Love games - Level 42

'Love games' was the first single taken from Level 42's debut album and their first chart success. This 12" single features the full length version of the track, which is over seven minutes long.

According to a blurb on the back of the sleeve, 'Having grown up with influences such as Miles Davis, Keith Jarrett, Stevie Wonder, John McLaughlin plus George Benson the blend was right for one of the most exciting developments in British music for years.'

My collection: 12" single no. 428
Found: Record Exchange, London, 2002
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Love games (full length version)' / 'Forty two'

Won't you hold my hand now - King

The British band King were very successful in the UK in 1984, and so it didn't take long for the record company to realise that they could also have a shot at launching the band in the USA. That's where this 12" single was made, and this copy was released for promotion as a gold stamp on the back of the sleeve proves.

This 12" single features three remixes of the track 'Won't you hold my hand now', one of the heavier tracks on the band's debut album. The sleeve design features a photograph by Sheila Rock, who made many beautiful portraits of Eighties artists.

My collection: 12" single no. 361

Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 1998

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Won't you hold my hand now ('Heavy times' mix)' / 'Won't you hold my hand now ('85 Reasons to hold hands mix)', 'Won't you hold my hand now (dub mix)'

Menage a trois - K-Ram

I have a copy of the single by K-Ram called 'Menage a trois'. Some time after buying the single I found this 12" single and I decided I wanted to hear the remix - especially since I could buy the 12" single for a low price.

K-Ram sounds a lot like Wham!, but it tries too hard to do so without being able to match the quality of the duo's lyrics.

My collection: 12" single no. 337
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 2000
Cost: 2,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Menage a trois (Whopper chopper mix)' / 'Menage a trois', 'Menage a trois (instrumental)'

Sensitive - Mick Karn

Japan member Mick Karn released his solo single 'Sensitive' in 1982. On the track, he collaborated with Ricky Wilde, who had just had his production debut on his sister's debut album 'Kim Wilde' in 1981. Ricky produced the track and also performed guitar and keyboards on it.

This 12" single features a remix of 'Sensitive', as well as the atmospheric B-side 'The sound of waves'.

My collection: 12" single no. 327
Found: Record fair, 1995
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Sensitive (remix)' / 'The sound of waves'

Professional widow / Hey Jupiter - Tori Amos

Tori Amos has made some beautiful music during the Nineties, but her career took a bizarre turn in 1996 when her record company thought it would be a great idea to remix her songs from the album 'Boys for Pele'. The remix of 'Professional widow' sounded nothing like the original and was a random collection of noises put together by one Armand van Helden, but it gave her a number 1 hit in the UK.

This 12" single features two further remixes: a beautiful version of 'Hey Jupiter' and an awful version of 'Talula'. Proof that remixes can add or detract from a track is given on this disc in equal measures, although the two awful remixes are considerably longer than the beautiful one.

My collection: 12" single no. 540
Found: unknown, 1996
Cost: 15 guilders
Tracks: 'Professional widow (Armand's Star Trunk Funkin' mix)' / 'Hey Jupiter (The Dakota version - radio edit)', 'Talula (BT's Synethasia mix)'

Severina - The Mission

Probably the biggest asset of the British band The Mission is that sometimes they used the angelic voice of Julianne Regan from All about Eve for their backing vocals. They did this, for instance, on their 1987 single 'Severina'. It was great that this 12" remix of 'Severina' highlights her voice even more.

The 12" single became an even more attractive package because of the limited edition poster included with it. Not that the men from the Mission were so handsome, but anything extra is always fun to have.

My collection: 12" single no. 323
Found: Record fair, 2000
Cost: 25 guilders
Tracks: 'Severina (Aqua-marina mix)', 'Wishing well' / 'Tomorrow never knows (Amphetamix)'

Kids in America - Kim Wilde

In 1981, Kim Wilde debuted with the single 'Kids in America'. It was a big hit all over Europe, but in the USA it took almost a year for it to be released. When it was released, it did reach the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 25.

This promotional 7" single was released in the USA to help along radio promotion. This rare single features the track on both sides, so as to avoid DJ's playing the B-side by mistake. It was quite extraordinary to find this single in pristine condition almost 30 years after its release.

My collection: 7" single no. 4849
Found: eBay.com, received May 11, 2010
Cost: $7
Tracks: 'Kids in America' / 'Kids in America'