vienna, July 1994
Cost: 99 Schilling
Tracks: 'Little girl (extended version)' / 'Sisters and brothers'

In the heat of the night - Sandra

After the success of '(I'll never be) Maria Magdalena', Sandra and her producer Michael Cretu had to come up with a successor. They chose to stick to the success formula: synthesizers, a melodic chorus and male backing vocals.

The 12" single featured a longer version of the track that would also appear on Sandra's debut album 'The long play'.

My collection: 12" single no. 196
Found: Concerto, Amsterdam, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'In the heat of the night [longer version]' / 'Heatwave'

(I'll never be) Maria Magdalena - Sandra

After leaving the girl group Arabesque, Sandra Ann Lauer teamed up with Michael Cretu. Their first recording was a German version of Alphaville's big hit 'Big in Japan', entitled 'Japan ist weit'. Apparently, only 125 copies of the single were ever sold.

How different it was for the next single: '(I'll never be) Maria Magdalena' became a Europe-wide hit and launched Sandra's solo career in a big way. This 12" single features the album version of the track, which is double the length of the single version.

My collection: 12" single no. 207
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, 1993
Cost: 4 guilders
Tracks: '(I'll never be) Maria Magdalena' / 'Party games'

Sadeness - Enigma

The 1990 single 'Sadeness' was written by Michael Cretu, Frank Peterson and David Fairstein. The lyrics are in Latin and French; the Latin text includes a quotation from Psalm 24:7-8. The gregorian vocals were mostly taken from the 1976 album 'Paschale Mysterium' by Munich choir 'capella antiqua' with conductor Konrad Ruhland, specifically from their track 'Cum angelis + Psalm 24(23)'. Thie samples were first used without permission, and after a lawsuit in 1994 the matter was settled by compensation.

'Sadeness (part 1)' was the debut single of Cretu's music project Enigma, which would continue for two decades and (so far) seven albums. Each one gets more predictable. This first release still sounds fresh, with quite interesting vocals by Cretu's wife, Sandra.

My collection: 7" single no. 1373
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, January 21, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Sadeness (part 1) (radio edit)' / 'Sadeness (part 1) (Meditation mix)'

Maria Magdalena - Sandra

Sandra came full circle when she released a remix of her first international hit 'Maria Magdalena' in 1993. The remix of 'Maria Magdalena' remained uncredited, and was made to promote the greatest hits collection '18 Greatest hits', which was released in October 1992.

This 12" single features the 'Vega Sicilia mix', which did not appear on the cd-single of the track, which was my reason for buying it. In the end, that remix is not so very different from other remixes. The single was not a big success: it only reached number 8 in Finland.

My collection: 12" single no. 230
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 1993
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Maria Magdalena (club mix)' / 'Maria Magdalena (Vega Sicilia mix)'

Johnny wanna live - Sandra

'Johnny wanna live' originally appeared on Sandra's fourth album 'Paintings in yellow' (1990). When it was decided in the summer of 1992 that a compilation album, '18 greatest hits' was to be released, Sandra re-recorded the track to be included as a new single.

The song's lyric protests against cruelty to animals. In an interview in Sweden. Sandra explained the origins of the song citing her disapproval of people wearing fur coats. The single reached number 9 in Israel and number 37 in Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 1790
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, November 14, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Johnny wanna live' / 'Mirrored in your eyes'

I need love - Sandra

'I need love' was released as the second single from Sandra's 1992 album 'Close to seven'. The track was edited for the single. It featured Andy Jones, a.k.a. Andy 'Angel' Hart, performing the male vocals. The B-side, 'Shadows' also appeared on the album and was a cover of Michael Cretu's 1979 track 'Shadows over my head'.

This was the first single from Sandra that wasn't a chart success for her. Subsequently, the third single 'Steady me' was not released commercially, although promotional cd-singles do exist.

My collection: 7" single no. 1671
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, June 20, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'I need love' / 'Shadows'

Don't be aggressive - Sandra

I cited the words 'I could be your friend, I could be your slave, I could be anything you want me to / But please, don't be aggressive' to a friend back in 1992, when she wanted to hit me because I was pulling her hair again. The words stuck in my mind, and subsequently I bought the single just after it had failed to reach the Dutch Top 40.

Written by Michael Cretu and Klaus Hirschburger, 'Don't be aggressive' sounded a lot like a track by Enigma, the newly created project by Cretu. The single reached number 17 in Germany and was only a top 10 hit in Norway, where it peaked at number 7.

My collection: 7" single no. 1592
Found: Free Record Shop, March 21, 1992
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Don't be aggressive' / 'Seal it forever'

One more night - Sandra

'One more night' was written by Michael Cretu, Klaus Hirschburger and Frank Peterson. It was a ballad, taken from the album 'Paintings in yellow', released as its third and final single. The 7" single included a unique track on the B-side: an 2'42 edit of the album track 'The journey'. The cd-single and 12" single featured the original full length version of that track, clocking in at 7'27.

Released in September 1990, the single reached number 31 in the German charts, but did not chart in other countries. My copy of the single was made in France.

My collection: 7" single no. 2211
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 13 ,1999
Cost: 15 guilders
Tracks: 'One more night' / 'The journey (edit)'

(Life may be) A big insanity - Sandra

So here's a song for the Misheard Lyrics website. Ever since I've heard Sandra singing 'Life may be a big insanity', I've heard 'Life may be a big obscenity'. Try it for yourself, you may hear it too.

'(Life may be) A big insanity' was released as the second single from Sandra's fourth album 'Paintings in yellow'. The song was written by husband Michael Cretu with Klaus Hirschburger. The single only became a minor hit for Sandra, reaching number 27 in Germany, number 18 in Israel and number 41.

The single was released in the UK as well - though without any chart success - and I've got the different sleeve to prove it. I found this UK edition (pictured below) two years after I bought the original German version. I don't think it's Sandra's best single, but when you've got a collection, you have to buy everything that's pretty. And I do think the UK sleeve is more beautiful than the German one!

My collection: 7" single no. 2096 / no. 2659
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, April 16, 1994 / House of Rhythm, London, June 29, 1996
Cost: 2 guilders / 50p
Tracks: '(Life may be) A big insanity' / 'The skin I'm in'

Hiroshima - Sandra

'Hiroshima' was originally recorded by the band Wishful Thinking. Sandra recorded her cover version as a track on her fourth album 'Paintings in yellow'. It was released as its first single in 1989.

Sandra's version reached number 4 in three different countries: Germany, Israel and Switzerland. Additionally, it peaked at number 16 in the French singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2095
Found: Record fair, April 16, 1994
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Hiroshima' / 'La vista de luna'