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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Dreaming - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

Taken from their compilation album 'The best of OMD', also released in 1988, 'Dreaming' was the only new track on that album and the last to be released by Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys together, before Paul quit the band because he was unhappy with the band's commercial orientation. It would take until 2006 for them to reunite for their recent albums.

'Dreaming' was a great pop song and a great way for the band to wave goodbye - although Andy continued as OMD for some years on his own.

1. Dreaming (extended mix)
2. Satellite
3. Gravity never failed
4. Dreaming

Virgin VSCD 987
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Catch - The Cure

I already owned the 7" single of 'Catch' when I bought this CD Video and so I already knew that the B-side 'Breathe' was a great track. Adding to that the Tim Pope-directed video which was quite charming and I was convinced that I needed to have this disc.

I was less impressed with the other two audio tracks, but anyway, this is still a disc I'm very happy with.

1. Catch
2. Breathe
3. A chain of flowers
4. Icing sugar (new mix)
5. Catch (video)

Fiction Records 080 186-2
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Hold me in your arms - Rick Astley

The mid-tempo ballad 'Hold me in your arms' shows off Rick Astley's beautiful voice in a way his uptempo dance tracks never could. Another Stock Aitken Waterman production, this was taken from Rick's second album - also titled 'Hold me in your arms' - which was entirely produced by the trio.

'Rick's Hit mix', also included on this disc, was a medley of all of Rick's previous hit singles, mixed by Tony King.

1. Hold me in your arms (extended)
2. Rick's Hit mix
3. Hold me in your arms (7")

RCA PWL PD 42616
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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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De wereld - Frank Boeijen Groep

The third single off the Frank Boeijen Groep's 1988 album 'Dans in slow-motion' was this song, 'De wereld' ('The world'), imaginatively presented with a sleeve featuring a photograph of the world.

The profits of this discs were all meant to go to the World Wildlife Fund, but since the single never became a hit, those numbers wouldn't have been very high. Not that this was a bad disc: it features an excellent B-side and a powerful, if slightly edited, live version of the band's older track 'Hier komt de storm'.

1. De wereld
2. Holland is vrij
3. Hier komt de storm (live)

Ariola 662.128
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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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Take me to your heart - Rick Astley

The inlay of this CD-single is a bit odd, because what you see on the scan here was really it: the other side of the inlay card was empty and white. For the track listing, you need to read the label of the CD, which is pretty difficult if you're actually playing the disc.

This CD single comes with three versions of the title track plus a pretty good B-side. It's mid-Eighties pop by those famous producers Stock Aitken & Waterman, but although dated this sound pretty good still. Not least because of Rick Astley's smooth voice.

1. Take me to your heart (Autumn leaves mix)
2. I'll be fine
3. Take me to your heart (instrumental)
4. Take me to your heart (7" version)

RCA PWL  PD 42574
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