Head up to the sky - Spargo

'Head up to the sky' was Spargo's second hit in the Netherlands after 'You and me'. That first single was a good start for the band, because it topped the Dutch Top 40. Compared to that, this single was slightly disappointing, as it only made it to number 5. And while 'You and me' was a hit all over Europe, 'Head up to the sky' only made the charts in Belgium and Germany. 

I bought the single a long time ago, but I also culled it from my collection when I grew up, because I felt the song was not good enough. In fact, I threw away a lot of Dutch productions during the mid- to late-Eighties. It's good to have this single back again.

My collection: 7" single no. 8339
Found: Gaga Music, Goch (Germany), 15 July 2026
Tracks: 'Head up to the sky' / 'Inside your heart'

Just for you - Spargo

The Dutch group Spargo made some catchy songs in the early Eighties, although some were embarrassing ('Hip hap hop' anyone?). Fortunately, 'Just for you' is one of their better singles and became a hit in various European countries.

Lead singer Lilian Day-Jackson, stepdaughter of jazz drummer Art Blakey, passed away in April 2023, aged 63. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8305
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 May 2026
Tracks:  'Just for you' / 'Fandango's invitation'

One night affair - Spargo

The current amount of singles in my collection has been counted on arrival since the early Eighties. The last revision of these numbers took place sometime in 1984, when I decided I needed to ditch number 114. It was a terrible single from a Dutch singer who shall not be named here. The problem was, I needed to find a single to replace that one. All I had was a disc by Spargo that I had always kept despite the fact that it was half broken and the sleeve had gone missing. The name: 'One night affair'. Yesterday, I decided to fix the situation forever by buying a new (and complete) copy of that very single.

'One night affair' was a hit for the Dutch band Spargo in April 1981. It reached number 4 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 114
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'One night affair' / 'Running from your lovin''

You and me - Spargo

Spargo was founded by Ellert Driessen, Jef Nassenstein and Leander Lammertink, all three from Amsterdam. At the end of the Seventies the the American singer Lilian Day Jackson joined the band. With her performing lead vocals the band developed their own sound.

Their debut single 'You and me' was the best selling record in the Netherlands in 1980. It reached number 1. The single was also a hit in other European countries.

My collection: 7" single no. 3908
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, July 31, 2009
Cost: 0,25 euro
Tracks: 'You and me' / 'Worry'

Lady - Spargo

After Lilian Day Jackson left the Dutch band Spargo, the band continued with the four male members of the group. Success didn't elude them right away, as proven with this single, 'Lady', which reached number 15 in the Dutch Top 40 in April 1984.

It was, however, the last hit single for the band. The group broke up in 1985 and briefly reformed in 1997.

My collection: 7" single no. 1161
Found: All that music, Leiden, January 27, 1990
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Lady' / 'Lady (instrumental version)'

Sometimes - Spargo

I already explained a few times on this blog how I revised my singles collection when I was younger. Sometime in the eighties the final revision took place. On this occasion, most of the Dutch language singles plus those of Dutch bands were removed. That included my rather big collection of Spargo singles. I owned most of their hits thanks to cheap offers in my favourite second hand record shop. 'Head up to the sky', 'One night affair', 'Just for you', 'Hip hap hop'... They all went out.

One single remained: 1980's 'Sometimes', which was a great ballad. The band didn't even make the top 10 with this, like they had with all the aforementioned singles.

My collection: 7" single no. 77

Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1980

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Sometimes' / 'Take a break'

Download: Album 'Good time spirit', including both tracks