The word girl - Scritti Politti

I never actually took the time to compare them, but I do have the suspicion that all the versions of 'The word girl' included on this 12" single are actually different from the two versions on the 7" single. And if that isn't so, at least there's the extra extended version of the track on the B-side.

That B-side version was remixed by Julian Mendelsohn, one of the top remixers and producers of the Eighties. The track also features Ranking Ann, who I think is a complete unknown. But then again, I might just be missing some information there.

My collection: 12" single no. 321
Found: Record Exchange, London
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'The word girl', 'Flesh & blood' / 'The word girl / Flesh & blood (version)'

In my life - Kim Wilde

'In my life' was the second new song on the compilation album 'The Singles Collection 1981-1993' and was released as a single in remix form in 1993. It was the final Kim Wilde single to be released on the 7" vinyl format.

Partly due to the flat and uninspired remix by West End, 'In my life' achieved little chart success, peaking at number 54 in the UK singles chart and number 78 in Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 2060
Found: Wreckastow, Rotterdam, December 24, 1993
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'In my life (West End 7")' / 'In my life'

Election day - Arcadia

Arcadia presented themselves for the first time with their debut single 'Election day'. But they were no debutants: the trio consisted of three members from the band Duran Duran, and guest vocals on this track were provided by Grace Jones.

This extended version showcases those vocals even better, while adding some elements to the track that were not on the single and album versions.

My collection: 12" single no. 176

Found: Record Exchange, London

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Election day (Consensus mix)' / 'Election day', 'She's moody and grey, she's mean and she's restless'

If I can't have you - Kim Wilde

When Kim Wilde was about to release a compilation album in 1993, there was a need for a hit single. Not convinced that they had a hit single among their newly written material, the Wildes set about searching for a song to cover. Eventually they decided on Yvonne Elliman's Saturday Night Fever hit 'If I can't have you'.

Although not as inspired as the 1986 cover of 'You keep me hangin' on', Kim's version of 'If I can't have you' certainly gives the old song a kick up the arse, and it was rewarded with good chart placings: the single reached number 12 in the UK singles chart and number 23 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2042
Found: Wreckastow, Rotterdam, October 23, 1993
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'If I can't have you' / 'Never felt so alive'

Onverstoorbaar (live) - Frank Boeijen Groep

'Onverstoorbaar' ('Unstirred') was one of the six new tracks on the Frank Boeijen Groep's 1990 live double cd, 'Hier komt de storm' ('Here comes the storm'). It was, however, the only new track to be recorded live, as the other five were recorded in the studio. Hence, no studio version of 'Onverstoorbaar' exists - but still the single was titled 'Onverstoorbaar (live)'.

Personally, I thought this track represented everything which made the band so great: a great melody, a lyric that clicks on an emotional level, and sounding full and lively. Most people did not agree with me: the single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1362
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, December 8, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Onverstoorbaar (live)' / 'Hemel en hel'

Million miles away - Kim Wilde

'Million miles away' was released as the third and final single from Kim Wilde's 1992 album 'Love is' in Europe and Japan. The track was a remixed version of the album version. The sleeve featured a photograph of Kim that looked a lot like a photograph of Marilyn Monroe made a few decades previous.

It was very hard to get hold of this 7" vinyl: most shops didn't stock the format anymore, and although this single was made in Holland, I finally found a copy almost a year after its release in Austria!

My collection: 7" single no. 1933
Found: Vienna, July 6, 1993
Cost: 30 Schilling
Tracks: 'Million miles away' / 'The light of the moon (belongs to me)'

Fly up to the moon - Black and Sam Brown

In 1991, Black recorded a duet with another A&M Records artist, Sam Brown. The track 'Fly up to the moon' was included on Black's 1991 self-titled album and was released as the third and last single from the album. The lyric includes a quote from the T.S. Eliot poem 'The hollow men': 'This is the way the world ends / Not with a bang but a whimper'. Except Sam Brown actually sings '...but with a whimpy'.

The single also included two bonus tracks on the B-side. 'You lift me up' was re-recorded years later by Colin Vearncombe on his 2000 album 'Water on snow'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1694
Found: London, 1991
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Fly up to the moon' / 'You lift me up', What you are'