Wherever I lay my hat - Paul Young

I've never had any burning desire to buy every Paul Young single that exists, but there are sometimes curiosities that I can't resist. This is the American promotional single for 'Wherever I lay my hat', the first single Paul had any solo success with, and it features an edit of the song.

The edit appears on both sides, which isn't a rare thing for American promotional singles. I guess in America DJ's were prone to play the B-side more often, which makes this a rather convenient disc for them.

My collection: 7" single no. 7559
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Wherever I lay my hat (edit)' / 'Wherever I lay my hat (edit)'

Look out any window - Bruce Hornsby & the Range

Although I haven't really delved into the repertoire of the man, I think Bruce Hornsby plays a mean piano solo. Having played the instrument myself, I know how hard it out to get those sounds out of it, but that it someone who seems to do it effortlessly.

That was one reason to buy this single without ever having heard the song. The other reason was the state of it: it looks like it was released yesterday, even if the sticker mentions the actual release date: 8 August 1988. Yes, this is a promotional copy, and that's a bit of a bonus. The track really doesn't disappoint. I'm going to play this single more than once.

My collection: 7" single no. 7558
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Look out any window' / 'On the Western skyline (live)'

Rage hard (Stamped) - Frankie goes to Hollywood

Although I have a lot of Eighties singles and I consider myself to be quite well informed about the pop music of the Eighties, still I sometimes get surprised. I bought this single by Frankie goes to Hollywood because the sleeve was different to the one I have; it made me curious because the sleeve mentions "(stamped)" under the title. And indeed, it is a different version of the song. 

Apparently, this single was released after 'Rage hard' entered the UK singles chart at number 6. Releasing a different version was probably a way to try and keep the single longer in the charts, and maybe get it higher up. The ploy worked partly, because the peak position ended up being number 4, but it only stayed in the chart for 7 weeks.

My collection: 7" single no. 7557
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Rage hard (Stamped)' / '(Don't lose what's left) Of your little mind'

Piove - André Hazes

Under normal circumstances you would never see a single by André Hazes on this blog, because the man has produced an unspeakable array of terrible singles and albums in my opinion. But these are not normal circumstances, because I discovered that the man recorded an entire album of Italian classics in 1986, and of course four Eurovision songs are among those tracks.

One of them was the classic 'Piove', originally performed by Domenico Modugno for Italy in 1959. And André's version was released as a single. And although all those terrible singles reached the Dutch Top 40, this one failed to chart. 

The copy I bought initially played like boots on a gravel path, but a little dishwashing liquid worked miraculously well; the single sounds pretty good now.

My collection: 7" single no. 7549
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Piove' / 'Melancholie'

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'