Showing posts with label Dollar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dollar. Show all posts

Thursday 27 November 2014

Haven't we said goodbye before - Dollar

This limited edition 'special 2 record set' brings together two of Dollar's singles, the 1986 single 'Haven't we said goodbye before' and their debut single from 1978 'Shooting star'. It is an odd pairing, probably made because the record company thought there would be some interest in a re-release of the duo's debut, which peaked at number 14 when it was originally released.

The plan didn't work: 'Haven't we said goodbye' did not chart in any territory. It would take an Erasure cover to resurrent their career, albeit briefly.

My collection: 7" single no. 5385
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'Haven't we said goodbye before' / 'Platinum rap' // 'Shooting star' / 'Tokyo'

Friday 25 November 2011

Ring ring - Dollar

Released in 1982, 'The very best of Dollar' was a compilation album released by the duo's first label Carrere at a time when the duo was successful with Trevor Horn-produced singles on the WEA label. The old tracks were repackaged and re-released, with Carrere probably hoping for similar success.

Such schemes rarely work, and this case was no exception. 'Ring ring', recorded in 1979, was re-released as a single in 1982, and failed to reach the UK singles chart. Even if the B-side, 'Star control', is an intriguing piece of work, clocking in at 6 minutes.

My collection: 7" single no. 5252
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Ring ring' / 'Star control'

Sunday 19 June 2011

Gimme some kinda magic - Dollar

'The Dollar Album' was Dollar's third album and the duo's most successful one. No less than five singles were drawn from the album, of which 'Gimme some kinda magic' was the last one.

It was the least successful of the five in the UK, peaking at number 34. It did better in Ireland, where the single reached number 12, overtaking both 'Hand held in black and white' and 'Videotheque', the first and fourth single from the album.

My collection: 7" single no. 5163
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Gimme some kinda magic' / 'You made me love you'

Saturday 16 April 2011

Takin' a chance on you - Dollar

'Takin' a chance on you' was the second single from Dollar's second album 'The Paris collection'. Contrary to its predecessor 'The girls are out to get ya' and the follow-up 'You take my breath away', this single did make the UK singles chart, but only reached number 62.

This copy is a limited edition picture disc.

My collection: 7" single no. 5086
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Takin' a chance on you' / 'No mans land'

Friday 15 April 2011

Haven't we said goodbye before - Dollar

In 1986, after Dollar reformed for the first time, they released the single 'Haven't we said goodbye before' on Arista records. The lack of success of this single and its predecessor 'We walked in love' had them looking for another record contract the next year.

The song, however, is nice enough. The B-side of this single, however, is a contender for the title 'worst B-side ever'.

My collection: 7" single no. 5083
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Haven't we said goodbye before' / 'Platinum rap'

Wednesday 13 April 2011

It's nature's way (No problem) - Dollar

The duo David van Day and Thereza Bazar had a rather stormy career in the first half of the Eighties, then broke up after relations between the two became increasingly strained. In 1986 they reformed and had a big hit with a cover of the Erasure track 'Oh l'amour'.

The group then hit a stumbling block in deciding on a follow-up and past ill-feeling between the pair was rising again. Six months later they finally released another single, 'It's nature's way', but it was to be their last release as the single flopped and work on a possible album had been long delayed. In late 1988, Dollar disbanded again.

My collection: 7" single no. 5060
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'It's nature's way (No problem)' / 'Dia y noche'

Sunday 6 June 2010

I wanna hold your hand - Dollar

The duo Dollar had just released their debut album 'Shooting star' in 1979 when they released this single, a cover of the wellknown Beatles track 'I wanna hold your hand'. Whereas the original sounds straightforward and confident, this version, produced by Christopher Neil, sounds a bit shaky and lacks a bit in the vocal department.

Still, it went to number 9 in the UK singles chart, and gave the duo their fourth top 10 hit in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 4916
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, June 5, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'I wanna hold your hand' / 'Love one another'

Saturday 22 May 2010

Love's gotta hold on me - Dollar

When I listen to this single, I can't help but notice the dodgy sound effects and the very thin voice of Thereza Bazar. Dollar were just starting out in 1979, when 'Love's gotta hold on me' was released. The duo had had two minor hits in the UK, but hit the big time - amazingly - with this one: it reached number 4 in the UK singles chart.

The song does not convince me: personally, I prefer the B-side, 'Tokyo'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4887
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, May 22, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Love's gotta hold on me' / 'Tokyo'

Wednesday 14 April 2010

Who were you with in the moonlight - Dollar

'Who were you with in the moonlight' was the second single by the duo Dollar, releasedin April 1979 and produced by Christopher Neil.

Their debut single 'Shooting star' had been a big hit in several European countries, but this single did less well in comparison: it only charted in the UK, Ireland and Australia, peaking at number 14, 17 and 39 respectively.

My collection: 7" single no. 4805
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Who were you with in the moonlight' / 'Star control'

Sunday 28 February 2010

You take my breath away - Dollar

Dollar's 1982 album 'The Paris collection' was recently re-released by Cherry Pop records, adding several bonus tracks to the tracklisting. I won't be buying it, because singles by Dollar is quite enough, I have to say. There is this undeniable kitch appeal, but I couldn't stand it for a whole album.

This limited edition picture disc was released to boost sales of the single 'You take my breath away'. It didn't work, as the single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4605
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, February 26, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'You take my breath away' / 'Don't change your life'

Saturday 27 February 2010

Shooting star - Dollar

David van Day and Thereza Bazar formed Dollar in 1977 after leaving the group they joined at 17. At first, only Van Day quit the band to embark on a solo career, while Bazar could continue with Guys n' Dolls to earn a living for them both. The group's management were unhappy with the situation and sacked Bazar with the reasoning that a six-piece group consisting of three couples would now look odd with five members.

As Dollar, they released their debut single 'Shooting star' in late 1978. After a slow climb, it managed to reach number 14 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4606
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, February 26, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Shooting star' / 'Talking about love'

Thursday 16 April 2009

Oh l'amour - Dollar

During a promotional trip to Japan in February 1983, relations between the two members of Dollar, Tereza Bazar and David van Day, had become increasingly strained and Van Day quit the band. Both tried a solo career, but without one another, they weren't very successful. In 1986 they reformed and released two less successful singles, 'We walked in love' and 'Haven't we said goodbye before'. New success came when they recorded a cover version of Erasure's 'Oh l'amour' in 1987. It became one of their biggest hits and peaked at number 7 in the UK. In late 1988, after one more unsuccessful single, Dollar disbanded again.

This single has become an important one in my collection more or less by accident: it's the last single I ever bought in Disco Market. It's where I bought my first single, and literally hundreds of singles since then. The shop has closed down a couple of years ago, sadly. The last time I visited it, a year ago, I had to embarrass myself during a bachelor party. It had turned into a regular apartment.

My collection: 7" single no. 3373
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, January 11, 2003
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Oh l'amour' / 'B-beat'

Thursday 19 February 2009

Mirror mirror - Dollar

The four singles that Trevor Horn produced for Dollar were among the most successful of the duo's career. Among those, 'Mirror mirror' was the most successful one, peaking at number 4 in the UK singles chart and staying in there for 17 weeks.

Personally, I think it's the least dodgy of all Dollar singles. There's always been something naff about the duo's output, but this single is actually quite decent.

My collection: 7" single no. 3435
Found: Esbjerg, Denmark, June 17, 2006
Cost: 10 Danish crowns
Tracks: 'Mirror mirror' / 'Radio'
Download: here

Tuesday 3 February 2009

Videotheque - Dollar

'Videotheque' was released in 1982 and, like many of their singles, it was produced by Trevor Horn. Lots of echo effects and synthesizers once again disguise the limited vocal abilities of the two.

I have special memories attached to this track. During the 2002 Here And Now Tour, Dollar was one of the performing acts, and during their set 'Videotheque' was one of the dodgy highlights. Together with my friend, with whom I saw many of these concerts, we laughed a lot about the lyric of this song. I bought the single some time later, even if I was questioning if I would ever play it again.

My collection: 7" single no. 3434
Found: Esbjerg, Denmark, June 17, 2006
Cost: 10 Danish crowns
Tracks: 'Videotheque' / 'Living a life of dreams'
Download: here

Wednesday 17 December 2008

Give me back my heart - Dollar

Trevor Horn was already doing production duties for Dollar when they released the single 'Give me back my heart'. This single is rather unique for proving the fact that even a producer like Trevor Horn can't rescue a song like this when it's performed by artists with limited vocal abilities. The whole affair sounds like two mediocre singers in an echo chamber.

I bought this single mainly because of Trevor Horn. Having grown accustomed to his style of producing I expected more of this single than I got. Not that he was to blame...

My collection: 7" single no. 3440
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, June 19, 2006
Cost: 20p
Tracks: 'Give me back my heart' / 'Pink and blue'
Download: here

Saturday 13 December 2008

Hand held in black and white - Dollar

The phenomenon Dollar had completely passed me by. It was only when I saw the 2002 Here & Now Tour that I found out what the duo David van Day and Thereza Bazar had done in the eighties. By 2002, it all looked very dodgy, but there were some great pop tunes hidden in there.

Take for instance 'Hand held in black and white'. It was produced by Trevor Horn, of Buggles fame. Although the vocal qualities of Thereza and David left a bit to be desired, the music on this track is very good and that helps lift the track up to above average. Still, if it hadn't been so cheap I wouldn't have bought this single.

My collection: 7" single no. 3428
Found: Esbjerg (Denmark), June 17, 2006
Cost: 10 Danish crowns
Tracks: 'Hand held in black and white' / 'Heartbeat (Love me slowly)'
Download: here
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