Swear - Sheena Easton

Sheena Easton had a very decent career during the Eighties, with a good selection of hits and quality pop songs. It has caused me to buy a single by her whenever I come across one I don't have yet.

Unfortunately, there are a few unexpected duds among the many great singles. I bought 'Swear' recently but the song isn't really that great. It's a bit of a screamfest, to be honest. Fortunately the B-side is a little more attractive. It ain't no 'Strut', this one, but anyway.

My collection: 7" single no. 7162
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, 16 April 2024
Tracks: 'Swear' / 'Fallen angels'

Modern girl - Sheena Easton

It's quite funny to collect singles by Sheena Easton: usually they're not very expensive and they always pop up at record fairs, second hand shops and the like. Through the years I've bought quite a few of her singles and I never had to spend much money on them. 

And this is also how I got my hands on this single of 'Modern girl'. Dirt cheap, and as a bonus it isn't quite complete. At least, while the sleeve is Dutch, the record comes from the UK. Something tells me this single wasn't sold that way, but I'll take it nonetheless. There's no sense in spending more after all.

My collection: 7" single no. 7141
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, 3 March 2024
Tracks: 'Modern girl' / 'Paradox'

Hungry eyes - Sheena Easton

While most of the world released Sheena Easton's 'Strut' as a single, in Japan the A- and B-sides were flipped, and so 'Hungry eyes' became the Japanese single release. Quite why they did this I don't know, but perhaps the Japanese felt that the lyrics of 'Strut' were a bit too explicit.

Interestingly, there are two versions of this Japanese release: this is actually a reissue. A single with a different sleeve was released in Japan a few months earlier. I think this is the prettier of the two.

My collection: 7" single no. 6195
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 17, 2019
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Hungry eyes' / 'Strut'

Almost over you - Sheena Easton

'Almost over you' sees Sheena Easton at her most melodramatic. The single was taken from her 1983 album 'Best kept secret', the first one in her career to be entirely recorded in the USA.Not surprisingly, the material went down better in the USA than it did in the UK. The album reached number 33 in the US album chart, but only got to number 99 in the UK.

The single followed the same pattern: while it peaked at number 25 in the US Billboard Hot 100, it only got to number 89 in the UK singles chart. Sheena's UK career would never recover: only 'The arms of Orion', her 1989 duet with Prince would do marginally better in the UK than it did in the USA.

My collection: 7" single no. 6111
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, June 1, 2019
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Almost over you' / 'I don't need your word'

Telefone - Sheena Easton

Sheena Easton recorded 'Telefone (Long distance love affair)' in 1983 for her album 'Best kept secret'. It was released as the album's lead single.  The song reached a disappointing number 84 in the UK singles chart. Amazingly, it was more successful in the US, where it became her fourth top 10 hit, peaking at number 9 late October 1983.

A year later, Easton added 'Telefono' to her Spanish album 'Todo me recuerda a ti', recorded for the Latin markets.

My collection: 7" single no. 5844
Found: Discogs.com, received May 2, 2016
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Telefone' / 'Wish you were here tonight'

Listen to the song

Eternity - Sheena Easton

'No sound but a heart' was Sheena Easton's eighth studio album, released in 1987 on the EMI label. The album was issued in Canada, Mexico, Japan, and other Asian markets. The album consisted of midtempo and ballad songs. The release of 'No sound but a heart' was hampered in the United States after EMI America was absorbed into EMI Manhattan records and two scheduled release dates for the album (February and June of 1987) were not met.

The album produced only one single, 'Eternity', written by Prince. The single was, amazingly, not a hit. This was Easton's final release on the EMI label, where she had started her career. She subsequently moved to MCA Records the following year in 1988.

My collection: 7" single no. 5149
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Eternity' / 'Shockwave'

Morning train (9 to 5) - Sheena Easton

Young Scottish singer Sheena Easton had some success with her debut single 'Modern girl', but her second, '9 to 5' went to number 3 in the UK singles chart.

'9 to 5' was Easton's first single release in the United States, although it was renamed 'Morning Train (Nine To Five)' to avoid confusion with Dolly Parton's hit movie title song '9 to 5'. 'Morning Train' became Easton's first and only #1 hit in the USA. It was the start of a very impressive and varied career on both sides of the Atlantic.

My collection: 7" single 5112
Found: Backtrack, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Morning train (9 to 5)' / 'Calm before the storm'

Strut - Sheena Easton

I bought the 7" single of 'Strut' for almost nothing in 1993, so it's only fair that I would find the 12" single for a tiny amount as well. I'm glad to say I did.

This 12" single features a dance mix Eighties-style: instrumental passages and echoes - and that's pretty much it. That's the way I like it best...

My collection: 12" single no. 548
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, May 22, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Strut (Dance mix)' / 'Letters from the road'

Are you man enough - Sheena Easton

'Are you man enough', asks Sheena Easton with a bare shoulder on the sleeve of this single. It almost sounds like an indecent proposal. The song was written by G. Lyle and B. Livsey, and so at least the proposal doesn't really come from Easton herself.

The song was released in 1982 as the second single from her third album 'Madness, money and music', and failed to chart in all territories.

My collection: 7" single no. 4787
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Are you man enough' / 'Loner'

Sugar walls - Sheena Easton

Alexander Nevermind was credited for composing and producing Sheena Easton's 1984 single 'Sugar walls'. It was a pseudonym of Prince, marking the first time the purple midget from Minneapolis worked with the innocent Scottish girl.

'Sugar walls' was a suggestive song, for its repeating innuendo about a woman's private parts where the listener should 'come inside', adding 'Take advantage, it's all right' just to be sure. The single was not a hit in Europe, but reached number 9 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4807
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Sugar walls' / 'Straight talking'

Take my time - Sheena Easton

'Take my time' was the title of Sheena Easton's debut album, released in 1981. Produced by Christopher Neil, the album was a combination of pure pop songs and sentimental ballads. Besides the two hit singles Easton had already had in 1980, 'Morning train' and 'Modern girl', three more singles were taken from the album in 1981.

The title track was the penultimate single taken from the album. It reached number 44 in the UK singles chart but failed to chart in other territories.

My collection: 7" single no. 4753
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, April 5, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Take my time' / 'Calm before the storm'

A little tenderness - Sheena Easton

'A little tenderness' was released in 1981 as the third single from Sheena Easton's second album 'You could have been with me'. By that time, several singles had been released with almost the same sleeve: compare the one picture here with the ones of 'You could have been with me' and 'Ice out in the rain' and you'll be amazed.

This single did not reach the Dutch Top 40 or the UK singles chart. No further singles were released from the album.

My collection: 7" single no. 4688
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'A little tenderness' / 'Family of one'

The lover in me - Sheena Easton

Under the wings of Prince, Sheena Easton reinvented herself as a sex bomb in the mid-Eighties. This image proved to be successful mostly in the United States, but sometimes her singles would have some chart success in Europe as well.

'The lover in me' was released in 1988 as the first single from Easton's album of the same name. Produced by LA & Babyface, it was one of her biggest hits in the USA and her first top 20 hit in the UK after eight years, peaking at number 15. In the Dutch Top 40, the single peaked at number 12.

My collection: 7" single no. 775
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, March 23, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'The lover in me' / 'The lover in me (instrumental)'

Just another broken heart - Sheena Easton

'Just another broken heart' was released in 1981 as the first single from Sheena Easton's second album 'You could have been with me'. The album was produced by Christopher Neil.

Although the single did not chart in the Netherlands, where Easton had some success before, it still charted in the UK, peaking at number 33.

My collection: 7" single no. 4599
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, February 26, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Just another broken heart' / 'Savoir faire (he's got)'

101 - Sheena Easton

Prince used his pseudonym Joey Coco to write '101' for Sheena Easton. The track was recorded on her 1989 album 'The lover in me', with Prince producing. When it was released as the second single from the album, the sleeve included a beautiful photograph by Sheila Rock.

It was not a big success for Easton, as '101' only reached number 54 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 875
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, June 3, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: '101' / 'Cool love'

Strut - Sheena Easton

In 1984, Sheena Easton released the album 'A private heaven'. The song 'Strut' was released as the third single from the album, after the tracks 'Back in the city' and 'Hungry eyes' failed to chart in most territories. The music video and the sleeve signalled the first steps of Easton towards a more sexually suggestive image.

The single reached number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 8 in Canada, but in Europe it wasn't successful.

My collection: 7" single no. 1911
Found: Leiden, May 19, 1993
Cost: 0,5 guilder
Tracks: 'Strut' / 'Hungry eyes'

Do it for love - Sheena Easton

Most people assume that Sheena Easton's career basically consisted of two main periods: working in Europe and working with Prince in America. The truth, of course, is more complicated than that. Easton collaborated with Prince on her 1984 album 'A private heaven' and in 1987 on his track 'U got the look', but in 1985, she released the album 'Do you', which was produced by another musical legend, Nile Rodgers.

It's easy to understand why this album was overlooked, as it was only successful in America. In Europe, the album and this single 'Do it for love' was a flop.

My collection: 7" single no. 1765
Found: London, October 20, 1992
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Do it for love' / 'Can't wait till tomorrow'

For your eyes only - Sheena Easton

Sometimes when you have a big singles collection, you erroneously buy a single twice. I recently discovered I have two copies of 'For your eyes only' by Sheena Easton: this one and this one. The other single was a European pressing, whereas this one was made in the UK. And lo and behold: they have different B-sides! What a nice surprise.

The B-side of this single is nothing much to write home about: it's an instrumental piece from the soundtrack of the James Bond movie 'For your eyes only'. As I always say: 'It's just a soundtrack, isn't it?'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3299
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'For your eyes only' / 'Runaway'

Morning train - Sheena Easton

After Sheena Easton's debut single 'Modern girl' failed to chart, both that song and 'Morning train' featured in the BBC documentary 'The big time'. Both songs suddenly reached the chart as a result. 'Morning train' became a number 3 hit in the UK, also reaching number 14 in the Dutch Top 40.

The song is about a woman who waits at home all day for her man to come home from work. The music video was filmed on the Bluebell Railway, a heritage line running between East and West Sussex in England.

My collection: 7" single no. 4366
Found: Record mania, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Morning train' / 'Moody (My love)'

Machinery - Sheena Easton

If it wasn't for my sister, I might never have bought 'Machinery' by Sheena Easton when I did. She played this single over and over when it was released, and not long after that I bought myself a copy.

'Machinery' is a track from Easton's third album 'Madness, money and music'. It didn't chart in the Netherlands, but it reached number 38 in the UK singles chart and number 57 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 147
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Machinery' / 'So we say goodbye'