The Alessi Brothers made some great jazzy stuff in the late Seventies,with one of their best known tracks being 'Oh Lori'.
'The one that you love' is a classic love song, written by Graham Russell and recorded by the Australian band Air Supply. The single reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in July 1981. Although it is a wellknown song, the single did not chart in most of Europe.
After the duo Marshall Hain split up, Kit Hain went on a solo career and Julian Marshall seemingly disappeared from the pop scene. Seemingly, because in 1980 he was part of the group Eye to eye.
The title track of Flash and the Pan's 1985 album 'Early morning wake up call' was released as a single. It wasn't a commercial success, but it is quite a catchy track in the style of this Australian band.
When I started collecting All about Eve records in the late Eighties, I quickly became aware that they'd released some independent 12" singles at the beginning of their career. The 12" of 'D for desire' never came within my grasp for a reasonable price, and neither did 'In the clouds', their second release from 1985.
There are no credits for the 'Mastermix' of Level 42's 'Hot water', but it is an impressive mix, clocking in at 10 minutes, no less. This 12" snigle also contains an extended version of the B-side, 'Standing in the light'.
Five Star took no less than six hit singles from their album 'Silk and steel', but one had to admit that they weren't exactly lazy about it. 'The slightest touch', the last single to be taken from the album, was remixed by Shep Pettibone and the 12" single contained three remixes of the track made by him.
Red Box had their first hit single in 1985 with 'Lean on me'. It took me some time to realise that this was actually a good song, but when I did, I decided I wanted to have the 12" single as well. By that time, it was pretty hard to get, and so I had to resort to mail order in order to get it.
I bought the 7" single of Alison Moyet's 'Love letters' in 1989 because I liked the song. Then I discovered the B-side 'This house', which made me buy the cd-single as I had to have it in pristine quality. And then I discovered that the 12" single actually had an extended version of 'Love letters' which didn't appear on the cd-single...
In 1991, Polydor Records released 'Two Rooms: Celebrating the songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin'. The title refers to the song on Elton John's album '21 at 33', 'Two rooms at the end of the world', to the duo's unusual collaborative style, and is also the title of a 1991 movie documenting their collaboration.
'When we were young' was a change in direction for Bucks Fizz. The production was heavy and the song had an ominous tone, far removed from the group's usual pop sound. It was the first and only single to feature lead vocals by Jay Aston. Aston's vocals were notably different from her solo appearances on previous Bucks Fizz songs Aston herself has said that she was adopting an effected voice, similar to Hazel O'Connor. She has since stated, despite the song's success, her vocal affectation wasn't a good idea, although has rated it her favourite Bucks Fizz song, while member Cheryl Baker has commented that she never liked the song due to its downbeat tone.
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.
Although this is a 12" single, it doesn't really contain a track especially made for it: both 'Questionnaire' and 'Boy' appear in their respective album versions. But because 'Questionnaire' was edited for the 7" single, this still is an attractive disc.
When I listen to this single, I can't help but notice the dodgy sound effects and the very thin voice of Thereza Bazar. Dollar were just starting out in 1979, when 'Love's gotta hold on me' was released. The duo had had two minor hits in the UK, but hit the big time - amazingly - with this one: it reached number 4 in the UK singles chart.
The Flirts were a female trio from New York City who had several dance hits in the early Eighties. The group was created and masterminded by American Hi-NRG producer, Bobby Orlando aka 'Bobby O'. The trio - initially Andrea, Holly and Rebecca - are best known for their sensual tracks.
Marjon Keller, Mandy Huydts en de the sisters Karin and Laura Vlasblom were selected for the children's choir Kinderen Voor Kinderen in the early Eighties. After recording an album and some TV specials with the choir, they decide to continue as a group. They are coached by Mandy's father Jan Huydts.
'Outside of this (Inside of that)' was a single taken from Jon & Vangelis' 1981 album 'The friends of mr. Cairo'. The track was edited from 5 minutes to 4 minutes and 10 seconds for the single.
Belgian singer Jo Lemaire released 'C'est mon bateau' ('It's my boat') in 1990. The accompanying music video was recorded in black and white.
Having bought a lot of Time Bandits singles lately, I was in doubt whether I would take home this one as I was sure I could find it cheaper someday. But in the end, I did and I'm glad I did: this is possibly one of the band's best tracks. 'Dancing on a string' has a great melody and is quite catchy too.
Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers, who produced the album 'We are family' for Sister Sledge originally formulated all its songs with the group in mind envisioning the title cut as the lead single. When the record company wanted a more overtly disco song Edwards and Rodgers gave Sister Sledge 'He's the greatest dancer', originally intended for their own band Chic.
Since I started listening to Kim Wilde's radio show 'Secret Songs' on Magic FM, I've rediscovered many tracks from the past. One of them is Odyssey's 'Use it up and wear it out', a song I thought was quite ridiculous when it was in the chart in 1980, because of the whistle.
Cameo were very popular in the mid-Eighties after they had a worldwide hit with 'Word up!', the title track of their 1986 album. Subsequent singles 'Candy' and 'Back and forth' were not as successful, but were still hits in some territories.
Amii Stewart's career was slowly grinding to a halt when this remix double A side was released in 1985. Her biggest hits 'Knock on wood' and 'Light my fire' were remixed by Barry Leng and Alan Coulthard.
The French producers Jean Kluger and Daniel Vangarde created the track 'Disco Bouzouki', roughly inspired by Greek music, in 1977. The Bouzouki Disco Band they called themselves, and the single became quite a hit in France. When released in other countries, it wasn't quite as successful - despite the rather attractive sleeve.
American disco singer Amii Stewart recorded a remarkable disco-flavoured cover version of the Doors' famous rock track 'Light my fire' in 1979. Her version was a commercial success, hitting number 5 in the UK singles chart.
A song about agoraphobia, 'Trees and flowers' was originally the debut single of Strawberry Switchblade, the Scottish duo consisting of Jill Bryson and Rose McDowall. Released on the indie label '92 happy customers', it didn't reach the chart, but it got them noticed by bigger record companies.
Human League frontman Philip Oakey and legendary producer Giorgio Moroder had worked together previously. Two singles had already been released - the hit single 'Together in electric dreams' and the flop 'Good-bye bad times' - when 'Be my lover now' was released in 1985.
In 1982, when this single was released, the British band Private Lives consisted of John Adams, Rick Lane and John Reid. Two years later, Adams would record the first Private Lives album together with Morris Michael.
On his third album 'Show me to the stage', Henry Gross mixed Rock & Roll songs with Phil Spector and Brian Wilson influences. A good example of the Brian Wilson sound on his album is the single 'Painting my love songs', released in the summer of 1977.
After Henry Gross had a worldwide hit with the single 'Shannon', he released his second album 'Release'. The second single taken from that album was the uptempo 'Springtime mama'.
Though selling millions of copies worldwide, Fleetwood Mac's 1979 album 'Tusk' was deemed a failure in comparison to their previous album, 'Rumours'. Two hit singles were taken from the album ('Sara' and the title track), but three further singles failed to chart in most territories.
After Andrew Gold enjoyed his first UK hit in 1977 with 'Lonely boy', he followed it up in 1978 with 'How can this be love'. The single reached number 19 in the UK singles chart. In the Netherlands, the single narrowly missed the Dutch Top 40.
Rod Stewart released 'Infatuation' in 1984. The music video is never played on television anymore, but at the time it was a memorable clip. Stewart acted a lot like a voyeur and a male chauvinist pig - a role that fit him like a glove I think.
Producer and DJ Darren Tate was born in London on October 22, 1972. In the early Noughties he started working under the pseudonym DT8. The DT8 project involved dance tracks with various guest vocalists.
In the Eighties not only dance tracks got the 'extended remix' treatment, but also ballads. Sometimes this resulted in very beautiful tracks, such as this version of 'How can I fall' by Breathe. With some instrumental additions, the track is extended to great effect.
The Dutch band Time Bandits were always able to release their hit singles with attractive 12" single alternatives. Their 1985 hit 'Endless road' was released with a 'special remixed dance version' included on this disc.
I still remember the day in March 1990 when my sister walked into my room with the newest single by Kate Bush, 'Love and anger'. She pronounced the title wrong and then showed me that the single was released in a gatefold booklet sleeve. I was green with envy, almost literally. When she added that the shop only had one copy, no love was left inside me, just anger.
The single 'Stay out of my life' was successful in the UK only at a time when Five Star were at the peak of their popularity in their home country. It reached number 9 in the UK singles chart.
I never managed to turn my friend Puck into a Tori Amos fan, however hard I tried. While I bought all of her albums and singles, he remained insensitive to the beauty of her Nineties work. Admittedly, Amos creatively burned out after the turn of the century, but before she did, she created some magical music.
The ballad 'It's over' was released as the fourth single from Level 42's album 'Running in the family' in 1987. I bought the 7" single in 1991, but it took me some years to find and buy the 12" single after that.
I've always liked the track 'The captain of her heart' by the band Double. I bought the single as soon as it was released, but I never really thought there was a 12" single. When I found it a decade later, I was interested to find that there was a 'full version' of the track.
I bought the 7" single of 'Paris latino' in 1997, a few years before I found this 12" single. The 12" version is slightly longer than the single version, and as such isn't a remix but just an extended version.
'Cruel summer' was a hit for Bananarama, reaching number 9 in the UK singles chart in August 1983. In 1989, the record company decided on releasing a remix of the track as a single, which wasn't a brilliant idea to begin with.
I don't really know why - well it probably was a lack of funds - but I never bought the 12" single of Ferry Aid's 'Let it be' despite being a fan of several artists on this record. 23 years later, I finally managed it and what a pleasant surprise this disc holds...
Before the 'Anglia remix' was created, which spawned the hit single version of 'Catch me' by Marsha Raven, she released the track without the sound effect of Big Ben in it.
Kajagoogoo were scorned in the Eighties (and after) became they were considered to be naff. But when you listen to their music now, it holds up very well. The song with the nonsensical title 'Ooh to be aah' is a great piece of breezy pop that has stood the test of time better than you'd think.
Back in November 2008, I featured the 7" single of Fiat Lux's 'Secrets' on this blog. The song cannot be downloaded from there anymore as I never reupload tracks (so don't ask, please).
This is not the best 12" remix in the history of mankind - in fact, it's rather lame. It features the single version of UB40's 'Don't break my heart', which fades out at the end while a different track fades in: it's an instrumental roughly based on the tempo and key of the song but doesn't really belong here. I think many people must have felt a bit cheated when they played this record after buying it.
What a shame. Trevor Horn produced Yes's 'Owner of a lonely heart' in 1983, creating a great and innovative rock track - but then decided to make a remix as well. The result is on this 12" single, and I repeat: what a shame. The remix is not much more than a random collection of noises that becomes increasingly grating as time progresses and no verse or chorus appears.
