Nasty little green men - Classix Nouveaux

The question about life on other planets has been asked on several hit singles, most famously in 'Life on Mars?' by David Bowie. 'Nasty little green men' by Classix Nouveaux is less wellknown, but it's a very funny little track. The band had their first hit in the UK with 'Guilty' in 1981, but this single was released in 1980. It was their second single, after the equally unsuccessful 'Robots dance'.

At the time of release, Classix Nouveaux consisted of Sal Solo, Mik Sweeney, Gary Steadman and B.P. Hurding. The line-up of the band would change almost constantly in the six years Classix Nouveaux existed.

My collection: 7" single no. 4356
Found: Record mania, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Nasty little green men' / 'Test tube babies'

Don't stop the music - Yarbrough and Peoples

The duo Cavin Yarbrough and Alisa Peoples were discovered by Charlie Wilson from the Gap Band, and signed their first record deal in 1980. Their debut album 'The two of us' was released the same year, with the hit single 'Don't stop the music' becoming their biggest hit.

The single reached number 19 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the Dutch Top 40. Because I was interested in pop music from a very early age, I still consider this track as one of the main sounds of 1981. It brings back memories of schooldays.

My collection: 7" single no. 4355
Found: Record mania, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Don't stop the music' / 'You're my song'

You took the words right out of my mouth - Meatloaf

According to his autobiography, Meat Loaf asked Jim Steinman to write a song that wasn't 15 or 20 minutes long, and, in Meat Loaf's words, a 'pop song'. The song was reportedly written in 1975, and a key factor in Meat Loaf and Steinman deciding to do an album together.

The single was released as the follow-up to 'Paradise by the dashboard light', one of the biggest hits of the Seventies. This single did comparatively worse, reaching number 33 in the UK singles chart and number 3 in the Dutch Top 40.

I bought this copy with a picture sleeve because I only had an American copy from 1978 without a picture sleeve. The B-side of that single features a heavily edited version of 'Paradise by the dashboard light'. Or is it the other way around? I can't tell from the single itself.

My collection: 7" single no. 4354
Found: Record mania, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'You took the words right out of my mouth' / 'Two out of three ain't bad'

My collection: 7" single no. 317
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'You took the words right out of my mouth' / 'Paradise by the dashboard light'

Invitation - Earth and Fire

When you hear the later hits by Earth & Fire and compare it with this 1971 single, you cannot believe it's actually the same band. The line-up has changed over the years, but the music has done so even more.

'Invitation' was released in February 1971 and peaked at number 5 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4353
Found: Record mania, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Invitation' / 'Song of the marching children'

Ordinary day - Curiosity killed the cat

Curiosity killed the cat released their third single 'Ordinary day' in 1987, after their second single had become a number 3 hit in the UK. Though not quite as catchy, this single peaked at number 11 in the UK singles chart.

Two months after the release of this single, Curiosity released their debut album 'Keep your distance', which entered the UK albums chart at number 1.

My collection: 7" single no. 4352
Found: Record mania, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Ordinary day' / 'Bullet'

Strut your funky stuff - Frantique

Frantique was an American disco group, formed in the late Seventies by Tricia Cheyenne, Florence Raynor and Denise Russelle. They released one album called 'Strut your funky stuff' in 1979. The title track of the album was successful as a single, reaching number 10 in the UK singles chart and number 16 in the Dutch Top 40.

This copy of the single has had quite a tour around the three biggest cities of the Netherlands: the stamps on the sleeve and label of the record come from a bar disco in Rotterdam, and I bought it in Amsterdam. Now it's found a good home in the third biggest city of the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 4351
Found: Record mania, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Strut your funky stuff' / 'Getting serious'

I'm specialized in you - Time bandits

I've had the 7" single of 'I'm specialized in you' for more than 12 years now, but I never knew there was a 12" single as well. When I saw it, I decided to buy it right away. 12" singles from the early Eighties can be quite rare, especially when they are from Dutch bands. And then there's the added attraction of a real 'extended version', instead of a remix which is a total slaughtering of the original song (like they are nowadays).

Sure enough, this extended version of 'I'm specialized in you' is very enjoyable when you like the original track. The odd thing is that this 12" single plays on 33rpm instead of the usual 45rpm!

My collection: 12" single no. 523
Found: Discostars Recordstore, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 2,5 euro
Tracks: 'I'm specialized in you (extended)' / 'Ginny (puts her hands on her shoulders)'

One voice - John Watts

John Watts was founder member of the band Fischer Z. The band was active from 1978 to 1981. When they split up, John Watts started a solo career. This single, 'One voice', was his debut single. According to the sleeve of this single, he also went on tour: the dates in Belgium and Luxembourg in April 1982 are printed on the back.

'One voice' was not a hit and John Watts would have no further solo success either. In 1987, he founded another band, also called Fischer Z.

My collection: 7" single no. 4350
Found: Discostars Recordstore, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'One voice' / 'Holiday in France'

Right between the eyes - Wax

After the 1983 split of 10CC, Graham Gouldman and Andrew Gold started working together in England. During a period of seven months they wrote enough songs for an album. They chose World In Action as the band name and released a single called 'Don't break my heart'. Soon afterwards they changed their name to Common Knowledge. A second single 'Victoria' was released, but both singles failed to get any attention and the album was shelved.

When they had written a new batch of songs and changed labels, they took on the name Wax. Their first album, released in 1986 was called 'Magnetic heaven' and contained their first hit single: 'Right between the eyes', whcih reached number 60 in the UK singles chart and number 25 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4349
Found: Discostars Recordstore, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Right between the eyes' / 'Only a visitor'

Come on Eileen - Dexys Midnight Runners

The chorus of 'Come on Eileen' by Dexys Midnight Runners was loosely inspired by the song 'A man like me' by the Sixties British soul group Jimmy James and the Vagabonds. When the song was released as a single in the summer of 1982, it reached number 1 in the UK singles charts, staying there for four weeks. The single also reached number 1 in Australia and the USA, while peaking at number 4 in the Dutch Top 40.

Two decades later, frontman Kevin Rowland would create some controversy releasing a solo album wearing a 'men's dress' on the cover.

My collection: 7" single no. 4348
Found: Discostars Recordstore, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Come on Eileen' / 'Dubious'

Don't tell me - Blancmange

1984 was a successful year for the duo Blancmange. Their album 'Mange tout' reached the top 10 in the UK albums chart, while the singles 'Waves', 'Blind vision' and 'That's love that it is' all reached the UK top 40.

The biggest hit that year, however, was the dynamic 'Don't tell me'. It reached number 8 in the UK singles chart and also reached number 25 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 583
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Don't tell me' / 'Get out of that'

Pandora's box - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

'Pandora's box' was the second single taken from OMD's 1991 album 'Sugar tax'. The song was inspired by silent film actress Louise Brooks and is named after one of the films she starred in. The phrase 'Pandora's box' does not appear in the lyric of the song.

Released in June 1991, the single reached number 7 in the UK singles chart, as well as the charts in Sweden and Austria. In France, the single peaked at number 49.

My collection: 7" single no. 1509
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, August 17, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Pandora's box' / 'All she wants is everything'

Boys in the street - Eddy Grant

In 1984, Eddy Grant released his seventh album 'Going for broke'. After the success of its predecessor 'Killer on the rampage', the album took a similar approach but was less successful chart-wise. The single 'Boys in the street' reached number 78 in the UK singles chart but flopped in most other territories.

This copy of the single was pressed in Germany and released as a limited edition on red vinyl.

My collection: 7" single no. 3274
Found: Record fair, November 11, 2000
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Boys in the street' / 'Time to let go'

Changes - Imagination

It's like the old saying: 'The more things change, the more they stay the same'. In 2010, as in 2009 and 2008, I will continue to publish information about my 7" singles and 12" singles. I expect to have put up my whole collection in a few months from now, after which I will always put up new acquisitions.

And so, this year should start with 'Changes', a 1983 hit single for the British soul trio Imagination, taken from their second album 'In the heat of the night'. The single reached number 31 in the UK singles chart and number 23 in the Dutch Top 40. As always, the single was produced by Steve Jolley and Tony Swain.

My collection: 7" single no. 2146
Found: Record Palace, Amsterdam, August 25, 1994
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Changes' / 'So good, so right'

Sing little birdie - Teddy Johnson and Pearl Carr

So yesterday I went on another shopping spree, this time in Amsterdam. I visited two shops I have been before, plus three new addresses, of which one was particularly of interest. As the shop's website announced, some Eurovision singles were just in, and I bought a whole stack of them. Some unique stuff, discs I've never even seen before!

So I thought I would finish this year by writing an entry on the last 7" single I bought in 2009. Interestingly enough, it's a single from 50 years ago. In 1959, the United Kingdom was represented by the husband and wife duo Teddy Johnson and Pearl Carr with the song 'Sing little birdie'. They finished in second place.

See you next year!

My collection: 7" single no. 4412
Found: Second life music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Sing little birdie' / 'If I could live my life again'

In all the right places - Lisa Stansfield

Lisa Stansfield recorded 'In all the right places' for the soundtrack of the movie 'Indecent proposal'. The artwork of the sleeve contains a photograph of the two actors that starred in the movie: Demi Moore and Woody Harrelson.

The song was written by Stansfield with her producers Andy Morris and Ian Devaney, along with John Barry, who was responsible for the score of the movie. The single reached number 8 in the UK singles chart and number 20 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2580
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 16, 1995
Cost: 4 guilders
Tracks: 'In all the right places' / 'In all the right places (Soul mix)'

Feel the love - 10CC

'Windows in the jungle' was released in 1983 as the ninth studio album by 10CC. Eric Stewart recalled that the finished album did not meet his initial expectations: 'It started as a concept album and I'm sorry I didn't pursue that goal, the pressure for the hit single always got in the way with 10CC albums.'

'Feel the love' was the second single from the album. It was promoted with a tennis-themed music video directed by former 10CC members Godley and Creme. The single did not chart in the UK, but did reach number 7 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 887
Found: All that music, Leiden, June 16, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Feel the love' / 'She gives me pain'

Numb - Pet Shop Boys

'Numb' is one of the few songs recorded by the Pet Shop Boys that wasn't written by themselves. The song was composed by Los Angeles songwriter Diane Warren and originally meant to be a new song on the Pet Shop Boys' 2003 compilation 'PopArt'. The track was finally included on their 2006 album 'Fundamental'.

'Numb' was subsequently released as the third single from the album in a drastically edited, nay, butchered version. The single peaked at number 23 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3448
Found: HMV, London, 2006
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Numb' / 'Party song'

Missing you - Diana Ross

I started today with a tribute to Marvin Gaye, so it's only fitting that I end today with one as well. Diana Ross recorded 'Missing you' in 1984, not long after Gaye's tragic death. Ross and Gaye had both been artists at Motown from the early Sixties to the early Eighties, and had also recorded a duets album together called 'Diana & Marvin' (1973).

The song was written and produced by Lionel Richie, who wrote the song shortly after he had conversations about Gaye with Diana Ross. Released in late 1984, the song became one of Ross' last major hits in the USA, reaching number 10 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the UK singles chart, 'Missing you' reached number 76.

My collection: 7" single no. 266
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1984
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Missing you' / 'Touch by touch (instrumental)'

Easier to walk away - Elton John

The sleeve of this single announces that all royalties from the sale of the record will be divided equally between four charities: the Terence Higgins Trust, London Lighthouse, Jefferiss Research Wing Trust and Body Positive. But that wasn't the most attractive thing about this single: 'Easier to walk away' is a strong pop song, and quite a change from the dull dross that was 'Sacrifice', Elton John's biggest hit in the UK in 1990.

'Easier to walk away' was released as a single from Elton's greatest hits compilation 'The very best of Elton John', released in 1991. The single only reached number 63 in the UK singles chart and number 51 in Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 1502
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 6, 1991
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Easier to walk away' / 'I swear I heard the night talking'