Waiting for the loveboat - The Associates

After the departure of Alan Rankine and Michael Dempsey, The Associates was basically the solo project of Billy MacKenzie. He started working on what was to become the album 'Perhaps', released in 1985. The album was preceded by the single 'Waiting for the loveboat', a minor hit single peaking at number 53 in the UK singles chart.

Because the album 'Perhaps' only sold 40,000 copies whereas it cost £250,000to make, MacKenzie fell into significant debt to his record company.

My collection: 7" single no. 3951
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Waiting for the loveboat' / 'Schampout'

Popmuzik (1989 re-mix) - Robin Scott's M

Robin Scott celebrated the tenth anniversary of his biggest hit 'Popmuzik' with a new remix of the track. It was released in June 1989 and became M's first UK hit since 1980's 'Official secrets'. The single peaked at number 15.

The original 1979 mix of 'Popmuzik' is featured on the B-side of this single, although that one sounds remixed as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 3950
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'Popmuzik (1989 re-mix)' / 'Popmuzik (Original 1979 mix)'

So far so good - Sheena Easton

Sheena Easton recorded 'So far so good' for the soundtrack of the movie 'About last night', released in 1986. It was just after she'd released the album 'Do you', which was produced by Nile Rodgers (the B-side is taken from that album), and this track was produced by Narada Michael Walden. The Scottish girl was working with a lot of 'black' artists, although she was yet to meet the man who would turn her career around: Prince.

This single reached number 43 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. I don't know if it was released in the UK - this is an American pressing.

My collection: 7" single no. 3949
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'So far so good' / 'Magic of love'

Flash - Stephanie

It's always weird to find a single not intended for the UK market in a shop in the UK. But here I was, finding a copy of Princess Stephanie of Monaco's 'Flash', the French version of 'One love to give'.

As described in that post, this single reached number 4 in France and number 28 in Switzerland. Due to the similarity of the sleeve I doubted for a moment whether or not I had this single already. I'm glad I decided to take it with me just in case. Turns out I really didn't have this one!

My collection: 7" single no. 3948
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Flash' / 'Le sega Mauricien'

Where does the time go - Julia Fordham

Julia Fordham released 'Where does the time go' in 1989 as a single from her second album 'Porcelain'. The male voice on the track was performed by John O'Kane. The single peaked at number 41 in the UK singles chart.

Although I am not familiar with most of Fordham's work, I decided I wanted to try this one out, if nothing else for the ridiculously low price of this disc.

My collection: 7" single no. 3947
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 10p
Tracks: 'Where does the time go' / 'My little secret'

Stranger to the rain - Frances Ruffelle

Before Frances Ruffelle represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994 with 'Lonely symphony (We will be free)', she had a successful career in several musicals in London's West End. She debuted in the late Eighties in Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Starlight Express' in the principal role of Dinah. A year later, she played Éponine in 'Les Miserables'.

In 1990, Frances Ruffelle joined the cast of 'Children of Eden'. She also appeared on the soundtrack album of this musical. The single 'Stranger to the rain' was released in the autumn of 1990, but it did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3946
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Stranger to the rain' / 'Stranger to the rain (instrumental)'

The medal song - Culture Club

'The medal song' was released in 1984 as the second single from the album 'Waking up with the house on fire', Culture Club's third album. Boy George later commented he felt the album experienced a lukewarm reception because of the half-hearted material on the album. The group was pressured by their record company to come up with a quick follow-up to their second album 'Colour by numbers'.

'The medal song' performed poorly in the charts, peaking at number 32 in the UK singles chart and their first hit single not to reach the top 10 in the UK. Not even this limited edition gatefold sleeve could help matters much.

My collection: 7" single no. 3945
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'The medal song' / 'Don't go down that street'

Meet el presidente - Duran duran

I've had the cd-single of Duran Duran's 'Meet el presidente' for two decades now. It was released in a gatefold sleeve, which I imagined was exclusive to the cd-single format. But I was wrong: in the UK, the 7" single was also released in a gatefold sleeve, with the same band photo inside as the one in the cd-single sleeve. I didn't have the 7" single yet, so I was happy to snap this one up.

The single charted in the UK, peaking at number 24, whereas in the Netherlands the single made number 31. Still, 'Meet el presidente' was the least successful single from the band's 1986 album 'Notorious'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3944
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'Meet el presidente' / 'Vertigo (Do the demolition)'

I don't know what it is but I love it - Chris Rea

'I don't know what it is but I love it' was released as a single from Chris Rea's 1984 album 'Wired to the moon'. It only became a minor hit for Rea, reaching number 65 in the UK singles chart.

It was another Chris Rea single which I hadn't heard before, but because the man has made such a lot of great songs, I was confident that this single would be interesting too. And so it is.

My collection: 7" single no. 3943
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'I don't know what it is but I love it' / 'Mystery man'

Baker street (remix) - Gerry Rafferty

Someone responded on this blog a while ago, writing that I should feature Gerry Rafferty's 'Baker street' on here. Well, I would want to, but I haven't got that particular single yet. Meanwhile, I did find the next best thing: a remix of the track. It was released on the occasion of the release of 'Right down the line: the best of Gerry Rafferty' in 1990.

Fortunately the remix has been done in good taste: it brings forward certain elements of the original recording, and also adding some sounds that were not in the original recording at all if I'm not mistaken. Nothing beats the original, of course, but this is quite an interesting remix. The single reached number 53 in the UK singles chart in March 1990.

My collection: 7" single no. 3942
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Baker street (remix)' / 'Night owl'

There must be an angel (playing with my heart) - Eurythmics

The Eurythmics released 'There must be an angel (playing with my heart)' as the second single from their 1985 album 'Be yourself tonight'. The song features a harmonica solo by Stevie Wonder. It reached number 1 in the UK singles chart (the band's only number one hit in the UK to date) and number 4 in the Dutch Top 40.

The song's music video was one in a long line of innovative clips from the Eurythmics. In the clip, Stewart portrays Louis XIV of France in the Court of the Sun King, while Lennox appears as a singer brought forth to perform and entertain the King. Bored at first, Stewart eventually becomes enthralled with Lennox's performance as the song reaches its conclusion. The video clip was rotated endlessly on television at the time, causing me getting totally bored with the song. Fortunately that effect has worn off now.

My collection: 7" single no. 3941
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'There must be an angel (playing with my heart)' / 'Grown up girls'

Jeannie no - Judie Tzuke

Judie Tzuke's fifth album 'Ritmo' was released in 1983. From that album, this single 'Jeannie no' was released. Like other singles by Tzuke, it did not chart. That's not to say that the song is bad: it's a lively track that showcases Judie's clear voice.

I didn't know this song but I bought it on the strength of the artist's name. Turns out I was right... again.

My collection: 7" single no. 3940
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'Jeannie no' / 'Information (live)'

Love's strange ways - Chris Rea

Back in 1999, I used a listing of Chris Rea's hit singles and my own 7" singles to compile a 'greatest hits' double cd of my own. With the aid of cd's from the public library, I had a chance to make something really complete, unlike commercial compilations. Listening to the 2 discs after I made them, I concluded that Rea has made some great music since his debut in 1978. But because this wasn't a hit, I missed 'Love's strange ways'.

The single was taken from Chris Rea's 1983 album 'Water sign', from which 'I can hear your heart beat' was taken. This single is a great track - and I only discovered it now.

My collection: 7" single no. 3939
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 10p
Tracks: 'Love's strange ways' / 'Smile'

Warning sign - Nick Heyward

'Warning sign' was Nick Heyward's attempt at making a soulful track. It seemed strange that a 'white boy' would want to sound so 'black'. It was a stand-alone single (i.e. not released on any of his albums) and reached number 25 in the UK singles chart.

Back in 1984, when this single was released, I was a bit irritated by the video - I don't really know why. As a result, I grew to dislike the song. But now I have to admit that it really is one of Heyward's better tracks.

My collection: 7" single no. 3938
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 10p
Tracks: 'Warning sign' / 'Warning sign (version)'

Wonderful dream - Anne Marie David

This year, I've been able to buy 'Tu te reconnaitras' and the German version of that song, 'Du bist da'. Somehow it was just a question of time that I would bump into the English version, 'Wonderful dream'. Interesting fact: the A-side of this single is in stereo, the B-side is only in mono.

Anne Marie David was one of the few Eurovision winners that charted in the UK singles chart with a translated version of their song. The single peaked at number 19, which is pretty good in England for a non-UK entry. I'm still looking for a disc with a picture sleeve if it exists, but for now this will do.

My collection: 7" single no. 3837
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'Wonderful dream' / 'Tu te reconnaitras'

Love or something - Bob Geldof

After Bob Geldof has made a career of charity, he was still not a very rich man. He still had a solo music career and recorded the album 'The vegetarians of love' in 1990. 'Love or something' was the second single from that album. Whereas the first single, 'The great song of indifference' reached number 15 in the UK singles chart, this one did not chart at all.

Geldof still did well for himself: in 2001, his fortune was estimated to be £30 million. It is not known how much of his earnings he donates to charity himself...

My collection: 7" single no. 3936
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 10p
Tracks: 'Love or something' / 'Out of order'

I will - The Fixx

The British new wave band had a few hits during their career, but this single, 'I will' was not one of them. Released in 1984 as a single from their album 'Phantoms', it went by unnoticed. In their native UK, they would have no further hits after the 1982 singles 'Stand or fall' and 'Red skies', whereas in Canada and the USA other singles became hits right until 1991.

I bought this single mainly because I knew the band and because it was produced by one of the best producers around, Rupert Hine.

My collection: 7" single no. 3935
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 10p
Tracks: 'I will' / 'Questions'

She's got claws - Gary Numan

In 1981, Gary Numan did a series of farewell concerts in London, after growing weary of the pressures of fame. This decision proved short-lived, as later on in 1981 Numan released a new album called 'Dance'. The album featured several distinguished guest players; Mick Karn (bass, saxophone) and Rob Dean (guitar) of Japan, Roger Mason (keyboards) of Models and Roger Taylor (drums) of Queen.

'She's got claws' was the only hit single released from this album, peaking at number 6 in the UK singles chart in September 1981.

My collection: 7" single no. 3934
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'She's got claws' / 'I sing rain'

Discipline of love - Robert Palmer

'Discipline of love' was released as the first single from Robert Palmer's 1985 album 'Riptide'. It was Palmer's first solo single after the Power Station project which he'd done with members of Duran Duran.

The single was not a big success: it only reached number 95 in the UK singles chart. After later singles did have some chart success, it was re-released in 1986, improving on its previous chart run, reaching number 68.

My collection: 7" single no. 3933
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'Discipline of love' / 'Dance for me'

Arthur's theme (Best that you can do) - Christopher Cross

'Arthur's theme' was written in collaboration between Christopher Cross, pop music composer Burt Bacharach and his frequent writing partner Carole Bayer Sager. A fourth writing credit goes to Minnelli's ex-husband and Australian songwriter Peter Allen, also a frequent collaborator with Bayer Sager.

The single was taken from the soundtrack of the movie 'Arthur' starring Dudley Moore and Liza Minelli. It reached number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 7 on the UK singles chart. It was one of the first songs I recorded from the radio with my new tape recorder which I got for my eleventh birthday. Almost 28 years later, I've got the single!

My collection: 7" single no. 3932
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'Arthur's theme (Best that you can do)' / 'Minstrel Gigolo (edit)'