What have you done for me lately - Janet Jackson

Michael Jackson's little sister Janet made her worldwide breakthrough with this single, 'What have you done for me lately'. The song was written by her with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and produced by Jam & Lewis. The single reached number 1 in the Dutch Top 40, number 3 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Rapper King MC recorded a track called 'What have I done for you lately' ('...Well what have you done for me baby') that same year in response to this track.

My collection: 7" single no. 2010
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 18, 1993
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'What have you done for me lately' / 'Young love'

The king of wishful thinking - Go West

It may not have made a big impression on you if you've seen the movie 'Pretty woman', but Go West's 'King of wishful thinking' was featured in it. The movie has become a bit of a classic amongst movie fanatics, but Go West has not profited too much from that legacy.

Still, they did get a reasonable hit out of it. The single reached number 18 in the UK singles chart and number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

My collection: 7" single no. 1337
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1990
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'The king of wishful thinking' / 'Tears too late'

Leuchtturm - Nena

While Nena was becoming a household name in all of Europe with English versions of her earlier singles '99 Luftballons' and 'Nur geträumt' ('99 red balloons' and 'Just a dream' respectively), she also released a German single from her debut album 'Nena'.

In July 1983, she reached the Dutch Top 40 with 'Leuchtturm', a beautiful pop song, which reached number 13.

My collection: 7" single no. 467
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, October 20, 1986
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Leuchtturm' / 'Kino'

Kiss of life - Sade

'Kiss of life' was the third single taken from Sade's fourth studio album 'Love deluxe' (1992). Released in May 1993, it was a minor hit in the USA, where it peaked at number 78. In the UK, the single reached number 44.

I've actually got two different copies of this single: one copy is the commercial 7" single as sold in the UK, the other is a Spanish promotional 7" single, with only one side actually containing music, i.e. the track 'Kiss of life'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1954 / no. 1999
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 25, 1993 / Virgin Megastore, London, October 18, 1993
Cost: 3 guilders / 1 pound
Tracks: 'Kiss of life' / 'Room 55' (not on no. 1954)

One two five - 10CC

'Look hear?' was the seventh studio album by 10CC, released in 1980. The album was recorded at the band's Strawberry Studios South in Dorking, Surrey.

Two singles were lifted from the album, of which 'One two five' was the first. It was not a big hit, reaching only number 85 in Australia.

My collection: 7" single no. 889
Found: All that music, Leiden, June 16, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'One two five' / 'Only child'

My special child - Sinéad O'Connor

'My special child' was a single release by Sinéad O'Connor in 1991. The track was not included on any of the albums. Besides the rather bleak lyric, the song is made beautiful by the uillean pipes solo. The single raised money for 'the simple truth', a charity campaign for Kurdish refugees. The B-side is a live version of 'Nothing compares 2 u'.

The single reached number 12 in Ireland and number 60 in the UK singles chart. In other territories, it did not chart.

My collection: 7" singl eno. 1530
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, September 28, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'My special child' / 'Nothing compares 2 u (live video version)'

Long goodbye - Thompson Twins

Joe Leeway left the Thompson Twins in 1986, leaving Tom Bailey and Alannah Currie to continue as a duo. They carried on making music for another seven years. Their first release as a duo was 1987's 'Close to the bone'.

'Long goodbye' was the second single to be taken from the album, but it was even less successful than the first single, 'Get that love', which reached number 66 in the UK singles chart. This single stalled at number 89. Although one more single was released ('Bush baby'), that one did not chart at all.

My collection: 7" single no. 2538
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, November 1, 1995
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Long goodbye' / 'Dancing in your shoes'

Don't dream it's over - Crowded house

Although many people think this is Crowded House's debut single, it is actually the fourth single taken from their self-titled debut album. 'Don't dream it's over' was released in February 1987 in Australia, but it would take months for it to become a worldwide hit.

After reaching number 8 in Australia, the single reached number 27 in the UK singles chart, number 5 in the Dutch Top 40, number 2 in the USA and number 1 in Canada. The song has been covered by acts like Sixpence none the richer, Paul Young, Paul Carrack and Happy Rhodes.

My collection: 7" single no. 1097
Found: All that music, Leiden, November 11, 1989
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Don't dream it's over' / 'That's what I call love'

You keep me hangin' on - Kim Wilde

Although I was always a Kim Wilde fan during my teens, this single caused a bit of a controversy back in 1986, when it was released. My brother swore it was the worst cover version of any song he'd ever heard, while I wrote in to the fanclub saying that any track from the album 'Another step' would have been a better choice than this track.

Of course, we were both wrong. The single reached number 2 in the UK singles chart - equalling the success of her debut single 'Kids in America' five years before - and reached the top of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in the summer of 1987. Kim commented about the song: 'I remembered the song from a long time back on the radio. It wasn't a song I had in my collection, it wasn't a song I would play a lot. So when I went into the studio to record it, it was really fresh in my mind. That's why I think it's such a fresh version of that song.'

My collection: 7" single no. 457
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, September 20, 1986
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'You keep me hangin' on' / 'Loving you'

If I had you - The Korgis

'If I had you' was the Korgis' second single, released in June 1979. It reached number 13 in the UK singles chart, giving them their first hit single. Their self-titled debut album was released a month later, in July 1979.

The song was later covered by various artists, amongst which Tracey Ullman and Rod Stewart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2960
Found: Record fair, February 9, 1998
Cost: 2,5 guilders
Tracks: 'If I had you' / 'Chinese girl', 'Art school annexe'

Stranded - Heart

'Stranded' was released as the third single from Heart's tenth studio album 'Brigade'. The song was written by J. Harrington and Jamie Kylie and produced by Richie Zito. It features Nancy Wilson on lead vocals.

The track peaked at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in the autumn of 1990, but stalled at number 60 in the UK singles chart. The B-side is a highly melodic piece of work that could be considered a blueprint for many Heart tracks from around that time.

My collection: 7" single no. 2366
Found: House of Rhythm, London, July 1, 1995
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'Stranded' / 'Under the sky'

Heart of mine - Boz Scaggs

Boz Scaggs was born as William Royce Scaggs in Canton, Ohio. He recorded his debut solo album in 1965. The biggest hit of his career was 'What can I say' in 1977.

His 1986 album 'Other roads' spawned the single 'Heart of mine', his last top 40 hit in the USA, peaking at number 35. In Europe, this single did not chart. I heard this song on a cd-single my sister had bought in order to get 'What can I say' on cd. I preferred the B-side of this single - and I still do.

My collection: 7" single no. 693
Found: Rotterdam, December 1, 1988
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Heart of mine' / 'You'll never know'

My name is Prince - Prince

'My name is Prince / And I am funky' has to be one of the immortal lines from the Nineties. It's a quote from the indispensable Prince song, 'My name is Prince'. Some might say that this single was the turning point for Prince. He'd recorded so many albums that he apparently suffered from a lack of inspiration, writing a song about himself and his musical abilities. It reeks of selfgratification.

It's interesting to note that he changed his stage name to an unpronounceable symbol not long after the release of this single - taking his career into a nosedive in the process. This single, however, reached number 7 in the UK singles chart and the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1745
Found: Virgin Megastore, London, October 19, 1992
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'My name is Prince' / '2 whom it may concern'

Wild is the wind - David Bowie

'Wild is the wind' was written by Dimitri Tiomkin and Ned Washington and originally recorded by Johnny Mathis for the 1957 film of the same name. The song was covered by Nina Simone on her album 'Wild is the wind' (1966).

David Bowie recorded a version of 'Wild is the wind' in 1976 for his album 'Station to station'. Bowie was an admirer of Simone’s style, and after meeting her in Los Angeles was inspired to record the song for his album. The song was released as a single in 1981, to promoted the compilation album 'ChangesTwoBowie'. It reached number 24 in the UK singles chart and number 15 in Ireland.

My collection: 7" single no. 2012
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 18, 1993
Cost: 1,5 pounds
Tracks: 'Wild is the wind' / 'Golden years'

Original sin - INXS

The Australian rock band INXS recorded 'Original sin' on their fourth album 'The swing' in 1984. The song was written by Michael Hutchence and Andrew Farriss, and produced by Nile Rodgers. Singer Daryl Hall sings the chorus along with Hutchence. Nile Rodgers called him up and asked him to sing on the song. Rodgers had produced 'Adult education' by Hall & Oates the previous year.

When the song was released as a single, it reached number 58 in the US Billboard Hot 100, number 29 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 1 in Australia.

My collection: 7" single no. 2322
Found: June 3, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Original sin' / 'Jan's song (live)', 'To look at you (live)'

Tears on my pillow - Kylie Minogue

'Tears on my pillow' was written by Sylvester Bradford and Al Lewis in 1958. The song was originally recorded by Little Anthony & The Imperials as their debut single.

Kylie Minogue recorded her version of this song on her second album 'Enjoy yourslef'. It was released as a sigle in November 1989 in Australia, and two months later in Europe. The song reached number 1 in the UK singles chart and peaked at number 19 in the Dutch Top 40. The B-side was released as a single in Sweden, reaching number 1.

My collection: 7" single no. 3326
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, March 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Tears on my pillow' / 'We know the meaning of love'

Desire - U2

I think this single is definite proof that I'm a sucker for special editions. The song 'Desire' was never really my cup of tea, but the gatefold sleeve was so nice, that in the end I still bought this single. I was very disappointed with U2 at this time, since they'd made such great singles before, and they were going down a very 'American-sounding' road with the album 'Rattle & Hum'. And everyone knows that British music always sounds better.

The single reached number 1 in the UK singles chart, number 2 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1167
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1988
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Desire' / 'Hallelujah here she comes'

Fly like an eagle - Seal

'Fly like an eagle' was originally a hit for the Steve Miller Band in 1976. Seal recorded a cover version of the song in 1997 for the soundtrack of the movie 'Space Jam', a live-action/animated film starring Michael Jordan, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and many more Looney Tunes characters. His version was probably just as ill-advised as his current album 'Soul', but it's still a pretty listenable version. The single peaked at number 13 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and in the UK singles chart as well.

This single is a great find, as it's another one of those tracks I didn't believe existed on 7" vinyl. It's a jukebox edition, with an almost unreadable label.

My collection: 7" single no. 4128
Found: eBay.co.uk, received October 26, 2009
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Fly like an eagle (radio mix)' / 'Fly like an eagle (CJ Cosmack's edit)'

Election day - Arcadia

Duran Duran broke up in early 1985, in order to have a year for the members to pursue other musical interests. While John and Andy Taylor formed the Power Station, Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and Roger Taylor formed Arcadia. They recorded one album, entitled 'So red the rose', described by Le Bon as 'the most pretentious album ever made'.

The first single from the album was 'Election day', a weird and wonderful track featuring guest vocals by Grace Jones. The single reached number 6 in the US Billboard Hot 100, number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 11 in the Dutch Top 40. My copy has a gatefold sleeve, which was released as a limited edition in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 609
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 1989
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Election day' / 'She's moody and grey, she's mean and she's restless'

Stay with me - The Mission

When you see this sleeve, it's easy to conclude that this is the third single by the Mission. 'Stay with me' was the first single taken from the Mission's debut album 'God's own medicine', but two previous singles had already been released, reaching the lower regions of the UK singles chart.

This was the first single by the Mission to reach the UK top 40, peaking at number 30 in the summer of 1986. 'Stay with me' has got all the sounds the band would become renowned for.

My collection: 7" single no. 2878
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 28, 1997
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'Stay with me' / 'Blood brother'

Tristana - Mylene Farmer

The lyric of 'Tristana' was inspired by the film 'Tristana' featuring Catherine Deneuve, which tells the story of a mutilated woman. Originally, the song 'Au bout de la nuit' was scheduled to be released as Mylene Farmer's fifth single, but when the song 'Tristana' was completed, this one was preferred.

The single reached number 7 in France and sold a quarter of a million copies.

My collection: 7" single no. 1921
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, June 5, 1993
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Tristana' / 'Au bout de la nuit'

Holding back the years - Simply Red

Simply Red frontman Mick Hucknall wrote 'Holding back the years' when he was 17, while living at his father's house. The chorus did not come to him until many years later. His mother left him when he was three; the upheaval caused by this event inspired him to write the song. He recorded a version of the song with his first group The Frantic Elevators in 1982, but when he recorded it with Simply Red in 1985 it became a hit.

In the UK, the single came no further than number 51, but in the Netherlands, the single peaked at number 3. In other territories, the single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 367
Found: Brussels, 1985
Cost: 120 Francs
Tracks: 'Holding back the years' / 'I won't feel bad'

Emotional jungle - David Roach

When you listen to this single, it's hard to believe that both tracks were composed and performed by the same man. The A-side is an exciting, upbeat affair, whereas the B-side is rather bland and middle of the road.

Longtime readers of the blog, however, are already familiar with these two tracks, as the 12" single of 'Emotional jungle' was featured here ten months ago. I had the 7" single four years before I found the 12" single.

My collection: 7" single no. 1477
Found: July 1, 1991
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Emotional jungle' / 'Sleepwalkers'

When your heart is weak - Cock Robin

'When your heart is weak' was originally Cock Robin's debut single, taken from their self-titled debut album. It was re-released after their second single 'The promise you made' was a big success in Europe. This re-release proved fruitful, because the single got to number 9 in France, number 8 in Germany and number 35 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

I got this single from my parents, as a souvenir during a holiday in Paris.

My collection: 7" single no. 436
Found: Paris, July 1986
Cost: -
Tracks: 'When your heart is weak' / 'Because it keeps on working'

Tesla girls - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

'Tesla girls' was the third single to be taken from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's 1984 album 'Junk culture'. The accompanying music video was a parody on the style of American music videos who relied heavily on attractive young female models posing in them. Subsequently, the media slammed the music video as being 'sexist'.

The single reached number 22 in both the UK singles chart and the Irish singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2877
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 28, 1997
Cost: 20p
Tracks: 'Tesla girls' / 'Telegraph (live)'

New life - Depeche Mode

These are the humble beginnings of Depeche Mode. 'New life' was their second single, released in June 1981. The song was composed by Vince Clarke, who at the time was the band's chief songwriter.

The single became Depeche Mode's breakthrough hit in the UK, peaking at number 11. On June 25, 1981, the band had their first appearance in the UK chartshow 'Top of the pops'. The single was not released in other territories.

My collection: 7" single no. 2914
Found: London, November 1, 1997
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'New life' / 'Shout!'

Wonderwall - Oasis

'Wonderwall' takes its name from the 1968 album 'Wonderwall music' by George Harrison. It is often claimed that the song was written for Gallagher's then-girlfriend, Meg Mathews. Gallagher married Mathews in 1997, but the couple divorced four years later. Gallagher now claims that the song was not about Mathews at all, but he felt he had to go along with the rumour, saying 'The meaning of that song was taken away from me by the media who jumped on it. How do you tell your Mrs it's not about her once she's read it is? It's a song about an imaginary friend who's gonna come and save you from yourself.'

The single reached number 2 in the UK singles chart in November 1995. In the Netherlands, it reached the Dutch Top 40 in the last chart of the year, peaking at number 9 in early 1996.

My collection: 7" single no. 2637
Found: Record fair, April 13, 1996
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Wonderwall' / 'Round are way'

Where the streets have no name (I can't take my eyes off you) - Pet Shop Boys

The Pet Shop Boys stated that they wanted to turn 'a mythic rock song into a stomping disco record'. They recorded their version of U2's stadiumfiller 'Where the streets have no name' in combination with the disco anthem 'Can't take my eyes off you'. Singer Neil Tennant performs the lyrics with no vocal exertion or stresses, in contrast to Bono's performance. Tennant claims that when this record was released, Bono of U2 heard it for the first time, and issued the statement, 'What have we done to deserve this?'.

The B-side was 'How can you expect to be taken seriously?', a new version of a song from the album 'Behaviour'. The lyric of the song criticizes the insincere humanitarian messages of a number of pop stars during the Eighties.

My collection: 7" single no. 1429
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, September 13, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Where the streets have no name (I can't take my eyes off you)' / 'How can you expect to be taken seriously?'

Go your own way - Fleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac band member Lindsey Buckingham wrote 'Go your own way' with regard to his bandmate Stevie Nicks, with whom he had just ended a romantic relationship. It describes their breakup, with the most obvious line being, 'Packing up, shacking up is all you want to do.' Nicks insisted she never shacked up with anyone when they were together, and wanted Lindsey to take out the line, but he refused.

'Go your own way' was the first single taken from Fleetwood Mac's legendary album 'Rumours'. It reached number 38 in the UK singles chart, number 10 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 331
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Go your own way' / 'Silver springs'

Roxanne - The Police

The Police's lead singer Sting wrote 'Roxanne', inspired by the prostitutes he saw near the band's seedy hotel while in Paris, France in October 1977 to perform at the Nashville Club. The title of the song comes from the name of the character in the play Cyrano de Bergerac, an old poster of which was hanging in the hotel foyer.

During recording of the song, Sting accidentally sat down on a piano keyboard in the studio, resulting in the atonal piano chord and laughter at the beginning of the track. The Police were initially diffident about the song, but eventually it got hem their first record deal. At its first release in April 1978 the single did not chart, but when it was re-released exactly a year later, in April 1979 it reached number 12 in the UK singles chart, number 32 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 21 in the Dutch Top 40. This copy of the single was pressed on blue vinyl.

My collection: 7" single no. 3260
Found: London, 2001
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Roxanne' / 'Peanuts'

Uri - Achinoam Nini

This is a very rare one-sided 12" promo from Israel, which I got to buy through eBay a few years ago. The disc contains an early version of the song 'Uri' as recorded by Achinoam Nini, or Noa as she is better known in the rest of the world. Although this version is very different from the 'Uri' that appeared on her subsequent cd's, when I reported this track to Noa's webmaster at the time, he replied that no earlier version of 'Uri' was ever recorded. Well, I think this is proof enough, don't you?

Noa went on to become a big name in the worldwide 'world music' circuit. She's recorded three studio albums in Hebrew and five in English, plus several live albums. More recently, she represented Israel together with Mira Awad during the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest.

My collection: 12" single no. 517
Found: eBay.com, received 2001
Cost: 20 guilders
Tracks: 'Uri'

Shadow of your heart - Risqué

While I was going through the 12" singles today at the Kringloop, I suddenly found this one. And the first thought that came to mind was: 'Jos is going to love this!'. As regular readers of this blog know all too well, Jos is Puck's brother and he really loves Risqué.

This is a 12" single of their 1984 single 'Shadow of your heart'. It contains two versions of the song that didn't appear on the 7" single.

My collection: 12" single no. 516
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, October 24, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Shadow of your heart (extended)' / 'Shadow of your heart (instrumental)'

Why - Bronski Beat

'Why?' was the second single taken from Bronski Beat's debut album 'The age of consent'. I already own the 7" single since 1994, but it's been quite a search to get the 12" single as well.

The 12" single features a 7 minute remix of 'Why', plus the B-side of the single, 'Cadillac car'.

My collection: 12" single no. 515
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, October 24, 2009
Cost: 1,5 euro
Tracks: 'Why? (extended mix)' / 'Cadillac car'

Longer - Dan Fogelberg

I'm really shocked! I found this single of 'Longer' earlier today and while doing research for this blog I found out that Dan Fogelberg died on December 16, 2007. I didn't know this - and it's always a bit of a shock when someone you admire passes away.

Dan Fogelberg has made a couple of outstanding ballads, of which 'Longer' is probably one of his best known ones. It has become a standard on weddings for its highly romantic lyric. Fogelberg himself jokingly described 'Longer' in the liner notes to one of his retrospective albums as 'the song that put me on the elevators.' The single reached number 59 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4127
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, October 24, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Longer' / 'Along the road'

Volare - John Raver

'Volare' is probably one of the Eurovision Song Contest's best known songs ever. Amazingly, it did not win the Contest when Domenico Modugno performed it in 1958, representing Italy. But the song has been covered by an impressive array of artists, including Dalida, Frank Zappa, Richard Clayderman and David Bowie.

One of them was the Dutch artist John Raadtgever, who used the stage name John Raver. He recorded his 'Sinatra light' version of 'Volare' in 1981. The single did not chart. Raadtgever, who was born on July 7, 1943, died on August 31, 2002.

My collection: 7" single no. 4126
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, October 24, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Volare' / 'Blue moon'

Heaven must be missing an angel - Tavares

'Heaven must be missing an angel' was written by Freddie Perren and Keni St. Lewis. It was recorded by Tavares in 1976. The song was released as a single from their album 'Sky high!' and was split into two parts for the single.

The single reached number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the UK singles chart, it reached number 4. But it performed best in the Dutch Top 40, where it got to number 1. In 1985, Ben Liebrand made a remix of the track, which was also released as a single.

My collection: 7" single no. 4125
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, October 24, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Heaven must be missing an angel (part 1)' / 'Heaven must be missing an angel (part 2)'

Set me free - Jaki Graham

'Set me free' was the first single taken from Jaki Graham's second album 'Breaking away'. It is one of her better known songs, having reached number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 11 in the Dutch Top 40.

As per usual, the tracks on this single were written by her partner Derek Bramble.

My collection: 7" single no. 4124
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, October 24, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Set me free' / 'Stop the world'

The wild boys - Duran Duran

The idea for 'The wild boys' came from Duran Duran's video director Russell Mulcahy, who wanted to make a full-length feature film based on the 1971 novel 'The wild boys: a book of the dead' by William S. Burroughs. He suggested that the band might create a modern soundtrack for the film. Singer Simon Le Bon began writing some lyrics based on Mulcahy's quick synopsis of the book, and the band created a harsh-sounding instrumental backdrop for them.

Although the movie never came to be, Mulcahy did direct the ambitious music video for 'The wild boys', which cost over one million dollars to make (a staggering sum for a music video at the time) and also delivered an urban myth about Simon le Bon supposedly nearly drowning while he was strapped to a windmill. The single reached number 1 in Germany and Canada and number 2 in the UK singles chart and the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4123
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, October 24, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'The wild boys' / '(I'm looking for) Cracks in the pavement (live)'

Wonderland - Paul Young

'Wonderland' was the first single taken from Paul Young's third solo album 'Between two fires'. The song was written by Betsy Cook, who would record the track herself a few years later. That single has been in my collection for years now, so I decided to add this cover version as well.

Paul Young's version of 'Wonderland' reached number 24 in the UK singles chart and number 12 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4122
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, October 24, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Wonderland' / 'Between two fires'

Era - Wess e Dori Ghezzi

Last month,Wess Johnson, one half of the duo Wess & Dori Ghezzi passed away. Wess and Dori were a very successful duo in Italy. They represented their country during the 1975 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place in Stockholm after Abba's historic victory the year before.

The song they performed was 'Era', an Italian love song. The song finished third in the Contest.

My collection: 7" single no. 4121
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, October 24, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Era' / 'Sempre tu'

Are you hearing (what I hear)? - Level 42

Level 42 released their third album 'The pursuit of accidents' in 1982. The first single from the album was 'Are you hearing (what I hear)?'. The song had a bouncy quality that the band would become famous for later on in their career.

This single didn't become an international hit, and only reached number 49 in the UK singles chart. The B-side is an interesting non-album track.

My collection: 7" single no. 4120
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, October 24, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Are you hearing (what I hear)?' / 'The return of the handsome rugged man'

Que sera mi vida - Gibson Brothers

All I can say is that my Spanish wasn't very good when I was eight years old. I always thought that 'Que sera mi vida' meant 'How are you, I'm okay', but it actually means 'How would my life be'. Oh well, lessons learned.

This disco hit sold over five million copies worldwide. The single reached number 5 in the UK singles chart and number 3 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4119
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, October 24, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Que sera mi vida' / 'West Indies'

Angeleyes / Voulez-vous - Abba

In the UK, 'Angeleyes' and 'Voulez-vous' were released as a double A side, because the record company believed 'Angeleyes' would appeal more to the record buying public than 'Voulez-vous', which was released as the A-side track in most other countries. They were not wrong: the single peaked at number 3 in the UK singles chart.

'Angeleyes / Voulez vous' was the first Abba single in the UK to be released in a picture sleeve, as all previous Abba singles were released in a standard 'Epic' company sleeve. The single was also issued in several different colours of vinyl, although my copy is pressed on 'standard' black vinyl.

My collection: 7" single no. 2016
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 19, 1993
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Angeleyes' / 'Voulez-vous'

How are you - The Kinks

'How are you' was released as the first single from the Kinks' 1986 album 'Think visual'. The title track from that album was an attack on the very MTV video culture the band seemed to be enjoying so much during the earlier part of the decade.

The song 'How are you' was a more innocent song. The single did not chart in any territory. I noticed the song during a showing of the music video on Dutch television. It stuck in my head, so I bought it a few years later.

My collection: 7" single no. 1185
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 3, 1990
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'How are you' / 'Killing time'

The king is dead - Go west

After their debut album was very successful, with four hit singles lifted off it, Go West's second album 'Dancing on the couch' paled in comparison. The first two singles 'True colours' and 'I want to hear it from you' landed just outside the UK top 40, and the singles 'Don't look down - The sequel' and 'From Baltimore to Paris' didn't chart at all.

In an attempt to reverse the band's fortunes, a fifth and final single was taken from the album. It was 'The king is dead', a track notable for the backing vocals by Kate Bush. The single did reach the UK singles chart, but stalled at number 67. Go West would return to the UK top 40 with their next singles. Perhaps their second album just wasn't very appealing to most...

My collection: 7" single no. 1926
Found: June 5, 1993
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'The king is dead' / 'Little Caesar (live)'

Dream on - Aerosmith

Long before Aerosmith became The Most Irritating Band On Earth, they debuted in 1973 with 'Dream on'. The power ballad written by band leader Steven Tyler became their first major hit, reaching number 59 in the US chart. It was re-released in 1976 when it reached number 6.

I bought this single after hearing the track on a compilation cd my sister had bought. Soon after, the band would continue to haunt the charts with worse songs every time. Their 1987 reunion should never have taken place.

My collection: 7" single no. 1135
Found: Leiden, December 28, 1989
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Dream on' / 'Sweet emotion'

Don't look back - Peter Tosh

Peter Tosh was born as Winston Hubert McIntosh on October 18, 1944. He became a core member of The Wailers, Bob Marley's backing band. In 1976 he launched a solo career with the debut solo album 'Legalize it'.

His big international breakthrough came in 1979, when he recorded the Temptations song 'Don't look back' together with Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger. The single only reached number 43 in the UK singles chart, but topped the Dutch Top 40 in early 1979. Tosh died in 1987 when a three man gang raided his house.

My collection: 7" single no. 2430
Found: August 19, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Don't look back' / 'Soon come'

James Cagney - Nik Kershaw

'James Cagney', a song named after the actor of the same name, was taken from Nik Kershaw's 1986 album 'Radio Musicola', and released as a single in Germany only in early 1987. The single did not chart.

I bought the single a year later, although I didn't know the song. I was pleasantly surprised when I got home and played it. It would take me more than 20 years to find the 12" single with an extended mix of this great track.

My collection: 7" single no. 681
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, November 12, 1988
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'James Cagney' / 'Radio Musicola'