What I am - Edie Brickell and New Bohemians

The first single from Edie Brickell & New Bohemians' debut album was this 'What I am', a poppy little track that took over the charts in the summer of 1989. This 3" CD-single featured two tracks from the album, but also a cover of the Lou Reed track 'Walk on the wild side'.

Sung by Edie Brickell in her laidback style it was different from the original mainly because it featured more instrumentation and a more melodic voice. I'd already bought the second single as a CD-single so it was only fair that I should buy the first one as well. And it was my 100th CD-single!

1. What I am
2. I do
3. Walk on the wild side

Geffen GEF 49CD
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Worlds apart - Cock Robin

One of my favourite bands of the Eighties returned in 1989 with their best album, 'First love last rites'. I liked their two previous albums but the third one was, frankly, amazing. And the first single from that album, the powerful 'Worlds apart' impressed me a lot. It's very weird how this album never became the big hit I anticipated it would be.

This CD-single comes with two bonus tracks, one of them being a live recording of an unknown date.

1. Worlds apart
2. Don't think twice (live)
3. We've changed

CBS 655475 3
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To know someone deeply is to know someone softly - Terence Trent d'Arby

After selling millions with his debut album, Terence Trent d'Arby decided to burn his bridges and release 'Neither fish nor flesh', which was a pretty apt description of what the press thought of this album. 'To know someone deeply is to know someone softly' was the second single off the album, bravely released on two different CD-singles by the record company.

This was version no. 1: a replica of the 7" single with two tracks. The title track is pretty brilliant in all its madness, the other track is, er, neither fish nor flesh.

1. To know someone deeply is to know someone softly
2. Loose variations on a dead man's vibe in C#M

CBS 655588 1 
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The road to hell - Chris Rea

The title track from Chris Rea's 1989 album 'The road to hell' was also released as the first single from that album. This version of the CD-single features the single version (which is 'part 1' on the album) and a bonus track.

I recently learned that there is also a version featuring part 1 & 2, the bonus track, plus a French version of the 1985 hit 'Josephine'. Now why wasn't that in the shops back then...

1. The road to hell
2. He should know better

Magnet Records 162.791

Een zomer aan het eind van de twintigste eeuw - Frank Boeijen Groep

The first single from this Dutch group's ninth album of the same name translates as 'A summer at the end of the twentieth century'. The band was rocking out in a way they hadn't done for a long time, as this single - and the album - was a less synth-laden affair than previous efforts. And that's exactly what I didn't like about it, by the way.

The second track is this CD-single's saving grace: a beautiful ballad with a reference to Beethoven's piano, by which singer and songwriter Frank Boeijen probably means one of the great composer's compositions for piano.

1. Een zomer aan het eind van de twintigste eeuw
2. De piano van Beethoven

Ariola 162.773
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Are you just using me - Richenel

Richenel, a Dutch singer had some dance/pop hits in the mid-Eighties with 'Dance around the world', amongst others, but 'Are you just using me', the first single from his second album, was a much more sophisticated affair. Not least, probably, because the song was written by George Michael, using the pseudonym R. Phillips.

This CD-single was the only one I ever bought of this androgynous-looking artist, who continued for a while in the dance/pop scene with a distinct lack of success.

1. Are you just using me (extended version)
2. Billie
3. Are you just using me

CBS 654637 3
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Circle - Edie Brickell & New Bohemians

It was never my own idea to listen to Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, I simply got into the CD my sister had bought at the time.As a result I started buying all the 7" singles and - later - CD singles by the band.

This CD single was interesting for me because it featured the best album track, 'Now' as track 2. I wasn't going to buy the album CD anytime soon, so this was the perfect replacement. I only got the album two decades later...

Geffen 921207-2
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Lily was here - David A. Stewart & Candy Dulfer

Although the sleeve of this CD-single makes no mention of it, 'Lily was here' was taken from the soundtrack of the Dutch movie 'De Kassiere' (released as 'Lily was here' in other countries) starring Marion van Thijn and Thom Hoffman. Don't remember the movie? Don't feel bad, no-one does.

This instrumental piece, however, was more successful: peaking at number 1 in the Netherlands and number 2 in Belgium and Norway, it was also a top 10 hit in Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.

1. Lily was here
2. Lily robs the bank

RCA ZD 43045
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The downtown lights - The Blue Nile

With two extra tracks, this CD-single of the Blue Nile's 'The downtown lights' was an unexpected pleasant surprise for those who knew the band from their one previous album, released in 1984. After five years of complete silence, the band returned in 1989 with the album 'Hats' and this single.

Critically acclaimed and non-prolific, the Blue Nile have released only four albums in the 22 years of their existance.

1. The downtown lights
2. The wires are down
3. Halfway to paradise

Linn Records LKSCD 3
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Empty rooms - Gary Moore

Although I love the track 'Empty rooms' - which is, after all, the reason for buying this disc in the first place - I was knocked sideways when I first played the second track, a live version of 'Parisienne Walkways', featuring Phil Lynott on vocals. Not only are those vocals just wonderful, the guitar work performed by Gary Moore is one of the best pieces of guitar work I've ever heard. What a great melody. And so this turned out to be one of the CD singles I have played the most in my entire collection.

1. Empty rooms (long version)
2. Parisienne walkways (live)
3. Empty rooms (Summer '85 version)

Virgin CDT 35
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Love in the natural way - Kim Wilde

The fifth and final single from Kim Wilde's 1988 album 'Close' was 'Love in the natural way', a track that might have been a massive hit with some more promotion. Not that MCA did a bad job: in the UK a picture CD was released, and in Europe this 3" CD single appeared. A collectable 7" single with a poster sleeve was also available at the time.

An extended version of the title track is the only treat on this disc, however: the two other tracks are identical to those on the album.

1. Love in the natural way
2. You'll be the one who'll lose
3. Love in the natual way (extended version)

MCA 257627-2
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One step ahead - Nik Kershaw

As much as I'm opposed to the whole marketing approach that record companies adopted in the Eighties - and even worse in later decades - I have to admit that it worked in this case. When I saw this CD-single I was triggered by the name Nik Kershaw. Then I noticed that two old singles were included in the track listing - an idea that obviously came from the marketing men - and presto: I'd bought the disc.

Of course, 'One step ahead' turned out to be a great pop song itself, but I only found that out by playing this CD single. Nik Kershaw wasn't exactly played much on the radio in 1989...

1. One step ahead
2. When I grow up
3. Wouldn't it be good  
4. The riddle

MCA  257 747-2
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You're my world - Nick Heyward

Nick Heyward had his biggest hits in the first half of the Eigthies, first with the band Haircut 100 and then solo with songs like 'Whistle down the wind' (delicious) and 'Warning sign' (funky).

'You're my world', released in 1988, was a very nice pop ditty, which failed to impress the audiences and so I had the opportunity to pick this up for a few guilders - quite a feat at a time when CD-singles were still new enough not to be found in bargain bins like they were in later years.

1. You're my world (edit)
2. Pizza tears
3. You're my world (extended version)
4. Strange life

WEA 921 041-2
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Everlasting love - Howard Jones

Time has been kind to Howard Jones. By 1989 his popularity was waning, but the man is still making records and performing all over the world. I wasn't exactly impressed with this CD-single in 1989, but now I can play it with a lot of pleasure.

'Everlasting love' was the first single from his 1989 album 'Cross that line', which was too America-oriented in my opinion. A lot of British artists were pointing their compasses to the USA in the second half of the Eighties, and that didn't result in their best albums. But I do have to admit that all four tracks of this disc still sound very good nowadays.

1. Everlasting love
2. The brutality of fact
3. Power of the media
4. No one is to blame

WEA 247077-2
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Now you're gone - Black

The third single from Black's second album 'Comedy' was 'Now you're gone', one of the weaker tracks from the album I felt. The fact that this was released as a 3" disc added to my interest, because otherwise I might have held off on buying it.

I'm glad I didn't, though: by now this version is so collectable it wasn't even listed on Discogs.com until now. The UK version was released in a 5" cardboard sleeve, but this German version comes in a 3" cardboard sleeve.

1. Now you're gone
2. Now you're gone (Mardi Gras version)
3. Brother o' mine

A&M 390 409-3
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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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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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