Ex-Thin Lizzy frontman Philip Lynnott recorded the song 'Old town' on his 1982 self-titled solo album. The song was written about the breakup of two lovers. It features a great piano solo by Darren Wharton. Unbelievably, this single did not chart in any territory.
In 1999 the Corrs performed this song during their Unplugged session for MTV. a studio recording featured six years later on their album 'Home'.
My collection: 7" single no. 2426 Found: July 22, 1995 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Old town' / 'Beat of the drum'
This single from 1982 features an early version of the track 'Because you're young' by the then-unknown group Private Lives. The sleeve only added to the mystery: there was no photograph of its members anywhere. A listing of names on the back of the sleeve reveals that Private Lives consisted of John Adams, Steve Harvey, Brother James, Rick Lane, John Reid and Bobby Valentino. Session musicians Paul Harvey and Gary Barnacle appeared on this track as well.
The single did not reach the charts, but the track would resurface in 1984 as a re-recorded B-side of the single 'From a river to a sea'.
My collection: 7" single no. 2953 Found: Record fair, February 7, 1998 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Because you're young' / 'Because you're young (instrumental)'
Entitled the Future Love EP, this 7" single actually is not an EP, as EP's usually feature more than two tracks. Apparently the UK version of this single did feature three tracks, but as always, European buyers were ripped off.
It was the second single from Seal's 1991 self-titled debut album. It reached the top 10 in Ireland, Norway and Switzerland, whereas it peaked at number 6 in the Netherlands and number 12 in the UK singles chart. 'Violet' is a beautiful acoustic version of the track that appears on the album.
My collection: 7" single no. 1432 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, 1991 Cost: 6,5 guilders Tracks: 'Future love paradise' / 'Violet'
'Alone' was composed by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly. It was first recorded in 1983 by Steinberg and Kelly's pet project, I-Ten, on the album 'Taking a cold look'. Heart recorded it in 1987 on their album 'Bad animals'. It was released as the first single from that album. It became their biggest hit, spending three weeks at number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and reaching number 3 in the UK singles chart.
In 2007, disaster struck. Canadian shrieking witch Celine Dion recorded a cover version of this great song, shattering eardrums wherever her version was played. Her cold, metallic voice cut right through any sense of beauty. Thankfully, we still have Heart's version.
My collection: 7" single no. 1715 Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 19, 1992 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'Alone' / 'Barracuda (live)'
George Michael wrote the song 'Freedom '90' almost as a small autobiography. It described his fame and fortune in the early days with Wham!. The song was initially perceived to be describing Michael's effort to break free from his publishing contract with Sony Music. However, as Michael's sexuality came to light a few years later, the song became equally recognized as a one that describes the struggles of being a homosexual in the closet. The ''90' added to the end of the title is to prevent confusion with a Wham! song also titled 'Freedom'.
While still refusing to appear in music videos, a music video was directed by David Fincher, featuring a number of supermodels, including Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington and Cindy Crawford, who mouthed the words. It also featured the destruction of various symbols of Michael's past, including the famous guitar, jukebox, and leather jacket of the 'Faith' era. The single was rewarded with a number 1 in Japan, peaking at number 28 in the UK singles chart and number 8 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 3257 Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 20, 2000 Cost: 40p Tracks: 'Freedom '90' / 'Freedom '90 (Back to reality mix)'
Herbie Hancock's 'Rockit' is one of many instrumental tracks released as a single in the Eighties. It stood out because of the groundbreaking music video directed by Godley & Creme, featuring robot-like sculptures by Jim Whiting moving in time to the music in a seemingly perpetuum mobile.
Featuring scratch sounds and synthesizers, it was very much of its time, but also a track that has stood the test of time. It was a big hit in Europe, peaking at number 7 in the Netherlands and Austria, number 10 in Sweden and number 4 in Switzerland.
My collection: 7" single no. 1603 Found: March 28, 1992 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Rockit' / 'Rockit (album version)'
In 1980, CBS Records released the 'NU Disk' series of records on the Epic label. While they were similar to EP's, since both formats contained more than two tracks. EPs were usually on 7″ vinyl, and played at 45rpm. NU Disks were on 10″ vinyl, and they played at 33 1/3 rpm! For the most part, NU Disks were by New Wave synth-pop bands.
'Straight lines' by New Musik is a good example of that. Their NU Disk contained three album tracks (from their album 'From A to B', also released in 1980) plus the 'B-side' track 'Sad films'.
My collection: 10" single [unnumbered] Found: unknown Cost: 5 guilders Tracks: 'Straight lines', 'On islands' / 'Living by numbers', 'Sad films'
Bill Kelly, Fran Brozena, Jerry Hludzik, Carl Siracuse, Chris Hanlon and Sally Rosoff formed the Buoys in the early Seventies. The band was based in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Songwriter Rupert Holmes wrote their first hit 'Timothy' in 1971 and selected the Buoys to record this song himself.
The follow-up single 'Give up your guns', a narrative featuring an escaped bank robber. The single has the distinction of becoming a top 10 hit twice: it reached number 5 in the Dutch Top 40 in the summer of 1972, then reached number 8 in the summer of 1979.
My collection: 7" single no. 376 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Give up your guns' / 'The prince of thieves'
'I drove all night' was written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly for Roy Orbison. He first recorded the song in 1987, but it was only released in 1992, after it was a top 10 hit for Cyndi Lauper in 1989.
Lauper recorded the track for her third solo album 'A night to remember'. The single reached number 6 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 7 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 876 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, June 10, 1989 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'I drove all night' / 'Maybe he'll know'
I'm glad to say that my collection of Sade singles also contains some rarities. Some of them have already been featured on this blog - and here's another one. 'Never as good as the first time' was the third single from Sade's second album 'Promise' and while it was re-recorded for the single release, this Spanish promo contains the album version of the track.
What's more, it is a one-sided disc. Although the B-side does have a label, there is no groove pressed on it. The sleeve features the Spanish tour dates and a photograph that is not used on the regular sleeve of the single. Quite the collector's item!
My collection: 7" single no. 3268 Found: October 22, 2000 Cost: ? Tracks: 'Never as good as the first time'
After having been in the band Blondie for years, Debbie Harry recorded her first solo album 'Kookoo' in 1981. The band then regrouped briefly, before disbanding in 1983. Six years later, Harry released her second solo album 'Def dumb and blonde'.
'I want that man' was the first single taken from that album. Produced by Tom Bailey (ex-Thompson Twins) and Eric "E.T." Thorngren, the single sounded more poppy than any of her previous work, either with or without the band Blondie. She was rewarded with a number 13 peak position in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 1057 Found: HMV, London, October 17, 1989 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'I want that man' / 'Bike boy'
Nena released the original version of 'Irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann' in 1984. It was the first single from their 1985 album 'Feuer und Flamme', released a year later. After two previous singles failed to reach the German top 10, this one shot up to number 3, shuffling the band right back into the limelight again.
This 12" single features an extended mix of the track. It would be translated into English by Lisa Dalbello as 'Anyplace, anywhere, anytime' that same year, recorded on the band's 1985 English album 'It's all in the game'. In 2003, Nena had a hit with that track when she re-recorded it with Kim Wilde.
My collection: 12" single no. 330 Found: Record fair, 1999 Cost: 5 guilders Tracks: 'Irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann' / 'Ganz oben (live)', 'Der bus is' schon weg (live)'
'Drag me down' was a single by the Boomtown rats, released in 1984, shortly before lead singer Bob Geldof became a charity celebrity, writing 'Do they know it's Christmas' for Band Aid and organising Live Aid a year later.
It was a good career move for Geldof, as 'Drag me down' was the last chart hit for the Boomtown Rats, stalling at number 50 in May 1984.
My collection: 7" single no. 4052 Found: La La Land, Den Haag, September 19, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Drag me down' / 'An icicle in the sun'
'Dreamers' is a David Soul single from 1981. The track was taken from his album 'The best days of my life', although, it has to be said, those days were already a few years behind him. He performed one of the title roles of the television series 'Starsky & Hutch' between 1975 and 1979, and his biggest hits 'Don't give up on us' and 'Going in with my eyes open' charted in 1976 and 1977 respectively.
'Dreamers' is a bit of a middle of the road affair, which didn't give him the chart success he must have been hoping for.
My collection: 7" single no. 4051 Found: La La Land, Den Haag, September 19, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Dreamers' / 'That's enough for me'
'Without you' was a single by Chaz Jankel released in 1982. I never heard the track back then, which is not surprising since it didn't chart. Still, it is quite a great song, in the mould of other Chaz Jankel tracks. As an added bonus, the B-side is a dub version of his earlier single 'Questionnaire'.
What's funny about this single (and two others I bought the same day) is that it comes from the stock of Disco Market, the shop where I bought loads of singles between 1975 and 2002. I recognized it from the '1' written on the right hand corner on the back of the sleeve - indicating that this single once cost 1 guilder.
My collection: 7" single no. 4050 Found: La La Land, Den Haag, September 19, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Without you' / 'Rêve de chèvre'
I thought I couldn't go wrong with a Bee Gees single when I bought this despite the fact that I didn't know the song. But I was wrong. The Gibb brothers don't sound particularly inspired on this single, 'Secret love'. It is taken from their 1991 album 'High civilization', which is not usually recognised as an artistic high in their career.
'Secret love' reached number 14 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 5 in the UK singles chart. I don't know why. Maybe it's the B-side...
My collection: 7" single no. 4049 Found: La La Land, Den Haag, September 19, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Secret love' / 'True confessions'
After two German-language singles, Gilla recorded the singles 'Do you want to sleep with me' and 'Tu es' in 1975. The third and last single of that year by Gilla was this one, 'Why don't you do it?', a track that sounded not unlike Boney M's 'Do you wanna bump?'. And that is not surprising, since both Gilla and Boney M were produced by Frank Farian.
Another great track is the B-side, in which Gilla declares to an unnamed gentleman that she wants to have a 'Baby of love' with him. I'm not even sure if that is good English...
My collection: 7" single no. 4048 Found: La La Land, Den Haag, September 19, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Why don't you do it?' / 'A baby of love'
'Target practice' was the debut single of Belouis Some, released in 1984. The B-side of this single, 'Some people' became a club hit and also the title track of his debut album, released in 1985. Meanwhile, 'Target practice' did not chart in any territory.
Belouis Some would go on to have two hits in 1985 and 1986, then disappear from the music business in 1987.
My collection: 7" single no. 4047 Found: La La Land, Den Haag, September 19, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Target practice' / 'Some people'
'Friends' was the second single from Jody Watley's second album, 'Larger Than Life'. Unfortunately, she decided to collaborate on this track with rappers Eric B & Rakim, who detracted from what could have been an excellent pop track. Their vague mumblings are thrown into the middle of the song, like a garbage truck in a flowerbed.
Still, in the USA, the single peaked at number 9 in the Billboard Hot 100. In the UK, the single reached number 21 and in the Dutch Top 40, it stalled at number 25.
My collection: 7" single no. 4046 Found: La La Land, Den Haag, September 19, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Friends' / 'Private life'
The theme from 'Peter Gunn' (an American television series from the late Fifties) was originally played by Henry Mancini and his orchestra. Several cover versions of the track exist, including ones by Elvis Presley, Quincy Jones and Emerson, Lake & Palmer.
This 1986 version by Art of Noise featuring Duane Eddy on guitar was awarded with a Grammy in 1987. The single reached number 8 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 4045 Found: La La Land, Den Haag, September 19, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Peter Gunn' / 'Something always happens'
Ex-Thin Lizzy frontman Philip Lynnott recorded the song 'Old town' on his 1982 self-titled solo album. The song was written about the breakup of two lovers. It features a great piano solo by Darren Wharton. Unbelievably, this single did not chart in any territory.
