Waltz darling - Malcolm McLaren

In 1989, Malcolm McLaren released the album 'Waltz darling', with tracks inspired by funk, disco and the new dance craze 'vogueing'. While for once McLaren's instincts failed him (there was no sudden interest in waltz music) it still helped to spread the news about the previously underground practice of vogueing. The most famous track coming forth from this craze is of course Madonna's 'Vogue', but Malcolm McLaren's track is more interesting than that one.

The single reached number 19 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 31 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1040
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Waltz darling' / 'Deep in vogue'

Wisdom chain - Jon and Vangelis

Most people know the songs 'I'll find my way home' and 'I hear you now', recorded by Jon and Vangelis in the Eighties. The fact that they released another album together in 1991 is less wellknown. The album was called 'Page of life' and 'Wisdom chain' was the first single released from that album. The single flopped, and there were no further albums by the duo.

The album 'Page of life' was re-released in 1998, but it included different tracks of which Vangelis did not approve.

My collection: 7" single no. 1605
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, March 28, 1992
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Wisdom chain' / 'Page of life'

Refuse/Resist - Sepultura

The music of Sepultura is loud, very loud. And for a while in the early Nineties, I was into loud sounds. The albums 'Blessed are the sick' by Morbid Angel and 'Arise' by Sepultura were on my favourites list and it was logical for me to start searching for singles by these bands. As far as I know, no 7" singles were released from these albums.

In 1994, Sepultura released the album 'Chaos A.D.' and the EP 'Refuse/Resist'. The intro to the song is the heartbeat of Max Cavalera's then-unborn first son Zyon. Needless to say, this music never became mainstream, but it did reach number 51 in the UK singles chart. Perhaps the poster sleeve of this release was an explanation?

My collection: 7" single no. 2079
Found: Amsterdam, March 8, 1994
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Refuse/Resist' / 'Inhuman nature', 'Propaganda'

One of us - Abba

'One of us' was one of the last songs Abba recorded for their final album 'The visitors'. Like more songs around that time, Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson were writing about their personal lives, which involved the divorce of their female band members, Agnetha and Frida respecrtively. Despite the somewhat depressing context and reservations by manager Stig Anderson, 'One of us' was released as the first single from 'The Visitors'. It reached number 1 in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Ireland. In the UK, it peaked at number 3.

The song was parodied in the UK television programme 'Not the nine o'clock news', in which the chorus was sung as 'One of us is ugly, 1 of us is cute / One of us you'd like to see in her birthday suit / Two of us write music, two have way a song /Sorry, in translation, that line come out wrong'.

My collection: 7" single no. 109
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1981
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'One of us' / 'Should I laugh or cry'

Freedom - George Michael

A long time before I bought the UK edition of the single 'Freedom' by George Michael, I bought the European one. It had a different B-side, the one that was used as the B-side of 'Waiting for that day' in the UK. The front sleeve was the same, however, which may have been confusing to some.

This single reached number 8 in the Dutch Top 40, which was 20 places higher than the UK. I wonder if the B-side helped it do so well?

My collection: 7" single no. 1347
Found: Melody Maker, October 27, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Freedom' / 'Fantasy'

Paradise - Sade

'Paradise' was the second single from Sade's 1988 album 'Stronger than pride'. It was released in the summer of 1988 and reached number 16 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the UK, it reached number 29 and in the Netherlands it peaked at number 26.

My copy of the single is an American pressing. For some reason, a European pressing was hard to come by at the time.

My collection: 7" single no. 641
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, July 23, 1988
Cost: 4 guilders
Tracks: 'Paradise' / 'Super bien total'

Lucky one - Amy Grant

'Lucky one' was released as the first single from the album 'House of love' by Amy Grant in 1994 in the UK. In the USA, it was the second single, following the title track, which was a duet with Vince Gill. The single performed slightly better on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 18.

In the UK, this single reached number 60 in August 1994.

My collection: 7" single no. 2196
Found: HMV, London, September 29, 1994
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Lucky one' / 'Baby baby'

Rainbow lake - Wendy and Lisa

'Rainbow lake' was released as the second single from Wendy & Lisa's third album 'Eroica'. Released in November 1990, it was their last chart hit in the UK, although it only reached number 70 during the one week it charted.

After this single, only 'Don't try to tell me' was released, after which the duo stopped recording for a long time.

My collection: 7" single no. 2402
Found: July 8, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Rainbow lake (Album remix)' / 'Rainbow lake (12 into 7 remix)'

Violet - Seal

Seal released 'Violet' as the fifth and last single from his self-titled debut album. It featured acoustic versions of tracks from the album, with all the royalties from the single donated to charity. Unfortunately, the single was not the biggest success from the album: it reached number 39 in the UK singles chart.

Nevertheless, the versions of 'Violet' and 'Wild' on this single are in their own way just as good as the Trevor Horn-produced album versions.

My collection: 7" single no. 2263
Found: Record fair, April 8, 1995
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Violet' / 'Wild'

Sister of mercy - Thompson Twins

'Sister of mercy' was the fourth single taken from the Thompson Twins' hugely successful 1984 album 'Into the gap'. The single version was different from the album version, in that it started out as a ballad. The B-side was a megamix of wellknown Thompson Twins tracks, such as 'We are detective', 'Into the gap' and 'Hold me now'.

The single reached number 11 in the UK singles chart, but did not chart in other territories.

My collection: 7" single no. 238
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1984
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Sister of mercy' / 'Out of the gap'

When the snow falls - Ten Sharp

'When the snow falls' was originally Ten Sharp's debut single back in 1985. The single did not chart, and since subsequent singles were not a big success either, the band broke up in 1987. When they returned in 1991 with the single 'You', they had a European hit on their hands. The album 'Under the water-line' consisted of nine new tracks, but also a version of 'When the snow falls'.

This version was edited and released as the fourth single from the album. This version is slightly different from the original single and it also contains a different B-side. It didn't bring the band the success they might have hoped for: again, it failed to reach the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1967
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 25, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'When the snow falls' / 'Some sails'

Don't be aggressive - Sandra

I cited the words 'I could be your friend, I could be your slave, I could be anything you want me to / But please, don't be aggressive' to a friend back in 1992, when she wanted to hit me because I was pulling her hair again. The words stuck in my mind, and subsequently I bought the single just after it had failed to reach the Dutch Top 40.

Written by Michael Cretu and Klaus Hirschburger, 'Don't be aggressive' sounded a lot like a track by Enigma, the newly created project by Cretu. The single reached number 17 in Germany and was only a top 10 hit in Norway, where it peaked at number 7.

My collection: 7" single no. 1592
Found: Free Record Shop, March 21, 1992
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Don't be aggressive' / 'Seal it forever'

To know someone deeply is to know someone softly - Terence Trent d'Arby

Whenever I play this song, I'm very curious what drove the record company to release this as a single. The quirky song with its strange title was not exactly chart material and anyone with one ear could easily admit that. After the commercial failure of 'This side of love', this single was sure not to improve matters much.

Still, the single did manage to reach number 55 in the UK singles chart. It is a success of sorts, since 'This side of love' only managed number 83. I didn't think this single was released on 7" single, until I found it five years after its release.

My collection: 7" single no. 2520
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, November 1, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'To know someone deeply is to know someone softly' / 'Loose variations on a dead mans vibe in C# M'

Rockin' over the beat - Technotronic

Technotronic finally managed to create one track which did not include rapping. The singing on this track was still pretty substandard, but at least it was a kindof decent tune. The lyric is another poetic masterpiece: 'Rockin' over the beat / Rollin' over the melody'.

The single reached number 9 in the UK singles chart and went top 20 all over Europe. In the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, the single managed to get to number 95. And this single concluded by Technotronic collection. Yes, it got out of hand a little.

My collection: 7" single no. 1280
Found: August 23, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Rockin' over the beat' / 'Raw'

Break it down again - Tears for Fears

Roland Orzabal surprised many when he returned in 1993 on his own under the Tears for Fears band name. Curt Smith had left the group and the album 'Elemental' was created without him. The song 'Fish out of water' on the album was apparently about Curt Smith. Roland has often referred to this song as his 'How Do You Sleep', in reference to the scathing song John Lennon wrote about former bandmate Paul McCartney. Curt released a formal response to this tune four years later, in the song 'Sun King' from his album 'Mayfield'.

'Break it down again' is a less explosive song. It was released as the first single from 'Elemental' in May 1993 and reached number 20 in the UK singles chart and number 16 in the Dutch Top 40. In the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, it reached number 25.

My collection: 7" single no. 1918
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, June 5, 1993
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Break it down again' / 'Bloodletting go'

Radio Musicola - Nik Kershaw

'Radio Musicola' is the title track from Nik Kershaw's third album. Both the album and the single were released in 1986 by MCA Records. The album deals with subjects of integrity, media skepticism (particularly towards tabloid journalism), privacy, insecurity and mass produced run-of-the-mill pop.

All this intelligence was probably too much for the audience to handle: the single only reached number 43 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3065
Found: House of Rhythm, London, May 9, 1999
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'Radio Musicola' / 'L.A.B.A.T.Y.D.'

Belfast child - Simple Minds

I still remember vividly the first time I heard 'Belfast child' by the Simple Minds. It was a Saturday evening and I had a splitting headache. I'd taken a few pills to combat this, and started playing some music. As always, I'd borrowed the new cd-singles my sister had bought, and this was one of them. I was listening to this new track with a lot of attention and was very impressed with the buildup and climax near the end of the track. When the song was over, my headache was gone.

The song uses the music from the Irish folk song 'She moved through the fair', but has completely different words. Jim Kerr commented: 'I first heard the melody a few days after the Enniskillen bombing, and like everybody when you see the images I was sick. In the second part of the song, I'm trying to relate to people in Northern Ireland who lost loved ones. I'm trying to talk about the madness, the sadness and the emptiness. I'm not saying I have any pearls of wisdom, but I have a few questions to ask.' The single, released in early 1989, reached number 1 in the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 735
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, February 7, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Belfast child' / 'Mandela Day'

Newgrange - Clannad

Newgrange (Irish: Sí an Bhrú) is a passage tomb of the Brú na Bóinne complex in County Louth. It was originally built between c. 5500 and 2900 BC. It is one of the most famous prehistoric sites in the world, and indeed the most famous of all Irish prehistoric sites.

It is also the title of this Clannad song, released as the third single from their 1982 album 'Magical ring'. It reached number 65 in the UK singles chart during a one week chart run.

My collection: 7" single no. 2682
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, July 3, 1996
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Newgrange' / 'Seachràn Charn tSiail'

Adolescent sex - Japan

Taken from their debut album of the same name, 'Adolescent sex' was the first hit for Japan, reaching number 27 in the Netherlands and number 20 in Japan. The single did not chart in the UK, where it was not played on the radio because of the title.

The song sounds very different from Japan's later material, and these days many people find it hard to believe that this is actually a track sung by David Sylvian.

My collection: 7" single no. 2942
Found: Record fair, Leiden, January 31, 1998
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Adolescent sex' / 'Sometimes I feel so low'

Fight fire with fire - Mai Tai

Released in October 1987, 'Fight fire with fire' was the last single by Mai Tai to reach the Dutch Top 40. It reached number 31 during a four week chart run. The single was taken from their 1987 album 'Cool is the rule'.

In 1988, a compilation album was released, after which the members of Mai Tai went their separate ways.

My collection: 7" single no. 4091
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Fight fire with fire' / 'If it don't turn you on'

Celebration - Kylie Minogue

The new single by Madonna notwithstanding, the most famous song called 'Celebration' was originally released in 1980 by Kool & the Gang, a number 1 hit in America for the band. Kylie Minogue, who cited the song as one of her alltime favourite songs, recorded for her fourth studio album 'Let's get to it' in 1991, but it was not included.

The track appeared a year later as a new song on her Greatest Hits album. Released as a single, it reached number 20 in the UK singles chart. This song was the last single Kylie made with PWL and Stock Aitken Waterman.

My collection: 7" single no. 3331
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, March 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Celebration' / 'Let's get to it'

Sounds like a melody - Alphaville

'Sounds like a melody' was the second single taken from Alphaville's debut album 'Forever young'. Released in May 1984, the single reached the top 10 all over Europe, including a number 6 position in the Dutch Top 40 and number 3 in Germany and Austria.

Besides this 7" single I also own the 12" single, which fortunately contains an extended version of this great song.

My collection: 7" single no. 608
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 7, 1988
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Sounds like a melody' / 'The Nelson highrise (Sector one: the elevator)'

Just a dream - Nena

Not content with having a European hit with 'Nur geträumt', the German band Nena recorded the track in an English version entitled 'Just a dream'. This English version was the follow-up to '99 red balloons', the English version of her hit '99 Luftballons' which reached number 1 in the UK.

'Just a dream' did much worse in May 1984, reaching number 70 during a two week chart run. It was also the last Nena single to chart in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 3074
Found: Record Exchange, London, May 10, 1999
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Just a dream' / 'Indianer'

Just a shadow - Big Country

'Just a shadow' was the third and last single released from Big Country's third album 'Steeltown'. Like the two before, the single was only a significant success in the UK. The single peaked at number 26 in the UK singles chart in January 1985.

Back then, Big Country singles really didn't excite me much. I took in most of my music through television and all of their music videos were very boring. It's only a few years later that I started to appreciate this song. Eventually, I bought the single.

My collection: 7" single no. 1305
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 15, 1990
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'Just a shadow' / 'Winter sky'

One more try - Timmy T

Time for some dodgy Nineties music now. Timmy T was born as Timmy Torres in Fresno, California on September 21, 1967. He released his biggest hit 'One more try' in 1991. The song was written and performed by Timmy himself. The inspiration for the lyric was the breakup with a girlfriend.

Nothing really shocking there. But here is comes: when you listen to this, you will hear the cheap, tinny sounds and the low production standards of the track. You would think this would have been a minor hit, but instead this track topped the charts in America and the Netherlands. Only the people in the UK were sensible: there, the single did not chart. And why did I buy it? Dunno. Must have been a blackout.

My collection: 7" single no. 1436
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, April 26, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'One more try' / 'What will I do'

Neverending love - Roxette

Contrary to public belief, Roxette did not debut with the single 'The look', which gave them worldwide fame. Instead, this single, 'Neverending love' was the start of their career together. Per Gessle had been a member of Gyllene Tider, a Swedish pop group, and Marie Fredriksson had a successful solo career in Sweden.

This song was originally called 'Svarta glas' and was written for another Swedish artist, Pernilla Wahlgren. She turned it down and gave it to her brother, Niclas Wahlgren, who decided to record it. This release was cancelled when Roxette's record company found out that writer Per Gessle had recorded an English version of the song with Fredriksson. 'Neverending love' was released all over Europe, but only charted in Sweden, where it reached number 3.

My collection: 7" single no. 2963
Found: Record fair, February 9, 1998
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Neverending love' / 'Neverending love (Love mix)'

Don't drop bombs - Liza Minelli

'Don't drop bombs' was released as the second single from Liza Minelli's 1989 album 'Results'. Like the album, the single was produced by the Pet Shop Boys and Julian Mendelssohn. The track was written by the Pet Shop Boys and featured background vocals by Tessa Niles.

The single was a club favourite, but stalled at number 46 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1944
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 11, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Don't drop bombs' / 'Don't drop bombs (instrumental)'

The lovers are losing - Keane

'The lovers are losing' was the second single taken from Keane's 2008 album 'Perfect symmetry'. It was released in October 2008.

Despite being the first physical release taken from the album ('Spiralling' was released as a digital download only in the UK), the single only reached number 52 in the UK singles chart. It had a three week chart run.

My collection: 7" single no. 3517
Found: eBay.com, received December 30, 2008
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'The lovers are losing' / 'Time to go'

Jack is back - Earth and Fire

The second single from Earth & Fire's 1982 album 'In a state of flux' was the radiofriendly 'Jack is back', an unpretentious pop song from the band that had slowly moved away from their progressive rock roots.

The single reached number 29 in the Dutch Top 40. Although all three singles from 'In a state of flux' reached the Dutch Top 40, it was also the last album by the band - until a reunion album in 1989, that is.

My collection: 7" single no. 430
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 29, 1986
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Jack is back' / 'Hide away'

I just can't help it - The Korgis

Released in 1980, 'I just can't help it' was the Korgis' fourth single release. Their debut single 'Young 'n Russian' was released twice without chart success, whereas their second single 'If I had you' gave them their first chart success.

'I just can't help it' was remixed for the single release, but it didn't help matters much: the single didn't reach the UK singles chart. Their next single would be the biggest hit of their career: 'Everybody's gotta learn sometimes'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2899
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 30, 1997
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'I just can't help it' / 'O Maxine'

I want your (hands on me) - Sinéad O'Connor

'I want your (hands on me)' was already not the strongest track on Sinéad O'Connor's debut album 'The lion and the cobra', but the single version, released in the spring of 1988, had the added bonus of a rap by a certain MC Lyte. And as you well know, rapping is the worst kind of self-expression.

I wasn't going to buy this single at first, until I noticed the B-side contained a live version of 'Just call me Joe', recorded during a BBC Radio One session in 1987. Okay, so the B-side was better than the A-side this time around... The single reached number 77 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2546
Found: Record Exchange, London, November 1, 1995
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'I want your (hands on me) (feat. MC Lyte)' / 'Just call me Joe (live)'

Killer - Seal

Adamski and Seal recorded 'Killer' in 1990, providing Seal with a platform from which to launch his own solo career. On his debut album, he recorded a new version of the song - and this version was released as the fourth single from the album. This new version was produced by Trevor Horn and William Orbit.

Seal's version of 'Killer' reached number 8 in the UK singles chart. The B-side consisted of two tracks, both recorded live in an attempt to launch him as a 'serious' live artist too. Seal has since done several tours, proving that his great voice is not just a product of studio alterations.

My collection: 7" single no. 2165
Found: London, September 26, 1994
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Killer' / 'Hey Joe', 'Come see what love has done'

Drive - The Cars

'Drive' was the third single from the Cars' 1984 album 'Heartbeat City'. Written by Ric Ocasek and produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange and the Cars, the lead vocals were performed by the band's bassist Benjamin Orr.

The single reached number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also reached number 5 in the UK singles chart and number 28 in the Dutch Top 40. In the summer of 1985, the song was used for a video showing footage of hungry Ethiopian children during the Live Aid concert. Despite the fact that 'Who's gonna drive you home tonight' is a bit of a stupid question in a country where cars are nowhere to be seen and the question 'Who's gonna give you food tonight' might be more appropriate, the single found itself in the public eye once more. When it was re-released, it reached number 4 in the UK and number 14 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 327
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Drive' / 'Stranger eyes'

Fame 90 - David Bowie

'Fame' was written by David Bowie, Carlos Alomar and John Lennon in 1975. The original version of the song was released as a single that same year and shot to number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

In 1990, a remixed version of the song was released by EMI to coincide with the Sound + Vision tour and the release of the ChangesBowie compilation cd. The B-side of the single featured a very regrettable version with random mumblings by a female rapper. In the UK, 'Fame 90' was released in a special pack featuring three photograph prints. The single reached number 28 in the UK singles chart and did not chart in the USA.

My collection: 7" single no. 1229
Found: Free Record Shop, April 22, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Fame 90 (Gass mix)' / 'Fame 90 (Queen Latifah's rap version)'

I don't care anymore - Phil Collins

A track like 'I don't care anymore' is a far cry from the syrupy ballad material Phil Collins recorded later on in his solo career. Apparently, the lyric of this song is about the anger Collins felt after his first marriage dissolved.

Taken from his second solo album 'Hello, I must be going!', this single did not chart. The B-side was released as a single later on, and reached number 45 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2416
Found: July 22, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'I don't care anymore' / 'Don't let him steal your heart away'

Who will you run to - Heart

'Who will you run to' was the second single from Heart's 1987 album 'Bad animals'. The song was written by Diane Warren. The lyric contains a clear warning to a departing lover that there will be no one else who could care for and support him in the way that the singer of the song has.

The single reached number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 30 in the UK singles chart. The B-side is the most beautiful track from Heart's 1985 self-titled album.

My collection: 7" single no. 1751
Found: London, October 19, 1992
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'Who will you run to' / 'Nobody home'

Follow me - Demis Roussos

I don't think many chart singles are based on classical music these days. But in the Seventies and early Eighties, it happened every once in a while. This track by Demis Roussos is a good example: 'Follow me' was based on Rodrigo's Concerto d'Aranjuez, and was an impressive piece clocking in at six minutes.

Demis reached number 25 in the Dutch Top 40 with this single, and had a Europe-wide hit with it as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 169
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Follow me' / 'Song without end'

April love - Ricky Wilde

After Ricky Wilde debuted in 1972 with 'I am an astronaut', his second single 'April love' was released in early 1973. The song was originally written by Sammy Fain and Paul Francis Webster and recorded in 1957 by Pat Boone. Young Ricky didn't reach the UK singles chart with this effort, and I have no further chart statistics for this single. (He reportedly did well in Scandinavia with some singles, but it's never been described which singles exactly).

I found this copy of the single, with a picture sleeve and made in the UK, on eBay, sold by a Danish person. The disc is in pretty fine condition, considering its age of 36 years. And yes, all of Ricky's singles have become a bit of a collector's item: they are rarely offered for sale and especially copies with a picture sleeve are very hard to find.

My collection: 7" single no. 4098
Found: eBay.com, received September 29, 2009
Cost: 9 euro
Tracks: 'April love' / 'Round and round'

Left to my own devices - Pet Shop Boys

Produced by Trevor Horn, it's no surprise that 'Left to my devices', taken from the Pet Shop Boys' 1987 album 'Introspective', is quite a bombastic tune. As for the lyrics, Neil Tennant explains: 'I liked the idea of writing a really up pop song about being left alone. This song is a day in the life of someone, so it starts off with getting out of bed and being on the phone and drinking tea and all the rest of it, and it ends up with coming home. By this time I was making the words very exaggerated and camp, though writing a book and going on stage were both things I had wanted to do when I was young.'

The single peaked at number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 19 in the Dutch Top 40. It did much worse in America, where it stalled at number 84. The Pet Shop Boys failed to regain their popularity there ever since.

My collection: 7" single no. 707
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, December 17, 1988
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Left to my own devices' / 'The sound of the atom splitting'

In my arms - Erasure

While in the UK their record company had stopped releasing 7" singles by Erasure after 'Run to the sun', their American record company apparently continued for some time, judging from this copy of 'In my arms', released in 1997.

'In my arms', released as the first single from Erasure's 1997 album 'Cowboy', became their first Billboard Hot 100 entry since 1994's 'Always', peaking at number 55. In the UK, the single reached number 13. The B-side features a cover of Blondie's 'Heart of glass'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4059
Found: eBay.com, received September 23, 2009
Cost: $4
Tracks: 'In my arms' / 'Heart of glass'

My first night without you - Cyndi Lauper

Cyndi Lauper, Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg wrote 'My first night without you', a song about coming home for the first time without a partner being there after a break up. The single was considered a failure in most of the world because it failed to make a big impact on most charts. However, in South America it was a big success, reaching number 1 in Brazil and Colombia.

The track is also a personal favourite of mine. I remember playing it lots of times after I bought it out of curiosity.

My collection: 7" single no. 1269
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, July 14, 1990
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'My first night without you' / 'Unabbreviated love'

Bet that's what you say - Mai Tai

Released in April 1987, 'Bet that's what you say' was Mai Tai's penultimate hit single in the Netherlands. The song was produced by Eric van Tijn and Jochem Fluitsma, who also wrote the it. The single reached number 36 in the Dutch Top 40 during a three week chart run.

The sleeve photograph was taken by one of the Netherlands' most wellknown photographers, Govert de Roos.

My collection: 7" single no. 4090
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Bet that's what you say' / 'Bet that's what you say (dub mix)'

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)'