Violently - Hue and Cry

Brother Pat and Greg Kane formed Hue & Cry in 1983. Their biggest hit was the 1987 single 'Labour of love', which peaked at number 6 in the UK. The single 'Violently' was released a year later and peaked at number 21.

It wasn't the title track of this EP that piqued my attention: it was their cover version of Kate Bush's 'The man with the child in his eyes' on the B-side. As an avid Kate Bush collector, I couldn't let this cover version pass me by. It is a reasonable effort, although the version by Velvet Belly, released a decade later, is much better.

My collection: 7" single no. 2527

Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, November 1, 1995

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Violently' / 'The man with the child in his eyes', 'Calamity John'

Shame - Evelyn 'Champagne' King

Evelyn 'Champagne' King was born on July 1, 1960. She released 'Shame', her only top 10 hit in America, in 1978. After a long struggle in the UK singles chart, 'Shame' eventually made the top 40, peaking at number 39. In the Netherlands, it did considerably better: peaking at number 18.

The song was covered by Kim Wilde in 1996. This is how I became interested in the original version. I bought the single in 2000 after a long hunt.

My collection: 7" single no. 3212

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 30, 2000

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Shame' / 'Dancin', dancin', dancin''

Sweet love - Anita Baker

Anita Baker was born on January 26, 1958 in Toledo, Ohio (USA). She released her debut album 'The Songstress' in 1983. Three years later, the album 'Rapture' spawned her first mainstream hit, 'Sweet love'. It peaked at number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 13 in the UK.

This double single edition was released in the UK, featuring two live tracks on the second disc, originally broadcast by BBC Radio 1. I bought this single because I liked the title track ánd because I'm a sucker for limited editions. But I have to admit, I don't really like the other three tracks in this package.

My collection: 7" single no. 2204

Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, October 8, 1994

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Sweet love' / 'No one in the world' // 'Same ole love (live)' / 'You bring me joy (live)'

Blank sheets - Bel canto

Circa 2000 I had a growing interest in alternative and not-so-wellknown bands. This interest was fairly shortlived as many bands disappointed me: I bought their cd's and didn't play them as much as I would if I really would have liked them. But sometimes I bought some 'alternative' singles as well - with varying success.

This single by Bel Canto, for instance, is a good one, but I still didn't play it much. And I really should: the instrumental B-side is fascinating, whereas the A-side is an interesting song. The Norwegian synthpop band, consisting of Anneli Drecker and Nils Johansen, has been going strong since 1985. This single was tken from their 1988 album 'White-out conditions'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3271

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, November 10, 2000

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Blank sheets' / 'Chaideinoi'

Gotta go home / El Lute - Boney M

In 1979 Boney M released their fourth album 'Oceans of fantasy'. The album contained two hit singles, of which 'Gotta go home / El Lute' (a double A-side single) was the first. 'Gotta go home' is an upbeat summer track, released just in time for the season. The track 'El Lute' was based on the life of Spanish outlaw and writer Eleuterio Sánchez.

The single was another hit for the German band, reaching number 12 in the UK and number 2 in the Netherlands. I bought the single while it was still in the charts. As young as I was, Boney M had an irresistible appeal to me.

My collection: 7" single no. 58

Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1979

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Gotta go home' / 'El Lute'

King in a catholic style - China Crisis

Compared to their previous single 'Black man Ray', 'King in a catholic style' was, to me, a relative disappointment. It was much more a straightforward pop song than the shimmering beauty of the ballad that went before. Some people agreed with me, because the single peaked at number 19 in the UK, five places lower than 'Black man Ray'.

I was in a record shop last Friday and saw this 12" single. I started doubting whether or not I had it. In the end, I didn't buy it, and I was right: the disc was sitting here on the shelf all along. Sometimes a big collection takes up too much memory space in your head.

My collection: 12" single no. 460

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 22, 2008

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'King in a catholic style (extended version)' / 'Blue sea', 'King in a catholic style'

Every time I see you - Fra Lippo Lippi

I bought the Fra Lippo Lippi LP 'Songs' some time after it was released at discount price. I discovered that not only their most famous single 'Shouldn't have to be like that' and its B-side were very good, but also the eight other tracks on the album. And so I spent years trying to find the other singles released from this album.

'Every time I see you' is probably the most interesting of them all, with a re-recorded version on the A-side and the instrumental track 'The heather on the hills' on the B-side. Norwegian pop at its very best.

My collection: 7" single no. 2020

Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 19, 1993

Cost: 60p

Tracks: 'Every time I see you' / 'The heather on the hills'

Love like blood - Killing Joke

Having been at it for seven years, the English post-punk rock band Killing Joke achieved mainstream success with their 1985 single 'Love like blood'. It peaked at number 18 in the UK and number 6 in the Netherlands.

Killing Joke consisted of Paul Ferguson, Jeremy Coleman, Kevin Walker and Paul Raven at the time. Two years prior to that, Martin Glover, a.k.a. 'Youth' had left the band. He went on, of course, to become a famous producer.

My collection: 7" single no. 762
Found: March 6, 1989
Cost: unknown
Tracks: 'Love like blood' / 'Blue feather (version)'

Too many walls - Cathy Dennis

When I heard this song and saw Cathy Dennis for the first time, I thought she was just another bimbo with a nice popsong. Almost two decades later I have to admit she's more than just a pretty face: she co-wrote Kylie's 'Can't get you out of my head', one of this decade's most wellknown popsongs.

Anyway, 'Too many walls' was not Cathy Dennis's debut single either. It was released as the fourth single from her debut album 'Move to this', reaching number 17 in the UK and number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100. Cathy Dennis has stated that she thinks the ballad is 'the best song on the album, especially in terms of lyrics. The other songs are fun, but they can be quite vacant.' The song is apparently 'about when you want to be together with someone, but other people's opinions and prejudices get in the way.'

My collection: 7" single no. 1570

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, January 11, 1992

Cost: 3,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Too many walls' / 'Too many walls (acapella)'

Love is all - Roger Glover

I have vague memories of being absolutely hooked on this video. I was four years old when this song hit number one in the Netherlands, but my older brother and sister were watching Toppop every week - and I saw it with them.

Roger Glover was bassist and songwriter with the rock band Deep Purple. After spending four years with Deep Purple, Glover was dismissed by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and became a record producer for bands like Judas Priest, Nazareth and Elf. His first solo album 'Butterfly ball' was released in 1974, spawning 'Love is all', a number one hit in the Netherlands - but not in other countries.

My collection: 7" single no. 2943

Found: Record fair, Leiden, January 31, 1998

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Love is all' / 'Old blind mole/Magician Moth'

He's a liar - Bee Gees

Just to show that I read the comments on this blog occasionally, here's a disc with an instrumental version on the B-side. I think this is actually a rare 12" single, since it features a slightly extended version of the 1981 Bee Gees track 'He's a liar'. I always think that 12" singles from the late Seventies and early Eighties are rare, since the format hadn't become mainstream yet. (I could be wrong of course...)

'He's A Liar' was the first single from The Bee Gees album 'Living Eyes' (1981). Even though the single sounded very different from their late Eighties disco tracks, the interest from the media for new Bee Gees work was minimal. Even though the single made number 12 in the Netherlands, it didn't do as well in other territories.

My collection: 12" single no. 299

Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 1998

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'He's a liar' / 'He's a liar (instrumental)'

Hangin' on a string (Frankie Knuckles remix) - Loose Ends

Within a couple of weeks, I spotted this remix version of 'Hangin' on a string' on television, and then bought the single during a holiday in London. The remix by Frankie Knuckles was released in 1992, seven years after the original version made its mark in the singles charts in the UK and the Netherlands.

This remix version didn't trouble the charts in the Netherlands, but still made a very respectable no. 25 in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 2688

Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, July 3, 1996

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Hangin' on a string (Frankie Knuckles remix)' / 'Hangin' on a string (Original 7" mix)'

Cathedral song - Tanita Tikaram

I already owned the regular single of 'Cathedral song' when I found this boxset. I am a sucker for limited editions and boxsets, and so I didn't leave this one on the shelf. This limited edition boxset contains an EP instead of the regular single, meaning that it contains not two, but four tracks. The two extra tracks are live versions of songs that weren't on Tanita Tikaram's debut album 'Ancient heart' at all. The three art prints were the icing on the cake.

My collection: 7" single no. 2157

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 3, 1994

Cost: 10 guilders

Tracks: 'Cathedral song', 'Sighing innocents' / 'Let's make everybody smile today (live)', 'Over you all (live)'

Loud music in cars - Billy Bremner

William "Billy" Bremner (born in 1947 in Scotland) is best known for his work as guitar player in the band Rockpile. Rockpile played on the bulk of Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds' albums throughout the late Seventies, but only released one album under their own name. After Rockpile split in 1981, Billy released two solo singles on Stiff Records: 'Loud music in cars' and 'Laughter turns to tears'. Neither charted.

I don't like cars and I don't like loud music, still I bought 'Loud music in cars' as I remembered it from when it came out. My sister bought it already in 1982, I did 16 years later.

My collection: 7" single no. 2944
Found: Record fair, Leiden, January 31, 1998
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Loud music in cars' / 'The price is right'

I am an astronaut - Ricky Wilde

Before Kim Wilde hit it big in 1981 with 'Kids in America', starting a very successful career that still goes on to this day, father Marty Wilde tried to launch his son Ricky in the early Seventies as a child-star. The first single - as far as I know - was 1972's 'I am an astronaut', recorded when Ricky was just eleven years old. It is an extraordinary piece of work, because for all the childhood innocence in the vocals, the musical backing is quite impressive, almost psychedelic. Rumour has it that 12-year-old Kim is performing backing vocals on this track.

The single was not a big hit, although I understand Ricky had some hits in Scandinavia with this and/or other singles. This song was covered recently by Snow Patrol for a charity compilation album - and several Scandinavian covers by equally young singers do exist!

My collection: 7" single no. 3222
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, October 12, 2000
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'I am an astronaut' / 'The Hertfordshire rock'

One step further - Bardo

Bardo represented the United Kingdom during the 1982 Eurovision Song Contest. The duo consisted of Children's TV presenter Sally Ann Triplett and singer/actor Stephen Fischer. Their song 'One step further' finished seventh in the Contest, which was below the expectations. Two subsequent singles, 'Talking out of line' and 'Hang on to your heart' failed to chart, which led to album plans being shelved and Bardo finally dissolving in 1983.

Triplett and Fischer had by this time become romantically linked and continued to stay together. In 1990, Triplett gave birth to their son. Some years after this, the two split.

My collection: 7" single no. 3157

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 27, 1999

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'One step further' / 'Lady of the night'

Don't stand so close to me '86 - The Police

When the Police released the compilation 'Every breath you take' in 1986, I got the cassette and played it a lot. I liked the '86 version of 'Don't stand so close to me' and even preferred it to the less polished original, but didn't buy the single until I found it as a bargain in 1990. In the mean time, the cassette was enough for me.

The Police recorded 'Don't stand so close to me '86' during a rather tense session in the studio. Because drummer Stewart Copeland broke his collarbone, he was unable to play the drums. He used his Fairlight CMI to program the drum track for this track, while lead singer Sting pushed to utilize the drums on his Synclavier instead. Copeland was later quoted as saying that the argument over Synclavier versus Fairlight drums was 'the straw that broke the camel's back', and led to the group's unraveling.

My collection: 7" single no. 1245
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, June 14, 1990
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Don't stand so close to me '86' / 'Don't stand so close to me (live)'

Seven wonders - Fleetwood Mac

I know that Fleetwood Mac is famous especially for their albums 'Rumours' and 'Tusk', but my personal favourite remains the 'comeback album' 'Tango in the night', released in 1987. It has been slammed for being 'too commercial sounding', but I wonder what could be wrong with that. The compositions have stood the test of time, and best of all: most of the singles have been released on 12" single with an extended remix. Now this is a part of my collection that I'm still working on...

I recently found the 12" single of 'Seven wonders', and quite cheaply too. Released as the second single from the million-selling album, it couldn't match the success of previous single 'Big love'. It was a top 20 hit in America and South-Africa only.

My collection: 12" single no. 495

Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, March 14, 2009

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Seven wonders (extended remix)' / 'Book of miracles (instrumental)', 'Seven wonders (dub)'

Sweetest child - Maria McKee

The sleeve of 'Sweetest child' states 'featuring Maria McKee', but since no other artist is mentioned, I always take this simply as a song by her. And indeed, it was written by McKee with Brody and Glover, so my assumption should be correct.

The other assumption I made when this single came out, was that it would be a hit. I wasn't right in that respect: the single flopped in the territories I know about. Still, it is a nice song and there is no real explanation for its lack of success.

My collection: 7" single no. 1690
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, August 1, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Sweetest child (7" version)' / 'Acapella sweetest child'

Red tape - The Nits

The Nits released their fourth album 'Work' in 1981. It didn't reach the album chart in the Netherlands, but the album did spawn one hit: the single 'Red tape', released in January 1982, got to number 24 in the Dutch Top 40.

The song is a beautiful slice of synthpop with a slightly mysterious lyric. I always liked this track, and was really glad when I found the single seven years later.

My collection: 7" single no. 737

Found: All that music, Leiden, February 9, 1989

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Red tape' / 'Goodbye, mr. Chips!'

Walking on air - Frazier Chorus

To strengthen their image as a dance-oriented band, Frazier Chorus released two different 12" singles of the track, of which this was the second. It contains three remixes of the track: a 12" version, the 'Maharishi Yogi mix' and an instrumental remix called '18 hole doc marten mix'.

This second 12" single contains a calendar poster for the year 1991. Judging from the state of the poster, the one I bought as a second hand copy was actually used by someone.

My collection: 12" single no. 179
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 1993
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Walking on air', 'Walking on air (Marahishi Yogi mix)' / 'Walking on air (18 hole doc marten mix)'

Walking on air - Frazier Chorus

To strengthen their image as a dance-oriented band, Frazier Chorus released two different 12" singles of the track, of which this was the first. It contained the extended mix of 'Walking on air' (which also appeared on the cd-single format), plus an exclusive dub instrumental. Both tracks were remixed by Youth.

My collection: 12" single no. 178

Found: Record exchange, London, October 1993

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Walking on air (extended mix)' / 'Walking on air (dub instrumental)'

Walking on air - Frazier Chorus

Continuing the Easter theme, this is the sleeve of the last single by Frazier Chorus, released in 1990. The single version of 'Walking on air' was remixed by Youth and continued Frazier Chorus's move towards more dance-oriented music.

Sounding a lot like other bands around at the time, Frazier Chorus lost the thing that made them 'different', their identity. And so this was their last release.

My collection: 7" single no. 2525

Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, November 1, 1995

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Walking on air' / 'Walking on air (album version)'

Heaven - Frazier Chorus

I saw the Pope today, speaking about life after death and all that malarkey. To use the words of Frazier Chorus' 1990 single: 'It seems our eternal reward / is to hang out in heaven, eternally bored'. Since it's Easter today, I thought this sleeve was a fitting tribute: after all, Easter is not about religion but about eggs. As we all know.

My collection: 7" single no. 2760

Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 29, 1996

Cost: 50p

Tracks: 'Heaven' / 'Heaven (God like edit)'

Lovefool - The Cardigans

The Swedish band The Cardigans formed in Jönköping in 1992. Heavy metal musicians Peter Svensson and Magnus Sveningsson formed the band together with singer Nina Persson plus Bengt Lagerberg and Lars-Olof Johansson. Their debut album 'Emmerdale' was released in 1994, followed by the second album 'Life' in 1996. Signing to Mercury Records in 1996, their first international release 'First band on the moon' featured the hit 'Lovefool'.

The single peaked at number 2 in the UK singles chart and topped the chart in New Zealand. I found this limited edition white vinyl 7" single while on holiday in London. The band had some further international hits but unfortunately they weren't released on 7" vinyl. What a shame!

My collection: 7"single no. 3262

Found: Record exchange, London, October 20, 2000

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Lovefool' / 'Nasty sunny beam'

Big bubbles, no troubles - Ellis, Beggs and Howard

The debut single of Ellis, Beggs & Howard, 'Big bubbles, no troubles' was released in the summer of 1988. It was a hit in the Netherlands (peaking at number 16) and several other European countries, though it only made number 41 in the UK singles chart.

Briefly after its release, I found the cd-single at discount price. The picture disc included two mixes of the song. It was only after some time that I realised I didn't have the single version of this song. And so, when I found the single in 1995 I was pretty happy.

Nick Beggs performed this song live as part of his set as a 'support act' during the November 2007 European tour of Kim Wilde. He performed it armed only with a backing track and a Chapman stick. The song still sounded as fresh as ever!

My collection: 7" single no. 2587

Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, December 30, 1995

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Big bubbles, no troubles' / 'Rock me'

Je ogen hebben geen geheimen / Främling - Carola

Swedish singer Carola was born on September 8, 1966. She represented Sweden in the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Främling', which ended up in third place. Carola proceeded to record three versions in other languages: 'Love isn't love' (English), 'Fremder' (German) and 'Je ogen hebben geen geheimen', the Dutch version which helped the single get to number 7 in the Dutch Top 40.

The album of the same name sold over one million copies in Sweden, making it the biggest-selling album in Swedish music history.

My collection: 7" single no. 2971
Found: February 21, 1998

Cost: 4 guilders

Tracks: 'Je ogen hebben geen geheimen' / 'Främling'

That's what they say about love - Flip

Flip formed in the mid-Eighties. Singer/songwriters Anthony Duke and Frank Walsh recruited Gary Duke, Andy Kinch and Tristian Batory. In 1984 the band were signed to Arista Records, recording an album 'Flip' on 'Private I' records. It was recorded at Abbey Road, Wessex, Sarm and Air Studios and produced by Peter Collins, Colin Thurston and Eric Stewart (10cc). Stewart played on 'Love incognito', he also added a solo on the track 'Demand'.

The single 'That's what they say about love' was released in Spring 1986, and managed to squeeze into the Dutch Top 40, peaking at number 37.

My collection: 7" single no. 417
Found: V&D, Den Haag, June 21, 1986
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'That's what they say about love' / 'Love incognito'

French kiss - Lil Louis

A novelty record. Chicago house music producer Louis Burns produced a dance track in 1989 with female house-music singer Shawn Christopher performing some moaning and groaning on the, ahem, climax of the song.

The single went number one in the Netherlands, and peaked at number 2 in the UK, Switzerland and Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 2142

Found: White noise, Utrecht, August 2, 1994

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'French kiss' / 'New York'

Be my number two - Joe Jackson

Taken from his 1984 album 'Body and soul', 'Be my number two was single number three, and unfortunately the least successful of them. While 'You can't get what you want ('til you know what you want)' and 'Happy ending' made the charts in the UK, Australia, and America, 'Be my number two' was only a minor hit in the UK, peaking at number 70.

I discovered the song years after it was released, and was immediately impressed by the arrangement. The rather aggressive instrumental at the end of the song is a beautiful contrast with the rather vulnerable lyric and first half of the song. After discovering the song, I spent years finding the single. I was relieved when I finally found it.

My collection: 7" single no. 1903

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 2, 1993

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Be my number two' / 'Heart of ice'

Going home (Theme of the Local Hero) - Mark Knopfler

Local Hero is a Scottish film starring Peter Riegert, Denis Lawson, Peter Capaldi and Burt Lancaster. The film is set in the fictional fishing village of Ferness on the west coast of Scotland. A young representative of an American oil company is sent to the village on a mission.

The film's soundtrack, which got more sales than the film itself, was written by Mark Knopfler, who at the time was still a member of Dire Straits. The theme song 'Going home' was released as a single and peaked at number 20 in the Dutch Top 40. While I didn't buy many instrumental singles, I did like this one so much that I bought it while it was still in the charts.

My collection: 7" single no. 188

Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1983

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Going home (Theme of the Local Hero)' / 'Smooching'

Somebody - Junior

Junior Giscombe was born June 6, 1960 in London. In 1982 he made his debut with 'Mama used to say', which peaked at number 7 in the UK. Further big hits eluded him, with the exception of 'Another step', the duet he recorded with Kim Wilde, which was released as a single in 1987.

Before that, though, I found out about him because of the single 'Somebody', which released in 1984. The video featured regularly on music television stations. I finally found the single fifteen years later...

My collection: 7" single no. 3171

Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, January 18, 2000

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Somebody' / 'Somebody (Extreme mix)'

Kiss and tell - Bryan Ferry

Bryan Ferry wrote the song 'Kiss and tell' as a response to his former girlfriend Jerry Hall's autobiography, which included some less than complimentary remarks about Ferry. The track became famous not so much for itself, but for the video which included several models, including the then-controversial Mandy Smith, who was in a relationship with Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman, who was 44 years older than she was.

The song ended up peaking at number 41 in the UK singles chart. This limited edition box set edition included a fold-out lyric sheet, two postcards and, of course, the single.

My collection: 7" single no. 2280

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, May 6, 1995

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Kiss and tell' / 'Zamba'

Don't rush me - Taylor Dayne

The fourth and last single from her debut album 'Tell it to my heart' was, amazingly, the most successful one in America, peaking at number 2. In the UK it stalled at number 76 and in the Netherlands the single didn't chart at all.

While I was collecting Taylor Dayne singles at the time, I waited a long time before I bought this one. I felt the song wasn't that interesting and the B-side was an album track as well, making it a less desirable item. In the end I found it very cheap, and added it to my collection to be complete. I never played this single much, though.

My collection: 7" single no. 794

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, April 15, 1989

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Don't rush me' / 'In the darkness'

Download: Album 'Tell it to my heart', including both tracks

I just want to be your everything - Andy Gibb

Andy Gibb was born on March 5, 1958 as the youngest brother of Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb, also known as the Bee Gees. Gibb began playing at tourist clubs around Ibiza, and later back in his homeland of the Isle of Man, as a young teenager. The idea of his joining the Bee Gees was often suggested, but he never did this because of the fact that he was eight years younger than Robin and Maurice, who in turn were three years younger than Barry.

After returning to Australia in 1975, Andy began recording a series of his own compositions. One of them, 'Words and music' would eventually reach Top 5 on the Sydney music charts in 1976. This led to Andy being invited by Robert Stigwood to launch his international career. Gibb released 'Flowing rivers', including this single, 'I just want to be your everything'. It was released in the summer of 1977, and peaked at number 26 in the UK singles chart. It initially flopped in the Netherlands, but then got a re-release in September and still reached number 24 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 864

Found: All that music, Leiden, June 2, 1989

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'I just want to be your everything' / 'In the end'

We could be together - Debbie Gibson

Debbie Gibson was born on August 31, 1970. Aged just sixteen, she debuted with the single 'Only in my dreams' and the album 'Out of the blue'. In America, she was presented as the 'good girl' as opposed to 'bad girl' Tiffany, who was of the same age.

I was not attracted to Debbie Gibson's bubblegum pop music at all. I didn't buy any of her singles. But in 1989, I heard 'We could be together' and thought it was a nice track. I was a bit surprised when it wasn't released in the Netherlands, but I bought a copy of the single that October, since I was in London anyway. Twenty years later it sounds like a bland song after all...

My collection: 7" single no. 998

Found: Tower Records, London, October 16, 1989

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'We could be together' / 'Over the wall (dub version)'