My Sharona - The Knack

The Knack released their debut single 'My Sharona' in 1979. According to lead singer/guitarist Doug Fieger, he met Sharona Alperin (who was 16 at the time) and she inspired a two-month-long run of songwriting. 'It was like getting hit in the head with a baseball bat; I fell in love with her instantly. And when that happened, it sparked something and I started writing a lot of songs feverishly in a short amount of time.' The main riff of 'My Sharona' was written by the band's guitarist, Berton Averre, long before he ever joined The Knack.

Sharona appears on the picture sleeve for the single, and became a major booster of the band bringing many girls to their early shows. The single reached number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 6 on the UK singles chart and number 20 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 1895
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 2, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'My Sharona' / 'Let me out'

Talk Talk - Talk Talk

When EMI released the compilation album 'Natural history' in 1990, the record company was also re-releasing lots of old Talk Talk singles. For some strange reason, EMI France decided to re-release the band's early single 'Talk Talk'. Not that it had been a hit in 1982, when it was originally released. And sure enough, the second time around it didn't chart either.

As a collector of Talk Talk single, I was happy to find this item. The artwork is different from the singles that were (re-)released in the UK in 1990, so it's a great find.

My collection: 7" single no. 3119
Found: Record fair, June 27, 1999
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Talk Talk' / 'Today'

You're in the army now - Bolland

The brothers Rob and Ferdi Bolland released their album 'The domino theory' in 1981. The single 'You're in the army now' was released as the first single from that album. In the Netherlands, this single did not chart, but in South Africa, where the two were born, the single peaked at number 9 in May 1982.

In 1986, the band Status Quo recorded the song on their album 'In the army now'. Their version peaked at number 2 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1160
Found: All that music, Leiden, January 27, 1990
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'In the army now' / 'The Domino Theory theme'

Nur ein Lied - Thomas Forstner

Thomas Forstner was born on December 3, 1969 in Deutsch Wagram, Austria. He represented Austria during the 1989 Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Nur ein Lied' ('Only a song'), composed and produced by Dieter Bohlen, of Modern Talking fame. The song gave Austria fifth place — their highest position since their win in 1966.

Forstner was selected to represent Austria again in Rome in 1991. His entry, "Venedig im Regen" (English: "Venice in Rain") came in last at 22nd, failing to score a single point.

My collection: 7" single no. 3802
Found: eBay.co.uk, received June 25, 2009
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Nur ein Lied' / 'Nur ein Lied (instrumental)'

Memories - Earth and Fire

Earth & Fire debuted in 1970 with the single 'Seasons'. The single made an immediate impression and peaked at number 2 in the Dutch Top 40. But it would take the band two years to improve on that success: 'Memories', released in April 1972, was the band's first single to reach the number one position.

'Memories' was taken from the album 'Song of the marching children', an album that was released in a beautifully illustrated gatefold sleeve, as advertised on the back of the sleeve of this single.

My collection: 7" single no. 2731
Found: September 7, 1996
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Memories' / 'From the end till the beginning'

I don't know anybody else - Black box

'I don't know anybody else' was the second hit single for the Italo house band Black Box. It was the second single from their debut album 'Dreamland' and was released in the first months of 1990 in most of countries worldwide. The single peaked at number 4 in the UK singles chart, number 23 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 37 in the Dutch Top 40.

The song features an un-credited Martha Wash on lead vocals. Wash later sued the record label for royalties and directly contributed to legislation ensuring proper credit for vocalists on both songs and music videos.

My collection: 7" single no. 1199
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, March 30, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'I don't know anybody else (Melody mix)' / 'I don't know anybody else (House club)'

You're all I have - Snow Patrol

The first single from Snow Patrol's 2006 album 'Eyes open' was the rock song 'You're all I have'. According to band leader Gary Lightbody: 'It’s near the beginning of a dangerously reliant relationship. The album is full of songs like this. Rather than a break up record this is a make up record. That is a massive generalization but it is a more positive record than the last'.

The single was a big success in the UK, where it peaked at number 7. The single did not chart in the Netherlands, but by that time I was already so much into Snow Patrol that I bought their albums blindly. And the singles followed in time...

My collection: 7" single no. 3495
Found: eBay.co.uk, received December 12, 2008
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'You're all I have' / 'You're all I have (Minotaur Shock remix)'

Something real (Inside me, inside you) - Mr. Mister

Released as the first single from their third album 'Go on...', 'Something real (Inside me, inside you)' was the first indication of a lack of success. The single did reach number 29 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, but in other territories the single did not chart.

This album did not fare well commercially either. It would become the last album by the band before they broke up in 1989.

My collection: 7" single no. 2306
Found: Record fair, May 27, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Something real (Inside me, inside you)' / 'Bare my soul'

If I can dream - Michael Ball

Sometimes I gamble when I buy a single. This is an example. I knew the songs, I knew the singer, so I thought 'what the hell'. The real surprise was that the musical accompaniment could have been a lot more expensive: the whole EP sounds rather cheap. This must be why the single only managed a number 51 placing during a 2 week chart run in the UK.

Michael Ball commented on the back of the sleeve: 'The words of a song have always been important to me and these songs are great examples of fine lyrics'. Okay, fair enough. But next time, try an orchestra instead of a synthesizer...

My collection: 7" single no. 2190
Found: House of Rhythm, London, September 29, 1994
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'If I can dream', 'You don't have to say you love me' / 'Always on my mind', 'Tell me there's a heaven'

Making love (out of nothing at all) - Air Supply

'Making love out of nothing at all' was written and composed by Jim Steinman. Air Supply recorded the track as a new song for their 1983 'Greatest hits' album. The song became a number two hit in the US Billboard Hot 100. At the time, it was held off the top spot by another Jim Steinman production, Bonnie Tyler's 'Total eclipse of the heart'. Incidentally, Tyler recorded the track on her album 'Free spirit' twelve years later.

The song is featured on the movie 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith', as well as the movies 'Click' and 'Dumb and Dumberer'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3109
Found: Big Company Records, London, May 13, 1999
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Making love (out of nothing at all)' / 'Late again (recorded live)'

The hardest part - Coldplay

While their previous single 'Talk' was a sort of tribute to the German band Kraftwerk, 'The hardest part' was intended to acknowledge the band R.E.M. When asked why, band leader Chris Martin explained: 'I've lost all respect for fame, but I haven't lost all respect for respect. So the one great thing about being famous is that I get to meet people who I respect. Our relationship is akin to a dog and its master. I'll always look up to (Michael Stipe, band leader of R.E.M.).'

While the single did not chart in the UK, it did peak at number 25 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3497
Found: eBay.co.uk, received December 23, 2008
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'The hardest part' / 'Pour me (live at the Hollywood Bowl)'

Get down on it - Kool and the Gang

'Get down on it"was recorded by the jazz/funk/R&B/pop band Kool & the Gang on their album 'Something special' in 1981. The song reached number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 8 in the Netherlands. In the UK, the single peaked at number 3.

Ten years later it was re-released in the UK but it was only in the chart for one week, at number 69.

My collection: 7" single no. 3124
Found: July 24, 1999
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Get down on it' / 'No show'

Half light - Athlete

'Half light' was the second single from Athlete's second album 'Tourist'. It was released in April 2005 and peaked at number 16 in the UK singles chart.

This single was released as a 7" picture disc, including a remix of 'Half light' on the B-side, which did not appear on any other format (although a promotional cd-single with the track does exist).

My collection: 7" single no. 3412
Found: HMV, London, 2005
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Half light' / 'Half light (Eddie TM Losers mix)'

Black velvet - Alannah Myles

Alannah Myles was born on December 25, 1958 in Toronto, Ontario (Canada). At sixteen, she began performing in Southern Ontario. She performed cover versions of Aretha Franklin, T. Rex, AC/DC, Bob Seger, Anne Peebles, the Rolling Stones, and the Pretenders. Later, she joined with David Tyson to produce her self-titled debut album, Alannah Myles.

This album contained her worldwide hit single 'Black velvet.' The song was a commemoration of the life and career of Elvis Presley. The single reached number 3 in the Netherlands and peaked at number 2 in the UK singles chart. Myles also won a Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Performance.

My collection: 7" single no. 1406
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, April 3, 1991
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Black velvet' / 'If you want to'

Viver senza tei - Furbaz

The Swiss band Furbaz consisted of Marie Louise Werth, Ursin Defuns, Gion Defuns and Giusep Quinter. They won the Swiss national final and represented Switzerland during the 1989 Eurovision Song Contest with their song 'Viver senza tei'. The song was performed in one of the four official languages of Switzerland, Romansh.

The song ended on 13th place in the contest.

My collection: 7" single no. 3803
Found: eBay.co.uk, received June 25, 2009
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Viver senza tei' / 'Ina flur'

Working in a goldmine - Aztec Camera

Taken from the album 'Love', 'Working in goldmine' was an unlikely single candidate. The track lasts for 5 minutes and 40 seconds and is a tad introverted. But it is an interesting song and that was rewarded by the listeners in the UK; the single climbed to the number 31 position.

My copy of the single contains a slight error: the label for the A-side is attached on both sides of the disc. The B-side, 'I threw it all away', was recorded live at the Colston Hall, Bristol in June 1988.

My collection: 7" single no. 793
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, April 15, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Working in a goldmine' / 'I threw it all away (live)'

Calling out - Curt Smith

After the demise of Tears for Fears as a duo in the early Nineties, Roland Orzabal decided to go on under the name of the band while Curt Smith tried to make it on his own. Unfortunately, he turned out to be the least successful one of the two.

Both this single and the album 'Soul on board', released in 1993, failed to chart. Subsequently, the album was never released at all in the US. Smith himself has stated that he hates the album and alleges that he made it purely to fulfil his recording contract with Phonogram/Mercury Records.

My collection: 7" single no. 1990
Found: HMV, London, October 18, 1993
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Calling out' / 'Deal'

Writing on the wall - One 2 Many

The last single from One 2 Many's only album 'Mirror' was 'Writing on the wall'. The track was remixed for the single release by Julian Mendelsohn. It did not help matters much: the single did not chart.

Singer Camilla Griehsel was still promoting the music of the band while it had already fallen apart. After she was released from her contract she'd already met singer Colin Vearncombe (from Black), with whom she married and had children. Nowadays they live in Ireland, and Camilla is enjoying a successful career as a classical singer.

My collection: 7" single no. 1012
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Writing on the wall' / 'Another man'

Bad old days - CoCo

The group CoCo formed in the first half of the Seventies but they only rose to fame in 1978 when they represented the United Kingdom during that year's Eurovision Song Contest. The group consisted of Terry Bradford, Josie Andrews, Cheryl Baker, Keith Hasler and Paul Rogers.

'Bad old days' finally reached 11th place in a field of 20 participants. Subsequently, the single reached number 13 in the UK singles chart. In contrast to previous years, the song had not reached the chart in the weeks leading up to the contest and had been noticeably absent. Its eventual peak of 13 occurred several weeks after their appearance in the Contest. It was to be the group's only hit.

My collection: 7" single no. 3801
Found: eBay.co.uk, received June 25, 2009
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Bad old days' / 'Get you out of my life'

Tell it like it is - Don Johnson

Don Johnson is best known for his acting work in the television series Miami Vice. Once you are famous in America, you can do pretty much whatever you want, so mister Johnson opted for a singing career, despite not having a very remarkable voice.

'Tell it like it is' is a song written by George Davis and Lee Diamond and recorded several times by different artists, to varying degrees of success. It was first recorded by Aaron Neville, who released the song as a solo single in 1966. It became a hit, peaking at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 in early 1967. Don Johnson's version was only released in the UK and Europe to reasonable success: the single peaked at number 6 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 1051
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Tell it like it is' / 'Angel city'

Bliss - Tori Amos

'Bliss' was the first single from Tori Amos' 1999 double album 'To Venus and back'. One disc of that album was filled with new tracks, whereas the other disc was filled with atrocious live tracks. Atrocious, because the audiences kept screaming through the music. I'll never understand why people felt the need to do that during Tori Amos concerts.

Tori Amos commented about the song: 'I sing Father I killed my monkey to lead off the song, which explains that sometimes you even destroy your own so they can't excavate it. When I was growing up, I started becoming very secretive about my thoughts and the sensory world I would go to, because there's a lot of mind control that goes on constantly, people wanting access: 'What are you thinking?' So sometimes I'd have my own defense going, which would be to look them straight in the eye and make them think I've killed my imagination. But it's like, I'll take control.'

My collection: 7" single no. 3145
Found: Record fair, 1999
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Bliss' / 'Hey Jupiter (live)'

Jealous heart - Maire Brennan

When you listen to this single and you know Máire Brennan's sister Enya's body of work, it's hard to imagine that there was ever a rowdy party at the Brennan residence. The music of the two sisters is beautiful, but sometimes verging on boring.

This second single from Máire Brennan's debut solo album 'Máire' flopped in the UK. The B-side, sung in Gaelic, would not be out of place in a church repertoire. Sometimes you would just wish that Máire would rock out a little.

My collection: 7" single no. 1735
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1992
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Jealous heart' / 'Citi Na gCumann'

Casanova - Luv'

'Casanova' was Luv's fifth hit single, released in April 1979. First awarded the 'Alarmschijf', Radio Veronica's weekly tip for the chart, the single quickly moved up to sixth place in the Dutch Top 40. Nothing else is very spectacular about the song: it sounds a lot like the trio's earlier material.

I bought the single back when I was just an eight year old. I was a fan of Boney M, Abba and Luv', and having learned the importance of a record collection at a very early age from my older brother and sister, I bought anything they released. The least you can say about Luv' nowadays is that their records had great sleeves back then.

My collection: 7" single no. 20
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1979
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Casanova' / 'DJ'

What becomes of the broken-hearted - Jimmy Ruffin

Jimmy Ruffin was born on May 7, 1939 in Collinsville, Mississippi. Ruffin abandoned his gospel background to become a session singer in the early Sixties. He first signed with a Motown Records subsidiary, the short-lived Miracle, in 1961. He recorded a one-off single, before he was drafted for national service.

After leaving the U.S. Army, he returned to Motown. He turned down the opportunity to join the Temptations and instead recommended his brother David Ruffin for the job. In 1966 he released 'What becomes of the broken-hearted'. In the UK, the single peaked at number 8. When it was re-released in 1974, the single improved on this placing, peaking at number 4!

My collection: 7" single no. 3281
Found: February 9, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'What becomes of the broken-hearted' / 'Don't you miss me a little bit baby'

Giddyap a gogo - Ad Visser and Daniel Sahuleka

Ad Visser was born in Amsterdam on April 28, 1947. After a short spell in the avant garde trio Blurp and working for several record companies, he becomes the face of the weekly pop programme Toppop, broadcast in the Netherlands between 1970 and 1985.

In 1982 he writes the book 'Sobriëtas' with a soundtrack released on LP. The single 'Giddyap a gogo', with guest vocals from Dutch artist Daniel Sahuleka, is taken from this LP, and becomes a surprise hit. The single peaks at number 26 in the Dutch Top 40 and Ad Visser actually presents and performs his own song on Toppop.

My collection: 7" single no. 560
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Giddyap a gogo' / 'Relief of Demorzan'

Thriller - Michael Jackson

Somehow I couldn't imagine Michael Jackson playing 50 dates in London this year, but the way it doesn't come to pass is even more bizarre than I could ever have imagined. 'Where were you when you heard Michael Jackson died?'. Well, I saw the first reports coming in late last night and as the first rumour of his death appeared on the internet I went to sleep. The next morning I got up in the knowledge that he was probably dead. And the news only confirmed my expectation. It's a sad day.

Michael Jackson leaves behind an unequalled musical legacy. By themselves the songs aren't that extraordinary, but the whole catalogue of his hits is quite amazing. 'Thriller' is probably the song that confirmed his status as a superstar in 1984. With the guest voice of Vincent Price and the amazing music video, this is the one single that I chose to represent Jackson's amazing career.

My collection: 7" single no. 3758

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, May 27, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Thriller (special edit)' / 'Things I do for you (live)' (The Jacksons)

Midnight man - Sandra

'Midnight man' was released as the fourth and final single from Sandra's second album 'Mirrors'. The single charted in a few European countries, but didn't make the top 10 in any of them. In Germany, the single only reached number 24, making this Sandra's lowest charting single in that county.

I had started collecting Sandra singles when I bought this one. It was really quite easy to find them all as long as I went to record fairs.

My collection: 7" single no. 1924
Found: Record fair, June 5, 1993
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Midnight man' / 'Mirror of love'

Steam - Peter Gabriel

'Steam' was released as the second single from Peter Gabriel's 1992 album 'Us'. Peter Gabriel has said that the song is about a relationship in which the woman is sophisticated, bright, cultured, and knows everything about anything and that the man knows nothing about anything, except, he does know about the woman, and she doesn't know much about herself.

In a way, 'Steam' does take the listener back to the sound of 'Sledgehammer', and the video even reminds of that video as well. It became Gabriel's last top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at number 10. In the Netherlands, the single reached number 16.

My collection: 7" single no. 2242
Found: February 18, 1995
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Steam' / 'Games without frontiers (Massive/DB mix)'

Fanfare for the common man - Emerson Lake and Palmer

'Fanfare for the common man' is a 20th-century American classical music work by American composer Aaron Copland. The piece was written in 1942 for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

Copland's fanfare was reincarnated in 1977 by British rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer on their album 'Works Volume I'. Keith Emerson had long been an admirer of Copland's Americana style. The track became one of the band's biggest hits when an edited version was released as a single that year. It reached number 2 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2644
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 24, 1996
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Fanfare for the common man' / 'Brain salad surgery'

Catch me - Marsha Raven

Marsha Raven recorded 'Catch me' in 1983. It was originally released as a simple dance song but it didn't hit the charts. It was remixed in 1984. This version featured a recording of London's Big Ben. In this version, the track became a hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 4. It is quite remarkable that this single did not chart in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 1286
Found: All that music, Leiden, August 31, 1990
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Catch me' / 'Catch me (instrumental)'

Touchy! - A-ha

Although I was a fan of A-ha's music ever since they hit it big with 'Take on me', I grew increasingly unimpressed by their choice of singles in 1988. The album 'Stay on these roads' was decent enough, but the record company had a knack for choosing the most bland tracks as a single. Things hit rock bottom - in my opinion, of course - when 'Touchy!' was released in the summer of 1988. It was A-ha's most 'autopilot'-inspired track. The audiences still fell for it: the single peaked at number 11 in the UK and number 14 in the Netherlands.

I only bought the single when I found this limited edition with an extra outer sleeve. It features the A-ha logo with green liquid in it. Unfortunately, time has caused a leak in this logo, so my copy does not contain much liquid anymore. I'm curious if anyone reading this still has an intact copy of this.

My collection: 7" single no. 1852
Found: Record fair, January 23, 1993
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Touchy!' / 'Hurry home'

Blinded (by the beauty of your eyes) - The Kick

Buying this single was actually a mistake. When I was only nine years old, sometimes I got confused by all these bands and their names. I was actually looking for 'My Sharona' by The Knack, but arrived home with 'Blinded (by the beauty of your eyes)' by The Kick.

The Kick was a short-lived Dutch band. In fact, they were so short-lived that no information about the band has survived today. All I can gather from the single itself is that their song was written by W.S. van Vugt and that they were produced by famous Dutch producer/songwriter/DJ Will Luikinga. This single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 74
Found: Rapsody, Den Haag, 1980
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Blinded (by the beauty of your eyes)' / 'Like a puppet'

Living in a box - Living in a box

Richard Darbyshire, Marcus Vere and Anthony Critchlow formed Living in a box in Sheffield in 1985. Their most commercially successful single, 'Living in a box', peaked at number 5 on the UK singles chart and was the band's only single to chart in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, peaking at number 17. In the Netherlands, the single peaked at number 10.

The Penthouse mix, which appears on the B-side of this single, was mixed by Arthur Baker.

My collection: 7" single no. 525
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Living in a box' / 'Living in a box (The Penthouse mix)'

Free fallin' - Tom Petty

'Free Fallin'' is the opening track from Tom Petty's 1989 solo album, 'Full moon fever'. The song was written by Petty and his writing partner for the album, Jeff Lynne. The duo wrote and recorded the single in two days, making it the first song completed for the album.

The single peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1990. In the UK it stalled at number 64.

My collection: 7" single no. 1143
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, January 13, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Free fallin'' / 'Love is a long road'

Peace - Depeche Mode

'Peace' is the second single from Depeche Mode's current album 'Sounds of the Universal'. It was released two weeks ago on two different cd-singles and this numbered limited edition 7" pressed white marbled vinyl. This is number 10891. Martin Gore told The Sun newspaper that 'Peace' is one of his favourite songs of the ones that he has ever written.

The single peaked at number 57 in the UK singles chart, just like their debut single 'Dreaming of me' in 1981. In Germany, 'Peace' reached number 25.

My collection: 7" single no. 3800
Found: eBay.co.uk, received June 25, 2009
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Peace (single version)' / 'Come back (Jonsi remix)'

La dolce vita - Anneli Saaristo

When you listen to 'La dolce vita' by Anneli Saaristo and you know it is a Eurovision song, the assumption is quickly made that it is a Spanish song. But nothing could be further from the truth: this 1989 entry was actually sent in by Finland!

The result was not bad: the song finished seventh in the Contest in a field of 22 participants.

My collection: 7" single no. 3799
Found: eBay.co.uk, received June 25, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'La dolce vita [Finnish]' / 'La dolce vita [English]'

We are the champions - Queen

When the band Queen was good, they were good. And when they were awful, they were truly awful. But I could never quite make up my mind with this single: which was it?

'We are the champions' and 'We will rock you' can be considered a double A-side single, since both tracks have gained a prominence in pop culture that is quite unrivalled. 'We are the champions' is (mis)used for sports events, while 'We will rock you' is no stranger to pop concerts. The single reached number 2 in the UK and the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 379
Found: Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'We are the champions' / 'We will rock you'

Is this love - Alison Moyet

Alison Moyet celebrated a lot of success with her debut solo album 'Alf' (1984), but it also presented an interesting task to come up with a successful follow-up album. 1987's 'Raindancing' could not compare to the success of its predecessor but still came up with a few reasonably successful singles.

The first one was 'Is this love', co-written by the Eurythmics' David A. Stewart, who used the pseudonym Jean Guiot. The single peaked at number 3 in the UK singles chart and number 11 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3191
Found: September 16, 2000
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Is this love' / 'Blow wind blow'

Imagination - Belouis Some

Belouis Some was born as Neville Keighley on December 12, 1959. He released his debut album 'Some people' in 1985. The single 'Imagination' was taken from this album. On its first release in April 1985, it only reached number 50 in the UK singles chart. When it was re-released in January 1986, the single reached number 17.

The provocative music video was a regular on television for a year. No wonder then, that I remember this song well even now.

My collection: 7" single no. 383
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Imagination' / 'Have you ever been in love'

Dancing queen - Abba

Originally titled 'Boogaloo', 'Dancing Queen' was recorded in August 1975. During the sessions, Benny Andersson brought a tape home with the backing track on it and played it to his fiance, singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad, who apparently started crying when listening. She commented later: 'I thought the song was so beautiful'.

'Dancing Queen' became Abba's only American number one hit in April 1977. Before that, the single had already been a number one hit in Sweden (where it spent 14 weeks at the top), Norway, Ireland, West Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand.

In 1993, on the occasion of Queen Silvia's 50th birthday, Abba's Frida performed an accapella version of the song together with The Real Group. A video recording of this performance exists on 'Frida - The DVD', a documentary DVD released in 2005.

My collection: 7" single no. 2256
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, March 22, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Dancing Queen' / 'That's me'

Say hello wave goodbye - Soft Cell

Not only do I have the 12" single of 'Say hello wave goodbye', I've also got the 7" single. The single basically cuts the extended version of the 12" single into two parts, in which the first part becomes the instrumental version on the B-side, the second part is the single version on the A-side.

Soft Cell reached third place in the UK singles chart with this, one of their most acclaimed tracks in their career. It was covered by English singer David Gray in 1999.

My collection: 7" single no. 1929
Found: June 27, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Say hello wave goodbye' / 'Say hello wave goodbye (instrumental)'

Evening falls - Enya

'Evening falls' was the second single taken from Enya's breakthrough second album 'Watermark'. It was a typically silent song like she would record many times after this album and single. While her previous single 'Orinoco flow' was a number one hit in the UK, this one was less successful, peaking at number 20 only.

The B-side was a Gaelic version of the Christmas traditional 'Silent night' entitled 'Oiche Chiún', an apparent misspelling of 'Oiche Chiúin'.

My collection: 7" single no. 751
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, February 17, 1989
Cost: 4 guilders
Tracks: 'Evening falls' / 'Oiche Chiún'

Maman a tort - Mylene Farmer

Mylene Farmer was born on September 12, 1961 in Pierrefonds, Quebec, Canada, a suburb of Montreal. Her parents moved from France in the late Fifties as Farmer's father pursued an engineering contract on a dam. Her family returned to France when she was eight, settling in the Parisian suburb of Ville d'Avray. In 1984, Farmer met Laurent Boutonnat, a young film student, when she replied to a newspaper ad for an actress for a small film he was working on. Farmer and Boutonnat became friends and forged a creative partnership, writing and producing the music.

Boutonnat and a young songwriter named Jérôme Dahan wrote Farmer's first hit, 'Maman a tort', which was released to much success in March 1984. The video cost the modest sum of 5000 Francs but caused a stir in the music world. Boutonnat cast Farmer as a provocative Lolita figure, an image cultivated in her early days, especially on her debut album 'Cendres de lune', which was released in April 1986.

When I collected Mylene Farmer, starting in the early Nineties, these early singles already cost a fortune. I was quite happy to shell out a much larger sum for this single, bought from a dealer who apparently did not know he could easily fetch four times as much for it.

My collection: 7" single no. 2873
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, 1997
Cost: 20 guilders
Tracks: 'Maman a tort' / 'Maman a tort (instrumental)'

One thing leads to another - The Fixx

The Fixx were formed in 1980 in London by college friends Cy Curnin and Adam Woods, originally under the name The Portraits. The pair placed an ad for additional members. As a result, Jamie West-Oram, Rupert Greenall and Charlie Barret joined, and the band changed their name to The Fixx.

Their most successful release was the 1983 single 'One thing leads to another', which reached number 4 in the US Billboard Hot 100. In Europe, the single did not cause such a stir. It was released as a limited edition double single in the UK. The second disc included two earlier singles, which were minor successes in the UK in 1982.

My collection: 7" single no. 2614
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, February 10, 1996
Cost: 4 guilders
Tracks: 'One thing leads to another' / 'Inspiration' // 'Red skies' / 'Stand or fall'

Vriendschap - Het Goede Doel

The central theme of the song 'Vriendschap' ('Friendship') is made clear by the first sentence of the refrain: 'Eenmaal trek je de conclusie / Vriendschap is een illusie' ('Once you'll draw the conclusion / Friendship is an illusion'). This single by the Dutch band Het Goede Doel was one I played a lot after I was unsuccessful in conquering the heart of a female friend I had in highschool. She not only told me she wasn't interested in any romantic relationship, she also kept her distance for months. What a great friend she was.

The single was released in January 1983 and reached the number 4 position in the Dutch Top 40, just like their previous release, 'België'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3764
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received June 3, 2009

Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Vriendschap' / 'Anders dan iedereen'

Bruttosozialprodukt - Geier Sturzflug

Geier Sturzflug was formed by Friedel Geratsch, Werner Borowski, Uwe Kellerhoff, Michael Volkmann and Klaus Fiehe in 1979. They were one of the bands from the German New Wave genre, which took Germany by storm in the early Eighties.

Their single 'Bruttosozialprodukt' was the only one to find success in other non-German-speaking countries. It reached number 22 in the Dutch Top 40 in the summer of 1983.

My collection: 7" single no. 3308
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilders
Tracks: 'Bruttosozialprodukt' / 'Früher oder später'

Somewhere only we know - Keane

'Somewhere only we know' was the first single from Keane's debut album 'Hopes and fears'. The first demo was composed by Tim Rice-Oxley circa 2001. Rice-Oxley composed this song out of hammering with the piano and based on David Bowie's song 'Heroes'. It was first played on the guitar, just before Dominic Scott left the band, and recorded as a demo the same year with a Yamaha CP70 instead of the guitar.

Keane recorded the final version in 2003 at the Helioscentric Studios, Rye, East Sussex for the album. This song was the first Keane item released on vinyl format. The records were numbered and limited to 5000 copies, only sold in the UK. My copy is number 2135. The single peaked at number 3 in the UK and number 15 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 3798
Found: eBay.co.uk, received June 24, 2009
Cost: 5 pounds
Tracks: 'Somewhere only we know' / 'Snowed under'