Showing posts with label Risqué. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Risqué. Show all posts

Saturday 22 June 2019

Thunder & lightning - Risqué

Although the single 'Thunder & lightning' contains a 'special dance mix' on the B-side, it can not compare to the extended-version-fiesta that is contained on this 12" single. Both versions clock in on six minutes, adding two minutes to each side when compared to the 7" single.

There is something odd with the track listing: the A-side contains an extended version (or a special dance mix, if you will), whereas the B-side, which is advertised as a 'version spéciale danse', is an instrumental/dub mix. It doesn't really matter: this disc is a feast for the eighties-oriented senses.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Ebay, received June 22, 2019
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'Thunder & lightning' / 'Thunder & lightning (Version spéciale danse)'

Sunday 30 December 2018

Go for it! - Risqué

Risqué's 1984 single 'Go for it' was produced by Sander Bos and Ben Liebrand. I bought the 7" single in 2009, and almost a decade later I found a cheap copy of the 12" single.

It features two remixes of the track: the long version and the dance version. There are many similarities between the two, but then they were presumably both created by the same remixer. The track times on the sleeve are incorrect: the remixes clock in at 7 minutes and 6 minutes and 50 seconds respectively.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received December 22, 2018
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Go for it! (Long version)' / 'Go for it! (Dance version)'

Sunday 12 August 2018

Burn it up (Mr. DJ) - Risqué

Valapucci (real name: Mike Wilkinson) was the head of programming and president of 'Disconet', which was a remix service for DJ's in America. He created the remix of 'Burn it up (Mr. DJ)' that was released on this 12" single. The remix was originally found on Disconet volume 6 program 2, but apparently Polydor (Risqué's record company) was so impressed with it, they released it as a 12" single in its own right.

Next to the original extended version of 7 minutes, this 12" single also features a vocal and dub version, also created by Valapucci. And it has to be said: this remix improves on the original track quite a bit.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received August 11, 2018
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Burn it up (Mr. DJ) (Club mix)' / 'Burn it up (Mr. DJ) (Vocal)', 'Burn it up (Mr. DJ) (dub)'

Sunday 10 October 2010

Starlight - Risqué

I hope Jos is still reading this blog, because I know he will be very excited by this record. It's the 12" single of Risqué's 'Starlight', a disc so rare that it isn't even listed in many discographies on the web. Released in 1982, it's from a time when 12" singles weren't a standard yet, and certainly not for Dutch groups.

The song itself isn't very exciting as the girls always seemed to sing in unison. This 'extended long dance version' is slightly longer than the single version, but that doesn't add a lot.

My collection: 12" single no. 550
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1,5 euro
Tracks: 'Starlight (extended long dance version)' / 'Starlight (instrumental)'

Saturday 24 October 2009

Shadow of your heart - Risqué

While I was going through the 12" singles today at the Kringloop, I suddenly found this one. And the first thought that came to mind was: 'Jos is going to love this!'. As regular readers of this blog know all too well, Jos is Puck's brother and he really loves Risqué.

This is a 12" single of their 1984 single 'Shadow of your heart'. It contains two versions of the song that didn't appear on the 7" single.

My collection: 12" single no. 516
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, October 24, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Shadow of your heart (extended)' / 'Shadow of your heart (instrumental)'

Sunday 27 September 2009

Go for it! - Risqué

It's Puck's brother's lucky weekend, as here's another single by Risqué. As far as I know, it's their last single. The track 'Go for it' was produced by Sander Bos and Ben Liebrand. The latter is better known for his remixes of tracks, which were broadcast on Dutch radio weekly on Fridays around that time (1984).

However much the girls went for it, this single did not chart - not even in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 4096
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Go for it!' / 'Go for it! (dub version)'

Saturday 26 September 2009

Burn it up (Mr. DJ) - Risqué

Risqué were never excessively popular, even in their native Netherlands, because the formula just didn't fit: they never worked with the best producers, they were trying to be sexy but they couldn't (because they were ugly!) and there was little or no variation in their music. It's rather strange to notice that they perform all their tracks singing together - there are no solos and that makes the whole thing go flat. All this gives Risqué this naff Eighties quality that I'm a sucker for.

'Burn it up (Mr. DJ)' was the last chart hit for the quartet, released in September 1983. It peaked at number 20 in the Dutch Top 40. Two further singles did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4095
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Burn it up (Mr. DJ)' / 'Burn it up (instrumental)'

Saturday 22 August 2009

Starlight - Risqué

I've only recently started to collect singles by Risqué. It's not necessarily because I'm so impressed by their music, because it's all very lightweight pop. But lightweight pop can be entertaining as well - and that's why I collect it.

'Starlight' was the second hit single for the four Dutch ladies. It wasn't a big hit though: it only reached number 35 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4004
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, August 22, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Starlight' / 'Starlight (instrumental)'

Saturday 18 July 2009

Jimmy Mack - Risqué

'Jimmy Mack' was written by Lamont Dozier and Brian and Edward Holland in 1964 and recorded by Martha and the Vandellas that same year. The song was shelved because the Motown Quality Control team felt the recording was not suitable for release with the Vietnam War going on. It was pulled from the vault two years later and released as a single in early 1967. By that time, the Vietnam War had become a highly debated issue among the American public. Thus, Reeves' sentiment that her 'Jimmy Mack' return took on a different meaning for many listeners, particularly those stationed overseas.

The Dutch girl group Risqué recorded a cover version of the song in 1984, but it didn't find success. The song did not reach the chart despite some airplay.

My collection: 7" single no. 3858
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, July 18, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Jimmy Mack' / 'Love supply'

Shadow of your heart - Risqué

I don't know exactly what the 'shadow of your heart' is, but Risqué made a nice popsong with this title. It was not a hit for the girl group, one of many chart-missers.

The B-side featured a 'scratching version', essentially an extended mix with some scratching sounds in it. Scratching was the new sound of 1983, flown in from the black neighbourhoods from America.

My collection: 7"single no. 3860
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, July 18, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Shadow of your heart' / 'Shadow of your heart (Scratching version)'

Saturday 2 May 2009

The girls are back in town - Risqué

'The girls are back in town' was the debut single by Risqué. Although their career continued for several years, it would prove to be their biggest chart success, peaking at number 13 in the Dutch Top 40.

I bought this single as part of a big shopping spree at Disco Market, my favourite little second hand shop in Den Haag. For once, I was allowed to go in the back room, where thousands of singles were stored, just waiting to be put in the shop. I bought a few dozen singles that day...

My collection: 7" single no. 3284
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'The girls are back in town' / 'Risqué disco'


Saturday 25 April 2009

Thunder and lightning - Risqué

After the breakup of the Dutch girl group Doris D. & the Pins got ugly, even to the point of lawsuits, the four girls backing lead singer Debbie Petter decided to go on as a girl group of their own. They debut in 1982 with the single 'The girls are back in town'. After this hit and 'Starlight', the follow-up, Risqué release 'Thunder & lightning'. This third single does not chart. One further hit, 'Burn it up (Mr. DJ)' and two flops later, the group falls apart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3681
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, April 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Thunder & lightning' / 'Thunder & lightning (Special dance mix)'

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Advertising