'Different air' was the last single by Living in a box to reach the UK singles chart, albeit at number 57 only. After the ballad hit 'Room in your heart', this single was a decidedly middle of the road track, that didn't touch a lot of people.
Artistic differences, as well as changes to their record label Chrysalis, caused the band to break up in 1990 before they could record a third album.
My collection: 7" single no. 1146 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, January 19, 1990 Cost: 3,5 guilders Tracks: 'Different air' / 'All the difference in the world'
I depend on my photographic memory when it comes to buying records for my collection. This doesn't always work, as is demonstrated with this single. I bought the German pressing of 'That girl' (pictured above) back in 1989. A decade later, I found the UK version of that same title (pictured below), but because the sleeve was so different, I didn't recognise it and bought it again (I didn't register where and when, so that data is missing below). The French version has a different sleeve, so I'll have to watch out that I won't buy that one too in the future.
The 1982 release 'That girl' was the lead single from Stevie Wonder's Greatest Hits compilation, 'Original Musiquarium' as one of four new songs from the collection. The single reached number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 39 on the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 797 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, April 15, 1989 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'That girl' / 'All I do'
While recording the movie 'Evita', Madonna had finally had some much-needed vocal coaching. After more than a decade in music, she finally learned how to handle her voice during singing. The effects didn't wear off immediately, as shown on her 1998 album 'Ray of light'. The first single from that album was 'Frozen', showing a remarkable change in direction: from superficial pop to melodic trance. Producer William Orbit had a lot to do with this, of course.
Seemingly recorded with Animal from the Muppets on drums, 'Frozen' reached number 1 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the Dutch Top 40. This American 7" single is probably the only 7" single that exists as the format had been abondoned in almost every territory by 1998.
My collection: 7" single no. 3021 Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 8, 1998 Cost: 10 guilders Tracks: 'Frozen' / 'Shanti/Ashtangi'
Since this single is also included in the box set for 'Atlantic', I've got two copies of it. But originally I bought this single soon after it came out in 2006. The song was written about the war in Iraq. Tim Rice-Oxley explained: 'It's probably the one song that most expresses our dismay and confusion about what it means to be a British citizen, in terms of what our society's contributing to the world at large. It's very hard to make sense of why Britain feels it needs to sign up with George Bush's attacks on Iraq and the whole Afghanistan thing. It feels like there's a whole lot of trouble brewing up over Iran, and you just don't know where it's going to end. On a personal level, for people of our age, it's really unsettling...'
The single peaked at number 3 in the UK singles chart. It reached number 7 in the Dutch Top 40 during an amazing 17 week chart run.
My collection: 7" single no. 3438 Found: HMV, London, June 19, 2006 Cost: 3 pounds Tracks: 'Is it any wonder?' / 'Let it slide'
George Michael released his second solo single 'A different corner' in April 1986, while still a member of Wham!, although their farewell concert had already been announced. This song was written, arranged and produced by George Michael himself and the sleeve proclaimed that the song was 'dedicated to a memory'. It is rumoured that the song was written about his brief relationship with Pat Fernandez. Fernandez appeared in the Wham! videos 'Wake me up before you go-go' (as one of the dancers with Pepsi and Shirlie) and 'Last Christmas'.
The single was another number one hit for George Michael, in the Netherlands, the UK and Norway. It also reached number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100. I recently bought the 12" single but found out that the tracks on it are exactly the same as the ones on the 7" single I've had for 20 years.
My collection: 7" single no. 880 / 12" single no. 507 Found: All that music, Leiden, June 16, 1989 / Songs for sale, Rotterdam, July 31, 2009 Cost: 3 guilders / 2 euro Tracks: 'A different corner' / 'A different corner (instrumental)'
After her success with the Pet Shop Boys in 1987 and 1989, Dusty Springfield finally returned to recording music after an absence from the music business for almost 20 years. The resulting album, 'Reputation' was released in June 1990. The album included the previous two hits 'Nothing has been proved' and 'In private'. This single, 'Reputation' was the title track and the first single by Springfield circa 1990 that was not produced by the Pet Shop Boys.
Perhaps that was why the single only managed to reach number 38 in the UK singles chart. Meanwhile, the album reached number 18 in the UK albums chart, finally resurrecting Springfield's career once and for all.
My collection: 7" single no. 2436 Found: Concerto, Amsterdam, August 19, 1985 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Reputation' / 'Rep u dub 1'
'Move to Memphis' was a new track by A-ha, released in 1991 to coincide with the release of 'Headlines and deadlines', their first ever compilation album. The single showed a more mature-sounding A-ha than ever before, already foreshadowing what their next album would sound like. A a new version of 'Move to Memphis' would actually appear on that next album.
The single became A-ha's least successful release up until then, only managing to reach number 47 in the UK singles chart during a two week chart run. The single didn't chart in the Netherlands.
My collection: 7" single no. 1559 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, December 14, 1991 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'Move to Memphis' / 'Crying in the rain (live)'
'Goodbye girl' was the title track from David Gates' third solo album, released in 1978. The former Bread lead singer recorded only six new tracks for the album, the other six tracks were taken from his two previous solo albums.
The single was an unsuccessful one, as it didn't chart in Europe. Gates did continue recording music, although he took a break between 1981 and 1994.
My collection: 7" single no. 2249 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 4 ,1995 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Goodbye girl' / 'Sunday rider'
The English band Kajagoogoo was formed in 1979 by Nick Beggs, Steve Askew, Stuart Croxford Neale and Jez Strode. Originally named Art Nouveau, they struggled to find a record company but were unsuccessful. In 1981 they auditioned for a lead singer to add to their band and found Christopher Hamill. He made his profile catchier by using a stage name, 'Limahl', an anagram of his surname. His hairdo, blond on top and black on the sides, also helped, of course.
With this new addition, they attracted interest from record companies and got Nick Rhodes from Duran Duran to produce their debut album 'White feathers'. The debut single 'Too shy' was released in January 1983 and became a number 1 hit in the UK and Germany. In the Netherlands, the single peaked at number 4. The B-side is not a straightforward instrumental version as you might expect, but a rather interesting dub version.
My collection: 7" single no. 1941 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 11, 1993 Cost: 1 guilders Tracks: 'Too shy' / 'Too shy (instrumental)'
I might never have become a fan of Sade's music if it wasn't for this single. I thought her debut 'Your love is king' was pretty boring, and initially I didn't like this song either when it showed up on music video TV channels. But the chorus grabbed me one day, and I found myself buying the single not long after that. It went on from there: 'Smooth operator' was kindof interesting (although I very much preferred the 12" and extended video version) and by the time 'Hang on to your love' was released, I was looking for the album.
This single reached number 12 in the Netherlands and number 36 in the UK singles chart. I'm relieved to hear that Sade is about to release a new album later this year. Well, knowing how quickly the band works, it could also be 2010.
My collection: 7" single no. 243 Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1984 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'When am I going to make a living' / 'Should I love you'
I'm not a purist by any means, but I do think that remixing Motown classics like this should be a capital offence. At the height of the Stock/Aitken/Waterman mania in the UK, Phil Harding and Ian Curnow, who worked with the trio rather often, were commissioned to make a remix of the Four Tops classic 'Reach out I'll be there'.
The remix reached number 11 in the UK singles chart. I bought the single out of curiosity during a holiday in London. The next day I found myself hurrying to a Central London hospital because of a kidney stone. I'm not sure if this is a cause and effect thing...
My collection: 7" single no. 3166 Found: House of Rhythm, London, January 18, 2000 Cost: 40p Tracks: 'Reach out I'll be there 88 remix' / 'Standing in the shadows of love'
While still a member of the British group Guys & Dolls, Dominic Grant recorded a solo album in 1982, of which 'I won't let me down' was the lead single. The single was mainly a success in the Netherlands, peaking at number 17 in the Dutch Top 40.
The Guys & Dolls would continue as a group until 1985, after which Dominic Grant and Julie Forsyth went on as a duo - being again mostly successful in the Netherlands.
My collection: 7" single no. 154 Found: Studio Echo, Den Haag, 1982 Cost: 5,5 guilders Tracks: 'I won't let me down' / 'Just a little in love'
'It ain't necessarily so' was written by George and Ira Gershwin (pictured here on the sleeve) in 1935 for the opera Porgy and Bess. In the opera, the track is sung by a drug dealer who expresses his doubt about several statements in the bible.
Covered by Bronski Beat in 1984, the song took on a whole new meaning. The gay trio used the song to make a statement about homosexuality, as some religious groups kept using the bible to attack gay people. Like the song says, 'Things that you're liable to read in the Bible, ain't necessarily so'. The single reached number 16 in the UK singles chart and number 32 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 1095 Found: All that music, Leiden, November 11, 1989 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'It ain't necessarily so' / 'Close to the edge'
I'd like to start off this Sunday morning with some typical Sunday morning music. This romantic ballad by Van Morrison was originally written as a prayer, and it certainly contains a few religious lines. Popularly it is interpreted as a love song, often played at weddings and the like.
Released in 1989, Van Morrison reached the UK singles chart with this single for the first time in 10 years, although it only made the chart for one week at number 74. In the Netherlands, it was his biggest hit overall, peaking at number 11.
My collection: 7" single no. 951 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, August 5, 1989 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Have I told you lately' / 'Contacting my angel'
Since All about Eve was pretty much famous in the UK only, their singles became increasingly hard to find in the Netherlands. Some shops were still selling import records in 1991, but I was unlucky with this single: the shop in Rotterdam where I got my imports only got the 12" single, cd-single and picture disc 12" (which of course I bought too).
Thankfully, my friend Puck was taking an apprenticeship in Newcastle between September 1991 and January 1992, so I had the chance to ask him to pick up this single. He did, and when he returned, I finally had that single to complete my collection. Of course, the single did turn up at record fairs in the Netherlands - but that was a couple of years later!
My collection: 7" single no. 1581 Found: Newcastle, January 1992 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'The dreamer (remix)' / 'Frida of blood and gold'
'Mull of Kintyre' is arguably Paul McCartney & Wings' most recognised song. McCartney wrote it as an ode of the Kintyre peninsula in Scotland, where he had a home and recording studio since the late Sixties. McCartney commented about the song: 'I certainly loved Scotland enough, so I came up with a song about where we were living; an area called Mull of Kintyre. It was a love song really, about how I enjoyed being there and imagining I was travelling away and wanting to get back there.'
Released shortly before Christmas 1977, it became that year's Christmas number 1 in the UK, staying at the top of the singles chart for nine weeks. The single eventually sold over two million copies. The single also reached the top position in the Dutch Top 40.
I originally bought a copy of the single back in 1985, with the sleeve so torn up that I eventually cut out the photographs and made a new sleeve for it using standard white paper. This new copy is actually made in England, and in the condition it's in (i.e. very good) I bet a collector would pay dearly for this one.
My collection: 7" single no. 300 Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, July 31, 2009 Cost: 0,25 euro Tracks: 'Mull of Kintyre' / 'Girls school'
Nik Kershaw's 1986 album 'Radio Musicola' was released to critical acclaim, but it wasn't a big success in commercial terms. It seemed Kershaw had outgrown his audience with the more mature work displayed on the album.
The single 'James Cagney' was released on the European mainland only. The 'extended version' on the 12" single is in fact the album version, which is about 2 minutes longer than the edit that appeared on the 7" single. A remix of 'Radio Musicola' is tacked on on the B-side for good measure.
My collection: 12" single no. 504 Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, July 24, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'James Cagney (extended)' / 'Radio Musicola (remix)'
Alison Moyet and Vince Clarke formed Yazoo in 1981, after Clarke had left Depeche Mode. They took the name of the band from the labels of old blues albums: Yazoo Records. While their debut single 'Only you' was successful in the UK, peaking at number 2, it flopped in most European countries.
It was only after the hit success of their next single 'Don't go' that Mute Records decided to re-release the debut single. This time around, the B-side 'Situation' was promoted as the lead track, and it became a hit, peaking at number 16 in the Dutch Top 40. My copy of the single has a new sleeve, but the single is still 'old', featuring 'Only you' as the A-side. It's not a mixup: this is how they were sold in 1982.
My collection: 7" single no. 170 Found: Studio Echo, Den Haag, 1982 Cost: 5,5 guilders Tracks: 'Only you' / 'Situation'
Gazebo continued on with the theme set by 'I like Chopin', using classical influences in his Italo dance tracks. Synths and strings to a less appealing lyric - it was perhaps predictable that he wouldn't be able to have more success with such a formulaic single.
'Lunatic' did chart in some European countries, such as Italy (peaking at number 3), Germany (number 4), Switzerland (number 6) and Austria (number 13). However, the single did not chart in the Netherlands, which surprised me at the time. Now I'm not so surprised...
My collection: 7" single no. 226 Found: LP top 100, Den Haag, 1983 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Lunatic' / 'Lunatic (instrumental)'
'Kiss' is a cover version of Prince's 1986 hit single. It was recorded by Art of Noise and Tom Jones as a new track for Art of Noise's 1988 compilation album 'The best of the Art of Noise'. The track features elements from previous Art of Noise singles 'Close (to the edit)', 'Moments in love', 'Paranoimia', 'Dragnet' and 'Peter Gunn'.
In the UK, the Art of Noise and Tom Jones improved on Prince's success by peaking at number 5 in the singles chart, one position higher than the original. In the Netherlands, the single also reached number 5, but there Prince had reached number 2 just two years before.
My collection: 7" single no. 3913 Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, July 31, 2009 Cost: 0,25 euro Tracks: 'Kiss' / 'E.F.L.'
'Different air' was the last single by Living in a box to reach the UK singles chart, albeit at number 57 only. After the ballad hit 'Room in your heart', this single was a decidedly middle of the road track, that didn't touch a lot of people.
