Kim Appleby - If You Cared

From 1991, this was the final single to be released from Kim Appleby's debut album. After scoring a #2 hit in 1990 with her debut single "Don't Worry", and the #10 hit "G.L.A.D." in early 1991, Appleby had struggled with her single releases. "Mama" peaked at #19, and "If You Cared" failed to hit the top 40, peaking at #44 in the UK charts.

In 1988, Mel & Kim appeared on the UK chat show "Wogan" to launch "UK Cancer Week". They were interviewed about their career and Mel's cancer treatment. They talked about future plans, and performed a brief acapella of what would become "If You Cared". If you'd like to see the interview, watch it on youtube HERE. :)

TRACKLISTING:

If You Cared (7" Remix)
If You Cared (12" Ben Chapman Mix)
If You Cared (12" Remix)



PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

Jemini - Cry Baby

Jemini were an English pop group from Liverpool, best known for scoring "nul points" and finishing in last place with their song "Cry Baby" at the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest in Latvia. To date, it is the only time in the contest's history that a UK entry has suffered that particular indignity.

Despite the failure of the song at the Eurovision song contest, it did mangage to hit the UK charts, peaking at #15. A second single "Try To Love" was planned, as was an album "Love Is Blind", but both were cancelled.

Personally, I think "Cry Baby" is a great little pop song, no better or worse than pop songs of the time. It certainly deserved better.

TRACKLISTING:

Cry Baby
Cry Baby (Andy Rossa Force Four Remix)



PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

Gina G - Every Time I Fall

From 1997, this was the final single to be released from Gina G's debut album "Fresh". Her pop career started off exceptionally well, with the #1 hit "Ooh Aah...Just A Little Bit", but with each subsequent single her chart positions seemed to get lower and lower. Sadly "Every Time I Fall" was her lowest charting single from the "Fresh" album, peaking at #142 in Israel, #79 in Australia, #60 in Japan,and #52 in the UK.

Despite its low chart performance I still think it's a little pop gem. It's a great pop ballad, and was given some good dance mixes from the likes of Todd Terry & Metro. The best of these mixes, in my opinion, is the Metro Eurobeat Mix.

It has a great video too, which is reminiscent of Kylie's "Put Yourself In My Place" video from 1994.

TRACKLISTING:

Every Time I Fall (Radio Version)
Every Time I Fall (Todd Terry Radio Mix)
Every Time I Fall (Todd Terry Pop Mix II)
Every Time I Fall (Metro's Eurobeat Mix)
Every Time I Fall (Gina's Dub Todd Terry Mix)



PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

Barbara Windsor - Grin And Bare It

"So i got out me lotion and went to the ocean, I was tanning meself on the front. Me little bikini was really quite teeny, but it seemed to be bearing the brunt. But I slipped on a cornette, and thought 'Ooh that's torn it!' I could feel I was losing me top. I looked a right clown, me defences were down, and me show began to flop!"

From 1972, "Grin And Bare It" is one of those saucy 70's novelty records that seemed to flood that era. It was backed with the cockney-charm filled track, "Cheeky Sorta' Bird". At the time, Barbara Windsor was best known for starring in the successful "Carry On" movies. These days she's better known as Peggy Mitchell in the BBC soap "Eastenders".

Although "Grin And Bare It" wasn't a hit, Barbara Windsor did have a minor hit in 1999 alongside her Eastenders co-star Mike Reid, with the track "The More I See You" which reached #46 in the UK charts.

TRACKLISTING:

Grin And Bare It
Cheeky Sorta' Bird



PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

*If you enjoy fun novelty/comedy records such as this, pay a visit to the VinylFun youtube channel.

Youssou N'Dour & Neneh Cherry - 7 Seconds

"7 Seconds" is a song composed by Youssou N'Dour, Neneh Cherry, Cameron McVey and Jonathan Sharp, and was a track on Cherry's third album Man. Released as a a single, the song was a huge international hit in 1994, remaining on the charts for nearly half a year and reaching the top three in many countries including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, Russia and Poland. The song was most recently featured in the 2005 Uwe Boll directed movie 'Alone In The Dark'.

The single stayed at #1 for 16 consecutive weeks on the French Singles Chart, which was the record of the most weeks at the top at the time, and also rose to #3 in the UK Singles Chart.

TRACKLISTING:

7 Seconds (Radio Version)
7 Seconds (LP Version)
7 Seconds (New Old Mix)
7 Seconds (Dub Mix)
7 Seconds (Hip Hop Mix)



PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

Ski Full Of Fitness Programme

Something completely random, because I felt like it.

"Sitting crossed-legged on the floor, with your back straight, and your hands on your knees. Turn your head to the right on the count of 1, turn it to the left on the count of 2. Now roll it downwards and circle it to the right on the count of 3 & 4. Repeat all that to the left. Then, alternate sides. Are you ready?? Here we go!"

If you think you can manage that, then you need this - the Ski Full Of Fitness Programme. Given away, in the early 80's, by sending away six yoghurt pot lids or something. It's cheesy beyond belief, but completely brilliant & hilarious at the same time.

TRACKLISTING:

Into (Ski Yoghurt Theme)
Everybody Get Up
Words
I'm Gonna Live Forever (Fame)
Music
You're The One That I Want
YMCA
Don't Stop That Crazy Rhythm



PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

A quick message to some...

A quick message to those of you that have been bombarding me with emails asking for certain posts to be reuploaded.

PLEASE check the sharebee link carefully before you email me or send a message saying that the links are dead. On ALL of the emails i've received recently concerning dead SHAREBEE links, the links all still have working links within them.

On some of them, the RAPIDSHARE links have expired - but the ZSHARE, MEGAUPLOAD, and BADONGO links are all still working. So please check those links first before emailing me saying they're dead.

Thankyou.

East 17 - West End Girls

From 1993, this was a cover of the Pet Shop Boys 1985 hit "West End Girls" and was the 5th single released by British boyband East 17. The track continued the success that the band were having that year, following on from "Deep" (UK #3) and "Slow It Down" (UK #13). "West End Girls" peaked at #11 in the UK, and #4 in Australia.

The band would have a further hit that year, "Alright" which peaked at #3 in the UK, and reached #1 in Australia & Latvia.

TRACKLISTING:

West End Girls (Faces On Posters Mix)
West End Girls (X Club Cut)
West End Girls (Kicking In Chairs Mix)
West End Girls (Surprisingly Butch Mix)
West End Girls (Knocking Down Tables Mix)
West End Girls (Crystal Clear Mix)



PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

Lisa Stansfield - Change

From 1991, this was the first single to be taken from Lisa Stansfield's 2nd album "Real Love". The track reached #10 in the UK chart, #21 in Australia and #27 in the US. It was followed-up with the singles "All Woman", "Time To Make You Mine" and "Set Your Loving Free" during 1991 & 1992.

TRACKLISTING:

Change
Change (Driza Bone Mix)
Change (Frankie Knuckles Mix)
Change (Metamorphosis Mix Edit)
Change (Metamorphosis Mix)



PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

Lulu - Hurt Me So Bad

From 1999, 'Hurt Me So Bad' was the first single from her provisionally titled album 'Where The Poor Boys Dance'. Ultimately though, due to the lack of success of the single, the album was not released. Although the single peaked at #42 in the UK charts it was a hit in the dance charts. It certainly helped that the track had been remixed by Almighty and also Club 69 (a.k.a. Peter Rauhofer). It's a great piece of late 90's pop and certainly deserved better success than it achieved.

TRACKLISTING:

Hurt Me So Bad (Almighty Radio Edit
Hurt Me So Bad (Almighty Mix)
Hurt Me So Bad (Club 69 UK Phunk Mix)
Hurt Me So Bad (Club 69 Tribal Vox Anthem)
Hurt Me So Bad (Damien Mendis Radio Edit)



PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

Lisa Stansfield - Never, Never Gonna Give You Up

From 1997, taken from her self-title 4th album "Lisa Stansfield". "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" was a cover version of the 1973 hit by Barry White. The track peaked at #25 in the UK charts, and #38 in the US billboard charts.

TRACKLISTING:

Never, Never Gonna Give You Up (Radio Mix)
Never, Never Gonna Give You Up (Album Edit)
Never, Never Gonna Give You Up (Touch 2 Mix)
Never, Never Gonna Give You Up (Frankie Knuckles Hard & Sexy Radio)
Never, Never Gonna Give You Up (Mark!'s Transparent Vocal)



PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

Doop - Doop

Doop was a dance music production act from the Netherlands who scored an international club hit, as well as a UK Singles Chart #1 and a #2 Billboard Dance/Club hit, in 1994 with their title track "Doop".

The band consisted of producers Ferry Ridderhof and Peter Garnefski. The techno/house music song was influenced by 1920s dance, the Charleston, and is most remembered for its lyrics which kept repeating the 'Doop' name over a big band sampling. The duo were also responsible for the Australian gabber/hardcore Number One, "Here's Johnny", under the name Hocus Pocus in early 1995.

The follow up single under this band name was entitled "Huckleberry Jam" and reached #95 on the UK Singles Chart.

TRACKLISTING:

Doop (Urge 2 Merge Radio Mix)
Doop (Jean Lejeux Radio Mix)
Doop (Sidney Berlin Ragtime Radio Edit)
Doop (Mother Remix)
Doop (Judge Jules And Michael Skin Remix)



PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

Sweet Female Attitude - Flowers

Sweet Female Attitude were R&B duo Leanne Brown and Catherine Cassidy. They're widely considered a one-hit wonder, for the 2000 hit 'Flowers'. It was released as the UK charts were in the grip of the 'garage' phenomenan and reached #3.

TRACKLISTING:

Flowers (Sunship Radio Edit
Flowers (Sunship Mix)
Flowers (Wackside's Small Tweaker Radio Mix)
Flowers (Wackside's Tweaker Mix)
Flowers (C&J Mix)
Flowers (Supa Flyas Viva Mix)
Flowers (Solomon's Precious Mix)
Flowers (Sunship vs Chunky featuring Shado Kane)



PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

Gina G - I Belong To You

From 1996, this was the 2nd single released from her debut album 'Fresh'. It reached #6 in the UK charts, #34 in the Australian charts and #7 in Japan.

Four further singles were released from her debut album - "Fresh!", "Ti Amo", "Gimme Some Love", and "Everytime I Fall".

TRACKLISTING:

I Belong To You (Radio Edit)
I Belong To You (12" Extended Mix)
I Belong To You (Hysteric Ego Vocal Mix
I Belong To You (Matt Darey Mix)
I Belong To You (Phat'N'Phunky Club Mix
I Belong To You (Hysteric Ego Dub)



PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

Five Star - Love Take Over

From 1985, "Love Take Over" was the 6th single released by Five Star, and the 5th to be released from their debut album "Luxury Of Life". That year they had had two UK top 40 singles, "All Fall Down" (UK #15) & "Let Me Be The One" (UK #18). "Love Take Over" continued this success but missed out on a top 20 placing, peaking at #25.

It wouldn't be until early 1986 that Five Star would finally crack the top 10, with the #3 hit "System Addict".

TRACKLISTING:

Love Take Over
Love Take Over (Limit Edition Mix Edit)
Love Take Over (Limit Edition Mix)
Love Take Over (Paul Hardcastle Extended Mix)
Love Take Over (Dub Take Over)



PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

Five Star - Whenever You're Ready

From 1987, this was the first single released from Five Star's third album "Between The Lines". Both the album and single were released at the same time, with "Between the Lines" peaking at UK #7 and selling 350,000 copies, and "Whenever Your Ready" reaching #11 in the UK charts.

I've always felt this song certainly deserved a better chart placing. It will always be one of my top favourite Five Star songs. A definite Pop Gem.

TRACKLISTING:

Whenever You're Ready
Whenever You're Ready (The New York Mix)
Whenever You're Ready (Crazy Dub Jammy)



PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

Five Star - There's A Brand New World

From 1988, this was the 3rd single taken from the album 'Rock The World'. Unfortunately the new image and tougher rockier sound really wasn't sitting to well with the fans, and this track gave them one of the lowest chart positions. The single peaked at #61 in the UK charts. One final single was released from the album, 'Let Me Be Yours', which saw the return of a more soulful Five Star but this wasn't enough and it peaked at #51. 'There's A Brand New World' is a bit of a rock/rop anthem and certainly deserved better success.

TRACKLISTING:

There's A Brand New World
There's A Brand New World (12" Version)



PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

Five Star - Somewhere Somebody

From 1987, this was the third and final single released from the "Between The Lines" album. No promotional video was made to accompany this single as the band were too busy with the "Children Of The Night Tour". The live performance of the song became its 'official' video.

For it's release, the song was given a remix by Shep Pettibone. In my opinion the Shep Pettibone Edit is far superior to the album edit that was released, and I think if they had used the Pettibone edit for the Single version of the song (as they had done with "The Slightest Touch" earlier that year) then the track may well have been a bigger hit. The song's chart position of #23 became the group's lowest charting UK Top 40 single since "Love Take Over" in 1985.

TRACKLISTING:

Somewhere Somebody (Radio Edit)
Somewhere Somebody (Shep Pettibone Remix Edit)
Somewhere Somebody (Shep Pettibone Remix)
Somewhere Somebody (Shep's Dub Beats)



PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

* The video featured here is a TV performance.

Five Star - Shine

From 1991, this was the title track and ONLY single to be taken from Five Star's sixth album. The single was their third with record label Epic not to make the UK Top 40 (reaching #53). With this failure, their very last appearance on the UK Top 75 to date, Epic parted ways with Five Star, who would not release another single for the next four years.

TRACKLISTING:

Shine
Shine (New Jack Mix)
Shine (The Glamour Mix)
Feelings



PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

Five Star - With Every Heartbeat

With the failure of their 1988 leather-clad re-invention, the following year Five Star appeared to revert back to their previous form. 'With Every Heartbeat', released in April 1989, was the last single for their record label RCA. Despite being a great pop tune, it only managed to scrape in at #48 in the UK charts. The song never featured on any of their studio albums, but it was included on their 'Greatest Hits' collection.

TRACKLISTING:

With Every Heartbeat
With Every Heartbeat (Extended Version)



PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

Five Star - Another Weekend

This was the first single from Five Star's 1988 album 'Rock The World'. The song peaked at #18 on the UK singles chart but reached #1 on the UK dance chart. Opting for a harder edge, leather clad rock sound, this change in music style shocked many fans and critics alike. The band had been accused of removing themselves from their unique style of pop which had made them famous. All the women in the group had hair extensions for their new image, with lead singer Denise opting for long blond extensions.

All these changes would eventually prove a mistake career wise for Five Star as the next few singles would not fare as well as previous releases. The 'Rock The World' album fared well (reaching UK #17), but did not have the staying power of previous albums. Despite of all this, 'Another Weekend' is a tasty slice of late 80's dance pop.

TRACKLISTING:

Another Weekend
Another Weekend (Friday Night Mix)
Another Weekend (Friday Night Dub)
Another Weekend (Saturday Night Mix)



PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

Five Star - Find The Time

From 1986, this was the second single to be released from Five Star's "Silk and Steel" album. It was written by Nick Trevisick and Paul Gurvitz who had previously written the single "R.S.V.P." for the band the previous year. The track peaked at #7 in the UK charts of that year.

TRACKLISTING:

Find The Time
Find The Time (12" Version)
Find The Time (Shep Pettibone Remix)
Find The Time (Shep Pettibone Dub Mix)



PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com