Weak in the presence of beauty - Floy Joy

'Floy Joy' is the name of a 1972 album by the Supremes. It's also the name of the band that debuted in 1986 with the single 'Weak in the presence of beauty'. This single did not chart, but when Alison Moyet recorded a version of that song, it shot to number 6 in the UK singles chart.

I bought two versions of the single: the regular German pressing pictured here and a limited edition UK single on which one side could be used as a mirror. Like the accompanying card says: 'You too can grow weak in the presence of beauty'!

My collection: 7" single no. 708
Found: December 22, 1988
Cost: 0,5 guilder
Tracks: 'Weak in the presence of beauty' / 'You and me'

Tell me your plans - The Shirts

Annie Golden, Ronald Ardito, Artie La Monica, Robert Racioppo, John Piccolo and John Criscione formed The Shirts in the mid-Seventies. Their debut album 'The Shirts' was recorded in London and released in early 1978. The album became very popular in Europe.

The first single, 'Tell me your plans' reached number 4 in the Netherlands after a chewing gum-gnawing Annie Golden appeared alongside her band in the popular weekly music show Toppop.

My collection: 7" single no. 631
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Tell me your plans' / 'Cyrinda'

Dogs of lust - The The

In 1992, The The released the album 'Dusk'.The first single to be taken from the album was 'Dogs of lust'. The 7" vinyl was released in the UK only in a limited edition pressed on pink marbled vinyl. Whether this helped the sales is unknown, but the single peaked at number 25 in the UK.

The band would release two further singles from the album, but those were not released on vinyl anymore.

My collection: 7" single no. 1850
Found: January 23, 1993
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Dogs of lust' / 'The violence of truth (remix)'

Farewell mr. Sorrow - All about Eve

In 1990, guitarist Tim Bricheno left All about Eve to join the Sisters of Mercy. He was replaced by Marty Willson-Piper, who had worked with The Church. With this new guitarist, the band was pressured into becoming 'some sort of Fleetwood Mac', according to singer Julianne Regan. They resisted the pressure from the record company and instead made an album that was partly true to their own sound but also had definite influences from their new guitarist.

The clear-sounding, upbeat 'Farewell mr. Sorrow' was drawn as the first single from the album 'Touched by Jesus', and reached number 36 in the UK singles chart, which was a reasonable placing, considering their previous singles had peaked at number 34. Still, difficult times were ahead for the band...

My collection: 7" single no. 1454
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, June 22, 1991
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Farewell mr. Sorrow' / 'Elizabeth of glass'

Take me to the fire - This Island Earth

While I was searching for 'See that glow' by This Island Earth, I came across this follow-up single, 'Take me to the fire' repeatedly. At some point I got so tired of it, that I decided to buy this one. Sometimes the irony of buying records is that you get the ones you don't want quicker than the ones you do want.

'Take me to the fire' is not a bad song per se, but it's easy to see why it didn't reach the UK singles chart like the previous single did.

My collection: 7" single no. 932
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, July 6, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Take me to the fire' / 'Pearl of love'

Ooh, yes I do - Luv'

The girl trio Luv' was churning out hit after hit in 1979, at the height of their popularity. Not everything they did was highly inspired, but at least every single song they recorded was a happy, positive track.

'Ooh, yes I do' was released in October 1979 and reached number 5 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 38
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1979
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Ooh yes I do' / 'My guy'

Sowing the seeds of love - Tears for Fears

'Sowing the seeds of love' was released as the first single from Tears for Fears' third album 'The seeds of love'. The song was in essence a pastiche of the Beatles sound of the second half of the Sixties, a style the band would also stick to in their reunion cd 'Everybody loves a happy ending' released a couple of years ago.

The single was a wordwide success, reaching number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 3 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 5 in the UK singles chart. The B-side 'Tears roll down' was a demo version of a track the band would record as 'Laid so low (Tears roll down)' a few years later for the compilation album 'Tears roll down (Greatest hits 82-92)'.

My collection: 7" single no. 988
Found: HMV, London, October 16, 1989
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Sowing the seeds of love' / 'Tears roll down'