No doubt about it - Hot Chocolate

'No doubt about it' was written by Mike Burns, Simon Glen and Donny Most. It is an unusual lyric, dealing with life from outer space. The music is almost futuristic, laden with synthesizers which would become more common after 1980, when this single was released.

It was a successful single for Hot Chocolate, because it reached number 2 in the UK singles chart. In the Dutch Top 40 the single peaked at number 14.

My collection: 7" single no. 939
Found: All that music, Leiden, July 7, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'No doubt about it' / 'Gimme some of your lovin''

Joan of Arc - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

The second single from OMD's third album 'Architecture & Morality' was the beautiful 'Joan of Arc'. Not to be confused with 'Maid of Orleans', which was subtitled 'The waltz of Joan of Arc', which was the next single and would be a worldwide hit.

This single was less successful worldwide, although it did reach number 5 in the UK singles chart, only one place lower than 'Maid of Orleans'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2493
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 30, 1995
Cost: 40p
Tracks: 'Joan of Arc' / 'The romance of the telescope (unfinished)'

Let me be the one - Five Star

'Let me be the one' was released in the summer of 1985 as the fourth single from the group's 'Luxury of life' album.

This 12" single features two remixes of the track, of which the 'Philadelphia remix' features famous saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr. As an extra treat, there's a dub mix of one of their early hits, 'All fall down' and of course the instrumental B-side 'Beat 47'.

My collection: 12" single no. 463
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, 2008
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Let me be the one (Philadelphia remix)', 'Let me be the one (Dance mix by Hardrock) / 'All fall down (M&M dub mix)', 'Beat 47'

Johnny wanna live - Sandra

'Johnny wanna live' originally appeared on Sandra's fourth album 'Paintings in yellow' (1990). When it was decided in the summer of 1992 that a compilation album, '18 greatest hits' was to be released, Sandra re-recorded the track to be included as a new single.

The song's lyric protests against cruelty to animals. In an interview in Sweden. Sandra explained the origins of the song citing her disapproval of people wearing fur coats. The single reached number 9 in Israel and number 37 in Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 1790
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, November 14, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Johnny wanna live' / 'Mirrored in your eyes'

Big yellow taxi - Amy Grant

Joni Mitchell originally wrote 'Big yellow taxi'. She commented about the song: 'I wrote 'Big yellow taxi' on my first trip to Hawaii. I took a taxi to the hotel and when I woke up the next morning, I threw back the curtains and saw these beautiful green mountains in the distance. Then, I looked down and there was a parking lot as far as the eye could see, and it broke my heart... this blight on paradise. That's when I sat down and wrote the song'.

Amy Grant recorded her version of this song in 1994 for her album 'House of love'. In my opinion, it's the best version of the song. It reached number 20 in the UK singles chart and number 67 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

My collection: 7" single no. 2335
Found: HMV, Lonodn, June 26, 1995
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Big yellow taxi' / 'House of love'

I can make you feel good - Shalamar

'I can make you feel good' was the biggest hit for Shalamar in the Netherlands, where it reached number 8 in the Dutch Top 40. It also did well in the UK, where the single peaked at number 7.

The single was taken from Shalamar's 1982 album 'Friends'. In the UK, that album is apparently regarded as one of the defining albums of that year.

My collection: 7" single no. 2582
Found: December 12, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: ' I can make you feel good' / 'Help me'

More than love - Wet Wet Wet

'More than love' was the fourth single from Wet Wet Wet's fourth studio album, 'High on the happy side'. The single was released in March 1992 and reached number 19 in the UK singles chart and number 9 in the Dutch Top 40. The single's B-side was 'Goodnight girl', which was actually the previous single that reached number 1 in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 1968
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, September 25, 1993
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'More than love' / 'Goodnight girl'

Take on me - A-ha

Earlier today I read the news that A-ha is disbanding. It's a sad thing: for a quarter of a century they have made some of the most incredible pop songs, and their craft became better with every album. Their latest, 'Foot of the mountain' (2009) is a great piece of retro synthpop, with some of the best melodies they've ever composed.

So by way of a tribute, here is their earliest release, bar the original version of 'Take on me', which featured on the blog before. This is the second release of that song from 1985, with a new recording and a different B-side. It was still not successful. It was re-released in the same year with this sleeve and it was a case of 'third time lucky': that time it became a worldwide hit.

My collection: 7" single no. 3207
Found: Record fair, September 30, 2000
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Take on me' / 'Love is reason'

Where did our love go - The Supremes

Holland–Dozier–Holland originally composed 'Where did our love go' and prepared the instrumental track for The Marvelettes to record it. They rejected the song, after which the songw as offered to the Supremes. They had only had one top 40 hit and eight flops to their name. Although they were hesitant to record the song, they finally felt they didn't really have a choice other than to do it.

When the song was released, it shot to number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 3 in the UK singles chart. In the Netherlands, where the Dutch Top 40 did not exist yet, it did reach some magazine charts, peaking at number 8 in October 1964.

My collection: 7" single no. 1060
Found: London, October 18, 1989
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Where did our love go' / 'He means the world to me'

Wonderful life - Black

'Wonderful life' is the song they can play at my funeral. It's the perfect combination of beautiful music and a raher cynical lyric - although it can also be perceived as being a rather upbeat lyric as well. Add to this the perfect voice of Colin Vearncombe, and you have one of the best pop songs of all time.

When it was originally released in 1985 on the independent Ugly Man label, a limited edition double single was made, featuring not two, but four great tracks. Re-recordings of all of these traks would appear on Black's debut album in 1987 on A&M records, except 'Birthday night', a song that never resurfaced. And for that, this double single is a true collectors item for Black fans. This original version reached number 72 in the UK singles chart. It was the first single by Black to reach the chart, if only for one week.

My collection: 7" single no. 2627
Found: March 9, 1996
Cost: 5 pounds
Tracks: 'Wonderful life' / 'Birthday night' // 'Sometimes for the asking' / 'Everything's coming up roses'

Sweet and low - Deborah Harry

'Sweet and low' was another single from Deborah Harry's 1989 album 'Def, dumb and blonde'. Originally produced by Chris Stein, Toni C and Deborah Harry, the track was remixed for the single by Phil Harding and Ian Curnow, associates of Stock, Aitken & Waterman. At the time of the release of this single, Harry embarked on a solo tour in the USA, UK and Australia in early 1990.

The single reached number 57 in the UK singles chart and was released in a limited edition with a poster sleeve. Of course, I had to have that one.

My collection: 7" single no. 1707
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 19, 1992
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Sweet and low' / 'Lovelight'

The swords of a thousan men - Tenpole Tudor

Tenpole Tudor released their debut album 'Eddie, Old Bob, Dick and Gary' in 1981. The second single from the album, 'Wunderbar', was a European hit, but its predecessor did less well. Still, in the UK it was their biggest hit, reaching number 6 in the UK singles chart.

My copy of the single is a Belgian pressing, which in fact is a pretty rare thing: I think I've only got a handful of singles made in Belgium.

My collection: 7" single no. 3295
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'The swords of a thousand men' / 'Love and food'

Against all odds - Phil Collins

Phil Collins wrote 'Against all odds' for the 1984 movie of the same name. It was originally titled 'How can you just sit there?', and was one of many songs to be written for Collins' debut album 'Face value' (1981). Collins rewrote the lyric for the 1984 version which was released on the soundtrack album of 'Against all odds'.

When it was released as a single, it reached number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the Dutch Top 40, it reached number 10. Back in 1984, I didn't really like this song and its boring music video - my appreciation for it became bigger in the early Nineties.

My collection: 7" single no. 2370
Found: House of Rhythm, London, July 1, 1995
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'Against all odds' (Phil Collins) / 'Making a big mistake' (Mike Rutherford)

I heard a rumour - Bananarama

'I heard a rumour' was the first single from Bananarama's 1987 album 'Wow!', which was their second album to be produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman. The song has all the features of a SAW production: a steady beat, lots of synth sounds and an accesible pop treatment. It has to be said that the B-side is a weird one, featuring samples from Princess's 'Say I'm your number one' amongst other things.

My copy was released as a limited edition with a poster sleeve. The single reached number 14 in the UK singles chart and number 17 in the Dutch Top 40. In America the single was even more successful, reaching number 4.

My collection: 7" single no. 547
Found: Tower Records, London, October 1987
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'I heard a rumour' / 'Clean cut boy (Party size)'

Whoops now / What'll I do - Janet Jackson

As far as I know, it doesn't happen that often that a 'hidden track' on a cd album is subsequently released as a single. But that's exactly what happened with Janet Jackson's 'Whoops now' in 1995. It was the eighth single taken from Jackson's 1993 album 'Janet', and it was released in the UK as a double A-side with 'What'll I do', another album track.

This 7" single was released as a picture disc only, which might have helped sales a little. The single reached number 9 in the UK singles chart, while it reached number 1 in New Zealand.

My collection: 7" single no. 2257
Found: Wreckastow, Rotterdam, March 22, 1995
Cost: 8 guilders
Tracks: 'Whoops now (radio edit)' / 'What'll I do'

Bakerman - Laid Back

The single 'Bakerman' by Laid Back was notable for its music video, directed by Lars von Trier, featuring members of the band falling down in the sky as part of a parachute jump. The music is also interesting, while the lyric is a little repetitive. The track featured guest vocals by Hanne Boel.

The single reached number 23 in the Dutch Top 40, while a remix version reached number 1 in Greenland in 2006.

My collection: 7" single no. 1189
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, May 3, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Bakerman' / 'I walk proud'

Delicate - Terence Trent d'Arby featuring Des'ree

Terence Trent d'Arby returned to form in 1993, when he released his third album 'Symphony or damn'. The songs were certainly more accessible than his work on the second album 'Neither fish nor flesh' and he also managed to reach the higher regions of the UK singles charts again.

The best single from the album in my opinion was the second one: 'Delicate', a duet with Des'ree. Just like the previous single 'Do you love me like you say?' this reached number 14 in the UK singles chart, but it also managed to scrape in the Billboard Hot 100 chart, although it stalled at number 74.

My collection: 7" single no. 1993
Found: HMV, London, October 18, 1993
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Delicate' / 'She's my baby', 'Dance little sister'

Runaway - Freur

I found this 12" single in 1995, a beautiful relic from the early Eighties. As mentioned before, Freur's single 'Runaway' was the second single from Freur's debut album 'Doot doot' and didn't bring them the commercial success they may have hoped for.

The 12" single is a real treat, because it features alternate versions of both the A-side and the B-side of the single. I have always like Freur for their debut single 'Doot doot' (Well, and the 12" single 'Doot doot' as well), but this one is a close second.

My collection: 12" single no. 249
Found: London, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Runaway (Dun difrunt)' / 'You're a hoover (Dun difrunt too)'

Nobody knows - Nik Kershaw

'Nobody knows' is another single from Nik Kershaw's 1985 album 'Radio Musicola'. The lyric of the song deals with tabloid journalists, paparazzi and the public's right to know intimate details of celebrities' lives.

The single did not chart in the UK, but reached number 73 in Australia and number 2 in Japan.

My collection: 7" single no. 3077
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, May 10, 1999
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Nobody knows' / 'One of our fruit machines is missing'

Papillon - Editors

The first single from the Editors' third album 'In this light and on this evening' (which came out just recently) is 'Papillon'. Contrary what one might expect, this song is very synth-driven and almost sounds like an old Depeche Mode track. It has already reached number 1 in Belgium.

The music video is something I can't watch, full of running people. For some reason, it makes me physically ill to see these people running around. If you like this track, you can also download a free MP3 of an exclusive remix of this track from this page on the NME website.

My collection: 7" single no. 4103
Found: eBay.co.uk, received October 14, 2009
Cost: 4 pounds
Tracks: 'Papillon' / 'Eat raw meat = Blood drool (demo)'

Paris is burning - Ladyhawke

When I wrote about 'Paris is burning' by Ladyhawke in August, I noted that that single contained only a remix and the French version of the song. What I didn't know was that in the mean time the single had been re-released in March. This limited release (only 600 copies were made, apparently) was pressed on white vinyl and featured the original version of 'Paris is burning' plus a remix. Of course, a download bundle was also available.

While the original release reached number 61 in the UK singles chart, this re-release reached number 47.

My collection: 7" single no. 4102
Found: eBay.co.uk, received October 14, 2009
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Paris is burning' / 'Paris is burning (Chicken Lips Zeefungk beatdown)'

We are golden - Mika

I'm really sorry now that I didn't buy the 7" singles from Mika's debut album 'Life in cartoon motion', because when you find them now on eBay, each one of them costs a fortune. So I decided to be quicker this time around, with the release of 'We are golden', the first single from Mika's second album. It was pressed on - you guessed it - gold coloured vinyl.

According to Mika, the song is 'big sounding and aggressive, but in a good way. It's got a gospel choir on it and a kids' choir, but unlike the first record they're not singing sweetly, they're screaming at the top of their lungs'. The single has already reached number 4 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4101
Found: eBay.co.uk, received October 14, 2009
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'We are golden' / 'We are golden (Jokers of the scene are not who you think they are remix)'

Net als in de film - Toontje Lager

Even if you're not able to understand the Dutch language, when you listen to this single it will be obvious from the music alone that the Dutch music scene was is pretty fine shape back in 1982. The instrumental break in 'Net als in de film' ('Just like in the movies') is up there with the pop classics of its time. And for the Dutch readers of this blog: the lyric of the B-side is a wonderfully cynical response to that old Dutch classic 'De glimlach van een kind' ('The smile of a child').

While Dutch music is much more popular these days, the quality is surprisingly low. Still, it reaches the higher regions of the Dutch Top 40 without much effort. By contrast, this excellent single only reached number 31 in July 1982.

My collection: 7" single no. 2813
Found: Record fair, Leiden, February 1, 1997
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Net als in de film' / 'De glimlach van een kind, deel 2'

Nothing can come between us - Sade

'Nothing can come between us' was released as the third single from Sade's 1988 album 'Stronger than pride'. The single was the second to feature backing vocalist Leroy Osbourne prominently, after 'Never as good as the first time'.

It was one of Sade's less successful singles, as it only reached number 92 in the UK singles chart. In other territories the single didn't chart at all, except in some of the segregated American charts (R&B and AC, reaching number 3 and 21 respectively).

My collection: 7" single no. 672
Found: Free Record Shop, Den haag, October 28, 1988
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Nothing can come between us' / 'Make some room'

Heading west - Cyndi Lauper

'Heading west' was the third single from Cyndi Lauper's album 'A night to remember'. It was written by Lauper with Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly. The lyric of the song is about moving on from a past relationship, which was the overall theme of the album.

The single became a minor hit in the UK, reaching number 68 in the UK singles chart during a one week chart run.

My collection: 7" single no. 1275
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 16, 990
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Heading west' / 'Calm inside the storm'

The gap - Thompson Twins

While in the UK the Thompson Twins released a special single version of 'Sister of Mercy', the German record company decided that the album track 'The gap' was the better single choice. It was also released in the USA, where it reached number 69.

'Sister of mercy' does appear on the B-side of this single, incidentally, but that is the album version of the track.

My collection: 7" single no. 2315
Found: Record fair, June 3, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'The gap' / 'Sister of mercy'

Cry like a rainy day - Feargal Sharkey

I actually have no idea whether Feargal Sharkey's 'Cry like a rainy day' was released as a single commercially. My copy of the single is made for promotion, with a peculiar catalogue number 'HEY MR DJ 1'. The single features two tracks from his 1991 album 'After the mardi gras'.

The title track is featured on the B-side and the real reason for me buying this single. I heard the track on a cd-single I bought a few months before (for a measly 1 guilder) and didn't pass up on the opportunity to have it on vinyl as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 2535
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, November 1, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Cry like a rainy day' / 'After the mardi gras'

If you cared - Kim Appleby

The fourth single from Kim Appleby's self-titled debut album was also released on 12" single. This 12" single contains three remixes of the track. The remix on the A-side was made by Pete Schwier and George DeAngelis, while the two on the B-side were made by Ben Chapman.

I bought the disc in London, after I saw that one of these tracks (the 12" swing mix) does not appear on the cd-single of 'If you cared'. One has to be complete, of course.

My collection: 12" single no. 140
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 1992
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'If you cared (12" remix)' / 'If you cared (12" Ben Chapman mix)', 'If you cared (12" swing mix)'

Diamonds and pearls - Prince

'Diamonds and pearls' is the title track from Prince's 1991 album, recorded with the New Power Generation and featuring the powerful vocals of band member Rosie Gaines. The repeated lyric 'If I gave U diamonds and pearls, would U be a happy boy or a girl?' echoes the lyrics 'I'll buy U diamonds and pearls only if U're a good girl' from Prince's 1982 song, 'International lover'.

The track was released as the album's third single in November 1991. It reached number 25 in the UK singles chart and number 15 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3098
Found: House of Rhythm, London, May 13, 1999
Cost: 40p
Tracks: 'Diamonds and pearls' / 'Q in doubt'

Stay - Shakespears sister

Shakespear's sister released 'Stay' as the second single from their second album 'Hormonally yours' in early 1992. It became the duo's biggest hit, reaching number 1 in the UK singles chart for eight weeks, making it one of the longest running UK number ones in chart history.

This single was the only Shakespears Sister song that featured Marcella Detroit more prominently on vocals than Siobhan Fahey, with Detroit singing the verses and lead chorus and Fahey singing the song's bridge.

My collection: 7" single no. 1591
Found: Melody Maker, March 14, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Stay' / 'The trouble with Andre'

Call me (The Ben Liebrand remix) - Blondie

'Call me' was originally recorded as the main theme of the movie 'American Gigolo'. Producer Giorgio Moroder originally asked Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac to make a song for the soundtrack, but they declined. Moroder then turned to Debbie Harry and Blondie. The song was recorded by the band, with Moroder producing.

In 1988, a remixed version by Ben Liebrand taken from the Blondie remix album 'Once more into the bleach' was issued as a single. This single reached number 61 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2401
Found: July 8, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Call me (The Ben Liebrand remix)' / 'Call me'

Way of the world - Max Q

Max Q was formed by Michael Hutchence and Ollie Olsen who were accompanied by key members of the Melbourne post-punk scene, most of whom had previously collaborated with Olsen. The project followed on from Hutchence and Olsen's work on the film 'Dogs in space', where they met.

Their self-titled debut album was released in 1989. The single 'Way of the world' was a powerful political statement which only reached number 8 in Australia. In the UK, the single stalled at number 87.

My collection: 7" single no. 1106
Found: Leiden, November 11, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Way of the world' / 'Zero 2 0 (Todd Terry mix)'

Don't you want me - Human League

The lyric of 'Don't you want me' was, according to lead singer Phil Oakey from the Human League, inspired by a story in "a trashy tabloid". Musicians Jo Callis and Philip Adrian Wright created a synthesizer score to accompany the lyrics which was much harsher than the version that was actually released. Oakey disliked the remixed and remodelled version of the song so much that it was relegated to the last track on the album 'Dare'.

Having already released three hit singles from 'Dare', Virgin's Simon Draper decided to issue one more single, and it was 'Don't you want me'. This resulted in a row with Oakey who hated the decision to choose 'the poor quality filler track'. He finally agreed on the condition that a large colour poster accompany the 7" single, because he felt fans would "feel ripped off" by the 'substandard' single alone. The rest, of course, is history: the single reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK singles chart. The sleeve features the number '100'. This was a reference to a restaurant/bar in Sheffield.

My collection: 7" single no. 3066
Found: House of Rhythm, London, May 9, 1999
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Don't you want me' / 'Seconds'

Rich man - Ten Sharp

The last single from Ten Sharp's debut album 'Under the waterline' was 'Rich man', released in March 1992. Amazingly, it sold a lot better than the two previous singles, reaching a respectable number 16 in the Dutch Top 40.

The single closed off a very successful year for Ten Sharp. They had made it in the Netherland and a few European and Asian countries.They would continue to record albums for years, but because the 7" format was abandoned by most record companies in Europe in 1992, no further singles by the band were released on this format.

My collection: 7" single no. 2076
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, February 19, 1994
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Rich man' / 'You (acoustic version)'

Drowning in the sea of love - The Adventures

The Adventures released their most successful album 'The sea of love' in 1988. It reached number 30 in the UK albums chart and remained in that chart for 10 week. It was certified silver (for 60,000 copies sold) a year after its release.

Meanwhile, the second single from the album was 'Drowning in the sea of love'. It reached number 44 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2420
Found: All that music, Leiden, July 22, 1995
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Drowning in the sea of love' / 'Stay away'

If you were with me now - Kylie Minogue and Keith Washington

Kylie Minogue teamed up with American R&B singer Keith Washington for the single 'If you were with me now', a track traken from Kylie's fourth album 'Let's get to it' (1991). The single reached number 4 in the UK singles chart, but did not chart in the Netherlands.

The song is notable for being Minogue's first hit single to feature her as a co-writer. The two performers did not meet until they made the music video: the song was recorded in the UK and America separately.

My collection: 7" single no. 3325
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, March 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'If you were with me now' / 'I guess I like it like that'

Thru' these walls - Phil Collins

'Thru' these walls' was released as the first single from Phil Collins' second solo album 'Hello, I must be going!'. It was an unusual choice: a slow ballad interspersed with hard drum beats that sounded a lot like the drums from his debut solo single, 'In the air tonight'. The song is about a man listening through the wall to his neighbours who are enjoying the nightlife, so to speak.

The song reached number 56 in the UK singles chart but was not released as a single in America. In the Netherlands, the single did not reach the Dutch Top 40. The B-side, 'Do you know, do you care' was used a decade later in the Netherlands for an ad campaign against alcohol abuse.

My collection: 7" single no. 285
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Thru' these walls' / 'Do you know, do you care'

I would do for you - UB40

'I would do for you' was a 1989 single by UB40. As they continued to make music well into the Nineties and Noughties, the band became increasingly uninspired, and personally I think this is one of their last great songs.

It was not particulalrly successful, considering it only made number 45 in the UK singles chart and number 33 in the Dutch Top 40. They opted for cover versions to keep their career going: their next album was 'Labour of love II', a second collection of covers with a few hit singles drawn from it.

My collection: 7" single no. 928
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, July 1, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'I would do for you' / 'Hit it'

Uit de bol met alcohol - Rubberen Robbie

The British and the Irish have a strange relationship with alcohol: for some reason they always seem to have to overdo it. And then there's musicians, who are also prone to drinking too much. Put it together and you have Irish and British musicians. Stephen Gately, an Irish musician, died two days ago, according to the latest rumours, as a result of excessive drinking. His ex-boyfriend was on Dutch television tonight, saying that Stephen never drank much. Yeah, right.

Hence this song, a more upbeat track that the situation might warrant, but at least it is appropriate. 'Uit de bol met alcohol' ('Out of your mind with alcohol') is an ode to drinking, from the Leiden-based band Rubberen Robbie. They didn't have a hit with this in 1978, even if the B-side is a great parody of another Dutch classic, 'Met de vlam in de pijp'.

My collection: 7" single no. 70
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1980
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Uit de bol met alcohol' / 'Met een stuk in me reet'

19 - Paul Hardcastle

I bought the German version of '19' this year, but I've had the original since 1990. The story remains the same: '19' featured television narrator Peter Thomas talking about Vietnam war veterans.

The single reached number 1 in the UK and the Netherlands. Mike Oldfield later claimed that a melodic element of '19' was copied from a sequence in his album 'Tubular bells'. This was settled out of court.

My collection: 7" single no. 1365
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, December 28, 1990
Cost: 1 guilders
Tracks: '19' / 'Fly by night'

One night in Bangkok - Murray Head

Abba never officially disbanded, but when they stopped recording together in 1983, Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus concentrated on writing musicals for a while. One of them was 'Chess', created together with Tim Rice. The choruses were sung by Anders Glenmark while the verses, spoken raps by Murray Head, are a sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek denunciation of the city's moral corruption and comparative glorification of the intellectual purity of chess: 'The queens we use would not excite you.'

The single reached number 1 in various European countries, but peaked at number 2 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 12 in the UK singles chart. I only bought the single after I got to know Puck, who was quite extatic about this song.

My collection: 7" single no. 1904
Found: Record fair, May 2, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'One night in Bangkok' (Murray Head) / 'Merano' (London Symphony Orchestra and the Ambrosian singers)

Cold - Tears for fears

In the song 'Cold', Roland Orzabal included some references to former associates of Tears for fears. Business manager Paul King is mentioned in the line: 'King got caught with his fingers in the till. Where's your calculator, did you leave it in your will?', after alleged discrepancies were discovered in King's prior management of the band's financial affairs. The line 'Listened to my old friend Nockles, hoped that it would warm the cockles' is a reference to former Tears for fears keyboardist and co-writer Nicky Holland, whose nickname was 'Nockles'.

'Cold' was released as the second single from the album 'Elemental' in July 1993. The single reached number 72 in the UK singles chart, but flopped everywhere else.

My collection: 7" single no. 2002
Found: HMV, London, October 16, 1993
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Cold' / 'New star'

Autodrive - Herbie Hancock

Buying this single was a gamble. I liked the track 'Rockit' and assumed that the second single from the album 'Future shock' would be similarly interesting. To be blunt: it wasn't, really. It is an instrumental track that seems to go on without a point or clue.

The single still reached number 33 in the UK singles chart in October 1983, but it flopped in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 2554
Found: Record fair, November 19 ,1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Autodrive' / 'The bomb'

The Buddha of Suburbia - David Bowie

The song 'The Buddha of Suburbia' was a song by David Bowie, made for the BBC TV series of the same name. It features Lenny Kravitz on guitar, performing quite a great solo. Interestingly, the song caused minor controversies on both sides of the Atlantic, with Radio 1 making an airplay edit to cover up the word 'bullshit' in the lyric, and US networks re-editing the video to remove shots where Bowie was smoking a cigarette.

The single reached number 35 in the UK singles chart and did not chart in other territories.

My collection: 7" single no. 2353
Found: Eastbourne, June 28, 1995
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'The Buddha of Suburbia' / 'Dead against it'

Kiss from a rose - Seal

When 'Kiss from a rose' was released as the second single from Seal's self-titled second album in July 1994, it did not make much of a chart impact. It did reach number 20 in the UK singles chart, but that was about it.

When it was included on the soundtrack of the movie 'Batman forever' in 1995, things changed dramatically. The single topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and was re-released in the UK and Europe. This time around it reached number 4 in the UK and the Netherlands. This 7" single was made in the USA, and it was the only country where the single appeared on this format.

My collection: 7" single no. 4060
Found: eBay.com, received September 23, 2009
Cost: $3
Tracks: 'Kiss from a rose' / 'I'm alive (radio remix)'

I need love - Sandra

'I need love' was released as the second single from Sandra's 1992 album 'Close to seven'. The track was edited for the single. It featured Andy Jones, a.k.a. Andy 'Angel' Hart, performing the male vocals. The B-side, 'Shadows' also appeared on the album and was a cover of Michael Cretu's 1979 track 'Shadows over my head'.

This was the first single from Sandra that wasn't a chart success for her. Subsequently, the third single 'Steady me' was not released commercially, although promotional cd-singles do exist.

My collection: 7" single no. 1671
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, June 20, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'I need love' / 'Shadows'

A girl like you - Edwyn Collins

Edwyn Collins was born on August 23, 1959. He formed the Nu-sonics in 1976, which became Orange Juice in 1979. This band broke up in 1985, after which he pursued a solo career.

His biggest solo success is the single 'A girl like you', released in 1994. It became his only single to reach the top 10 in the UK (peaking at number 4) and the only single to have chart success in Europe. In the Dutch Top 40, it reached number 16.

My collection: 7" single no. 2398
Found: HMV, London, July 6, 1995
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'A girl like you' / 'You're on your own'

Net zo lief gefortuneerd - Het Goede Doel

Roughly translated the chorus of this song starts with the words 'I'd rather be well off / preferably a millionaire'. The song is taken from the band' 1984 album 'Tempo doeloe', and as mentioned before on this blog, the singles taken from that album didn't do exactly well as most people were turning away from Dutch language music in the Netherlands after the most popular band 'Doe maar' disbanded.

My collection: 7" single no. 2858
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, June 21, 1997
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Net zo lief gefortuneerd' / 'De plaat sloeg af en het gesprek viel stil'