The lady in red - Chris de Burgh

Chris de Burgh is often seen as the epitome of uncool, but he has written a few gorgeous love songs. 'The lady in red' is one of them. The song was written in reference to (though not specifically about) his first wife Diane. The song was inspired by the memory of the first time he saw her, and how men so often cannot even remember what their wives were wearing when they first met.

When the track from his 1986 album 'Into the light' was released as a single, it reached number 1 in the UK singles chart, number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 6 in the Dutch Top 40. Few would confess they have this single in their collection now. Well, I'm coming clean anyway.

My collection: 7" single no. 475
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'The lady in red' / 'Borderline'

Brass in pocket - The Pretenders

'Brass in pocket' was released as the Pretenders' third single. It was their first success, reaching number 1 in the UK singles chart in January 1980. In the Dutch Top 40, the single reached number 7. The song takes its title from an expression Hynde heard from a member of a Yorkshire-based support band who was looking for his money.

Chrissie Hynde commented about 'Brass in pocket' two decades after its release: 'When we recorded the song I wasn't very happy with it and told my producer that he could release it over my dead body, but they eventually persuaded me. So I remember feeling a bit sheepish when it went to number one.'

My collection: 7" single no. 1011
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Brass in pocket' / 'Swinging London', 'Nervous but shy'

To miss someone - Feargal Sharkey

'To miss someone' is another single from Feargal Sharkey's 1991 album 'Songs from the mardi gras'. Since I liked the album and especially the near-title track ('After the mardi gras'), I decided to buy all the singles from that album. 'To miss someone', however, is not one of the strongest tracks on the album. The real treat here is the acoustic performance of 'I'll take it back', originally also a track on the album.

The single did not chart in the UK, and the fact that this single is a promotional copy adds some credibility to the assumption that DJ's rather sold off the disc than play it.

My collection: 7" single no. 2339
Found: London, June 26, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'To miss someone' / 'I'll take it back (live)'

Liberation - Pet Shop Boys

'Liberation' was released as the fourth single from the Pet Shop Boys' 1993 album 'Very'. The single reached number 14 in the UK singles chart and was the lowest charting single from the album. The single was released on several formats, including two cd-singles, a double 12" single set and this 7" single.

The music video was full of computer generated graphics, which is true for all the videos from the album 'Very'. The wonderful B-side 'Decadence' features Johnny Marr from the Smiths on guitar.

My collection: 7" single no. 2099
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, April 16, 1994
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Liberation' / 'Decadence'

African and white - China Crisis

So this is the debut single from China Crisis, released on the indie label Inevitable Records in 1982. Even though this single was unsuccessful in a commercial sense, it was re-released after they signed with Virgin Records, and that remixed version, which was described on this blog here, reached number 45 in the UK singles chart.

The B-side 'Be suspicious' was never re-recorded or re-released, so that's an exclusive on this record only. I think these days, this single is pretty hard to come by.

My collection: 7" single no. 4317
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'African and white' / 'Be suspicious'

Guilty - Mike Oldfield

'Guilty' was Mike Oldfield's attempt to capitalise on the disco/dance music trend of the late Seventies. It sounded a lot more danceable than his previous singles. When released in April 1979, the single reached number 22 in the UK singles chart.

I've had the 12" single of 'Guilty' for some time now, and I decided I wanted to have the 7" single as well. After all, you don't really own a single unless you've got the 7" single, do you?

My collection: 7" single no. 4316
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Guilty' / 'Excerpt from Incantations'

Jimmy Mack - Sheena Easton

Some time ago, I wrote about a cover version of 'Jimmy Mack' by Risqué. I didn't know then that the track had also been covered by Sheena Easton two years after Risqué's version. I'm almost certain that she didn't hear that track, but it's nice to compare the two anyway.

Sheena Easton's version was produced by Nile Rodgers, just like the parent album 'Do you'. The single reached number 65 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the UK and Europe, the single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4314
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Jimmy Mack' / 'Money back guarantee'

You can do magic - America

When I was a regular listener of a local illegal radio station (back in the Eighties, the government in the Netherlands wanted to have completely noiseless airwaves), 'You can do magic' by America was regularly played. I never found the single, and I think I know now why: it was a single from 1982, and I heard it at least a year or two later.

'You can do magic' was America's biggest hit in the USA, peaking at number 8 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the UK it did less well, stalling at number 59.

My collection: 7" single no. 4313
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'You can do magic' / 'Even the score'

3D dance - Trans X

When you see the sleeve pictured here, you might think it's a mispressing. But that's not true: you need to watch it with 3D glasses (Don't know if it works on the screen of your computer though!). The music weekly Bravo in Germany supplied them with the 12" single of this, but not with the 7" single.

It was a nice gimmick with this synthpop track by the Canadian duo Trans X. Despite the very Eighties sound of this, I'm still curious how this track would sound in Dolby Surround. Released in February 1984, this single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4312
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: '3D dance' / '3D dance (instrumental)'

Less cities, more moving people - The Fixx

According to the German press bio included in the sleeve of this single, 'Less cities, more moving people' was written by all band members of the Fixx together, 'which explains their tight sound'. The single, taken from the Fixx's third album 'Phantoms', was produced by Rupert Hine - and it could easily have been performed by him, too.

Although the band delivered a rather powerful pop song with this track, it did not chart in any territory. I can't remember how I got to hear this track back in 1984, but I remembered it ever since.

My collection: 7" single no. 4311
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Less cities, more moving people' / 'Deeper & deeper'

Love, truth and honesty - Bananarama

'Love, truth and honesty' was written by Bananarama and Stock, Aitken and Waterman, with the latter trio producing the track. It was the first single release from the group's 'Greatest Hits collection', also released in 1988. It is actually the only Bananarama track which gives songwriting credit to new member Jacquie O'Sullivan.

The single reached number 23 in the UK singles chart but stalled at number 89 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4310
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Love, truth and honesty' / 'Strike it rich'

Diana - Münchener Freiheit

'Diana' was the fourth and last single from Münchener Freiheit's 1988 album 'Fantasie'. It didn't chart, not even in their homeland Germany. Maybe it's because this track does not contain much surprises when compared to other songs from the band. The public probably decided they'd had enough.

This single got me thinking whether I actually know any Dianas. I realised that I've only known one Diana - and that was 20 years ago.

My collection: 7" single no. 4308
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Diana (single remix)' / 'Land der Fantasie'

Lies - Thompson Twins

'Lies' was released as the first single from the Thompson Twins' fourth album 'Quick step and side kick'. This album was the result of songwriting sessions in Egypt and the Bahamas, followed by a recording session at Compass Point Studios in Nassau with producer Alex Sadkin.

The single reached number 67 in the UK singles chart. When the single was released a year later in the USA, it reached number 30 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4307
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Lies' / 'Beach culture'

Union city blue - Blondie

'Union city blue' was written by Deborah Harry and Nigel Harrison and was recorded on Blondie's 1979 album 'Eat to the beat'. It was released as the second single from the album in the UK, where it reached number 13 in the singles chart. The song featured in the 1981 horror movie 'The Hand'.

In the USA, the single was not released, they released 'The hardest part' instead.

My collection: 7" single no. 4305
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Union city blue' / 'Living in the real world'

Don't look down (the sequel) - Go West

'Don't look down' was released as the last single from Go West's self-titled debut album. Housed in a gatefold sleeve, the single reached number 13 in the UK singles chart and number 10 in New Zealand. Two years later, the track became the band's first hit in the USA, where it reached number 39.

I first heard the track during a live performance of Go West during a Here & Now Tour. It's a dynamic track that appealed to me right away.

My collection: 7" single no. 4304
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Don't look down (the sequel)' / 'Innocence (The desperation edit)'

Love me to sleep - Hot Chocolate

Someone wrote on the back of the sleeve of this single, which I bought second hand. It reads: 'Steadily skipping little 120 bpm tin pop pusher (inspired by Clarence Carter's old 'Looking for a fox'?), flip of the dead slow 'Love me to sleep'. It's a good description of this single.

Released in December 1980 as a single from their album 1980 'Class', 'Love me to sleep' reached number 50 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4301
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Love me to sleep' / 'The girl is a fox'

Wonderful - Mari Wilson with the Wilsations

Although Mari Wilson recorded most of her singles circa 1983 with her band the Wilsations (and also performed live with them), this is the only single which is actually credited to 'Mari Wilson with the Wilsations'.

Produced by Tony Mansfield, this single managed to reach number 47 in the UK singles chart, and it was also her last single to reach that chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4298
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Wonderful' / 'I may be wrong'

Nur die Liebe läßt uns leben - Mary Roos

Mary Roos was born as Rosemarie Schwab on January 9, 1949. She started singing at a very early age and recorded her first song when she was 9 years old.

In 1972, she represented Germany during the Eurovision Song Contest after a rather controversial win during the national final. Mary stated that she did not expect to win at all and that she was already removing her make-up when she was called back on stage. After the reprise of the winning song, she was booed off stage. However, at the Eurovision Song Contest she finished third. The single reached number 17 in the German singles chart. The B-side of this single is a German language cover of 'You can't hurry love', the famous Supremes track from 1966.

My collection: 7" single no. 4277
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Nur die Liebe läßt uns leben' / 'Die Liebe kommt leis''

The ELO EP - Electric Light Orchestra

In December 1978, the ELO EP was released in the UK only, to promote the three LP box set 'Three Light Years'. The box set contained three recent albums by the band: 'On the third day' (1973), 'Eldorado' (1974) and 'Face the music' (1975).

'Can't get it out of my head' was the lead track on the EP, which reached number 34 in the UK singles chart. This way the track finally became hit in the UK, after it had charted already in 1974 in the USA, where it peaked at number 9.

My collection: 7" single no. 4270
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Can't get it out of my head', 'Strange magic' / 'Ma-ma-ma belle', 'Evil woman'

We are detective / Watching - Thompson Twins

According to the German press bio enclosed in the sleeve of this single, the Thompson Twins were having trouble deciding on a single for Germany in the summer of 1983. 'We are detective' had just been a top 10 hit in the UK, and 'Watching' was due to be released soon. According to the bio, it was the band's female member Alannah Currie who proposed to release a double A-side single in Germany, including both singles.

The sleeve also contains a postcard, written by Britta Hofmann, who requests that the song 'We are detective' be played in the programme 'Pop Nach 8'. Presumably the DJ did play this single, and then gave it up for sale some time later. The things you find in second hand singles...

My collection: 7" single no. 4306
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'We are detective' / 'Watching'