'The train' was the second single taken from the 1988 album 'Hat' by the Nits. The song was written and produced by the band. The sleeve of the single featured stills from the rather strange music video. And like the music video, the song was rather strange as well.
'Strange and beautiful' was increasingly becoming the trademark of the Nits, which earned them a big fan following in the Netherlands, but also a lack of commercial success: this single did not chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 753 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, February 17, 1989 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'The train' / 'Blue'
Mylene Farmer's song 'Beyond my control' was inspired by two characters in the 1782 French novel 'Les liaisons dangereuses'. In the song, the voice heard on the chorus of the song which repeats 'It's beyond my control' is in fact a sample of John Malkovich's voice from the film 'Les liaisons dangereuses' by Stephen Frears. The song deals with self-control, love and death. Farmer tells her own story from the sampled sentence: that of a woman who kills her unfaithful lover after a night of love.
The single reached number 8 in France and number 10 in the French-speaking part of Belgium. The single was also released in the Netherlands, but without any chart success.
My collection: 7" single no. 2220 Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 17, 1994 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'Beyond my control' / 'Beyond my control (Ya ya version)'
The statement is quite belittling: to say to the thousands of victims of an earthquake, in this case in Haiti: 'Everybody hurts sometimes'. Yet, that's what happening right now: an array of pop stars have recorded a cover version of this sog by R.E.M. I haven't heard it yet, but when Leona Lewis and Mariah Carey are involved, it's bound to be an atrocious track.
So let's go back to the original. Much of the song was written by R.E.M. drummer Bill Berry. He said about the song: 'If you're consciously writing for someone who hasn't been to college, or is pretty young, it might be nice to be very direct. In that regard, it's tended to work for people of a lot of ages.'
My collection: 7" single no. 1916 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, May 22, 1993 Cost: 6,5 guilders Tracks: 'Everybody hurts' / 'Pop song 89'
'Midnight man' is a track from Flash and the Pan's fifth studio album 'Early morning wake up call'. The album was produced by Harry Vanda and George Young themselves, like all their albums.
The track was edited for the single release. The single reached number 66 in Australia and number 23 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 289 Found: Den Haag, 1985 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Midnight man' / 'Fat night'
'Save me' was released as a single in January 1980, six months before the album 'The game' was released, on which the track appeared. Brian May wrote the song about a friend whose relationship had ended.
The single reached number 5 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 11 in the UK singles chart, while it was also a top 10 hit in Ireland, Italy and Norway.
My collection: 7" single no. 1575 Found: Record fair, January 25, 1992 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'Save me' / 'Let me entertain you'
Released as the last single from Tori Amos' second album 'Under the pink' in Europe (as opposed to the USA, where it was released as the first single), 'God' was issued in several different formats. The 7" picture disc featured the album version and a remix, whereas the cd-single and the 12" single featured a few more remixes.
One has to question the point of those remixes though. The 'acapella vocal and rain mix' is basically the prettiest version of three remixes that are basically the same: the 'Thinking mix 2' and the 'Rainforest Resort mix' are just lengthier versions with some alterations in them. The only reason why this 12" single is worth owning, is the CJ Bolland mix: this one actually adds something to the track that makes it sound danceable, and even gives it a poppy, Kraftwerk-ish appeal.
'Julia' was a track on the soundtrack of the movie '1984', which was composed and recorded entirely by the Eurythmics. It was subsequently released as the second and final single from the album. The song is a ballad with very sparse electronic instrumentation and an almost a cappella performance by Lennox. Her vocals are accentuated by vocoder effects in the background. The title and lyrics of the song are based upon the novel's heroine and love interest, Julia.
The single was released as a limited edition in the UK, featuring a pop-up sleeve and a picture disc with a still image from the film, featuring English actress Suzanna Hamilton as Julia. The single reached number 44 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 1346 Found: Sister Ray, London, October 18, 1990 Cost: 4 pounds Tracks: 'Julia' / 'Ministry of love'
Although for some this song may be a bit too melodramatic, this was my favourite single of the year 1991. 'Spending my time' was one of the best tracks on Roxette's 1991 album 'Joyride', and when it was released as a single, it was coupled with a very strong non-album track, 'The sweet hello the sad goodbye'. The cd-single also added a great extended remix of the track.
The single reached number 29 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 22 in the UK singles chart. In 1996, a Spanish version, 'Un dia sin ti' was recorded on the album 'Baladas en Español'.
My collection: 7" single no. 1548 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, November 2, 1991 Cost: 6,5 guilders Tracks: 'Spending my time' / 'The sweet hello, the sad goodbye'
In 1988, Maarten Peters left his record company Dureco after releasing two albums with them, and signed a new contract with EMI. His first release for EMI was the standalone single 'Dance this night away'.
Despite the danceable music and the straightforward lyric, the single was not a chart success. It almost seemed like his career was heading for a nosedive, but in 1989 Peters came back with a new album, that would give him his biggest successes.
My collection: 7" single no. 634 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1988 Cost: 3,5 guilders Tracks: 'Dance this night away' / 'Dance this night away (instrumental)'
A nice romp on the beach with an Asian woman: David Bowie knew how to have a good time in the early Eighties. The video for 'China girl' caused some controversy, as back then, artists were not generally showing their naked bodies too often. (These days you would long for even one of them to put on some clothes...) It was a visual reference to the movie 'From here to eternity', but still some TV channels censored the music video.
'China girl' was written by Bowie and Iggy Pop and originally recorded by Iggy Pop on his 1977 album 'The idiot'. David Bowie recorded the song in 1983 on his album 'Let's dance'. He decided to put the song on his album when Pop was in dire straits and was close to facing bankruptcy. The inclusion of the song on the album and the subsequent release as a single helped him to get back on his feet financially, as he collected half the royalties. The single reached number 2 in the UK and the Netherlands, while also reaching number 10 in the USA.
My collection: 7" single no. 1602 Found: Record fair, March 28, 1992 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'China girl' / 'Shake it'
Released in September 1980, Kate Bush's 'Army dreamers' can actually be described as an EP, as it contained not one, but two B-side tracks: an old demo recording from 1973 called 'Passing through air' and the album version of 'Delius', though without the outro of Babooshka through the first few seconds of the tracks as on the album 'Never for ever'.
The lyric of 'Army dreamers' was about the effects of war and about a mother who grieves for her young son, who was killed on military maneuvers. Saddened by his unnecessary death, she wrestles with her guilt over what she could have done to prevent it. The single reached number 16 in the UK singles chart and number 36 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 76 Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1980 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Army dreamers' / 'Delius', 'Passing through air'
'We don't need another hero' by Tina Turner doesn't sound too far removed from an earlier hit, 'What's love got to do with it'. That's not a surprise, given that the track was written and produced by the same people behind Turner's album 'Private dancer'. It was recorded for the soundtrack of the movie 'Mad Max: beyond Thunderdome', in which Turner had a starring role.
On the track, Turner was backed by a choral group from King's House School in Richmond, London. The song's lyrical content and theme is mostly a statement of anti-war and anti-violence. It reached number 1 in several European countries, number 7 in the Dutch Top 40, number 3 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 315 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985 Cost: 3,5 guilders Tracks: 'We don't need another hero' / 'We don't need another hero (instrumental)'
The 12" single of 'He's a liar' was featured on this blog some time ago already, but mostly when I've got a 12" single, I also have the 7" single. And this one is no exception.
'He's a liar' was the first single from the Bee Gees album 'Living eyes', released in 1981. It had been approximately 2 years since the last Bee Gees single had been released - which was an eternity at that time - and although this song sounded nothing like the Bee Gees disco era singles, this single was ignored in most territories because the band had become so heavily associated with disco - and disco was no longer in fashion.
My collection: 7" single no. 882 Found: All that music, Leiden, June 16, 1989 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'He's a liar' / 'He's a liar (instrumental)'
'Hazy shade of winter' was written by Paul Simon and recorded by Simon & Garfunkel in 1966 for their 1968 album, 'Bookends'.
The Bangles recorded a harder-edged cover the song for the soundtrack of the 1987 movie 'Less than zero'. It was released as a single and subsequently reached number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 11 in the UK singles chart and number 13 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 1460 Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 27, 1991 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Hazy shade of winter' / 'She's lost you' (Joan Jett & the Blackhearts)
Originally, producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis toyed with the idea of making Janet Jackson's 'Love will never do (without you)' a duet. They thought about possibly getting Prince, Johnny Gill, Ralph Tresvant, or anyone else working with them at the time. During the recording of the first verse, Jimmy Jam told Janet to 'sing it low like some guy would sing it.' As a result, they kept the idea of her singing the first verse in a low octave but go an octave up on the second verse.
The single became Janet Jackson's fifth number 1 single in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, the final of seven top five singles from the album 'Rhythm Nation 1814', making her the only artist to achieve seven top five singles from one album in the USA. Its success was more moderate in Europe: in the UK singles chart, 'Love will never do (without you)' peaked at number 34, and in the Dutch Top 40 it reached number 33. The single remix did a lot to ruin what was actually a great song on the album.
My collection: 7" single no. 1377 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, January 26, 1991 Cost: 6,5 guilders Tracks: 'Love will never do (without you) ('Work it out' 7" with intro)' / 'Love will never do (without you) (The love 7")'
The lyric of the song 'Maggie May' describes the ambivalence and contradictory emotions of a young man involved in a relationship with an older woman. It was written from Rod Stewart's own experience. He later commented: 'Maggie May was more or less a true story, about the first woman I had sex with, at the Beaulieu Jazz Festival.'
The track was recorded by Stewart in 1971 for his album 'Every picture tells a story'. It was initinially included as the B-side of the single 'Reason to believe', but after dj's took to 'Maggie May' instead, the sides were flipped and 'Maggie May' became the A-side. It finally reached number 1 in the UK and the USA, while it reached number 3 in the Dutch Top 40. The song was Stewart's first substantial hit as a solo performer and launched his solo career.
My collection: 7" single no. 1863 Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, January 30, 1993 Cost: 4,5 guilders Tracks: 'Maggie May' / 'Reason to believe'
For some time in the Eighties, the Pointer Sisters were one of the most successful black groups around. Their album 'Black & White', released in 1981, reached high positions in the album charts in various countries including the UK and USA.
The single 'Should I do it' was taken from this album. The single reached number 13 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 9 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 3289 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 24, 2001 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Should I do it' / 'Take my heart, take my soul'
Al Bano and Romina Power represented Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest twice. Their first attempt was in 1976 with the song 'We'll live it all again'. They returned in 1985 with 'Magic oh magic', which contrary to their previous entry was sung almost entirely in Italian - with the exception of the title of course.
At the close of voting, 'Magic oh magic' finished seventh in a field of 19 competitors. Although Al Bano and Romina Power had some hits outside of Italy in the early Eighties, this single did not give them any chart success outside of Italy.
My collection: 7" single no. 4467 Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received January 28, 2010 Cost: 3,5 euro Tracks: 'Magic oh magic' / 'It's forever'
The last single from Black's debut album 'Wonderful life' was an edited version of 'Paradise'. To boost the sales of the single, a limited edition box set including postcards and a large poster was released. For some time, this was a holy grail I was searching for frantically in the Dutch record shops that simply refused to import something like this. In the end, I found a copy in London during a holiday there, a year after its release.
The single, meanwhile, reached number 38 in the UK singles chart during a three week chart run. It was to be Black's final top 40 hit in the UK.
My collection: 7" single no. 599 Found: Record Exchange, London, October 1989 Cost: 1,5 pound Tracks: 'Paradise (edit)' / 'Dagger reel'
The track 'Atomic' was composed by Jimmy Destri and Debbie Harry. According to Harry, 'He was trying to do something like 'Heart of glass', and then somehow or another we gave it the spaghetti western treatment. The lyrics, well, a lot of the time I would write while the band were just playing the song and trying to figure it out. I would just be scatting along with them and I would just start going, 'Ooooooh, your hair is beautiful.''
The single version of 'Atomic' was in fact a remix. The original 4:35 version as featured on the albums 'Eat to the beat' opens with an intro inspired by the nursery rhyme 'Three blind mice' and includes an instrumental break with a bass guitar solo. The 7" version mixed by Mike Chapman omits the intro and replaces the instrumental break with a repeat of the verse.
My collection: 7" single no. 2489 Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 30, 1995 Cost: 40p Tracks: 'Atomic' / 'Die young stay pretty'
'The train' was the second single taken from the 1988 album 'Hat' by the Nits. The song was written and produced by the band. The sleeve of the single featured stills from the rather strange music video. And like the music video, the song was rather strange as well.
