Hi-Energy Anglia Remix - The Flirtations, Marsha Raven

In 1984, Dutch DJ Rutger Kroese created the Anglia Remix, a medley of two songs with sounds of Big Ben. The two songs that were used were 'Earthquake' by the Flirtations and 'Catch me' by Marsha Raven. The latter had been released unsuccessfully earlier that year, but this remix gave it a new lease of life.

An edited version of this remix would be released as a single and give Marsha Raven a top 10 hit in the Netherlands. Meanwhile, this full length remix became quite sought after.

My collection: 12" single no. 541
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 2001
Cost: 2,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Hi-Energy Anglia Remix' / 'Primitive desire' (Eastbound Expressway)

Chains of love - Erasure

'Chains of love' was released in May 1988 as the second single from Erasure's third studio album 'The innocents'. The album version was produced by Stephen Hague and was slightly remixed for its single release. Most notably the album version starts 'cold', while the single version contains a short synthesizer pattern as an intro.

The single peaked at number 11 in the UK singles chart and number 12 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4859
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, May 14, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Chains of love' / 'Don't suppose'

Jackie Wilson said - Dexy's Midnight Runners

'Jackie Wilson said (I'm in heaven when you smile)' was written and recorded by Van Morrison in 1972 on his album 'Saint Dominic's preview'. It was inspired by a line in Jackie Wilson's song 'Reet petite'.

In 1982, British pop band Dexys Midnight Runners recorded and released a cover version of 'Jackie Wilson said' on their album 'Too-rye-ay'. It was released as the follow-up single to their UK number 1 hit 'Come on Eileen' and reached number 5 in the UK singles chart. It also got to number 21 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4858
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, May 14, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Jackie Wilson said' / 'Let's make this precious'

Only a fool - Time Bandits

The single 'Only a fool' was taken from the Time Bandits' 1985 album 'Fiction'. While the previous single 'Dancing on the string', also taken from the album, reached number 28 in the Dutch Top 40, this single failed to chart.

The song, written by frontman Alides Hidding, sounds a bit like a cheap Bee Gees imitation. I guess too many people didn't appreciate this unintended tribute.

My collection: 7" single no. 4857
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, June 14, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Only a fool' / '1 2 3'

The wild places '91 - Duncan Browne

This remix of the classic song 'The wild places' by Duncan Browne is a mystery. I can't find any information as to why this remix was released. What's more, the remix doesn't seem to add or change much from the original - except the great instrumental bit at the end of the song seems to have been chopped off. What a shame.

Amazingly, this single managed to chart again in the Dutch Top 40. Whereas the original version reached number 7 in the Dutch Top 40 in the Spring of 1979, this version managed to get to number 28.

My collection: 7" single no. 4864
Found: Da Capo, Utrecht, May 14, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'The wild places '91' / 'Fauvette'

Looking for you - Kit Hain

After working with Julian Marshall for a few years as Marshall Hain, Kit Hain pursued a solo career. This resulted in two solo albums, the first one of which was 'Spirits walking out' (1981). This album featured the single 'Danny' plus this one, 'Looking for you'.

The best way to sum up this single is probably: great sleeve, unremarkable music. At least, the general public didn't buy this.

My collection: 7" single no. 4861
Found: Da Capo, Utrecht, May 14, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Looking for you' / 'Hundreds and thousands'

Net als toen - Corry Brokken

How times have changed. When the Eurovision Song Contest was just a new invention, the Netherlands were actually very successful. Between 1956 and 1975, the country won four times - and they never managed this after 1975. The first time the Netherlands won was in the second year of Eurovision, 1957.

Corry Brokken sang 'Net als toen' ('Just like the old days'), a song that featured a violin solo by Sem Nijveen and was almost three and a half minutes long. In this year's contest the Italian entry lasted for five minutes, whilst the UK's entry lasted for almost two minutes. It was because of songs like the former that a rule was eventually introduced restricting each song to a maximum of three minutes; this rule still applies today.

This single, meanwhile, is a true rarity. It simply cannot be found - although I did buy this copy in a shop without any trouble. I was very surprised with it, even if the vinyl wasn't pressed perfectly.

My collection: 7" single no. 4860
Found: Da Capo, Utrecht, May 14, 2010
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'Net als toen' / 'Wees maar niet boos'

Wildfire - Time Bandits

Although the Time Bandits basically still exist (at least, frontman Alides Hidding still uses the name when he performs solo or with a band), they split up in 1989. 'Wildfire' was the last single to be released by the band, but it failed to reach the Dutch Top 40.

The single was taken from the band's 1987 album 'Can't wait for another world', which contained a few songs written by Alides Hidding with American singer/producer Dan Hartman. This single contains two of them.

My collection: 7" single no. 4856
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, May 14, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Wildfire' / 'You're not at home'

The big kiss - Thereza Bazar

After the breakup of the duo Dollar, Thereza Bazar released one solo album in 1985 called 'The big kiss', which she co-wrote. The album reportedly cost half a million pounds to produce and generated media attention, but according to Bazar, the album's circulation was poor due to a mix-up at the record company, with the album unavailable at the time of its advertised release. Today Bazar mentions the incident as the most upsetting of her career.

The first single from the album was the title track was released in the summer of 1985. It didn't chart in any territory.

My collection: 7" single no. 4855
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, May 14, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'The big kiss' / 'Give yourself up'

Tracie - Level 42

Level 42 members Gary Husband and Mark King wrote 'Tracie' and recorded it on their 1988 studio album 'Staring at the sun'.

The song was released as a single near the end of 1988. It peaked at number 24 in the UK singles chart and number 14 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4854
Found: Grammfoonwinkel, Utrecht, May 14, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Tracie' / 'Three words'

Als ik 'n meisje was - Toontje Lager

For a little while in the Eighties, the Dutch group 'Toontje Lager' were very hot. After the very successful albums 'Erop of eronder' (1982) and 'Stiekem dansen' (1983) the band suddenly failed to attract lots of attention. Their singles flopped and they didn't even record an album anymore.

In 1985, the band decided to call it quits. 'Als ik 'n meisje was' ('If I were a girl') was their last single release - and this one too failed to reach the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4853
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, May 14, 2010
Cost: 1,5 euro
Tracks: 'Als ik 'n meisje was' / 'Hart van goud'

Popmuzik (Ben Liebrand single edit) - M

Attentive readers of this blog will recall I posted a 1989 remix of M's 'Popmuzik' on this blog back in August 2009. I bought that one in the UK. It appears that the Netherlands also released a remix of 'Popmuzik' that same year, except this one was made by Ben Liebrand, the Dutch DJ who had become a household name during the Eighties.

Indeed, his remix is very different from the one on the other single - but less unsuccessful. While the UK version reached number 15 in the UK singles chart, this single did not chart in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 4852
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, May 14, 2010
Cost: 1,5 euro
Tracks: 'Popmuzik (Ben Liebrand single edit)'

Someone somewhere (in summertime) - Simple Minds

I think 'Someone somewhere (in summertime)' is my favourite Simple Minds song of all times. Still, it took me this long to find a copy of the single. Fortunately, it is a UK pressing so that's made it worthwhile waiting.

The track was released as the third and final single from the bands' 1984 album 'New gold dream'. It reached number 36 in the UK singles chart and number 19 in Ireland. In Europe, the single was ignored. How very strange.

My collection: 7" single no. 4851
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, May 14, 2010
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Someone somewhere (in summertime)' / 'King is white and in the crowd'

It's raining - Darts

The British doo-wop revival band Darts were very successful in the Seventies. The eight piece band had three successive number 2 hits in the UK singles chart with covers of early U.S. rock and roll and R&B songs.

'It's raining', released in July 1978, was the last of them. It was also the band's last hit in the Netherlands, where it peaked at number 5 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4850
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, May 14, 2010
Cost: 1,5 euro
Tracks: 'It's raining' / 'Messing shoe blues'

Love games - Level 42

'Love games' was the first single taken from Level 42's debut album and their first chart success. This 12" single features the full length version of the track, which is over seven minutes long.

According to a blurb on the back of the sleeve, 'Having grown up with influences such as Miles Davis, Keith Jarrett, Stevie Wonder, John McLaughlin plus George Benson the blend was right for one of the most exciting developments in British music for years.'

My collection: 12" single no. 428
Found: Record Exchange, London, 2002
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Love games (full length version)' / 'Forty two'

Won't you hold my hand now - King

The British band King were very successful in the UK in 1984, and so it didn't take long for the record company to realise that they could also have a shot at launching the band in the USA. That's where this 12" single was made, and this copy was released for promotion as a gold stamp on the back of the sleeve proves.

This 12" single features three remixes of the track 'Won't you hold my hand now', one of the heavier tracks on the band's debut album. The sleeve design features a photograph by Sheila Rock, who made many beautiful portraits of Eighties artists.

My collection: 12" single no. 361

Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 1998

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Won't you hold my hand now ('Heavy times' mix)' / 'Won't you hold my hand now ('85 Reasons to hold hands mix)', 'Won't you hold my hand now (dub mix)'

Menage a trois - K-Ram

I have a copy of the single by K-Ram called 'Menage a trois'. Some time after buying the single I found this 12" single and I decided I wanted to hear the remix - especially since I could buy the 12" single for a low price.

K-Ram sounds a lot like Wham!, but it tries too hard to do so without being able to match the quality of the duo's lyrics.

My collection: 12" single no. 337
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 2000
Cost: 2,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Menage a trois (Whopper chopper mix)' / 'Menage a trois', 'Menage a trois (instrumental)'

Sensitive - Mick Karn

Japan member Mick Karn released his solo single 'Sensitive' in 1982. On the track, he collaborated with Ricky Wilde, who had just had his production debut on his sister's debut album 'Kim Wilde' in 1981. Ricky produced the track and also performed guitar and keyboards on it.

This 12" single features a remix of 'Sensitive', as well as the atmospheric B-side 'The sound of waves'.

My collection: 12" single no. 327
Found: Record fair, 1995
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Sensitive (remix)' / 'The sound of waves'

Professional widow / Hey Jupiter - Tori Amos

Tori Amos has made some beautiful music during the Nineties, but her career took a bizarre turn in 1996 when her record company thought it would be a great idea to remix her songs from the album 'Boys for Pele'. The remix of 'Professional widow' sounded nothing like the original and was a random collection of noises put together by one Armand van Helden, but it gave her a number 1 hit in the UK.

This 12" single features two further remixes: a beautiful version of 'Hey Jupiter' and an awful version of 'Talula'. Proof that remixes can add or detract from a track is given on this disc in equal measures, although the two awful remixes are considerably longer than the beautiful one.

My collection: 12" single no. 540
Found: unknown, 1996
Cost: 15 guilders
Tracks: 'Professional widow (Armand's Star Trunk Funkin' mix)' / 'Hey Jupiter (The Dakota version - radio edit)', 'Talula (BT's Synethasia mix)'

Severina - The Mission

Probably the biggest asset of the British band The Mission is that sometimes they used the angelic voice of Julianne Regan from All about Eve for their backing vocals. They did this, for instance, on their 1987 single 'Severina'. It was great that this 12" remix of 'Severina' highlights her voice even more.

The 12" single became an even more attractive package because of the limited edition poster included with it. Not that the men from the Mission were so handsome, but anything extra is always fun to have.

My collection: 12" single no. 323
Found: Record fair, 2000
Cost: 25 guilders
Tracks: 'Severina (Aqua-marina mix)', 'Wishing well' / 'Tomorrow never knows (Amphetamix)'