Living eyes - Bee Gees

'Living eyes' is the second single taken from the 1981 Bee Gees album of the same name. They completely broke away from their disco sound with the release of this album, however this didn't help the album become a commercial success. It only sold 750,000 copies worldwide, which was not much compared to its predecessor 'Spirits having flown' which sold 16 million copies.

The title track was released as the album's second single, but it was equally unsuccessful. It only reached number 45 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and didn't chart in the UK and the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 4111
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, October 17, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Living eyes' / 'I still love you'

Red red wine - UB40

'Red red wine' was originally written and recorded by Neil Diamond in 1968. Tony Tribe, a Jamaican singer, recorded a reggae version in 1969. It was this version, apparently, that inspired UB40 to record a cover version of the song for their 1983 album 'Labour of love'. Their version featured a lighter, reggae-style flavor compared to Diamond's somber, acoustic ballad.

UB40's version of 'Red red wine' reached number 1 in the UK singles chart and the Dutch Top 40 in the summer of 1983.

My collection: 7" single no. 4110
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, October 17, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Red red wine' / 'Sufferin''

Help - Bananarama and Lananeeneenoonoo

In 1989, Bananarama recorded an acceptable cover version of the Beatles' 1965 song 'Help'. In an effort to raise money for the Comic Relief charity, they enlisted the help of French & Saunders and Kathy Burke to appear as Lananeeneenoonoo and do funny things with the track. As everyone knows, women comedians are rarely funny, and so this comedy version was in dire need of, er, help.

Still, the single reached number 3 in the UK singles chart and even managed to reach number 25 in the Dutch Top 40. Personally, I think the Comic Relief singles 'Living doll' (with Cliff Richard) and 'Rockin' around the Christmas tree' (with Kim Wilde) were much better.

My collection: 7" single no. 4109
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, October 17, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Help' (Bananarama) / 'Help' (Bananarama & Lananeeneenoonoo)

Look away - Big Country

'Look away' was the first single from Big Country's third studio album 'The seer'. Released in April 1986, it was the fourth UK top 10 hit for the band, peaking at number 7. The single was an even bigger success in Ireland, topping the charts for one week, and becoming the band's only number one hit.

I didn't like the song much when it was released, but now, two decades on, I think it's a great rock track. These days a lot of Eighties music sounds a lot better than it did back then. Must be because a lot of music from today is so crap.

My collection: 7" single no. 4108
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, October 17, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Look away' / 'Restless natives'

This must be love - Lois Lane

'This must be love' was released as the third single from Lois Lane's 1990 album 'Fortune Fairytales'. The single did not chart and thus became the final single release from the album.

The song does sound a bit different from the rest of the band's repertoire, which may have turned off the audience. Personally I think it's a nice track, although it's not the best they've ever made.

My collection: 7" single no. 4107
Found: Empire Records, October 17, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'This must be love' / 'Say I love you'

What I did for love - Three Degrees

'What I did for love' was written by Edward Kleban and Marvin Hamlisch and originally appeared in the 1975 musical 'A chorus line', that won 9 Tony Awards in 1976.

This Three Degrees version appeared in 1976, but it was not very successful: it did not chart in any territory.

My collection: 7" single no. 4106
Found: Empire Records, October 17, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'What I did for love' / 'Macaroni man'

Dreamin' - Vanessa Williams

With 'Dreamin'', Vanessa Williams delivers a perfect piece of Eighties elevator music. Amazingly, it became the biggest hit from her debut album 'The right stuff' in the USA: it reached number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

In Europe, the song was much less popular: it stalled at number 74 in the UK singles chart and it didn't chart in the Netherlands at all.

My collection: 7" single no. 4105
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, October 17, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Dreamin'' / 'The right stuff (instrumental)'