Underground - David Bowie

Back in the Nineties, there was a record fair in Leiden every six months. During that record fair, they used to always play a remix of David Bowie's 'Underground'. It was quite an obscure remix, because as it turned out, that remix does not appear on the 12" single of 'Underground' that was released in 1986. I've never been able to track down that remix. (Any tips are welcome below.)

Meanwhile, I did buy this disc, a Spanish pressing of 'Underground' on 12". That was not a deliberate choice: I just happened to find this copy for a low price, so I bought it. Perhaps some David Bowie fans out there are hunting down this version, I wouldn't know... Anyway, it contains the same tracks as other pressings of this disc: remixes created by Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero.

My collection: 12" single no. 269
Found: Record fair, 1996
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Underground (Extended dance mix)' / 'Underground (dub)', 'Underground (instrumental)'

Who's that girl - Eurythmics

There was some doubt in my mind upon buying this 12" single, whether it would contain an extended version of 'Who's that girl', as it wasn't described as such on the label. Strange, because the extended version of 'Who's that girl' would be something to brag about as it's actually quite good.

'Who's that girl' was the first single from the band's third album 'Touch' and a top 10 hit in several European countries. In the UK, the single peaked at number 3.

My collection: 12" single no. 605
Found: Record Exchange, London, 200X
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Who's that girl [extended version]' / 'You take some lentils... and you take some rice', 'ABC (Freeform)'

I'm the one who really loves you - Mel & Kim

'I'm the one who really loves you' was originally recorded by British singer Austin Howard in 1986. The track was written and produced by Stock/Aitken/Waterman, who also recorded the track with Mel & Kim a year later for their debut album 'F.L.M.'.

Although never released as a single in Europe where the duo celebrated their biggest successes, the track was remixed by Civilles & Cole and released on 7" and 12" in the USA. I bought the import 12" when it was just released.

My collection: 12" single no. 62
Found: LP Top 100, 1987
Cost: 15 guilders
Tracks: 'I'm the one who really loves you (Stardom groove club mix)', 'I'm the one who really loves you (Groove dub)' / 'I'm the one who really loves you (Kick 'n live mix)', 'I'm the one who really loves you (Done properly dub)'

Martha's harbour - All about Eve

All about Eve have really had only one big hit; the immortal 'Martha's harbour'. The single reached number 10 and it was their only single to reach the top 10 in the UK. It was an astonishing success, since at the time, inane house music and assembly line pop from the Stock/Aitken/Waterman stable was dominating the charts.

This 12" single in a box was one of the many formats available at the time. It featured a large poster, signatures of all four band members and two exclusive live tracks on the B-side. It was a numbered limited edition; I have number 4943.

My collection: 12" single no. 271
Found: Record fair, 1996
Cost: 20 guilders
Tracks: 'Martha's harbour', 'Another door' / 'In the clouds (live)', 'Shelter from the rain (live)'

Everlasting love - Sandra

Sandra recorded and released 'Everlasting love' in 1987 after becoming familiar with the song via the 1968 version by Love Affair. She commented: 'I have always loved it...Even as a little child I heard that song and I said that I would like to sing it sometime.'

This 12" single features the original extended version of the track, released in Germany at the time of its original release. In 1988 the track was acquired by Pete Waterman who had it remixed by Pete Hammond and released it as the 'PWL mix'.

My collection: 12" single no. 314
Found: Record fair, 1995
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Everlasting love (extended version)' / 'Change your mind', 'Everlasting love (single version)'

Stay - The Blue Nile

The Scottish band The Blue Nile debuted in 1981 with 'I love this life', a single that went by unnoticed partly because of the disappearance of their label RSO. The trio kept writing and recording over the next couple of years, including a couple of tracks that would later surface on their debut album.

'Stay' was released in 1983 by Linn Records, a label created by a local hi-fi manufacturer. It was not a hit, however the band was noticed enough for Linn to released a debut album called 'A walk across the rooftops' a year later: a critically acclaimed album that sold very well too. This 12" single features the full length version of 'Stay' as well as 'Saddle the horses', an instrumental version of the album track 'Automobile noise'.

My collection: 12" single no. 294
Found: Record fair, 1996
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Stay' / 'Saddle the horses'

Dizzy miss Lizzie - Flying Lizards

In 1984, the Flying Lizards released an album consisting entirely of covers, called 'Top Ten'. The covers were deliberately done in an emotionless, harsh and robotic style. 'Dizzy miss Lizzie' was one of them, a track originally written by Larry Williams in 1958 and covered many times since, most famously by the Beatles on their 1965 album 'Help!'.

I got to know the single shortly after its release via television. A strange music video accompanied the song, which you can see below. It was this video that made me interested in the song - but I had a heard time finding the single. Instead, I bought the 12" single when I saw it years later. The B-side 'Gyrostatics' is a sonic experiment not too dissimilar from tracks by Art of Noise.



My collection: 12" single no. 180
Found: Record Exchange, London, 1993
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Dizzy miss Lizzie', 'Dizzy' / 'Gyrostatics'

Baby it's you - Promises

Promises was a Canadian based pop group which was founded 1978 in Thousand Oaks, California. The members were the siblings Leslie Maria Knauer (born August 20, 1957, Vancouver, vocals), Jed Knauer (born July 17, 1955, Toronto, guitar, piano) and Benny Knauer (born October 21, 1958, Vancouver, keyboards).

Their album 'Promises', which was recorded by EMI Electrola record producer Steve Verroca became a flop in the USA and in the UK but their single 'Baby It's You' became a hit in Europe. It reached number 4 in the German singles chart and number 17 in the Dutch Top 40. After the second single "Let's Get Back Together" became much less successful (only number 18 in Germany), the group split.

My collection: 7" single no. 1107
Found: All that music, Leiden, November 11, 1989
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Baby it's you' / 'What's a girl to do'

Go deep - Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson released 'Go deep' in the summer of 1998 as a single from her 1997 album 'The velvet rope'. It is an upbeat song, written by Jackson with James Harris III, Terry Lewis and René Elizondo Jr.

According to a listing on Wikipedia, there are 27 remixes of the song, and five of them appear on this promotional double 12" single. All five remixes on these discs were created by Masters at Work. Other remixes were made by Roni Size, Timbaland, Teddy Riley and Jam & Lewis.

My collection: 12" single no. 603
Found: Discogs.com, received November 1, 2011
Cost: 4 euro
Tracks: 'Go deep (Thunder mix)', 'Go deep (Bonus beats)' / 'Go deep (Spiritual flute mix)' // 'Go deep (Vocal deep disco dub)' / 'Go deep (Alternative mix)'

This is your life - Banderas

Although 'This is your life' by the Banderas was a hit in several European countries, I never realised there might me a local release of this track. So when I found out about this Italian 12" single, I was very surprised.

I collects four remixes of the track by four different Italian remixers, and they all have their own input on the track. It was great that I could buy this 12" single quite easily from the same website where I found out about it: the great discogs.com.

My collection: 12" single no. 602
Found: Discogs.com, received November 1, 2011
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'This is your life (Remix by Joe T. Vannelli for J.T. Company)', 'This is your life (Remix by S. Carboni, R. Corinaldesi, M. Violante)' / 'This is your life (Remix by FPI Project)', 'This is your life (Remix by Massimino & Fabio B.)

Enjoy - Solid Gold Easy Amex featuring Red Box

'Enjoy' started its life as the B-side of Red Box's single 'Heart of the sun'. Three years after its release, the track was remixed by Paul Oakenfold. This 12" single was the result: a track credited to 'Solid Gold Easy Amex featuring Red Box'. Side A featured the remix, the B-side was the original 1987 track.

The remix became a club hit, charting at number 75 on Independent Radio's Network Chart, although failing to reach the official UK singles chart.

My collection: 12" single no. 599
Found: Discogs.com, received November 1, 2011
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Enjoy (Paul Oakenfold future mix)' / 'Enjoy (Original Golden Lay)'

What can I say - Boz Scaggs

In 1976, Boz Scaggs who had been working music for over a decade, linked up with session musicians who would later form Toto and recorded his hit album 'Silk degrees'. The album reached number 2 on the US Billboard 200, and number 1 in a number of countries across the world. The album also spawned three hit singles: 'Lowdown', 'Lido shuffle' and 'What can I say'.

In the Netherlands, 'What can I say' was the biggest hit of the three, peaking at number 5 in April 1977. It was one of those songs that defined the year for me, although I was quite young at the time.

My collection: 7" single no. 2415
Found: All that music, Leiden, July 22, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'What can I say' / 'Harbor lights'

All stood still - Ultravox

After 'Vienna' became a hit in 1981, I became a big fan of the band. This was helped along a bit by the fact that my parents took me on holiday to Vienna for five years between 1980 and 1984. I was impressed with the city, but even more impressed by the views of Ultravox's music video I saw in real life. And then there was the majestic album of the same name, which my sister bought. This is how I knew that the next single, 'All stood still' was almost just as good. Unfortunately, that one was never a hit.

I finally bought the single in 1995. I don't know why I waited so long, I do know I wanted to have it years earlier. But as always, back in 1981 I didn't have the money and in later years I never saw the single. So it was good to finally get hold of it in a second hand shop in London.

My collection: 7" single no. 2348
Found: Record Exchange, London, June 26, 1995
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'All stood still' / 'Alles klar'

Loreen - Sandra

German singer Sandra released 'Loreen' as the fourth and final single from her second album 'Mirrors'. It was less successful than the three previous singles, but still managed to peak at number 23 in Germany and number 29 in Switzerland.

This 12" single, unfortunately, doesn't contain a remix of the track. It happened more often in the Eighties: a 7" single and a 12" single with exactly the same tracks on them. Well, at least the sleeve and the disc were bigger.

My collection: 12" single no. 313
Found: Record fair, 1994
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Loreen' / 'Don't cry (The breakup of the world)'

Human nature - Michael Jackson

Now that his doctor/quack has been declared guilty of making him 'gone too soon', Michael Jackson can finally rest in relative peace. Although pop stars will never push the daisies without being talked about ad infinitum. I certainly hope the talk will be more about the man's music and less about real or fictitious scandals.

'Human nature' is a good example of what this man could do with his voice and a beautiful melody. It was released in July 1983 as the fifth single from his bestselling album 'Thriller'. It reached number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 35 in the UK singles chart and number 14 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3532
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, January 9, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Human nature' / 'Baby be mine'

Broken wings - Mr. Mister

'Broken wings' was written by Mr. Mister band members Richard Page and Steve George with lyricist John Lang, who was inspired by a book called 'Broken Wings' written by Kahlil Gibran. The lyrics 'Take these broken wings and learn to fly again' may be a reference to The Beatles' song "Blackbird."

The song's hissing intro was an effect created by the sound of crash cymbal played in reverse. There is a distinct guitar sound in this track thanks to Steve Farris' innovation of the electric guitar, managing to extract a delay effect at an odd timing to create a contrast to the steadiness of the bass and beat. The outro to the song features Page singing very high and lengthy falsetto notes.

The single reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 in December 1985 and number 3 in the Dutch Top 40 in January 1986.

My collection: 7" single no. 387
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Broken wings' / 'Uniform of youth'

Prove your love - Taylor Dayne

Taylor Dayne released 'Prove your love' as the follow-up to her debut hit single 'Tell it to my heart'. It was another high energy dance track with aggressive vocal delivery.

It peaked at number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in the spring of 1988. It also reached number 8 in the UK singles chart. In the Dutch Top 40, it reached number 6.

My collection: 7" single no. 625
Found: Free Record Shop, July 1988
Cost: 7 guilders
Tracks: 'Prove your love' / 'Upon the journey's end'

Another man - One 2 Many

One 2 Many had a Europe-wide hit with 'Downtown' in 1988. The album 'Mirror' was met with considerably less enthusiasm, and the three following singles went by unnoticed as well. Don't know why, because the sleeve of this single alone would have been reason enough to buy it.

And the song is another Scandinavian slice of pure pop. The mid-tempo track should have done better in the charts than it did.

My collection: 7" single no. 827
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, May 20, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Another man' / 'You're the reason'

When the wind blows - David Bowie

David Bowie recorded 'When the wind blows' for the animation movie of the same name. It was always one of my favourite Bowie tracks, so I was pleasantly surprised when I found this 12" single featuring an extended version of it.

Fortunately this extended version is well executed. The intro is intriguing and the many extra instrumental passages make sure that this extended version is indeed extended. It was a great find at the time, even if the vinyl quality left a bit to be desired.

My collection: 12" single no. 398
Found: Esprit Mailorder, 2000
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'When the wind blows (extended mix)' / 'When the wind blows (instrumental)'

Alright - Janet Jackson

Yesterday Jamaican-born American rapper Heavy D died. Apparently he collapsed outside his Beverly Hills home. After being taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, he died as a result from respiratory issues.

Heavy D did a performance both on Michael Jackson's hit single 'Jam' in 1991 and on Janet Jackson's 1990 hit single 'Alright'. Personally I felt that it was a bit of needless talking through otherwise pretty nice pop music, but there you go. This promotional 12" single features no less than eight remixes of 'Alright' - with Heavy D appearing on most of them - plus three versions of 'Come back to me'.

My collection: 12" single no. 604
Found: Discogs.com, received November 1, 2011
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Alright (12" house mix)', 'Alright (Hip house dub)', 'Alright (acappella)' / 'Alright (12" R&B mix)', 'Alright (House dub)' // 'Alright (7" house mix with rap)', 'Alright (7" house mix)', 'Alright (7" R&B mix)' / 'Come back to me (I'm beggin' you mix)', 'Come back to me (Abandoned heart mix)', 'Come back to me (instrumental)'