J'aime la vie - Sandra Kim

I bought 'Crazy of life' last year, the English version of 'J'aime la vie' by Sandra Kim. Although that single features the original French version on the B-side, I still decided to buy the original single 'J'aime la vie' because, well, a Eurovision collection is only complete when you have the 'common' edition next to rare abroad versions.

The B-side is actually an interesting affair. Despite the limitations of Sandra Kim's high pitched shrieking, there's a great chanson hiding in the recording. 'J'aime la vie' reached number 4 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4525
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'J'aime la vie' / 'Ne m'oublie pas'

Voice les clés - Gérard Lenorman

'Voici les clés' is a classic Seventies song performed by French singer Gérard Lenorman, who was born on February 9, 1945 at the Château de Bénouville, Calvados (Normandy) when it was a maternity hospital . He is the son of Madeleine Lenormand and an unknown German soldier.

He released his first album in 1969. His sixth album 'Droles de chansons' featured 'Voici les clés', which ended up peaking at number 2 in the Dutch Top 40 in the spring of 1977.

My collection: 7" single no. 4524
Found: Any old time, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'Voici les clés' / 'Comme une chanson bizarre'

This is my life (La vita) - Shirley Bassey

One of the gay anthems of all time was recorded by Shirley Bassey. 'La vita' was originally written in Italy by Bruno Canfora and Antonio Amurri. Shirley Bassey's version included English lyrics by Norman Newell and was called 'This is my life'.

The track first appeared in 1968 on Bassey's album of the same name. In 1979, she released the album 'The magic is you', another album featuring 'This is my life'. The track was released as a single and reached number 4 in the Dutch Top 40. It has since been adopted by gay rights activists as a statement of independence and pride.

My collection: 7" single no. 4523
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'This is my life (La vita)' / 'The magic is you'

Attention to me - The Nolans

In 1980, the Nolan Sisters changed their group name to the Nolans. Following her marriage, Anne temporarily left the group and Coleen was made a new official member. Their 1980 album 'Making waves' peaked at number 11 in the UK albums chart but stayed in the chart for 33 weeks.

Four singles were drawn from the album, of which 'Attention to me' was the last one. It reached number 9 in the UK singles chart, number 5 in Ireland and number 7 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" sinle no. 4522
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'Attention to me' / 'Old feelings again'

I'm in the mood for dancing - The Nolan Sisters

Tommy and Maureen Nolan, who had both worked as singers in Ireland, moved their family from Dublin to Blackpool in 1962, and launched a family singing group, The Singing Nolans, in 1963. The original lineup comprised the parents, sons Tommy and Brian, and daughters Anne (born November 12, 1950), Denise (born April 9, 1952), Maureen (born June 14, 1954), Linda (born February 23, 1959) and Bernadette (born October 17, 1960).

In 1974 the five daughters began performing as The Nolan Sisters. They released one uncharted single on EMI in 1974 and several more on Target Records between 1975 and 1977. After signing with CBS subsidiary Epic Records in 1979, the group enjoyed their greatest period of commercial success. At the end of 1979, the group released the disco-flavoured single 'I'm in the mood for dancing', which became their best-known tune and biggest hit. It reached number 3 in the UK, number 2 in Ireland and the Netherlands and number 1 in Japan.

My collection: 7" single no. 4521
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'I'm in the mood for dancing' / 'Let's make love'

Manuel goodbye - Audrey Landers

Audrey Landers was born on July 18, 1956. She was first noticed when she wrote and performed a country song when she was just 12 years old. During her teenage years, she acted on the daytime drama 'Somerset' and studied music at the Juilliard School in New York. Her feature film debut came in 'The Tennessee Stallion' (1978) with her younger sister, Judy Landers.

In 1981 she was given the role of Afton Cooper in the drama series Dallas, in which she appeared from 1981 to 1984. It was during this time that the single 'Manuel goodbye' was recorded and released. She had a Europe-wide hit with this in 1983, peaking at number 2 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4520
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'Manuel goodbye' / 'Shot down'

Het is een wonder - Linda Williams

Linda Williams was born as Henriëtte Willems on June 11, 1955 in Valkenswaard. She was an unknown singer when she took part in the 1981 national final for the Eurovision Song Contest in the Netherlands as a last-minute replacement for singer Oscar Harris, who had to drop out at short notice. One of the two songs she performed during the night, 'Het is een wonder', emerged as the winner, and so she represented the Netherlands during the Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on April 4, 1981. She finished ninth in a field of 20 competitors.

Following her Eurovision appearance, Williams released a few singles which passed unnoticed, and soon returned to obscurity. She did however make another appearance on the Eurovision stage in 1999, when she was one of the backing singers for that year's Belgian entrant, Vanessa Chinitor, along with her daughter Eva-Jane.

My collection: 7" single no. 4519
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'Het is een wonder' / 'Zo is het leven'

Cassandra - Bonnie en Jose

Dutch singers José Hoebee and Bonnie St. Claire got together in 1984 to record a Dutch language cover of the Abba track 'Cassandra'. The two were friends and apparently thought it would be a good idea to do this. The lyric was translated by Benny Neyman, another Dutch singer. The single reached number 24 in the Dutch Top 40.

The single got a couple of sequels: the duo were involved in the project 'Abbacadabra', a TV musical for children based on songs of Abba, featuring more Dutch celebrities. In 1985 the duo recorded 'Herinnering' ('Memory'), a whole album of Abba covers.

My collection: 7" single no. 4518
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'Cassandra' / 'Ik blijf wachten'

Living doll - Cliff Richard

Cliff Richard and the Drifters recorded 'Living doll' in 1959, with Norrie Paramore producing. The single reached number 1 in the UK singles chart in July 1959, selling over a million copies. It America, the song reached number 30 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was Richard's first hit in the Netherlands, reaching number 2 in the charts.

Richard re-recorded the song in 1986 with the alternative comedy group The Young Ones for the Comic Relief charity.

My collection: 7" single no. 4517
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'Living doll' / 'Apron strings'

Garden party - Mezzoforte

Mezzoforte is a traditional musical term, an instruction to play literally 'moderately loud'. It is also the name of an instrumental funk fusion-band from Iceland. The line-up consists of Eyþór Gunnarsson, Jóhann Ásmundsson, Gunnlaugur Briem, Friðrik Karlsson and Staffan William-Olsson.

Their biggest hit was the track 'Garden party', released in early 1983. It reached numbe 10 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4516
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'Garden party' / 'Early autumn'

Those were the days - Mary Hopkin

Although I already have a 7" single with 'Those were the days' on it, I couldn't pass up on the opportunity to buy this original edition from 1968, made in the UK and released as the second single on the Apple label.

The B-side of this single is a folky version of the song 'Turn, turn turn', a hit for the Byrds in 1965.

My collection: 7" single no. 4515
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'Those were the days' / 'Turn, turn, turn'

Pretend - Alvin Stardust

Alvin Stardust was born as Bernard William Jewry on September 27, 1942 in North London. After some success as a member of the band Shane Fenton and The Fentones in the Sixties, he took on the name Alvin Stardust in the early Seventies and had some hits, such as 'My coo-ca-choo' (1973) and 'Jealous mind' (1974).

From 1976 to 1980, Alvin Stardust didn't have any chart hits at all, which made his return in 1981 all the more impressive. The catchy 'Pretend' - a cover of a 1952 song made famous by Nat King Cole and many others - was not only a hit in the UK, where it reached number 4, but it also became a number 1 hit in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 4514
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'Pretend' / 'Goose bumps'

The things we do for love - 10CC

After the departure of Godley and Creme, Stewart and Gouldman opted to continue as 10CC, bringing in to the studio drummer Paul Burgess, who had up to that point been their tour backup drummer. Their first album as a three piece band was 'Deceptive bends' in 1977.

The album yielded three hit singles, of which 'The things we do for love' was the first. It reached number 6 in the UK singles chart, number 5 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 13 in the Dutch Top 40. Stewart later said he and Gouldman felt vindicated by the success: 'I was out to prove also that we could write a hit album without Kevin and Lol ... we did!'

My collection: 7" single no. 4513
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'The things we do for love' / 'Hot to trot'

It's a long way there - Little River Band

Fueled by a very successful Australian hit single 'Curiosity killed the cat', the band began making promotional visits to the USA in 1976. This resulted in a hit single Stateside, 'It's a long way there', edited down from an album track over 8 minutes long.

The single reached number 28 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 13 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4512
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'It's a long way there' / 'Meanwhile'

Tiger feet - Mud

'Tiger feet' was written and produced by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman and recorded by Mud. It was the first of Mud's three number 1 hit singles in the UK, reaching the top of the UK charts in January 1974. Two months later, the single also reached number 1 in the Dutch Top 40.

Co-writer Mike Chapman credited bassist Ray Stiles with a particularly memorable bass lick which helped fuel the success of the record.

My collection: 7" single no. 4511
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'Tiger feet' / 'Mr. Bagatelle'

I want you to want me - Cheap Trick

'I want you to want me' was originally recorded by Cheap Trick on their second album 'In color' (1977). It was the first single released from that album, but it didn't chart. However, it was a number 1 hit in Japan.

This success, as well as the success of other singles, prompted Cheap Trick to play a few concerts at the Tokyo Budokan in April 1978. These concerts were recorded and a selection of track ended up on the album 'Cheap Trick at Budokan'. When the live version of 'I want you to want me' was released as a single in early 1979, it reached number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 29 in the UK singles chart and a surprising number 1 in the Dutch Top 40: the band had never charted in the Netherlands before.

My collection: 7" single no. 4510
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'I want you to want me' / 'Look out'

Room with a view - Deco

Noël Coward wrote 'Room with a view' for the 1928 revue 'This year of grace'. The Noël Coward Society, drawing on performing statistics from the publishers and the Performing Rights Society, ranks 'Room with a view' among Coward's ten most popular songs.

One of the many cover versions recorded throughout the last century was released by Deco, a trio consisting of Charles Grant, Tim Donaldson and John Melvin. The single did not chart in the UK, but reached number 30 in the Dutch Top 40 in April 1979.

My collection: 7" single no. 4509
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'Room with a view' / 'She's a great great girl'

Fool (if you think it's over) - Chris Rea

Although I have a lot of singles by Chris Rea, I had a hard time locating a copy of his debut hit, 'Fool (if you think it's over)'. You can imagine my surprise when I found a UK copy of this single in this shop where I got all these singles for 10 cents each.

The single originally failed to chart in Rea's native UK. In the USA, the single peaked at number 12 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart in September 1978, while in the Dutch Top 40 it reached number 25. When re-released in the UK in October 1978, the single made it to number 30 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4508
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'Fool (if you think it's over)' / 'Midnight love'

Beautiful noise - Neil Diamond

The album 'Beautiful noise' marked a radical departure in production, style, arrangements and compositional diversity for Neil Diamond and is considered by many to be his finest album. It was billed at the time of its release as something of a 'comeback' album, and did mark a new and highly productive phase of Diamond's recording and touring career.

The title track was released as a single in the autumn of 1976 and reached number 13 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4507
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'Beautiful noise' / 'Home is a wounded heart'

She's in love with you - Suzi Quatro

Suzi Quatro initially had a lot of success with her brand of glam-rock in the first half of the Seventies. Between 1975 and 1978, however, she had a hard time maintaining that success: only the 1977 single 'Tear me apart' had some moderate success in the UK and Australia.

In 1978, 'If you can't give me love' became a sudden success in those countries. The duet 'Stumblin' in', which she recorded with Chris Norman from the band Smokie, was even a success Stateside. Both tracks featured on the album 'If you knew Suzi'. A year later, she released 'Suzi... and other four letter words', which featured singles such as 'She's in love with you', which made number 11 in the UK and number 6 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4506
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'She's in love with you' / 'Space cadets'

We gotta get out of this place - Gilla

'We gotta get out of this place' was written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil and recorded in 1965 by the Animals. It became an iconic song in its time and was a favourite among the American soldiers during the Vietnam War.

Gilla recorded a cover version in 1979 with Frank Farian producing. Her version reached number 26 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4505
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'We gotta get out of this place' / 'Take the best of me'

You're the one that I want - John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John

I was never a fan of 'Grease' in 1978, when everyone in my class was. The girls were in love with John Travolta and the boys were in awe of him. Meanwhile, I preferred the singing qualities of Olivia Newton-John but thought the whole madness about one movie was a bit silly. I was always a bit sceptical of manias anyway.

'You're the one that I want' did stand the test of time, however. The single was a number 1 hit in most countries and it is still the sixth best-selling single ever in the UK, where it has sold over 1,975,000 copies.

My collection: 7" single no. 4504
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'You're the one that I want' / 'Alone at a drive-in movie (instrumental)'

Summer nights - John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John and cast

So I go to this second hand shop I've seen on a website. The website says that there are bargain singles for 1 euro each. That's a reasonable price - if the singles are good. When I get there, the man says 'I am just getting rid of some stuff, so shall we say 10 cents each?'. It's like I'm suddenly a kids in a candy store with loads of cash to spend. So I buy literally everything that is vaguely interesting.

This was my first find: the 'Grease' single 'Summer nights' as performed by John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John and the cast of this 1978 movie that took the world by storm. The single reached number 5 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 2 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 1 in the UK singles chart, where it stayed for seven weeks.

My collection: 7" single no. 4503
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'Summer nights' / 'Rock 'n' Roll party queen' (Louis St. Louis)

Hopelessly - Rick Astley

Rick Astley's fourth album 'Body & soul' is considered a flop, as both singles from the album stranded in the lower regions of the UK singles chart and the album itself never made it into the albums chart. Released in November 1993, 'Hopelessly' was the last of the two, scoring a little higher than the first one, peaking at number 33.

The B-side of this single features a live version of 'Hopelessly', recorded in Milan, Italy for the programme Night Express.

My collection: 7" single no. 4502
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Hopelessly' / 'Hopelessly (live)'

Instinction - Spandau Ballet

'Instinction' was taken from Spandau Ballet's 1982 album 'Diamond'. It was released as the fourth and last single from the album and it reached number 10 in the UK singles chart. In Australia, the single peaked at number 30. In other territories, the single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4501
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Instinction' / 'Gently'

Shannon - Henry Gross

Henry Gross was born on April 1, 1951 in Brooklyn, New York. Encouraged by his mother, he moved into music at a young age, starting to perform in local clubs when he was only 14 years old. While at college, he was a founder member of the band Sha Na Na, which he left in 1970 to pursue a solo career.

In 1976, he recorded what was to become his signature song, 'Shannon'. The lyric was about the death of Beach Boy Carl Wilson's Irish Setter of the same name. The single reached number 6 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 25 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 32 in the UK singles chart. The song was picked as a favourite by Kim Wilde during her radio show 'Secret Songs' on Magic FM last year, which is how I first heard it. I'm glad to have located a copy, as the song grabbed me right away.

My collection: 7" single no. 4500
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Shannon' / 'Pokey'

Some people - Belouis Some

'Some people' is the title of Belouis Some's debut album, and also the title of the third single release from that album. This limited edition double single set features two bonus live tracks, recorded for Capital Radio in the UK.

The single reached number 33 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4499
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Some people' / 'Walk away' // 'Have you ever been in love (live)' / 'Jerusalem (live)'

Knocked out - Paula Abdul

'Knocked out' was originally Paula Abdul's debut single, released in February 1988. The song was written by Babyface, Daryl Simmons and LA Reid. In the UK, 'Knocked out' was released three times. It originally charted on September 24, 1988, peaking at a lowly number 98. Following the success of 'Straight up' and its follow-up 'Forever your girl', 'Knocked out' was re-issued and peaked at number 45 on 19 August 1989, just missing out on the top 40.

This single is a copy of the third and last re-release. This limited edition is housed in gatefold sleeve with a competition to win a week in California for two. All the owner had to do is send in the answer to three questions about Paula Abdul (this is before the Wikipedia age, remember!) and send in a postcard. The disc features a remix of 'Knocked out' by Shep Pettibone. The track finally cracked the UK top 40, peaking at number 21 in July 1990.

My collection: 7" single no. 4498
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Knocked out (Pettibone edit)' / 'Knocked out'

The Amsterdam EP - Simple Minds

The Simple Minds released five singles from their 1989 album 'Street fighting years', of which the first and the last one were EP's. The first EP was the 'Ballad of the streets EP', the second one was the Amsterdam EP.

Three tracks were included on this EP, of which only 'Let it all come down' was taken from the album. 'Jerusalem' is an instrumental track written by Hubert Parry and arranged by the Simple Minds, and 'Sign o' the times' is a cover of the Prince track. The EP reached number 18 in the UK singles chart and the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4497
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Sign o' the times (edit)' / 'Let it all come down (edit)', 'Jerusalem'

Baa-baa black sheep - The singing sheep

Novelty singles: you either love them or loathe them. I was only a child when this single was released in 1982, and I was definitely in the 'love' camp. For years I didn't think much of this track, and now that I have a child of my own I can't wait to play it for her when she's a little older.

'Baa baa black sheep' is an existing English nursery rhyme. The words are not sung in this version - after all, sheep cannot talk. The single actually reached number 42 in the UK singles chart in December 1982.

My collection: 7" single no. 4496
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Baa-baa black sheep' / 'Flock around the clock'

Grace Kelly - Mika

'Grace Kelly' was released in January 2007 as the debut single from Mika. It subsequently appeared on his debut album 'Life in cartoon motion'. The song was written as a satire of musicians who try to reinvent themselves to be popular. The lyric 'So I try a little Freddie' is a reference to Queen's Freddie Mercury, to whose singing voice Mika's has been compared.

The single reached number 1 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the Dutch Top 40. Initally, the song was available as a download only, but a cd-single was subsequently sold in shops. This 7" single was released in the UK only, featuring an inner sleeve which colours in the words 'Grace Kelly', which are cut out from the outer sleeve.

My collection: 7" single no. 4495
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 2,5 euro
Tracks: 'Grace Kelly' / 'Satellite'

Duel - Propaganda

25 years after I bought the single 'Duel' I find out that there's a limited edition double single of this track! Fortunately, I spotted this double single at a bargain price, because nothing is worse than seeing items like this for a staggering amount and you realise you either have to wait forever to find another copy or it will never be available at a reasonable price at all.

Not that the two bonus tracks on disc 2 are very rare anymore: both have been released on the excellent cd/dvd set 'Outside world', released in 2002.

My collection: 7" single no. 4494
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 2,5 euro
Tracks: 'Duel' / 'Jewel' // 'Lied' / 'The lesson'

Look away - Big Country

I bought a lot of 7" singles last year, but quite frankly I'd forgotten that 'Look away' by Big Country was one of them. And it's not even that long ago!

This limited edition double single adds a second disc with two instrumental tracks, displaying the Celtic influences that Big Country have always flaunted. The tracks come from the soundtrack of the movie 'Restless natives', which was released one year before this single, in 1985.

My collection: 7" single no. 4493
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 2,5 euro
Tracks: 'Look away' / 'Restless natives' // 'Margos theme' / 'Highland scenery'

Girls and boys - Prince and the Revolution

'Girls & boys' was recorded by Prince on his 1986 album 'Parade'. This limited edition double single was released in the UK in the summer of that year. I remember seeing the double single in the shops for ridiculous prices at the time, so I'm glad I waited for almost 25 years to get it this cheap.

The single was not released in America, but in the UK, 'Girls & boys' peaked at number 11. In the Dutch Top 40, the single peaked at number 29.

My collection: 7" single no. 4492
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 2,5 euro
Tracks: 'Girls & boys' / 'Under the cherry moon' // 'She's always in my hair' / '17 days (the sun will come down, then U will have 2 choose. If U believe, look 2 the dawn and U shall never lose)'

I'm free - Roger Daltrey

The Who's classic rock opera 'Tommy' has been recorded in various incarnations. Originally, of course, there was the album, released by the band in 1969. Then, a movie, musical and various concert incarnations saw the light of day.

This single is a track from 'Tommy', as performed by Roger Daltrey with the London Symphony Orchestra and the English Chamber Choir. It was taken from the soundtrack of the movie 'Tommy'. The single reached number 13 in the UK singles chart in the summer of 1973.

My collection: 7" single no. 4491
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I'm free' / 'Overture'

Heaven and hell (3rd movement) - Vangelis

Vangelis released his fifth solo album 'Heaven and hell' in 1975. The album became his first commercial success, as it landed in the UK albums chart in 1976, peaking at number 31. It featured his first collaboration with Jon Anderson, with whom he would collaborate more in the early Eighties as Jon & Vangelis.

The track 'Movement 3' came to prominence when it was used in the BBC TV series 'The cosmos' in 1981. The track was released on BBC records and reached the UK singles chart, peaking at number 48.

My collection: 7" single no. 4490
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Heaven & hell (3rd movement)' / 'Alpha'

I want to be straight - Ian Dury and the Blockheads

Ian Dury and the Blockheads released their last album for Stiff Records in 1980, entitled 'Laughter'. At the time, Dury was an alcoholic, and also addicted to Mogadon, a brand of sedative. Coupled with his bad reaction to celebrity, and his bouts of depression, these addictions caused him to be confrontational, argumentative, and controlling. This caused the recording sessions for that album to be quite difficult.

Ahead of the album, however, the single 'I want to be straight' was released. This was the first recording by Ian Dury with the new line-up of the Blockheads, as Chas Jankel had left the band after a particularly stressful tour. This single reached number 22 in the UK singles chart in the summer of 1980.

My collection: 7" single no. 4489
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I want to be straight' / 'That's not all'

Blue Jean - David Bowie

David Bowie may have been inspired by Michael Jackson's epic music video for 'Thriller' when he decided to make 'Jazzin' for Blue Jean', a 21 minute music video directed by Julien Temple. For some reason, Jackson's video became legendary and Bowie's video has been largely forgotten.

Bowie later commented on the song: ''Blue Jean' is a piece of sexist rock 'n roll (laughs). It's about picking up birds. It's not very cerebral, that piece'. The single reached number 10 in the Dutch Top 40, number 6 in the UK singles chart and number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4487
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Blue Jean' / 'Dancing with the big boys'

Call me - Blondie

'Call me' was the main theme of the movie 'American gigolo'. Producer Giorgio Moroder originally asked Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac to help compose and perform a song for the soundtrack, but she declined. It was at this time that Moroder turned to Debbie Harry and Blondie. Moroder presented Harry with a rough instrumental track called 'Man machine'. Harry was asked to write the lyrics and melody. The completed song was then recorded by the band, with Moroder producing.

When the single was released in early 1980, it reached number 1 in the USA, Canada and the UK. In the Dutch Top 40, 'Call me' peaked at number 9.

My collection: 7" single no. 4486
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Call me' / 'Call me (instrumental)'

Words - Bee Gees

These days, most people think that the Bee Gees have always been the trio Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb. But when you look at the sleeve of this 1968 single, 'Words', you can see that the band consisted of five members. The additional two members are Vince Melouney and Colin Peterson. They left the Bee Gees in 1968 and 1970 respectively.

'Words' was written by the three brothers Gibb for their manager Robert Stigwood. It was originally intended for Cliff Richard, but he never got round to recording the track as he wasn't making an album at the time. Rather than wasting the song, The Bee Gees decided to record it themselves. It's good that they did: it gave them a number 1 hit in Germany and the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 4485
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Words' / 'Sinking ships'

Jung wie du - Nena

'Jung wie du' ('Young like you') was released in 1985 as the fourth and final single from Nena's 1984 album 'Feuer und Flamme' ('Fire and flames').

The single reached number 47 in the German singles chart, but failed to chart elsewhere in Europe.

My collection: 7" single no. 4484
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Jung wie du' / 'Das alte Lied'

It's a miracle - Culture Club

'It's a Miracle' was released as the fifth and final single from Culture Club's 1983 album 'Colour by numbers'. The song was first called 'It's America', relating to Culture Club's first trip to the United States. It was later changed.

It became the group's sixth top 5 hit on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 4. In the Dutch Top 40, the single reached number 20.

My collection: 7" single no. 4483
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'It's a miracle' / 'Love twist (live)'

My forbidden lover - Chic

'My forbidden lover' is another one of those catchy tunes only Chic could make during the late Seventies. It was the second single from the band's third album 'Risque'.

The single reached number 15 in the UK singles chart and number 23 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4482
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'My forbidden lover' / 'What about me'

She's not there - Santana

Rod Argent wrote 'She's not there' and was recorded by his band the Zombies in 1964. Although this version became a hit in several countries, it was not as memorable as the 1978 cover version by Santana.

His version reached number 27 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 11 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4481
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'She's not there' / 'Zulu'

Lass mich dein Pirat sein - Nena

I've been searching for this single for such a long time, that I totally forgot I was searching for it. I saw it for the first time in over 10 years, and for a reasonable price too. For a moment, I was even wondering whether I had it or not...

'Lass ich dein Pirat sein' is a beautiful ballad taken from Nena's 1984 album '?'. It was released as the third and last single from the album and became the least successful one, peaking at number 53 in the German singles chart only. It was played very often on Dutch radio. I recorded the track from the radio but was never able to buy the single at the time.

My collection: 7" single no. 4480
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Lass mich dein Pirat sein' / 'Keine Antwort'

Josephine Baker - Boney M

Boney M officially disbanded after the commercially unsuccessful and ininspired album 'Eye dance' (1985). From that point, several different versions of the group were formed. The classic line-up reformed in 1988 for the album 'Greatest hits of all times - remix 88', but this reunion didn't last very long: within the year Liz Mitchell left the group, to be replaced by Madeleine Davis.

This line-up recorded the single 'Josephine Baker', without the band's original producer Frank Farian's knowledge or approval. He threatened the group with legal action, and so the single was quickly withdrawn. Bobby Farrell re-recorded the song for this 1991 single credited to Boney M. feat. Bobby Farrell, since he won the rights to use the name Boney M. in Holland where he lives. The title was changed simply to 'Josephine Baker'. The single was a charity single in support of The Josephine Baker Children's Foundation, but did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4479
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Josephine Baker' / 'Shame and scandal'

Walking on the moon - The Police

According to Sting, 'Walking on the moon' is about the feeling of being in love. He wrote the song when he: 'was drunk in a hotel room in Munich, slumped on the bed with the whirling pit when this riff came into my head. I got up and starting walking round the room singing: 'Walking round the room, walking round the room'. That was all. In the cool light of morning I remembered what had happened and I wrote the riff down. But 'Walking round the room' was a stupid title so I thought of something even more stupid which was 'Walking on the moon'.'

Released in November 1979, 'Walking on the moon' was a number 1 hit in the UK singles chart, while it also peaked at number 9 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 2 in France.

My collection: 7" single no. 4478
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Walking on the moon' / 'Visions of the night'

Mondsong - Nena

In 1986, Nena released their sixth album 'Eisbrecher' ('Ice breaker'). It was to be their last album as a band; frontwoman Nena Kerner continued as a solo artist, still using the name Nena. The single 'Mondsong' was written by her and recorded with the band.

Although one more single was released from the album, 'Mondsong' ('Moon song') was the last hit single for Nena the band, peaking at number 37 in the German singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4477
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Mondsong' / 'Schön wär es doch'