So sorry, I said - Liza Minelli

'So sorry, I said' was the third single release from Liza Minelli's 1989 'Results' album, which was produced by the Pet Shop Boys. The single was released in a limited edition gatefold sleeve featuring a photograph of Liza with the Pet Shop Boys.

The two tracks on the single were both from the album, which may account for its low chart placing: it only reached number 62 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2269
Found: April 8, 1995
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'So sorry, I said' / 'I can't say goodnight'

I get lonely - Janet Jackson

'I get lonely' was released as the third single from Janet Jackson's sixth studio album 'The velvet rope' (1997) in February 1998. The single version featured extra material by Blackstreet, an American R&B group who apparently specialises in mumbling through other people's good songs in an incoherent manner.

Needless to say, I don't especially appreciate this version, but fortunately the remix on the B-side is a bit more interesting. The single reached number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100, number 5 in the UK singles chart and number 18 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3015
Found: September 5, 1998
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'I get lonely (TNT remix edit featuring Blackstreet)' / 'I get lonely (Jam & Lewis Feel my bass mix - radio edit)'

It's my mix - Talk Talk

I don't often write about my LP's on this blog, unless it's a rare or very interesting one. And here's a good example. Talk Talk's 'It's my mix' was released in Canada and Italy only (this is the Italian pressing) and contains six extended remixes of Talk Talk tracks. It also features a giant size poster of the photograph on the sleeve.

'Why is it so hard' was originally written by Talk Talk as a song for Michael Apred's film 'First born'. The 7" version of the track was first released on EMI's compilation album 'Asides besides' in 1998. The 12" US remix is only available on this LP - and has so far not been released on cd.

My collection: LP no. 133
Found: Plaatboef, Den Haag, 1996
Cost: 2,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Why is it so hard (12" US remix)', 'Talk Talk (12" mix)', 'My foolish friend (12" mix)' / 'It's my life (12" mix)', 'Dum dum girl (12" remix)', 'Such a shame (12" US remix)'

She kissed me - Terence Trent d'Arby

'She kissed me' was the third single taken from Terence Trent d'Arby's third album 'Symphony or damn'. It was a more rock-oriented track than any of his previous singles. The B-side features a rather bad remix of the album's first single 'Do you love me like you say'.

The single reached number 16 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2041
Found: HMV, London, October 22, 1993
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'She kissed me' / 'Do you love me like you say (Masters at work 12" mix)'

Canton (live) - Japan

Japan performed live for the last time in the UK during a six night stint at London's Hammersmith Odeon in November 1982. These performances, which were sold out, were recorded in order to put together the live album 'Oil on canvas'.

From this album, Japan's final single 'Canton (live)' was released in June 1983. The single was released in a gatefold sleeve and featured a live version of the earlier single 'Visions of China' on the B-side. As the band had decided to split up, they were just beginning to get some commercial success in the UK. 'Oil on canvas' became their highest charting album in the UK, reaching number 5. This single reached number 42 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1020
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Canton (live)' / 'Visions of China (live)'

Wish I could write a love song - Chas and Dave

One month ago today, Chas and Dave announced their split. Dave Peacock decided to retire from the music business after the death of his wife Sue in July. Chas Hodges will continue to perform live as Chas and his band - honouring touring commitments the duo had already made.

Their last chart hit in the UK was 'Snooker loopy' from 1986. One of their best singles is 'Wish I could write a love song' from 1983 - but that one did not chart. The B-side, 'That's what I like' was covered in 1996 by Tori Amos.

My collection: 7" single no. 3005
Found: Geest, Den Haag, June 20, 1998
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Wish I could write a love song' / 'That's what I like'

Maria Magdalena - Sandra

Sandra came full circle when she released a remix of her first international hit 'Maria Magdalena' in 1993. The remix of 'Maria Magdalena' remained uncredited, and was made to promote the greatest hits collection '18 Greatest hits', which was released in October 1992.

This 12" single features the 'Vega Sicilia mix', which did not appear on the cd-single of the track, which was my reason for buying it. In the end, that remix is not so very different from other remixes. The single was not a big success: it only reached number 8 in Finland.

My collection: 12" single no. 230
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 1993
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Maria Magdalena (club mix)' / 'Maria Magdalena (Vega Sicilia mix)'

99.9 F - Suzanne Vega

'99.9F°' was the title track of Suzanne Vega's 1992 album, which was subsequently released as a single as the album's second single. My copy of the single comes from the music library of Capital radio, as the large sticker on the front clearly indicates.

It's interesting to note that the highest chart position is also noted on this sticker: number 57. However, this is incorrect: the single made it to number 46 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2206
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, October 8, 1994
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: '99.9F°' / 'Tom's diner (live)'

Paranoid - Black Sabbath

These days, Ozzy Osbourne is an old, mumbling idiot who prostitutes himself for the entertainment of people who watch corny shows on MTV, but back in 1968 he formed the rock band Black Sabbath with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward.

In 1970, they released the single 'Paranoid', from the album of the same name. Iommi came up with riff while the rest of the band was out to lunch. When they returned, the band recorded the track within a couple of minutes. The lyrics had not been written yet so vocalist Osbourne sang whatever came to mind. The final version contained different lyrics penned by bassist and principal lyricist Butler. The song became a big hit, reaching number 4 in the UK and number 2 in the Dutch Top 40. It subsequently landed in the annual Top 100 of all times chart from Radio Veronica, which is where I got to hear the track in the mid-Eighties.

My collection: 7" single no. 2727
Found: Record fair, Leiden, September 7, 1996
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Paranoid' / 'The wizard'

Jealousy - Pet Shop Boys

'Jealousy' was originally written by the Pet Shop Boys in 1982. It was finally recorded for their 1990 album 'Behaviour'. It was released as a single in 1991, in a slightly altered version: the outro which was originally recorded with a sampler-based orchestra, was re-recorded with a real orchestra. This dramatically increased the quality of the track, of course. In the track, Neil Tennant recites a quote from William Shakespeare's Othello: 'Not poppy, nor mandragora /Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world / Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep / Which thou owedst yesterday.'

The single reached number 12 in the UK singles chart and number 20 in Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 1455
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, June 22, 1991
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Jealousy' / 'Losing my mind'

Dumb waiters - The Korgis

The artwork department must have been happy when 'Dumb waiters' by the Korgis was released as a single. They didn't even bother to design a new sleeve: the single sleeve was identical to the album sleeve - as the album was also called 'Dumb waiters' anyway.

'Dumb waiters' was the third single from the album, but unlike its two predecessors, it did not reach the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2916
Found: London, November 1, 1997
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Dumb waiters' / 'Perfect hostess'

Cold cold heart - Wet Wet Wet

'Cold cold heart' was a new track recorded for Wet Wet Wet's first Greatest Hits album, 'End of part one' (1993). It was produced by Nile Rodgers of Chic fame.

The single was released on December 27, 1993 and reached number 23 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2092
Found: April 16, 1994
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Cold cold heart' / 'Roll 'um easy', 'Cold cold heart (Arthur Baker '93 remix)'

French word for love - Earth and Fire

Jerney Kaagman, Bert Ruiter, Ton Scherpenzeel, Age Kat, Ab Tamboer and Jons Pistoor got together in 1989 and reunited as Earth & Fire. The group had been inactive for five years, but decided to record a new album together and see if they could recapture the amount of success they'd had throughout the Seventies and early Eighties.

'French word for love' was the first single from what would be their final album 'Phoenix'. The single did not reach the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1114
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, November 17, 1989
Cost: 6 guilder
Tracks: 'French word for love' / 'Gemini'

Hello (Turn your radio on) - Shakespears sister

'Hello (Turn your radio on)' was written by Marcella Detroit, Manu Guiot and Siobhan Fahey. The latter commented: 'Hello is the furthest I've come as a writer, because it's intense and emotional and it sounds like it could have been done by a man'.

The track was released as fourth single from Shakespears sister's 1992 album 'Hormonally yours'. The single peaked at number 14 in the UK singles chart and number 35 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1791
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, November 14, 1992
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Hello (Turn your radio on)' / 'Stay (Andre Betts remix)'

Roots bloody roots - Sepultura

Like most Sepultura songs, 'Roots bloody roots' is thought to be another protest song. The most common meaning that fans come up with is that everyone needs to preserve their own roots, and not modernize, forget or feel shame for them. This is shown in the lyrics We don't need to change, our ways to be saved.

The single was the first one taken from Sepultura's sixth album 'Roots', released in 1996. The single was released as a strictly limited edition on dark orange vinyl.

My collection: 7" single no. 2640
Found: April 13, 1996
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Roots bloody roots' / 'Symptom of the universe'

Vroeg of laat - Toontje Lager

Here's another good Dutch song from the Eighties. Yes, the combination 'good' and 'Dutch' is a rare one in my book, but in the first half of the Eighties it seemed to happen more often than ever. 'Vroeg of laat' ('Sooner or later') is a combination of great synths, a nice drum rhythm, beautiful vocals and a rather accomplished guitar solo at the end. As a bonus, the B-side is an upbeat song in which an atheist ensures us that life is great after we die.

The single was taken from the band's 1983 album 'Stiekem dansen' ('Dancing secretly') but failed to reach the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 934
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, July 6, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Vroeg of laat' / 'Fijn na de dood'

Feel no pain - Sade

A colleague of my sister went to London in December 1992. These were strange times: international mail order was still in its infancy, while 7" singles became increasingly rare in the Netherlands. So I took it as an opportunity to have the latest Sade single brought to me. It was bought and I paid back the amount via my sister. That's how I got 'Feel no pain', a single I actually didn't see very often during record fairs and the like after that.

'Feel no pain' is a rather socially conscious song, with a lyric about unemployment. As Sade were better known for their carefree, laidback songs, this single wasn't a huge success: it reached number 56 in the UK singles chart and didn't reach the US Billboard Hot 100.

My collection: 7" single no. 1798
Found: Virgin Megastore, London, received December 7, 1992
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Feel no pain' / 'Love is stronger than pride (Mad Professor remix)'

Circle in the sand - Belinda Carlisle

'Circle in the sand' was written by Rick Nowels and Ellen Shipley, who wrote many of Belinda Carlisle's hit singles in the late Eighties and early Nineties. The track was released as the third single from Belinda's1988 album 'Heaven on earth'.

The single was a worldwide success, reaching number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100, number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 14 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1780
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, October 25, 1992
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Circle in the sand' / 'Circle in the sand (Seaside mood groove mix)'

Hello again - The Cars

'Hello again' was the fourth single taken from the Cars' 1984 album 'Heartbeat city'. The single was notable for its music video, which was directed by Andy Warhol, who also appeared in the video.

The single reached number 42 in Canada and number 52 in Australia, but in Europe, it did not chart. The video was shown regularly on music channels at the time despite this - which is how I found out about the song. And even then it took me some years to finally find the single.

My collection: 7" single no. 2622
Found: February 24, 1996
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Hello again' / 'Hello again (dub version)'

New York Minute - Don Henley

Don Henley recorded 'New York minute' for his 1989 album 'The end of the innocence'. It was released as the album's second single and reached number 48 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The song was covered by the Eagles on the album 'Hell freezes over' reunion album (1994).

My collection: 7" single no. 1154
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, January 20, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'New York minute' / 'Gimme what you got'