'Kissed you in the rain' was the second single taken from Freiheit's 1988 album 'Fantasy'. As always, the track was produced by Armand Volker. The single was a success in Germany but in other countries it did not chart.
The release of this single effectively ended the band's international career. They are still recording, but they have returned to German-language songs, as in their home country they remained popular.
My collection: 7" single no. 3309 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 24, 2001 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Kssed you in the rain' / 'Moonlight'
Leo Sayer was born as Gerard Hugh Sayer on May 21, 1948 in Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex, England. A popular singer in the Seventies and early Eighties, he released his tenth studio album 'Have you ever been in love' in November 1983. The single of the same name was released a year earlier and reached number 19 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 10 in the UK singles chart.
In later years, Sayer has been maligned because of these ballads, that are perceived to be overly sentimental. Personally I think it is just within the boundaries of good taste - the melody is beautiful anyway.
My collection: 7" single no. 964 Found: All that music, Leiden, August 10, 1989 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Have you ever been in love' / 'I don't need dreaming anymore'
'Hands across the ocean' was in fact an ep, containing three songs that were all interesting to me for a variety of reasons. The title track featured backing vocals by Julianne Regan from All about Eve. 'Amelia' was an emotional track about child abuse, apparently written by the band after reading the story of a fan. And finally, 'Love' is a cover of the John Lennon track.
The single was released to promote the release of the 'outtakes' album 'Grains of sand' in 1990. It reached number 28 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 2203 Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, October 8, 1994 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Hands across the ocean' / 'Amelia', 'Love'
Pino d'Angio was born as Giuseppe Chierchia in Pompeii, Italy in 1952. In 1981, he made a name for himself in Europe with his disco hit 'Ma quale idea', a track that could be seen as an Italian rap track, because of Pino's deep monotonous voice.
The single peaked at number 3 in the Dutch Top 40 and made a big impression on me, a 10 year old boy who was just forming his musical taste. Listening again to it now, it really isn't a bad track.
My collection: 7" single no. 124 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1981 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Ma quale idea' / 'Lezione d'amore'
It's a wellknown fact that Mike Oldfield reached his artistic peak right at the beginning of his career when he composed 'Tubular bells' in 1971, the debut album released two years later would be the career-defining work that is still celebrated nowadays - most recently with a luxury 'ultimate edition' comprising a cd with demos, a surround sound mix and a hardback book. Oldfield has milked it a bit too, releasing a 'Tubular Bells 2' and 'Tubular Bells 3', a 'Millennium bell' and a seemingly endless array of cd and dvd releases.
This single is a lesser known Tubular Bells rarity. This live version of 'Guilty' is taken from Oldfield's 1979 live album 'Exposed' and contains a short Tubular Bells theme within the song. What's more, the B-side is an abridged version of the live performance of Tubular Bells which is found on 'Exposed'. I was really happy to find this single, because at the time I was making my own cd compilation of Tubular Bells rare tracks, the so-called 'Tubular best'. Now why didn't any record company come up with that idea?
My collection: 7" single no. 3034 Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 26, 1998 Cost: 5 guilders Tracks: 'Guilty (live)' / 'Extract from Tubular bells (live)'
'Dancing girls' was released as the third single from Nik Kershaw's debut album 'Human racing' (1984). The track was remixed for the single release. Also notable was the entertaining and funny music video, using the theme of the song very well.
The single peaked at number 13 in the UK singles chart, number 14 in Ireland and number 21 in Germany.
My collection: 7" single no. 2510 Found: Record Exchange, October 30, 1995 Cost: 80p Tracks: 'Dancing girls' / 'She cries'
El Debarge was born on June 4, 1961. He was the lead singer of the band Debarge, which scored their biggest hit in 1985 with the UK number 4 hit 'Rhythm of the night'. After this success, El left the group to start a solo career. His first break came in 1986 when he was asked to perform a song for the soundtrack of the movie 'Short circuit': 'Who's Johnny'.
Although this single only made number 60 in the UK singles chart, it reached number 3 in the Dutch Top 40 and the US Billboard Hot 100. This double single features the two hitsingles: 'Who's Johnny' and 'Rhythm of the night'. One of those delicious double singles. A great buy!
My collection: 7" single no. 2574 Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 16, 1995 Cost: 5 guilders Tracks: 'Who's Johnny' / 'Love me in a special way' // 'Rhythm of the night' / 'Queen of my heart'
'Woman to woman' was released as the third single from Beverley Craven's self-titled debut album. Just like 'Promise me' and 'Joey' before it, this single did not chart in the UK. But the single also didn't chart in the Netherlands.
All this despite a rather attractive B-side, a new track that didn't appear on the album. It seemed Craven's career was off to a rough start.
My collection: 7" single no. 1438 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, May 11, 1991 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Woman to woman' / 'Everything but the blues'
The English soft rock band Sad Cafe was very successful in the late Seventies, but during the Eighties they faded more and more into obscurity. What made matters worse was that band member Paul Young joined the side project of Genesis member Mike Rutherford, Mike & the Mechanics.
Paul Young re-joined Sad Cafe in the late Eighties, splitting his time between the two bands. Sad Cafe released the album 'Whatever it takes' in 1989, from which this unsuccessful single was taken.
My collection: 7" single no. 971 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 29, 1989 Cost: 3,5 guilders Tracks: 'Take me (Heart and soul)' / 'Universe'
The musical 'Evita', written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, began life as an album before ever taking form on the British stage. Julie Covington first sang 'Don’t cry for me Argentina' for the original 1976 studio release. The single with the Julie Covington recording reached number 1 in the UK singles chart and the Dutch Top 40.
Initially there had been concerns that the song sounded a little too boring for commercial chart success - despite being considered to be the best song to promote the album. There was so much concern that Julie Covington even recorded a version with alternative lines, however in the end the original version was released for the single.
My collection: 7" single no. 661 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, October 1, 1988 Cost: 1 guilders Tracks: 'Don't cry for me Argentina' / 'Rainbow high'
'Love comes quickly' was released as the third single from the Pet Shop Boys' debut album 'Please'. Although it was a top 20 hit in the UK, its chart performance was disappointing, given that it followed the worldwide number one, 'West end girls'. The song is about the inevitability of falling in love, even for those who deliberately shun the idea.
The B-side, 'That's my impression' was written in a basement in Camden Town (London) where the duo wrote all their early songs. Neil Tennant commented: 'When we'd written the music, I took the words of a song I'd written in the Seventies and just changed them to fit the tune. Rather enigmatic words.'
My collection: 7" single no. 420 Found: V&D, Den Haag, June 28, 1986 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'Love comes quickly' / 'That's my impression'
'Rockin' back inside my heart' was released as the second single from Julee Cruise's 1989 debut album 'Floating into the night'. David Lynch wrote the lyrics for the song and Angelo Badalamenti composed the music.
The song was featured prominently in the long-anticipated Twin Peaks episode in which the killer of Laura Palmer was finally revealed after a year of anxious, media-driven anticipation. The single, meanwhile, was a modest hit in the UK singles chart, stalling at number 66.
My collection: 7" single no. 1935 Found: Concerto, Amsterdam, July 9, 1993 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Rockin' back inside my heart (edit)' / 'Falling'
Released in May 1986, 'Tell me tomorrow' was the last UK top 40 hit for Princess, peaking at number 34. The track was again produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman, the hottest pop producers at the time. Princess would have two more chart hits, but in the lower regions of the UK singles chart.
The B-side single contains the original demo version of her biggest hit, the debut single 'Say I'm your number one'.
My collection: 7" single no. 461 Found: V&D, Den Haag, 1986 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'Tell me tomorrow' / 'Say I'm your number one (original demo)'
Lord of darkness Andrew Eldritch invited Terri Nunn for vocals on this single, the ominous 'Under the gun'. Nunn is best known for her work in the band Berlin.
'Under the gun' was a new track on the compilation album 'A slight case of overbombing: greatest hits vol. 1' (1993). The single reached number 19 in the UK singles chart, and was the last hit single for the band.
My collection: 7" single no. 2007 Found: HMV, London, October 18, 1993 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Under the gun' / 'Alice (1993)'
Luv' released their seventh consecutive hit single in February 1980. The girl trio were doing great business, performing live wherever they could and appearing in almost every TV programme in the Netherlands.
This single was a Mexican-flavoured popsong, using all the cliches of mariachi bands and the like. The single peaked at number 11 in the Dutch Top 40 and also appeared in several European charts. On the sleeve, the girls looked rather posh.
My collection: 7" single no. 33 Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1980 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Ann-Maria' / 'Flash'
I saw the music video for Vanessa Paradis' single 'Maxou' a couple of times in 1988 or 1989, and the song always stuck in my mind. The video was very cute (although it is a bit risqué with all those sensual images of a very young girl) and the music was very beautiful.
After I'd found the cd of the album 'M&J' I started searching for the 7" singles as well. In the Netherlands they were very difficult to get a hold of, because Paradis was a star in France only after her international hit 'Joe le taxi'. But I succeeded. The single also contains the best album track on the B-side.
My collection: 7" single no. 2262 Found: Record fair, April 8, 1995 Cost: 7 guilders Tracks: 'Maxou (remix)' / 'Le bon dieu est un marin'
Tom Jones had just had a reasonable hit with the atrocious 'If I only knew' when he released this duet with Tori Amos as the second single from his 1994 album 'The lead and how to swing it'. It was a smart move: Tori Amos had just become the hottest thing since sliced bread and the appeal to a younger audience would be massive... or so the record company must have thought.
The single did not chart, which is quite logical when you hear the stuff that Diane Warren has composed and written. Warren has a monopoly on cliched pop ballads. Sometimes they are effective, in that audiences fall for it, but this time around, they didn't.
My collection: 7" single no. 2260 Found: Record fair, April 8, 1995 Cost: 10 guilders Tracks: 'I wanna get back with you' / 'If I only knew'
Not only do I have the 7" single of 'Snobbery and decay', I've got the 12" single too! Quite a feat, because these things became increasinly expensive during the Nineties, when record buyers were finally catching on to the phenomenon Act. According to Claudia Brücken: 'The whole idea was based on a programme called 'Lifestyles of the rich and famous'. That was when we discovered how much we wanted to write about that idea and what a great introduction it would be for Thomas and me to have a duet as a first single. Two characters talking about that whole thing.'
This 12" single also features a cover of 'I'd be surprisingly good for you' from the musical 'Evita', chosen according to Thomas Leer, because 'we both dislike Andrew Lloyd Webber intensely. We wanted to do something from a musical, something that was crap and that we could make great. It also fitted the idea of the package.'
My collection: 12" single no. 510 Found: ? Cost: 10 guilders Tracks: 'Snobbery and decay (That's entertainment)' / 'Poison', 'I'd be surprisingly good for you'
'Dance away' was released as the second single from Roxy Music's 1979 album 'Manifesto'. The single reached number 2 on the UK singles chart and number 6 in the Dutch Top 40. In the US Billboard Hot 100 the single reached number 44.
The record shop where I bought this single is one of my most vivid memories of a shop ever. The place stank of urine (probably from the dog who was walking around there), there were boxes with singles everywhere and the state of most of them was deplorable. I rescued a few titles I really wanted to have and got out of there. Pity I don't remember the name of the place...
My collection: 7" single no. 856 Found: Den Haag, May 27, 1989 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Dance away' / 'Cry cry cry'
'Woman in chains' was the second single from Tears for Fears' 1989 album 'The seeds of love'. Band members Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith discovered Oleta Adams while she was singing in a seedy bar somewhere in America. They decided that she had to work with them on the album, and 'Woman in chains' was one of two tracks on which she appeared. The track features Phil Collins on drums.
Roland Orzabal explained about the lyric: 'The song is also about how men traditionally play down the feminine side of their characters and how both men and women suffer for it.... I think men in a patriarchal society are sold down the river a bit - okay, maybe we're told that we're in control but there are also a hell of a lot of things that we miss out on, which women are allowed to be.' The single peaked at number 26 in the UK singles chart and number 12 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 1115 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, November 17, 1989 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Woman in chains' / 'Always in the past'
'In 't leven' ('In life') was the debut single of Het Goede Doel, a Dutch band formed by Henk Temming and Henk Westbroek. The lyric of the song described a one night stand, initiated by a woman who was interested in love nor money. The singer finds himself smelling the sweat of her body when he's eating a sandwich a few days later.
The single did not chart in the Dutch Top 40, despite repeated airplay in 1982, when it was released. Things turned out alright for the band: they would have a dozen hit singles during the Eighties.
My collection: 7" single no. 3761 Found: Marktplaats.nl, received June 3, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'In 't leven' / 'Alleen'
Released in September 1986, 'Same old story' was the first single from Ultravox's final album in the classic line-up with Midge Ure, 'U-vox'. The band moved away from their previous synth-based pop songs and showcased a more rock-oriented sound on this single.
The single wasn't a big hit for the band, peaking at number 31 in the UK singles chart. This limited edition version of the single is a nice item: the outer pvc sleeve has stripes on it, with which you can make the inner sleeve 'invisible', i.e. just a green square and no letters.
My collection: 7" single no. 2457 Found: Record fair, September 9, 1995 Cost: 5 guilders Tracks: 'Same old story' / '3'
In 1989, the Scottish band The Blue Nile released their second album after five years of absence from the music scene. It was accepted by music critics with rave reviews, including a rare five-star rating from the UK's Q magazine.
The lead single from the album was 'The downtown lights', one of the few up-tempo tracks from the album. For the first time, the band reached the UK singles chart at number 67 during a one week chart run. The track was later covered by Annie Lennox on her second album 'Medusa'.
My collection: 7" single no. 990 Found: Tower Records, London, October 16, 1989 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'The downtown lights' / 'The wires are down'
'Together forever' was the fourth single from Rick Astley's debut album 'Whenever you need somebody'. The track was remixed for the single by Pete Hammond.
The single reached number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, and number 2 in the UK singles chart. In the Netherlands, the single reached number 12.
My collection: 7" single no. 2445 Found: September 2, 1995 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Together forever (Lover's leap remix)' / 'I'll never set you free'
In 1990, the album 'Red Hot and Blue' was released in order to raise funds for AIDS research. Twenty artists contributed cover versions of Cole Porter songs to the album. Neneh Cherry's version of 'I've got you under my skin' was released as the lead single from the album.
She did a rather creative cover version of the track, with some added raps and lyrics, a strong bassline and a little less melody. Still, the track stands up well. The single reached number 25 in the UK singles chart and number 14 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 2136 Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, August 2, 1994 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'I've got you under my skin' / 'I've got you under my skin (instrumental)'
Such is the nature of my record collection, that I sometimes buy a single I moderately like when the limited edition version is attractive enough. This single came in a foldout box set with four postcards. The price was right, so I bought it.
'Get on your feet' is taken from Gloria Estefan's album 'Cuts both ways'. The single peaked at number 23 in the UK singles chart and number 12 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 2909 Found: Record Exchange, London, October 31, 1997 Cost: 1 pound Tracks: 'Get on your feet' / '1, 2, 3 (live)'
'Nothin' at all' was the fourth single taken from Heart's self-titled 1985 album. It is a love song which describes a new relationship which falls into place without effort or conflict. The track was remixed for this single. In the remix, a vibrant alternate lead vocal take from Ann Wilson is featured with striking embellishments; Howard Leese's guitar solo is vastly different.
The single hit number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. It only managed to reach number 76 on the UK singles chart, but a reissue in 1988 managed to reach number 38. The B-side of this single is a rather curious choice: the track was taken from Heart's 1978 album 'Magazine'.
My collection: 7" single no. 2473 Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 16, 1995 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'Nothin' at all (remix)' / 'I've got the music in me'
'Different air' was the last single by Living in a box to reach the UK singles chart, albeit at number 57 only. After the ballad hit 'Room in your heart', this single was a decidedly middle of the road track, that didn't touch a lot of people.
Artistic differences, as well as changes to their record label Chrysalis, caused the band to break up in 1990 before they could record a third album.
My collection: 7" single no. 1146 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, January 19, 1990 Cost: 3,5 guilders Tracks: 'Different air' / 'All the difference in the world'
I depend on my photographic memory when it comes to buying records for my collection. This doesn't always work, as is demonstrated with this single. I bought the German pressing of 'That girl' (pictured above) back in 1989. A decade later, I found the UK version of that same title (pictured below), but because the sleeve was so different, I didn't recognise it and bought it again (I didn't register where and when, so that data is missing below). The French version has a different sleeve, so I'll have to watch out that I won't buy that one too in the future.
The 1982 release 'That girl' was the lead single from Stevie Wonder's Greatest Hits compilation, 'Original Musiquarium' as one of four new songs from the collection. The single reached number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 39 on the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 797 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, April 15, 1989 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'That girl' / 'All I do'
While recording the movie 'Evita', Madonna had finally had some much-needed vocal coaching. After more than a decade in music, she finally learned how to handle her voice during singing. The effects didn't wear off immediately, as shown on her 1998 album 'Ray of light'. The first single from that album was 'Frozen', showing a remarkable change in direction: from superficial pop to melodic trance. Producer William Orbit had a lot to do with this, of course.
Seemingly recorded with Animal from the Muppets on drums, 'Frozen' reached number 1 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the Dutch Top 40. This American 7" single is probably the only 7" single that exists as the format had been abondoned in almost every territory by 1998.
My collection: 7" single no. 3021 Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 8, 1998 Cost: 10 guilders Tracks: 'Frozen' / 'Shanti/Ashtangi'
Since this single is also included in the box set for 'Atlantic', I've got two copies of it. But originally I bought this single soon after it came out in 2006. The song was written about the war in Iraq. Tim Rice-Oxley explained: 'It's probably the one song that most expresses our dismay and confusion about what it means to be a British citizen, in terms of what our society's contributing to the world at large. It's very hard to make sense of why Britain feels it needs to sign up with George Bush's attacks on Iraq and the whole Afghanistan thing. It feels like there's a whole lot of trouble brewing up over Iran, and you just don't know where it's going to end. On a personal level, for people of our age, it's really unsettling...'
The single peaked at number 3 in the UK singles chart. It reached number 7 in the Dutch Top 40 during an amazing 17 week chart run.
My collection: 7" single no. 3438 Found: HMV, London, June 19, 2006 Cost: 3 pounds Tracks: 'Is it any wonder?' / 'Let it slide'
George Michael released his second solo single 'A different corner' in April 1986, while still a member of Wham!, although their farewell concert had already been announced. This song was written, arranged and produced by George Michael himself and the sleeve proclaimed that the song was 'dedicated to a memory'. It is rumoured that the song was written about his brief relationship with Pat Fernandez. Fernandez appeared in the Wham! videos 'Wake me up before you go-go' (as one of the dancers with Pepsi and Shirlie) and 'Last Christmas'.
The single was another number one hit for George Michael, in the Netherlands, the UK and Norway. It also reached number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100. I recently bought the 12" single but found out that the tracks on it are exactly the same as the ones on the 7" single I've had for 20 years.
My collection: 7" single no. 880 / 12" single no. 507 Found: All that music, Leiden, June 16, 1989 / Songs for sale, Rotterdam, July 31, 2009 Cost: 3 guilders / 2 euro Tracks: 'A different corner' / 'A different corner (instrumental)'
After her success with the Pet Shop Boys in 1987 and 1989, Dusty Springfield finally returned to recording music after an absence from the music business for almost 20 years. The resulting album, 'Reputation' was released in June 1990. The album included the previous two hits 'Nothing has been proved' and 'In private'. This single, 'Reputation' was the title track and the first single by Springfield circa 1990 that was not produced by the Pet Shop Boys.
Perhaps that was why the single only managed to reach number 38 in the UK singles chart. Meanwhile, the album reached number 18 in the UK albums chart, finally resurrecting Springfield's career once and for all.
My collection: 7" single no. 2436 Found: Concerto, Amsterdam, August 19, 1985 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Reputation' / 'Rep u dub 1'
'Move to Memphis' was a new track by A-ha, released in 1991 to coincide with the release of 'Headlines and deadlines', their first ever compilation album. The single showed a more mature-sounding A-ha than ever before, already foreshadowing what their next album would sound like. A a new version of 'Move to Memphis' would actually appear on that next album.
The single became A-ha's least successful release up until then, only managing to reach number 47 in the UK singles chart during a two week chart run. The single didn't chart in the Netherlands.
My collection: 7" single no. 1559 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, December 14, 1991 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'Move to Memphis' / 'Crying in the rain (live)'
'Goodbye girl' was the title track from David Gates' third solo album, released in 1978. The former Bread lead singer recorded only six new tracks for the album, the other six tracks were taken from his two previous solo albums.
The single was an unsuccessful one, as it didn't chart in Europe. Gates did continue recording music, although he took a break between 1981 and 1994.
My collection: 7" single no. 2249 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 4 ,1995 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Goodbye girl' / 'Sunday rider'
The English band Kajagoogoo was formed in 1979 by Nick Beggs, Steve Askew, Stuart Croxford Neale and Jez Strode. Originally named Art Nouveau, they struggled to find a record company but were unsuccessful. In 1981 they auditioned for a lead singer to add to their band and found Christopher Hamill. He made his profile catchier by using a stage name, 'Limahl', an anagram of his surname. His hairdo, blond on top and black on the sides, also helped, of course.
With this new addition, they attracted interest from record companies and got Nick Rhodes from Duran Duran to produce their debut album 'White feathers'. The debut single 'Too shy' was released in January 1983 and became a number 1 hit in the UK and Germany. In the Netherlands, the single peaked at number 4. The B-side is not a straightforward instrumental version as you might expect, but a rather interesting dub version.
My collection: 7" single no. 1941 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 11, 1993 Cost: 1 guilders Tracks: 'Too shy' / 'Too shy (instrumental)'
I might never have become a fan of Sade's music if it wasn't for this single. I thought her debut 'Your love is king' was pretty boring, and initially I didn't like this song either when it showed up on music video TV channels. But the chorus grabbed me one day, and I found myself buying the single not long after that. It went on from there: 'Smooth operator' was kindof interesting (although I very much preferred the 12" and extended video version) and by the time 'Hang on to your love' was released, I was looking for the album.
This single reached number 12 in the Netherlands and number 36 in the UK singles chart. I'm relieved to hear that Sade is about to release a new album later this year. Well, knowing how quickly the band works, it could also be 2010.
My collection: 7" single no. 243 Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1984 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'When am I going to make a living' / 'Should I love you'
I'm not a purist by any means, but I do think that remixing Motown classics like this should be a capital offence. At the height of the Stock/Aitken/Waterman mania in the UK, Phil Harding and Ian Curnow, who worked with the trio rather often, were commissioned to make a remix of the Four Tops classic 'Reach out I'll be there'.
The remix reached number 11 in the UK singles chart. I bought the single out of curiosity during a holiday in London. The next day I found myself hurrying to a Central London hospital because of a kidney stone. I'm not sure if this is a cause and effect thing...
My collection: 7" single no. 3166 Found: House of Rhythm, London, January 18, 2000 Cost: 40p Tracks: 'Reach out I'll be there 88 remix' / 'Standing in the shadows of love'
While still a member of the British group Guys & Dolls, Dominic Grant recorded a solo album in 1982, of which 'I won't let me down' was the lead single. The single was mainly a success in the Netherlands, peaking at number 17 in the Dutch Top 40.
The Guys & Dolls would continue as a group until 1985, after which Dominic Grant and Julie Forsyth went on as a duo - being again mostly successful in the Netherlands.
My collection: 7" single no. 154 Found: Studio Echo, Den Haag, 1982 Cost: 5,5 guilders Tracks: 'I won't let me down' / 'Just a little in love'
'It ain't necessarily so' was written by George and Ira Gershwin (pictured here on the sleeve) in 1935 for the opera Porgy and Bess. In the opera, the track is sung by a drug dealer who expresses his doubt about several statements in the bible.
Covered by Bronski Beat in 1984, the song took on a whole new meaning. The gay trio used the song to make a statement about homosexuality, as some religious groups kept using the bible to attack gay people. Like the song says, 'Things that you're liable to read in the Bible, ain't necessarily so'. The single reached number 16 in the UK singles chart and number 32 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 1095 Found: All that music, Leiden, November 11, 1989 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'It ain't necessarily so' / 'Close to the edge'
I'd like to start off this Sunday morning with some typical Sunday morning music. This romantic ballad by Van Morrison was originally written as a prayer, and it certainly contains a few religious lines. Popularly it is interpreted as a love song, often played at weddings and the like.
Released in 1989, Van Morrison reached the UK singles chart with this single for the first time in 10 years, although it only made the chart for one week at number 74. In the Netherlands, it was his biggest hit overall, peaking at number 11.
My collection: 7" single no. 951 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, August 5, 1989 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Have I told you lately' / 'Contacting my angel'
Since All about Eve was pretty much famous in the UK only, their singles became increasingly hard to find in the Netherlands. Some shops were still selling import records in 1991, but I was unlucky with this single: the shop in Rotterdam where I got my imports only got the 12" single, cd-single and picture disc 12" (which of course I bought too).
Thankfully, my friend Puck was taking an apprenticeship in Newcastle between September 1991 and January 1992, so I had the chance to ask him to pick up this single. He did, and when he returned, I finally had that single to complete my collection. Of course, the single did turn up at record fairs in the Netherlands - but that was a couple of years later!
My collection: 7" single no. 1581 Found: Newcastle, January 1992 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'The dreamer (remix)' / 'Frida of blood and gold'
'Mull of Kintyre' is arguably Paul McCartney & Wings' most recognised song. McCartney wrote it as an ode of the Kintyre peninsula in Scotland, where he had a home and recording studio since the late Sixties. McCartney commented about the song: 'I certainly loved Scotland enough, so I came up with a song about where we were living; an area called Mull of Kintyre. It was a love song really, about how I enjoyed being there and imagining I was travelling away and wanting to get back there.'
Released shortly before Christmas 1977, it became that year's Christmas number 1 in the UK, staying at the top of the singles chart for nine weeks. The single eventually sold over two million copies. The single also reached the top position in the Dutch Top 40.
I originally bought a copy of the single back in 1985, with the sleeve so torn up that I eventually cut out the photographs and made a new sleeve for it using standard white paper. This new copy is actually made in England, and in the condition it's in (i.e. very good) I bet a collector would pay dearly for this one.
My collection: 7" single no. 300 Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, July 31, 2009 Cost: 0,25 euro Tracks: 'Mull of Kintyre' / 'Girls school'
Nik Kershaw's 1986 album 'Radio Musicola' was released to critical acclaim, but it wasn't a big success in commercial terms. It seemed Kershaw had outgrown his audience with the more mature work displayed on the album.
The single 'James Cagney' was released on the European mainland only. The 'extended version' on the 12" single is in fact the album version, which is about 2 minutes longer than the edit that appeared on the 7" single. A remix of 'Radio Musicola' is tacked on on the B-side for good measure.
My collection: 12" single no. 504 Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, July 24, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'James Cagney (extended)' / 'Radio Musicola (remix)'
Alison Moyet and Vince Clarke formed Yazoo in 1981, after Clarke had left Depeche Mode. They took the name of the band from the labels of old blues albums: Yazoo Records. While their debut single 'Only you' was successful in the UK, peaking at number 2, it flopped in most European countries.
It was only after the hit success of their next single 'Don't go' that Mute Records decided to re-release the debut single. This time around, the B-side 'Situation' was promoted as the lead track, and it became a hit, peaking at number 16 in the Dutch Top 40. My copy of the single has a new sleeve, but the single is still 'old', featuring 'Only you' as the A-side. It's not a mixup: this is how they were sold in 1982.
My collection: 7" single no. 170 Found: Studio Echo, Den Haag, 1982 Cost: 5,5 guilders Tracks: 'Only you' / 'Situation'
Gazebo continued on with the theme set by 'I like Chopin', using classical influences in his Italo dance tracks. Synths and strings to a less appealing lyric - it was perhaps predictable that he wouldn't be able to have more success with such a formulaic single.
'Lunatic' did chart in some European countries, such as Italy (peaking at number 3), Germany (number 4), Switzerland (number 6) and Austria (number 13). However, the single did not chart in the Netherlands, which surprised me at the time. Now I'm not so surprised...
My collection: 7" single no. 226 Found: LP top 100, Den Haag, 1983 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Lunatic' / 'Lunatic (instrumental)'
'Kissed you in the rain' was the second single taken from Freiheit's 1988 album 'Fantasy'. As always, the track was produced by Armand Volker. The single was a success in Germany but in other countries it did not chart.
