The trio Imagination became best known for the tracks they recorded with producers Steve Jolley and Tony Swain. When they parted ways with the producers duo, further chart success eluded them.
'Sunshine' is one of those latter days Imagination tracks, taken from their 1986 album 'Trilogy'. Produced by Richard James Burgess, the sound may be less lush and soulful, but it is a very decent pop track. It could have been a hit - but the general public decided otherwise.
My collection: 7" single no. 4078 Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Sunshine' / 'Trilogy'
During the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest, Germany was represented by the brothers Michael & Günter Hoffmann, who performed the song 'Rücksicht' ('Regard' or 'Respect'). The song is sung from the perspective of a man attempting to understand where his relationship went wrong. He says that he is not the only one to blame, as neither he nor his lover gave any real consideration to the other.
The song classified as 5th in a field of 20 participants, which was one of Germany's better achievements during the Eighties. Günter Hoffmann's died a year after the Contest, after hurling himself out of a hotel window in Rio de Janeiro on March 15, 1984.
My collection: 7" single no. 4077 Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Rücksicht' / 'Entflogen'
After a very successful decade for Heaven 17 in the Eighties, the band went quiet in the early Nineties. The first sign of life was a remix of 'Temptation', released in November 1992. It reached number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 16 in the Dutch Top 40.
The single was followed by the compilation album 'Higher and Higher - The Best of Heaven 17' in 1993.
My collection: 7" single no. 4076 Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Temptation (Brothers in Rhythm remix edit)' / 'Temptation (Brothers in Rhythm instrumental)'
Some time ago, I had a reaction on one of my posts by Karla Devito. It really surprised me in a way that even the most logical things can surprise a person. Of course, celebrities are mere mortals too, but it is kindof weird that they log in to your blog and read it. Since she mentioned she loved Ellen Foley, this one's for her. And for me too, since I've searched for this single for some time.
'The shuttered palace' is a track from Foley's 1981 album 'Spirit of St. Louis'. It was written by Mick Jones and Joe Strummer from the Clash. It did not chart in Europe as far as I know, and in the UK only the album managed to reach number 57 in the UK albums chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 4075 Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'The shuttered palace' / 'Beautiful waste of time'
Almost two months ago I bought 'Het stoomlied', the first hit single from the Dutch television programme 'De fabeltjeskrant'. Driven by nostalgia, I went looking for that other hit: 'Hup daar is Willem'. And I'm glad to say that I found a copy - although the picture sleeve is unfortunately missing. This will do for now.
'Hup daar is Willem' reached number 4 in the Dutch Top 40 and was the last top 10 hit from the children's programme. One other single reached the Dutch Top 40, but that was an ill-advised song about the Dutch football club Ajax. Since I have no interest in sports whatsoever, I will pass on that one.
My collection: 7" single no. 4072 Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Hup daar is Willem' / 'M'n bloementuin is m'n wondertuin'
When Abba had a comeback of sorts with the 'Abba Gold' compilations in the early Nineties, other acts followed suit. 'Boney M Gold' was released in 1992, and this single was released to promote the compilation. It was a megamix of five big Boney M hits: 'Rivers of Babylon', 'Sunny', 'Ma Baker', 'Daddy Cool' and 'Rasputin'.
At a time when Seventies acts were anything but cool, this Megamix was a surprise hit, peaking at number 13 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 4074 Found: Marktplaats.nl, September 25, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Megamix' / 'Bang Bang Lulu'
'Let's have some fun / This beat is sick / I wanna take a ride / on your disco stick'. Well, if you don't know what a 'disco stick' is, Lady Gaga is all too happy to explain: 'It's another of my very thoughtful metaphors for a cock. [...] I don't think disco stick is subtle. It's very clear what that lyric is all about. If anything, I happen to think people are frivolously hard on me. A lot of youth-oriented pop music is much racier than mine. 'Throw me on the floor, take off my clothes, give it to me, baby, let's dirty dance'. All these records are so provocative, but it's the context of what I'm doing that makes people concerned. [...] But if I wanted to make music to make people sing 'la di da' that would be very boring."
Otherwise, there was no need to complain for Lady Gaga: the single reached the top 10 in ten different countries. In the UK singles chart, it stalled at number 25, whereas in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart it reached number 5.
My collection: 7" single no. 4065 Found: eBay.co.uk, received September 25, 2009 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Lovegame' / 'Lovegame (Space Cowboy remix)'
Bananarama was literally 'Movin' on' with this single, released in August 1992. In 1991, Jacquie O'Sullivan had left the group, and remaining members Keren Woodward and Sara Dallin chose not to search for a replacement this time. Instead, they continues as a duo.
While they were moving on, they also moved back: they reunited with Stock and Waterman as producers - who similarly had parted ways with Aitken. The two duos worked on the album 'Please yourself', of which this single was the first one. It reached number 24 in the UK singles chart and number 32 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 4071 Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Movin' on' / 'Treat me right'
After being championed by legendary DJ John Peel, Altered Images quickly garnered enough attention to be offered a record deal with Epic Records in 1981. Mainstream success eluded the band until their third single 'Happy birthday' was released.
'Dead pop stars', their debut single, reached a lowly number 67 in the UK singles chart, but this second single 'A day's wait' did not chart at all. It was after this single that Altered Images recorded their debut album.
My collection: 7" single no. 4070 Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'A day's wait' / 'Who cares?'
'The night you murdered love' was the second single from ABC's 1987 album 'Alphabet City'. The track featured a more modern sound for the band, including some catchy vocals by band leader Martin Fry. The single peaked at number 31 in the UK singles chart and number 10 in the Dutch Top 40.
This is one ABC single I never bought, not because I didn't like the track but more because it was played on the radio so often back in 1987. I never really felt the need to own this single - until now, that is.
My collection: 7" single no. 4069 Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'The night you murdered love' / 'Minneapolis'
'When all is said and done' is a track from Abba's 1981 album 'The visitors'. It was released as a single in Australia and the USA - and this is the sleeveless US pressing. Written during a time of emotional turmoil, Björn Ulvaeus has admitted that the recent divorce between Benny Andersson and Frida Lyngstad was at the back of his mind during the songwriting process for this song. Björn sought approval from Benny and Frida before the group began working with the song. When recording began in March 1981, only one month had passed since their separation.
'When all is said and done' was a reasonable success in the United States, peaking at number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 - and Abba's final top 40 hit there. Now if I could only find the picture sleeve somewhere...
My collection: 7" single no. 4068 Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009 Cost: 0,75 euro Tracks: 'When all is said and done' / 'Should I laugh or cry'
'Superhuman touch' is the latest single by the English rock band Athlete. It was released in August this year as the first single from their new album 'Black swan'. After switching from Parlophone records to Fiction records, it was a good surprise to see that the 7" single format wasn't abandoned. Even better, the 7" single features an exclusive B-side track.
After the album 'Beyond the neighbourhood', which was a bit disappointing critically and commercially, it seems with this new album the band is back on track. I've already ordered the new cd!
My collection: 7" single no. 4067 Found: eBay.co.uk, received September 25, 2009 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Superhuman touch' / 'Ghosts from the past'
'Paparazzi' is the most recent single release by Lady Gaga, released in July this year. The song was written by her to portray her struggles and her love for fame. Gaga herself commented about the song: 'The song is about a few different things – it's about my struggles, do I want fame or do I want love? It's also about wooing the paparazzi to fall in love with me. It's about the media whoring, if you will, watching ersatzes make fools of themselves to their station. It's a love song for the cameras, but it's also a love song about fame or love – can you have both, or can you only have one?'
As usual for a Lady Gaga single, the 7" single was released as a picture disc. It reached number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 4064 Found: eBay.co.uk, received September 25, 2009 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Paparazzi' / 'Paparazzi (Yuksek remix)'
It may have been a surprise to some to hear a female vocal on a Manic Street Preachers track. And some may even have wondered who it was. Well, the guest star here was Nina Persson, who is known as the frontwoman of The Cardigans.
'Your love alone is not enough' was released as a single in April 2007. It reached number 2 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 4066 Found: eBay.co.uk, received September 25, 2009 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Your love alone is not enough' / 'Fearless punk ballad'
Every now and again, I discover a new artist that has actually been around for a little while but I just managed to miss it. It doesn't matter because usually I'm there early enough to still collect all the relevant singles. Little boots is my latest discovery, recording so-called electropop music that incorporates a lot of influences from the Eighties into a more modern sound.
'New in town' is Little boots' debut single, released in May this year. Victoria Christina Hesketh, who uses Little boots as her stage name, wrote the song herself together with Greg Kurstin. According to her, the song is about 'being a stranger in a strange place which is fun but also has a dark side, and someone showing you around and in the end just kind of letting go'. The single reached number 13 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 4062 Found: eBay.co.uk, received September 25, 2009 Cost: 1 pound Tracks: 'New in town' / 'New in town (No one is safe - Al Kapranos remix)'
'The beginning' was the third single taken from Seal's debut album 'Seal'. Released in October 1991, it was not as successful as the two previous singles, reaching number 24 in the UK singles chart and number 10 in the Dutch Top 40.
Personally I thought this track was not the best choice for a single and I hesitated a little before I bought it. Fortunately the mantra 'a collector has to be complete' was already making its way into my brain around that time.
My collection: 7" single no. 1495 Found: Melody Maker, July 20, 1991 Cost: 6,5 guilders Tracks: 'The beginning' / 'Deep water (acoustic)'
'Zuipen' ('Booze') could have been a typical product of the early Eighties, a time when youth unemployment was the highest it had ever been. The 'no future' slogans proclaimed by the punks were still in vogue and getting unemployment benefit was almost something of a status symbol.
The group Rubberen Robbie (a Dutch parody of the name Plastic Bertrand, a punker from the Seventies) recorded 'Zuipen' actually in 1978 as their debut single. It was a big hit with Dutch pirate stations, although it didn't manage to reach the Dutch Top 40. The group would continue to record parodies and humorous tracks in the years to come.
My collection: 7" single no. 1414 Found: Record fair, Den Haag, April 7, 1991 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Zuipen' / 'Hebbie ouwe krante?'
'Rosanna' may well be one of the era-defining tracks of the Eighties. The instantly recognisable Toto track was written by the band's primary songwriter, David Paich. Many people think the song is about Rosanna Arquette, who at the time had a troublesome relationship with band member Steve Porcaro. The title was actually just coincidential: Paich needed a name to fit well into the chorus.
The single peaked at number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 3 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 12 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 2429 Found: August 19, 1995 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Rosanna' / 'It's a feeling'
A lot of care went into the James Bond themes in the early days. And I have to say, the quality was still there in the Nineties, although some of the tracks released in the Eighties and Nineties relied on cliche a little too much. But with the latest Bond movie, 'Quantum of solace', nothing really is Bond anymore - and the theme song went the same way.
'Another way to die', performed by Jack White and Alicia Keys, sounds like a hastily compiled demo, in which the writer, Jack White, forgot to include a melody and a comprehensible song structure. On the plus side: it's the first time since Madonna's 'Die another day' that the Bond theme appeared on the 7" vinyl format again and it is pressed on semi-gold coloured vinyl.
My collection: 7" single no. 3576 Found: eBay.co.uk, received February 2, 2009 Cost: 3 pounds Tracks: 'Another way to die' / 'Another way to die (instrumental)'
'Run to the sun' was the second single from Erasure's sixth studio album 'I say I say I say', released in July 1994. It was the last single by Erasure to be released on the 7" single format in the UK in the Nineties. It was pressed on yellow vinyl and came with a free full colour poster.
The single peaked at number 6 in the UK singles chart. The single's B-side, a ballad entitled 'Tenderest moments', is a fan favorite and was later re-recorded by Erasure in an acoustic version for their 2006 album 'Union Street'.
My collection: 7" single no. 2156 Found: September 3, 1994 Cost: ? Tracks: 'Run to the sun' / 'Tenderest moments', 'Run to the sun (Beatmasters' Intergalactic mix)
I'll have to give full credit to Puck for introducing me to this song. I don't know exactly when, but it may well have been when the remixes of this track were released in 2003. Somehow I managed to miss this track when it was first released in 1981 - although it did not chart in the Netherlands.
Yoko Ono released this single, like the sleeve states, 'For John'. The lyrics talk of the unpredictability of life and death - of 'throwing the dice in the air' - and reach the conclusion, 'when our hearts return to ashes, it will be just a story...'. With the world in shock of John Lennon's death just two months before the released of this single in February 1981, a new poignancy was added to the already haunting yet highly danceable track.
My collection: 7" single no. 4061 Found: eBay.com, received September 23, 2009 Cost: $4 Tracks: 'Walking on thin ice' / 'It happened'
Released in October 1994, 'You want this' was the seventh and final single taken from Janet Jackson's album 'Janet'. While most previous singles were released on the 7" format in the UK, this one wasn't. This is an American pressing meant, as the label states, for jukeboxes only.
The track features samples from the Supremes' 1968 song 'Love child' and Kool & the Gang's 1973 song 'Jungle boogie'. The single reached number 14 in the UK singles chart and number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 4058 Found: eBay.com, received September 23, 2009 Cost: $4 Track: 'You want this' / 'New agenda'
'Tokyo' was the second single from Athlete's third album 'Beyond the neighbourhood'. While the cd-single contained four live tracks (including 'Tokyo' itself), this 7" single featured the album version of 'Tokyo' and an exclusive B-side track.
Released in November 2007, the single did not reach the UK top 100, partly due to lack of promotion and the fact that the cd-single EP sales were discounted as a result of UK chart rules.
My collection: 7" single no. 4057 Found: Recordstore.co.uk, received September 23, 2009 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Tokyo' / 'Accidents happen'
'22' is the latest single by Lily Allen, released just last month. The title of the song is slightly misleading, since it is about a nearly thirty-year-old woman realizing she's at the end of her prime. Lily commented on the song: 'It's more about girls that haven't figured out what they want to do with themselves. Especially really pretty girls. They can rely on their looks to an extent: people will pay for their dinners and drinks and they don't really have to think. And then suddenly it hits them that they're not doing anything with their lives and it's too late. And, yes, it's about a specific person. Most of my songs start like that and then become more general.'
The single was released, like the two previous ones, as a 7" picture disc. It peaked at number 14 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 4056 Found: Recordstore.co.uk, received September 23, 2009 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: '22' / '22 (The Big Pink Remix)'
Angelo Branduardi was born on February 12, 1950 in Cuggiono, a small town in the provence of Milan, Italy. His debut album was released in 1974.
Six years later, Branduardi had his first Europe-wide hit with 'Gulliver', a beautiful melodious track incorporating Renaissance and Baroque music. The single did not chart in the Netherlands, but it was a radio hit at the time.
My collection: 7" single no. 1122 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, December 1, 1989 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Gulliver' / 'La luna'
The last single by A-ha for a long time was 'Shapes that go together', released in 1994. The title was rather ironic, given that there was a significant amount of discord between the band members at the time of the song's release.
This single was the official song of the Paralympics '94 which were held at Lillehammer, Norway. That country was also the only territory where this single was a significant commercial success, peaking at number 5 in the chart. Furthermore, it reached number 27 in the UK and number 57 in Germany.
My collection: 7" single no. 2101 Found: Melody Maker, May 15, 1994 Cost: 6,5 guilders Tracks: 'Shapes that go together' / 'Cold as stone (remix)'
An informant (known in law enforcement as a criminal informant or C.I.) is someone who provides privileged information about a person or organization to an agency, usually law enforcement, without the consent of that person or organization. In slang, such persons are referred to as 'rats' or 'stool pigeons'.
And that's the title of this era-defining song by Kid Creole and the Coconuts. With latin sounds and a rather wordy lyric, they set the charts alight in 1982. The single reached number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 17 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 2824 Found: February 1, 1997 Cost: ? Tracks: 'Stool pigeon' / 'In the jungle (remix)'
'Avalon' was the second single from Roxy Music's 1982 album of the same name. Produced by Rhett Davies and the band, it became one of the band's signature songs. The single reached number 3 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 13 in the UK singles chart.
The album 'Avalon' was listed as number 307 in the Rolling Stone magazine's list of 500 greatest albums of all time in 2003. I always wonder how they make these lists...
My collection: 7" single no. 1753 Found: London, October 19, 1992 Cost: 1 pound Tracks: 'Avalon' / 'Always unknowing'
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'
'Survive' is a track from David Bowie's 1999 album 'Hours'. It was written by Bowie and Reeves Gabrels and released as the second single from the album. While the album version is a beautiful track, the Marius de Vries mix featured on this single ruins the track somewhat.
Much to my surprise I found out that this single was actually released on the 7" format, and as a picture disc, no less, in 2000. I'm always glad to find 7" singles from around that time, because the format had been almost completely abandoned by then.
My collection: 7" single no. 4055 Found: eBay.nl, received September 22, 2009 Cost: 8 euro Tracks: 'Survive (Marius de Vries mix)' / 'Seven (live)'
Disc two features Keren Woodward on the picture disc and the B-side 'Voyage voyage', originally performed by Desireless. The tracks were all produced by Ian Masterson, who previously had success as part of the remix team Trouser Enthusiasts, producer of Dannii Minogue and also producing Kim Wilde's surprise hit 'Loved' in 2001.
'Love comes' is a track from Bananarama's latest album 'Viva', released last week.
My collection: 7" single no. 4054 Found: Townsend Records, UK, received September 22, 2009 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Love comes (radio edit)' / 'Voyage voyage'
'Love comes' is the brand new single by Bananarama, released on September 6 - just two weeks ago. Much to my delight, the single was released as two separate 7" picture discs. Since they are a duo these days (and have been since 1993), each disc portrays a member of Bananarama.
Picture disc number one features Sara Dallin and the B-side is a cover of Bryan Ferry's song 'Tokyo Joe'. 'Love comes' peaked at number 44 in the UK singles chart earlier this month.
My collection: 7" single no. 4053 Found: Townsend Records, UK, received September 22, 2009 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Love comes (radio edit)' / 'Tokyo Joe'
'Never too late' was the third single taken from Kylie Minogue's second album 'Enjoy yourself'. Kylie herself wanted the title track to be released as the third single, but she was overruled by producer Pete Waterman - illustrating once more who had creative control over her career at that point.
The B-side, called 'Kylie's Smiley Mix', was a megamix of Kylie's biggest hits up until then, including the tracks 'Je ne sais pas pourquoi', 'Turn it into love', 'I should be so lucky' and 'Got to be certain'. 'Never too late' was apparently the favourite Kylie song of the late INXS lead singer and Kylie's ex-boyfriend Michael Hutchence.
My collection: 7" single no. 3330 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, March 24, 2001 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Never too late' / 'Kylie's Smiley mix'
'Breakaway' was the second and last single from Kim Appleby's second album of the same name, both released in 1993. The single reached number 56 in the UK singles chart, the lowest charting single of her entire career.
This single was the last 7" release by Appleby. The 1994 single 'Free spirit' was only released on cd-single and 12" single.
My collection: 7" single no. 2681 Found: Record fair, July 3, 1996 Cost: ? Tracks: 'Breakaway' / 'Mama (acoustic)'
Ex-Thin Lizzy frontman Philip Lynnott recorded the song 'Old town' on his 1982 self-titled solo album. The song was written about the breakup of two lovers. It features a great piano solo by Darren Wharton. Unbelievably, this single did not chart in any territory.
In 1999 the Corrs performed this song during their Unplugged session for MTV. a studio recording featured six years later on their album 'Home'.
My collection: 7" single no. 2426 Found: July 22, 1995 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Old town' / 'Beat of the drum'
This single from 1982 features an early version of the track 'Because you're young' by the then-unknown group Private Lives. The sleeve only added to the mystery: there was no photograph of its members anywhere. A listing of names on the back of the sleeve reveals that Private Lives consisted of John Adams, Steve Harvey, Brother James, Rick Lane, John Reid and Bobby Valentino. Session musicians Paul Harvey and Gary Barnacle appeared on this track as well.
The single did not reach the charts, but the track would resurface in 1984 as a re-recorded B-side of the single 'From a river to a sea'.
My collection: 7" single no. 2953 Found: Record fair, February 7, 1998 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Because you're young' / 'Because you're young (instrumental)'
Entitled the Future Love EP, this 7" single actually is not an EP, as EP's usually feature more than two tracks. Apparently the UK version of this single did feature three tracks, but as always, European buyers were ripped off.
It was the second single from Seal's 1991 self-titled debut album. It reached the top 10 in Ireland, Norway and Switzerland, whereas it peaked at number 6 in the Netherlands and number 12 in the UK singles chart. 'Violet' is a beautiful acoustic version of the track that appears on the album.
My collection: 7" single no. 1432 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, 1991 Cost: 6,5 guilders Tracks: 'Future love paradise' / 'Violet'
'Alone' was composed by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly. It was first recorded in 1983 by Steinberg and Kelly's pet project, I-Ten, on the album 'Taking a cold look'. Heart recorded it in 1987 on their album 'Bad animals'. It was released as the first single from that album. It became their biggest hit, spending three weeks at number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and reaching number 3 in the UK singles chart.
In 2007, disaster struck. Canadian shrieking witch Celine Dion recorded a cover version of this great song, shattering eardrums wherever her version was played. Her cold, metallic voice cut right through any sense of beauty. Thankfully, we still have Heart's version.
My collection: 7" single no. 1715 Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 19, 1992 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'Alone' / 'Barracuda (live)'
George Michael wrote the song 'Freedom '90' almost as a small autobiography. It described his fame and fortune in the early days with Wham!. The song was initially perceived to be describing Michael's effort to break free from his publishing contract with Sony Music. However, as Michael's sexuality came to light a few years later, the song became equally recognized as a one that describes the struggles of being a homosexual in the closet. The ''90' added to the end of the title is to prevent confusion with a Wham! song also titled 'Freedom'.
While still refusing to appear in music videos, a music video was directed by David Fincher, featuring a number of supermodels, including Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington and Cindy Crawford, who mouthed the words. It also featured the destruction of various symbols of Michael's past, including the famous guitar, jukebox, and leather jacket of the 'Faith' era. The single was rewarded with a number 1 in Japan, peaking at number 28 in the UK singles chart and number 8 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 3257 Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 20, 2000 Cost: 40p Tracks: 'Freedom '90' / 'Freedom '90 (Back to reality mix)'
Herbie Hancock's 'Rockit' is one of many instrumental tracks released as a single in the Eighties. It stood out because of the groundbreaking music video directed by Godley & Creme, featuring robot-like sculptures by Jim Whiting moving in time to the music in a seemingly perpetuum mobile.
Featuring scratch sounds and synthesizers, it was very much of its time, but also a track that has stood the test of time. It was a big hit in Europe, peaking at number 7 in the Netherlands and Austria, number 10 in Sweden and number 4 in Switzerland.
My collection: 7" single no. 1603 Found: March 28, 1992 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Rockit' / 'Rockit (album version)'
In 1980, CBS Records released the 'NU Disk' series of records on the Epic label. While they were similar to EP's, since both formats contained more than two tracks. EPs were usually on 7″ vinyl, and played at 45rpm. NU Disks were on 10″ vinyl, and they played at 33 1/3 rpm! For the most part, NU Disks were by New Wave synth-pop bands.
'Straight lines' by New Musik is a good example of that. Their NU Disk contained three album tracks (from their album 'From A to B', also released in 1980) plus the 'B-side' track 'Sad films'.
My collection: 10" single [unnumbered] Found: unknown Cost: 5 guilders Tracks: 'Straight lines', 'On islands' / 'Living by numbers', 'Sad films'
Bill Kelly, Fran Brozena, Jerry Hludzik, Carl Siracuse, Chris Hanlon and Sally Rosoff formed the Buoys in the early Seventies. The band was based in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Songwriter Rupert Holmes wrote their first hit 'Timothy' in 1971 and selected the Buoys to record this song himself.
The follow-up single 'Give up your guns', a narrative featuring an escaped bank robber. The single has the distinction of becoming a top 10 hit twice: it reached number 5 in the Dutch Top 40 in the summer of 1972, then reached number 8 in the summer of 1979.
My collection: 7" single no. 376 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Give up your guns' / 'The prince of thieves'
'I drove all night' was written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly for Roy Orbison. He first recorded the song in 1987, but it was only released in 1992, after it was a top 10 hit for Cyndi Lauper in 1989.
Lauper recorded the track for her third solo album 'A night to remember'. The single reached number 6 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 7 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 876 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, June 10, 1989 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'I drove all night' / 'Maybe he'll know'
I'm glad to say that my collection of Sade singles also contains some rarities. Some of them have already been featured on this blog - and here's another one. 'Never as good as the first time' was the third single from Sade's second album 'Promise' and while it was re-recorded for the single release, this Spanish promo contains the album version of the track.
What's more, it is a one-sided disc. Although the B-side does have a label, there is no groove pressed on it. The sleeve features the Spanish tour dates and a photograph that is not used on the regular sleeve of the single. Quite the collector's item!
My collection: 7" single no. 3268 Found: October 22, 2000 Cost: ? Tracks: 'Never as good as the first time'
After having been in the band Blondie for years, Debbie Harry recorded her first solo album 'Kookoo' in 1981. The band then regrouped briefly, before disbanding in 1983. Six years later, Harry released her second solo album 'Def dumb and blonde'.
'I want that man' was the first single taken from that album. Produced by Tom Bailey (ex-Thompson Twins) and Eric "E.T." Thorngren, the single sounded more poppy than any of her previous work, either with or without the band Blondie. She was rewarded with a number 13 peak position in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 1057 Found: HMV, London, October 17, 1989 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'I want that man' / 'Bike boy'
Nena released the original version of 'Irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann' in 1984. It was the first single from their 1985 album 'Feuer und Flamme', released a year later. After two previous singles failed to reach the German top 10, this one shot up to number 3, shuffling the band right back into the limelight again.
This 12" single features an extended mix of the track. It would be translated into English by Lisa Dalbello as 'Anyplace, anywhere, anytime' that same year, recorded on the band's 1985 English album 'It's all in the game'. In 2003, Nena had a hit with that track when she re-recorded it with Kim Wilde.
My collection: 12" single no. 330 Found: Record fair, 1999 Cost: 5 guilders Tracks: 'Irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann' / 'Ganz oben (live)', 'Der bus is' schon weg (live)'
'Drag me down' was a single by the Boomtown rats, released in 1984, shortly before lead singer Bob Geldof became a charity celebrity, writing 'Do they know it's Christmas' for Band Aid and organising Live Aid a year later.
It was a good career move for Geldof, as 'Drag me down' was the last chart hit for the Boomtown Rats, stalling at number 50 in May 1984.
My collection: 7" single no. 4052 Found: La La Land, Den Haag, September 19, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Drag me down' / 'An icicle in the sun'
The trio Imagination became best known for the tracks they recorded with producers Steve Jolley and Tony Swain. When they parted ways with the producers duo, further chart success eluded them.
