Only this year I bought the 12" single of 'Sign of the times' by the Belle Stars, but I've had the 7" single for years. I bought my copy during a holiday in London 16 years ago - and then again a few years later as I'd forgotten I already had it.
The song borrows loosely from Sixties Motown tracks, but sounds very Eighties production-wise. The single peaked at number 3 in the UK and the Netherlands.
My collection: 7" single no. 2025 Found: Record Exchange, London, October 19, 1993 Cost: 80p Tracks: 'Sign of the times' / 'Madness'
'Atlantic' is a track from Keane's second album 'Under the iron sea', released in 2006. This one-sided vinyl 7" single was released in a numbered limited edition of 1000 copies (this is number 34) in a boxed set together with the first single taken from that album, 'Is it any wonder'. 'Atlantic' was promoted with a music video before the album was released, but it wasn't released as a single commercially.
My collection: 7" single no. 3489 Found: eBay.co.uk, received December 20, 2008 Cost: 4 pounds Tracks: 'Atlantic'
Malaika means 'Angel' in Swahili. The song was first recorded by Kenyan musician Fadhili William and his band Jambo Boys in 1960. In 1981, the song was covered by Boney M for their album 'Boonoonoonoos'. The single reached number 13 in the German charts and number 20 in the Dutch Top 40.
These lower placings were a first sign of Boney M's popularity decreasing. In the Netherlands, they would never reach the top 20 again (except for a Megamix released in 1993, which reached number 13).
My collection: 7" single no. 86 Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1981 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Malaika' / 'Consuela Biaz'
In 1991, the compilation album 'Memorabilia' was released, featuring the biggest hits by Soft Cell and Marc Almond. There was one problem: some of the tracks were remixes and re-recordings. Soft Cell's 'Tainted love', for instance, was slightly remixed - a version that would later reappear on less well documented Eighties compilation albums.
This 91 version of 'Tainted love' still became a hit in the UK, peaking at number 5, whereas the original version had been a charttopper.
My collection: 7" single no. 3312 Found: Record fair, February 24, 2001 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Tainted love 91' / 'Where the heart is'
Amy Grant had just earned the title 'Queen of Christian Pop' in her native USA when she changed direction and started recording secular albums. She wanted to become as successful in the mainstream as she had been in Christian circles. Her 1985 album 'Unguarded' was an album not very different from other artists production-wise, but the fact that her lyrics were no longer riddled with references to Jesus, God and the Bible shocked her fanbase.
'Find a way' was a single from this album and it became a hit in America. She didn't cross over to Europe yet (it would take her a few more years to do that), but this single is a promotional copy made in England. Proof that A&M Records were already trying hard to try and make her a star in the UK too.
My collection: 7" single no. 2396 Found: London, July 6, 1995 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Find a way' / 'It's not a song'
Taken from their 1990 album 'Happiness', 'Hello' was the second hit single for the Beloved, peaking at number 19 in the UK singles chart. It was released in a limited edition 7" single box set, including three square postcards.
As well as the names of some the band members' friends, the song mentions a number of famous people, chosen to loosely fit a "saints and sinners" theme. In alphabetical order, the people listed in the song are: Jeffrey Archer (politician and novelist), Fred Astaire, Bobby Ball (comedian), Charlie Brown, Tommy Cannon (comedian), Billy Corkhill (soap opera character), Leslie Crowther (TV presenter), "Freddie" Flintstone, Paris Grey (singer), Brian Hayes (broadcaster), Vince Hilaire (footballer), Barry Humphries, The LSO, Kym Mazelle (singer), Mork and Mindy, Little Nell, Charlie Parker, Andre Previn, Little Richard, Salman Rushdie, Jean Paul Sartre, The Supremes ("Mary Wilson, Di and Flo"), William Tell, Sir Bufton Tufton, Desmond Tutu, Willy Wonka, Zippy and Bungle (TV characters). There are also references to "Peter" and "Paul", presumably the Christian apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Kym Mazelle, who's mentioned in the song, actually sings backing vocals on it.
My collection: 7" single no. 2771 Found: London, October 30, 1996 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Hello' / 'Hello (Dolly)'
In November 1988, Erasure released 'Crackers International', an EP with four self-produced tracks. 'Stop' was the lead track of the EP, with 'She won't be home' pushing the Christmas theme for the end of the year.
In the UK singles chart, the EP equalled the success of their biggest hit to date, 'Sometimes', reaching number 2. In the rest of Europe, the EP did not chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 2559 Found: Record fair, November 19, 1995 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Stop', 'The hardest part' / 'Knocking on your door', 'She won't be home'
'Pictures of you' was released in two versions, and this version was pressed on purple vinyl. The B-side was a live track on both singles, recorded live at Wembley in London in July 1989. Further live tracks from this gig appeared on the cd-single of the track.
The single peaked at number 24 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 1201 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, March 30, 1990 Cost: 6,5 guilders Tracks: 'Pictures of you (remix)' / 'Prayers for rain (live)'
'Pictures of you' was a track on the Cure's 1989 album 'Disintegration'. Clocking in at 7'24 minutes, the track was remixed and edited for the single release in 1990, lasting just 4'48 minutes.
According to interviews, the inspiration of the song came when a fire broke loose in Robert Smith's home. After that day, Robert was going through the remains and came across his wallet which had pictures of his wife, Mary. The cover of the single is one of the pictures. The single was released in two versions. This one is pressed on green vinyl.
My collection: 7" single no. 1209 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, April 14, 1990 Cost: 6,5 guilders Tracks: 'Pictures of you (remix)' / 'Last dance (live)'
Early 12" singles by The The were selling for anything upwards of 20 pounds circa 1990. Although I was an avid collector of the band's work, I never shelled out that much money for their records. And now it turns out I was right. Somewhere in a dark corner of a Dutch record shop, this disc suddenly popped up in front of me. I knew instinctively I had to have this - even if my 12" collection is not growing so fast anymore.
The The released a collector's edition of their greatest hits album '45 rpm: volume 1' (By the way, where is volume 2?) in 2002, with disc 2 containing some extended versions. This extended version is missing from that disc. And so I'm very happy to have finally caught this one. And cheaply, too!
My collection: 12" single no. 503 Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, July 20, 2009 Cost: 2,5 euro Tracks: 'This is the day (extended version)' / 'I've been waiting for tomorrow (all of my life) (Special mix)'
Dusty Springfield released 'In private' in late 1989. Just like her previous two hits, the track was produced by the Pet Shop Boys, who had a big hand in her glorious comeback in 1987. 'In private' appeared on Springfield's 1990 album 'Reputation'.
The single reached number 9 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 14 in the UK singles chart. Although she released a handful of further singles, Dusty Springfield would never break the top 20 in the UK again.
My collection: 7" single no. 1155 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, January 30, 1990 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'In private' / 'In private (instrumental)'
During live performances artists have a tendency to speak with their audiences, introducing songs and such. It is a rare thing when this happens on a record, but that's exactly what happens here: Gladys Knight speaks about 'hearing a beautiful song that expresses that feeling of loneliness'.
'Help me make it through the night' was written by Kris Kristofferson for his 1970 album 'Kristofferson'. Gladys Knight & the Pips recorded their cover version in 1972. It peaked at number 11 in the UK singles chart that summer. My copy of the single is an original UK pressing, although the center has been punched out and it comes in a mutilated custom white paper sleeve.
My collection: 7" single no. 1061 Found: London, October 18, 1989 Cost: 1 pound Tracks: 'Help me make it through the night' / 'If you gonna leave (just leave)'
I've had one single of 'Stay the night' for some time now, but since there were two different versions, I was still looking for the other one. Last week, I managed to find it in an online shop, and I ordered it along with a few other recent singles. When I received the package, it contained the single in the version I already had! But one e-mail sufficed to correct this error. So many thanks to the online shop.
This version of the single was pressed on light blue vinyl and contains two nice tracks. The B-side is an interesting instrumental track.
My collection: 7" single no. 3905 Found: 7inchsingles.nl, received July 27, 2009 Cost: 4 euro Tracks: 'Stay the night' / 'Dark at 4'
Martika was contacted by Prince after her debut album 'Martika' was a success. She agreed to become one of his protégées, and they wrote the song 'Love... thy will be done' together. It was another hit for the American singer.
The single became her last top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at number 9, and also reached the lower regions of the Dutch Top 40, peaking at number 30.
My collection: 7" single no. 1516 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, September 20, 1991 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Love... thy will be done' / 'Mi Tierra'
Patty Brard's career in music started promising with this debut single, 'Hold on to love', the first single drawn from her debut solo album 'All this way'. Released in January 1981, the single peaked at number 19 in the Dutch Top 40.
After this, things went quickly downhill. Despite releasing a handful of singles from three different solo albums, she never reached the chart anymore. Her career led her towards producing magazines, television programmes and reforming with her old band, Luv'.
My collection: 7" single no. 94 Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1981 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'Hold on to love' / 'Love keeps knockin''
Dillinger was born as Lester Bullock on June 25, 1953 in Kingston, Jamaica. In the Seventies he started working with producer Lee 'Scratch' Perry, who suggested his stage name, after gangster John Dillinger.
In 1977, he recorded 'Cokane in my brain', a track that relied heavily on the main tune from 'Do it anyway you wanna' by The People's Choice. It became a number 1 hit in the Netherlands, where Dillinger was hyped somewhat by the weekly Hitkrant publication. They published stories like 'Does Dillinger even exist?' when he didn't turn up for a TV performance. Dutch artist Dingetje recorded a parody of this song, entitled 'Ik ga weg Leen'.
My collection: 7" single no. 2141 Found: White noise, Utrecht, August 2, 1994 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Cokane in my brain' / 'Power bank'
Here's another ill-advised remix version of a classic. When ABC released their compilation album 'Absolutely' in 1990, the record company decided to promote it with a so-called '1990 mix' of 'The look of love', one of the band's biggest and most cherished hits from 1982. The track sounded very 1990, but it also sounded very crap, unfortunately.
This single was rewarded appropriately with a one week chart run at number 68 in the UK singles chart. Some would say this was even too much, but you know... a fan has to have everything. Even crap singles.
My collection: 7" single no. 2748 Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 28, 1996 Cost: 1 pound Tracks: 'The look of love 1990 mix' / 'Ocean blue'
'Marilyn & John' was the title track from Vanessa Paradis's 1987 debut album 'M&J', and one of the strongest tracks on the album. Sounding very unlike the debut single 'Joe le taxi', it was a hit in France but didn't reach the charts outside of France like the debut single had.
I got to know the track because I'd bought the album some time before. And as usual, when I like an album I have to have the accompanying singles as well... It's a strange habit but someone's got to do it.
My collection: 7" single no. 2224 Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 17, 1994 Cost: 4 guilders Tracks: 'Marilyn & John' / 'Soldat'
After the failure of 'I need your loving' in the UK, the record company decided to release no further singles from the Human League's 1986 album 'Crash', but to release a compilation album instead, in the hopes of reviving interest for the band (and earn some more money, of course).
The single 'Love is all that matters' was taken from 'Crash', oddly enough, and released to promote the greatest hits compilation that was released in 1988. The single peaked at number 41 in the UK singles chart. It comes in a foldout sleeve showing all three members of the group. The B-side is taken from the Human League's 1985 album 'Hysteria'.
My collection: 7" single no. 866 Found: All that music, Leiden, June 2, 1989 Cost: 7,5 guilders Tracks: 'Love is all that matters (edit)' / 'I love you too much'
'What about love' was originally released in 1985, but in the UK the song did not chart. After the success of their 1987 album 'Bad animal' and its single 'Alone', the track was re-released in 1988.
At the time of recording, the song's sound marked a considerable change in the musical direction for Heart, moving from the hard rock and folk rock of their earlier work to a more polished, power-ballad sound. On its re-release, the single peaked at number 14 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 2367 Found: House of Rhythm, London, July 1, 1995 Cost: 1 pound Tracks: 'What about love?' / 'Never (remix)'
Only this year I bought the 12" single of 'Sign of the times' by the Belle Stars, but I've had the 7" single for years. I bought my copy during a holiday in London 16 years ago - and then again a few years later as I'd forgotten I already had it.
