CHICAGO : Hard to say I'm sorry 1982

LABEL: Full Moon/WEA

FORMAT: 7-inch single, 45rpm

CREDITS: Cetera/Foster

B-SIDE: Sonny think twice

THEME: You're going to be the lonely one.

COVER: Mother of a Chicago logo on the front. Picture of the Chicago 16 album on the reverse.

AGE WHEN RELEASED:
14.

PHIL'S COMMENT:
A blockbuster ballad from the early 80s, courtesy of Peter Cetera. If there's anyone over 35 who doesn't know the tune, I'm a Dutchman.

MY RATING TODAY:
Nothing to say sorry about. 8/10

WHAT THE WORLD WOULD SAY:
Sorry. 6/10

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JOE DOLCE Music Theatre featuring Giuseppe : If you want to be happy 1981

LABEL: Epic

FORMAT: 7-inch single, 45rpm

CREDITS: Guitla/Guida/Royster

B-SIDE: Ain't been missing you

THEME: Pretty women aren't worth it.

COVER: It's in one of those cardboard single covers that you could buy when your original one got a bit dog-eared.

AGE WHEN RELEASED:
13.

PHIL'S COMMENT:
The follow-up to Shaddap you face was, I thought, pretty damn good. Not sure anyone else agreed. I think it reached something like 39 in the charts.

MY RATING TODAY:
One-a-more time for mama 7/10

WHAT THE WORLD WOULD SAY:
Joe was never forgiven for keeping Ultravox's Vienna off the Number One slot 3/10

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RONNIE & GORBI : Hello Ronnie, Hello Gorbi 1988

LABEL: MCA

FORMAT: 7-inch single, 45rpm

CREDITS: Ponchielli/Mike Read

B-SIDE: Singalongaronnieandgorbi (Instrumental Version)

THEME: A celebration of the end of the Cold War?

COVER: Plain white, giving nothing away.

AGE WHEN RELEASED:
20.

PHIL'S COMMENT:
My memory of this record is less than zero. The only clues I can find are the fact that the lyric is credited to Mike Read and that all the proceeds went to Comic Relief. If anyone knows anything about it, please e-mail me at dc.info@virgin.net I can only presume that it was a incisive social commentary on the battle between American neo-conservatism and the Gorbachevian constructs of glasnost and perestroika.

MY RATING TODAY:
Must have historic value. 6/10

WHAT THE WORLD WOULD SAY:
Should be consigned to history 2/10

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STEVE WALSH: I found lovin' 1987

LABEL: A.1. Records

FORMAT: 7-inch single, 45rpm

CREDITS: Flippin/Walker

B-SIDE: Double A-side with Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye (DeCarlo, Frasver, Leka)

THEME: Dance anthem

COVER: Mr Walsh is the centre of attention at a gig.

AGE WHEN RELEASED:
19.

PHIL'S COMMENT:
There are four price tickets on the sleeve. £1.75 was crossed out in favour of 99p. Steve Walsh's dancefloor classic was then reduced to 49p. Somehow or other, though, I managed to pick it up for just 25p. Not bad for a "completely new recording" that was "never released before". For more information on Steve, I needed to write to a PO Box Number in Wickford.

MY RATING TODAY:
I found a classic 8/10

WHAT THE WORLD WOULD SAY:
I need to find a sense of perspective 6/10

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KELLY MARIE: Loving just for fun 1980

LABEL: Calibre Plus

FORMAT: 7-inch single, 45rpm

CREDITS: Written by Yellowstone/Voice

B-SIDE: Fill me with your love

THEME: A lighthearted look at amorous intentions.

COVER: Mine's in an Island Records sleeve, which I think may have come originally from another record.

AGE WHEN RELEASED:
12.

PHIL'S COMMENT:
Kelly's head was often in a spin and her feet didn't touch the ground. I think this was why she was able to reach some impossibly high notes.

MY RATING TODAY:
I'd listen just for fun. 8/10

WHAT THE WORLD WOULD SAY:
Is she the one who did "Feels like I'm in love"? 4/10

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THE BUGGLES: The Plastic Age 1980

LABEL: Island Music Ltd

FORMAT: 7-inch single, 45rpm

CREDITS: Written by Horn/Downes

B-SIDE: Island

THEME: Social commentary on the nature of modern society.

COVER: I have some plain cover here. Perhaps the original Island sleeve went to Kelly Marie's "Loving just for fun"?

AGE WHEN RELEASED:
12.

PHIL'S COMMENT:
I think this was the single that followed "Video killed the radio star" and the guys were on a bit of a roll.

MY RATING TODAY:
Fantastic age. 8/10

WHAT THE WORLD WOULD SAY:
Drastic age. 5/10

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LIQUID GOLD: Dance yourself dizzy 1980

LABEL: Polo

FORMAT: 7-inch single, 45rpm

CREDITS: Written by Baker/Seago

B-SIDE: Dance yourself dizzy (instrumental)

THEME: Encouragement to party to excess.

COVER: Plain white single sleeve, I'm afraid.

AGE WHEN RELEASED:
12.

PHIL'S COMMENT:
They were certainly something on Top of the Pops. Didn't they play the xylophone on some bloke's chest? A cult classic from a one-hit wonder.

MY RATING TODAY:
Dizzy heights. 7/10

WHAT THE WORLD WOULD SAY:
Just a little unbalanced. 3/10

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