That's the way it is - Mel and Kim

The last single by Mel & Kim was released when Mel was already receiving treatment for cancer, a battle she ultimately lost on January 18, 1990. Her illness was made public at the time of the release of this single.

This 12" was the first of a series and includes the original version of the B-side 'You changed my life' plus an extended version of the title track. The content of this 12" single is identical to the cd-single released at the time, which is why I never bought this one. But at 1 euro, I simply had to snap it up.

My collection: 12" single no. 634
Found: Haarlemmerstraat, Leiden
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'That's the way it is [extended]' / 'I'm the one who really loves you (US remix)', 'You changed my life'

I can make you feel good - Shalamar

When I bought this 12" single there was no way to tell whether it contained an extended version of the lead track, so I just bought it. I think this version is slightly longer, but certainly not a remix of the track, which is a pity, but so be it.

Featuring three tracks, this disc was apparently sold for the price of a 7" single in the UK - or so the sticker says. Value for money then, because if anything, Shalamar were known for funky music and this is very funky music.

My collection: 12" single no. 633
Found: unknown
Cost: unknown
Tracks: 'I can make you feel good' / 'Friends', 'Help me'

Mothers talk - Tears for fears

Released some time before the album, 'Mothers talk' was actually the first single from Tears for Fears' second album 'Songs from the big chair'. Little did they know then that it would become such a successful album. And although the single did reasonably well in the UK (peaking at no. 14 in the chart) other countries weren't convinced until the next single, 'Shout', was released.

This 12" single was released as one of two different versions. It featured the original extended version. In Germany, a 12" single - which I also have - was released with the very same sleeve, but announcing this extended version as the 'Beat of the drum mix'. But that was actually a different mix, one that I will write about in the next blog about Tears for Fears...

My collection: 12" single no. 22 / no. 631
Found: Free Record Shop, 1985 / All that music, Leiden, unknown date
Cost: 7 guilders / 12,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Mothers talk (extended mix)' / 'Empire building'

Leave in silence - Depeche Mode

'Leave in silence' is still one of my all time favourite Depeche Mode tracks, and this 12" single had a little to do with that. I was very impressed with the extended remix of this single, and the 'quieter' version that was included on the B-side of this 12" single added a dimension to the beauty of the track. I remember spending some hours re-mixing these mixes on my old tape recorder, using the excellent 'pause' buttons they used to have. One mix exceeded 10 minutes, if I remember correctly.

The instrumental 'Further excerpts from My secret garden' elaborates on the B-side of the 7" single and is another highlight in the band's catalogue. In my opinion this ranks among the best 12" singles they have released during their impressive 30 year career.

My collection: 12" single no. 17
Found: Free Record Shop, 1985
Cost: 8 guilders
Tracks: 'Leave in silence (longer)' / 'Further excerpt from: My secret garden', 'Leave in silence (quieter)'

Don't stand so close to me '86 - The Police

For a long time, this 1986 re-recording of 'Don't stand so close to me' was in the history books as the only reunion of the British band The Police and it is still their most recent studio recording. Produced by Laurie Latham, this version is very different from the 1980 original.

This 12" single brings together four versions of the track: the original version, the 1986 version, a dance mix of that 1986 version and a live version of unknown origin. Amazingly, a cd version of this disc also exists: a CD-Video was released in the UK, featuring all four tracks plus the music video for this 1986 version.

My collection: 12" single no. 38
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 15 guilders
Tracks: 'Don't stand so close to me '86 (dance mix)', 'Don't stand so close to me '86' / 'Don't stand so close to me (original version)', 'Don't stand so close to me (live)'

Rocket man - Kate Bush

In 1990, Kate Bush was one of the artists that participated in the project 'Two rooms', in which covers of Elton John songs were recorded. Kate Bush chose 'Rocket man', a song originally released in 1972. According to Kate: 'When I asked to be involved in this project and was given the choice of a track it was like being asked ‘would you like to fulfill a dream? would you like to be Rocket Man?’... yes, I would.'

Mercury Records had the good judgement to release Kate's track as a single, and Kate added another cover on the B-side: a version of 'Candle in the wind', released by Elton John in 1974. A stripped down, almost clunky version that takes a lot of its charm from Kate's beautiful vocals. This 12" single features both the vocal and instrumental version - as did the cd-single of 'Rocket man'.

My collection: 12" single no. 629
Found: Discogs.com, received February 8, 2012
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'Rocket man' / 'Candle in the wind', 'Candle in the wind (instrumental)'

Human racing - Nik Kershaw

February 29 is an extraordinary day and on such a day I think I should post at least one extraordinary record. This one fits the bill: it's one of the earlier 12" singles I bought and one of precious few that features three different songs, all remixed, and all good.

'Human racing', the title track of Nik Kershaw's debut album was remixed to great effect, leaving only drums and vox at the end, but still engaging and soulful. Nik's voice sounds suspiciously like Stevie Wonder's on this track, and it's the kind of soulful song the blind American could have written and recorded himself. The remix of Kershaw's hit single 'Wouldn't it be good', which inexplicably isn't included on expanded double cd re-release of 'Human racing' of last Monday, is weird but wonderful, and the remix of album track 'Faces' is moving and more engaging than the original version. So there you have it: 17 minutes of pure bliss on one piece of vinyl.

My collection: 12" single no. 13
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 7 guilders
Tracks: 'Human racing (special extended mix)' / 'Wouldn't it be good (remix)', 'Faces (remix)'

Respectable - Mel and Kim

'Respectable' was only the second single of the duo Mel & Kim Appleby, but they were quickly becoming a phenomenon. The single reached number 1 in various countries including their native England, and a variety of formats was released to keep the fans buying products.

The 12" single appeared in different sleeves, although it appears that the black & white sleeve (pictured above) was the only one used in the UK - not counting a limited picture disc edition of course. I bought both versions on one day, just last month, realising that I have a lot of Mel & Kim discs already but these were still missing.

Both 12" singles I own feature the same set of remixes, of which the extended version starts in a particularly loud and slightly annoying way. As always with Stock/Aitken/Waterman productions: when you've heard one remix you pretty much have heard them all.

My collection: 12" single no. 622 & 623
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, January 27, 2012
Cost: 3 euros each
Tracks: 'Respectable (extended version)' / 'Respectable (7 inch version)', 'Respectable (Extra beats version)'

Axel F - Harold Faltermeyer

The instrumental track 'Axel F', created entirely with synthesizers by Harold Faltermeyer, featured in the movie 'Beverley Hills Cop' featuring Eddie Murphy and was the theme tune for the character he played, bearing the same name.

This 12" single was a bargain when I found it, years after its release. It features two remixes of the track plus another track from the soundtrack of the movie. It's entertaining stuff, but it's still a soundtrack...

My collection: 12" single no. 630
Found: Plaatboef, 199x
Cost: 2,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Axel F (The M&M mix)' / 'Axel F (extended version)', 'Shoot out'

Stay on these roads - A-ha

A-ha were never very generous with bonus tracks after their first two albums were a hit, but sometimes there were some pleasant surprises. This 12" single of 'Stay on these roads', the first single taken from their third album of the same name, features two tracks unavailable on the album, one of which wasn't released on cd until some time later.

The extended version of 'Stay on these roads' is a treat for its extended musical passages. It was released on cd the next year - but in Japan only. The alternate mix of 'Soft rains of April' is a little different, but not dramatically so. Still, a nice disc.

My collection: 12" single no. 116
Found: Record fair, 1991
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Stay on these roads (extended remix)' / 'Soft rains of April (original mix)'

Oh l'amour - Erasure

What a great title for Valentine's day: 'Oh l'amour' by Erasure. If I'm being completely honest, I have to say I didn't buy this 12" single for the title track, but rather for the bonus track on the B-side: a cover of Abba's 'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!'.

I bought this 12" single some time after the release of Erasure's 'Abba-esque' EP, which featured four other Abba tracks. Later, of course, I found out that the tracks on this 12" single were also released as a cd-single, and I bought that one too.

My collection: 12" single no. 213
Found: Record exchange, London, October 1994
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Oh l'amour (remix)' / 'March on down the line', 'Gimme gimme gimme'

I scare myself - Thomas Dolby

This 12" single features the long version of 'I scare myself', a track taken from Thomas Dolby's 1984 album 'The Flat earth'. This is actually the album version of the track; it was edited on the 7" single. 'I scare myself' was written by American singer/songwriter Dan Hicks and it was the only cover version on the seven track album.

'The Flat earth' was re-released in 2009 with no less than eight bonus tracks, one of which was a live version of 'I scare myself'. It can't match this perfect studio recording which is so beautifully produced.

My collection: 12" single no. 258
Found: Record exchange, London, October 1995
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'I scare myself (long version)' / 'Puppet theatre', 'Cloudburst at shingle street (edited version)'

Love and anger - Kate Bush

Kate Bush released the third single from her 1989 album 'The sensual world' in early 1990. Besides the 7" single, a 12" single and cd-single were also released. Both had the same track listing and featured three new tracks, all three taken from the soundtrack of a Comic Strip film called 'GLC: The carnage continues...'.

Most notably, the track 'Ken' describes the British politician Ken Livingstone as 'funky sex machine'.

My collection: 12" single no. 628
Found: Discogs.com, received February 8, 2012
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Love and anger' / 'Ken', 'The confrontation', 'One last look around the house before we go...'

Showing out (Get fresh at the weekend) - Mel & Kim

If you've seen this previous post, you'll think I've written about this 12" single before. While the sleeve is similar, the track listing is different. Also, the country of origin is different: this version was made in Germany, while the previous one was issued in the UK.

The track listing adds one track, i.e. the 'Mortgage mix' of 'Showing out'. Most remixes of 'Showing out' are pretty similar, and this one is just one of them. 'Showing out' was one of the top dance tracks of 1986 and the first of two number one hits in the Netherlands.

My collection: 12" single no. 625
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received February 1, 2012
Cost: 2,1 euro
Tracks: 'Showing out [extended]' / 'Showing out (The Mortgage mix)', 'System (House mix)'

Sweetest smile - Black

Black's 'Sweetest smile' was a big comeback for a band that had been out of my sight for three years in the summer of 1987. After a holiday in London, where I bought the 7" single, I requested the 12" single for my birthday and got it.

A remark from my grandfather always stuck with me. When he looked at the sleeve of this disc, he said: 'Now at least that's a goodlooking chap'. I wanted to say, of course, his music was good too, but such a remark would have been wasted on him: he never liked any pop music at all. So this was probably the highest form of praise I would get from him for my record collection. But of course, the four tracks on this disc are sure to please you.

My collection: 12" single no. 56
Found: Den Haag (Birthday present)
Cost: nothing
Tracks: 'Sweetest smile', 'Sixteens' / 'Leave yourself alone', 'Hardly star-crossed lovers'

Change your mind - Sharpe & Numan

Bill Sharpe and Gary Numan recorded many singles together, but it all started with this one-off duet for Bill Sharpe's solo album 'Famous people'. The 7" single made a big impression on me, but the 12" single was in a league of its own.

There are precious few extended remixes that are much, much better than the track they are remixed from, but this is a prime example. With more percussion and some vintage 'stutter' beats, this version of 'Change your mind' has been one of my all-time favourites ever since I first heard it more than 25 years ago.

My collection: 12" single no. 46
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Change your mind (extended)' / 'Remix, remake, remodel', 'Fools in a world of fire' (with Linda Taylor)

I've been losing you - A-ha

There's probably some truth to the story that the music you hear during adolescence makes the biggest impression on you. Many of the artists that were around during the Eighties are still here now, making music, and the records they made back then are forever etched in your memory. In some cases, these memories extend to knowing the exact circumstances when you bought certain records.

I can still picture myself in my room playing this 12" by A-ha over and over again. I even used the dub and extended mixes to create new extended remixes. And I know that, when 'This alone is love' appeared on A-ha's next album 'Stay on these roads', I was quite shocked, because the version on this 12" single is far superior. But perhaps that's because I'd heard this version about 200 times by then...

My collection: 12" single no. 52
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 8 guilders
Tracks: 'I've been losing you (extended mix)' / 'I've been losing you (dub)', 'This alone is love'

On the air tonight - Willy Finlayson

I bought the 7" single of 'On the air tonight' not long after its release, but I never even saw the 12" single before I bought this one. It was my first (and last) opportunity, and I took it. The extended version of 'On the air tonight' is not spectacular, but it does add something to the track that isn't there on the 7" version - mostly an extra instrumental part.

Willy Finlayson never had a hit, despite the fact that this particular track is actually quite beautiful.

My collection: 12" single no. 627
Found: unknown, 200X
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'On the air tonight (extended)' / 'After the fall'

What! - Soft Cell

The extended version of Soft Cell's 'What!' is far superior to the edit of the track on the 7" single. I found that out pretty early on in my life thanks to my sister, who bought this disc at a time when my budget didn't stretch far enough for 12" singles.

The shop Plato, which closed almost two years ago, opened in 1985 and this was my first purchase there. I was very surprised to find this disc there, which after all was three years old back then. Still, I was also happy as I didn't expect to find it at that point in time.

My collection: 12" single no. 18
Found: Plato, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 15 guilders
Tracks: 'What!' / '...So'

Pale shelter - Tears for fears

You may have read the description of this 12" single of 'Pale shelter'. If you did, you already know part of the story. Here´s the second part of the story. This 12" single was released in 1983, an features a remix of 'Pale shelter'. This remix is actually the version that ended up on Tears for Fears' debut album 'The hurting'. The extended version is very beautiful, with an introverted piano intro.

'Pale shelter' has always been my favourite Tears for Fears song. I remember watching television (Music Box and Sky Channel) for hours just to see this music video. I always assumed the single was a flop because it didn't chart in the Netherlands, but later found out that upon this re-release, the single actually peaked at number 5 in the UK singles chart!

My collection: 12" single no. 290
Found: Record fair, 1996
Cost: unknown
Tracks: 'Pale shelter (extended version)' / 'Pale shelter', 'We are broken'