Opposites attract - Paula Abdul

Paula Abdul's single 'Opposites attract' was notable mostly for its colourful music video featuring a cartoon cat, MC Skat Kat, with which Abdul is dancing and singing. The vocals of the Kat were performed by Bruce DeShazer and Marv Gunn (The Wild Pair) and Derrick 'Delite' Stevens, who performed the rap in the song.

The idea of MC Skat Kat came from the Gene Kelly movie 'Anchors aweigh', in which Kelly dances with Jerry, the mouse from the Tom and Jerry cartoon series. Paula even choreographed the animated character's moves to match her live-action dance moves in the video. The single peaked at number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the Dutch Top 40. In the UK it was released as a limited edition with a free pull-out poster, featuring stills from the music video.

My collection: 7" single no. 1190
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'Opposites attract' / 'One or the other'

Girls on film - Duran Duran

Duran Duran are best remembered for their glossy Eighties videos, recorded in exotic places. But the music video for 'Girls on film' did not take the band halfway around the world: they simply used a studio somewhere in the UK. They created a video that was the dream of any teenage boy, with scantily clad women wrestling one another.

'Girls on film' was originally co-written by Andy Wickett, one of Duran Duran's previous singers before Simon Le Bon. When Wickett left the band, Duran Duran bought the song from him for £600 and made him sign a waiver removing his rights to the song. The single reached number 5 in the UK singles chart and also went top 20 in Australia, Sweden and Ireland.

My collection: 7" single no. 2749
Found: London, October 28, 1996
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Girls on film' / 'Faster than light'

Take back the city - Snow Patrol

This is the second 7" single of 'Take back the city', featuring a live version of 'Set the fire to the third bar', featuring Miriam Kaufmann on vocals. The live track was recorded at Union Chapel for Mencap Little Noise Sessions.

Although the track was met with mixed reviews, it still did reasonable in various charts. The single reached number 6 in the UK singles chart and number 36 in the Dutch Top 40. This 7" single was also a numbered limited edition; this is number 2261.

My collection: 7" single no. 3466
Found: Recordstore.co.uk, received January 2009
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Take back the city' / 'Set the fire to the third bar (live)'

Take back the city - Snow Patrol

Although the lyric of Snow Patrol's 'Take back the city' was inspired by Belfast and Northern Ireland in general, it applied to every other city and the relationship its habitants have with it. Band leader Gary Lightbody said that it's 'about the reasons why I grew up confused by my country and the reasons now why I love it so'.

The track was released as a single in 2008 on one cd-single and two different 7" singles. This is 7" single number 1, featuring a remix of 'Take back the city' on the B-side. It is a numbered limited edition; this is number 603.

My collection: 7" single no. 3467
Found: Recordstore.co.uk, received January 2009
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Take back the city' / 'Take back the city (Lillica Libertine remix)'

Missing you - John Waite

Ex-Baby's frontman John Waite launched a solo career in 1982. The 1984 hit single 'Missing you', from his second solo album 'No brakes', became a worldwide hit. It topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and reached number 9 on the UK singles chart.

The music video of the song is one I saw a lot back in 1984. The lyric of the song starts with 'Every time I think of you', which is actually the title of a single by the Baby's.

My collection: 7" single no. 1370
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, January 3, 1991
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Missing you' / 'For your love'

Don't worry - Kim Appleby

After her sister Melanie died in January 1990, the duo Mel & Kim was no more. With the aid of her boyfriend Craig Logan, Kim Appleby pressed on and launched a solo career before the year was over. 'Don't worry' was released in November 1990 and reached number 3 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the Dutch Top 40.

In December 1990, Kim Appleby released her self-titled debut album, which contained a few songs that were intended for use by Mel & Kim and also co-written with Mel Appleby.

My collection: 7" single no. 1355
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, November 10, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Don't worry' / 'Don't worry (instrumental)'

Cloud 8 - Frazier Chorus

Paul Oakenfold was born on August 30, 1963 in Greenhithe, Kent (UK). His music career started in the late Seventies, when he started playing soul music in a Covent Garden wine bar. In 1985 he celebrated his birthday by going to Ibiza for a week. It was during this time that Oakenfold demonstrated the trance sound that he would later become known for. By the end of the Eighties, Oakenfold had started Perfecto Records and had gotten into remixing tracks for Massive Attack and the Happy Mondays.

Frazier Chorus were also remixed by Oakenfold. This 12" single features two remixes of 'Cloud 8', a hit for the band in the summer of 1990. Personally, I prefer the 'Future mix' to the 'Raid mix'.

My collection: 12" single no. 289
Found: Record Exchange, London, 1996
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'Cloud 8 (Raid mix)' / 'Cloud 8 (Future mix)'

Jeopardy - Greg Kihn Band

Greg Kihn and Steve Wright formed the Greg Kihn Band in 1979. Together with Robbie Dunbar, Larry Lynch and Gary Phillips they enjoyed their biggest success in 1983 with the single 'Jeopardy'.

The single reached number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 63 in the UK singles chart and number 15 in the Netherlands. They never had a hit outside of America before or after this one single. 'Weird Al' Yankovic made a parody of this song, entitled 'I lost on Jeopardy'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2583
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 23, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Jeopardy' / 'Fascination'

Irresistible - Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel

In the history of the English band 'Cockney Rebel', the single 'Irresistible' is merely a footnote. Released in 1985, it was basically a solo effort by band leader and by then sole member Steve Harley. The single was produced by music legend Mickie Most.

The single failed to have any impact in the charts anywhere. Harley was touring clubs around England with his old Cockney Rebel songs, still earning money - but his old songs could count on more interest than his new ones.

My collection: 7" single no. 834
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 20, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Irresistible' / 'Such is life'

Echo beach - Toyah

Toyah's cover version of 'Echo beach' reached number 54 in the UK singles chart. Before I found the 12" single of this track, I found this limited edition picture disc 7" single, released in April 1987.

One further single, 'Moonlight dancing', was released in 1987 without any chart success, before Toyah turned her attention to television and theatre.

My collection: 7" single no. 2676
Found: House of Rhythm, London, July 2, 1996
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Echo beach' / 'Plenty'

The great song of indifference - Bob Geldof

The first single from Bob Geldof's second solo album 'Vegetarians of love' was the track 'The great song of indifference', in which the lyric 'I don't mind at all' was the recurring theme. It became his biggest hit, not only reaching number 15 in the UK singles chart, but also number 20 in Germany and number 14 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 1303
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 15, 1990
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'The great song of indifference' / 'Hotel 75'

Send my heart - Adventures

When the Adventures released their second single 'Send my heart', it was promoted with a limited edition double single, featuring the first single 'Another silent day' as disc two. For the longest time I searched for this double single; my sister bought it when it came out, but I couldn't find it and had to wait until 1990 to find my copy.

'Another silent day' had reached number 71 in the UK singles chart, and 'Send my heart' reached number 62. But for the first time, the band also scored a (minor) hit in other territories as well: the single reached number 24 in Germany and number 44 in Italy.

My collection: 7" single no. 1318
Found: London, October 16, 1990
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Send my heart' / 'These children (live)' // 'Another silent day' / 'Happy depression'

Obsession - Army of lovers

The Swedish trio Army of lovers formed in 1987. The three members, Alexander Bard, Jean-Pierre Barda and Camilla Henemark (a.k.a. La Camilla) had worked together previously in the band Barbie. Bard was the 'brain' behind the band, and La Camilla was the flamboyant frontwoman.

1991 was their most succesful year, with the release of 'Crucified', which became a worldwide hit, and its follow-up 'Obsession', the only single by the band that I wanted to own. The single reached number 1 in Finland, number 9 in the Netherlands and number 67 in the UK singles chart, but was also a hit in America and several other European countries.

My collection: 7" single no. 2135
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, August 2, 1994
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Obsession' / 'Obsession (dub mix)'

Some like it hot - The Power Station

After Duran Duran's third album 'Seven and the ragged tiger', the members of the band split into two bands. One was Arcadia, which maintained the melodic and atmospheric aspects of the Duran Duran's previous recordings. The other was the Power Station, in which John and Andy Taylor worked with Robert Palmer, Tony Thompson, and Bernrd Edwards to create a rhythmic harder rock sound. Roger Taylor was mainly the drummer for Arcadia, but also contributed percussion to the Power Station.

The Power Station's debut single was 'Some like it hot', an aggressive-sounding single with soulful vocals by Robert Palmer. The single peaked at number 6 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 13 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 14 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 290
Found: LP Top 100, 1985
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Some like it hot' / 'The heat is on'

Ik wil je nooit meer zien - Polle Eduard Band

Every now and again, there's a Dutch song on this blog and it is usually met with muted silence. Still, I'm always curious what foreign readers think of these songs. I don't buy the Dutch trash, it's usually the better pop songs that end up here.

'Ik wil je nooit meer zien' ('I never want to see you again') by the Polle Eduard Band is an example of Eighties pop that can certainly compete with international bands around at that time. The lyric is full of hate for an ex-lover. The single did not chart in the Netherlands - and not outside of the country either, obviously.

My collection: 7" single no. 982
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 29, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Ik wil je nooit meer zien' / 'Meiden van de nacht'

I feel love - Bronski Beat and Marc Almond

Entitled 'I feel love', this is actually a medley of three songs: 'Love to love you' and 'I feel love', originally by Donna Summer and 'Johnnie remember me', originally by Johnny Leyton. Bronski Beat invited Marc Almond to sing on their track. Although the original had been one of Marc Almond's all-time favourite songs, he had never read the lyrics and thus incorrectly sang 'What'll it be, what'll it be, you and me' instead of 'Falling free, falling free, falling free'.

The single was a success, peaking at number 3 in the UK singles chart and number 17 in the Dutch Top 40. The music video was a decidedly camp affair.

My collection: 7" single no. 2245
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 23, 1995
Cost: 1 guilders
Tracks: 'I feel love' / 'Puit d'amour'

Soundtrack to a generation - Human League

With the release of 'Heart like a wheel' the Human League seemed to have gotten things back on track. The album 'Romantic?', released a month later, reached number 24 in the UK albums chart, which wasn't particularly high, but it did warrant a second single release. Perhaps 'Soundtrack to a generation' wasn't the best choice, with its generic music score and the incidental exclamations of 'Holy cow!' by Sulley and Catherall.

After losing money on the single's promotion and its music video, Virgin Records ran out of patience with the Human league. There would be no further releases from 'Romantic?' and within a year the band would be dropped by the label.

My collection: 7" single no. 2509
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 30, 1995
Cost: 10p
Tracks: 'Soundtrack to a generation' / 'Soundtrack to a generation (instrumental)'

Opportunities (let's make lots of money) - Pet Shop Boys

After the original version of 'Opportunities' did not become a hit, Pet Shop Boys changed record companies and released the song once again, in a new version. It became their third hit single, after 'West end girls' (also a re-recorded version) and 'Love comes quickly'.

Accoring to Neil Tennant, the lyric of the song is about 'two losers'. The song is written from the perspective of a man who describes himself as being intellectual and educated. The lyrics are addressed towards another character, who is invited to join the song's protagonist in a scheme to 'make lots of money'. Tennant has made it clear, however, that the schemes are doomed to failure. The band have attributed the cynicism of the song, in part, to the punk rock attitudes of the period.

A notable change between the original and re-recorded versions of 'Opportunities' is the omission of the spoken outro 'All the love that we had / And the love that we hide / Who will bury us / When we die?' According to Tennant, the lyrics were removed from the second version of the song as the duo feared the passage would be construed as being 'too pretentious'.

My collection: 7" single no. 456
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, September 13, 1986
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Opportunities (Let's make lots of money)' / 'Was that what it was?'

Love like we do - Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians

Since my sister had bought the cd, I'd heard every track on the album 'Shooting rubberbands at the stars', the debut album by Edie Brickell & the New Bohemians. So when I saw this single during a holiday in London, I did not know it had been released, but I did know it was a nice track. And so I bought the single without blinking an eye.

'Love like we do' is another optimistic track from an already very optimistic album, and comes with a bonus non-album track. It was the third and last single from the album; it did not chart in the UK and Europe.

My collection: 7" single no. 1077
Found: HMV, London, October 19, 1989
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Love like we do' / 'Plain Jane'

Sold on you - IQ

After I bought 'Promises (as the years go by)' I saw this single. In the mood for an experiment, I decided to take it home. The track was pleasant enough, but I didn't play it very often. 'Sold on you' was taken from the band's 1989 album 'Are you sitting comfortably?'. Neither the single nor the album reached the charts in the UK - or outside of the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 930
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, July 6, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Sold on you' / 'Through my fingers'