Book of days - Enya

Inside the dark castle

Nicky Ryan enters the dark castle, a gloomy place where few people ever dare to enter.
'Enya? Enya? Where are you?'
A dark rumbling comes from afar, a cough, a rattle, and then a deep, dark voice sounds from across the hall.
-'Who the hell is that?'
'It's Nicky. Enya? I've got a request...'
- 'Go away, I want to sleep', comes the answer, and another coughing fit ensues.
'But I got a call from the record company. They want you to record some vocals for this movie soundtrack.'
- 'Vocals? Are you mad?', rumbles the voice. 'Do you think I still have that same voice I had ten years ago? Now where did I keep my fags and my whiskey...'
'Enya, please. We could make a good deal of money on this.'
- 'But I can't, I just can't. Listen to me, man! You really think I could pull it off with this? I sound like Tom Waits or Marianne Faithfull...'
Nicky sighs. The darkness of the castle makes him depressed. 'Maybe you're right... But if we slow down the music, perhaps...? '
A silence.
Then: 'How much money are we talking about?'

Exclusively on this blog: the original version of 'Book of days', as recorded in Enya's dark castle.

My collection: 7" single no.1731 (pictured above)
Found: Virgin Megastore, London, October 17, 1992
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Book of days' / 'As baile'

My collection: 7" single no. 2239 (pictured below)
Found: Record fair, February 18, 1995
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Book of days' / 'On your shore'

Don't break my heart - UB40

After UB40 scored a massive hit with 'I got you babe' (a duet with Chrissie Hynde from the Pretenders), they released a song that I thought was about a thousand times better than that piece of outdated drivel. 'Don't break my heart' was composed by the band, as opposed to the aforementioned cover version.

They managed to reach number 3 in the UK singles chart with this, plus number 13 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 349
Found: 1985
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Don't break my heart' / 'Mek ya rok'

Megamix - Technotronic

I don't know whether it was such a wise move for Technotronic to release a Megamix as a single in the summer of 1990, within months of their breakthrough. If anythnig, it showed how monotonous and interchangeable their track were. 'Pump up the jam', 'Get up' and 'This beat is Technotronic' are all here in the mix, and it's amazing how well they fit together. Or, rather, it's not amazing, it's rather obvious.

This megamix was put together by The Unity Mixers, a.k.a. Patrick Samoy and Luc Rigaux. The single peaked at number 6 in the UK, number 9 in Germany and number 26 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 1260
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, July 12, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Megamix' / 'Raw update (remix)'

Every little kiss - Bruce Hornsby and the Range

'Every little kiss' was released as the second single from Bruce Hornsby and the Range's 1986 album 'The way it is'. The single reached number14 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 32 in the Dutch Top 40, but didn't chart in the UK.

The B-side of this single was produced by Huey Lewis, who had a successful career in pop himself in the first half of the Eighties.

My collection: 7" single no. 2403
Found: Rotterdam, July 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Every little kiss' / 'The river runs low'

Hand on your heart - Kylie Minogue

'Hand on your heart' was released as the first single from Kylie Minogue's second album, 'Enjoy yourself'. It was another track written and produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman, so nothing really had changed: Kylie was still making radiofriendly commercial pop without pretences.

The single became her third number 1 hit in the UK, while it reached number 4 in Australia and number 19 in the Dutch Top 40.



My collection: 7" single no. 3324
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, March 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Hand on your heart' / 'Just wanna love you'

Solo so long - Dimestars

In 2000, Roxanne Wilde (Kim Wilde's sister), Morgan Quaintance, Joe Holweger and Tom Hanna signed to Polydor records as Dimestars. They tried to forge a career for themselves, starting off with the single 'Solo so long'. It was released as a cd-single and cassette single, and this 12" single, the only vinyl release by Dimestars as far as I know.

'Solo so long' did not chart. The follow-up single 'My superstar', released in 2001, did. Their album 'Living for the weekend' was pressed and distributed as a promotional disc, but never got a commercial release in the end. Dimestars toured with Kylie Minogue in 2001, but split up after their career didn't take off. Right now, Roxanne Wilde is one of Kylie's backing singers during her current world tour.

My collection: 12" single no. 513
Found: HMV, London, 2000
Cost: 5 pounds
Tracks: 'Solo so long (Cut la Roc remix)' / 'Solo so long (radio edit)'

Dream - Earth and Fire

In October 1981, after a year's absence from the charts, Earth and Fire released their single 'Dream'. It was the first single from their as-yet-untitled new album. When it was released, it was called 'Andromeda girl'. Two further singles, 'Tell me why' and 'Love is an ocean' were released from that album, but neither reached the Dutch Top 40.

Thus, this single was the only successful release, peaking at number 27 in November 1981. The B-side 'Jerney's day off' sounds like an original title for the instrumental version of 'Dream', but instead it is an original instrumental track.

My collection: 7" single no. 1384
Found: All that music, Leiden, February 22, 1991
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Dream' / 'Jerney's day off'

The lion's mouth - Kajagoogoo

With the benefit of hindsight, I think you can conclude that the lack of success for Kajagoogoo can be explained by their inconsistence in sound. After the hard rock sound of 'Big apple', they suddenly presented 'The lion's mouth', a brass-driven affair.

The single reached number 25 in the UK singles chart but failed to chart in many European countries. 25 years later, this track still sounds pretty fresh.

My collection: 7" single no. 3078
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, May 10, 1999
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'The lion's mouth' / 'The garden (instrumental)'

Once upon a long ago - Paul McCartney

'Once upon a long ago' was recorded as a new track for Paul McCartney's 1987 compilation album 'All the best!'. The track was produced by Phil Ramone and mixed by George Martin. Personally, I think it's one of McCartney's most accomplished tracks, not least because of the moving violin solo by Nigel Kennedy.

The single reached number 10 in the UK singles chart, McCartney's last top 10 hit in the UK. It did slightly better in the Netherlands, peaking at number 6. The single was not released in the USA.

My collection: 7" single no. 2199
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, October 8, 1994
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Once upon a long ago' / 'Back on my feet'

Kiss them for me - Siouxie and the Banshees

'Kiss them for me' was written by Siouxsie & the Banshees and produced by Stephen Hague. It was released in 1991 as the first single from the band's tenth studio album 'Superstition'. The song presented a change in musical direction for Siouxsie & the Banshees — adopting a much more straightforward pop-oriented feel than previous tracks, due in large part to Hague's production work.

The single became their biggest hit in the USA, peaking at number 23 in the US Billboard Hot 100. In the UK, the single reached number 32.

My collection: 7" single no. 1539
Found: Record fair, October 27, 1991
Cost: 7 guilders
Tracks: 'Kiss them for me' / 'Return'

Brood en spelen - Het Goede Doel

'Brood en spelen' ('Bread and games') was an unsuccessful single release from het Goede Doel's 1984 album 'Tempo Doeloe'. The story behind this one was an unfortunate one: the band made a deal with successful Dutch DJ Frits Spits to give him the premiere of this single on the radio. Then the record company suddenly released a different track from the album without the band knowing, and the DJ as a result refused to play their singles at all. Furthermore, Dutch language music was losing its popularity in the Netherlands as a result of the most popular band, Doe Maar, breaking up.

The B-side of this single is a German version of the band's song 'Alleen' ('Alone'). The band recorded a whole album's worth of German material, but when it was released in January 1985, the German record company decided not to promote it. The band was in a bit of trouble.

My collection: 7"single no. 3765
Found: Marktplaat.nl. received June 3, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Brood en spelen' / 'Allein'

A bad dream - Keane

Keane's song 'A bad dream' was partially based on the poem 'An Irish Airman foresees his death' by W.B. Yeats. Tim Rice-Oxley explains: 'We wanted to get a balance between a kinda dream sequence. It starts very quietly, and I love the idea of being in a plane, like a Spitfire or something, being so high up in the sky that you can't hear the guns below you and so on. And it's almost got a serene silence which is what this Yeats poem seemed to really express. The song starts very quietly, but it gets huge and angry as it goes on... The big distorted washy piano sound in the middle is a pretty vast sound and it's I guess an attempt to express all that anger bursting out.'

The track was released as the sixth and final single from Keane's album 'Under the iron sea' in January 2007. Although it became Keane's first single to fail to reach the UK Top 20, it peaked at number 23 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3491
Found: eBay.co.uk, received December 20, 2008
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'A bad dream' / 'She sells sanctuary'

I should have known better - Jim Diamond

Jim Diamond was born on September 28, 1953 in Glasgow, Scotland. His big break came in 1982 as part of the band Ph.D. After this band folded, Diamond went solo. He recorded the sloppy ballad 'I should have known better', which became a UK number 1, and also reached number 3 in the Dutch Top 40.

When 'I should have known better' reached number 1 in the UK, Band Aid just released their charity single 'Do they know it's Christmas?'. He requested publicly that people not buy his single, but instead buy that single.

My collection: 7" single no. 251
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, December 1984
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'I should have known better' / 'Impossible dream'

Valotte - Julian Lennon

'Valotte' was the title track of Julian Lennon's debut album. It was written by Lennon, Justin Clayton and Carlton Morales and recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The first line of the chorus, 'Sitting on a pebble by the river playing guitar', was written by Lennon, inspired by the Tennessee River in Muscle Shoals.

The track was released as a single in December 1984. It reached number 9 in the US Billboard Hot 100, but was significantly less successful in the UK, where it only reached number 55. This single was released with a limited edition poster sleeve in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 2202
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, October 8, 1994
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Valotte' / 'Let me be'

When I need you - Leo Sayer

'When I need you' was written by Albert Hammond and Carole Bayer Sager. It was first recorded by Hammond on his 1976 album of the same name.

Leo Sayer recorded his version later that year and included it on his album 'Endless flight'. The single reached number 3 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 1 in the UK singles chart in February 1977. Three months later, the single also topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Sayer performed the song on the second show of the third season of The Muppet Show.

My collection: 7" single no. 1215
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, April 22, 1990
Cost: 0,5 guilder
Tracks: 'When I need you' / 'I think we fell in love too fast'

Don't give up - Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush

'Don't give up' was not Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush's first collaboration, but it is arguably their best. The song was recorded for Gabriel's 1986 album 'So'. The lyric describes the despair of a man who feels that the economic system has no place for him, seeking council and support from the words sung by Kate Bush. Godley & Creme directed two videos for the song: the first consisted of a single take of the singers in an embrace, as the sun enters total eclipse and re-emerges. The second featured Gabriel and Bush's faces superimposed over film of a town and its people in disrepair.

The single peaked at number 9 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 500
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Don't give up' / 'In your eyes (special mix)'

Clocks - Coldplay

The theme of the lyric of 'Clocks' is contrast, contradictions and urgency. The song emerged during the late stages of the production of Coldplay's second album, 'A rush of blood to the head'. The song was recorded very quickly, because the band were running after the postponed scheduled release date of the album.

When released as the second single from the album, the response was immediate and positive. The chart success was pretty good, with top 10 placings in the Netherlands (number 2), Canada (number 7) and the UK (number 9). The song was also remixed numerous times, amongst others by Röyksopp.

My collection: 7" single no. 3374
Found: HMV mailorder, London, 2003
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Clocks' / 'Crests of waves'

Poison - Alice Cooper

'Poison' is one of Alice Cooper's most well-known songs, and provided his last major mainstream hit, in 1989. It was taken from his album 'Trash', which was produced by Desmond Child. The whole album sounded more commercial and radio-friendly than previous Cooper albums, which may account for its success.

The single reached number 2 in the UK, number 7 in the USA and number 10 in the Dutch Top 40. The music video for 'Poison' was available in two versions. Model Rana Kennedy wore nothing but a black thong in the original video, so a more modest version was filmed in which Kennedy wears a corset to cover her upper body.

My collection: 7" single no. 1056
Found: London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Poison' / 'Trash'

(Life may be) A big insanity - Sandra

So here's a song for the Misheard Lyrics website. Ever since I've heard Sandra singing 'Life may be a big insanity', I've heard 'Life may be a big obscenity'. Try it for yourself, you may hear it too.

'(Life may be) A big insanity' was released as the second single from Sandra's fourth album 'Paintings in yellow'. The song was written by husband Michael Cretu with Klaus Hirschburger. The single only became a minor hit for Sandra, reaching number 27 in Germany, number 18 in Israel and number 41.

The single was released in the UK as well - though without any chart success - and I've got the different sleeve to prove it. I found this UK edition (pictured below) two years after I bought the original German version. I don't think it's Sandra's best single, but when you've got a collection, you have to buy everything that's pretty. And I do think the UK sleeve is more beautiful than the German one!

My collection: 7" single no. 2096 / no. 2659
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, April 16, 1994 / House of Rhythm, London, June 29, 1996
Cost: 2 guilders / 50p
Tracks: '(Life may be) A big insanity' / 'The skin I'm in'

Sit and wait - Sydney Youngblood

'Sit and wait' was Sydney Youngblood's second single, taken from his debut album 'Feeling free'. Written by Ralf Hamm, Mike Staab, Sydney Youngblood and Claus Zundel, it was another dance song with a catchy hook.

The single became a success in Europe, peaking at number 2 in Austria, Germany and Sweden, number 6 in Switzerland and the Netherlands. It was only less successful in the UK (where it peaked at number 16), Ireland (15) and France (number 21).

My collection: 7" single no. 1141
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, January 6, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Sit and wait' / 'Feeling free' (duet with Elaine Hudson)