Don't forget to dance - The Kinks

'Don't forget to dance' is a beautiful ballad from the Kinks' 1983 album 'State of confusion'. The single followed 'Come dancing', which was one of the band's most successful singles in the United States. By comparison, this single did not do well.

In the UK, this single reached number 58, while in the Netherlands it did not chart. It was the first Kinks single I ever bought. The band has of course been active since the early Sixties, but most of their material just doesn't interest me much.

My collection: 7" single no. 497
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1984
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Don't forget to dance' / 'Young conservatives'

Maid of Orleans - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

The intro of 'Maid of Orleans' is one of the strangest sounds I'd ever heard in 1982. It piqued my interest, and with the aid of the intriguing music video, this became one of my favourite tracks of the year. About the intro, Andy McCluskey explained: 'The idea came about because we actually had the song recorded but thought the track started oddly and needed something else to announce its arrival. It's not meant to "mean" anything specific, just set up a feeling to let the track grow out of the strange noises. I think that it worked well! Most of the noises are mellotron vocal sounds slowed down/sped up and greatly distorted simply by completely overdriving the old Helios desk in The Manor Studio. Pink noise and snare drum in lots of reverb.'

The song was a big success, peaking at number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 1 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 308
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 1985
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Maid of Orleans' / 'Navigation'

Love is stronger than pride - Sade

The first single from Sade's third album 'Stronger than pride' was the track 'Love is stronger than pride'. On the sleeve and in the accompanying music video, frontwoman Sade Adu was pictured on the beach in an attempt to 'sex up' the band. It didn't entirely work, as there was a certain distance exuding from her.

The single performed best, chart-wise, in the Netherlands, where it reached number 18. In the UK, where this limited edition single with a free colour poster was released, the single stalled at number 44.

My collection: 7" single no. 2631
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, March 16, 1996
Cost: 7 guilders
Tracks: 'Love is stronger than pride' / 'Super bien total'

The lifeboat party - Kid Creole and the Coconuts

Kid Creole and the Coconuts released their fourth album 'Doppelganger' in 1983. The opening track of the album was 'The lifeboat party', which was subsequently released as the album's second single.

The single reached number 49 in the UK singles chart, but did not chart in other territories. Still, it's a fine party song.

My collection: 7" single no. 4084
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'The lifeboat party' / 'Gina Gina'

State of love - Imagination

Taken from their fourth album 'Scandalous', 'State of love' was another single by Imagination produced by Steve Jolley and Tony Swain. The single only charted in the UK, where it reached number 67 in the singles chart.

With 9 out of the 10 singles released before this one having reached the UK singles chart, it's interesting to note that from the 13 singles that followed, only 2 charted in the UK - and none of them anywhere else.

My collection: 7" single no. 4079
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'State of love' / 'Wrong in love'

Oh Carolina - Shaggy

'Oh Carolina' was originally written by John Folkes and performed by the Folkes Brothers in 1960. The original track incorporated African-influenced Niyabinghi-style drumming and chanting.

In 1993, Shaggy revived the song. His cover version spent two weeks at number 1 in the UK singles chart and reached number 6 in the Dutch Top 40. I finally bought the single six months after its release to irk a friend of mine who hated the song with a passion. He's since moved to China, although I'm not sure it's because I own this single now.

My collection: 7" single no. 2034
Found: HMV, London, October 22, 1993
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Oh Carolina' / 'Oh Carolina (Raas Bumba Claat version)'

Goodnight girl - Wet Wet Wet

Graeme Clark was inspired to write 'Goodnight girl' for his then girlfriend but has never publicly named her. It became the third single taken from Wet Wet Wet's fourth studio album 'High on the happy side'. It was released in December 1991 and became the second number 1 hit single for the band in the UK .

In he Netherlands, the single reached number 2 in March 1992. A 1994 version reached number 11 in the Netherlands, but did not chart in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 1583
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, February 15, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Goodnight girl' / 'Ambrose Wykes'

Go for it! - Risqué

It's Puck's brother's lucky weekend, as here's another single by Risqué. As far as I know, it's their last single. The track 'Go for it' was produced by Sander Bos and Ben Liebrand. The latter is better known for his remixes of tracks, which were broadcast on Dutch radio weekly on Fridays around that time (1984).

However much the girls went for it, this single did not chart - not even in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 4096
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Go for it!' / 'Go for it! (dub version)'

Jack in the box - Clodagh Rodgers

Clodagh Rodgers was born on March 5, 1947 in Northern Ireland. In 1970 she was asked to represent the United Kingdom in the 1971 Eurovision Song Contest. Part of the reasoning behind the BBC's invitation was their concern over what reaction the UK entrant would get on the stage from the Irish public. She received death threats from the I.R.A. as a result of her appearing for the UK.

The singer expresses her strong feelings of love to a man who treats her like a toy. She feels that in exchange of his love, she would gladly 'bounce on a spring' like the aforementioned toy. After ending fourth in the Contest, the song coincidentally also peaked at number 4 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4097
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Jack in the box' / 'Some to love me'

Remedy - Little Boots

Not that 'New in town' was a bad song, but the second single by Little boots, 'Remedy' is a lot better. According to Little Boots, ''Remedy' is about dancing and music being a remedy to some kind of poison in your life. I wanted to write a dark dance pop song a bit like Britney Spears' 'Toxic'. The lyrics are not really very personal, I was more imagining a situation.'

The B-side of this single contains a beautiful cover version of Freddie Mercury's 'Love kills'. The single reached number 6 in the UK singles chart and number 5 in Ireland.

My collection: 7" single no. 4063
Found: eBay.co.uk, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Remedy' / 'Love kills'

Burn it up (Mr. DJ) - Risqué

Risqué were never excessively popular, even in their native Netherlands, because the formula just didn't fit: they never worked with the best producers, they were trying to be sexy but they couldn't (because they were ugly!) and there was little or no variation in their music. It's rather strange to notice that they perform all their tracks singing together - there are no solos and that makes the whole thing go flat. All this gives Risqué this naff Eighties quality that I'm a sucker for.

'Burn it up (Mr. DJ)' was the last chart hit for the quartet, released in September 1983. It peaked at number 20 in the Dutch Top 40. Two further singles did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4095
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Burn it up (Mr. DJ)' / 'Burn it up (instrumental)'

Money don't matter 2 night - Prince and the New Power Generation

Personally, I think Prince perfected his craft with this particular song. It sounds very Prince, but the lyric has more substance than any other Prince song. It deals directly with money, poverty and greed - both on a personal and a political level.

The song is notable for its promotional video, directed by Spike Lee. Featuring a poverty-stricken African-American family, with no shots of Prince at all, it was considered overly political and not 'MTV-friendly'. A second version was issued, which included footage of the song being performed by Prince and The New Power Generation. The single reached number 7 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 19 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4094
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Money don't matter 2 night' / 'Call the law'

Toughen up - Olivia Newton-John

In 1985, Olivia Newton-John released the album 'Soul kiss'. The first single was the title track, and the second single was 'Toughen up'. While the first single was a hit in several countries, 'Toughen up' did not chart anywhere - the only exception being Australia, where the single stalled at number 93.

Olivia's pregnancy limited her ability to promote the album and singles properly. Her daughter Chloe Rose Lattanzi was born in January 1986 - by then, the album 'Soul kiss' was already forgotten by most people.

My collection: 7" single no. 4093
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Toughen up' / 'Driving music'

Asia - Mo

The Dutch synthpop band Mo, it has been written on here many times before, was sadly underrated. It has become some sort of mission for me to hunt down their singles, and 'Asia' is the latest victory in that search.

'Asia' was released in April 1984 and it was, as far as I know, the band's last single. It was taken from their third and last album, 'Stop staring'. The beautiful sleeve of this single was designed by Ton Friesen.

My collection: 7" single no. 4092
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Asia' / 'He's so silly negative'

Turn your love around - Mai Tai

It took an international breakthrough for the Dutch group Mai Tai to become popular in the Netherlands. After 'History' reached the charts all over the world, the first single from their second album '1 touch 2 much' entitled 'Turn your love around' suddenly reached number 7 in the Dutch Top 40 - after their previous efforts barely reached the top 20.

Their music was produced by Eric van Tijn and Jochem Fluitsma, one of the leading producer duos in the Netherlands at the time. Both the producers and the performers would later be involved in Eurovision music: Mai Tai failed to reach the international Contest, while the producers would - and repeatedly too.

My collection: 7" single no. 4089
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Turn your love around' / 'Turn your love around (dub mix)'

There's a guy works down the chip shop swears he's Elvis - Kirsty MacColl

I was already an avid follower of the Dutch Top 40 in 1981, and as such I was always impressed with the title of this single. The song itself, however, was a different matter. It took me two decades to start to like the track.

The single reached nmber 14 in the UK singles chart and number 16 in the Dutch Top 40. In America, a version was released called 'There's a guy works down the truck stop swears he's Elvis', since a 'chip shop' is a very British thing - but this alteration didn't help it reach the chart across the big pond. The country version on the B-side is a great alternate version, by the way.

My collection: 7" single no. 4088
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'There's a guy works down the chip shop swears he's Elvis' / 'Hard to believe', 'There's a guy works down the chip shop swears he's Elvis (Country version)'

My man - Luv'

Luv's debut single 'My man' was released in 1977. It was a far cry from the unpretentious, happy, bubbly pop songs that would become their trademark sound. Instead, this track was a tearjerker of sorts, about a woman whose man, a railroad worker, has been murdered when he tries to stop a fight between two men. The song shocked the Netherlands, because it was released at a time when a train was hijacked.

The single reached number 12 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 10 in Belgium. It was the official start of a career that would take off for real with 'U.O. me' the next year.

My collection: 7" single no. 4087
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'My man' / 'Don't let me down'

Excerpts from the forthcoming album 'Origami' - Fay Lovsky

This 7" single was released to promote the new album by Dutch artist Fay Lovsky, 'Origami', released in 1983. At the time, Lovsky was attracting some media attention with 'Don't feed the animals', which was the first single from the album. Getting a hold of these promotional items is always hard, but I'm glad to have found it: it's a nice collection of samples.

The promo contains one minute samples of all the tracks on the album: 'Ramon', 'Window across the street', 'Disney dust', 'Columbus Avenue', 'Sugar me Sam', 'Palmtree luxury', 'California daze', 'Don't feed the animals', 'Never seem able (to say goodbye)', 'Fuss and fight', 'Tiger and I' and 'One more time'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4086
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Excerpts from the forthcoming album 'Origami'' / 'Excerpts from the forthcoming album 'Origami''

Come away - Terry Dactyl and the Dinosaurus with Jona Lewie

Jona Lewie joined the popular cult blues band Brett Marvin and the Thunderbolts in 1969. It would give him an opportunity to record his first compositions on the album 'These Blues is meant to be barrel housed'. Jona stayed with the Bretts until 1973, their mainstream hit single being 'Seaside shuffle', another early Lewie composition.

'Seaside shuffle' was deemed by the band to be too commercial for the band, and so it was released under the nom de disque Terry Dactyl and The Dinosaurs. It reached number 2 in the UK singles chart in 1972. The name stuck until 1978, when 'Come away' was released to little success in the UK, but it did reach number 20 in the Dutch Top 40, giving Jona Lewie his first hit in Europe.

My collection: 7" single no. 4085
Found: Markplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1,25 euro
Tracks: 'Come away' / 'Custer's last stand'

Endicott - Kid Creole and the Coconuts

Kid Creole and the Coconuts had a comeback of sorts in 1985 with the single 'Endicott'. The Endicott described in the song is the personification of virtue: he doesn't drink, smoke or do drugs, he's always on time, always considerate, never fights... In short, he's everything that the singer of the song is not. The Coconuts jeer 'Why can't you be more like Endicott?'.

While the single did not chart in the UK, it reached number 21 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4083
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Endicott' / 'Doowopsalsoboprock'

Don't stop - K.i.D.

There isn't a lot of information available about the one hit wonder K.i.D. Apparently they come from the Antilles, but that's about all I could find.

'Don't stop' was released in 1982 and was a hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 8. In the UK singles chart, it only managed to reach number 58. The band may have recorded more singles, but none of them charted.

My collection: 7" single no. 4082
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 0,75 euro
Tracks: 'Don't stop' / 'Do it again'

King Kong - Jimmy Castor Bunch

I'm pretty sure my friend Puck will be interested to hear this track, as it is related to a movie - and he is seriously into movie soundtracks. But I've been searching for this one for a long time too, even leading to buying the wrong 'King Kong' not so long ago.

Jimmy Castor was born on June 23, 1947 in New York. He formed the Jimmy Castor Bunch in 1972 and signed a recording contract not long after that. Their debut album 'It's just begun' was an immediate success in America, featuring two hit singles. In 1976, they hit it big worldwide with this single, 'King Kong', a rather bizarre track referring to the ape in the movie of the same name. In the Netherlands, the single reached number 5.

My collection: 7" single no. 4081
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1,25 euro
Tracks: 'King Kong part 1' / 'King Kong part 2'

Young love - Janet Jackson

Aged sixteen, when her brother Michael was just about to conquer the world with his album 'Thriller', Janet Jackson signed a record deal with A&M Records. Her self-titled debut album was released in 1982, the same year. It was produced by soul singers Angela Winbush, René Moore and Leon F. Sylvers III. Her father Joseph oversaw the entire production.

'Young love' was a single drawn from that debut album. Janet received a lot of criticism for her limited vocal range and being yet another sibling of the Jackson family to start a career in music despite that. Still, the single reached number 64 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, also charting in New Zealand and South Africa. In Europe, the audience remained uninterested until her third album 'Control' (1986).

My collection: 7" single no. 4080
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Young love' / 'The magic is working'

Sunshine - Imagination

The trio Imagination became best known for the tracks they recorded with producers Steve Jolley and Tony Swain. When they parted ways with the producers duo, further chart success eluded them.

'Sunshine' is one of those latter days Imagination tracks, taken from their 1986 album 'Trilogy'. Produced by Richard James Burgess, the sound may be less lush and soulful, but it is a very decent pop track. It could have been a hit - but the general public decided otherwise.

My collection: 7" single no. 4078
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Sunshine' / 'Trilogy'

Rücksicht - Hoffmann und Hoffmann

During the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest, Germany was represented by the brothers Michael & Günter Hoffmann, who performed the song 'Rücksicht' ('Regard' or 'Respect'). The song is sung from the perspective of a man attempting to understand where his relationship went wrong. He says that he is not the only one to blame, as neither he nor his lover gave any real consideration to the other.

The song classified as 5th in a field of 20 participants, which was one of Germany's better achievements during the Eighties. Günter Hoffmann's died a year after the Contest, after hurling himself out of a hotel window in Rio de Janeiro on March 15, 1984.

My collection: 7" single no. 4077
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Rücksicht' / 'Entflogen'

Temptation (Brothers in Rhythm remix) - Heaven 17

After a very successful decade for Heaven 17 in the Eighties, the band went quiet in the early Nineties. The first sign of life was a remix of 'Temptation', released in November 1992. It reached number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 16 in the Dutch Top 40.

The single was followed by the compilation album 'Higher and Higher - The Best of Heaven 17' in 1993.

My collection: 7" single no. 4076
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Temptation (Brothers in Rhythm remix edit)' / 'Temptation (Brothers in Rhythm instrumental)'

The shuttered palace - Ellen Foley

Some time ago, I had a reaction on one of my posts by Karla Devito. It really surprised me in a way that even the most logical things can surprise a person. Of course, celebrities are mere mortals too, but it is kindof weird that they log in to your blog and read it. Since she mentioned she loved Ellen Foley, this one's for her. And for me too, since I've searched for this single for some time.

'The shuttered palace' is a track from Foley's 1981 album 'Spirit of St. Louis'. It was written by Mick Jones and Joe Strummer from the Clash. It did not chart in Europe as far as I know, and in the UK only the album managed to reach number 57 in the UK albums chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4075
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'The shuttered palace' / 'Beautiful waste of time'

Hup daar is Willem - Ed en Willem Bever

Almost two months ago I bought 'Het stoomlied', the first hit single from the Dutch television programme 'De fabeltjeskrant'. Driven by nostalgia, I went looking for that other hit: 'Hup daar is Willem'. And I'm glad to say that I found a copy - although the picture sleeve is unfortunately missing. This will do for now.

'Hup daar is Willem' reached number 4 in the Dutch Top 40 and was the last top 10 hit from the children's programme. One other single reached the Dutch Top 40, but that was an ill-advised song about the Dutch football club Ajax. Since I have no interest in sports whatsoever, I will pass on that one.

My collection: 7" single no. 4072
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Hup daar is Willem' / 'M'n bloementuin is m'n wondertuin'

Mockingbird - Belle Stars

'Mockingbird' was originally a hit for Inez and Charlie Foxx in 1969. The song was covered by James Taylor and Carly Simon in 1974.

The Belle Stars released their version of the song in October 1982. It was only a modest success, peaking at number 51 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4073
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Mockingbird' / 'Turn back the clock'

Megamix - Boney M

When Abba had a comeback of sorts with the 'Abba Gold' compilations in the early Nineties, other acts followed suit. 'Boney M Gold' was released in 1992, and this single was released to promote the compilation. It was a megamix of five big Boney M hits: 'Rivers of Babylon', 'Sunny', 'Ma Baker', 'Daddy Cool' and 'Rasputin'.

At a time when Seventies acts were anything but cool, this Megamix was a surprise hit, peaking at number 13 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4074
Found: Marktplaats.nl, September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Megamix' / 'Bang Bang Lulu'

Lovegame - Lady Gaga

'Let's have some fun / This beat is sick / I wanna take a ride / on your disco stick'. Well, if you don't know what a 'disco stick' is, Lady Gaga is all too happy to explain: 'It's another of my very thoughtful metaphors for a cock. [...] I don't think disco stick is subtle. It's very clear what that lyric is all about. If anything, I happen to think people are frivolously hard on me. A lot of youth-oriented pop music is much racier than mine. 'Throw me on the floor, take off my clothes, give it to me, baby, let's dirty dance'. All these records are so provocative, but it's the context of what I'm doing that makes people concerned. [...] But if I wanted to make music to make people sing 'la di da' that would be very boring."

Otherwise, there was no need to complain for Lady Gaga: the single reached the top 10 in ten different countries. In the UK singles chart, it stalled at number 25, whereas in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart it reached number 5.

My collection: 7" single no. 4065
Found: eBay.co.uk, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Lovegame' / 'Lovegame (Space Cowboy remix)'

Movin' on - Bananarama

Bananarama was literally 'Movin' on' with this single, released in August 1992. In 1991, Jacquie O'Sullivan had left the group, and remaining members Keren Woodward and Sara Dallin chose not to search for a replacement this time. Instead, they continues as a duo.

While they were moving on, they also moved back: they reunited with Stock and Waterman as producers - who similarly had parted ways with Aitken. The two duos worked on the album 'Please yourself', of which this single was the first one. It reached number 24 in the UK singles chart and number 32 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4071
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Movin' on' / 'Treat me right'

A day's wait - Altered Images

After being championed by legendary DJ John Peel, Altered Images quickly garnered enough attention to be offered a record deal with Epic Records in 1981. Mainstream success eluded the band until their third single 'Happy birthday' was released.

'Dead pop stars', their debut single, reached a lowly number 67 in the UK singles chart, but this second single 'A day's wait' did not chart at all. It was after this single that Altered Images recorded their debut album.

My collection: 7" single no. 4070
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'A day's wait' / 'Who cares?'

The night you murdered love - ABC

'The night you murdered love' was the second single from ABC's 1987 album 'Alphabet City'. The track featured a more modern sound for the band, including some catchy vocals by band leader Martin Fry. The single peaked at number 31 in the UK singles chart and number 10 in the Dutch Top 40.

This is one ABC single I never bought, not because I didn't like the track but more because it was played on the radio so often back in 1987. I never really felt the need to own this single - until now, that is.

My collection: 7" single no. 4069
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'The night you murdered love' / 'Minneapolis'

When all is said and done - Abba

'When all is said and done' is a track from Abba's 1981 album 'The visitors'. It was released as a single in Australia and the USA - and this is the sleeveless US pressing. Written during a time of emotional turmoil, Björn Ulvaeus has admitted that the recent divorce between Benny Andersson and Frida Lyngstad was at the back of his mind during the songwriting process for this song. Björn sought approval from Benny and Frida before the group began working with the song. When recording began in March 1981, only one month had passed since their separation.

'When all is said and done' was a reasonable success in the United States, peaking at number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 - and Abba's final top 40 hit there. Now if I could only find the picture sleeve somewhere...

My collection: 7" single no. 4068
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 0,75 euro
Tracks: 'When all is said and done' / 'Should I laugh or cry'

Superhuman touch - Athlete

'Superhuman touch' is the latest single by the English rock band Athlete. It was released in August this year as the first single from their new album 'Black swan'. After switching from Parlophone records to Fiction records, it was a good surprise to see that the 7" single format wasn't abandoned. Even better, the 7" single features an exclusive B-side track.

After the album 'Beyond the neighbourhood', which was a bit disappointing critically and commercially, it seems with this new album the band is back on track. I've already ordered the new cd!

My collection: 7" single no. 4067
Found: eBay.co.uk, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Superhuman touch' / 'Ghosts from the past'

Paparazzi - Lady Gaga

'Paparazzi' is the most recent single release by Lady Gaga, released in July this year. The song was written by her to portray her struggles and her love for fame. Gaga herself commented about the song: 'The song is about a few different things – it's about my struggles, do I want fame or do I want love? It's also about wooing the paparazzi to fall in love with me. It's about the media whoring, if you will, watching ersatzes make fools of themselves to their station. It's a love song for the cameras, but it's also a love song about fame or love – can you have both, or can you only have one?'

As usual for a Lady Gaga single, the 7" single was released as a picture disc. It reached number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4064
Found: eBay.co.uk, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Paparazzi' / 'Paparazzi (Yuksek remix)'

Your love alone is not enough - Manic street preachers

It may have been a surprise to some to hear a female vocal on a Manic Street Preachers track. And some may even have wondered who it was. Well, the guest star here was Nina Persson, who is known as the frontwoman of The Cardigans.

'Your love alone is not enough' was released as a single in April 2007. It reached number 2 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4066
Found: eBay.co.uk, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Your love alone is not enough' / 'Fearless punk ballad'

New in town - Little boots

Every now and again, I discover a new artist that has actually been around for a little while but I just managed to miss it. It doesn't matter because usually I'm there early enough to still collect all the relevant singles. Little boots is my latest discovery, recording so-called electropop music that incorporates a lot of influences from the Eighties into a more modern sound.

'New in town' is Little boots' debut single, released in May this year. Victoria Christina Hesketh, who uses Little boots as her stage name, wrote the song herself together with Greg Kurstin. According to her, the song is about 'being a stranger in a strange place which is fun but also has a dark side, and someone showing you around and in the end just kind of letting go'. The single reached number 13 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4062
Found: eBay.co.uk, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'New in town' / 'New in town (No one is safe - Al Kapranos remix)'

The beginning - Seal

'The beginning' was the third single taken from Seal's debut album 'Seal'. Released in October 1991, it was not as successful as the two previous singles, reaching number 24 in the UK singles chart and number 10 in the Dutch Top 40.

Personally I thought this track was not the best choice for a single and I hesitated a little before I bought it. Fortunately the mantra 'a collector has to be complete' was already making its way into my brain around that time.

My collection: 7" single no. 1495
Found: Melody Maker, July 20, 1991
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'The beginning' / 'Deep water (acoustic)'

Zuipen - Rubberen Robbie

'Zuipen' ('Booze') could have been a typical product of the early Eighties, a time when youth unemployment was the highest it had ever been. The 'no future' slogans proclaimed by the punks were still in vogue and getting unemployment benefit was almost something of a status symbol.

The group Rubberen Robbie (a Dutch parody of the name Plastic Bertrand, a punker from the Seventies) recorded 'Zuipen' actually in 1978 as their debut single. It was a big hit with Dutch pirate stations, although it didn't manage to reach the Dutch Top 40. The group would continue to record parodies and humorous tracks in the years to come.

My collection: 7" single no. 1414
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, April 7, 1991
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Zuipen' / 'Hebbie ouwe krante?'

Rosanna - Toto

'Rosanna' may well be one of the era-defining tracks of the Eighties. The instantly recognisable Toto track was written by the band's primary songwriter, David Paich. Many people think the song is about Rosanna Arquette, who at the time had a troublesome relationship with band member Steve Porcaro. The title was actually just coincidential: Paich needed a name to fit well into the chorus.

The single peaked at number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 3 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 12 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2429
Found: August 19, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Rosanna' / 'It's a feeling'

Another way to die - Jack White and Alicia Keys

A lot of care went into the James Bond themes in the early days. And I have to say, the quality was still there in the Nineties, although some of the tracks released in the Eighties and Nineties relied on cliche a little too much. But with the latest Bond movie, 'Quantum of solace', nothing really is Bond anymore - and the theme song went the same way.

'Another way to die', performed by Jack White and Alicia Keys, sounds like a hastily compiled demo, in which the writer, Jack White, forgot to include a melody and a comprehensible song structure. On the plus side: it's the first time since Madonna's 'Die another day' that the Bond theme appeared on the 7" vinyl format again and it is pressed on semi-gold coloured vinyl.

My collection: 7" single no. 3576
Found: eBay.co.uk, received February 2, 2009
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Another way to die' / 'Another way to die (instrumental)'

Run to the sun - Erasure

'Run to the sun' was the second single from Erasure's sixth studio album 'I say I say I say', released in July 1994. It was the last single by Erasure to be released on the 7" single format in the UK in the Nineties. It was pressed on yellow vinyl and came with a free full colour poster.

The single peaked at number 6 in the UK singles chart. The single's B-side, a ballad entitled 'Tenderest moments', is a fan favorite and was later re-recorded by Erasure in an acoustic version for their 2006 album 'Union Street'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2156
Found: September 3, 1994
Cost: ?
Tracks: 'Run to the sun' / 'Tenderest moments', 'Run to the sun (Beatmasters' Intergalactic mix)

Walking on thin ice - Yoko Ono

I'll have to give full credit to Puck for introducing me to this song. I don't know exactly when, but it may well have been when the remixes of this track were released in 2003. Somehow I managed to miss this track when it was first released in 1981 - although it did not chart in the Netherlands.

Yoko Ono released this single, like the sleeve states, 'For John'. The lyrics talk of the unpredictability of life and death - of 'throwing the dice in the air' - and reach the conclusion, 'when our hearts return to ashes, it will be just a story...'. With the world in shock of John Lennon's death just two months before the released of this single in February 1981, a new poignancy was added to the already haunting yet highly danceable track.

My collection: 7" single no. 4061
Found: eBay.com, received September 23, 2009
Cost: $4
Tracks: 'Walking on thin ice' / 'It happened'

You want this - Janet Jackson

Released in October 1994, 'You want this' was the seventh and final single taken from Janet Jackson's album 'Janet'. While most previous singles were released on the 7" format in the UK, this one wasn't. This is an American pressing meant, as the label states, for jukeboxes only.

The track features samples from the Supremes' 1968 song 'Love child' and Kool & the Gang's 1973 song 'Jungle boogie'. The single reached number 14 in the UK singles chart and number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4058
Found: eBay.com, received September 23, 2009
Cost: $4
Track: 'You want this' / 'New agenda'

Tokyo - Athlete

'Tokyo' was the second single from Athlete's third album 'Beyond the neighbourhood'. While the cd-single contained four live tracks (including 'Tokyo' itself), this 7" single featured the album version of 'Tokyo' and an exclusive B-side track.

Released in November 2007, the single did not reach the UK top 100, partly due to lack of promotion and the fact that the cd-single EP sales were discounted as a result of UK chart rules.

My collection: 7" single no. 4057
Found: Recordstore.co.uk, received September 23, 2009
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Tokyo' / 'Accidents happen'