Showing posts with label Kajagoogoo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kajagoogoo. Show all posts

Monday 15 May 2017

Hang on now (US mix) - Kajagoogoo

Although I already own a copy of Hang on now by Kajagoogoo, this single caught my eye because of the completely different sleeve. When I checked the label, it turned out to contain a "US mix" of the song. Obviously I had to buy this one. Checking this single out on Discogs.com, I found out that this particular mix was never released on CD, which makes it a nice collectable one. Sometimes you get lucky.

The synth saturated 'Hang on now' is one of my favourite Kajagoogoo singles. It flopped it the Netherlands, but reached a respectable number 13 in the UK singles chart. This single was made in France. I wonder if the single was a hit there...

My collection: 7" single no. 5830
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, May 13, 2017
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Hang on now (US mix)' / 'Hang on now (instrumental)'

Listen to the song

Monday 17 May 2010

Ooh to be ah - Kajagoogoo

Kajagoogoo were scorned in the Eighties (and after) became they were considered to be naff. But when you listen to their music now, it holds up very well. The song with the nonsensical title 'Ooh to be aah' is a great piece of breezy pop that has stood the test of time better than you'd think.

This 12" single features an extended remix of 'Ooh to be ah' plus a B-side track that was not featured on the 7" single.

My collection: 12" single no. 544
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 2000
Cost: 2,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Ooh to be ah (The Construction mix)' / 'Ooh to be ah', 'Interview rooms'

Wednesday 5 May 2010

Hang on now - Kajagoogoo

Kajagoogoo were very successful after they stormed the pop scene with 'Too shy' in 1982. Subsequent singles 'Ooh to be ah' and 'Hang on now' reached the top 20 in the UK without too much trouble, and part of the appeal was, believe it or not, the outrageous hairstyles of the members of the group.

The record company recognised this fact with this release: the 12" single of 'Hang on now' came with a free poster. It took away attention from the fact that the music was pretty good, too: 'Hang on now' features lush synthesizers and a great guitardriven melody.

My collection: 12" single no. 344
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 1997
Cost: 2,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Hang on now (extended)' / 'Hang on now (instrumental)', 'Introduction'

Tuesday 20 April 2010

Turn your back on me - Kajagoogoo

Without Limahl, Kajagoogoo were still able to produce some cracking tracks. And the 1984 single 'Turn your back on me' with its great drums and percussion may be their finest track.

It was released as a 12" single as well, featuring an extended version that brought out all the best bits from the song plus some extras.

My collection: 12" single no. 537
Found: unknown
Cost: 2,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Turn your back on me (extended version)' / 'The pump rooms of Bath', 'Turn your back on me'

Sunday 3 January 2010

Shouldn't do that - Kaja

I always am a bit miffed when I find out that there's a special edition of a record or cd I already have. And so, just a few weeks after buying Kaja's 'Shouldn't do that', I found out there was a limited edition double single edition - and I was rather irritated by that. Fortunately, I didn't spend a fortune on the single I bought in April, and this double single version wasn't particularly expensive either, so I've got three discs for the price of one, so to speak.

'Shouldn't do that' was only a minor hit in the UK, peaking at number 63. No further singles by Kaja, as the band named themselves in 1985 when they tried to shed the image of the teen idol band Kajagoogoo, charted.

My collection: 7" single no. 4359
Found: Record mania, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 4 euro
Tracks: 'Shouldn't do that' / 'Charm of a gun' // 'Huricane' / 'What ever you want'

Thursday 17 September 2009

Turn your back on me - Kajagoogoo

Released in the summer of 1984, 'Turn your back on me' was Kajagoogoo's last significant hit. Although it only reached number 47 in the UK singles chart, it reached number 16 in the Dutch Top 40 and also made number 2 in the American dance chart.

This single contains the original version of the song. It was subsequently remixed, and that version appears on most cd's nowadays.

My collection: 7" single no. 1390
Found: All that music, Leiden, February 22, 1991
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Turn your back on me' / 'The pump rooms of Bath'

Friday 11 September 2009

The lion's mouth - Kajagoogoo

With the benefit of hindsight, I think you can conclude that the lack of success for Kajagoogoo can be explained by their inconsistence in sound. After the hard rock sound of 'Big apple', they suddenly presented 'The lion's mouth', a brass-driven affair.

The single reached number 25 in the UK singles chart but failed to chart in many European countries. 25 years later, this track still sounds pretty fresh.

My collection: 7" single no. 3078
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, May 10, 1999
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'The lion's mouth' / 'The garden (instrumental)'

Monday 7 September 2009

Big apple - Kajagoogoo

'Big apple' was the first single release by Kajagoogoo after lead singer Limahl had left the band. The remaining four members recorded this song with bassist Nick Beggs taking over vocal duties. The song features a harder, somewhat rockier sound when compared to the more 'polished' sound of their debut album.

The single peaked at number 8 in the UK singles chart and number 10 in the Dutch Top 40. Things seemed to turn out alright for the band.

My collection: 7" single no. 738
Found: All that music, Leiden, February 9, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Big apple' / 'Monochromatic (live)'

Saturday 29 August 2009

Hang on now - Kajagoogoo

With its swirling synthesizers and lush production, 'Hang on now' was the third top 20 hit for Kajagoogoo in 1981, taken from their debut album 'White feathers'. It was also their last single before lead singer Limahl left Kajagoogoo.

From the second album on, Kajagoogoo continued as a quartet, with bassist Nick Beggs taking over vocal duties.

My collection: 7" single no. 1308
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 15, 1990
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Hang on now' / 'Hang on now (instrumental)'

Wednesday 12 August 2009

Ooh to be ah - Kajagoogoo

After the success of their debut single 'Too shy', Kajagoogoo's follow-up single 'Ooh to be ah' was released quickly. Although not topping the chart like its predecessor, the single still reached a respectable seventh place in the UK singles chart.

The nonsensical title hides a lyric about the showbiz and glamour world in which appearance is all-important. It is still a very topical song, then.

My collection: 7" single no. 1307
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 15, 1990
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Ooh to be ah' / 'Animal instincts'

Sunday 2 August 2009

Too shy - Kajagoogoo

The English band Kajagoogoo was formed in 1979 by Nick Beggs, Steve Askew, Stuart Croxford Neale and Jez Strode. Originally named Art Nouveau, they struggled to find a record company but were unsuccessful. In 1981 they auditioned for a lead singer to add to their band and found Christopher Hamill. He made his profile catchier by using a stage name, 'Limahl', an anagram of his surname. His hairdo, blond on top and black on the sides, also helped, of course.

With this new addition, they attracted interest from record companies and got Nick Rhodes from Duran Duran to produce their debut album 'White feathers'. The debut single 'Too shy' was released in January 1983 and became a number 1 hit in the UK and Germany. In the Netherlands, the single peaked at number 4. The B-side is not a straightforward instrumental version as you might expect, but a rather interesting dub version.

My collection: 7" single no. 1941
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 11, 1993
Cost: 1 guilders
Tracks: 'Too shy' / 'Too shy (instrumental)'

Sunday 19 April 2009

Shouldn't do that - Kaja

After all the international success as Kajagoogoo, first together with singer Limahl and then without him, the band found themselves reduced to a trio when Jez Strode left the band in 1985. The band was relaunched as Kaja in 1985.

The first single released by Kaja was 'Shouldn't do that', as a taster from the album 'Crazy people's right to speak'. It also featured on the soundtrack for 'Santa Claus: The Movie'. Still, this single peaked only at number 63 in the UK, and it signalled the end for the band in this line-up. Kajagoogoo has recently reformed and they are touring Europe and the UK again.

My collection: 7" single no. 3644
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009
Cost: 0,8 euro
Tracks: 'Shouldn't do that' / 'Charm of a gun'

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Advertising