Showing posts with label Cock Robin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cock Robin. Show all posts

Friday 2 June 2023

Worlds apart - Cock Robin

'Worlds apart' is arguably Cock Robin's best single overall, eclipsing their biggest hit 'The promise you made' easily as far as I'm concerned. The strange thing about the late Eighties is that many acts that were so popular during the earlier years of that decade suddenly couldn't interest the general public anymore despite still making great music.

Anyway, I own that single obviously, but here's a Spanish promo edition that has a different sleeve, only one playable side and the full length version of the track (instead of the edit that appears on the commercial single). A must have single. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6992
Found: Discogs.com, received 31 May 2023
Tracks: 'Worlds apart'

Wednesday 22 August 2018

Once we might have known - Cock Robin



Not content with just the promo 7" single I bought two months ago, I was happy to find the commercially released single of Cock Robin's 'Once we might have known' recently. I didn't actually expect to find it this quickly, but with online ordering you have to be smart about orders: I got a few from these sellers and then one extra disc doesn't matter much for shipping.

This commercial 7" features a B-side, the album version of 'More than willing'. It might be a little underwhelming, but I still think it's a nice addition to my collection.

My collection: 7" single no. 5920
Found: Discogs.com, received August 16, 2018
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Once we might have known' / 'More than willing'

Friday 29 June 2018

Once we might have known - Cock Robin

Cock Robin became very successful in Europe when they released 'The promise you made' - a number 1 hit in the Netherlands. Other singles didn't fare as well, but I still have a pretty complete collection of their singles and albums nonetheless.

This one, however, was missing. It was a single that only appeared in the USA. There are two versions: the commercial 7" single, and this promotional 7" single. This single features the single edit of 'Once we might have known' on both sides. It is a nice song, but not the best track from the band's debut album.

My collection: 7" single no. 5905
Found: Discogs.com, received June 22, 2018
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Once we might have known' / 'Once we might have known'

Friday 6 January 2012

The promise you made - Cock Robin

'The promise you made' reached number 1 in the Dutch Top 40 in March 1986 and it was one of those rare occasions when I just couldn't agree more. Even during the Eighties, when we were spoilt for good artists making excellent music, the chart was often topped by crap songs. (From 1986 alone I can remember 'When the going gets tough the tough get going' by Billy Ocean and 'Holiday rap' by MC Miker G & DJ Sven.)

The 12" single of 'The promise you made' featured an excellent extended mix. The mix was done in an elegant way, adding interesting instrumental breaks and an intriguing intro. Judge for yourself...

My collection: 12" single no. 23
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 15 guilders
Tracks: 'The promise you made (extended version)' / 'The promise you made', 'Have you any sympathy?'

Tuesday 9 February 2010

The biggest fool of all - Cock Robin

You could wonder if it's a good idea to re-release a song that was not successful the first time around, years later on the occasion of a compilation album, but without any promotion or even any new tracks or remixes to go with it. But that's exactly what happened with this single. 'The biggest fool of all' was originally released in 1987 as the second single from Cock Robin's second album 'After here through midland', but it flopped in most territories.

When the record company released 'The best of Cock Robin' in 1992, the track was re-released - and failed to chart yet again.

My collection: 7" single no. 1652
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, May 9, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'The biggest fool of all' / 'Coward's courage'

Friday 29 January 2010

Straighter line - Cock Robin

Just three weeks ago, in my entry about the single 'Manzanar', I wrote that I hadn't been able to find a copy of the third and last single from Cock Robin's third album 'First love last rites', 'Straighter line', and indeed, it has been a hell of a search. But fortunately the single popped up on a mailorder website 12 days ago, and so now I do have it.

'Straighter line' did not chart anywhere, so you'd expect to see this single literally everywhere. But I guess most copies have been destroyed or something. At least I have a copy now.

My collection: 7" single no. 4475
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received January 28, 2010
Cost: 1,4 euro
Tracks: 'Straighter line' / 'We've changed'

Tuesday 5 January 2010

Manzanar - Cock Robin

Cock Robin released the second single from their third album 'First love last rites' in early 1990. 'Manzanar' was an album track, coupled with a non-album track 'We've changed'. The single was not a commercial success, as it didn't chart in any territory.

Still, a third single, 'Straighter line' was released a few months later. I have a cd-single of that single, but I've never been able to locate a 7" single of that title.

My collection: 7" single no. 1210
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, April 20, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Manzanar' / 'We've changed'

Monday 21 December 2009

Worlds apart - Cock Robin

Cock Robin released their third album 'First love last rites' in 1989. The music on the album was a bit darker than on previous efforts, and a little less poppy and accessible as well. Produced by Rhett Davies, the album featured some hispanic influences.

Some of these influences could be heard on the first single from the album, 'Worlds apart', released in December 1989. The single did not chart in most territories, with the exception of France, where it peaked at number 22.

My collection: 7" single no. 1116
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, November 24, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Worlds apart' / 'Don't think twice (live)'

Monday 14 December 2009

El Norte - Cock Robin

'El Norte' was the third and final single from Cock Robin's second album, 'After here through midland' (1987). It showed the first signs of the Spanish influences that would become more apparent on their next album, 'First love last rites' (1989).

The single was very unsuccessful, as it didn't chart in any territory. In fact, I only found out about its existance a few years after it was released.

My collection: 7" single no. 1480
Found: July 3, 1991
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'El Norte' / 'For dear life'

Thursday 10 December 2009

The biggest fool of all - Cock Robin

'The biggest fool of all' was released as the second single from Cock Robin's second album 'After here through midland'. A limited edition was packaged with a poster sleeve, featuring the photograph from the album's sleeve.

The single, released in 1987, was only successful in France and Germany, where it peaked at number 47 and 50 respectively.

My collection: 7" single no. 570
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: The biggest fool of all' / 'Blood of a saint'

Saturday 5 December 2009

Just around the corner - Cock Robin

'Just around the corner' was released as the first single from Cock Robin's second album 'After here through midland'. The band, originally a quartet, slimmed down to its core members Peter Kingsbery and Anna LaCazio, but the sound of the group remained intact: melodious pop songs with a strong drum hook.

The single was released in a limited edition posterbag and reached the charts all over Europe. In the Netherlands, the single peaked at number 19, while it didn't chart in the UK. The highest position was reached in Switzerland, where it got to number 6.

My collection: 7" single no. 534
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 19, 1992
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks:
'Just around the corner' / 'Open book'

Tuesday 17 November 2009

The promise you made - Cock Robin

'The promise you made' was written by Peter Kingsbery for the debut album of his band Cock Robin. It was released as the album's second single in 1986. It became a major hit in the Netherlands, topping the Dutch Top 40 March 1986 for several weeks. It also went top 10 in France, Germany and Switzerland.

I own two different versions of the single: one was released in Europe with a beautiful coloured sleeve (pictured above). In the UK, an alternate sleeve was used, with a monochromo photograph and an alternate design (pictured below).

In 2005, Belgian singer Kate Ryan recorded and released a cover version of this song, in French and English.

My collection: 7" single no. 785 / no. 2021
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 30, 1989 / House of Rhythm, London, October 19, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'The promise you made' / 'Have you any sympathy'

Wednesday 4 November 2009

When your heart is weak - Cock Robin

Just like in Europe, 'When your heart is weak' was also the debut single for Cock Robin in the UK. But for some reason, it was released with a different sleeve and a different B-side! Whereas the European sleeve resembled the album sleeve a lot, the UK version featured a different colour photograph of the band and a unique band logo (which was only used on UK releases).

Intriguingly enough, the single did not chart in the UK. Perhaps if they'd used the European sleeve...?

My collection: 7" single no. 1596
Found: March 28, 1992
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'When your heart is weak' / 'Peace on earth'

Sunday 25 October 2009

When your heart is weak - Cock Robin

'When your heart is weak' was originally Cock Robin's debut single, taken from their self-titled debut album. It was re-released after their second single 'The promise you made' was a big success in Europe. This re-release proved fruitful, because the single got to number 9 in France, number 8 in Germany and number 35 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

I got this single from my parents, as a souvenir during a holiday in Paris.

My collection: 7" single no. 436
Found: Paris, July 1986
Cost: -
Tracks: 'When your heart is weak' / 'Because it keeps on working'

Monday 2 February 2009

Thought you were on my side - Cock Robin

'Thought you were on my side' was the second chart hit for Cock Robin in the Netherlands. After the number one hit 'The promise you made', this single reached number 5 in the Dutch Top 40. The single was also successful in Germany and France, but flopped in the UK and America.

Having bought the 12" single of 'The promise you made' I was already convinced that the extended versions of Cock Robin tracks were very interesting, so I had no doubts that I should have this record as well. I did wait it out, though, because 12" singles became cheaper once they left the chart. It was well worth the wait.

My collection: 12" single no. 32
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 7,95 guilders
Tracks: 'Thought you were on my side (extended remix)' / 'Thought you were on my side', 'Peace on earth'
Download: here

Wednesday 10 December 2008

El Norte - Cock Robin

'El Norte' was the third and last single taken from their second album 'After here through midland'. Cock Robin had found some success in the Netherlands with four of their singles, but the second single 'The biggest fool of all' didn't reach the charts. CBS Records tried again with 'El Norte', and commissioned popular remixer Ben Liebrand to deliver some remixes of the track for the 12" single.

As always, Ben Liebrand did a very decent job with this track. He added lots of extra beats to the track to give it extra power. The setup wasn't successful: 'El Norte' flopped and Cock Robin were back into the studio to record their third album for CBS. It would be their last...

My collection: 12" single no. 341
Found: ?
Cost: ?
Tracks: 'El Norte (Reinforced dance mix)', 'For dear life' / 'El Norte (El Club mix)', 'El Norte (Los Bonus Beats)'
Download: here

Wednesday 19 November 2008

When your heart is weak - Cock Robin

Cock Robin hit the Dutch singles chart in early 1986 with a bang: their first hit, 'The promise you made', reached no. 1 within a few weeks and made an instant impression with the Dutch audience. Elsewhere they weren't as succesful: in the UK that single reached the chart four months later and barely scraped the top 40.

I heard the 12" mix of 'The promise you made' in a shop and was instantly interested in their remixes as well. A few weeks after I bought that 12", I found 'When your heart is weak' for a lower price than usual. Of course, I bought it. I wasn't disappointed: the 12" single contained a nice extended version of the track, as well as an instrumental version. Of course, I had to have the other 12" singles by Cock Robin as well... more about that later.

My collection: 12" single no. 41
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'When your heart is weak (Dance mix)' / 'When your heart is weak (Instrumental)', 'When your heart is weak (Single mix)'
Download: here
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