Automatic pilot - Fay Lovski

Fay Lovski was one of the more interesting artists in the Netherlands during the first half of the Eighties. Her 1982 single 'Automatic pilot' did not reach the Dutch Top 40, but it is still a very charming song, making great use of the new sounds of that time.

I have to say that I've mostly forgotten about this song. I still decided to buy the single because most of her songs during that time are quite special. Fortunately, this one is no exception.

My collection: 7" single no. 3832
Found: Zeeheldenfestival, Den Haag, July 4, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Automatic pilot' / 'Walk don't walk'

Say it say it - E.G. Daily

So I've had the 12" single of 'Say it say it' for more than 20 years. I didn't buy the single because I didn't have enough money at the time. I didn't have that excuse anymore when I saw the single today - a steal at only 50 eurocents. Besides, the single had a B-side that didn't appear on the 12" single!

The single was a reasonable success for the American singer. It reached number 11 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 70 in the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3843
Found: Zeeheldenfestival, Den Haag, July 4, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Say it say it' / 'Don't let them take the child away'

Blow the house down - Living in a box

Having seen the Here and Now tours in the UK between 2001 and 2004, I've also had the pleasure to see Living in a box live. It was a mixed pleasure, actually. The songs were decent enough, but the band members had become a bit older and didn't move too subtle anymore. Especially 'Blow the house down' lacked the power it should have.

Back in 1989, this single was a hit for the band. It reached number 10 in the UK and number 11 in the Netherlands. I didn't like it back then. But the live performances did change that: it's actually quite a powerful song. Just as long as singer Richard Darbyshire didn't try to clap his hands in the air, though...

My collection: 7" single no. 3830
Found: Zeeheldenfestival, Den Haag, July 4, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Blow the house down' / 'Dance the mayonnaise'

Club Fantastic megamix - Wham!

'Club Fantastic megamix' is a unique Wham! single, because it's the only one that didn't become a top 10 hit in the UK. It still peaked at number 15, so that wasn't too bad, but all the other singles they released during their career made it into the top 10, which is quite a feat!

The megamix was a medley of three album tracks from Wham's debut album 'Fantastic': 'A ray of sunshine', 'Love machine' and 'Come on'. The band members George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley did not approve of this release. It was released three months after Wham! had begun proceedings to leave the label Innervision records.

My collection: 7" single no. 3846
Found: Zeeheldenfestival, Den Haag, July 4, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Club Fantastic megamix' / 'A ray of sunshine (instrumental mix)'

Positive reaction - Mandy Smith

Mandy Smith became a model during her early teens. In 1987 she was signed to PWL Records. The production trio Stock/Aitken/Waterman produced her first two singles, 'I just can't wait' and 'Positive reaction'. Neither single charted in the UK. The latter reached number 9 in Italy and number 11 in Switzerland.

Mandy Smith started dating Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman at age 13 in 1983. Six years later, they got married. In 1991, they divorced. In 2001, she was briefly engaged to Vanity Fair fashion model Ian Mosby with whom she had a son, Max Harrison Mosby. Smith now lives in Manchester. Having tried a career as a make up artist, Smith is presently training to be a counsellor.

My collection: 7" single no. 3836
Found: Zeeheldenfestival, Den Haag, July 4, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Positive reaction (Our Mandy's mix)' / 'Positive reaction (Amanda's mix)'

(Si Si) Je suis un rock star - Bill Wyman

Bill Wyman was born as William George Perks on October 24, 1936. He is best known as bass guitarist of the Rolling Stones, which he was between 1962 and 1992. While in the Stones, he recorded four solo albums, the third of which was 'Bill Wyman', released in 1982.

The single '(Si Si) Je suis un rock star' was released in July 1981 and became a top 20 hit in several countries. In the Netherlands, the single peaked at number 13, while in the UK it reached number 14.

My collection: 7" single no. 3829
Found: Zeeheldenfestival, Den Haag, July 4, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: '(Si Si) Je suis un rock star' / 'Rio de Janeiro'

Blaze of glory - Joe Jackson

It is printed on the sleeve and on the label of this single: 'For promotion only Not for sale'. So was 'Blaze of glory' released commercially as a single? You would guess not, because it is not listed in his discography on Wikipedia and discogs.com. Yet, I do have a cd-single which does not come with the 'promotion only' warning... How strange!

Anyway, 'Blaze of glory' is the title track of Joe Jackson's 1989 album. The on the album were an examination of his generation as the Eighties were ending, ranging from the optimism of the Fifties ('Tomorrow's world') to the politics of terrorism ('Rant and rave', included here on the B-side). The title track tells the story of a singer who is successful, but then dies young.

My collection: 7" single no. 1117
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, December 1, 1989
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Blaze of glory' / 'Rant and rave'

She's out of my life - Michael Jackson

It's hard to believe now, but 20 years ago, when you wanted to hear a song and not be dependent of radio stations, you actually had to buy records. You could also opt for cd's, but since my money resources were limited, I usually bought singles. And this is how I ended up with this single from the 'Hall of fame' series by Epic Records.

'She's out of my life' was an old song from 1980, which I did not have. I really wanted to have it, and while I am usually searching for picture sleeves, in this instance I made do with this release. Even if it didn't look that attractive, and even if the B-side was already part of my collection. These days, most people just download tracks somewhere. Life has become so much easier.

My collection: 7" single no. 1079
Found: HMV, London, October 19, 1989
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'She's out of my life' (Michael Jackson) / 'Lovely one' (Jacksons)

I'll wait - Taylor Dayne

Even though the American double 12" single of 'I'll wait' contains no less than 7 remixes of the track, the 'US 7" mix' is not on it. That one is included on the B-side of this single, which I bought almost a year after I bought the 12" format.

By that time, I was merely completing my collection, not so much an avid Taylor Dayne fan anymore. That star had faded fast, unfortunately.

My collection: 7" single no. 2360
Found: June 30, 1995
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'I'll wait (Hot mix)' / 'I'll wait (US 7" mix)'

More than the sun - Black

'More than the sun' was the second single by Black. Unlike the debut single 'Human features', this single was released on the independent 'Wonderful world of...' label. It is an early version of a track that Black would re-record in 1984, when they were signed to WEA Records. The B-side 'Jump' is an even bigger rarity, since that track never appeared again.

I ordered this single, together with another early Black release, in the UK, although I can't remember from which company. I received it some time after I ordered it. It was a very special moment: I was filling in some much-lamented gaps in my Black collection.

By the way: if you go to Black's official website, you can download the new album 'The Given' for free! (Donations welcome.)

My collection: 7" single no. 2626
Found: received March 9, 1996
Cost: 5 pounds
Tracks: 'More than the sun' / 'Jump'

Love is - Vikki

Vikki Watson was born in 1959 in Liss, Hampshire (UK). As a child she took singing and dancing lessons, and then went on to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. She wanted to become an opera singer, but soon realized that her voice was more suited to popular music.

In 1985 she represented the United Kingdom during the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Love is', gaining fourth place. The single reached number 49 in the UK singles chart. She toured the United States and then returned to her Celtic roots. She did well in terms of touring, television shows and live work, yet a difficult lifestyle coupled with the commercial direction of the material, drove her to emigrate to the United States. These days she is performing world music under the pseudonym Aeone.

My collection: 7" single no. 3828
Found: 45toeren.nl, received July 3, 2009
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Love is' / 'Lead me through the darkness'

Livin' thing - Electric Light Orchestra

'Livin' thing' was written by Jeff Lynne and appears on ELO's 1976 platinum-selling album 'A New World Record'. In the UK and Canada the single peaked at number 4, whereas in the Netherlands ELO scored their first top 10 hit with this, peaking at number 6. According to 'Unzipped', Suzi Quatro's autobiography, her sister Patti sang uncredited backing vocals on the track, particularly the 'higher and higher' parts.

The chorus of the song ('It's a livin' thing / It's a terrible thing to lose / It's a given thing / What a terrible thing to lose') has been subjected to frequent interpretation, because the lyric never explicitly identifies what 'it' is. This has led to the interpretation by some that the song was intended as an anti-abortion or a pro-environmentalist statement. Lyrical imagery elsewhere in the song may also give support to these impressions. Jeff Lynne has stated that the song was intended to be about love and the loss of love.

My collection: 7" single no. 3819
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, July 2, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Livin' thing' / 'Fire on high'

You're the greatest lover - Luv'

'You're the greatest lover' is Luv's signature song. Originally released in July 1978, it reached number 1 a month later. The trio was at the height of their popularity in the second half of 1978, when also their next single 'Trojan horse' became a number 1 hit.

So is it alright to buy singles by Luv' when you're a grown man? I guess not. I've got the perfect excuse, though: I've got nearly all their singles because I bought them as a kid. Now all I want to do is complete the set, like I'm doing with a lot of other artists. Just label this as a guilty pleasure...

My collection: 7" single no. 3823
Found: La La Land, July 2, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'You're the greatest lover' / 'Everybody's shakin' hands on Broadway'

Wow (Eddy TM Losers remix) - Snow Patrol

The album 'DanceRocks' was released in April 2007 and features remixes by Eddie Temple Morris. It's a collection of rock tracks by bands such as the Doors, the Who and the Infadels, remixed to fit the taste of the dancefloor crowd.

One of the tracks on the album is the Eddy TM Losers remix of 'Wow' by Snow Patrol. Being one of the hot bands around, that remix was also released on a promotional 7" single, backed with a remix of a track by Stone Lions. I didn't know this promo existed, but when I saw it I bought it immediately.

My collection: 7" single no. 3814
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, July 2, 2009
Cost: 4,5 euro
Tracks: 'Wow (Eddie TM Losers remix)' (Snow Patrol) / 'Transitions' (Stone Lions)

New dimension - Imagination

Imagination released the single 'New dimension' in 1983. It met with a muted response from the record-buying audience: the single only charted in the UK (where it peaked at number 56) and Germany (where it peaked at number 61). In the Netherlands, it was the biggest success, reaching number 12. It was also their last hit in the Netherlands.

When I bought this single I didn't know whether I had it already. Maybe this is because many of Imagination's singles sound the same. It's hard to distinguish the one from the other. That's not to say that the songs are bad: this is another great, dynamic dance track.

My collection: 7" single no. 3821
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, July 2, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'New dimension' / 'I'll always love you'

Schoolgirl - Steve Forbert

Steve Forbert was born on December 13, 1955 in Meridian, Mississippi. In America he is best known for his song 'Romeo's tune', which reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1980. However, in the Netherlands he had only one hit, 'Schoolgirl', which reached the Dutch Top 40 in March 1981 and peaked at number 19.

I only bought the single for the striking resemblance between the sleeve of this single and Kim Wilde's single 'Schoolgirl', which was released in 1986. Both were wearing jeans, both were photographed in black and white and both had a song entitled 'Schoolgirl'. However, hers is a lot better than his...

My collection: 7" single no. 3818
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, July 2, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Schoolgirl' / 'Rain'

The way to your heart - Soulsister

The Belgian duo Soulsister, consisting of Jan Leyers and Paul Michiels, released their fourth single 'The way to your heart' in 1988. What was interesting about this release, was the fact that initially the single was released at half price with only one track - the B-side being totally blank. The track owed a lot to the Sixties Motown sound.

The single reached number 7 in the Netherlands and also charted in many other European countries. After its European success, the single was released in the US in 1989 were it went to number 41 in the Billboard Hot 100.

My collection: 7" single no. 3822
Found: La La Land, July 2, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Track: 'The way to your heart'

There's no answer to it - Ph.D.

The self-titled debut album from Ph.D. did not only include their big hit 'I won't let you down' and the unsuccessful 'Little Suzi's on the up' but also this follow-up single, 'There's no answer to it'. This third single didn't trouble the charts anyway and sunk without a trace.

My collection: 7" single no. 3815
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, July 2, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'There's no answer to it' / 'Rock 'n' Roll days'

Einstein a go-go - Landscape

Landscape was formed in 1974 by Richard James Burgess, Christopher Heaton, Andy Pask, Peter Thoms and John Walters. They began experimenting with computer programmed music and electronic drums in the late Seventies, making records in the emerging genres of electronic dance music and synthpop.

They had only two hits in the UK, both in 1981: 'Norman Bates' which reached number 40 and the number 5 hit 'Einstein a go-go'. They never managed to score a hit outside of the UK, but this single appears on many Eighties compilation cd's.

My collection: 7" single no. 3824
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, July 2, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Einstein a go-go' / 'New religion'

Poker face - Lady Gaga

I don't really keep up with the hypes of today anymore. Sad to say, I've lost touch with the charts some years ago because the amount of untalented people and angry 'niggaz' became too high for me. But sometimes a new song still reaches me when I flick through the channels on TV.

Lady Gaga was born as Stefani Germanotta on March 28, 1986, in Yonkers, New York (USA). Her debut single was 'Just dance', released in April 2008, which was a number one hit in the USA, Canada, Australia, Ireland, the Netherlands and the UK. 'Poker face' was released in September 2008, and added France, Germany, New Zealand and Sweden to the countries where it topped the charts. About the song, Lady Gaga commented: 'It's about a lot of different things. I gamble but I’ve also dated a lot of guys who are really into sex and booze and gambling, so I wanted to write a record my boyfriends would like too.'

My collection: 7" single no. 3825
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, July 2, 2009
Cost: 5,9 euro
Tracks: 'Poker face' / 'Poker face (Space Cowboy remix)'

Video - The Dutch

After The Dutch had their first hit with 'This is welfare' and the mini-album of the same name, they released a new track as a single in 1984. It was 'Video', another nicely crafted popsong. The single did not chart - and in fact I didn't know it existed until today. I didn't really keep up with the band at all, so that's not so shocking.

The nice thing about buying singles is that every once in a while you can try out something. And as in this case, sometimes you get lucky.

My collection: 7" single no. 3820
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, July 2, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Video' / 'D'Artagnan'

Down to earth - Curiosity killed the cat

In 1985, the band Curiosity Killed the Cat was signed to Phonogram records. The group began recording their first album. However, producers Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare were taken off the project after some time, and replaced by Stewart Levine. As a result, the album was delayed for nearly a year.

The first single from the album, 'Misfit', was released in July 1986, but it was not successful. They had more luck when in December of the same year 'Down to earth' was released. Not only did the single go to number 3 in the UK singles chart, it also crossed over to the European audiences. In the Netherlands, the single peaked at number 12.

My collection: 7" single no. 3816
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, July 2, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Down to earth' / 'Down to earth (instrumental)'

Yellow boomerang - Middle of the Road

By 1973, the band Middle of the Road had stopped having hits in the UK. Their popularity remained unchanged on the European mainland. So much so, that the 1973 single 'Yellow boomerang' made it to number 2 in the Netherlands.

More singles followed, as well as a handful of albums, but by 1976 the musical landscape had changed and Middle of the Road eventually called it a day.

My collection: 7" single no. 3817
Found: La La Land, July 2, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Yellow boomerang' / 'Eve'

Oh yeah - Ash

'Oh Yeah' was released as the fifth single from Ash's album '1977'. It became their second Top 10 single. The lyric tells a tale of a 'bitter-sweet teenage love story'. The song features backing vocals by Lisa Moorish. Mark Hamilton has said of the single cover that it's 'supposed to show two young lovers just around 'that' age. Look they're in the woods, they've that sorta look on their faces that they might just have done 'it' whils't their mates waited 10 feet away drinking shandy bass and getting fucked up on a Lambert & Butler.'

The cd-single featured a cover of Abba's 'Does your mother know', which is why I bought that one. In the end I decided to buy the 7" single as well, even if that track was missing and replace by an exclusive 'Quartet' version of 'Oh yeah'. The single was pressed on yellow vinyl.

My collection: 7" single no. 2648
Found: Virgin Megastore, London, June 28, 1996
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Oh yeah', 'T-Rex' / 'Everywhere is all around', 'Oh yeah (Quartet version)'

Diamonds - Herb Alpert

What kind of a name is Herb? Well, anyway, Herb Alpert and his business partner Jerry Moss were the founders of the A&M label. When they signed Janet Jackson in the early Eighties, they couldn't have known about the level of stardom she would achieve, but when she did, Alpert made good use of it.

The 1987 single 'Diamonds' by Herb Alpert features prominent vocals by Janet Jackson, and it was probably a deciding factor in becoming a hit. The single reached number 27 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2561
Found: Record fair, November 19, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Diamonds (edit)' / 'African flame (edit)'

Lament - Ultravox

Ultravox's 1984 album 'Lament' saw the band continuing to move away from the synth pop style associated with their previous albums, heading into a more mainstream pop/rock direction, alike their comtemporaries Echo and the Bunnymen, Simple Minds and U2. The album featured greater use of guitar and 'stadium' reverb.

However, the title track was a melancholy ballad, accompanied by a music video featuring the band on a remote Scottish island. The single peaked at number 22 in the UK singles chart. This single was released, like many previous singles, on clear vinyl, housed in a gatefold sleeve.

My collection: 7" single no. 1005
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Lament' / 'Heart of the country (instrumental)'

Scales of justice - Living in a box

'Scales of justice' was Living in a box's second single. It was taken from their self-titled debut album and reached number 30 in the UK singles chart. In the Netherlands, where the debut single 'Living in a box' had been a hit, this single did not trouble the chart at all.

This single is packaged in a very attractive 'box' sleeve, meaning that it folds out to a cube (minus the bottom and top). I didn't know the song that well but this gimmick convinced me to buy this.

My collection: 7" single no. 3162
Found: November 27, 1999
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Scales of justice' / 'Ecstacy'

Love is - Alannah Myles

Alannah Myles followed up her hugely successful debut single 'Black velvet' with the more straightforward rock song 'Love is'. To promote sales, the UK record company released the single in a limited edition single box set, including two full colour heart-shaped prints. It's the kind of box set that makes you wonder why: the prints could easily have been stuck in the sleeve of the single. But anyway...

'Love is' did not match the success of its predecessor, reaching number 61 in the UK singles chart and number 32 in the Dutch Top 40. Her career was effectively over in the UK, since none of her subsequent singles charted. In the Netherlands, she did return...

My collection: 7" single no. 2920
Found: November 9, 1997
Cost: 2,5 pounds
Tracks: 'Love is' / 'Rock this joint'

Zusammen geh'n - Tony Wegas

Tony Wegas was born as Anton Hans Sarközi on May 3, 1965 in Unterschützen, Austria. He was born in a Roma family. His father, who was a musician, learned him to play guitar, keyboards, drums, bass and panflute. He represented his country twice, during the Eurovision Song Contest in 1992 and 1993. He reached 14th place in 1993 with 'Maria Magdalena', and 10th place in 1992 with 'Zusammen geh'n'. I bought this single mostly because I was in Austria in 1992 and I stumbled on it. I didn't really particularly like this track.

Tony Wegas had some problems in the second half of the Nineties. Being addicted to cocaine and heroin, he ended up in prison, being sentenced for 30 months in April 1997, after robbing two elderly women.

My collection: 7" single no. 1681
Found: Strass, Austria, July 2, 1992
Cost: unknown
Tracks: 'Zusammen geh'n' / 'Zusammen geh'n (instrumental)'

Cantonese boy - Japan

'Cantonese boy' was the third single taken from Japan's 1981 album 'Tin drum'. The album continued their now developed use of electronic elements coupled with traditional instrumentation, but leans a lot more towards far-eastern influences than any of their previous albums. This single was released as a double single set, including a track called 'Gentlemen take Polaroids', taken from their previous album of the same name.

'Cantonese boy' reached number 24 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2095
Found: London, 1994
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Cantonese boy' / 'Burning bridges' // 'Gentlemen take Polaroids' / 'The experience of swimming'

Amigo - Black Slate

Black Slate was formed in 1974 with musicians from England, Jamaica, and Anguilla.They backed Delroy Wilson and Ken Boothe on their UK appearances, and had their first reggae-chart hit themselves in 1976, with the anti-mugging song 'Sticks man', calling themselves Disco Reggae Band Black Slate.

They toured the UK for the first time in 1978, and formed their own TCD label, having a minor hit with 'Mind your motion'. They also backed Dennis Brown when he played live in the UK, and in 1980 their Rastafarian rallying call 'Amigo' was picked up by Ensign Records, and reached number 9 in the UK singles chart and number 15 in the Dutch Top 40. An album, 'Sirens in the city', followed on Ensign the following year. The band released two further albums in 1982 and 1985, but little was heard of them after that.

My collection: 7" single no. 2604
Found: Record fair, January 27, 1996
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Amigo' / 'Black Slate Rock'

From the hip ep - Lloyd Cole and the Commotions

The 'From the hip EP' was the last single release of Lloyd Cole & the Commotions before the band broke up and Lloyd Cole continued solo. The song 'From the hip' was taken from the band's 1987 album 'Mainstream', but the three other tracks were new recordings. The EP reached number 56 in the UK singles chart.

Neil Clark continued working with Lloyd Cole on almost all of his solo releases and full band tours. He was also member of the short-lived group Bloomsday. Blair Cowan collaborated with Cole and his new backing band in New York on Cole's first two solo albums. He played with Del Amitri, Paul Quinn and the Independent Group, the Kevin McDermott Orchestra and Texas. He is now an IT-specialist at British Telecom. Lawrence Donegan became a journalist and author. Stephen Irvine, finally, worked as a session musician with Del Amitri, Sarah Cracknell and Etienne Daho.

My collection: 7" single no. 1076
Found: HMV, London, October 19, 1989
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'From the hip', 'Please' / 'Lonely mile', 'Love your wife'

Een vrouw zoals jij - Hans de Booy

Hans de Booy was born on June 2, 1958 in Arnhem, the Netherlands. In the early Eighties he made his debut with the album 'Hans de Booy', which was successful in the Netherlands and Belgium.
The album contained three hit singles, of which 'Een vrouw zoals jij' ('A woman like you') was the first.

The single reached number 20 in the Dutch Top 40 in January 1983.

My collection: 7" single no. 222
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1983
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Een vrouw zoals jij' / 'Sammy'

Cinema - Paola

Paola di Medico represented Switzerland during the 1980 Eurovision Song Contest. She sang the French-language song 'Cinéma', written by Peter Reber and Veronique Müller. The song remembers the childhood of the singer, when she liked the cinema very much, the lights and the heroes of the movies.

The song finished fourth in the Contest, one of Switzerland's better performances. While widely released in Europe, the song was only a hit in Switzerland.

My collection: 7" single no. 3302
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Cinema' / 'Jukebox'

Storms in Africa - Enya

On Enya's album 'Watermark, 'Storms in Africa' was an instrumental track with vocals that didn't express any lyric. It is included on this single as part 1 on the B-side. The track was re-recorded and retitled 'Storms in Africa II'. This new version did include a lyric, although it was in typical Enya style: floating, vague and slightly windy.

The single was released in the UK in June 1989 and reached number 41 in the singles chart. The song was used as part of the soundtrack for the Peter Weir film 'Green card' (1990) along with the album tracks 'River' and 'Watermark'.

My collection: 7" single no. 947
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, July 21, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Storms in Africa II' / 'Storms in Africa I'

Queen of hearts - Juice Newton

Juice Newton was born as Judith Kay Cohen on February 18, 1952 in Lakehurst, New Jersey (USA). During the first half of the Seventies she was part of a band called Juice Newton and Silver Spur, but this band broke up after two albums. In 1977, Juice Newton embarked on a solo career.

'Queen of hearts' first appeared on Dave Edmunds' album 'Repeat when necessary' in 1979. Recorded two years later, Juice Newton's version sold more than one million copies in the USA and peaked at number 20 in the Dutch Top 40. The song is also featured prominently in Oliver Stone's 1986 movie 'Salvador'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3133
Found: July 24, 1999
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Queen of hearts' / 'Angel of the morning'

Stay with me till dawn - Judie Tzuke

Judie Tzuke was born as Judie Myers on April 3, 1956 in London. She signed to Elton John's Rocket Records in 1977. 'Stay with me till dawn' was the first single credited to her alone, since her official debut 'For you' (1978) was credited to Tzuke and Paxo. The song became Tzuke's most wellknown track and her only hit single in the UK, peaking at number 16.

I discovered the song years after its release, but when I did, I fell for it immediately. I had it on a compilation cd for years, before I finally bought the 7" single. I don't really own a track unless I've got it on this format...

My collection: 7" single no. 1938
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 11, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Stay with me till dawn' / 'New friends again'

Une femme avec une femme - Mecano

The Spanish group Mecano mostly popular in Spain, but they also recorded songs in other languages. Some of their songs were recorded in English, while many of them were recorded in Italian.

This song, 'Une femme avec une femme' is a French version of Mecano's 1988 track 'Mujer contra mujer'. It was released in France in 1990. I bought the single mainly out of curiosity. It doesn't happen often that Spanish acts record French songs...

My collection: 7" single no. 3211
Found: Record fair, September 30, 2000
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Une femme avec une femme' / 'Mujer contra mujer'

Heart like a wheel - Human League

Human League released their last album for Virgin, 'Romantic?' in 1990. The song is a return to the overtly political lyrics that the Human League sometimes do, but dressed up to a poppy hook that makes it acceptable for the public.

Whereas 'The Lebanon' of 1984 was the Human League’s view of the Israeli Invasion of Southern Lebanon and subsequent civil war, 'Heart like a wheel' is a commentary on US military imperialism. Callis's lyric 'sell your soul to a holy war' went over the heads of most of the song's listeners at a time when Jihad was all but unheard of in the West. It still reached number 29 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1311
Found: HMV, London, October 15, 1990
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Heart like a wheel' / 'Rebound'

Some people - Cliff Richard

In 1987, Cliff Richard recorded the album 'Always guaranteed', which became his best selling album of all new material. It contained two top ten hit singles, 'My pretty one' and 'Some people'. The album was produced by Alan Tarney, who had been successful with Cliff Richard before.

'Some people' reached number 3 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the Dutch Top 40. It was Cliff's last top 10 hit in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 1147
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, January 19, 1990
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Some people' / 'One time lover man'

Patience of angels - Eddi Reader

Eddi Reader was born as Sadenia Reader on August 28, 1959. After working as a session vocalist for a few years, she joined the band Fairground Attraction in 1987. The band made a name for themselves with the hit 'Perfect', but fell apart already in 1989.

Reader then went solo and released the album 'Eddi Reader' in 1994. The first single, 'Patience of angels' was written by Boo Hewerdine and reached number 33 in the UK singles chart. As much as I'd hated the song 'Perfect', this was a track I found irresistible.

My collection: 7" single no. 2197
Found: HMV, London, September 30, 1994
Cost: 2,4 pounds
Tracks: 'Patience of angels' / 'Red face big sky'

System addict - Five Star

'System addict' was released in January 1986 as the seventh and last single from Five Star's debut album 'Luxury of life'. It was their first top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at number 3. The 12" single features two remixes of the track, plus an extended version of the album track 'Winning'.

'System addict' was remixed and re-released in July 2005, after Five Star had participated in a Here and Now tour in December 2004. This version did not chart in the UK.

My collection: 12" single no. 500
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, 2007
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'System addict (M&M remix)', 'System addict (dub remix)' / 'Pure energy', 'Winning (extended version)'

Bla bla bla - Bob Barbeque, Willy Would-Be plus Agaath

The illustrious trio Bob Barbeque, Willy Would-Be plus Agaath recorded a Dutch version of Trio's 'Da da da', entitled 'Bla bla bla'. In fact, it was a parody of the song, using the same song structure and melody but with entirely different lyrics, performed in the dialect of The Hague, one of the four big cities in the Netherlands.

The single was released soon after Trio's original single, but it did not chart. According to some sources, the production company Cat Music was behind this release, the same group of people who were involved in the Dutch band Catapult in the Seventies and Rubberen Robbie in the Eighties.

My collection: 7" single no. 133
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Bla bla bla' / 'Boem-tek-boem-boem'

Da da da - Trio

Stephan Remmler, Gert 'Kralle' Krawinkel and Peter Behrens formed Trio in 1980. They used the term 'Neue Deutsche Fröhlichkeit' ('New German cheerfulness') to describe their music. Their main principle was to remove almost all the ornamentation and polish from their songs, and to use the simplest practical structures (most of their songs were three chord songs).

Their most popular song was 'Da da da', which reached number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 7 in the Dutch Top 40. Cover versions were recorded by Elastica and Christina Aguilera (for a Pepsi ad).

My collection: 7" single no. 2671
Found: Leeds, June 30, 1996
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Da da da (English version)' / 'Da da da (German version)'

Man in the mirror - Michael Jackson

After Michael Jackson's death last week, a tremendous amount of his songs reappeared on the UK singles chart. This is because of the fact that the chart is compiled partly with (legal) downloads of music. Along with several other tracks, the highest charting song on the June 28 edition of the UK singles chart was 'Man in the mirror', entering at number 11.

When the single was originally released in 1988, its highest chart placing in the UK was number 21. In America, the single topped the chart, whereas in the Netherlands, it reached number 16. Michael dedicated 'Man in the mirror' to Yoshiaki Hagiwara, a five year old boy who was kidnapped and murdered while Michael was touring Japan. He made a donation of 20,000 dollars to the grieving family. Although the song comes across as a rather sappy ballad, you have to listen to the instrumental version of this track to really appreciate what is going on here musically.

My collection: 7" single no. 727
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, January 28, 1989
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Man in the mirror' / 'Man in the mirror (instrumental)'

Song for whoever - The Beautiful South

The Beautiful South formed in 1989 when Paul Heaton and Dave Hemingway left their band the Housemartins. They were joined by Sean Welch, Dave Stead and Dave Rotheray. On the band's debut album 'Welcome to the Beautiful South', Briana Corrigan was featured as a background vocalist.

Their debut single 'Song for whoever' was sung from the point of view of a cynical songwriter who romances women solely to get material for his love songs. The single reached number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 17 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 968
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, August 19, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Song for whoever' / 'Straight in at 37'

You name it... I'll do it - Chips

The twin brothers Hans and Rob Keller were born and raised in Hilversum, the Netherlands. Together with Lidy Sluyter they formed the trio Chips in 1979. Their debut single 'You name it... I'll do it' was produced by Hans van Hemert.

It was a hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 26. After this one single, subsequent singles failed to reach the chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3286
Found: February 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'You name it... I'll do it' / 'Ooh... the night'