Showing posts with label Time Bandits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Time Bandits. Show all posts

Saturday 15 May 2010

Wildfire - Time Bandits

Although the Time Bandits basically still exist (at least, frontman Alides Hidding still uses the name when he performs solo or with a band), they split up in 1989. 'Wildfire' was the last single to be released by the band, but it failed to reach the Dutch Top 40.

The single was taken from the band's 1987 album 'Can't wait for another world', which contained a few songs written by Alides Hidding with American singer/producer Dan Hartman. This single contains two of them.

My collection: 7" single no. 4856
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, May 14, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Wildfire' / 'You're not at home'

Monday 10 May 2010

Sister paradise - Time Bandits

The second single release by the Dutch band Time Bandits was not as succesful as their debut. Whereas 'Live it up' soared to number 9 in the Dutch Top 40, this single did not chart.

It didn't bode well for their debut album, but that was a pretty good success nonetheless. The band of Alides Hidding and company would be successful throughout the Eighties.

My collection: 7" single no. 4844
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 8, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Sister paradise' / 'Cues part II'

Sunday 2 May 2010

I'm only shooting love - Time Bandits

I have no idea whether the Time Bandits had any success in America in 1984, but that is where this 12" single comes from. The record company must have thought it a viable option, as they put a lot of work into it: the original track, produced by Pim Koopman, was remixed by Steve Thompson, who was a wellknown producer and remixer stateside.

Three versions of the track appear on this 12" single, which is marked 'For promotion only' on the back of the sleeve. 'Sale is unlawful', it says too. Still, I bought this disc in a shop in London.

My collection: 12" single no. 309
Found: Record Exchange, London
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'I'm only shooting love (extended version)' / 'I'm only shooting love (dub)', 'I'm only shooting love (single)'

Sunday 7 February 2010

We'll be dancing - Time Bandits

In the beginning of 1987, Alides Hidding has finished writing songs for the new Time Bandits album, but the other members of the band are not enthusiastic about the material. Hidding decides to fire them all and look for a new band. He recruits Hugo de Bruin, Jean Monsou, Michel de Groot and Loek Coenraad to have it his own way.

After another writing session in America with Dan Hartman, the new album 'Can't wait for another world' and the single 'We'll be dancing' are released. Both are commercial disappointments. Hidding decides to end the Time Bandits and moves to America.

My collection: 7" single no. 4560
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, February 4, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'We'll be dancing' / 'Pasadena dream world'

Thursday 28 January 2010

I won't steal away - Time Bandits

'I won't steal away' was one of the songs to come out of the collaboration between the Time Bandits lead singer Alides Hidding with American hit producer Dan Hartman. It was recorded on the band's 1986 album 'Fiction' and released as a single.

The single reached number 16 in the Dutch Top 40, and was their last single to chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3301
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'I won't steal away' / 'Cool world'

Sunday 3 January 2010

Reach out - Time Bandits

Released in 1984, 'Reach out' was a single by the Time Bandits. While the B-side 'Ushi girl' was taken from their album 'Tracks', the A-side was a new track. It was also the only single by the band to reach the Dutch Top 40 in 1984, although a few more singles were released. 'Reach out' reached number 35 in the Top 40.

At the time of the release of this single in the Netherlands, an earlier single, 'I'm only shooting love', reached number 1 in New Zealand.

My collection: 7" single no. 4367
Found: Concerto, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 0,75 euro
Tracks: 'Reach out' / 'Ushi girl'

Friday 1 January 2010

I'm specialized in you - Time bandits

I've had the 7" single of 'I'm specialized in you' for more than 12 years now, but I never knew there was a 12" single as well. When I saw it, I decided to buy it right away. 12" singles from the early Eighties can be quite rare, especially when they are from Dutch bands. And then there's the added attraction of a real 'extended version', instead of a remix which is a total slaughtering of the original song (like they are nowadays).

Sure enough, this extended version of 'I'm specialized in you' is very enjoyable when you like the original track. The odd thing is that this 12" single plays on 33rpm instead of the usual 45rpm!

My collection: 12" single no. 523
Found: Discostars Recordstore, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 2,5 euro
Tracks: 'I'm specialized in you (extended)' / 'Ginny (puts her hands on her shoulders)'

Thursday 17 December 2009

Endless road - Time Bandits

The Time Bandits scored another hit in the Netherlands with the single 'Endless road' in the summer of 1985. Having had a successful run of hits since the early Eighties, it was not much of a surprise that this one reached number 16 in the Dutch Top 40.

It was a surprise, however, that I found a UK pressing of this single nine years ago. The international career of the Time Bandits never took off, despite some interesting collaborations with American producer Dan Hartman.

My collection: 7" single no. 3195
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 16, 2000
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Endless road' / 'Fiction'

Tuesday 27 October 2009

Star - Time Bandits

I can recall I was jealous as hell when I saw that my cousin had this single, whereas I'd been searching high and low for it for years and still didn't own it. 'Star' by the Time Bandits did not chart in the Dutch Top 40, but the single was unavailable in shops and even in the years that followed I couldn't locate a copy.

In the end, of course, it all turned out alright: I found the single during a record fair and as it was almost a decade later, I wasn't quite as passionate about it anymore. Still, it's a nice song.

My collection: 7" single no. 1817
Found: Record fair, January 13, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Star' / 'Star (instrumental version)

Tuesday 20 October 2009

How does it feel - Time bandits

Despite the somewhat dodgy lyrics, I always considered this single by the Dutch band Time bandits to be an epic piece of work. It's got something to do with the subtle intro and the thundering drums, building to a climax that sadly ends in a fade-out. I've spent many moments in 1983, when this single was released, trying to imagine how this song would be like if there were an extended version of it.

I was very surprised when this track did not become a hit. Previous singles 'I'm only shooting love' and 'Listen to the man with the golden voice', also taken from the band's album 'Tracks' were more successful, whereas personally I think this is the best single of the three. Just goes to show how strange my taste is when compared to the general public.

My collection: 7" single no. 224
Found: LP Top 100, 1983
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'How does it feel' / 'Don't let your love go bad'

Sunday 11 October 2009

I'm specialized in you - Time bandits

'I'm specialized in you' was the second chart hit in the Netherlands for the Dutch band Time Bandits, and also their biggest hit. It reached number 2 in the Dutch Top 40 in January 1983. The track was taken from their self-titled debut album, produced by well-known Dutch producer Pim Koopman.

The band, fronted by Alides Hidding, had several more top 10 hits in the Netherlands, but they never matched this success again.

My collection: 7" single no. 2823
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, February 1, 1997
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'I'm specialized in you' / 'Ginny (puts her hands on her shoulders)'

Tuesday 22 September 2009

I'm only shooting love - Time bandits

In October 1983, the Dutch band Time Bandits had their fourth top 10 hit in the Netherlands with 'I'm only shooting love'. It peaked at number 6 as a result of almost continuous airplay. So much so, that for a long while I couldn't stand hearing the song.

I finally relented in 1989 when I saw this limited poster sleeve edition of the single. As a collector of rare items, I couldn't pass this one up. Nowadays it's sheer nostalgia to hear the falsetto voice of lead singer Alides Hidding on this track.

My collection: 7" single no. 888
Found: All that music, Leiden, June 16, 1989
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'I'm only shooting love' / 'Only lovers will survive'

Thursday 23 July 2009

Listen to the man with the golden voice - Time Bandits

Alides Hidding started the band Time Bandits in the early Eighties. Their debut single 'Live it up' was a big hit in the Netherlands and the start of a career that would span the entire decade.

'Listen to the man with the golden voice' is released in April 1983 and reaches number 7 in the Dutch Top 40 - but also becomes a hit in other European countries. The track is sung with Hidding's distinctive falsetto voice.

My collection: 7" single no. 3877
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, July 20, 2009
Cost: 0,25 euro
Tracks: 'Listen to the man with the golden voice' / 'Words'

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