The Brief: Our final Midnight Star record of the week is the title track from the 1986 ‘Headlines’ LP. ‘Headlines’ was the third album in a row for the band that was certified Gold, following the double Platinum success of ‘No Parking On The Dance Floor’ and the Gold certification of ‘Planetary Invasion’. It would, [...]
The Brief: As we continue with Dan Hartman week, we are still in the mid-80′s which seemed to be the most successful period of Hartman’s career. Today’s single appeared on the soundtrack for the movie Fletch which starred Chevy Chase. The soundtrack featured several well-known artists in additon to Hartman such as Stephanie Mills, The [...]
Posted in Dan Hartman, FWV 
Tags: 12 Inch, 1985, Chris Lord-Alge, MCA Records, Morales and Munzibai, Pop, UK Pressing 
4 Comments »
The Brief: For the release of “Some Kind Of Lover”, Louil Silas, Jr. was brought in to do the remixing for the single releases. This song is the third Watley/Cymone composition paired with Cymone/David Z. production and the 2nd Top 10 hit for that combination of writers and producers from the album. This post contains [...]
Posted in FWV, Jody Watley Tags: 10 Inch, 1987, 7 Inch, Louil Silas Jr, MCA Records, R&B, UK Pressing 12 Comments »
The A Side: Color Of Success (Extended Version) The B Side: Color Of Success (Edit) Color Of Success (Instrumental Mix) The Brief: “Color of Success” is the title track from Morris Day‘s first solo album and the second single released in support of the record. This UK 12″ release features a remix, short mix and [...]
Posted in FWV, Morris Day Tags: 12 Inch, 1985, Michael Brauer, MPLS, R&B, UK Pressing, Warner Brothers Records 2 Comments »
The A Side: Anotherloverholenyohead The B Side: I Wanna Be Your Lover (Edit) The Brief: “Anotherloverholenyohead” is Prince‘s third single released in North America from the ‘Parade’ LP. In the UK and Europe it was the fourth single. It was the first single from ‘Parade’ not to reach the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot [...]
The A Side: (I Guess) It Must Be Love (Extended Version) 8:59 The B Side: Working Girl 4:53 The Brief: The UK 12” release of Thelma Houston’s “(I Guess) It Must Be Love” has an extended version that differs from the US promo and album versions. The Billboard Charts: Chart Debuted Debut Pos. Peak Pos. [...]
Posted in FWV, Thelma Houston Tags: 12 Inch, 1984, Flyte Tyme Productions, MCA Records, R&B, UK Pressing 4 Comments »
The A Side: She Sells Sanctuary (The Howling Mix) The B Side: Assault On Sanctuary The Brief: Ian Astbury on vocals, Billy Duffy on guitar and Jamie Stewart on bass guitar with a rotation of different drummers have been the primary members of The Cult since they released their first album, ‘Dreamtime’, in 1984. The [...]
Posted in FWV, The Cult Tags: 12 Inch, 1985, Beggars Banquet Records, Rock, Steve Brown, UK Pressing 7 Comments »
The A Side: Do You Really (Want My Love) (John Luongo Remix) The B Side: Somebody (Extreme Mix) Do You Really (Want My Love) The Brief: One of the tracks chosen for the soundtrack to Beverly Hills Cop was Junior’s “Do You Really (Want My Love)”. The song received little to no airplay in the [...]
Posted in FWV, Junior Tags: 12 Inch, 1985, John Luongo, London Recordings, Promo, R&B, UK Pressing 6 Comments »
The A Side: The Smurf 6:05 The B Side: I Need Love 5:15 The Brief: “The Smurf” was a popular dance in the 80s that was popularized in song by numerous R&B and rap artists. Tyrone Brunson’s first single from his 1983 ‘Sticky Situation’ LP capitalizes on the fad with his electro instrumental take on [...]
The A Side: Every Shade Of Love (Keith Cohen Remix) 7:34 The B Side: Every Shade Of Love (Original Version) 4:44 Love Struck (House Mix) 6:40 The Brief: The UK 12” for Jesse Johnson’s “Every Shade Of Love” single included the 12” West Coast Remix by Keith Cohen and Steve Beltran and a House Mix [...]
The A Side: Wouldn’t You Love To Love Me? (Jellybean 12″ Vocal Remix) The B Side: Love Is Contagious (Ben Liebrand Remix) Baby’s Got A Lover (LP Version) The Brief: It’s Friday the 13th! But, it’s your lucky day because there’s more Taja in store for you today! Today’s post is a UK 12″ release of [...]
Posted in FWV, Taja Sevelle Tags: 12 Inch, 1988, Ben Liebrand, Jellybean Benitez, MPLS, Paisley Park Records, Pop, Reprise Records, UK Pressing 2 Comments »
The A Side: Pretty Mess (Vocal) 6:03 The B Side: Pretty Mess (Instrumental) 4:34 The Brief: Denise Katrina Matthews became better known as Vanity after hooking up with Prince and being installed as the lead character in his girl group Vanity 6. Vanity was around long enough for one album to be recorded and moved [...]
The A Side: Let Me Tickle Your Fancy (Vocal) 5:05 The B Side: Let Me Tickle Your Fancy (Instrumental) 5:05 The Brief: Jermaine Jackson was the last member of the Jackson family to record for Motown and the final LP he released for the legendary label was ‘Let Me Tickle Your Fancy’ in 1982. The [...]
The A Side: Sensitivity (S + P Full Rub Mix) The B Side: Sensitivity (USA 12″ Mix) Sensitivity (Ralph’s Rap) The Brief: Ralph Tresvant is an original member of New Edition and the primary lead vocalist on most of the band’s hit songs. In 1990 Ralph recorded and released a self-titled solo debut LP. He teamed [...]
Posted in FWV, Ralph Tresvant Tags: 12 Inch, 1990, Flyte Tyme Productions, MCA Records, R&B, S+P Jervier, UK Pressing 5 Comments »
The A Side: Rub You The Right Way (J.G. Classic) 5:40 The B Side: Rub You The Right Way (Extended Hype) 5:40 Rub You The Right Way (Instrumental) 5:40 The Brief: Johnny Gill was asked by Michael Bivins to join New Edition in 1987 when it was thought that Ralph Tresvant was leaving to pursue [...]
Posted in FWV, Johnny Gill Tags: 12 Inch, 1990, Flyte Tyme Productions, Motown Records, R&B, UK Pressing 11 Comments »
The A Side: Love Makes No Sense (Album Version) 6:58 Love Makes No Sense (7″ Radio Mix) 4:00 The B Side: Love Makes No Sense (Bonus Beat Mix) 6:56 Love Makes No Sense (Instrumental) 6:56 The Brief: This is the UK 12″ of the “Love Makes No Sense” single. The LP ‘Love Makes No Sense’ failed to [...]
Posted in Alexander O'Neal, FWV Tags: 12 Inch, 1993, Promo, R&B, Tabu Records, UK Pressing 2 Comments »
The A Side: The Lovers (Extended Version) 7:02 The B Side: The Lovers (Bonus Beats) 5:00 The Lovers (Instrumental) 7:02 The Brief: Alexander O’Neal has had a longstanding relationship with R&B fans in the UK where he has remained popular even as interest in his music declined in the US. Alex still holds the record [...]
Posted in Alexander O'Neal, FWV Tags: 12 Inch, 1987, Flyte Tyme Productions, R&B, Tabu Records, UK Pressing 2 Comments »
The A Side: Armageddon It (The Nuclear Mix) The B Side: Ring Of Fire Armageddon It (The Atomic Mix) The Brief: In 1987-1988, Def Leppard was seemingly all over the place. In August of 1987 they released their fourth album, ‘Hysteria’. The album produced four Top 10 singles, sold over 20 million copies and reached [...]
Posted in Def Leppard, FWV Tags: 12 Inch, 1988, b-side, Phonogram Ltd, Rock, UK Pressing 4 Comments »
The A Side: Wishing Well (Three Coins In A Fountain Mix) 6:14 Elevators & Hearts 4:41 The B Side: Wishing Well (The Cool In The Shade Mix) 7:50 Wonderful World 3:56 The Brief: The UK version of the “Wishing Well” 12″ includes the same tracks as the US release with the addition of the “Three [...]
Posted in FWV, Terence Trent D'Arby Tags: 12 Inch, 1987, b-side, CBS Records, Francois Kevorkian, Martyn 'Teddy Bear' Ware, R&B, Ron St Germain, UK Pressing 9 Comments »
The A Side: 20/20 (Jellybean Remix) The B Side: Shark Bite The Brief: George Benson’s sixth album for WB Records was ‘20/20’ and it was released in 1984. The title track was released as a single and missed making the Top 40 by 8 spots. This UK 12” release features a John ‘Jellybean’ Benitez remix [...]
Posted in FWV, George Benson Tags: 12 Inch, 1984, Jazz, Jellybean Benitez, R&B, UK Pressing, Warner Brothers Records 4 Comments »
The A Side: Satidfaction (The U.S. Remix) The B Side: Satisfaction (Muppy’s House Version) The Brief: Today we have another “Satisfaction” 12” from Wendy & Lisa’s ‘Fruit at the Bottom’. This UK release contains the “US Remix” and “Muppy’s House Version” of the track that the girls co-wrote with Jesse Johnson and remixed with Carmen [...]
Posted in FWV, Wendy and Lisa Tags: 12 Inch, 1989, Carmen Rizzo, MPLS, Pop, UK Pressing, Virgin Records, Wendy & Lisa 2 Comments »
The A Side: Satisfaction (12″ Dance Mix) 7:14 Satisfaction (12″ Dance Dub) 1:46 The B Side: Satisfaction (Full Dub Mix) 6:44 The Brief: “Satisfaction” is another single released from Wendy & Lisa’s ‘Fruit At The Bottom’ LP. The song was written by Wendy & Lisa with Jesse Johnson. Jesse also laid down guitar tracks for [...]
Posted in FWV, Wendy and Lisa Tags: 12 Inch, 1989, MPLS, Pop, Susan Rogers, UK Pressing, Virgin Records, Wendy & Lisa 3 Comments »
The A Side: Waterfall (Psychedelic Teepee Twelve) The B Side: Waterfall ’89 (Alice & Sundial Seven) Always In My Dreams The Brief: OK, it wasn’t until I started researching chart information on Wendy & Lisa that I came to the realization that this song is the only track the girls have placed on Billboard’s Hot [...]
Posted in FWV, Wendy and Lisa Tags: 12 Inch, 1989, Carmen Rizzo, MPLS, Pop, UK Pressing, Virgin Records, Wendy & Lisa 14 Comments »
The A Side: Stages (Extended Version) The B Side: Stages (7″ Version) Hi Fi Mama The Brief: That Little Ol’ Band from Texas released their ninth studio album in 1985. The album was ‘Afterburner’ and it is the biggest selling album to date for ZZ Top. Five times multi-platinum in sales and a [...]
The A Side: Love Is Contagious (Extended Mix) 5:56 The B Side: Mama 16 (Edit) 4:15 Love Is Contagious (Instrumental Dub) 5:33 The Brief: If for nothing else, download this and just gaze at the gorgeous face that graces the cover of this 12”. Not only is Taja Sevelle beautiful but, she has a voice [...]
Posted in FWV, Taja Sevelle Tags: 12 Inch, 1987, MPLS, Paisley Park Records, Pop, Reprise Records, UK Pressing 9 Comments »
The A Side: Anotherloverholenyohead (Extended Version) 7:52 The B Side: I Wanna Be Your Lover (LP Version) 5:47 The Brief: Fifty-three years ago today, in 1958, Prince Rogers Nelson was born to John L. Nelson and Mattie Shaw. Twenty-eight years later, a young djrichiep, at the age of 16, bought his first Prince [...]
Posted in FWV, Prince Tags: 12 Inch, 1986, MPLS, Paisley Park Records, R&B, UK Pressing 2 Comments »
The A Side: Paisley Park She’s Always In My Hair The B Side: Paisley Park (Remix) The Brief: Today we have another UK 12” that features the remix of “Paisley Park”. It’s another track that has not been made available on CD. This is the title track from ‘Around The World In A Day’ the [...]
Posted in FWV, Prince Tags: 12 Inch, 1985, b-side, MPLS, Paisley Park Records, R&B, UK Pressing 9 Comments »
The A Side: Purple Rain (Long Version) The B Side: God (Instrumental) (Love Theme From ‘Purple Rain’) God (Vocal) The Brief: In 1984, Prince was riding high on top of the song charts and at the box office. The title song from the soundtrack to ‘Purple Rain’ was released in the UK on a 12” [...]
Posted in FWV, Prince Tags: 12 Inch, 1984, b-side, MPLS, R&B, UK Pressing, Warner Brothers Records 9 Comments »
The A Side: Keep Your Eye On Me (Manic Mix) 7:35 The B Side: Keep Your Eye On Me (Dub Mix) 5:40 The Brief: Twenty-five years after the release of his first studio album, ‘Lonely Bull’, Herb Alpert went into the studio with the production team of Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis to lay down [...]
Posted in FWV, Herb Alpert Tags: 12 Inch, 1987, A&M Records, Flyte Tyme Productions, Jazz, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, R&B, UK Pressing 4 Comments »
The A Side: Love Will Find A Way (Extended Version) The B Side: Love Will Find A Way (The Rise And Fall Mix) Holy Lamb (Song For Harmonic Convergence) The Brief: Here’s a UK 12″ release of “Love Will Find A Way” by Yes from their 1987 ‘Big Generator’ album. The UK release gives us [...]
The A Side: Doubleback (Single Version) The B Side: Planet Of Women (LP Version) Doubleback (AOR Mix) The Brief: “Doubleback” from ZZ Top‘s ‘Recycler’ album was featured in the film Back to the Future Part III. The band had a cameo in the movie playing an Old West version of the song along with some [...]
The A Side: Little By Little (Remix Long Version) The B Side: Easily Lead (Recorded live in Dallas on 24th June 1985) Doo Doo A Do Do The Brief: “Little By Little” is the leadoff single from Robert Plant‘s third solo album ‘Shaken ‘n’ Stirred’. The LP was a gold seller in the US and [...]
Posted in FWV, Robert Plant Tags: 12 Inch, 1985, Esparanza Records, Rob Dickins, Rock, UK Pressing 6 Comments »
The A Side: King Without A Crown (Monarchy Mix) The B Side: The Look Of Love (Live In Boston) Poison Arrow (Live In Boston) The Brief: In 1987 ABC released their fourth studio album, ‘Alphabet City’ which went to #48 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. “King Without A Crown” was the third and final single [...]
The A Side: Radioactive (Special Mix) 5:52 The B Side: City Sirens / Live In Peace (Recorded live at Hammersmith Odeon, London on December 9th, 1984) The Brief: Ever heard the term “supergroup”? Well, The Firm were the epitome of the term. The band was made up of former Free and Bad Company singer Paul [...]
The A Side: Groovy Train 6:05 The B Side: Groovy Train (The Bootle Mix) 6:20 Groovy Train (Jumped at 3.30 am Mix) 3:51 The Brief: I hope you like this song… The Farm released their major label debut record, ‘Spartacus’, on Sire Records in 1991 and watched it shoot to the top of the UK [...]
Posted in FWV, The Farm Tags: 12 Inch, 1990, Mark Saunders, Pop, Produce Records, Rock, UK Pressing 4 Comments »
The A Side: Shame (Dance Mix) 7:16 The B Side: Save The Last Dance For Love 4:19 Shame (Red Mix) 5:24 The Brief: In the early eighties, The Motels put together a string of successful albums and hit singles. The end of that run was marked by the release of the LP ‘Shock’ in 1985. [...]
Posted in FWV, The Motels Tags: 12 Inch, 1985, An Endless Music Mix, Capitol Records, Pop, UK Pressing 3 Comments »
The A Side: (What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me (Edit) 3:14 The B Side: A Broken Heart Can Mend 3:40 The Brief: And the hits just keep on coming. “(What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me” is the fourth single to be released from the ‘Hearsay’ LP by Alexander O’Neal. [...]
Posted in Alexander O'Neal, FWV Tags: 1987, 7 Inch, Flyte Tyme Productions, R&B, Tabu Records, UK Pressing 1 Comment »
The A Side: Sweet Somebody (Special Extended Vocal) 5:56 Sweet Somebody (New Sweet Dub Version) 5:22 The B Side: Give Me The Music (Medley) – An Intermixture Of Let The Music Play & Give Me Tonight 6:56 The Brief: “Sweet Somebody” is the fourth and final single from 1984′s ‘Let The Music Play’ LP that [...]
Posted in FWV, Shannon Tags: 12 Inch, 1984, Emergency Records, Medley, R&B, UK Pressing Comments Off
The A Side: She’s Trouble (Special Extended Mix) 7:45 The B Side: Tell Jack (Extended Mix) 5:45 The Brief: Trivia time… who were the first black artists to have a video shown on MTV? Yep, Musical Youth, in 1982 with their worldwide hit “Pass The Dutchie”. In 1983, the Youth released their second album, “Different [...]
Posted in FWV, Musical Youth Tags: 12 Inch, 1983, MCA Records, Peter Collins, R&B, UK Pressing Comments Off
Side A: Piece Of My Heart (Live & It Ain’t No Jive Club Mix) 5:57 Side B: Piece Of My Heart (Baby She’s A Star Mix) 3:49 Piece Of My Heart (Release A Piece Mix) 3:34 The Brief: Born Tara Leslye Kemp, this California native released a self-titled LP in April of 1991 and enjoyed [...]
Posted in FWV, Tara Kemp Tags: 12 Inch, 1991, Giant Records, Jale Smith, John Doope Van Nest, Pop, Tuhin Roy, UK Pressing 1 Comment »
Side A: Pop Life (Extended Version) 9:07 Side B: Girl 7:34 The Brief: This is post #101 of the Fun With Vinyl blog, part 3 of a 3 post celebration of my 100th blog post! This 12” was not in my record collection while I was putting together the original ‘Fun With Vinyl’ series but, [...]
Posted in FWV, Prince Tags: 12 Inch, 1985, b-side, MPLS, Paisley Park Records, R&B, UK Pressing 4 Comments »
Side A: Time (Vocal) 7:29 Side B: Time (Instrumental) 4:37 The Brief: This song is a permanent fixture on my iPod’s Funk playlist. Released as a single in 1981, “Time” entered the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart on February 6, 1982. It stayed on the chart for 10 weeks and reached the #55 spot. This [...]