Amarti è l'immenso per me - Eros Ramazzotti

Eros Ramazzotti was born in Rome on October 28, 1963 and made his breakthrough winning the San Remo festival in 1984. International fame in Europe followed in 1988 with songs like 'Musica è' and 'Se bastasse una canzone'. The track 'Amarti è l'immenso per me' was recorded for his 1990 album 'In ogni senso' as a duet with Antonella Bucci. It was a modest hit in the Dutch Top 40, reaching no. 26 in the summer of 1990.

I bought the single because of its beautiful string arrangement. The vocals can be a bit overwhelming, like most Italian songs...

My collection: 7" single no. 1259

Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, July 12, 1990

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Amarti è l'immenso per me' / 'Dammi la luna'

Download: here

Answers to nothing - Midge Ure

I discovered Midge Ure's second solo album 'Answers to nothing' while on holiday in pre-war Yugoslavia. I owned a tape walkman and after a week on holiday I was desperate to hear something new. So I bought a tape of this album on the assumption that Midge Ure from Ultravox was certainly capable of making some interesting music. I wasn't disappointed.

As it turned out, the 7" and 12" singles drawn from this album were mainly available in England, and that's where I bought this 12". 'Answers to nothing' was a great title track and I was very curious to hear the extended version. Again, I wasn't disappointed: clocking in on 8 minutes, this is an excellent remix.

My collection: 12" single no. 103

Found: Record exchange, London, 1990

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Answers to nothing (extended version)' / 'Honorare', 'Oboe'

Download: here

Every kinda people - Robert Palmer

'Every kinda people' was recorded in 1978 by Robert Palmer on his album 'Double Fun'. With its blend of Caribbean steel pan, violins and moving lyrics, "Every Kinda People". has become one of Palmer's best-loved songs, covered multiple times by other artists (including Chaka Demus and Pliers, Randy Crawford and Amy Grant).

I bought this single, together with 'Aubrey' by Bread, in a shop in the centre of Brussels. They had a whole collection of Japanese singles for discount prices.

My collection: 7" single no. 1537

Found: Record shop, Brussels, 1991

Cost: 250 Belgian Francs

Tracks: 'Every kinda people' / 'Keep in touch'

Download: here

I'll wait - Taylor Dayne

Taylor Dayne was born as Leslie Wunderman on March 7, 1962 in Baldwin, Nassau County, New York. Signed to Arista Records in 1987, she hit the worldwide charts with her debut single 'Tell it to my heart'. 'I'll wait' was the third single taken from her third album 'Soul dancing', released in 1993. In America, this double 12" single pack was released, featuring seven versions of the track. With remixes by Eric "E-Smoove" Miller and Steve "Silk" Hurley, this was a top three hit in the U.S. Dance chart.

I bought my copy in an obscure dance vinyl shop in the centre of Amsterdam, while I was studying there. The 'New Anthem mix', which goes on for almost 15 minutes, was the most impressive of them all.

My collection: 12" single no.

Found: Amsterdam, 2004

Cost: 25 guilders

Tracks: 'I'll wait (E-Smoove Anthem Vocal Mix)', 'I'll wait (E-Smoove Vocal Mix)' / 'I'll wait (7 Minutes of Silk)', 'I'll wait (4 Minutes of Soul)' // 'I'll wait (New Anthem Mix)' / 'I'll wait (Silky Dub Total)', 'I'll wait (Album Version)'

Download: here

Working with fire and steel - China Crisis

'Working with fire and steel' was taken from China Crisis's second album of the same name. It was the second single from that album, but it still didn't manage to reach the UK Top 40. They would only manage to do so with their next single, 'Wishful thinking'.

The 12" single included two bonus tracks plus an extended remix of the track entitled 'Fire and steel'. With added instrumental breaks, this version knocks spots off the original version.

My collection: 12" single no. 227

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1994

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Working with fire and steel', 'Fire and steel (mix)' / 'Dockland', 'Forever I and I'

Download: here

(No more) Fear of flying - Gary Brooker

'(No more) Fear of flying' is taken from the album of the same name, which was Gary Brooker's debut solo album. Unlike 'The Angler', this single was a hit in the Netherlands. Then again, it was Gary Brooker's only hit in this country. Despite releasing four albums and eight singles, Brooker never found commercial success again.

I heard this song on the radio lots of times during the eighties. For a long time I didn't know what it was called and who performed it. When I found out, I still needed a lot of time to find the single. Obviously, when I found it, I was very glad.

My collection: 7" single no. 2128

Found: Record Palace, Amsterdam, July 30, 1994

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: '(No more) Fear of flying' / 'S.S. Blues'

Download: here

I knew you were waiting (for me) - Aretha Franklin and George Michael

George Michael released his first solo single while he was still in Wham! The fact that 'Careless whisper' became number one hit, may have been one of the factors that caused him to quit the band. After 'A different corner' had also reached the top spot, all eyes were on him. For his third solo single, he enlisted Aretha Franklin for a duet. And that helped him score the hattrick. Remarkably, it was Franklin's first and only number one hit in the UK.

The song was written by Dennis Morgan and Simon Climie. The latter was unknown at that point, but he would be part of the duo Climie Fisher, together with Rob Fisher, who'd previously been part of Naked Eyes.

My collection: 12" single no. 359

Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 1999

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'I knew you were waiting (for me) (extended remix)' / 'I knew you were waiting (for me) (percapella)', 'I knew you were waiting (for me) (edited remix)'

Download: here

Take on me - A-ha

The story of the song 'Uncertain smile' is similar to the one of this song. When the Norwegian group A-ha signed to WEA records in 1984, they released 'Take on me' as their debut single. When the sleeve pictured here doesn't look familiar to you, you've probably got another version of that same song. This original version was produced by Tony Mansfield, a man who had forged a pop career himself in the late seventies with New Musik.

Without the pop video that would stun the world, the original version 'Take on me' flopped mercilessly. The more successful version would be released a year later on the same label. I was lucky to find this original version within months of the release of the later successful one.

My collection: 7" single no. 377

Found: Nieuwstraat, Den Haag, 1985

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Take on me [original version]' / 'And you tell me'

Download: here

Uncertain smile - The The

When The The signed to CBS Records in 1982, their first single on that label was a version of 'Uncertain smile'. This track would appear on their first album for CBS, 'Soul Mining', released a year later, but in a different version. The album version featured a lengthy piano solo, whereas the single version from 1982 featured saxophone and flute solos.

The album version of 'Uncertain smile' was released on single in 1984, and that version even made the Dutch Top 40, peaking at no. 31. At that time, the original version was often played on a local radio station, causing me to search for this single for years. Obviously it had become very rare. But finally, in 1991, I succeeded: I found it during a record fair in Amsterdam.

My collection: 7" single no. 1518

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 21, 1991

Cost: 10 guilders

Tracks: 'Uncertain smile' / 'Three orange kisses from Kazan'

Download: here

Daddy Cool - Boney M

One of the greatest lines in pop music is 'She's crazy like a fool / What about it Daddy Cool?'. It was presented to the world by Boney M, the group brought together by Frank Farian, the fraudulent German producer who preferred to work with people who could perform songs rather than sing them.

'Daddy Cool' was one of many hits that were part of the European disco craze in the second half of the Seventies. The B-side was a disco cover of Bob Marley's classic 'No woman no cry'. It was a Europe-wide success, one that Boney M kept building on until the bubble burst in 1984.

My collection: 7" single no. 1633

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, April 18, 1992

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Daddy Cool' / 'No woman no cry'

Download: Album 'Take the heat off me', including both tracks

Dear Prudence - Siouxie and the Banshees

When I was in highschool, I had a classmate who was wild about Siouxie and the Banshees. I think he owned all of their records. I got to know them through this single, a cover of the song by the Beatles. I'd heard the original two or three times, but I preferred this to the original pretty quickly.

'Dear Prudence' wasn't a hit in the Netherlands, however it peaked at number 3 in the UK singles charts, making it their biggest hit in that country.

My collection: 7" single no. 221

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1983

Cost: 3,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Dear Prudence' / 'Tattoo'

Download: here

? (Fragezeichen) - Nena

After having had hits with '99 Luftballons', 'Nur geträumt' and 'Leuchtturm' in the Netherlands, '? (Fragezeichen)' was the first single taken from Nena's second album of the same name. It was a good success, peaking at number 12 in the beginning of 1984. The b-side 'Ich lieb' dich' was sung by band member Carlo Kages.

My collection: 7" single no. 3384

Found: Geest, Den Haag, 2006

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: '? (Fragezeichen)' / 'Ich lieb' dich'

Download: here

Bang Bang - B.A. Robertson

B.A. Robertson was born on September 12, 1956 in Glasgow, Scotland. He released his debut album in 1973, but he would only find his first chart success in the UK in 1979. His first single to hit the singles chart was 'Bang Bang', which reached number 2 in the summer of that year. It was subsequently also released in the Netherlands, but there it didn't make the charts.

I bought this single as part of a batch of singles, because I vaguely remembered it from my childhood. Back then, I thought it was a very funny single because of the strange vocals at the end. Three decades later the joke has worn thin.

My collection: 7" single no. 3386

Found: Geest, Den Haag, 2006

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Bang Bang' / 'B side the C side'

Download: here

Never as good as the first time - Sade

There is some irony in recording a song called 'Never as good as the first time' and then re-record it for the single release. This is exactly what Sade did in 1986. The funny thing is, the re-recording was actually better than the first one.

When this single was released, Sade was touring in support of her second album 'Promise', and backing singer Leroy Osbourne was recruited. With his added vocals, the track was lifted to above average level. The 12" single contained the full length version of the re-recording, whereas the 7" single contained an edit. The B-side was an instrumental part of the song 'Hang on to your love', as performed during the tour mentioned.

My collection: 12" single no. 53

Found: Free record shop, Den Haag, 1987

Cost: 4,95 guilders

Tracks: 'Never as good as the first time (extended mix)' / 'Keep hanging on'

Download: here

Love is a wonderful colour - The Icicle Works

'Love is a wonderful colour' was the first single by the Icicle Works to reach the UK singles chart. The song is a dynamic piece of work, the vocals by lead singer Ian McNabb sounding suspiciously like David Bowie.

I found the double single edition during my visit to Beanos in 2006. I'd never bought a double single this cheap before.

My collection: 7" single no. 3443

Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, 2006

Cost: 20p

Tracks: 'Love is a wonderful colour' / 'Waterline' // 'In the dance the shaman led' / 'The devil on horseback'

Download: Album 'Sessions, mixes and b-sides (1982-1984)', including the three B-sides

Give me back my heart - Dollar

Trevor Horn was already doing production duties for Dollar when they released the single 'Give me back my heart'. This single is rather unique for proving the fact that even a producer like Trevor Horn can't rescue a song like this when it's performed by artists with limited vocal abilities. The whole affair sounds like two mediocre singers in an echo chamber.

I bought this single mainly because of Trevor Horn. Having grown accustomed to his style of producing I expected more of this single than I got. Not that he was to blame...

My collection: 7" single no. 3440

Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, June 19, 2006

Cost: 20p

Tracks: 'Give me back my heart' / 'Pink and blue'

Download: here

Rain - The Cult

The Cult achieved mainstream success pretty early on in their career when they released their fourth single 'She sells sanctuary'. It reached number 15 in the UK singles chart. The next single was 'Rain'. It did almost as well: reaching number 17. It has always been a live favourite, being performed at almost every gig since its release. Despite the songs popularity, after performing it live in November 1989 at Wembley, singer Ian Astbury said 'So you like that one?'. After the audience cheered, Astbury responded by saying 'Personally I don't'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3441

Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, 2006

Cost: 20p

Tracks: 'Rain' / 'Little face'

Download: here

48 Crash - Suzi Quatro

I've already established on this blog that I've got quite an extensive Kim Wilde collection. But I have to add a dimension to that right here and now: I've also got singles of tracks that she has covered. Suzi Quatro's '48 Crash' was not recorded in the studio by Kim Wilde, however she did perform it live on several occasions in 2004.

When I visited Beanos in 2006, I used the opportunity to get my hands on this rare single. Unfortunately they didn't have a picture sleeve edition, but then those were prety rare in the seventies anyway.

My collection: 7" single no. 3439

Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, 2006

Cost: 4 pounds

Tracks: '48 Crash' / 'Little bitch blue'

Download: Album 'A's, B's & rarities', including both tracks (part 1, part 2)

Windpower - Thomas Dolby

Thomas Dolby was born as Thomas Morgan Roberston on October 14, 1958. His 'Dolby' nickname comes from the Dolby Laboratories, and was given to him by school friends due to his seemingly inseparable relationship with his cassette machine. Thomas Dolby released his debut album 'The golden age of wireless' in 1982. This track included 'Windpower'.

I got to know 'Windpower' via a different album: it was included on a compilation album to benefit Greenpeace in 1985. During my last visit to London's Beanos record shop in its original form, I picked up this single at a bargain price.

My collection: 7" single no. 3442

Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, June 19, 2006

Cost: 20p

Tracks: 'Windpower' / 'Flying north'

Download: Album 'The golden age of wireless' including both tracks

Riders on the storm - Annabel Lamb

Annabel Lamb was born in Surrey, England in 1958. She released her debut album 'Once bitten' in 1983, and this single, a cover of the well-known track from The Doors. It earned her her only hit, because she got to no. 27 in the UK singles chart with this. She subsequently released six more albums, with little chart success.

This 12" single includes a longer version of the single track, with some extra guitar solos here and there, and a dub version, which is basically a remixed instrumental track. This version of the Doors classic is one of the more interesting ones, in my opinion. My copy of the 12" version includes a small poster of Annabel, who was not your average pinup, by the way.

My collection: 12" single no. 307

Found: Record Exchange, London, 1995

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Riders on the storm [extended]' / 'Riders on the storm (dub)', 'No cure'

Download: Riders on the storm - extended version and dub version