Beach baby - First class

Record producer John Carter was the veteran of the early Sixties beat music, most notably Carter-Lewis and the Southerners, a band Carter formed with fellow producer Ken Lewis. Lewis and Carter formed a vocal harmony band, The Ivy League, that enjoyed three top twenty hits in Britain in 1965. Carter and Gill Shakespeare wrote the song 'Beach Baby' in the summer of 1974 in their home in East Sheen, South West London, far from any beach. Carter immediately enlisted the help of lead singer Tony Burrows and another session singer, Chas Mills, to record the song for Jonathan King's UK Records record label under the name The First Class.

The dense, complex production, layered vocals evoked the Sixties west-coast production style of lead Beach Boy Brian Wilson. At one point the arrangement utilises the horn theme from the last movement of Sibelius' Fifth Symphony. In 1974, at a moment when nostalgia for the Sixties was fashionable (and The Beach Boys sat atop the Billboard Hot 200 album chart with Endless Summer on 5 October 1974), the song became a hit in the UK (where it peaked at number 13), and in the USA, where it peaked at number 4.

My collection: 7" single no. 5289
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received February 1, 2012
Cost: 1,6 euro
Tracks: 'Beach baby' / 'Surfer queen'

Free spirit - Kim Appleby

The 12" single I bought back in 1994 features four remixes of Kim Appleby's 'Free spirit', but this promotional double 12" set, which I found last month on a website, features five. Indeed, that's one extra and so I guess you could say I bought this set for one track only.

Now if 'Free spirit' was recorded by Madonna or Britney Spears these days it would probably be a hit, because it's a piece of inspired high energy pop, but Kim Appleby's star had faded in 1994, when this disc came out, and so it disappeared quietly. What a shame.

My collection: 12" single no. 624
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received February 1, 2012
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Free spirit (Mixed by Mobius Loop)' / 'Free spirit (Club mix - remix by Tony King' // 'Free spirit (Sound of Stockwell dub)' / 'Free spirit (Spiritual mix)', 'Free spirit (Diesel & Ether Defacto mix)'

Don't you love me anymore - Joe Cocker

I don't have any Joe Cocker tracks, except this one. I already had the 12" single, which I bought two decades ago, but I decided I had to have the 7" single as well. So when the opportunity presented itself last month, I ordered it.

Much to my surprise, this German pressing comes in a rather boring sleeve, whereas the UK version (at least, the 12" single I have was made in the UK) is much prettier with an actual photograph on the front cover. The song remains a true classic with Joe's devastated voice used to full effect.

My collection: 7" single no. 5288
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received February 1, 2012
Cost: 1,5 euro
Tracks: 'Don't you love me anymore' / 'Tell me there is a way'

Send me a lover - Taylor Dayne

'Send me a lover' was written by Rick Hahn and George Thatcher, and released on September 6, 1993 as the second single from Taylor Dayne's album 'Soul dancing'. It peaked at number 50 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In Europe, the single didn't become a hit. Perhaps that's why it didn't appear on 7" vinyl in Europe. This single was made in the USA and didn't come in a picture sleeve.

Unfortunately, the song was later covered by Celine Dion, who butchered the song beyond recognition with her grating voice. This version by Taylor Dayne remains the only one you can hear without bleeding ears.

My collection: 7" single no. 5287
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received February 2, 2012
Cost: 1,2 euro
Tracks: 'Send me a lover' / 'Someone like you'

Hiroshima - Wishful thinking

David Morgan wrote 'Hiroshima' and recorded it with the band Wishful Thinking in 1969. The single wasn't a hit, but when it was re-released in Germany in 1978, it reached number 8 there. The single stayed in the charts for months.

In 1990 the German singer Sandra recorded a cover version of this song for her fourth solo album 'Paintings in yellow'. That version was eventually released as a single as well, becoming one of her biggest hits in Central Europe.

My collection: 7" single no. 5286
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received February 1, 2012
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Hiroshima' / 'She belongs to the night'

We're all alone - Rita Coolidge

The first time I heard this song was a few months ago in a radio show presented by Kim Wilde called 'Secret Songs' on Magic 105.4 FM. Some singles can go by unnoticed for decades, but in the end I still catch them.

The song was written by Boz Scaggs, who recorded it on his 1976 album 'Silk degrees'. The Rita Coolidge version appeared on her album 'Anytime...Anywhere' released the next year. Coolidge recalled: 'When I was with A&M Records, it was like a family. I would visit Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss, and it was a very open, communicative group of people. One day I was in Jerry Moss' office and he said that the Boz Scaggs album 'Silk Degrees' was in a million homes and there was a song on it that was perfect for a woman to sing. He said, 'It's called "We're All Alone" and as he's not doing it as a single, I think you ought to record it.'" Quite right too, as it reached number 6 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 5285
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received February 1, 2012
Cost: 1,5 euro
Tracks: 'We're all alone' / '(Your love has lifted me) Higher and higher'

I.O.I.O. - Bee Gees

'I.O.I.O.' is the second single (third in the U.S.) from the Bee Gees album, Cucumber Castle. Maurice Gibb described this as "Barry's African jaunt" as the opening has African-type percussion that leads into Barry Gibb singing the verse, joined by Maurice in the chorus. The single was a relative success mainly on European charts.

The title 'I.O.I.O.' Maurice calls on the chorus and made as a title of the song, accompanied by Colin's drumming. Vince Melouney was present on playing the guitar on the song's first session in 12 June 1968 while they are recording the songs for their fifth album and their third international album, 'Idea'.

My collection: 7" single no. 5284
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, January 27, 2012
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I.O.I.O.' / 'Sweetheart'

I can't help it - Bananarama

This American pressing of Bananarama's single 'I can't help it' features the sleeve artwork that was used for 'Love in the first degree' in the UK. The B-side, 'Mr. Sleaze', was also the B-side of 'Love in the first degree' in the UK. And so here's a release that I felt would be an interesting addition to my collection.

'I can't help it' was written Bananarama with Stock, Aitken and Waterman, who also produced the track. It reached number 47 in the US Billboard Hot 100. The single peaked at number 20 in the UK singles chart. So perhaps the Herb Ritts photography on the sleeve of the UK version would have been a better choice?

My collection: 7" single no. 5283
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, January 27, 2012
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I can't help it' / 'Mr. Sleaze'

Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder

'Sir Duke' was written and recorded by Stevie Wonder in tribute to Duke Ellington, the influential jazz legend who had died in 1974. The lyrics also refer to Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald. Wonder had already experienced the passing of two of his idols (Dinah Washington and Wes Montgomery) after attempting to collaborate with them. After Ellington died in 1974, Wonder wanted to write a song acknowledging musicians he felt were important. He later said, 'I knew the title from the beginning but wanted it to be about the musicians who did something for us. So soon they are forgotten. I wanted to show my appreciation.'

Released as a single from Stevie Wonder's 1976 album 'Songs in the key of life' in 1977, it reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number 2 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 5281
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, January 27, 2012
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Sir Duke' / 'He's misstra know it all'

Don't forget to remember - Bee Gees

When you take a look at the sleeve of this single, you might think that the Bee Gees went all religious in 1969. However, the title 'Don't forget to remember the Lord' is just a case of bad sleeve design. In fact it's a combination of the two song titles included in this package.

'Don't forget to remember' is a country ballad from the Bee Gees, taken from the album 'Cucumber Castle'. The single was a number 1 hit in the Dutch Top 40 in September 1969. In the UK singles chart, the song peaked at number 2.

My collection: 7" single no. 5282
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, January 29, 2012
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Don't forget to remember' / 'The Lord'

An Englishman in New York - Sting

'Englishman in New York' was taken from Sting's 1987 album 'Nothing like the sun'. The 'Englishman' in question is the famous eccentric Quentin Crisp. Sting wrote the song not long after Crisp moved from London to an apartment in New York's Bowery. Crisp had remarked jokingly to the musician 'that he looked forward to receiving his naturalization papers so that he could commit a crime and not be deported.'

The song was released as a single in 1988, but only reached number 51 on the UK singles chart. In the Dutch Top 40 it was considerably more successful, peaking at number 9.

My collection: 7" single no. 5280
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, January 27, 2012
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'An Englishman in New York' / 'Ghost in the strand'

Driftin' - Alessi

Although the Alessi brothers had only one significant hit in Europe with 'Oh Lori', they released several other singles and albums between 1977 and 1982. 'Driftin'' was released in 1978 as a single from their third album, also called 'Driftin''.

In the 2000s they resumed their touring and album recording career as a duo, with the release of two new albums as Alessi, and also as part of group Barnaby Bye.

My collection: 7" single no. 5279
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, January 27, 2012
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Driftin'' / 'Just can't stop it'

Killer / Papa was a rollin' stone - George Michael

After Freddie Mercury died in November 1991, the remaining members of Queen staged a charity concert at Wembley Stadium in London with several pop and rock icons taking the place of Freddie and performing his vocals. After the concert, the EP 'Five live' was released to further benefit the Mercury Phoenix Trust.

From this EP, only 'Somebody to love' and 'These are the days of our live' were performed during the tribute concert. The other three live tracks were recorded during George Michael's 'Cover to cover tour' from 1991. The medley of 'Killer' and 'Papa was a rollin' stone' was one of them, and it was remixed by PM Dawn for this 12" single.

My collection: 12" single no. 620
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, January 27, 2012
Cost: 2,5 euro
Tracks: 'Killer/Papa was a rollin' stone (PM Dawn remix)' / 'Killer/Papa was a rollin' stone (PM Dawn remix instrumental)'

Under the moon of love - Showaddywaddy

The Seventies group Showaddywaddy had most of their biggest hits with covers of songs from the Fifties and early Sixties. These cover versions included 'Three steps to heaven' (originally by Eddie Cochran in 1960), 'Heartbeat' (originally written and recorded by Buddy Holly) and 'Under the moon of love' (originally a US hit for Curtis Lee in 1961 and co-written by Tommy Boyce).

The Mike Hurst-produced version of that latter song spent three weeks at the top of the UK singles chart in December 1976. In the Dutch Top 40, the single peaked at number 3 in early 1977.

My collection: 7" single no. 5278
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, July 27, 2012
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Under the moon of love' / 'Showboat'

Hit me! - Shirley-Jane

Shirley Mescher was born in Den Haag, Netherlands in 1963 and first made a name for herself as part of the group Music Hall. In 1983, they released the single 'Voulez-vous danser?'. Shirley then became a playmate in the magazine Playboy. She appeared on the front cover of the April 1985 issue.

Back to music, Shirley became part of the duo Fresh in 1987. Together with Ingrid Brans she recorded a cover of 'Summer in the city'. After that single flopped, Ingrid moved on to the successful Dutch trio Barbarella and Shirley went solo as Shirley-Jane. Her first outing was this single: 'Hit me!', a cover of the infamous single by Ian Dury. Despite the sexy cover and the half-decent cover version, it wasn't a hit.

My collection: 7" single no. 5277
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, January 27, 2012
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Hit me!' / 'This night'

Disco tango - Tommy Seebach

Tommy Seebach did his first of three performances at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1979 with 'Disco tango'. The song was well received and ended up in sixth place out of 19 competitors. It became a major hit in Denmark and other European countries.

Seebach later became one of those tragic Eurovision heroes, as his other performances were less successful: 'Krøller eller ej' ended up in 11th place in 1981, and 'Under stjernerne på himlen' only reached 22nd place in 1993. The poor result meant that Denmark did not qualify for the ESC 1994, and Seebach was widely criticized, and never competed again. Seebach passed away on March 31, 2003 after a heart attack.

My collection: 7" single no. 5276
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, January 27, 2012
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Disco Tango (English Grand Prix version)' / 'Disco Tango (Danish Grand Prix version)'

Lookin' out - Time Bandits

'Lookin' out' was released in 1982 as the third single from the Time Bandits' self-titled debut album. Like most of the Time Bandits' material, the song was co-written by the band's singer and frontman Alides Hidding.

The single didn't reach the Dutch Top 40. New hits would follow when the band released their second album in 1983.

My collection: 7" single no. 5275
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, January 27, 2012
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Lookin' out' / 'In town'

Lay all your love on me - The Bank

At the time of its release, much was made of the decision to release Abba's song 'Lay all your love on me' on 12" single only. I'm guessing of course, but I think that's where the unusual term 'Legal bootleg 7"' on the sleeve of this single comes from.

The unknown band The Bank recorded a version of Abba's song and released it on the more popular 7" vinyl format. It didn't help this release, however: it was not a hit.

My collection: 7" single no. 5274
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, January 27, 2012
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Lay all your love on me' / 'Dance the night away'

Something's gotten hold of my heart - Marc Almond

Most people are familiar with the single 'Something's gotten hold of my heart' as a duet between Marc Almond and the song's original performer, Gene Pitney, but this single was released before the duet version. It's the album version of the track, as recorded by Marc Almond solo.

I don't know enough of the history, but I think this single was released just weeks before the duet version, and finally the duet version came in its place -and became a Europe-wide hit. This version of the single is therefore a bit more rare.

My collection: 7" single no. 5273
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, January 27, 2012
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Something's gotten hold of my heart' / 'King of the fools'

Eurovision March - Band of the Royal Netherlands Air Force

The Band of the Royal Netherlands Air Force has been rather active in releasing singles and albums through the years. I've been able to track down a listing of over 12 singles and EP's and one album, all released between 1958 and 1965.

This particular single was released in 1959 and contains two marches: the Eurovision march and the March of the United Nations. The Eurovision march is well known for its annual use during the Eurovision Song Contest, and as such, this single piqued my interest. Housed in an authentic record company sleeve from that time, it seems I found a rather nice collector's item as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 5272
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, January 27, 2012
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Eurovisie-mars' / 'March of the United Nations'

Hot in the city - Billy Idol

Billy Idol's 'Hot in the city' was originally released in 1982. This is a re-release from 1987. It features a remix of 'Catch my fall' on the B-side, taken from the album 'Vital Idol' which features several remixes of Billy Idol hits. I've been partial to that album ever since I got it from my parents during a holiday in Germany. Very cool music.

Although the released version of 'Hot in the city' contains a verse in which Idol shouts 'New York', other versions of the song were recorded for various radio stations, including one in which he shouts 'Amarillo' or 'New Haven'.

My collection: 7" single no. 5271
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, January 27, 2012
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Hot in the city' / 'Catch my fall (remix fix)'

Breakaway - Kim Appleby

One half of the popular duo Mel & Kim continued solo after the other half sadly passed away. Kim Appleby initially forged a successful career with hit singles like 'Don't worry' and 'G.L.A.D.', but her second solo album wasn't as popular and she soon ended up out of the music business.

This is the title track of that second album, remixed by La Camorra, Clive Farrington, "Mr. L", Harding & Curnow and Biffco for a promotional double 12" release. Most of these remixes were never released commercially, and only two of them appeared on cd as far as I know.

My collection: 12" single no. 619
Found: Discogs.com, received January 24, 2012
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Breakaway (Headless Pigeon mix 2)', 'Breakaway (Headless Pigeon dub 2)' / 'Breakaway (The survivor mix)', 'Breakaway (Mr. L.'s Midnight mix)' // 'Breakaway (extended mix)' / 'Breakaway (Break dub - Diss Gust It mix)', 'Breakaway (Headless Pigeon mix 1)'

Endless sleep - Marty Wilde

'Endless sleep' was originally written and recorded by American singer Jody Reynolds in early 1958. He wrote it in a single afternoon in 1956 in Yuma, Arizona. After it reached number 5 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in the summer of 1958, Marty Wilde quickly recorded a version to be released in the UK. This was a common practice at that time, offering a chance for UK artists to score with proven stateside hits.

The single gave Marty his first shot at fame, as it reached number 4 in the UK singles chart in July 1958. While Jody Reynolds didn't have a hit with this song in the UK originally, it was released in April 1979, and had a one week chart run at number 66.

My collection: 7" single no. 5270
Found: Discogs.com, received January 24, 2012
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Endless sleep' / 'Her hair was yellow'

I get lonely - Janet Jackson

Taken from her 1997 album 'The velvet rope', 'I get lonely' was one of those Janet Jackson tracks that contained an R&B feel more than her previous work. It was the kind of stuff she would record more often after this album, with increasingly less audience approval.

These remixes breathe a little life into the track, although it really can't compare with the hits she'd had in the decade before. Nice, but not too interesting is my verdict, alas.

My collection: 12" single no. 618
Found: Discogs.com, received January 24, 2012
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'I get lonely (Janet vs Jason - The club remix)', 'I get lonely (Janet vs Jason - The remix sessions part 2)' / 'I get lonely (Jason's special sauce dub)', 'I get lonely (LP version)'

Ode to boy - Alison Moyet

'Ode to boy' was originally a B-side of Yazoo's 1982 single 'The other side of love' and a track on their second album 'You and me both'. Alison Moyet re-recorded the track solo on her fourth solo album 'Essex' in 1994.

I sort of knew that the track was released as a single, but I was unaware of the existance of a 12" single with remixes of the track. I've always liked the original version - a beautiful demonstration of stereo sound - and while I wasn't sure Alison's re-recording was as good, I was still curious enough to hear these remixes. And so, I ordered the disc. Have to say I quite like these mixes.

My collection: 12" single no. 617
Found: Discogs.com, received January 24, 2012
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Ode to boy', 'Ode to boy (Factory mix)' / 'Ode to boy (NY-LA mix)', 'Ode to boy (NY-LA dub)', 'Ode to boy (Factory dub 2)'

I want you back '88 remix - Michael Jackson with the Jackson 5

The second half of the Eighties was littered with remixes of old tracks. Somehow record companies thought it was a cheap way to make profits without having to pay for studio time - except the time for the remixer of course. But in some cases, even the remixers didn't even spend that much time on it.

Take this one for example: an '88 remix of the old Jacksons hit 'I want you back' with a young Michael Jackson. In 1988 the name Michael Jackson meant a lot to a lot of people. Popular remixers Phil Harding and Ian Curnow were recruited for a remix. They added a drumbeat, and there you had it: a new single. A poor effort, however. But even this reached number 8 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 5269
Found: Discogs.com, received January 24, 2012
Cost: 1,5 pounds
Tracks: 'I want you back '88 remix' / 'Never can say goodbye'

Sugar mice - Marillion

The lyric of Marillion's 'Sugar mice' is quite depressing, and one suspects that a divorce drama is part of all the misery. But in fact, it's more about a British worker who emigrates to the USA to escape unemployment, leaving behind his family, and ends up drinking in a hotel bar in Milwaukee.

This 12" single features an extended mix of the track, as well as the album version which is about a minute longer than the single edit which was featured on the 7" single.

My collection: 12" single no. 145
Found: Record fair, 1993
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Sugar mice (extended version)' / 'Sugar mice (album version)', 'Tux on'

This woman's work - Kate Bush

For a long time, Kate Bush's 'This woman's work' was my favourite track of hers. Over the last six years she's released a few other tracks I consider my favourite, but it's weird how she keeps getting better - beyond the best of my expectations I would say.

Anyhow, this 12" single is a prized possession of mine, because of the beautiful poster sleeve and the two B-sides featured here. No extended version of the single mix of 'This woman's work', but I think it's impossible to improve on this already highly moving track.

My collection: 12" single no. 94
Found: unknown, 1990
Cost: 20 guilders
Tracks: 'This woman's work (single mix)' / 'Be kind to my mistakes', 'I'm still waiting'

Enjoy the silence - Depeche Mode

One of Depeche Mode's biggest hits was 'Enjoy the silence', released as the second single from their album 'Violator'. There were many different remixes of the track, released in as many different formats. The last remix to be released at the time was this one.

Entitled the 'Quad: Final mix', it was a remix of 15 minutes, released on cd-single and a 12" single, both containing just the one track. But it's a fascinating remix, going through a few 'movements', until reaching a rather desolate ending. The B-side of this disc features the DM logo from the sleeve, etched in.

My collection: 12" single no. 94
Found: Record fair, 1992
Cost: 20 guilders
Tracks: 'Enjoy the silence (Quad: final mix)'

Rage hard - Frankie goes to Hollywood

Looking back over 50 years of pop history, only the last three decades have seen 12" singles and extended remixes being released. Out of the thousands and thousands of those remixes there could be a small selection deemed as 'classic'. And I would say that the extended remix of 'Rage hard', included on this disc, should be one of them.

Entitled 'Young person's guide into the 12" mix', it is an introduction to instruments and certain remix techniques, using the aforementioned Frankie goes to Hollywood track as an example. As far as I know, this remix was never released on cd - at least not entirely. This original version lasts for 12 minutes, a shorter version appeared on a Frankie goes to Hollywood compilation cd in 1994.

My collection: 12" single no. 208
Found: Record exchange, London, October 1994
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Rage hard [Young person's guide into the 12" mix]' / 'Suffragette city', 'Don't lose what's left (of your little mind)', ['Rage hard (reprise)']

Boogie Wonderland - Earth Wind & Fire

Released in 1979, 'Boogie Wonderland' became a signature song for the band Earth Wind & Fire. The track featured female soul and R&B singing group The Emotions and became a worldwide hit after its single release.

This 12" single features the full length version of 'Boogie Wonderland'. According to the label, it should clock in at 9'30 minutes but it is in fact a minute shorter than that. A mere typo? Who knows. As for the lyric of the song... Can you guess the first few lines being sung here?

My collection: 12" single no. 300
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 1994
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Boogie wonderland' / 'Boogie wonderland (instrumental)'

Take on me - A-ha

After the first release of 'Take on me' flopped, the record company tried again and again to make it work. This 12" single represents the first re-release of the single, featuring a different sleeve and a different mix of the track. In the end, it took a second re-release and a new music video to make it a worldwide hit - although the music on the disc didn't change after this one.

The extended version is a little over a minute longer than the single version, but it sounds a lot better in my opinion. The copy I have was pressed in Italy. I bought it some time after the single finally reached the Dutch Top 40 and went to number 1.

My collection: 12" single no. 50
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 8 guilders
Tracks: 'Take on me (extended version)' / 'Love is reason', 'Take on me'

Pale shelter (You don't give me love) - Tears for fears

For a long time I didn't understand how it all worked with the different versions of Tears for Fears' early single 'Pale shelter'. It is quite confusing, actually, as the song was re-released no less than three times.

But I've figured it out now. What you see here is the most recent re-release of the single. Subtitled 'You don't give me love', this version was released in 1985 after the success of the band's second album 'Songs from the big chair'. But... wait for it... It features the original version of the song! 'Pale shelter' was re-recorded for Tears for Fears' debut album 'The hurting', and that version was released as a single the second time around. However, this 12" single features the original single and 12" version, produced by Mike Howlett.

My collection: 12" single no. 290
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 1996
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Pale shelter (extended version)' / 'Pale shelter', 'The prisoner'

The look of love - ABC

After the debut single 'Tears are not enough' and the hit single 'Poison arrow', ABC released 'The look of love'. The 12" single featured four parts of the track: part 1 is the standard album version, part 2 is an instrumental version, part 3 is a vocal remix and part 4 is a short acoustic instrumental part of the song, containing strings and horns, as well as occasional harp plucks and xylophone. Parts 1 and 4 appear on ABC's debut album 'The lexicon of love'.

Another remix was made by Trevor Horn and released exclusively on an American 12" single. That remix was finally released in the UK as a free single with 'Be near me' in 1985.

My collection: 12" single no. 150
Found: Concerto, Amsterdam, 1992
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'The look of love (part 1)', 'The look of love (part 2)' / 'The look of love (part 3)', 'The look of love (part 4)'

Blue Jean - David Bowie

Having sworn off disguises and alternate identities for his 1983 album 'Let's dance', it was a bit odd to see the music video for David Bowie's 'Blue Jean' in 1984. Again using loads of make-up on his face, the video distracted a bit from the music. The album 'Tonight', released that year, is seen as an artistic failure, although there were a few nice songs on it.

The extended version of 'Blue Jean' is interesting enough, I'd say. However, the B-side, containing two remixes, is the kind of music I've played only once - but never more. Quite excruciating.

My collection: 12" single no. 372
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 2000
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Blue Jean (extended dance mix)' / 'Dancing with the big boys (extended dance mix)', 'Dancing with the big boys (extended dub mix)'

Walk on air - T'pau

There's something unusual about this 12" single: it's the sleeve! While the record company decided to release a picture disc, they released it in a normal 12" single sleeve, so at first you don't even notice it's a picture disc you're buying. I guess I'm just used to clear pvc sleeves for picture discs.

Anyway, 'Walk on air' was the penultimate single release of T'pau, because after the next one, 'Soul destruction', the band broke up. The name lived on via some greatest hits compilations, and in the end Carol Decker reappeared, using the name T'pau, in 1998 with the excellent album 'Red'. But this single didn't sell very well, and with the end of their contract in sight, the record company must have lost faith. Unfortunately!

My collection: 12" single no. 120
Found: Wreckastow, Rotterdam, 1991
Cost: 20 guilders
Tracks: 'Walk on air' / 'Hold on to love (alternative version)', 'Dirty town'

Living in a world (turned upside down) - Private Lives

Private Lives released a handful of singles, but their best known tracks remains 'Living in a world (turned upside down)'. Recorded at those legendary Select Sound Studios in Knebworth, it is one of the best pop songs from 1984. At least, that's what I think. The record company must have had similar thoughts as they re-released the track after two other singles didn't chart. The original single reached number 53 in the UK singles chart, this re-release didn't chart. The end of the duo came pretty quickly after that.

This 12" single features the new single version of the title track, but also a nice extended version and a dub remix of their very first single release, 'Because you're young'.

My collection: 12" single no. 614
Found: unknown
Price: unknown
Tracks: 'Living in a world (turned upside down) (5th Amendment)' / 'Because you're young', 'Living in a world (turned upside down) (7" mix)', 'Breakup (7" mix)'

The sensual world - Kate Bush

When I bought this 12" single, I did it mainly for the fact that it was cheap and it was a promotion copy. I don't know why I never bought the commercial 12" single, but considering it was 1989, it would probably have been a lack of funds.

Anyway, I was pretty surprised when I found out the A-side of this 12" single featured a so-called 'double groove'. One groove featured the regular version of 'The sensual world', the other played the instrumental version. The latter was also one of the B-sides, which made it a bit of a useless exercise. Bush re-recorded 'The sensual world' as 'Flower of the mountain' on her album 'Director's cut'. The new version was recorded as it was originally intended: with the words from James Joyce's book 'Ulysses'.

My collection: 12" single no. 97
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 1990
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'The sensual world', 'The sensual world (instrumental)' / 'Walk straight down the middle', 'The sensual world (instrumental)'

Cry wolf - A-ha

Released as the second single from A-ha's second album 'Scoundrel days', I never thought this was the best track to be released as a single. The title track should have been the one in my opinion, but perhaps it was deemed 'too intense'. This poppy track catered to the lightweight pop image the band had at the time, even if the album they made was full of more intricate musical arrangements.

The extended version of 'Cry wolf' included here was a decent remix however. I never bought the 12" single myself, but I got a copy last year when someone sent me a package and used this to make it more sturdy. And you know: when something is free, you enjoy it even more.

My collection: 12" single no. 613
Found: unknown, 2011
Cost: nothing
Tracks: 'Cry wolf (extended version)' / 'Cry wolf', 'Maybe maybe'

A gentleman's excuse me - Fish

I bought several different discs of Fish's 'A gentleman's excuse me'. Besides two 7" singles, a cd-single and a shaped picture disc, the 12" single was a piece of vinyl that ended up in my collection pretty soon after its release.

On this format, the demo version of the song is added. It also appears on the cd-single, but this is, as far as I know, the only vinyl format on which the demo appears.

My collection: 12" single no. 93
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1990
Cost: 15 guilders
Tracks: 'A gentleman's excuse me' / 'Whiplash', 'A gentleman's excuse me (demo)'