I didn't know this song when I bought it. I bought this single for one reason only: it was a picture disc. And a beautiful one, at that. Fortunately I did know Judie Tzuke and the type of music she made.
In 1982 Tzuke joined a new label, Chrysalis Records after having served with Rocket Records for three years. Her first album for Chrysalis was 'Shoot the moon', from which this single was taken. The single did not chart, but the album reached number 19 in the UK albums chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 2781 Found: London, November 1, 1996 Cost: 1 pound Tracks: 'I'm not a loser' / 'Run on luck'
'Lover of mine' was released in 1990 as the fourth and last single from Alannah Myles' self-titled debut album. While in Canada, the single equalled the number 2 position her biggest hit 'Black velvet' had reached a year earlier, elsewhere in the world, it did not impress the record-buying audiences.
The song is a power ballad, very different from the rock stylings of her earlier singles. Later on in her career, Myles would try her luck more often with this kind of power ballad.
My collection: 7" single no. 1829 Found: Record Palace, Amsterdam, January 13, 1993 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Lover of mine' / 'Just one kiss'
Tom Petty's 'A face in the crowd' was written and produced by Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne, like most of the material on his album 'Full moon fever'. The track has a beautiful warm, relaxed sound that seemed to please especially the Dutch audience.
The single peaked at nnumber 23 in the Netherlands, whereas it stalled at number 93 in the UK singles chart and number 46 in the US Billboard Hot 100.
My collection: 7" single no. 1249 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, June 21, 1990 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'A face in the crowd' / 'A mind with a heart of its own'
After Red Box signed to Sire Records and released their single 'Saskatchewan', there must have been some doubt whether this band would actually make it. The single did not chart and some record company executives must have felt panic. These days, the band would probably have been dropped immediately.
But they followed through with 'Lean on me', which proved the be a more successful track. It would prove to be the biggest hit of their career, peaking at number 3 in the UK Singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 2140 Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, August 2, 1994 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Lean on me' / 'Stinging bee'
Contrary to what you might think, when I bought this single two decades after its release, I didn't have to pay a fortune for it. I was as surprised as anyone when I spotted this limited edition double single during a record fair for a rather low price. Considering the ever growing fanbase of this Irish band, I would have expected the dealer to make a nice profit. Fortunately he didn't, otherwise I would never have bought this of course.
I consider 'Pride' to be U2's breakthrough single. It was the first one to reach the top 3 of the UK singles chart, peaking at number 3, and it was the first top 10 hit in the Netherlands, reaching number 8. The accompanying album 'The unforgettable fire' is an unmistakable classic which demands a luxury extended collectable ultimate edition of some sort. Now that's something I would buy...
My collection: 7" single no. 3365 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 2002 Cost: 10 guilders Tracks: 'Pride (In the name of love)' / '4th of July' // 'Boomerang I (Instrumental)' / 'Boomerang II (Vocal)'
The third single from All about Eve's 1989 album 'Scarlet and other stories' was 'Scarlet'. It was released in early 1990 and backed with a live track recorded at Hammersmith Odeon, where the band celebrated the biggest commercial success of their career.
'Scarlet' equalled the chart placing of the previous single 'December' in the UK, reaching number 34 in the singles chart. As always, the single was released in several collectable formats: the 7" single, a 12" single with a gatefold sleeve and a live poster, a cd-single and a picture disc cd-single.
My collection: 7" single no. 1205 Found: Wreckastow, Rotterdam, April 13, 1990 Cost: 10 guilders Tracks: 'Scarlet' / 'Our summer (live)'
'Love's great adventure' was recorded as a new track for Ultravox's 1984 compilation album 'The Collection' and released as a single to promote the album. Released in October 1984 it peaked at number 12 in the UK singles chart and number 30 in the Dutch Top 40.
The style of this single is different from any of their preceding singles from the album 'Lament', aiming for a more lightweight, pop-oriented approach. The music video features the band members in a humorous parody of Indiana Jones, with Midge Ure being chased across deserts and forests by a ruthless treasure hunter. Midge Ure stated in his autobiography 'If I was' that the aim of the single and its video was to promote Ultravox as having a sense of humour, away from the seriousness of their previous releases.
Once again, I bought this single in a clear vinyl edition. The gatefold sleeve also contained a booklet with a beautifully illustrated song lyric in the style of the front sleeve. Unfortunately, I found this edition some years after buying the original single and the booklet sleeved one with the disc pressed on black vinyl. So now I've got three copies of this single...
My collection: 7" single no. 247-1, 247-2, 3068 Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1984 / Disco Market, Den Haag, 1984 / House of Rhythm, London, 1999 Cost: 6 guilders / 3,5 guilders / 2 pounds Tracks: 'Dancing with tears in my eyes' / 'White China (live)'
I didn't know this song when I bought it. I bought this single for one reason only: it was a picture disc. And a beautiful one, at that. Fortunately I did know Judie Tzuke and the type of music she made.
