Don't be my enemy - Wang Chung

It's fun to have a record player from the Eighties, and a Technics too, but the fact that the arm returns to its base automatically from some point means that certain things like Polish postcards can't be played on it. And this 5" picture disc by Wang Chung is a problem too. I found that out after I bought it. Fortunately the music can still be found online, and so both tracks on this disc can be listened to on YouTube. 

'Don't be my enemy' was the band's first single to actually chart. Even if it only reached number 92 in the UK singles chart in 1983, it was just a taster of what was to come. The next year they would have the biggest hit of their career with 'Dance hall days'. 

My collection: 5" single no. 7556
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Don't be my enemy' / 'The waves (instrumental)'

Do it to me (once more with feeling) - Britt Ekland

Britt Ekland (born as Britt-Marie Eklund; 6 October 1942) is a Swedish actress, model, and singer. She appeared in numerous films in her heyday throughout the Sixties, Seventies and Eighties.Her high-profile social life, her 1964 marriage to actor Peter Sellers, and her relationship with singer Rod Stewart attracted considerable press attention, making her one of the world's most photographed celebrities during the Seventies. 

Her singing career was pretty much a one-off. In 1979 she released this single, 'Do it to me (once more with feeling)', very much a disco-inspired track, made more appealing thanks to the cover image. A picture disc single should have improved the sales too, but the single only charted in Sweden.

My collection: 7" single no. 7555
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Do it to me (once more with feeling)' / 'Private party'

Every day hurts - Sad Café

Sure, I have the Old Gold single with 'Every day hurts' in my collection, but somehow such re-releases are a bit disappointing. The real thing, i.e. the original release is always preferred, of course. Especially when it comes as a picture disc!

'Every day hurts' was released as a single in 1979 and became Sad Café's biggest hit, reaching number 3 on the UK singles chart, with a total of 12 weeks on the chart. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7553
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Every day hurts' / 'Wish this night would never end'

Let your love go - Bread

Bread are best known for their soft pop inclinations, but this single is decidedly edgier. 'Let your love go' was released in 1971 and reached number 28 in the US Billboard Hot 100, slightly disappointing after the two previous singles 'Make it with you' and 'It don't matter to me' reached number 1 and 10 respectively. 

The album Manna, from which this was the lead single, was certified gold in the USA. Things would take a turn for the better with their next single, the classic 'If'.

My collection: 7" single no. 7550
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Let your love go' / 'Too much love'

Save a prayer - Duran Duran

When Duran Duran's 'Save a prayer' was re-released in 1985, I somehow got a copy of an earlier release of the song. It features the full length version, instead of the edited version that appears on this single. And of course, the other version is superior, because it builds up very nicely at the end.

This single comes with a live track from the Arena album on the B-side, and of course a sleeve somewhat in the style of 'The wild boys', since it was released in the absence of new material from the boys. It would be a long wait until 'Notorious', for sure.

My collection: 7" single no. 7547
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Save a prayer [edit]' / 'Careless memories (live from the Arena)'

Pickwick Long Play - Billy Ocean

Back in 1989 and 1990, Oldies Unlimited was the mail order service in the UK which made old singles available to people who sent in money using cheques. It sounds bizarre, and I guess in this day and age it is. But that was the way to go, pre-internet. I would send in my list of singles and whenever a single wasn't available you would get the opportunity to order a different one. If I remember correctly, the list should come with some 'reserve' titles.

One of the singles I wanted was this EP. It featured a handful of Billy Ocean's hits for only one or two pounds! It was a steal, but unfortunately that was one of those singles that wasn't available anymore. I wouldn't say I was hunting for it ever since, but it was kinda delightful to come across a copy all of a sudden. It was still a cheap single, and it still contained six Billy Ocean tracks.

My collection: 7" single no. 7546
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Love really hurts without you', 'Who's gonna rock you?', 'Are you ready' / 'Stop me (if you've heard it all before)', 'Red light spells danger', 'American hearts'

Tears run rings - Marc Almond

Marc Almond had an impressive run of singles when he released his album The Stars We Are in 1988. The singles 'Only the moment', 'Bitter-sweet' and 'Something's gotten hold of my heart' all ended up in my collection. One single didn't: 'Tears run rings'. And that was because I somehow couldn't get hold of the special edition box set that was released in the UK at the time.

The box set hung around in my unconscious for many decades, and when I finally saw one last month, I started to doubt whether I had it or not! Fortunately I could check this blog, and so I found out that I had to buy it. According to Marc, 'Tears run rings' is "a song about evil under the cloak of good: though the world falls apart let's hold on to each other'. It sounds like the song was made for right now.

My collection: 7" single no. 7545
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Tears run rings' / 'Everything I wanted love to be'