Stephen Bowen Lawrence's Guide To Collecting
Editor's Note: The views expressed within this guide are not necessarily the views of
this homepage, it's editor, or of anyone else within Bonnie's camp. They are only the
views of the article's author. (btw - the editor actually likes All In One Voice)
Latest Update - Part 1 (Posted May 9th, 2006)
Where has the time gone? I originally wrote the first guide to collecting Bonnie Tyler
records in 1998. Since then I’ve moved homes twice, had three relationships, met and
split up with the love of my life (where does that leave me now!!??!!); changed jobs
three times; watched my hair turn from brown to grey; watched my waist change from 32”
to 34” and travelled around the world but one thing that has never changed has been my
love for Bonnie’s music (not all of it - I still hate with a vengeance “All In One Voice”
and if I hear one more re-recording of Total Eclipse - I’ll kill!!), but in general if I
had my walkman, cd walkman, mini disc or now ipod (yep I kept up with changes!!) you can
bet one thing there would be something by Bonnie on it.
And better still in that time I’ve met Bonnie and Robert several times over.
Now it’s difficult when you meet your favourite singer of all time.
First time I met Bonnie could not speak, then over the years find it difficult to shut up!
I now think of Bonnie and Robert more as friends and on my last meeting with them - in
Gran Canaria in February - Robert actually introduced me to a promoter as “a friend of
ours from Wales” - I was soooo pleased!
Anyway enough of my ramblings - at 51 you’ll have to excuse me - so what you want to know
is what is rare, what is collectable, where to get it and how much to pay right?
Well the good news is the prices.
I have just re-read my original article and can’t say I’d change that much in it. Prices
are relatively the same - problem is Bonnie has not made a huge impact on the UK or USA
market for several years and so items have not really gone up. Quite a lot of European
second hand record stores now don’t even have a “Bonnie Tyler” section - but if you ask
the guys behind the counter - they will get boxes out for you. I actually visited Germany
twice last year - more or less as an excuse to find rarer things from the HANSA days - but
had no luck. Then at a record fair in London picked up 3 singles from a German dealer and
in a small town in Holland found a 12“ I didn‘t have!! So stuff is still around - you just
need to look for them and be patient.
A word of warning though!!!
I am desperate as in really desperate for a GOLD DISC - yea my dream would be for FTTSON
(Faster Than The Speed Of Night) but any really. I have only managed one so far and that
was for TEOTH (Total Eclipse Of The Heart) which I bought on Ebay and which was presented
to GOLLY GALAGHER (no I have no idea who he is either). I paid £80.00 for it.
The reason I say beware is I saw a gold disc for FTTSON being advertised on Ebay for £170.00
- I almost put a bid in - but if you looked closer at the detailed description and I mean
REALLY close - you would see that this was a “fun” item - I.e. not an official gold disc
but one made up.
I am aware that several years ago someone in the UK was also selling copies of these discs
- again you had to look really closely to see that these again were not the real things but
“fun” items. So beware - gold discs rarely come up - if in doubt contact me and I’ll try to
verify for you.
What would I say is the rarest item to collect?
Well, MY MY HONEYCOMBE is hard to get hold of as is the DIAMOND CUT cd (with just about the
most awful live shot of Bonnie ever on the cover - why it was changed from the original
“diamond” sleeve which looked great I have no idea).
But the rarest I would say is a cd that i’ve never seen listed, never seen it at all, so to
be honest I cannot even verify if it exists but some years ago I was in contact with a Bonnie
fan in Greece who was a HUGE fan of Sopia Apbanith (a Greek singer). .
Bonnie recorded a duet with Sophia - which is absolutely magnificent - The Desert Is In Your
Heart (a number one single in Greece). This in itself is a difficult one to get hold of -
but persistence and hours spent on the pc should help you track it down. If you liked “KISS
KISS” by “Holly Valance” you are going to love this - a slight remix and I think this still
has the potential of being a BIG hit - anyway I digress.
The fan in Greece told me he had won a radio competition and had a 3 track 3” promotion single
of this track with a slightly longer mix of the album version as the third track. I begged,
pleaded and offered the world for it but he wanted to keep it. I’ve never heard of it anywhere
else.
I’m going to concentrate this article on the major releases over the past few years.
ALL IN ONE VOICE
HEART AND SOUL/HEARTSTRINGS
SIMPLY BELIEVE
WINGS
And maybe tell you a little of the promo’s I’ve collected and the more original cd sleeves
(for instance FTTSON was re-released in Brazil with a pulsating light in the cd case with
Bonnie’s face peering out of a brick wall with the words ”Bonnie Tyler Faster Than The Speed
Of Night written on in kind of chalk like writing and the words “light price” printed on the
wall within a blue diamond”).
I’ve no doubt there are other collections out there and I‘ll update or at least name check as
I go along.
So here goes COLLECTING BONNIE TYLER RECORDINGS PART 2
ALL IN ONE VOICE
Well, as I’ve said enough times - not my favourite album (and not Bonnie’s either “sometimes things
work, sometimes they don’t“) but surprisingly one that many fans rate highly. Why am I so down on
this one? Well it’s down to Bonnie’s voice. A voice so unique and so powerful no one could ever
mistake who it is - why then on this album was an attempt made to turn Bonnie into (please excuse
the bad language) Celine Dion?
Celine Dion? What can I say? Well, I did like a few of her early hits but then I bought an album -
purely on the strength of it having two tracks produced by God (aka Jim Steinman) - a BIG mistake.
Celine simply is not suited for REAL power ballads of the Steinman calibre.
To sing these you have to rip your soul out, sell it to the Devil, sing until your vocal chords
bleed and even then give up your last dying breath for the final take - only then is Jim satisfied!!
(witness Meatloaf after he had recorded BAT OUT OF HELL he basically lost his voice and ability to
sing which is why the “official” follow up to BAT (BAD FOR GOOD) had Jim singing all the lead vocals).
Celine coasts along, making a half hearted attempt to cover a song that Bonnie should have recorded
(and STILL should). You want to hear this the way it should be sung? Check out the original version on
Jim Steinman’s epic PANDORA’S BOX cd.. Celine Dion wants so much to be Barbara Streisand but is always
going to be a much removed cousin. I’m not a great Steisand fan either but I do appreciate the power
of her voice, her exceptional vocal delivery and her god given talent - but Celine Dion - I don’t think
so.
Anyway that’s the main reason I don’t like this album - as for the material. Well, ho hum - it’s ok
there are a few tracks I like “I Put A Spell On You” is great and maybe “HEAVEN” for it’s curiosity
factor - but little else. So far as I‘m aware only one track was released as a single..
HEAVEN (catalogue number: 3854-22837-2)
Four tracks: Heaven (Radio Version)/Heaven (Chamber Mix)/The Reason Why/A Silent Night. Nice full
colour picture sleeve of Bonnie.
This is getting increasingly rare. Difficult to say whether this cd had a full release. Only copies
I have ever seen have been in second hand stores - so seems likely this was due for released, a small
edition printed, then withdrawn. As such I’d say rare and price wise £10.00-£12.00.
HEART AND SOUL /HEARTSTRINGS
I was really excited about this album in particularly as I had heard rough tracks from the album of
Bonnie just singing accompanied by a guitar when I went to visit Bonnie at her home in Swansea. I knew
this album was going to be special as the solo recordings were so powerful (maybe this was what eventually
prompted the acoustic Hard Rock shows in 2004?). What I also know is if Bonnie put these tapes onto cd
nd sold them on the internet - there would be a lot of very happy fans and Bonnie would have a nice little
earner as well). Anyway……
The cd was originally released in as HEART AND SOUL with a completely different sleeve running order to
it’s later release as HEARTSTRINGS
HEART AND SOUL HEARTSTRINGS
1. Human Touch 1. Human Touch
2. Amazed 2. Everybody Hurts
3. Everybody Hurts 3. Amazed
4. Learning To Fly 4. Against All Odds
5. And I’m Telling You 5. And I’m Telling You
6. Against All Odds 6. Lean On Me
7. I Still Haven’t Found 7. In My Life
8. In My Life 8. Learning To Fly
9. Lean On Me 9. Right Here Waiting
10. I Can’t Make You Love Me 10. I Still Haven’t Found
11. I Need Your Love So Bad 11. I Can’t Make You Love Me
12. Right Here Waiting 12. Need Your Love So Bad
13. It’s Over 13. It’s Over
I LOVE this album!
Bonnie has taken some of the best rock songs and interpreted them her own way with a lush production
that brings me to mind of possibly the best “covers” album in the world “Nilsson’s” “A Little Touch Of
Schmilsson In The Night”. The production is incredible - perhaps more so when you know that the producer
is David Aspden (Bonnie’s former manager) and Matt Prior.
For me I could have done without Right Here Waiting (which I’ve always thought of as a pretty average
song - rock classic? No!) and Lean On Me (heard it covered too many times) and In My Life (Bette Midler
recorded the definitive version - some things cant be beaten - take note Niki French. Talking about Ms
French - I saw her do a PA in a club in Swansea earlier this year - time has not been kind and the crowd
were indifferent at the best - TEOTH went down like a lead balloon - Swansea clubbers prefer the real
thing!!).
The Springsteen cover Human Touch is however a classic, add to that Learning To Fly (Bonnie should cover
more Tom Petty - Louisiana Rain was also a Petty original); Everybody Hurts (great interpretation); I
Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For (I may be wrong but I’m pretty certain Bonnie played me a demo
of her singing “With Or Without You” which never made the final cut).
You want a perfect album? For me put the first four tracks on HEARTSTRINGS (Human Touch/Amazed/Everybody
Hurts/Learning To Fly) and add the last four tracks on HEART AND SOUL (I Still Haven’t Found What I’m
Looking For/I Can’t Make You Love Me/Need Your Love So Bad/It’s Over).
IT’S OVER just about wrenches your heart out, has a beautiful fade out and has a sample of Bonnie’s mother
taken from the recording of my second favourite BT recording “Making Love Out Of Nothing At All” (in case
you cant detect it - it’s the “operatic” part in the background).
Only one official single AMAZED but three different promos!
AMAZED (catalogue number: 5518502) - 4 tracks - Amazed (Radio Edit)/Album Version/Instrumental Version/In
My Life (Album Version) nice full colour picture sleeve.
Again can’t quite work out what went wrong with this single. Bonnie promoted it on European tv but I know
a lot of fans could not get hold of a copy. It comes up on Ebay from time to time - so there must be a few
copies out there. I’d say it’s not the easiest song to get hold of though and price wise around £6.00-£8.00
should be about right.
There were also two promo singles in full colour picture card sleeves.
AMAZED (catalogue Number: 5518512)has exactly the same sleeve as the official release and is a one track
promo with just Amazed (Radio Edit) 3:48
LEARNING TO FLY (unusually with the same catalogue number: 5522512)- another full colour picture sleeve a
really nice close up of Bonnie this is a two track promo featuring Learning To Fly (Radio Edit) and Human
Touch (Radio Edit).
HEARTSTRINGS (catalogue number 580 3722) is a five track promo of the album with the same front picture
cover of Bonnie as and a new picture (from the same photographic session) on the back. It comes in a full
colour “paper sleeve”. Tracks are In My Life/Human Touch/Learning To Fly/Need Your Love So Bad/Amazed.
Amazed and Learning To fly were relatively easy promo’s to get hold of £5.00 each tops. The 5 track promo
more difficult I’d say £8.00 - £10.00
(Part 2 is forthcoming)
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The Original Article (Posted 1998)
I have been a fan of Bonnie's for over 20 years, during which time I bought most of her records the day
of release, however in the past 4 years or so I have started collecting records by Bonnie seriously and
I hope that if you are going to start a collection yourself, you will find some of the tips here helpful.
(I refer to the magazine RECORD COLLECTOR a number of times in this article - for those of you who have
never heard of it it is a monthly magazine that is the bible for Record Collectors! The magazine prices
records and unearths interesting facts and figures and is full of adds - it's where I got the majority
of my rare Bonnie Tyler records from.)
Much of Bonnie's success has not been in the UK but on mainland Europe and for serious record collectors
some of the European sleeves to her singles are well worth seeking out. There are a number of specialists
record stores, record fairs and the Internet in which to start looking. The best cities I found for
buying Bonnie records are London and Brussels (Belgium).
London is full of second hand record stores and it is worth asking behind the counter for their Bonnie
Tyler records. Fortunately for a collector, Bonnie is not avaidly sought out by collectors, so that means
you have more choice and the records are more sensibly priced. Of course as soon as Bonnie becomes popular
again all that will change - so my advice - if you are thinking of starting a collection do it now before
Bonnie becomes famous again and before the prices shoot up!!
Belgium is a great place to start collecting the European singles. The city has streets of second hand
stores and earlier this year I completed my British/USA collection and added around 20 singles to my
European collection - all records were (with the exception of one) very keenly priced.
I have based the prices (all in UK Sterling) that you will see in the article on what I paid and on what
I think you should base your own budget. Never be afraid to haggle over prices particularly if you are
buying several singles at once, most dealers expect you to and almost all will give you some sort of
discount. It is also a good idea to build up a good relationship with your local second hand record store
and you may find that the dealer is willing to put records aside for you as and when anything new comes in.
I have this sort of relationship with two stores on the Internet and a store in Bonnie's home town of
Swansea.
Anyway I hope that you will enjoy reading about some of the records that I have in my collection and if
you have any questions or have any additional information you can give - or better still if you would like
to trade please email me on: Stevebow3@aol.com
THE RCA YEARS
MY! MY! HONEYCOMB
My! My! Honeycomb/I've Got So Used To Loving You, Baby
RCA 2697 - 7" - UK release 30 April 1976
The first and I would say rarest Bonnie UK single you are likely to find. I searched for this record for
over 10 years and then managed to buy the "demonstration" and official release in the same month.
I was lucky in that I got the demo and the official release for bargain basement prices. But if you were
to buy this record for £40.00 I would say you would have yourself a bargain (this record as you know was
never a hit and so copies are scarce).
LOST IN FRANCE
Lost In France/Baby I Remember You
RCA 2734 - 7" - UK release 1976
Bonnie's first hit and a fairly easy record to track down - expect to pay around £2.50..
The European releases are also easy to come by and promotional copies are often advertised on web pages
and with dealers at little more than the cost of the official release.
MORE THAN A LOVER
More Than A Lover/Love Tangle
RCA PB5008 - 7" - UK release 1977
This was the song that started my love affair with Bonnie's music. Again easy to track down with two
different RCA labels to look out for. Again expect to pay around £2.50.
IT'S A HEARTACHE
It's A Heartache/Got So Used To Lovin' You
RCA PB5057 - 7" - UK release 1977
It's A Heartache/Lost In France
Old Gold OG 9661 - 7" - UK release 1985
It's A Heartache/Lost In France/More Than A Lover
Old Gold Records Ltd OG 6138 - 3" compact disc - 1989
(b/w head and shoulders)
It's A Heartache/More Than A Lover/Lost In France/Heaven
RCA PC5165 - 12" - UK release 1979
(p/s c. Bonnie in blue dress tied at the neck)
It's A Heartache/It's About Time
RCA PB11249 - 7" - USA release 1978
It's A Heartache (Carazon destrozado)/
Got So Used To Lovin' You (estaba acostumbrado a amarte)
RCA PB5057 - 7" - Spanish release 1977
(p/s 3/4 length picture of World Starts Tonight)
Belgium release has black and white picture sleeve of Bonnie shielding her eyes from the sun.
French release colour head and shoulder shot from World Starts Tonight.
Netherlands release black and white picture of Bonnie's full face set in a red heart.
Bonnie's biggest ever hit and the easiest record to track down with European singles coming
in a variety of different sleeves. You could do far worse than to start your collection with
this record - European copies are very easy to come by.
Expect to pay anything between £2.00 - £3.50 for a record in mint condition.
The CD single and 12" and the "Old Gold" 7", are re - releases (CD's were not out when the
record was first released and Bonnie's first 12" single was "Married Men"). All three are
getting hard to find now and if you can pick up the CD or 12" for around £8.00 each you have done well. (the "Old Gold" single should set you back around £5.00).
HEAVEN
Heaven/Here's Monday
RCA PB5044 - 7" - UK release 1977
It always amazes me why this record was not a hit, it is so catchy.
Again a fairly easy single to track down - expect to pay no more than £3.00.
HERE AM I
Here Am I/Don't Stop The Music
RCA PB5076 - 7" - UK release 1978
Netherlands release has colour picture of Bonnie lying on floor in a cream trouser suit.
German release has great colour picture of Bonnie in black shirt/white jacket.
Another great single - another flop. (why??). Again an easy record to get and a number of
different sleeves from Europe. Again not very expensive £2.00 - £4.00.
Interesting point here that in Europe this single was credited to "Bonnie Tyler and the
Bonnie Tyler Band" - this billing appears on several of the early European singles.
HEY LOVE IT'S A FEELIN'
Hey Love (It's A Feelin')/It's About Time
RCA PB5100 - 7" - UK release 1978
Belgium release has black and white picture of Bonnie in striped shirt/waistcoat.
Not one of my favourites but some good sleeves to collect.
This one is again reasonably easy to find and should cost you no more than £2 - £3.00.
LOUISIANA RAIN
Louisiana Rain/The Eyes Of A Fool
RCA PB5133 - 7" - UK release 1978
A lot of people think this is one of Bonnie's strongest singles and I'd go along with that
but try and avoid seeing the video at all costs!!! Not found many European copies of this
single but the UK release is again easy to come across at around £3.00.
MY GUNS ARE LOADED
My Guns Are Loaded/Baby I Just Love You
RCA PB5147 - 7" - UK release 1979
Belgium release has colour picture of head and shoulders shot from "Natural Force".
Promoted by Bonnie's "Bond" video! Easy record to get hold of expect to pay around £3.00
IF I SING YOU A LOVE SONG
If I Sing You A Love Song/Heaven
RCA 11349 - 7" - gold vinyl - Canadian release 1978
(p/s c singing in black diamonte top)
This song has aged well - another "should have been a hit". This Canadian release is nice as
it's on gold vinyl - reasonably easy to get over Internet or Mail Order - you should pay around £8.00.
MARRIED MEN
Married Men/If You Ever Need Me Again
RCA PB5164 - 7"- UK release 1979
Married Men/If You Ever Need Me Again
RCA PC5164 - 12" - UK release 1979
Belgium release has colour picture of Bonnie in black cat suit/high heel boots.
The first 12" single and a single that returned Bonnie - briefly - back to the UK charts.
The 12" single is unremarkable in that it comes in a plain black sleeve - no pictures - and is
getting hard to find. However copies should still not set you back more than £5.00 and the 7" no
more than £3.00.
Again if you enjoy collecting picture sleeves, you will have a field day here. I visit mainland
Europe about 4 times a year and always seem to find another new sleeve for this single.
There is also a 7" picture disc of this single with a painting of a leather clad lovely (star of
the film) holding the strings of two puppets (the two male stars of the film). Although the same
song and from the same film, this single has nothing to do with Bonnie and is sung by "Mick Jackson."
It is however a nice souvenir of the film. Price wise around £4.00.
I BELIEVE IN YOUR SWEET LOVE
I Believe In Your Sweet Love/Come On, Give Me Loving
PB5187 - 7" - UK release 1979
Another single that is getting harder to find, but still should set you back no more than £4.00.
TOO GOOD TOO LAST
Too Good To Last/Louisiana Rain
RCA JD-11524 - 12" - USA promo release (stickered info sleeve) 1979
This single was a promo only single and comes from the USA.
Out of all Bonnie's RCA back catalogue this is one of the only two songs I wish she would revive
(the other being Piece Of My Heart). I bought this through Mail Order about a year ago and still
see it being advertised. It comes in a plain white sleeve with a sticker on it with tracks and
saying it's a promotional item. You should be able to pick this up for between £8.00 - £10.00.
I'M JUST A WOMAN
I'm Just A Woman/Sitting On The Edge Of The Ocean
RCA PB5286 - 7" - UK release 1980
(p/s c Bonnie in pink/black tiger skin dress)
What a great song this was (and still is!). First of the UK picture sleeves and a great one at that.
Plenty of copies around you should be able to get this for around £3.50.
SITTING ON THE EDGE OF THE OCEAN
Sitting On The Edge Of The Ocean (Sentada A La Orilla Del Oceano)/
Baby I Just Love You (Carino, Solo Te Quiero)
RCA PB-5257 - 7" - Spanish release 1980
(p/s Bonnie live at Tokyo Song Festival/ back sleeve Spanish album releases)
This was a hard record to track down and a strange one in that although Bonnie won the Tokyo Song
Festival with the song it still failed to chart. The Spanish release has a great live picture and
should cost you around £6.00 - £7.00.
GOODBYE TO THE ISLAND
Goodbye To The Island/Get Out Of My Head
RCA PB5304 - 7" - UK release 1980
Belgium release has great colour sleeve of Bonnie in gold/black suit with hands on hips.
Goodbye To RCA.! Another difficult single to track down, but again you should pay no more
than £4.00.
THE CBS YEARS
TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART
Total Eclipse Of The Heart/Take Me Back
CBS Tyler 1 - 7" - UK release 1983
(p/s c blue eclipse)
Total Eclipse Of The Heart/Straight From The Heart
Columbia 38-0390 - 7" - USA release 1983
Total Eclipse Of The Heart (Eclipse Total Do Coracao)/Take Me Back (Leve-Me De Volta)
EPIC 46568 - 7" - Brazil release 1983
(p/s b/w - inside sleeve of Faster Than The Speed Of Night album)
Total Eclipse Of The Heart/Have You Ever Seen The Rain?
CBS Cara A - 7" - Promo - Spain 1983
(p/s b/w/gold Bonnie in leather jacket/Billboard chart)
Bonnie Tyler "Total Eclipse Of The Heart"/Adam Ant "Puss In Boots"
POP! Record from Kellogs KELL 3 - 7" - UK release - given away with Rice Krispies
Total Eclipse Of The Heart (Short Version)/Total Eclipse Of The Heart/
Straight From The Heart
COLUMBIA 660190 - 2 - compact disc - Netherlands release 1994
(p/s c. Bonnie in leather jacket)
The greatest single ever made? Purists say goes to "Good Vibrations" by the "Beach Boys".
I would say "River Deep Mountain High" by "Ike and Tina Turner"(for those who hate Ike for
what he did to Tina - you may be happy to know that although he is name checked on the record
he never actually played on it) and I would put "Total Eclipse" a very close second. What a song!!!!!!!! What a performance!!!! Some songs are so perfect
they should NEVER be covered - if you can't better a song - or give it an interesting new slant
- you should leave it alone - are you listening Nicki "one hit and back to obscurity"
French!!! (I HATE that song).
Anyway a great song to collect as it comes in some great sleeves - I am trying to get a copy of
this song from every country it was released in. This is the one single you can be sure of turning
up in Record Fairs and mint copies of the UK release are around £4.00 and £6.00 + for the more
obscure foreign releases. The "Kellogs" single is listed as being "rare" but you should be able to
pick this up for between£6.00 - £8.00.
I always find it strange that there was never a 12" single released of this song - can anyone prove
me wrong on this? The CD single comes from the Netherlands and was a re-release in 1994 - pay around
£5.00 - 6.00.
FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF NIGHT
Faster Than The Speed Of Night/Gonna Get Better
CBS A- 3338 - 7" - promo copy - UK release 1983
(p/s c back of Faster Than ...album sleeve)
Faster Than The Speed Of Night/Gonna Get Better
CBS WA3338 - 7" - picture disc - UK release 1983
(A side - front cover of Faster Than The Speed Of Night. B side - Back Cover)
Faster Than The Speed Of Night/Gonna Get Better
CBS TA3338 - 12" - UK release 1983
(p/s c back sleeve of album)
One of the standout numbers live (Bonnie PLEASE release a live version on a future single).
This is a great single to collect - the first colour sleeve 12" and a picture disc 7".
You can also pick up promo copies of this (and indeed the rest of the CBS releases)
reasonably easy.
Prices start going up a little now the standard 7" should set you back around £4.00. The 12"
about £5.00 and the picture disc between £5.00 - £8.00.
I have also seen a number of autographed copies of this single in London for which you should
expect to pay around £5.00.
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THE RAIN?
Have You Ever Seen The Rain?/Time
CBS A3517 - 7" - UK release 1983
(p/s c Bonnie in blue denim biker jacket - sleeve opens up to large poster of
Faster Than The Speed Of Night album sleeve)
Have You Ever Seen The Rain?/Total Eclipse Of The Heart (Full Version)/Time
CBS TA3517 - 12" - UK release 1983
(p/s c as above 7" single)
The 7" single was released in two formats - one being a standard sleeve and the other being a
sleeve that opens out into a poster of the Faster Than The Speed Of Night album sleeve - this
is the one to look out for. The standard 7" should be around £4.00. The 12" around £5.00 and
the poster sleeve - if you can find one - around £7.00.
STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART
Straight From The Heart/First Love
CBS A3650 - 7" - UK release 1983
(p/s c drawing of a man and woman with multiple lines of colour)
This is a nice picture sleeve - quite unusual but I've seen a fair few copies at around £4.00.
GETTING SO EXCITED
Getting So Excited/Going Through The Motions
CBS A4242 - 7" - UK release 1983
(p/s c Bonnie in shadows in black leather jacket)
Second 7" - as above but with sticker on sleeve
"Win A Part In Bonnie's Next Video"
Competition entry form inside sleeve
Getting So Excited/Going Through The Motions/
It's A Jungle Out There (Special Jim Steinman Remix)
CBS TA4242 - 12" - UK release 1984
(p/s c Bonnie in shadows in black leather jacket)
OK - as much as I am a fan this is the CBS "rip off" single.
The standard 7" again easy to find (nice moody cover) and the 7" with the competition slightly
more rare. For the first pay about £4.00 for the second around £6.00.
The 12"....................mmmm! I remember rushing home from my local record store "Derricks"
in Port Talbot, South Wales with this single clutched to my chest. A Jim Steinman remix!!!! What a
great idea but what a disappointment! The only noticeable difference is that the track starts with
the line "I'd do anything for love but I won't do that" (yup he used it later - have you noticed how
much Jim Steinman re-cycles? - in a little known song by Meatloaf!!!!). I think this was a cunning
plan by the record company to try and increase sales - unfortunately it didn't work as the record bombed.
TAKE ME BACK
Take Me Back/Take Me Back (Edit)
Columbia 38 - 04246 - 7" - USA release 1983
(p/s c Bonnie in black leather coat with sleeves rolled up)
Never released in the UK as a single. This is a beautiful record that should have been a hit - it
wasn't. Price wise £5.00 upwards.
TEARS
Tears/First Love
CBS A3637 - 7" - Netherlands release 1984
(p/s c full head shot looking down in leather coat)
Again not released in the UK and - for a duet - a shame to see Frankie Miller's name missing from
the credits (this can't have anything to do with Bonnie as I know Frankie is a big friend of hers
and Bonnie enjoys working with Frankie - he has written two songs on the new album "All In One Voice").
This is a single I've not come accross that often expect to pay £6.00+.
HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO
Holding Out For A Hero/Faster Than The Speed Of Night
CBS A4251 - 7" - UK release 1984
(p/s c Bonnie in gold jacket/Footloose cassette)
Holding Out For A Hero (Remixed by Jellybean Benitez/Holding Out For A Hero (Instrumental)/
Faster Than The Speed Of Night
CBS TA4251 - 12" - UK release 1984
(p/s c same cover as above 7" single)
4 Track single ULTRA RARE including: Holding Out For A Hero (Extended Edit)
Disconet Volume 6 Program 12 MWDN612 - 12" - DJ issue - USA release 1984
(possibly one of the rarest - if not THE rarest - releases)
Holding Out For A Hero/I Can't Leave You Alone
The Total Record Company Ltd. TYLER 10 - 7" - UK release 1991
(p/s c. Bride riding on the back of a motor bike)
Holding Out For A Hero/Total Eclipse Of The Heart (Extended)/I Can't Leave You Alone
The Total Record Company Ltd TYLER 10 - 12" - UK release 1991
(p/s c. as above 7" single)
Holding Out For A Hero/Total Eclipse Of The Heart/I Can't Leave Your Love Alone
The Total Record Company Ltd TYLER 10 - Compact Disc - UK release 1991
Fans who have read my reviews and biog will know I am not a great fan of this song - I think
it's had it's day - no doubt thousands of fans disagree! However an interesting record to collect in
that there are some rare remixes and it had two completely different releases.
The first release features a colour picture of Bonnie with a cassette type picture of Kevin Bacon
from the film "Footloose". This is by far the easiest record to track down and prices for the 7" and 12"
are around £3.00 - £4.00.
The second release (and the BIG hit) was as a result of the song (not sung by Bonnie) being used as the
theme song for the TV programme "Cover Up". This is a little harder to track down but copies are out there.
Expect to pay £4.00 for the 7" and £6.00 for the 12". The CD single should cost you around £5.00.
The Disconet Version is hard to track down and I've never seen another copy. It is a faster, more dance o
rientated version of the single and I think a far better one. I found this in a recording studio where I
was working and begged, threatened and blackmailed the producer until he let me have it. It would be
difficult to price but if you saw it for around £25.00 I would think you would have yourself a bargain!
HERE SHE COMES
Here She Comes/Time
CBS A4637 - 7" - UK release 1985
(p/s c Bonnie walking in black shoulder less rubber dress)
Here She Comes/Giorgio Moroder "Obsession"
Columbia 38-04548 - 7" - USA release 1985
(p/s c side on full face in blue/ Metropolis robot)
Netherlands 12" release colour picture as above but with red border.
A song written for Donna Summer who rejected it and Bonnie got second offer. I really like this
song, as it is a lot different from the sort of songs Bonnie usually chooses. There was a great deal
of controversy over the video for this song in that it seemed to promote a new car - not just the song.
This record is proving to be fairly rare and should set you back around £6.00.
The USA release is easier to get and has a nice sleeve (expect to pay around £5.00).
The 12" is another rarity (I got it in a flea market in Amsterdam) I would price this at £8.00
upwards - great sleeve.
LOVING YOU'S A DIRTY JOB BUT SOMEBODY'S GOTTA DO IT
Loving You's A Dirty Job But Somebody's Gotta Do It/Under Suspicion
Credited to "Bonnie Tyler Duet with Todd Rundgren
CBS A6662 - 7" - UK release 1985
(p/s c painting of "Phyllis and Demophoon" by "Edward Burne - Jones")
Loving You's A Dirty Job But Somebody's Gotta Do It (Long Version/Under Suspicion/
It's A Jungle Out There
CBS TA6662 - 12" - UK release 1985
(p/s c painting of "The Beguiling Of Merlin" by "Edward Burne-Jones")
THE single that got away. This should have been MASSIVE. (I have heard rumours that Cher recorded
this about 3 years ago but so far as I know it has never been released).
The 7" is relatively easy to find at about £4.00. The 12" is much harder. Mine cost me £12.00
through mail order and I have never seen a copy in any store or at a record fair.
The 7" was also released as a double single pack shrink wrapped with the 7" of "Holding Out For
A Hero". If you can get one that is still shrink wrapped you will have a real collectors item and
this should set you back around £12.00.
IF YOU WERE A WOMAN (AND I WAS A MAN)
If You Were A Woman (And I Was A Man)/Under Suspicion
CBS A6867 - 7" - UK release 1986
(p/s b/w cover of Secret Dreams And Forbidden Fire)
If You Were A Woman (And I Was A Man)/Under Suspicion
CBS QA6867 - 7" Poster Sleeve - UK release 1986
(p/s sepia tone as above)
If You Were A Woman (And I Was A Man) (Extended Version)/Under Suspicion/
Straight From The Heart
CBS TA6867 - 12" - UK release 1986
(p/s sepia tone -same as single)
Three versions of this single (great video). The 7" and 12" are available at around £4.00 and £6.00
respectively. The poster sleeve has been listed in RECORD COLLECTOR as being one of Bonnie's rarest
records. They priced it at £8.00. I would say that's about right. I searched for years for this and
then got two in the same week - persistence helps!
You may also be interested to know that the USA Drag Queen RU-PAUL has also covered this song and
did quite a good version!
BAND OF GOLD
Band Of Gold/It's Not Enough
CBS A7223 - 7" - UK release 1986
(p/s c Bonnie in wedding dress)
Band Of Gold (Long Version)/It's Not Enough
CBS TA 7223 - 12" - UK release 1986
(p/s c Bonnie in wedding dress)
Band Of Gold (Arthur Baker Remix)/Band Of Gold (Album Version)/Band Of Gold (Dub)
Columbia 44 - 05967 - 12" - USA release 1986
I think Bonnie must have had a hell of a shock when this record flopped. All the indications
were that this was the one that was going to get her back in the charts - it wasn't.
Some interesting mixes here. The USA "Arthur Baker" mix is totally different from the UK version
and reminds me a little of "Just Can't Get Enough" by "Depeche Mode". The UK 7" is easy to track
down at around £3.00. The 12" is harder to get and should set you back around £7.00.
The USA release is still available through some mail stores at between £8.00 - £10.00 and is
well worth the money.
NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY
No Way To Treat A Lady/Before This Night Is Through
CBS 650105 7 - 7" - Netherlands release 1986
(p/s b/w Bonnie head in hands leaning on wheel - my favourite sleeve of ALL the singles)
This is my favourite sleeve of all Bonnie's records - she looks incredible on it! I am told
the 12" is even better - although I don't have a copy.....yet!!
Again never released in the UK this Bryan Adams song (originaly written for Bonnie Raite I
believe) is superb. I have seen copies of this single on sale at record fairs for around £6.00.
REBEL WITHOUT A CLUE
Rebel Without A Clue/I Do It For You
CBS 650157 7 - 7" - UK release 1986
(p/s c head and shoulders from Secret Dreams)
Rebel Without A Clue (Full Version)/Rebel Without A Clue (Excerpt From)/I Do It For You
CBS 650157-6 - 12" - UK release 1986
(p/s c - same cover as above 7" single)
Can't make my mind up whether I like this song or not - although has some great Jim Steinman lyrics.
This is getting harder to find particularly the 12". Price wise I'd say around £5.00 for the 7" and
£7.00+ for the 12".
LOVERS AGAIN
Lovers Again/I Do It For You
CBS 650317 7 - 7" - UK release 1986
(p/s c Bonnie in blue dress with pink/blue background)
In my top 5 favourite Bonnie Tyler tracks of all time. This song still makes me cry (especialy when
I've had a few too many!!). I was not aware that this song had even been released as a single until
I seriously started collecting. Great sleeve and a record that is surprisingly easy to find at
about £4.00.
THE BEST
The Best/The Fire Below
CBS BEST 1 - 7" - UK release 1988
(p/s c Bonnie in painted leather jacket)
The Best/The Fire Below/Under Suspicion
CBS BEST T1 - 12" - UK release 1988
(p/s c as above 7" single)
The Best/The Fire Below/Under Suspicion
CBS BEST 1 - compact disc - UK release 1988
(c. card sleeve - cover as above)
Well we all know Tina Turner had the hit version - but full marks to Bonnie for recognising what
a great song this was for the HIDE YOUR HEART/NOTES FROM AMERICA album.
For some reason RECORD COLLECTOR has stated that the cd single is hard to come by - not so. You
should be able to track all three versions fairly easy. The 7" at around £3.00, 12" and CD around £5.00.
Box Set: Now if you want rare - I have R -A-R-E.!!!
Some copies of this single was originaly released in a black box containing the single and a great
poster of Bonnie. I have never seen it ANYWHERE but managed to get a copy from a fan who was selling
his entire back catalogue - in case you are wondering - yes I bought the entire back catalogue!!
I would price this at £15.00+.... if you can find a copy!!
HIDE YOUR HEART
Hide Your Heart/I'm Not Foolin'
CBS 651516 7 - 7" - UK release 1988
(p/s c Bonnie leaning against fireplace - autographed in silver ink)
Hide Your Heart/I'm Not Foolin'/Under Suspicion/Total Eclipse Of The Heart
CBS 651516 8 - 3" compact disc - UK release 1988
(c. as above but back cover only - the rarest Bonnie CD single)
Written by Paul Stanley of "Kiss" for Bonnie and later covered - not so well - by the band. Still
a live favourite in Bonnie's set. The 7" is easy to find at around £3.00. RECORD COLLECTOR rates
the 3" compact disc of this song as Bonnie's rarest record (I disagree it has to be My! My! Honeycomb).
They price this at £8.00 I would say it's nearer £10.00. There is also a 5" compact disc which is
again rare to find. Expect to pay around £5.00 - £7.00.
SAVE UP ALL YOUR TEARS
Save Up All Your Tears (The London Mix)/It's Not Enough
CBS TYLER 2 - 7" - UK release 1988
(p/s c live shot of Bonnie on stage in black leather jacket)
Save Up All Your Tears (The London Mix)/It's Not Enough/Save Up All Your Tears
(Original Version)/Loving You's A Dirty Job But Somebody's Gotta Do It
CBS TYLER T2 - 12" - UK release 1988
(p/s c same as above 7" single)
This is an odd record. Bonnie comes back from America with a finished album HIDE YOUR HEART/NOTES
FROM AMERICA and then re-records this song for the A side of the 12".
Still you can't fault her decision as the "London Mix" is far superior to the 7" and album track
from the USA sessions.
An easy records to track down - although somewhat surprisingly there was no cd single. Expect to pay
around £3.00 for the 7" and £5.00 for the 12". (If you want the "London Mix" on cd there are a number
of Bonnie compilation albums that have the track on it such as COLLECTION GOLD -French release 1990
and GOLD - another French release 1993).
NOTES FROM AMERICA
Notes From America/It's Not Enough
CBS TYLER 3 - 7" - UK release 1989
(p/s c holding jacket up to neck/American flag background)
Notes From America (Full Version)/Turtle Blues/It's Not Enough
CBS TYLER C3 - compact disc - UK release 1989
(c. card sleeve - as above sleeve)
One of Bonnie's best songs, still played live. Some great lyrics (am I right but is the intro
for "Driving Me Wild" is taken from this song?). Relatively easy to find. Pay around £4.00 for the
7" and £5.00 for the CD. I've not seen it on 12" and don't think it was released on that format in
the UK.
TURTLE BLUES
Turtle Blues/Streets Of Little Italy
USSR Magazine "KPYSOEOP 4/89" - with blue flexi disc of above tracks - 1989
Never officialy released. This is a rare one.
The record is a flexi disc given free with a Russian magazine. Difficult to price but I paid £10.00.
WHERE WERE YOU
Where Were You (Radio Mix)/I Can't Leave Your Love Alone
Hansa 115211 - 7" - UK release 1992
(p/s c head and shoulders in embroidered leather jacket)
Where Were You (Radio Mix)/Where Were You (Long Version)/I Can't Leave Your Love Alone
Hansa 665 211 - Compact Disc - UK release 1992
(c. as above)
Bonnie's last UK release until "Making Love Out Of Nothing At All" (no further singles were released
in the UK from "Bitterblue" - the album was never released; neither was "Angelheart" or "Silhouette in
Red" and neither were any of the singles taken from them). I thought this would have been a big hit but
no radio play meant it flopped. Relatively easy to get hold of at £4.00 for the 7" and £5.00 for the CD.
NOTE: BITTERBLUE -
I am not pricing any singles between "Bitterblue" and "Back Home" in this article as I am still
collecting and don't have enough background information on them yet. These will be covered in a later
article with a little help from my friends - you! I can only update this if you let me have any information
you can give me - please be a part of this page and email me with any information you think could help me.
Below are some of the records, from that period, that I have in my collection.
BITTERBLUE
Bitterblue/Too Hot
Hansa 114751-100 - 7" - German release 1991
(p/s b/w head and shoulders)
Bitterblue (Radio Mix)/Bitterblue (True Blue Mix)/Too Hot/Whenever You Need Me
Hansa 664751 - compact disc - German release 1991
(b/w head and shoulders)
AGAINST THE WIND
Against The Wind (Radio Mix)/Against The Wind (Instrumental)
HANSA 114 991 - 7" - German release 1991
(p/s c Bonnie in faded picture - black suit)
Against The Wind (Long Version)/Against The Wind (Radio Mix)/
Against The Wind (Instrumental)
Hansa 614991-213 - 12" - German release 1991
(p/s c Bonnie in faded picture black suit)
Against The Wind (Radio Mix)/Against The Wind (Long Version)/
Against The Wind (Instrumental)
HANSA 664 991 - compact disc - German release 1991
(p/s as above)
FOOLS LULLABY
Fools Lullaby (Radio Mix)/Fools Lullaby (Sweet Lullaby Mix)/
Race To The Fire (Radio Mix)/Race To The Fire (Race Mix)
Hansa 74321 11500 2 - compact disc - German release 1992
(b/w Bonnie full face)
CALL ME
Call Me (Radio Mix)/Call Me (Extended Mix)/Call Me (Unplugged Mix - Live)
Hansa 74321 12439 2 - compact disc - German release 1992
(c. Bonnie on motorbike)
SALLY COMES AROUND
Sally Comes Around (Radio Mix)/Cryin' A Little
Hansa 74321 16332 7 - 7" - German release 1993
(p/s head and shoulders black jacket/green sequinned top)
Sally Comes Around(Radio Mix)/Sally Comes Around (Unplugged Mix)/Cryin' A Little
Hansa 74321 16332 2 - compact disc - German release 1993
(c. as above)
FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY LONELY HEART
From The Bottom Of My Lonely Heart/
From The Bottom Of My Lonely Heart (Long Version)/Bad Dreams
Hansa 74321 17467 2 - compact disc - German release 1993
(c. full face from Angel Heart)
STAY
Stay (Radio Version)/Stay (Long Version)/James Dean
Hansa 74321 - 18752 2 - compact disc - German release 1993
(c. head and shoulders black top)
SAY GOODBYE
Say Goodbye (Radio Edit)/Say Goodbye (Classical Version)/Say Goodbye (Extended Version)
Hansa 74321 23305 2 - compact disc - German release 1994
(c. head and shoulders - gold)
MAKING LOVE (OUT OF NOTHING AT ALL)
Making Love (Out Of Nothing At All) - Midget Plus Radio Version/Driving Me Wild/
Making Love (Out Of Nothing At All) (Long Version)
East West 0630-12044-2 - compact disc - UK release 1995
(c. black dress/blue background)
Making Love (Out Of Nothing At All) - Shnauzer Plus/Driving Me Wild/
Making Love (Out Of Nothing At All) - Rescue Edit
East West 0630-12973-2 - compact disc - German release 1995
(c. as above)
Making Love (Out Of Nothing At All)
You're The One/What You Got/Sexual Device
East West0630-13373-2 - compact disc - German release 1995
(c. black lace dress/tour dates)
Making Love (Out Of Nothing At All) (Schnauzer Plus)/Driving Me Wild
East West EWO 10C 0630-12651-4 - Cassette single - UK release 1995
THE comeback single (see the biography which explains why this was not a UK hit - I know it did real
well in the Netherlands). Interestingly the UK release was slightly different from the European releases
but the differences are hardly noticable. All formats are still easy to come by.
Expect to pay around £5.00 for each of the UK releases and around £8.00 for the German CD..
YOU'RE THE ONE
You're The One/What You Got/Sexual Devise
East West 0630 - 13373 - 2 - compact disc - German release 1995
(p/s c. black lace dress/tour dates)
You're The One/What You Got
East West 0630-12650-9 - compact disc - German release 1995
(c. card sleeve - as above)
I HATE this song! But then I hate the SCORPIONS who wrote it! (Paul is a BIG fan and when I visited him
earlier this year he played me the SCORPIONS version which was slightly different - called YOU ARE THE ONE
and I think slightly better - this was the one song on FREE SPIRIT that I fast forward).
Originaly planned for release in the UK but never released. These versions are from Germany and - if you
can get them - then expect to pay around £8.00 for the first and £5.00 for the second.
TWO OUT OF THREE AIN'T BAD
Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad (Radio Version)/Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad (Album Version) /Two Out Of Three
Ain't Bad (Kobe Edit)
East West 0630-14746-2 - compact disc - German release 1995
(c. full face faded)
Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad (Album Version)
Atlantic PRCD 6690 - compact disc - promotional copy - USA issue 1995
(b/w sticker on front of cover being a full body shot of above cover)
Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad (Ralphi's Soft Dub)/Ralphi's Cha-Cha Dub/Album Version Edit/
Ralphi's Extended Vox/Ralphi's Tribal Beats
Atlantic 0 - 85502 - 12" - USA release 1995
Bonnie goes techno! Great song but again not an official UK release. You should be able to pick the
German CD's up for around £8.00. The odd one here is the USA dance remixes TOTALY different from the
single - I can't say I am much of a fan of the mixes - Jim Steinman's extended version as appeared on
the album is far superior. Still a collectable item at between £10.00 - £12.00.
LIMELIGHT
Limelight (Radio Version)/Limelight (Overture Mix)/ Georgia On My Mind (Instrumental)
East West 0630-15241-2 - compact disc - German release 1996
(b/w blue - full face)
The Official German Olympic song. The Orchestral Version was later added as the first track on a
re-issued FREE SPIRIT (ommiting the dance version of SEXUAL DEVISE - shame it should have been You're
The One!!). Good song, nice CD - getting harder to find so should set you back around £10.00.
HE'S THE KING
He's The King (radio Version)/He's The King (Extended Version)/
He's The King (Acoustic Version)/Der Konig von St.Pauli (theme) Harold Faltermeyer
Eastwest 3984-21823-2 - compact disc - German release 1998
(p/s c Bonnie singing in nightclub - black/feathered dress)
What a return to form!!! I LOVE this song and never get tired of it. Taken from the German Cops
programme "Der Konig Von St. Pauli". A fairly limited release in that the song would not work as a
single unless you knew about the programme and promoted by the first "X "rated Bonnie Tyler video
set in a strip joint (no Bonnie does not take her kit off!!!). This song is on the new album "ALL IN
ONE VOICE". The cd single is still available through mail order at around £8.00.
VARIOUS ARTISTS
FERRY AID
Let It Be/Let It Be (Gospel Jam Mix)
SUN AID 1 - 7" - UK Release 1987
MIKE OLDFIELD featuring BONNIE TYLER
"Islands"/Mike Oldfield "The Wind Chimes Part One"
Virgin VS990 - 7" - UK release 1987
(p/s c picture of Mike Olfield on arty background)
Islands (7" Version/Mike Oldfield featuring Anita Hegerland - When The Night's On Fire/
Mike Oldfield - The Wind Chimes (Part One)/
Virgin CDEP 6 - compact disc - promotional only - UK issue 1987
(stickered sleeve - no photo)
Islands/When The Night Is On Fire (Mike Oldfield featuring Anita Hegerland)/
The Wind Chimes Part One (Mike Oldfield)
Virgin VS 990 12 - 12" - UK release 1987
ROCK AGAINST REPATRIATION
Sailing/Sailing (Instrumental) - various artists including Bonnie
IRS Records EIRS 139 - 7" - UK release
(p/s c. back cover has shot of Bonnie singing)
FABIO JR & BONNIE TYLER
Reaching For The Infinite Heart (Sem Limites Pra Sonhar)/Sem Limites Pra Sonhar
CBS 650425 7 - 7" - Portugal release - 1986
(p/s Bonnie and Fabio Jnr - head and shoulder shots)
Anyway I hope that that little lot wets your appetite to start collecting.
Next up from me will be an article on the collaborations Bonnie has done. I have also written a
fairly lengthy list of the albums Bonnie has released and included as many of the compilation albums
as I can. Again I would be grateful if anyone knows of albums I may not know of if you could let me
have the information so that I can update these pages.
Between myself and Paul we should also be able to give you news on the tv performances that are out
there - somewhere on video and there should be a definitive list of Bonnie Tyler singles up shortly
- so plenty to keep you occupied and to keep you comong back to the page.
If you have enjoyed reading this article or there are any errors or ommisions or details you can add
then please email me at Stevebow@aol.com. I'd be very pleased to hear from you!