Cinema - Paola

A few months ago on this blog, I wrote about Paola's 1980 Eurovision Song Contest entry, 'Cinema'. Little did I know then, that there was also a German version of this song, which was released in German speaking countries that year. This single features both the original French version and the German translation.

The song finished fourth in the Contest, one of Switzerland's better performances. While widely released in Europe, the song was only a hit in Switzerland.

My collection: 7" single no. 4207
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 0,66 euro
Tracks: 'Cinema (Deutsche originalversion)' / 'Cinema (Französische originalversion)'

Don't look back - The Korgis

In 1982, the Korgis turned to legendary producer Trevor Horn for their single 'Don't look back'. It remains one of the most monumental ballads in their catalogue, with grand instrumentation and a great mournful lyric.

It's a mystery to me why this single didn't meet any commercial success. When everything Horn touches turns into gold, this one remains one of the hidden gems of his body of work.

My collection: 7" single no. 740
Found: All that music, Leiden, February 9, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Don't look back' / 'Xenophobia'

Vision of love - Mariah Carey

I truly believe the world would be a better place if Mariah Carey hadn't been discovered. But that's now, after 20 years of her vocal diarrhoea. Back in 1990, she was a fairly innocent girl, singing middle of the road ballads like 'Vision of love'. Even in this early recording, you can hear that she actually cannot hold a not, but prefers to sing 'around' it. It's a style that has since been adopted by many female singers, most recently Leona Lewis who really should shut up.

Anyway, this debut single was innocent enough, I even quite liked it back in the day. And I wasn't alone: it reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100, Canada and New Zealand. In the UK, it reached number 9 and in the Dutch Top 40 it got to number 8.

My collection: 7" single no. 1304
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 15, 1990
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Vision of love' / 'Sent from up above'

Jericho - Simply Red

'Jericho' was the fourth single release from Simply Red's debut album 'Picture book'. It didn't change much about the troubled chart history of the band up to that point. Although their debut single 'Money's too tight (to mention)' hit number 13 in the UK singles chart, subsequent singles didn't reach the top 40 anymore. This single, too, stalled at number 53.

Things were different in the Netherlands: their third single 'Holding back the years' had reached number 3 in the Dutch Top 40, and 'Jericho' got to number 17.

My collection: 7" single no. 410
Found: V&D, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Jericho' / 'Jericho the musical'

All together now - The Farm

'All together now' was recorded by the Liverpudlian pop band The Farm on their album 'Spartacus' in 1990. Lyrically, the song was inspired by the Christmas Day Truce during World War I in 1914, when soldiers from both sides put their weapons down and met in no-mans-land to exchange gifts and play football. The song was produced by Suggs from Madness.

Originally released in November 1990, the single peaked at number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 7 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1376
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, January 26, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'All together now' / 'All together now (Terry Farley / Peter Heller mix)'

Sea of heartbreak - Marty Wilde

When his daughter Kim made it big in 1981, partially thanks to his own songwriting, Marty Wilde decided to try and record another disc himself, too. This single was one of the results. Released on the small Kaleidoscope label, it featured a modern-sounding (for that time) production.

'Sea of heartbreak' was originally a hit single for Don Gibson in 1961. Personally I prefer the B-side, which was written by Marty and his son Ricky - the same duo that wrote Kim's first three albums. This single was not a success for Marty.

My collection: 7" single no. 1872
Found: Record fair, March 27, 1993
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Sea of heartbreak' / 'Don't wanna be the one'

Loverboy - Billy Ocean

I remember a very strange music video for Billy Ocean's 'Loverboy', which was played rather often on television in 1985. These days, it simply does not appear anymore, except of course on YouTube.

The single was a good success for Billy Ocean, peaking at number 15 in the UK singles chart and number 5 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1842
Found: January 23, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Loverboy' / 'Loverboy (dub mix)'

I feel possessed - Crowded House

'I feel possessed' was written by Neil Finn and included on Crowded House's album 'Temple of low man'. It was released as the final single from the album. The B-side was a live version of 'Mr. Tambourine man', a song originally performed by the Byrds and performed together with Roger McGuinn from the Byrds.

The single did not chart in most territories, although it was released worldwide.

My collection: 7" single no. 950
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, August 5, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'I feel possessed' / 'Mr. Tambourine man (live)'

Jesus to a child - George Michael

'Jesus to a child' was the first single release from George Michael's 1996 album 'Older'. The song was a melancholy tribute to Michael's Brazilian friend and lover Anselmo Feleppa, whom he met when performing in Rio de Janeiro in 1991. Feleppa died two years later from an AIDS-related brain haemorrhage. Michael had been unable to write for the next 18 months as a consequence of his grief, but then penned the words to 'Jesus to a child' in little more than an hour, indicating that the time was right to move on with his life. Michael consistently dedicates the song to Feleppa before performing it live.

The single reached number 1 in the UK and number 3 in the Dutch Top 40. As far as I know, this American pressing of the 7", without a picture sleeve, was the only 7" single release of 'Jesus to a child'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3993
Found: eBay.com, received August 6, 2009
Cost: $4
Tracks: 'Jesus to a child' / 'One more try'

Breakfast - The Associates

'Breakfast' was a single taken from the Associates' 1985 album 'Perhaps'. The album cost £250,000 and four years to make, partly because the master tapes disappeared halfway through the process (allegedly they were hidden by frontman Billy MacKenzie because he was dissatisfied with them). In the end, the album only sold 40,000 copies, putting MacKenzie in significant debt with his record company.

Meanwhile, 'Breakfast' was the standout track from the album, released as a single in early 1985. It reached number 49 in the UK singles chart. And yes, I own the 12" single as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 258
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Breakfast' / 'Breakfast alone'

You're a lady - Peter Skellern

Peter Skellern was born on March 14, 1947 in Bury, Lancashire. He studied piano at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and then joined pop groups like Harlem and March Hare.

He scored his first solo hit in 1972 with 'You're a lady'. The single reached number 3 in the UK singles chart, number 2 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 50 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1187
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 3, 1990
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'You're a lady' / 'Manifesto'

I don't want your love - Duran Duran

Duran Duran released 'I don't want your love' as the first single from their 1988 album 'Big thing'. The single version was a remix by Shep Pettibone.

The single peaked at number 14 in the UK singles chart and number 16 in the Dutch Top 40. It did much better in Italy, where the single spent six weeks at number 1, and in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, where the single peaked at number 4.

My collection: 7" single no. 1565
Found: All that music, Leiden, January 2, 1992
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'I don't want your love' / 'I don't want your love (album version)'

Under pressure - Queen and David Bowie

David Bowie originally came to the studio with Queen to sing backing vocals on a track called 'Cool cat'. He wasn't satisfied with the backing vocals he did, but did want to collaborate with the band on a different song. Queen had been working on a song under the title 'Feel like', but were not yet satisfied with the result. The band had a jam session together with Bowie, from which 'Under pressure' evolved.

When the single was released, it was a number 1 hit in the Netherlands and the UK. In the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, the single reached number 29.

My collection: 7" single no. 3225
Found: London, October 19, 2000
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Under pressure' / 'Soul brother'

Born to be wild - Steppenwolf

'Born to be wild' was written by Mars Bonfire. Although initially offered to other bands, the track was first recorded in 1968 by Steppenwolf. It was their second and most successful single, reaching number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 30 in the UK singles chart and number 32 in the Dutch Top 40.

In 1973, the single was re-released in the Netherlands. On this occasion, it reached number 16 in the Dutch Top 40. Even later still, in 1999, the single saw a successful re-release in the UK, peaking at number 18.

My collection: 7" single no. 2553
Found: Record fair, November 19, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Born to be wild' / 'Magic carpet ride'

Why can't I be you? - The Cure

'Why can't I be you?' was the first single release from the Cure's 1987 album 'Kiss me kiss me kiss me'. It was the first Cure single to also be released on the then new cd-single format.

The single reached number 21 in the UK singles chart and number 13 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2495
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 30, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Why can't I be you?' / 'A Japanese dream'

Golden days - Bucks Fizz

'Golden days' was written by Terry Britten and Sue Shifrin and originally recorded by Cliff Richard as 'The golden days are over' on his 1983 album 'Silver'. Bucks Fizz recorded their cover version on their 1984 album 'I hear talk'.

When the single was released in October 1984, just ahead of the album, it stalled at number 42 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3130
Found: July 24, 1999
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Golden days' / 'Where do I go now'

Jealous guy - John Lennon

'Jealous guy' first appeared on John Lennon's 1971 album 'Imagine'. The track was originally written as 'Child of nature' for the Beatles' White Album in 1968. When the track was not used on the album, Lennon rewrote the lyric and recorded the song himself as 'Jealous guy'.

'Jealous guy' was released as a single in November 1985. It reached number 65 in the UK singles charts.

My collection: 7" single no. 453
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, December 1985
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Jealous guy' / 'Going down on love'

Under attack - Abba

'Under attack' was recorded by Abba betwee August 2 and August 4, 1982. It was one of the tracks on what was to become Abba's final recording sessions, and released as a single from the compilation album 'The Singles: the first 10 years'. The video for 'Under attack' was made in November 1982, shortly before the release of this single.

'Under attack' was not a commercial success. The single did reach number 5 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 3 in Belgium, but in other countries the single fared less well. After the single's release, it was decided that ABBA would take a 'break'; however, they would not record as a group again.

My collection: 7" single no. 178
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, December 1982
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Under attack' / 'You owe me one'

Another step (closer to you) - Kim Wilde and Junior

Since today is Kim Wilde's 49th birthday, I thought it would be appropriate to post a single by her today. This is 'Another step (closer to you)', a duet with Junior Giscombe. The track was always going to be a duet, but when a demo version lacked soul, the idea to use Junior on it was born.

The single was released as the third single from Kim's 1986 album 'Another step', and became a top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at number 6 in the UK singles chart. When 'You keep me hangin' on' became a number 1 hit in the USA, the single was also released as the follow-up over there, but with much less success.

My collection: 7" single no. 528
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Another step (closer to you)' / 'Hold back'

Christian - China Crisis

I completely missed out on 'Christian' when it was first released in 1983. I only heard the track when it was included on the limited edition double single of 'You did cut me', which I'd bought in 1990. A year later, I got my hands on the original single, which actually contains not one, but two B-side tracks.

I didn't know then that a picture disc had also been released in the UK. I found that one four years later, during a record fair. Since I have a thing for picture discs, I obviously bought that one as well, completing my China Crisis collection even further.

'Christian' was the band's first significant hit in the UK, peaking at number 12 in February 1983. It was the beginning of a great career with lots of interesting music.

My collection: 7" single no. 1462 / no. 2573
Found: June 27, 1991 / Record fair, December 16, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders / 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Christian' / 'Greenacre bay', 'Performing seals'