The word girl - Scritti Politti

'The word girl' was released as the fourth single from Scritti Politti's 1985 album Cupid & Psyche 85. It turned out to be the band's biggest hit, peaking at number 6 in the UK singles chart. 

This shaped picture disc may have helped sales. It shows a photograph of the band, placed over what looks like a letter, which shows part of the lyrics of the song. The B-side of this picture disc shows an envelope, appropriately enough. It is quite astounding that the disc has survived so well after all this time. As you can hear, it is in excellent state.

My collection: 7" single no. 8495
Found: Discogs.com, received 4 November 2026
Tracks: 'The word girl' / 'Flesh and blood' 

I can't help it - Bananarama

'I can't help it' was written and recorded by Bananarama together with their producers Stock, Aitken and Waterman. The track was included on their fourth studio album Wow! (1987) and released as the third single off the album. The song does not sound very different from other Stock, Aitken and Waterman productions from around that time.

The sleeve photography was made by Herb Ritts and showed the three girls in a way they had never been shown before. The sexy looks were a far cry from their tomboyish image from the early Eighties. This gatefold sleeve edition also included a poster with several photographs taken during their adventures around the world.

My collection: 7" single no. 8494
Found: Discogs.com, received 4 November 2026
Tracks: 'I can't help it' / 'Ecstasy' 

Bed of nails - Alice Cooper

After Alice Cooper made a comeback of sorts with the single 'Poison', the album Trash sold really well and further singles were taken from that album. The second single was 'Bed of nails', and it was released on red vinyl.

It became the second hightest charting single from the album (after 'Poison', obviously), peaking at number 38 in the UK singles chart. The single was not released in the USA.

My collection: 7" single no. 8492
Found: Discogs.com, received 4 November 2026
Tracks: 'Bed of nails' / 'I'm your gun' 

Selections from the magnificent new longplayer 'Beauty Stab' - ABC

After the amazing success of ABC's debut album The Lexicon of Love, their 'difficult second album' syndrome kicked in. With Beauty Stab they went down a completely different road, incorporating a more rock-oriented sound instead of the glitzy sheen of their debut.

The album was promoted with a flexi disc, presenting short clips from the tracks 'Unzip', 'Love's a dangerous language', 'The power of persuasion', 'Bite the hand', 'King Money', 'SOS' and 'That was then, but this is now'.

My collection: 7" single no. 8490
Found: Discogs.com, received 3 November 2026
Tracks: 'Unzip', 'Love's a dangerous language', 'The power of persuasion', 'Bite the hand', 'King Money', 'SOS', 'That was then, but this is now'

Blue morning, blue day - Foreigner

'Blue morning, blue day' was written by Lou Gramm and Mick Jones and released as the third single from Foreigner's second album, Double Vision. Gramm said about the song, 'It talks about a young musician that's burning the candle at both ends. He has a lot on his mind, and walks the street at night'.

The single reached number 45 in the UK singles chart and number 15 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Besides Canada, the single failed to chart in any other territory.

My collection: 7" single no. 8489
Found: Discogs.com, received 3 October 2026
Tracks: 'Blue morning, blue day' / 'I have waited so long' 

I'm on automatic - Sharpe & Numan

Bill Sharpe and Gary Numan recorded the album Automatic in 1989 and this single was taken from the album. Like the album, the single wasn't a commercial success despite the lightweight pop that was contained in the album. This picture disc should have helped sales, but it didn't. 

'We've got nothing to lose really', Numan said at the time. 'Bill's still got Shakatak and I've still got my solo career. If we do an album together and it's successful, then it'll benefit both of us individually. If it's not successful, we've both got outside interests to go back to...'

My collection: 7" single no. 8488
Found: Discogs.com, received 3 November 2026
Tracks: 'I'm on automatic' / 'Love like a ghost'

Breakfast - The Associates

Although the sleeve of the regular 7" single of the Associates' 'Breakfast' is quite dull, this picture disc looks absolutely amazing. The photograph was also used for the album Perhaps, from which this song was taken.

For some time I was obsessed with this song, also because of the B-side, which presents a slightly longer instrumental version of the song. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8487
Found: Discogs.com, received 3 November 2026
Tracks: 'Breakfast' / 'Breakfast alone'