Wood beez (Pray like Aretha Franklin) - Scritti Politti

This is one of those singles I thought I already had, but I didn't. I found this UK pressing and I thought I'd buy it because if I had it it would probably be the European version, but when I checked my collection, this title wasn't there at all. So that was a nice surprise. 

'Wood beez' reached number 10 in the UK chart, but didn't chart in Europe. The song's subtitle is a reference to 'I say a little prayer', Aretha Franklin's biggest UK hit. Arif Mardin, who produced this song for Scritti Politti had also produced Franklin.

My collection: 7" single no. 7624
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, 30 March 2025
Tracks: 'Wood beez (Pray like Aretha Franklin)' / 'Wood beez (Pray like Aretha Franklin) (version)'

I don't know why I love you (but I love you) - B.E.F. featuring Green Gartside

Martyn Ware and Ian Craig-Marsh from Heaven 17 didn't have enough work on their hands, so they devoted part of their time to the 'side project' British Electric Foundation, a.k.a. B.E.F. As B.E.F. they released - so far - three albums called 'Music of quality and distinction', on which they recorded cover versions of wellknown songs using the vocals of various guest performers.

This single takes two tracks from the second volume of these albums, with guest vocalists Green Gartside (core member of Scritti Politti) and Billy Preston. They perform songs originally recorded by Stevie Wonder and The Beatles respectively. Purists will hate these versions, but I find them very enjoyable indeed.

My collection: 7" single no. 6300
Found: Discogs.com, received June 27, 2020
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'I don't know why I love you (but I love you)' (feat. Green Gartside) / 'In my life' (feat. Billy Preston)

The word girl - Scritti Politti

I never actually took the time to compare them, but I do have the suspicion that all the versions of 'The word girl' included on this 12" single are actually different from the two versions on the 7" single. And if that isn't so, at least there's the extra extended version of the track on the B-side.

That B-side version was remixed by Julian Mendelsohn, one of the top remixers and producers of the Eighties. The track also features Ranking Ann, who I think is a complete unknown. But then again, I might just be missing some information there.

My collection: 12" single no. 321
Found: Record Exchange, London
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'The word girl', 'Flesh & blood' / 'The word girl / Flesh & blood (version)'

Hypnotise - Scritti Politti

The single 'Hypnotise' by Scritti Politti was released in 1984, at a time when extended versions always used to be longer versions of existing tracks instead of totally overhauled tracks with only fractions of the original track in them.

I bought the 7" single of Hypnotise in 1989, but held off on buying the 12" single until now. Since I already have a few 12" singles by Scritti Politti, I had a hard time finding out whether I had it or not. As it turned out, I didn't - so now I have.

My collection: 12" single no. 531
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, February 26, 2010
Cost: 2,5 euro
Tracks: 'Hypnotise (long)', 'Hypnotise (short)' / 'Hypnotise (version)'

Boom! There she was - Scritti Politti

Roger Troutman was well known for his use of the talkbox, a device that is connected to an instrument (frequently a keyboard) to create different vocal effects.After scoring a hit with 'I want to be your man' in 1987, he collaborated with Green Gartside from Scritti Politti on the single 'Boom! There she was'.

Released in November 1988, 'Boom! There she was' reached number 55 in the UK singles chart. Scritti Politti then disappeared from the scene for three years.

My collection: 7" single no. 809
Found: May 6, 1989
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Boom! There she was' / 'World come back to life'

First boy in this town (Lovesick) - Scritti Politti

Scritti Politti is a band that repeatedly surprised me as the Eighties went on. Their reggae-influenced singles circa 1985 please me a lot, but 'Oh Patti' sounded nothing like that and it still thrilled me.

And then there was 'First boy in this town (Lovesick)'. I can vividly remember hearing that single for the first time, when my sister had just bought it and played it to me. I thought it would never be a hit, but I also knew I had to get it myself. Well, I was right on both counts of course: in the UK this single only reached number 63 and I got the copy only a year after its release.

My collection: 7" single no. 1001
Found: HMV, London, October 16, 1989
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'First boy in this town (Lovesick)' / 'World come back to life'

Oh Patti (Don't feel sorry for loverboy) - Scritti Politti

'Oh Patti (Don't feel sorry for loverboy)' is a track on Scritti Politti's 1988 album 'Provision'. It features Miles Davis, who plays a trumpet solo. The single reached number 13 in the UK singles chart and number 29 in the Dutch Top 40.

This very attractive limited edition box set features the single plus three postcards and a sect of stamps. The colour poster that should be in it as well is missing, so I hope I can find a complete box set one day.

My collection: 7" single no. 761
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, March 2, 1989
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Oh Patti (Don't feel sorry for loverboy)' / 'Oh Patti (instrumental)'

The word girl - Scritti Politti

'The word girl' was released as the fourth single from Scritti Politti's 1985 album 'Cupid & Psyche 85'. It turned out to be the band's biggest hit, peaking at number 6 in the UK singles chart. It also charted in the Netherlands, where it reached number 16 in the Dutch Top 40.

The song has a similar sound to many of the other group's songs, with a reggae rhythm, a smooth R&B-inspired sound with Green Gartside's soulful vocals on top.

My collection: 7" single no. 462
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'The word girl' / 'Flesh & blood'

The "Sweetest Girl" - Scritti Politti

Scritti Politti originally consisted of lead vocalist Green Gartside (born Paul Julian Stromheyer), Nial Jinks as bass player, Tom Morley as drummer, and Matthew Kay as the manager who sometimes played the keyboard. Gartside and Jinks had gone to school together in South Wales, and Gartside met Morley at Leeds Polytechnic, a college they both attended. Disillusioned and bored with art school, Gartside and Morley left in June 1978 and moved into a squat in Camden Town, London. Jinks was invited to join the band.

Gartside recorded a demo of one of his new songs, 'The "Sweetest Girl"' in January 1981. The song was included on a compilation of songs given out with the March issue of NME. The song prompted many major labels to offer Gartside record contracts, but he decided to stay with Rough Trade, who released the track as a single in the autumn. It reached number 64 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2779
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 31, 1996
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'The "Sweetest Girl"' / 'Lions after slumber'

Perfect way - Scritti Politti

Back in 1985, the lucky buyer of 'Perfect way' in the UK could get this limited edition version of the single, featuring not only a gatefold sleeve, but also a poster with a monochrome photograph of founding member Green Gartside.

'Perfect way' was the fifth single taken from Scritti Politti's 1985 album 'Cupid & Psyche', and their only big hit stateside, reaching number 11 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the UK, the single only got to number 48.

My collection: 7" single no. 1864
Found: January 30, 1993
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Perfect way' / 'Perfect way (version)'

Absolute - Scritti Politti

Scritti Politti's main member Green Gartside moved to New York in 1983 to begin working on what was to become his band's signature sound.

Collaborating with producer Arif Mardin, David Gamson and Fred Maher, the first recording to emerge from these sessions was the single 'Wood Beez (Pray like Aretha Franklin)'. A series of hits in the style of this track followed, including 'Hypnotize', 'The word girl' and this single, 'Absolute'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1630

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, April 18, 1992

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Absolute' / 'Absolute (version)'

Download: here

Perfect way - Scritti Politti

'Perfect way' was released in September 1985 and reached no. 45 in the UK singles chart. Not an impressive success, despite its catchy hooks. In America it did far better, reaching no. 11. The 12" single was remixed by François Kevorkian, who remains best known for his work with Kraftwerk.

I bought my copy of the 12" as a bargain in London. I was always interested in those eighties singles by Scritti Politti and the extended versions seemed like a good addition to my collection.

My collection: 12" single no. 264

Found: Record Exchange, London, 1995

Cost: 50p

Tracks: 'Perfect way (extended mix)' / 'Perfect way (version) (extended mix)'

Download: here

Hypnotise - Scritti Politti

'Hypnotise' is the least successful of the four singles that were released from Scritti Politti's 1985 album 'Cupid & Psyche', despite (or maybe because of) the fact that it didn't sound radically different from other tracks on this album. With a great hook and the signature vocals of Green Gartside, the single only reached no. 68 in the UK singles chart.

When I was on holiday in London in 1989, I went around the town visiting every record shop I could find. It was my first encounter with the Record Exchange shops, that were offering hundreds of old vinyl singles for discount prices. I had a chance to buy many singles I wanted to have for years, and so I did...

My collection: 7" single no. 1026

Found: Record Exchange, Notting Hill, London, October 17, 1989

Cost: 50p

Tracks: 'Hypnotise' / 'Hypnotise (version)'

Download: here