The Dutch girl group Frizzle Sizzle had their last hit with this single, 'Second chance'. It was only a minor hit, reaching number 38 in the Dutch Top 40. Subsequent singles 'Treat me good' and 'Around and around' did not reach the chart at all.
'I'll tumble 4 ya' appeared on Culture Club's debut album 'Kissing to be clever'. It was released as a single in North America only, peaking at number 9 in both the USA and Canada.
I first noticed the track '(We want) The same thing' when I saw Belinda Carlisle perform the song live in Bournemouth with Kim's brother Rick Wilde on guitar in 2004. The song rocked! I don't think I heard the song before.
The word 'ill-advised' comes to mind whenever I hear this song. Several ill-advised things happened with this single. First of all, Boney M sang a song about nuclear weapons, which is a very serious subject and not necessarily compatible with their variety of carefree dance music. Then there's the last two minutes of this song, performed with a children's choir. Much too saccharine. And then there was the unfortunate dismissal of Bobby Farrell, rendering the band unable to promote the single.
'Long train running' was written by Tom Johnston and originally recorded by the Doobie Brothers in 1973 for their album 'The captain and me'. Released as a single, it was a top 10 hit in America and the UK.
One chorus and one verse, that's about it. Plus some amazing music, it has to be said. 'Ebony and Ivory' is a somewhat meagre Paul McCartney composition, but adding Stevie Wonder into the track was a stroke of genius. You would almost forget that the lyric is full of platitudes and the ultimate piece of cornyness. The song was performed live in the studio by both McCartney and Wonder, although due to conflicting work schedules, both recorded their parts for the song's music video separately.
I bought the 12" single of 'Cat people (Putting out fire)' just two months ago. Now I've also found the 7" single I can say that I've got both versions of this David Bowie track. The single version is almost two minutes shorter than the version that appears on the original soundtrack of the movie 'Cat people' and the aforementioned 12" single.
After Adam & the Ants split, Adam Ant went solo, taking his song writing partner Pirroni with him. His biggest chart success was hit first solo album 'Friend or foe', which included the hits 'Goody two shoes', 'Friend or foe' and this single, 'Desperate but not serious'. Although it was not a hit in Europe, this single reached number 33 in the UK singles chart.
'Come to me (I am woman)' was the last single taken from Frida's 1984 album 'Shine'. The track was slightly edited for the single, becoming 30 seconds shorter than the album version. Like more tracks on the album, it was recorded with an all star band, featuring Simon Climie on keyboards, Mark Brzezecki (from Big Country) on drums and Kirsty MacColl on backing vocals. The B-side 'Slowly' was written by Frida's Abba colleagues Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus.
Renowned for their live shows, The Specials released a 5-track live EP in January 1980 as their third single. The EP features 'Too much too young' and 'Guns of Navarone' recorded live in London and 'Skinhead symphony', which was recorded at Tiffany's in Coventry.
Written by Queen guitarist Brian May, 'Flash' is the theme song of the 1980 movie Flash Gordon.
Late last year, I started trying to complete my Michael Jackson singles collection. It started when I found the red vinyl collectors set of 'Thriller' singles. It's gone on from there, until I had almost every Michael Jackson single from 1978 onwards (The early years are much harder, as Motown singles are always expensive). The only single still missing was 'Wanna be startin' somethin'', a single I left standing in the racks numerous times back in the Eighties and Nineties. That omission has now finally been rectified.
As advertised on the sleeve of this single, 'Belle' is an extract from the musical Abbacadabra, as performed in France. The song adds French lyrics, written by Alain and Daniel Boublil, to the instrumental track 'Arrival', which originally appeared on Abba's 1977 album 'Arrival'.
In 1985, the popularity of Paul Hardcastle in the UK was taking on serious shape. He had a big hit with the track '19' and was subsequently commissioned to make remixes. One of them was this single, 'Reasons to be cheerful' by Ian Dury and the Blockheads. Originally it was a hit for them 1979, reaching number 3 in the UK singles chart.
The title of the song "Heroes" is a reference to the 1975 track "Hero" by the German band Neu!, whom Bowie and Eno admired. It was one of the first tracks to be recorded for Bowie's album of the same name, but it was instrumental until the last sessions for the album. Producer Tony Visconti inspired the image in the lyric of the lovers kissing 'by the wall', when he and backing vocalist Antonia Maaß embraced in front of Bowie as he looked out of the Hansa Studio window. Bowie's habit in the period following the song's release was to say that the song was based on an anonymous young couple but Visconti, who was married to Mary Hopkin at the time, contends that Bowie was protecting him and his affair with Maaß. Bowie confirmed this in 2003.
'The night sky' was written and performed by Keane and released as a non-album single in aid of War Child in October 2007. The song is written from a child's point of view on war. Originally the song was meant to be included on Kean's 2006 album 'Under the iron sea', but it was dropped from the track listing on the last minute.
'You've got me thinking' was the second single from the Beloved's second album 'Conscience'. The single was not as big a success as its predecessor 'Sweet harmony' which peaked at number 8, whereas this single peaked at number 23 in the UK singles chart.
'Arienne' was the fourth and last single taken from Tasmin Archer's debut album 'Great expectations'. The name Arienne came up when Tasmin had a melody in her head and the name just seemed to fit. The name is not that common, but it is an old French family name. Tasmin says the lyrics of 'Arienne' are about 'finding your way in the world and having to cope with growing up in a world that's not so friendly.'
The American 12" single of Liza Minelli's cover version of the song 'Love pains' is not the only 12" single of it that I own. The life of a collector can be complicated sometimes: when a 12" single contains different tracks in different territories for instance.
Carola represented Sweden for the second time during the 1991 Eurovision Song Contest. The song she performed was 'Fångad av en stormvind', a dynamic song with a rather stupid choreography. While she finished third in 1981 with 'Främling', expectations were very high indeed.
'That's what love is for' was released in 1991 as the fourth single from Amy Grant's album 'Heart in motion'. In America, it was one of the few from the album to be released both to secular and Christian radio stations. The single peaked at number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100. In the UK, the single reached number 60.
'Rage to love' was the third and last single from Kim Wilde's fourth album 'Teases & dares'. The track was remixed for the single by rock 'n' roll legend Dave Edmunds. Kim commented: 'We got Dave Edmunds to remix that and it sounded very Stray Cats-ish. But I just thought it had the best energy of any record from that time, unlike myself. I didn't have an awful lot at that time. I kinda let things go, lost control a bit, became a bit jaded.'
'Waste of time' is a single from Maarten Peters' debut album 'Hunting the queenbee'. Lack of information makes it hard to give it a chronology, but it's probably Maarten's second or third single. It is an interesting popsong which nevertheless did not chart in the Netherlands.
'Always' was released as the first single from Erasure's sixth album 'I say I say I say'. The song quickly became Erasure's 13th Top 10 on the UK singles chart, peaking at number 4. It topped the charts in Ireland and hit number 5 in Germany. In the United States, the single peaked at number 20 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
'The name of the game' was the first song to be recorded for Abba's fifth album, which would be named 'The album'. Written by Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Stig Anderson, it was their most complex composition yet and contained the influences of the laid-back California sound of the day.
The relationship with my brother has always been a bit strange. He was very much into music, and didn't have any scruples about how to get hold of records. So when I started buying records as a child, sometimes I had singles disappear on me. There was also the odd swap, but he always came out on top, because I had a lousy judgement when I was eight years old.
'When a heart beats' was the eighth hit single for Nik Kershaw. It was the third single taken from his 1984 album 'The riddle', and at the time of its release I really thought it was a bit of a tuneless affair. It was only later, when I realised I had nearly every single by Kershaw, that I bought this one. Now, twentyfour years later, I think it's a nice pop song, albeit a little unfocused.
When you see the picture here, you would almost think there's been a mistake. But it's true: I bought this single in a completely white sleeve. And that's because this copy of 'This side of love' is a promotional single, with a white CBS sleeve and the warning 'For promotion only - Not for sale' on the label. This is slightly surprising, because I always thought CBS dropped Terence Trent d'Arby like a stone the minute they heard his second album 'Neither fish nor flesh'.
'Doctor doctor' was the second single taken from Thompson Twins' hugely successful 1984 album 'Into the gap'. It reached number 3 in the UK singles chart, which was an improvement on the number 4 reached by the previous single, 'Hold me now'. In the Netherlands, 'Doctor doctor' reached a more modest number 24.
'More than this' was released in 1982 as the first single from Roxy Music's album 'Avalon'. The single peaked at number 6 in the UK singles chart and number 24 in the Dutch Top 40. Although it didn't reach the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, it is still one of their best known singles there.
'When the spirit slips away' is the third single from Ten Sharp's 1991 album 'Under the waterline'. Originally released as a 7 track mini-album, it was expanded to 10 tracks when international success loomed.
Peeping Tom is a person who, in the legend of Lady Godiva, watched her during her ride and was struck blind or dead. The song 'Peeping Tom' was Rockwell's third single, taken from his album 'Captured'. It also featured on the soundtrack of the motion picture 'The last dragon', a Motown Productions picture. This martial arts film was a critical disappointment but a commercial success.
'Break the chains' was the third and last single release from Private lives' debut album 'Prejudice and pride'. The single version was slightly different from the album version, as it added a sung intro.
'Part-time lover' was released as a single in 1985 and was taken from Stevie Wonder's album 'In square circle'. The song reached number 1 in America, number 3 in the UK and number 11 in the Netherlands. The song featured R&B singer Luther Vandross humming at the end of Stevie's verses.
'Praying for time', released in August 1990, was George Michael's first single in almost two years. The song was a dark and sombre reflection on social ills and injustice. George used an echoey vocal effect and put the melody in a low enough key to take away the sunny nature of his regular singing voice.
'Lolly lolly' was the second single released from Wendy & Lisa's second album 'Fruit at the bottom' (1989). The single was remixed by their former employer Prince, who made the track sound bouncier and funkier than on the album.
Back in 1984, while I was constantly watching television to see music videos, I got to know the duo Naked Eyes thanks to their video of '(What) In the name of love'. They were unknown in the Netherlands, but in the UK - where Music Box was based - they already had one hit under their belt with 'Always something there to remind me'.
Yazoo released their second album 'You and me both' in 1982, and 'The other side of love' was the first single taken from that album. It was an uptempo song with a strong synth hook. Alison Moyet's soulful vocals completed the package.
Duran Duran was chosen to do the theme song of the 1984 James Bond movie 'A view to a kill' after bassist John Taylor (a lifelong Bond fan) approached producer Cubby Broccoli at a party and asked: 'When are you going to get someone decent to do one of your theme songs?'. As a result, the band was introduced to Bond composer John Barry. Simon le Bon comments: 'He didn't really come up with any of the basic musical ideas. He heard what we came up with and he put them into an order. And that's why it happened so quickly because he was able to separate the good ideas from the bad ones, and he arranged them.'
In 1993, Kim Appleby released her second solo album 'Breakaway'. The album was preceded by this single, 'Light of the world'. With the material co-written with her sister Mel Appleby all used up, she turned to new co-writers Davidge and Slateford to make this track. You would think that such an uplifting song housed in a sexy sleeve like this one would have been a big hit.
According to Australian music critic Molly Meldrum the lyric of Madonna's 'The power of goodbye' was written about Madonna's ex-husband Sean Penn. The track was released as a single in the fall of 1998. The single reached number 6 in the UK and the Netherlands, but stalled at number 11 in the US Billboard Hot 100.
Inside the dark castle
- 'Vocals? Are you mad?', rumbles the voice. 'Do you think I still have that same voice I had ten years ago? Now where did I keep my fags and my whiskey...'
After UB40 scored a massive hit with 'I got you babe' (a duet with Chrissie Hynde from the Pretenders), they released a song that I thought was about a thousand times better than that piece of outdated drivel. 'Don't break my heart' was composed by the band, as opposed to the aforementioned cover version.
I don't know whether it was such a wise move for Technotronic to release a Megamix as a single in the summer of 1990, within months of their breakthrough. If anythnig, it showed how monotonous and interchangeable their track were. 'Pump up the jam', 'Get up' and 'This beat is Technotronic' are all here in the mix, and it's amazing how well they fit together. Or, rather, it's not amazing, it's rather obvious.
'Every little kiss' was released as the second single from Bruce Hornsby and the Range's 1986 album 'The way it is'. The single reached number14 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 32 in the Dutch Top 40, but didn't chart in the UK.
'Hand on your heart' was released as the first single from Kylie Minogue's second album, 'Enjoy yourself'. It was another track written and produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman, so nothing really had changed: Kylie was still making radiofriendly commercial pop without pretences.
