The blood that moves the body - A-ha

Back in 1988, I bought a single of 'The blood that moves the body', not knowing that there was a much more interesting release in the UK. This limited edition pack included three postcards of the band, which in itself isn't exactly earth-shattering, but as I am a bit of a nerd when it comes to limited edition packages, I still wanted to have it when I found out about it 35 years later. It took me almost two years to find a near mint copy, and of course I had to find it online.

In fact, I was tipped off by a friend, and I think I bought this copy from a friend of that friend. I don't really care: it makes my A-ha collection that much more interesting. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7730
Found: Discogs.com, received 23 July 2025
Tracks: 'The blood that moves the body' / 'There's never a forever thing'

Slow emotion replayed - The The

When The The announced their most recent single 'Slow Emotion Replayed' last month via their newsletter, I was very disappointed when it was already sold out when I looked. Mind you, I read that newsletter within an hour after it dropped in my mailbox. This month another newsletter dropped, and lo and behold, it was announced that more copies were available to order! I didn't hesitate, of course, because the The The collection needs to be complete. Well, as complete as it can be. 

'Slow emotion replayed' is a new version of 'Slow emotion replay', recorded after their successful recent tour. I missed out on those live gigs, because I hate standing for hours, so this is a fine replacement. The B-side is a bit of wordplay on the title of the A-side and is an instrumental track that is inspired on the A-side as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 7729
Found: The The website, received  22 July 2025
Tracks: 'Slow emotion replayed' / 'Crow commotion displayed'

Kids in America - Kim Wilde

Since I am catching up on older acquisitions, I think it's time I highlight my Japanese pressings of Kim Wilde singles. I started last week with the exclusive release 'Take me tonight', and today I went for her debut single, the immortal 'Kids in America'. 

On the internet there's the recurring debate about the line 'New York to East California' in the song, with people wondering why exactly Kim chose to sing about East California while there's really nothing there to sing about. The simple explanation given by dad Wilde, who wrote the song, was that it sounded better than 'West California'. In pop, things usually are that simple.

In Japan, 'Kids in America' was released twice, and with different sleeves. In the absence of any chart data I have to assume that the first release wasn't successful enough, and so the record company went for a re-release after worldwide success became evident. 

My collection: 7" single no. 1838 / no. 3340
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 23 January 1993 / Ebay, 2001
Tracks: 'Kids in America' / 'Tuning in tuning on'  

L'amour est bleu - Vicky

Almost ten years ago I bought my first copy of Vicky Leandros's 'L'amour est bleu'. Why it didn't end up on this blog back then, I don't really know. It is an interesting enough EP, because it announces all the tracks in Spanish, but they are actually sung in French.

Two of these tracks are familiar, because they are also on other releases of the song, but the B-side is populated by two more songs. Vicky didn't win the contest on this occasion, but she would do so half a decade later, when she performed 'Après toi'. 

My collection: 7" single no. 5704
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, 21 November 2015
Tracks: 'L'amour est bleu', 'Le soleil a quitté ma maison' / 'Le tour du monde', 'Les amoureux' 

Voy a volverme loco - Chris Rea

Chris Rea's single 'Fool (if you think it's over)' was released in 1978 and became quite successful. Although it only reached number 30 in the UK singles chart and number 25 in the Dutch Top 40, it also reached number 12 in the US Billboard Hot 100, which gave the singer the status of a 'one hit wonder' over there.

In 1980 he recorded a Spanish version of the song. 'Voy a volverme loco' was released in Spanish-speaking countries. This promotional single is a welcome addition to my collection, even if I already owned this version on CD.

My collection: 7" single no. 7728
Found: Discogs.com, received 15 July 2025
Tracks: 'Voy a volverme loco' / 'Three angels' 

Tu eres mi mejor amante - Luv'

After Luv' acquired great success in the Netherlands and surrounding countries, they tried to capitalize on that success by recording an alternative version of their number one hit, 'You're the greatest lover' in Spanish. 'Tu eres mi mejor amante' was the result of this, but the single was packaged in this rather dull black and white sleeve. I am pretty sure that it would have made more impact if the sleeve had been as colourful as the original version.

I don't know, to be honest, whether this was a hit in Spanish-speaking countries, but I saw this single while buying some records from a Spanish dealer and I just couldn't resist.

My collection: 7" single no. 7727
Found: Discogs.com, received 15 July 2025
Tracks: 'Tu eres mi mejor amante' / 'Everybody's shakin' hands on Broadway'

Dan ljubavi - Nada, Bisera, Beti & Boba

Back in 1975, Yugoslavia participated in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Dan Ljubezni', performed in Slovenian by Pepel in kri. Although this was a fine version, it wasn't exactly what those in the Serbian-speaking regions of the country wanted. And so they recorded their own version: 'Dan ljubavi'. 

The song was recorded by Nada, Bisera, Beti and Boba, although the sleeve of this single suggests that many more people were involved in the recording of this single. The sleeve proudly exclaims 'Pesma je kandidat za gran pri evrovizije '75' ('The song is a candidate for the Eurovision Song Contest '75'). It was, but not in this version.

My collection: 7" single no. 7725
Found: Discogs.com, received 15 July 2025
Tracks: 'Dan ljubavi' / 'Ostavi sve'