Smooth criminal - Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson was never one to use understatements, and so it was a bit of a surprise to see a 3 inch CD single for 'Smooth criminal' when that single was released. One would expect a mega gold disc in an extra thick box, or at least a 5" disc.

But anyway, this small disc still came with three - count them: 3 - remixes of 'Smooth criminal', and they all sound a bit alike. But that doesn't mean I didn't like this disc, and I still do. I just wish I could get my hands on the other 3" discs by Michael.

1. Smooth criminal (extended dance mix)
2. Smooth criminal ("Annie" mix)
3. Smooth criminal (Dance mix - dub version)

Epic EPC 653026 3
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Somewhere in my heart - Aztec Camera

I was very glad to see that 'Walk out to winter' was included on this CD single - that track alone is a reason for buying this disc. Fortunately the title track is a very good pop song too and the other two tracks are not half bad either.

A great package, then, from one of the most underrated bands of the Eighties.

1. Somewhere in my heart
2. Walk out to winter
3. Still on fire
4. Everybody is a number one (Boston '86 version)

WEA 247956-2
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Halt mich - Herbert Grönemeyer

60 discs into my CD singles collection, it was time to finally buy some German music. 'Halt mich' by Herbert Grönemeyer was an interesting choice, brought on by its discount price and the fact that I liked the song. It's not often that a German love song is executed well, but this one proves that it can be done.

For those of you who wonder what 'Verlängerter neumix' (track 2) means: it's not a description of nuclear waste, but rather German for 'new extended mix'. And who would have thought that this disc now costs 95 euros? Wow.

1. Halt mich
2. Fragwürdig (Verlängerter neumix)
3. Lesmona

EMI CDP 560-14 7386 2
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Belfast child - Simple Minds

Presented to the world as the 'Ballad of the streets' EP, this CD single by the Simple Minds essentially presented three A-sides, a point that is stressed by recent compilations that feature two or three tracks from this EP.

'Biko' is of course a cover of the Peter Gabriel track, the other two were original tracks, although 'Belfast child' was based on a traditional song.

1. Belfast child
2. Mandela day
3. Biko

Virgin 661998
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Head over heels - Tears for fears

The second in the series of my CD Video discs was, just like the first one, by Tears for fears. It was another attractive package, with 'Sea song', originally the B-side of the single 'I believe', and a remix of 'Mothers talk' included.

I remember at the time having to choose between the different CD Videos (for budgetary reasons) and I finally decided on this one because the audio was better than the other ones. I wanted to have 'I believe' too, because I'd never even seen that video, but the audio tracks on that one were much less interesting: a choice of tracks from the band's debut album.

1. Head over heels
2. Sea song
3. The working hour
4. Mothers talk (USA)
5. Head over heels (video)

Mercury 080062-2
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Four letter word - Kim Wilde

It is a wellknown fact that Marty and Ricky Wilde wrote most of Kim Wilde's early hit singles, but only few people know which of her singles was the last to be written by the duo. It is this mid-tempo ballad, 'Four letter word'. This CD single features the album version and an extended version, although a 'Late night mix' also exists.

'She hasn't got time for you' originally appeared on Kim's 1986 album 'Another step' and is transformed from a ballad to a dance track for this release.

1. Four letter word
2. She hasn't got time for you '88
3. Four letter word (extended version)

MCA 257696-2
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Good tradition - Tanita Tikaram

Tanita Tikaram's second single, 'Twist in my sobriety', was amazing of course, but I was less impressed with her debut single, 'Good tradition'. By the time I bought this CD single, I'd already heard her album numerous times and I'd grown very fond of the song 'Valentine heart', which appeared on this disc.

After buying this CD single, I found out it wasn't the album version of that song, but rather a demo version with guitar and vocals only. Conversely, 'Poor cow', which is listed here as a demo version, is actually the album version.

1. Good tradition
2. Cathedral song
3. Valentine heart [= demo version]
4. Poor cow (demo version) [= album version]

WEA 247820-2
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All she wants is - Duran Duran

The second single from 'Big Thing', Duran Duran's 1988 album, 'All she wants is' intrigued me much more than the first single, 'I don't want your love', which I didn't buy.

The three tracks on this disc are all equally good, with the five minute B-side 'I believe/All I need to know' as good as any album track and mysteriously left off. The recent deluxe re-release of 'Big thing' actually revealed a longer version of that track.

1. All she wants is (45 mix)
2. Skin trade (Parisian mix)
3. I believe/All I need to know (medley)

EMI CD DD 11
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Big bubbles, no troubles - Ellis Beggs & Howard

If you think this sleeve looks a bit odd, you're right: it looks like the back of a sleeve instead of the front. Since this CD single was a so-called 'Picture CD single' (i.e. there was a photograph printed on the label of the disc) apparently the sleeve was designed this way.

It all distracts from the music, which is actually very good. Ellis Beggs & Howard was formed by Simon Ellis, Austin Howard and Nick Beggs. The latter was best known for his work with Kajagoogoo at the time. He went on in various music projects, and is currently touring with Kim Wilde and Steven Wilson, among others. 'Big bubbles no troubles' was this trio's debut single, and a very good song in my opinion. I bought this CD single in a sale in early 1989.

1. Big bubbles, no troubles (Bubble mix)
2. Hungry man
3. Rock me (Block mix)
4. Big bubbles, no troubles (Rubble mix)

RCA PD 42090
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Left to my own devices - Pet Shop Boys

If you're lucky enough to find a copy of this 3 inch CD single these days, expect to pay some 85 euros for it. (Well there is one for sale via the link below...) I wonder, though, if people would pay as much for my copy, which is pictured here. When I bought it, it looked exactly like this: scarred and blistered on the front. I don't know what happened but the shop didn't have another copy and I really wanted to have this one back in December 1988. So I bought it. I've always kind of regretted it, because it doesn't look very good, but anyway. It's still great to have this version on CD.

1. Left to my own devices
2. The sound of the atom splitting

EMI  CDP 506-20 3081 3
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