May this be your last sorrow - Banderas

Banderas appeared on the scene with 'This is your life', then followed up that single with 'She sells' and the debut album 'Ripe'. That was just about the extent of my knowledge circa 1994, when I suddenly found this single. 'May this be your last sorrow' was a great track from the album, so I was happy to buy this disc - especially since the B-side contained a non-album track, 'Nice to know'.

I have no idea what happened next with Sally Herbert and Caroline Buckley. They disappeared from the scene, unfortunately.
My collection: 7" single no. 2182
Found: Big Company records, London, September 27, 1994
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'May this be your last sorrow' / 'Nice to know'

Tomorrow - Communards

The Communards have released several great singles. 'Tomorrow' may not have been their biggest hits, but I think it's one that's stood the test of time very well. It was the first single from the duo's second album 'Red', which came out in 1987.

This single peaked at number 32 in the Dutch Top 40, and number 23 in the UK singles chart. The second single would be 'Never can say goodbye', one of their best known hits.

My collection: 7" single no. 636

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1988

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Tomorrow (remix)' / 'I just want to let you know'

Als jij maar wacht... - Sandra Reemer

I recently wrote about (and bought) the single 'Non ho l'eta', Gigliola Cinquetti's 1964 Eurovision winner. Not long after that, I found out that the song was actually covered by one of the Netherlands' most prominent Eurovision singers. Sandra Reemer participated in the Contest three times, but long before that she made singles as a very young girl.

'Als jij maar wacht' is a cover of 'Non ho l'eta' with alternate lyrics in Dutch. The single was released, probably in 1964, in the series 'Favorieten Expres', a series of singles on the Philips label. The sleeve only mentions Sandra's first name, but we all know it's her. I almost bought the single via a website recently, but the seller didn't come through. Now I've got the single for slightly less, because there's no postage charge!

My collection: 7" single no. 3603

Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, March 14, 2009

Cost: 4 euro

Tracks: 'Als jij maar wacht...' / 'Ben je 't heus?'

Don't say it's love - Johnny hates Jazz

'Don't say it's love' was the last single taken from Johnny hates Jazz's debut album 'Turn back the clock'. Perhaps it's no surprise, then, that the single performed worse, chart-wise, than its predecessors. It peaked at number 48 in the UK singles chart.

The cd of 'Turn back the clock' included the extended mixes of previous singles 'I don't want to be a hero', 'Turn back the clock' and 'Heart of gold'. It's the reason why I bought this 12" single, because I was really curious what the extended version of this track would be like. I wasn't disappointed: it's an extended version like they should be.

My collection: 12" single no. 492

Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, March 14, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Don't say it's love (12" extended remix)' / 'Living in the past', 'Don't say it's love (7" remix)'

Coming around again - Carly Simon

Carly Simon's thirteenth studio album was her first for the Arista record label, after her contract with CBS was cancelled following disappointing sales of her previous album, 'Spoiled girl'. 'Coming around again' was a strong comeback album and single. The album reached number 25 in America and the UK, whereas the single peaked at number 18 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, and number 10 in the UK singles chart.

The two tracks on this single were written for and featured in the 1986 film 'Heartburn', starring Meryl Streep (ugh!) and Jack Nicholson.

My collection: 7" single no. 3606
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, March 14, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Track: 'Coming around again' / 'Itsy bitsy spider'

In your room - The Bangles

The Bangles had to come up with some new hit to follow up charttoppers like 'Walk like an Egyptian' and 'Hazy shade of winter'. Expectations were high when they released their new album 'Everything' in 1988. The chart performance of the first single from that album was slightly disappointing: it only made number 35 in the UK, while it didn't even chart in the Netherlands. The girls probably didn't mind, because the single made number 5 in America.

And it wouldn't take long until follow-up single 'Eternal flame' would take over the number one spot in various countries...

My collection: 7" single no. 3596

Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, March 14, 2009

Cost: 0,66 euro

Tracks: 'In your room', 'Bell jar'

Download: Album 'Everything', including both tracks

Insieme: 1992 - Toto Cutugno

Toto Cutugno was born on July 7, 1943 in Fosdinovo, Tuscany, Italy as Salvatore Cutugno. In 1976 Cutugno participated for the first time in the San Remo Music Festival. He reached 3rd place with his band Albatros. He won the festival in 1980, 1984, 1987, 1988 and 1989. In total he participated 13 times.

He won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1990 with his own composition 'Insieme: 1992' ("Together: 1992"), a ballad which celebrated European political integration. Along with Gigliola Cinquetti, Italy's only other Eurovision winner from 1964, he presented the 1991 contest, which was staged in Rome as a result of his victory.

My collection: 7" single no. 3594

Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, March 14, 2009

Cost: 0,66 euro

Tracks: 'Insieme: 1992' / 'Insieme: 1992 (instrumental)'

Download: here

Life of surprises - Prefab Sprout

Prefab Sprout recorded 'Life of surprises' in 1985, just when 'When love breaks down' finally became a hit after its fourth re-release. The record company shelved the album with 'Life of surprises' on it. The track only resurfaced in 1993, when Prefab Sprout's greatest hits compilation was released.

The single was a success, peaking at number 24 in the UK singles chart. The B-side featured the band's only top 10 hit: 'The king of rock 'n' roll', originally released in 1988.

My collection: 7" single no. 1899
Found: Record fair, May 2, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Life of surprises' / 'The king of rock 'n' roll'

The sound of the crowd - Human League

After the loss of original members Martyn Ware and Ian Craig-Marsh, Phil Oakey recruited 'dancing girls' Susan Ann Sulley (17) and Joanne Catherall (18) in order to be able to fulfill tour obligations. In January 1981, the band was still in debt to their record company. Oakey recorded and rushed out a new single, 'Boys and girls', without the involvement of Sulley and Catherall, to reasonable success. In March, Oakey was introduced to veteran producer Martin Rushent.

The first result of their sessions was the single 'The sound of the crowd'. The single was an instant success, peaking at number 12 in the UK singles chart. It was the first song to feature female vocals from Sulley and Catherall. The twelve inch mix is an interesting affair, with a lot of extra instrumental bits.

My collection: 12" single no. 491

Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, March 14, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'The sound of the crowd (Complete)' / 'The sound of the crowd (Instrumental)'

Liian pian ilta päättyy - Eini

Eini is a Finnish singer who has recorded several covers of Eurovision songs. When I bought this one, a sticker on the sleeve suggested that it was a cover of Israel's 1979 winning song, 'Hallelujah'. This is why I bought the single. Unfortunately, the information was wrong. Instead, this is a cover of Israel's 1981 contribution to the Contest, 'Halayla' ('Tonight'), performed by Hakol over Habibi.

The original track is a dramatic ballad, with the singer describing what will happen between herself and a lover "tonight". The Finnish version is more upbeat. Now, how do you think 'Liian pian ilta päättyy' is pronounced?...

My collection: 7" single no. 3601
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, March 14, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: Liian pian ilta päättyy' / 'Rajana Taivas'

Strut - Sheena Easton

In 1984, sweet Scottish singing sensation Sheena Easton made a transition towards a sexy dance-pop siren. She collaborated with Prince on her new album 'A private heaven', which was a big success.

While the single 'Strut' was ignored in Europe, it became her fifth top 10 single in America. It was a sassy and suggestive song, with a great hook and interesting vocals. Compare, if you like, the A-side with the B-side track. Where Sheena sounds great on the former, her voice sounds shrill and uninspired on the latter. Well, at least, that's what I think. Great sleeve, by the way...

My collection: 12" single no. 494

Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, March 14, 2009

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Strut (Dance mix)' / 'Letters from the road'

Vandaag - Het Goede Doel

After the chart success of 'Met open ogen', Het Goede Doel released a second single from their album 'Souvenir' entitled 'Vandaag' ('Today'). Clocking in at six minutes, it was another lengthy single from the group. (Previous hits 'België', 'Hou van mij' and 'Alles geprobeerd' were also over six minutes long).

The single went by unnoticed by the general public: it stalled outside the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3595

Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, March 14, 2009

Cost: 0,66 euro

Tracks: 'Vandaag' / 'Vandaag (instrumental)'

We gotta get out of here - Ian Hunter

Ian Hunter was born on June 3, 1939 in Oswestry, Shropshire, England. He was lead singer of the English rock band Mott the Hoople between 1969 and 1974, and then pursued a solo career. He had one hit in the Netherlands: 'We gotta get out of here', released in the summer of 1980. The ending of the song sounds a bit like a pastiche of Meatloaf's 'Paradise by the dashboard light'. That's because of the vocals of Ellen Foley, who'd spoken on that song as well as this one.

The B-side of the single features a live version of 'All the young dudes', originally recorded by David Bowie.

My collection: 7" single no. 3597

Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, March 14, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'We gotta get out of here' / 'All the young dudes'

Cry me a river - Mari Wilson

'Cry me a river' was written by Arthur Hamilton in 1953. It was orginally meant as a song for Ella Fitzgerald in the movie 'Pete Kelly's Blues' (1955). The record producer insisted that Hamilton would remove the word 'plebeian' in the lyric since 'audiences wouldn't accept a black woman in the '20s using that word.' Hamilton refused, and the song was dropped. The song's first release and most famous recording was by actress/singer Julie London in 1955.

Mari Wilson recorded her version in 1983, to be used in the crime drama series McCallum. It was her last UK top 40 hit, peaking at number 27.

My collection: 7" single no. 3607
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, March 14, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Cry me a river' / 'Rave'

Femme dans ses rêves aussi - Roger Bens

I visited a record fair today, hunting for new old vinyl. The fair was not spectacular (mainly Dutch dealers and a few lost Germans and one Englishman), but I managed to get some nice rarities anyway. A weird one is this one: plucked from the bargain bin, the French entry for the 1985 Eurovision Song Contest.

France was represented by young Roger Bens who sang 'Femme dans ses rêves aussi'. I can honestly say that I didn't have a clue what this song was like. I have seen it a couple of times during my life (since I own the 1985 Eurovision on dvd) but it's passed me by completely. When you hear the single you will understand why: it is a very forgettable track. The main attraction is the B-side, a beautiful ballad with typical eighties romanticism.

My collection: 7" single no. 3605

Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, March 14, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Femme dans ses rêves aussi' / 'Piano souvenir'

Jeanny - Falco

'Jeanny' was released in 1986 and would become one of Falco's best known and most controversial singles. The song is about a relationship between a man and a girl named Jeanny. The song is sung in a slightly unhinged voice, but the lyrics don't actually contain any direct reference to the act of rape or abduction. It is left to the listener's imagination. Falco argued that it's about the musings of a stalker, but also said the song was inspired by serial killer Jack Unterweger.

The song was banned in East Germany. There were also demands to prohibit the song in West Germany, but this didn't happen, although some radio stations did boycot the song. Despite all this, Falco had a number one hit in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland with 'Jeanny'.

My collection: 7" single no. 412

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1986

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Jeanny' / 'Männer des Westens'

Didn't you kill my brother? - Alexei Sayla

While Alexei Sayle's debut single ''Ullo John! Gotta new motor?' was a genuinely funny take on people with strange dialects saying the oddest things, I didn't quite 'get' 'Didn't you kill my brother?'.

As I've only recently found out, the single was the theme song of an episode of the satirical Comic Strip TV comedy series in which Alexei Sayle plays both halves of a pair of gangster twins, not so loosely modelled on the Kray twins, the notorious Moss brothers Carl and Sterling. The episode also remakes Bicycle Thieves whilst lampooning British liberal values. Produced by Sayle and Chaz Jankel, the single was a flop.

My collection: 7" single no. 333

Found: LP Top 100, Den haag, 1985

Cost: 5,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Didn't you kill my brother?' / 'Dedicated'

Why me? - Linda Martin

Thousands of viewers of the 1992 Eurovision Song Contest must have struggled with the question Linda Martin raised at the end of the programme. Why did she, of all people, win that year's edition? It wasn't a remarkable song, like Cleopatra's 'Olou tou kosmou i elpida' for Greece, or slightly mysterious like Evridiki's 'Teriazoume' for Cyprus. And it certainly wasn't the jewel that Italy contributed in the form of Mia Martini's 'Rapsodia', which is still a favourite with many Eurovision fans to this day. If anything, the song was middle of the road. But then, maybe the juries were exactly that in 1992.

Written by Eurovision dinosaur Johnny Logan, 'Why me' wasn't exactly a big hit outside of Ireland, the country Linda represented. The single peaked at number 23 in the Dutch Top 40 and stalled at number 59 in the UK. Some winners are best left forgotten.

My collection: 7" single no. 1656
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, May 30, 1992
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Why me?' / 'Shades of blue'

Sex talk (live) - T'pau

T'pau's second single 'Intimate strangers' hadn't been a success, so after they'd had more luck with 'China in your hand' and 'Valentine', they tried it again with a live version of that track. Now titled 'Sex talk', it was more successful and peaked at number 23 in the UK. In Europe, the single wasn't released - and so I had to go to London to find a copy of this single.

Bizarrely, the cd-single of this live track was available in the Netherlands, so it became one of the first times that I had a cd-single before I had the vinyl version.

My collection: 7" single no. 1050
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Sex talk (live)' / 'Monkey house (live)'

The telephone call - Kraftwerk

Taken from their album 'Electric cafe', 'The telephone call' followed up 'Musique non stop'. The track appeared on side two of the album, which meant that it had a more conventional pop song structure. 'The telephone call' is notable for being the first and only Kraftwerk song to feature Karl Bartos on lead vocals.

The sleeve of this single features stills of the facial animation that was seen in the video for 'Musique non stop'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2617

Found: Record fair, February 10, 1996

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'The telephone call' / 'Der Telefon Anruf'

It won't be long - Alison Moyet

Following a period of personal and career evaluation, Alison Moyet released her third solo album 'Hoodoo' in 1991. 'Hoodoo' was a definite change in direction for Moyet: gone was the glossy softpop sheen of previous albums and a rawer, earthier sound and more personal lyrics replaced it. Compared to her earlier releases, 'Hoodoo' received little label support and only minimal promotion.

The first single from the album was the menacing 'It won't be long'. This single was nominated for a Grammy in the USA but fell behind commercially: it peaked at number 50 in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 1449

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, June 15, 1991

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'It won't be long' / 'My right A.R.M.'

Such a shame - Talk Talk

I think it's fair to say that 'It's my life' was Talk Talk's breakthrough single, as it was the first to make the charts in various European countries. The band followed it up with a second single from their second album: 'Such a shame'.

In the UK, the single was largely ignored, peaking at number 49, whereas it became a top 10 hit in France, Germany, Switzerland and Italy. In the Netherlands, it peaked at number 11. It's weird, because only in the UK there was this special edition with a poster bag and a free second single containing three demo tracks. A truly great package and probably a collector's item now.

My collection: 7" single no. 1300

Found: Record Exchange, London, October 15, 1990

Cost: 5 pounds

Tracks: 'Such a shame' / 'Again a game... again' // 'Candy (demo version)' / 'Talk Talk (demo version)', 'Mirror man (demo version)'

Download: here

Tubular affair - Samoa Park

This track could best be described as a lifeless, soulless 'mashup' (as they are called these days) of 'Tubular bells' and 'Foreign affair', both Mike Oldfield tracks.

The single was released in 1983 on the ZYX Music label (liberal pronounciation: 'It Sucks Music') and I bought it because my neverending thirst for version of Mike Oldfield's masterpiece. In this instance, it was an unfortunate acquisition.

My collection: 7" single no. 3185

Found: Music Machine Mailorder, Hoorn, 2002

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Tubular affair' / 'Tubular affair (instrumental)'

Flash in the night - Secret Service

It's now 27 years ago that this single was released, and I still think that this is one of the Best Songs Ever. I still get goosebumps when I hear the intro and I love every second of this track. I was in a difficult position when I bought this single: not so long before, I'd agreed with my sister that I would not buy singles she had, so that together we'd have more records to play. It went alright for a month or two, but when I saw this single - one that I'd played a lot - for a discount price, I had to buy it. In time, the agreement went out of the window altogether, of course.

Secret Service hails from Sweden. The band consisted of Ola Håkansson, Tim Norell, Ulf Wahlberg, Tony Lindberg, Leif Paulsen and Leif Johansson. 'Flash in the night' (1982) became their biggest international hit, reaching number 23 in Germany, number 12 in Italy and Sweden, number 9 in Switzerland, number 6 in Norway and number 5 in France. Inexplicably, the song didn't reach the chart in the UK and the Netherlands.

This one comes highly recommended. Even the B-side is nice!

My collection: 7" single no. 113

Found: 7" single no. 113

Cost: 3,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Flash in the night' / 'Watching Julietta'

We are the world - USA for Africa

After Band Aid had sold millions of copies worldwide with 'Do they know it's Christmas?', it was almost inevitable that American popstars would rise to the challenge and come up with their own charity single. 'We are the world' was the result: a single of an epic 6'22 minutes length which is fine for the first three minutes but then turns into a long, protracted death rattle of a song, with far too many artists claiming a few lines of their own to sing.

The lyric 'There's a choice we're making / we're saving our own lives' was originally written as 'There's a chance we're taking / we're taking our own lives'. It was rewritten when it was feared the original phrasing's first part might look like the artists are patting themselves on the back while the last part might suggest collective suicide.

The single became a worldwide number 1 hit, raising more money for emergency needs in Africa, where several countries were suffering from an unprecedented famine. Not much has changed in over thirty years though: Africa is still in need.

My collection: 7" single no. 3541
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, January 9, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'We are the world' (USA for Africa) / 'Grace' (Quincy Jones)

Loving you - Feargal Sharkey

Feargal Sharkey's solo career began in 1984 with the single 'Listen to your father', which he co-wrote with Cathal Smyth from Madness. That single peaked at number 23 in the UK. The second solo single was released in early 1985. Called 'Loving you', this single reached number 26 in the UK, but also number 23 in Switzerland. It would only be a matter of time before Sharkey had a big international breakthrough with 'A good heart', which gave him a top 10 all over Europe.

Both 'Listen to your father' and 'Loving you' were omitted from Feargal Sharkey's self-titled debut album, which was released in 1985. This makes both the singles great collector's items. Personally, I always thought 'Loving you' was the better of the two.

My collection: 7" single no. 1297

Found: Record Exchange, London, October 15, 1990

Cost: 30p

Tracks: 'Loving you' / 'Is this an explanation?'

Misplaced love - Rupert Hine

In 1981, Rupert Hine released the album 'Immunity'. This single, 'Misplaced love' was taken from that album. It featured guest vocals by Marianne Faithfull and became Rupert's best known single, mainly because of the fact that it peaked at number 22 in Australia. In Europe, the single started a tradition, because it was the first of many singles that would not chart in any country.

Today his work as a solo artist is mainly recognized by music enthusiasts, fellow artists and electronic music insiders, with many fans considering his tryptichon 'Immunity', 'Waving not drowning' and 'Wildest wish to fly' to be his masterwork.

My collection: 7" single no. 2721

Found: Record fair, 1996

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Misplaced love' / 'Psycho-surrender'

Let love rule - Lenny Kravitz

Lenny Kravitz debuted in 1989 with 'Let love rule', a retro track with lots of Sixties influences, evoking images of hippies dancing on the grass. It was the title track of his debut album, which appeared shortly after the release of the single.

Interestingly, Kravitz was married with The Cosby Show's Lisa Bonet at the time. She appeared in the video for the song and also co-wrote two tracks on the album. This would be the only 7" vinyl single I bought from Kravitz: his subsequent singles didn't interest me much until the release of 'If you can't say no', which was released a decade later (and not on vinyl).

My collection: 7" single no. 1113
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, November 17, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Let love rule' / 'Empty hands'
Download: Album 'Let love rule', including both tracks

Cloud eight - Frazier Chorus

Frazier Chorus followed up their single 'Nothing' with 'Cloud eight'. You could say it was equally successful, as it peaked at number 52 in the UK singles chart. But things were looking a bit grim for the band: with no chart success to speak of, the inspiration to go on began to wane too. Two more singles would follow before the band broke up.

Still, 'Cloud eight' is an inspired piece of breezy pop. I bought a quartet of Frazier Chorus singles on the day I bought this one, and I like every one of them a lot.

My collection: 7"single no. 2522
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, November 1, 1995
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Cloud eight' / 'Le change est magnifique'

We belong - Pat Benatar

Pat Benatar released 'We belong' as a follow-up to her highly successful single 'Love is a battlefield'. The track was taken from her sixth studio album 'Tropico'.

While it matched the success of 'Battlefield' in the US (peaking at number 5 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart), the song was less successful elsewhere, peaking at number 10 in the Netherlands and number 22 in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 2125
Found: Record Palace, July 30, 1994
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'We belong' / 'Suburban king'
Download: Album 'Tropico', including both tracks

Bad ambassador - The Divine Comedy

As far as I know, 'Bad ambassador' was the only single from The Divine Comedy's 2001 album 'Regeneration' that was released on 7" vinyl. Of course I bought it right away, even if I had to order it from the UK.

The reason for my greed was the fact that the 7" vinyl featured a live track not found on the two cd-single releases. 'Life on earth' is not, as it may seem, a cover of the David Bowie track, but a composition that appeared on The Divine Comedy's 1998 album 'Fin de siècle'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3339

Found: HMV mail order, London, 2001

Cost: 3 pounds

Tracks: 'Bad ambassador' / 'Life on earth (live)'

The comfort of strangers - Julia Fordham

When I bought 'The comfort of strangers', it was mainly because it was so very cheap and because I knew the name Julia Fordham because of her single 'Happy ever after'.

This single actually predates that hit, it was released as Julia's debut single in 1988. It peaked at number 89 in the UK singles chart, and no-one could foresee that the second single from Julia's debut album would become such a big hit.

My collection: 7" single no. 2508
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 30, 1995
Cost: 10p
Tracks: 'The comfort of strangers' / 'I wish'

Why should I love you? - Des'ree

The third single drawn from Des'ree's debut album 'Mind adventures' was the sublime soul ballad 'Why should I love you?'. It wasn't as successful as the previous single, peaking at number 44 in the UK singles chart. Personally I thought it was the strongest track on the album.

The cd-single was released as a double package in the UK, with the second disc featuring covers of 'Imagine', 'Calling you' and 'Killing me softly with his song'. On the vinyl single, though, only the self-penned track 'Competitive world' appeared.

My collection: 7" single no. 1659

Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, May 30, 1992

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Why should I love you?' / 'Competitive world'

Lass die Sonne in dein Herz - Wind

Wind represented Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest for the second time in 1987 with 'Lass die Sonne in dein Herz'. Just like the first time in 1985, they ended up on second place, behind Johnny Logan, who won with 'Hold me now' for Ireland. Their performance is notable for including as a backing singer Robert Pilatus, later to achieve infamy in connection with Milli Vanilli.

Written and composed by longtime Contest contributors for Germany Ralph Siegel and Bernd Meinunger, the song is a reggae-oriented track with a lyric full of positive platitudes.

My collection: 7" single no. 540

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, July 1, 1987

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Lass die Sonne in dein Herz' / 'Let the sun shine in your heart'

That loving feeling - Cicero

Cicero followed up his debut single 'Love is everywhere' with another track produced by the Pet Shop Boys, 'That loving feeling'. Despite the fact that the track had that typical Pet Shop Boys sound, it only made number 46 in the UK singles chart. It could be because of the unremarkable lead vocals by Cicero.

Whatever it was, it was the beginning of the end for him: the subsequent single 'Heaven must have sent you back to me' peaked at number 70 and later singles didn't chart. A promising career was cut short pretty quickly.

My collection: 7" single no. 3081

Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, May 10, 1999

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'That loving feeling' / 'Splatt'

One, two, three... Bananas - Marga and Deuce

After the Dutch girl group Luv' split up in 1982, one of the members Marga Scheide teamed up with twin sisters Clari and Anja Horsmeier to record 'One, two, three... Bananas', hoping to achieve similar success. The single flopped mercilessly, despite its pretty decent retro production.

Marga Scheide reformed Luv' in 1989 with different members, and later on with the original members of Luv' in 1993 and 2005. The Horsmeier sisters competed in the Dutch national final for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1983 with the song 'Computergames', but didn't win.

My collection: 7" single no. 167

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1982

Cost: 3,5 guilders

Tracks: 'One, two, three... Bananas' / 'Ooh, he did it'

Another brick in the wall part 2 - Pink Floyd

'Another brick in the wall (part 2)' is a protest song against rigid schooling in general and boarding schools in particular. It led to the song being banned in South Africa and several other countries. It was a number 1 hit for Pink Floyd in the UK, peaking at number 3 in the Netherlands.

For this track, Pink Floyd needed a school choir. Producer Bob Ezrin asked sound engineer Nick Griffiths to find one. Griffiths approached music teacher Alun Renshaw of Islington Green School, around the corner from their Britannia Row Studios.

When I went to English class for the first time, when I was nine years old, the teacher asked if we knew any words in English. 'Another brick in the wall' was the first phrase I came up with. The teacher assumed I didn't know what those words meant - but I did. 'We don't need no education', indeed.

My collection: 7" single no. 3201
Found: Record fair, September 30, 2000
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Another brick in the wall (part 2)' / 'One of my turns'