The Belgian band Clouseau released two albums in English. Whereas their first, 'Close encounters' (1991), mainly consisted of translations of their songs in Dutch, the second one, 'In every small town' (1993) featured only original material, and was recorded in Los Angeles.
'Live like kings' was the first single lifted from the album. I bought the cd-single immediately after the release, because I thought it was a very pretty rock song. A year later, I found a 7" single - these things hardly ever turned up in record shops anymore. The single did not chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 2069 Found: Record fair, February 19, 1994 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'Live like kings' / 'Every single time'
'And the band played on (Down among the dead men)' was the follow-up to Flash and the Pan's debut single 'Hey St. Peter' and it sounds very similar to that track. In fact, I still have trouble distinguishing the two when I play them sometimes. Both tracks were taken from Flash and the Pan's self-titled debut album, released in 1979.
The lyric of the song was about the sinking of the Titanic. The single reached number 4 in Australia and number 54 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 1387 Found: February 22, 1991 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'And the band played on (Down among the dead men)' / 'The man who knew the answer'
Freddie Mercury composed 'Crazy little thing called love' on the guitar in just five to ten minutes. Other accounts say that he wrote it while lounging in a bubble bath in the Bayerischer Hof Hotel in Munich during one of Queen's extensive Munich recording sessions. He took it to the studio shortly after writing it and presented it to bandmates Roger Taylor and John Deacon. The three of them, with their new producer Mack, recorded it at Musicland Studios in Munich. The entire song was reportedly recorded in less than half an hour (although Mack says it was six hours).
The single was released in October 1979 and reached number 1 in Australia, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the USA. In the UK singles chart, the single reached number 2.
My collection: 7" single no. 1579 Found: Record fair, January 25, 1992 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Crazy little thing called love' / 'We will rock you (live)'
According to Sting, The Police's 'De do do do de da da da' is about the attraction people have towards simple songs: 'I was trying to make an intellectual point about how the simple can be so powerful. Why are our favourite songs 'Da doo ron ron' and 'Do wah diddy diddy'? In the song, I tried to address that issue. But everyone said, 'This is bullshit, child's play.' No one listened to the lyrics. Listen to the lyrics. I'm going to remake it again and put more emphasis on what I was talking about.'
The song was actually re-recorded in 1986, when the Police also made a re-recording of 'Don't stand so close to me'. It was dropped from the album 'Every breath you take: the singles', but finally saw a release in 1995 on a re-release of this album.
My collection: 7" single no. 3091 Found: Record Exchange, London, May 12, 1999 Cost: 50p Tracks: 'De do do do de da da da' / 'A sermon'
Pierre Rapsat was born as Pierre Raepsaet on May 28, 1948 in Brussels, Belgium. In 1973, he launched his career in music and became a very successful singer/songwriter in Belgium and other French-speaking countries.
In 1976, Rapsat composed 'Judy et Cie' ('Judy and Co.)'. It was chosen as Belgium's entry for the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest. It was an unusual and atypical song for Eurovision at that time. It finished eighth in a field fo 18 competitors. The single reached number 31 in the Dutch Top 40. Rapsat died on April 20, 2002 in Verviers, Belgium.
My collection: 7" single no. 4428 Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, January 22, 2010 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Judy et Cie' / 'Djumbo l'Averick'
Gary Moore and Phil Lynott were childhood friends before they both became band members with Thin Lizzy. After the band broke up, they both pursued solo careers, but in 1985, they recorded 'Out in the fields' together, a song about the religious turmoil in their native Ireland.
The song is reminiscent of the sound of their band and draws many influences from both artists' wide musical palettes. It performed well critically as well as commercially, reaching number 3 in the Irish Singles Chart and number 5 in the UK Singles Chart. It was also to be the last known recording made by Phil Lynott before his untimely death on 4 January 1986.
My collection: 7" single no. 3076 Found: London, May 10, 1999 Cost: 40p Tracks: 'Out in the fields' / 'Military man'
'Goodnight Saigon' is perhaps Billy Joel's best known song, and if nothing else his most epic track. Starting out with chopper sounds and ending with the sound of crickets, a lot is happening in the track that lasts for almost seven minutes.
The lyric of the song depicts the situation and attitude of United States Marines beginning with their military training on Parris Island and in different aspects of Vietnam combat. The track appearing on Joel's 1982 album 'The nylon curtain' and was released as a single in spring 1982. It reached number 1 in the Dutch Top 40, number 29 in the UK singles chart and number 56 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 423 Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 29, 1986 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Goodnight Saigon' / 'Where's the orchestra?'
Frank Boeijen formed the Frank Boeijen Groep in 1979 with Henk Wanders, Nels Busch and Wil Theunissen. Their debut single 'Transport uit Bangkok' ('Transport from Bangkok') was released in January 1981. The Dutch DJ Frits Spits played an important role in launching the band in the Netherlands: he preferred the B-side 'Verjaardagsfeest' ('Birthday party') and started playing it daily during his radio show.
Although 'Verjaardagsfeest' did not reach the Dutch Top 40, it gave the band some exposure, and somehow it has become one of those songs that most people in the Netherlands remember if they have any pop knowledge at all.
My collection: 7" single no. 668 Found: Den Haag, 1989 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'Verjaardagsfeest' / 'Transport uit Bangkok'
'I'm so sorry' is the debut solo single from José Hoebee, one third of the girl trio Luv', that broke up earlier in 1981. Released in December 1981, this single was an unsuccessful start of a solo career that would be more successful the next year with the hit singles 'I will follow him' and 'Secret love'.
This copy of 'I'm so sorry' was made in Germany and features a different sleeve when compared to the Dutch release.
My collection: 7" single no. 144 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1982 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'I'm so sorry' / 'A reason for fallin' in love'
I have the double groove 12" single of 'Popmuzik', but of course I have the 7" single as well. Although it has to be said, for a long time I only had the 12" single, because I didn't think I would ever play that 7" single very often. It had been a big hit in 1979, peaking at number 3 in the Dutch Top 40, and for a long time I was very sick of this song.
Robin Scott commented about this song: 'I was looking to make a fusion of various styles which somehow would summarize the last 25 years of pop music. It was a deliberate point I was trying to make. Whereas rock and roll had created a generation gap, disco was bringing people together on an enormous scale. That's why I really wanted to make a simple, bland statement, which was, 'All we're talking about basically (is) pop music'.
My collection: 7" single no. 2852 Found: June 21, 1997 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Popmuzik' / 'M Factor'
'Slow hand' is a pop ballad by the Pointer Sisters, released in the spring of 1981. It was also released on their album 'Black & White', released a few months later in 1981.
The single reached number 10 in the UK singles chart - their first top 10 hit in the UK - and number 15 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 3073 Found: London, May 10, 1999 Cost: 1 pound Tracks: 'Slow hand' / 'Holdin' out for love'
'Fading like a flower (Every time you leave)' was written in 1989 in Canada by Per Gessle and recorded by Roxette on their 1991 album 'Joyride'. It was released as the second single from the album, and promoted with a music video that was filmed in Gamla Stan, Stockholm, Sweden.
The single reached number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 8 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 12 in the UK singles chart. My copy of the single was made in Italy and used for promotion, hence the punched holes in the lower left corner.
My collection: 7" single no. 1879 Found: Record fair, March 27, 1993 Cost: 5 guilders Tracks: 'Fading like a flower (Every time you leave)' / 'I remember you'
A track from Robert Palmer's 1988 album 'Heavy nova', 'Early in the morning' was only released as a single in America, Canada and Australia as far as I know. I knew the album and so when I spotted this single as an import, I bought it immediately.
The single reached number 26 in Canada, number 19 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 81 in Australia.
My collection: 7" single no. 733 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, February 7, 1989 Cost: 6,5 guilders Tracks: 'Early in the morning' / 'Disturbing behaviour'
'Love's Theme' is an instrumental piece recorded by Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra and released in 1973. The recording, with a large string orchestra and wah-wah guitar, is considered to be an influence to the disco sound, which would explode in popularity the following year.
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark used the tune to create the track 'Dream of me', released as the second single from their 1993 album 'Liberator'. Promoted with a colourful and digitally enhanced music video, it reached number 24 in the UK singles chart and number 17 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 2006 Found: HMV, London, October 18, 1993 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Dream of me (Based on Love's Theme)' / 'Strange sensations'
Kate Bush released 'Babooshka' in June 1980 as a single from her third album 'Never for ever'. The lyric of the song describes a wife's desire to test her husband's loyalty. She takes on the nom de plume of Babooshka and sends notes to her husband in the guise of a younger woman. The trap is set when, in her bitterness and paranoia, she arranges to meet her husband, who is attracted to the character that reminds him of his wife in earlier times.
When Bush wrote the song, she didn't know that 'Babooshka' actually means 'grandmother' in Russian. The single reached number 15 in the Dutch Top 40, number 5 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in Australia.
My collection: 7" single no. 63 Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1980 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Babooshka' / 'Ran tan waltz'
'Life in one day' was released as the third single from Howard Jones' 1985 album 'Dream into action'. The lyric warned against wishing one's life away. The single reached number 14 in the UK Singles chart, and number 19 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the Dutch Top 40, it reached number 27.
I have two different versions of this single: one with a poster sleeve, and one special double single, which features a second disc with two live tracks, recorded at the Manchester Apollo on March 15, 1985.
My collection: 7" single no. 354 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1985 Cost: 10 guilders Tracks: 'Life in one day' / 'Boom bap respite' // 'Always asking questions (live)' / 'New song (live)'
Paul Jabara wrote 'Last dance' in the mid-Seventies. It was recorded by Donna Summer for the soundtrack of the movie 'Thank God it's Friday', in which she also had a small part, singing the song. It was one of the first disco songs to also feature slow tempo parts. It starts off slow and the full-length version found on the film soundtrack also has a slow part in the middle.
The song has sold over 5 million copies in the U.S. alone, peaking at number 5 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the Dutch Top 40, 'Last dance' reached number 8, while it stalled at number 51 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 3116 Found: Record fair, 1999 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Last dance' / 'With your love'
Peter, Sue & Marc were a Swiss music group from Berne. The members were Peter Reber (born 1949), Sue Schell (born 1950) and Marc Dietrich (born 1948). They represented Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest four times and in four different languages.
Their last performance in Eurovision took place in 1981 with the Italian song 'Io senza te'. The song was written by Peter Reber and Nella Martinetti. It finished fourth in a field of 20 competitors, their best result.
My collection: 7" single no. 4402 Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Io senza te' / 'Me without you'
Already in 1989, Mylene Farmer said that she liked Jean-Louis Murat's songwriting. They corresponded for two years until they finally recorded the duet 'Regrets' in 1991. It is a love song in which two lovers are answering tenderly and with melancholy, while they are separated by the death of one of them. Only memories allows the one that is left behind to savour the well-being of the past relationship.
The song was released as the third single from Farmer's third album 'Ainsi soit je...', reaching number 3 in France and number 2 in the French-speaking part of Belgium.
My collection: 7" single no. 2221 Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 17, 1994 Cost: 10 guilders Tracks: 'Regrets' / 'Regrets (Classic bonus beats)'
'Lessons in love' was released in April 1986 as the first single from Level 42's seventh studio album 'Running in the family'. It was the first of five singles from that album, and paved the way for international success for the band.
For the first time they reached the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it peaked at number 12 in 1987. In the UK, the single reached number 3, while in the Dutch Top 40 it got to number 2. Level 42 scored their first hit with this in Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Indonesia and other countries.
My collection: 7" single no. 1333 Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1990 Cost: 50p Tracks: 'Lessons in love' / 'Hot water (live)'
When the British film '1984' was made in the UK, the Eurythmics were contacted to make the soundtrack. They agreed, and so the album of the same name came to be. 'Sexcrime (1984)' was the first single lifted from the album, released in October 1984.
The single peaked at number 4 in the UK singles chart, becoming Eurythmics' sixth song in a row to enter the Top 10. It was also a big hit throughout Europe and became one of the duo's biggest selling singles in Australia.
My collection: 7" single no. 2024 Found: Record Exchange, London, October 19, 1993 Cost: 50p Tracks: 'Sexcrime (1984)' / 'I did it just the same'
'Arizona sky' was released in 1986 as the first single from China Crisis' fourth album 'What price paradise'. The single was a minor success in the UK, reaching number 47 in the singles chart.
I bought the 12" single quite recently, but I've had the 7" single for almost two decades now.
My collection: 7" single no. 1456 Found: Record fair, June 27, 1991 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Arizona sky' / 'Trading in gold'
Germany has been responsible for quite a few dodgy acts through the years, and Goombay Dance Band can be considered as one of them. They formed in the late Seventies, and styled their music to combine Caribbean soca and calypso with western pop.
'Aloha-oe, until we meet again' was released in 1980 as the follow-up to their debut hit 'Sun of Jamaica'. The track was inspired by a traditional Hawaiian song. This single reached number 6 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 60 Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1980 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'Aloha-oe, until we meet again' / 'Conga man'
Michael Jackson and his brothers formed the Jacksons, a successful group that made hit singles until the Eighties, after which solo careers took preference over the group effort. 'Can you feel it' is arguably the band's last big hit, released on the 1980 album 'Triumph' and released as a single in early 1981. It reached number 6 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the Dutch Top 40, while it only reached number 77 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The accompanying music video was noted for its remarkable special effects created by Robert Abel and Associates. Michael created the video's concept and Tito's sons Taj and Taryll appeared as extras.
My collection: 7" single no. 844 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 27, 1989 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Can you feel it' / 'Wondering who'
Through the years I have heard some horrendous single edits, but none have been as monstrous as the 7" edit of Black's 'I'm not afraid'. Someone took a blunt knife and started hacking into this track, particularly during the last few minutes. You can hear the voice being cut during singing, each and every cut is audible. And all this to bring down the length of this track with one minute. Perhaps they should just have released the five minute version.
Consequently, this single, the follow-up to Black's biggest hit 'Wonderful life', did not chart. What's interesting about the sleeve is that the German version, pictured here, features the entire lyric of the song on the front, whereas on the UK single (which I don't own, unfortunately) only the refrain, printed in blue, is shown.
My collection: 7" single no. 589 Found: Gé Hofenk, Leiden, February 16, 1988 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'I'm not afraid' / 'Have it your own way'
Chris Rea released his ninth studio album 'Dancing with strangers' in 1987. The single 'Let's dance' was taken from this album: a bouncy pop song about, well, dancing.
Released in June 1987, 'Let's dance' became Rea's biggest hit up to that point, reaching number 12 in the UK singles chart during a 10 week chart run.
My collection: 7" single no. 931 Found: July 6, 1989 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Let's dance' / 'I don't care anymore'
You can bet that there are loads of people in the Netherlands desperately searching for this single, willing to pay a small fortune for it too. Meanwhile, I accidentally found it in a second hand shop in 1991 for the equivalent of 1 euro.
'Verkeerd om terug te kijken' ('Wrong to look back') is the only single released by the Dutch duo Frank Boeijen and Wout Pennings. They met in 1977 and recorded and released one album in 1978. They were picked up by the Dutch record label CNR, which enabled them to re-record the album, which like this single was released in 1979. Both the album and the single flopped, but Frank Boeijen went on to form the Frank Boeijen Groep and had a lot of success during the Eighties, after which he went solo, founding a career that is still going strong now.
My collection: 7" single no. 1494 Found: H. v.d. Horst, Den Haag, July 18, 1991 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Verkeerd om terug te kijken' / 'De zee'
The 12" single of Oran 'Juice' Jones' 'The rain' featured the album version, and as such the longest version that exists of this track. Both sides were taken from his debut album 'Juice', which was a modest success in America but failed to make much of an impression in Europe.
After Jones failed to have significant follow-up success, he left the music industry to tend to his terminally ill mother and raise his family.
My collection: 12" single no. 51 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987 Cost: 8 guilders Tracks: 'The rain' / 'Your song'
Oran 'Juice' Jones was born in 1959 in Houston, Texas and raised in Harlem, New York. He was the first artist who was signed to OBR Records, a subsidiary of Def Jam. In 1986 he released his debut album 'Juice', which spawned the hit single 'The rain'. This single was promoted with a music video that was based on the album version of the song, even though the single was shortened by two minutes, omitting a speech to a girl who has committed foul play.
The single reached number 9 in the BIllboard Hot 100 chart and number 5 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 503 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'The rain (short version)' / 'Your song'
'Only when you leave' was the first single from Spandau Ballet's fourth album 'Parade'. The previous album, 'True', had brought the band a lot of success, and so the new album explored the territory of smooth and commercial pop songs a little further, without taking too many chances.
The strategy paid off: without much trouble the single reached its peak position of number 3 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the Dutch Top 40. It was all downhill from there.
My collection: 7" single no. 1033 Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989 Cost: 10p Tracks: 'Only when you leave' / 'Paint me down (live)'
Hot Chocolate was very popular in the Seventies with several top 3 hits, but in the Eighties, things weren't as good for them. 'It started with a kiss', released in the summer of 1982, would turn out to be their last big hit, after which they would still have several chart hits in the UK, but the majority would land outside the top 10.
'It started with a kiss' reached number 5 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the Dutch Top 40. The song was written by frontman and lead singer Errol Brown.
My collection: 7" single no. 385 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1984 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'It started with a kiss' / 'Emotion explosion'
This single has the unique distinction to be the inspiration for two very recognisable women in music: Kate Bush and Tori Amos. Kate Bush recorded a cover of 'Rocket man' in 1994, whereas Tori Amos performed 'Tiny dancer' during her concert tour in the same year.
The song 'Rocket man' was conceived when Bernie Taupin saw a shooting star or a distant airplane. The lyric describes a Mars-bound astronaut's mixed feelings at leaving his family in order to do his job. The single reached number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 6 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1972.
My collection: 7" single no. 2552 Found: Record fair, November 19, 1995 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Rocket man' / 'Tiny dancer'
'Thin line between love and hate' was written by the brothers Robert and Richard Poindexter with Jackie Members and first performed in 1971 by the New York City-based vocal group The Persuaders. It became the group's biggest hit in the autumn of 1971, reaching number 15 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The Pretenders recorded a cover version of the track in 1984 on their album 'Learning to crawl'. Featuring Paul Carrack on keyboards and backing vocals, their version reached number 83 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 49 in the UK singles chart and number 27 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 912 Found: June 25, 1989 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Thin line between love and hate' / 'Time the avenger (live)'
Kim Wilde recorded 'Never trust a stranger' as a track on her sixth album 'Close'. It was released as the third single from the album in the autumn of 1988 in a remixed version, made by Ricky Wilde, Kim's brother.
The single became another big hit for Kim, reaching number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the Dutch Top 40. In the UK, a limited edition gatefold sleeve of this single was available.
My collection: 7" single no. 662 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, October 7, 1988 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Never trust a stranger' / 'Wotcha gonna do'
The Irish girlgroup Sheeba was formed in 1977 by Maxi, Marion Fossett and Frances Campbell. In 1981 they represented Ireland during the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Horoscopes'. It finished fifth in a field of 20 contestants.
Following their exposure in the 1981 contest, they signed a recording contract in the UK and released the singles 'The next night' and 'Mystery', neither of which found success. In 1982 they were involved in a road accident in the West of Ireland that brought their career to an eventual halt due to their reluctance to continue touring. Today, Maxi is a successful broadcaster with RTE in Dublin; Marion Fossett is ring-mistress of the well-known family circus, Fossetts; and Frances Campbell is a broadcaster in Northern Ireland.
My collection: 7" single no. 4406 Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Horoscopes' / 'You came through love with me'
Having released singles and albums as Bolland & Bolland and as Bolland throughout the Seventies and Eighties, Rob and Ferdi Bolland renamed themselves The Bolland Project for their 1991 album 'Darwin - the evolution'.
One of the tracks on the album was released as a single. It was the beautiful ballad 'Emma my dear', recorded with the aid of Colin Blunstone, who did vocal duties. The single did not chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 1665 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, June 13, 1992 Cost: 6,5 guilders Tracks: 'Emma my dear' / 'For a moment in time'
'Bumped!' was the first single from Right said Fred's second album 'Sex and travel'. It combined Nineties rhythms with a rather forgettable melody and lyric. I mainly bought this single out of curiosity - but I have to say I haven't played it much since I bought it.
The single was a succes in the UK and the Netherlands, peaking at number 32 and number 30 respectively.
My collection: 7" single no. 2035 Found: Virgin Megastore, London, October 22, 1993 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Bumped!' / 'Turn me on (Re-wrap version)'
'Everywhere' was the fifth single taken from Fleetwood Mac's 1987 album 'Tango in the night'. Released in February 1988, it reached number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 3 in the Dutch Top 40. In the USA, where the single was released in November 1987, it reached number 14 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
This single was also the first cd-single release by the band in most territories. I bought the cd-single at the time of its release, and only bought the 7" single 12 years later.
My collection: 7" single no. 3196 Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 16, 2000 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'Everywhere' / 'When I see you again'
Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich explained that the band wanted to try something new with the idea of a ballad - instead of the standard melodic verse and heavy chorus, the band opted to reverse the dynamic, with heavy, distorted verses and a softer, melodic chorus, played with classical guitars. The song describes a man who never took risks and ultimately regretted it.
The single became another hit for the band, peaking at number 27 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 15 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 1553 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, December 7, 1991 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'The unforgiven' / 'Killing time'
The proceeds of the very successful album and movie 'Purple rain' enabled Prince to build his recording studio Paisley Park Studios. So what came first, the studio or this song? Well, the song was recorded before 'Purple rain' was completed, so you do the math.
'Paisley Park' was included on Prince's 1985 album 'Around the world in a day'. It has a psychedelic feel, similar to some of The Beatles' later work with echoed guitar and finger cymbals. The lyrics describe a Utopian place that one can feel in their heart, despite the chaos of the world around them. The single reached number 18 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 301 Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1985 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Paisley Park' / 'She's always in my hair'
I've always considered this EP to be great value for money: not only did you get a double A-side with 'Somebody' and 'Blasphemous rumours', this disc also contained two live tracks, of which especially 'Everything counts' is quite fabulous. The single reached number 16 in the UK singles chart and number 27 in the Dutch Top 40.
'Somebody' is a soft, gentle love song in which Martin Gore sings of his desire to find a lover and confidant. The lyric does suggest a hint of sarcasm with the final lines: 'Things like this make me sick. In a case like this, I'll get away with it'. The song was reportedly sung in the studio by Gore without his clothes on.
By contrast, 'Blasphemous rumours' is a loud, angry song. The lyric tells the story of a sixteen-year-old girl's failed attempt to kill herself by slitting her wrists. This story is continued when the girl is 18. She renews her faith in God only to be struck by a car, end up on life support, and dying shortly afterwards. The conclusion: 'I don't want to start any blasphemous rumours but I think that God's got a sick sense of humour, and when I die, I expect to find Him laughing.' The song was considered offensive and was banned on some American radio stations. In the UK, although the song was not banned, it also aroused a firestorm of controversy, leading even the Church itself to speak out against the song. Well, of course... God forbid that people would even think about these things!
My collection: 7" single no. 254 Found: Den Haag, 1984 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Somebody', 'Everything counts (live)' / 'Blasphemous rumours', 'Told you so (live)'
Here's another nice track from the Netherlands for your listening pleasure. 'Laat mij maar alleen' ('Just leave me alone') by the Klein orkest ('Little orchestra') is a charming piece of pop from the summer of 1982. Stating 'Even if loneliness is hard, sometimes it's worse when you're together', it's one of those 'Can't live with you, can't live without you' statements, set to upbeat music.
The single reached number 27 in the Dutch Top 40 and was the first of only three hit singles for the group that existed for seven years, between 1978 and 1985.
My collection: 7" single no. 161 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1982 Cost: 3,5 guilders Tracks: 'Laat mij maar alleen' / 'Het leed versierd'
'A groovy kind of love' was written by Toni Wine and Carol Bayer Sager. It is heavily based on the Rondo movement of Sonatina in G major, op. 36 no. 5 by Muzio Clementi. The song was first recorded by Diane & Annita in 1965.
Phil Collins recorded his cover of the song in 1988. He decided to record it when he took a starring role in the film 'Buster', which had a Sixties setting. The song first appeared on the soundtrack of the movie, while it was also released as a single. It hit number 1 in the USA, the UK and the Netherlands.
My collection: 7" single no. 799 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, April 17, 1989 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'A groovy kind of love' / 'Big noise (instrumental)'
Tina Turner was famous for her big hits in the Sixties, but by 1984, she was totally forgotten. She released a new album 'Private dancer' in 1984, from which this single, 'What's love got to do with it' was taken. The song was originally written for the R&B singer Phyllis Hyman.
No-one expected this single to become the great success it became. It reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 3 in the UK singles chart and number 15 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 1008 Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989 Cost: 50p Tracks: 'What's love got to do with it' / 'Don't rush the good things'
Duran Duran's guitarist at the time, Warren Cuccurullo, is credited with developing the instrumentation for 'Come undone', most importantly its guitar hook, which he developed while trying to do a re-interpretation of 'First Impression' from their 1990 album Liberty. The lyrics were written by vocalist Simon Le Bon as a birthday gift for his wife, Yasmin le Bon.
The single reached number 13 in the UK and number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. By contrast, it did not chart in the Netherlands at all.
My collection: 7" single no. 1915 Found: Record fair, May 22, 1993 Cost: 8 guilders Tracks: 'Come undone' / 'Ordinary world (acoustic)'
Although the rebel yell was a battle cry used by Confederate soldiers during the American Civil War, Billy Idol reportedly refers to the whiskey brand of the same name, a brand of bourbon whiskey distilled and bottled at the Bernheim distillery in Louisville, Kentucky. During an event he attended, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones were taking swigs of 'Rebel Yell'; Billy decided and stated that he would set off to write a 'Rebel Yell' song.
The song was co-written by guitarist Steve Stevens. The instrumental introduction, which sounds like a combination of electric guitar and electronic keyboard, is performed by Stevens on guitar alone, who intended it to sound this way. The single was originally released in 1984, but re-released in a gatefold sleeve in the UK in 1985 and peaked at number 2 in the UK singles chart on that occasion.
My collection: 7" single no. 1740 Found: Record Exchange, London, October 18, 1992 Cost: 1 pound Tracks: 'Rebel yell' / '(Do not) Stand in the shadows'
As the years went by, it was easy to accuse Janet Jackson of using a formula for her albums: there were always a few ballads, some dance songs and one obligatory rock-oriented track. In the case of her 1989 album 'Rhythm Nation 1814', it was 'Black cat', released as the sixth single from the album.
The B-side of the single features 'The 1814 Megamix'. Remixed by Alan Coulthard, it includes snippets of Jackson's previous hit singles 'Alright', 'Escapade', 'Rhythm nation', and 'Miss you much'.
My collection: 7" single no. 1330 Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1990 Cost: 1 pound Tracks: 'Black cat' / 'The 1814 Megamix'
The Belgian band Clouseau released two albums in English. Whereas their first, 'Close encounters' (1991), mainly consisted of translations of their songs in Dutch, the second one, 'In every small town' (1993) featured only original material, and was recorded in Los Angeles.
