First boy in this town (Lovesick) - Scritti Politti

Scritti Politti is a band that repeatedly surprised me as the Eighties went on. Their reggae-influenced singles circa 1985 please me a lot, but 'Oh Patti' sounded nothing like that and it still thrilled me.

And then there was 'First boy in this town (Lovesick)'. I can vividly remember hearing that single for the first time, when my sister had just bought it and played it to me. I thought it would never be a hit, but I also knew I had to get it myself. Well, I was right on both counts of course: in the UK this single only reached number 63 and I got the copy only a year after its release.

My collection: 7" single no. 1001
Found: HMV, London, October 16, 1989
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'First boy in this town (Lovesick)' / 'World come back to life'

I'm not in love / Dreadlock holiday - 10CC

'I'm not in love' was originally written around a bossa nova style beat and tempo. Lol Creme suggested slowing it down, while Kevin Godley suggested replacing the beat with a built-up wall of voices. The ethereal sound was created by laboriously building up multiple overdubs of the voices of Stewart, Graham Gouldman, Godley and Creme singing a single note in unison. This multi-track was then mixed down and dubbed down onto 16-track tape. This process was repeated across all sixteen tracks to create a lush 256-voice "virtual" choir that could "sing" chromatic chords. A number of these prepared multi-tracks were then cut into several endless loops, each of which contained the basic notes of the main chords used in the song. The chorus loops could then be played by using the mixing desk rather like a keyboard. Each chord could be sounded by bringing up the fader for that loop. The instrumental break featured the repeated spoken phrase: "Be quiet, big boys don't cry...", which was spoken by Kathy Warren, the receptionist of the Strawberry Studios where the band recorded the track.

Released in May 1975, it became the band's second number 1 single in the UK. In the US Billboard Hot 100 chart it peaked at number 2 and in the Dutch Top 40 it reached number 5.

My collection: 7" single no. 553
Found: London, October 1987
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'I'm not in love' / 'Dreadlock holiday'

Abacab - Genesis

If you're wondering what 'Abacab' means: you're not alone. In an interview, Genesis guitarist Mike Rutherford explained in an interview that the band labeled various sections of the song with letters of the alphabet, and at one point the sections were ordered A-B-A-C-A-B. Rutherford commented that the completed song no longer followed this format, but the name was kept nevertheless.

The song was the title track of the 1981 album by Genesis. It was released as a single in August 1981. It peaked at number 26 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 9 in the UK singles chart and number 26 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 978
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 29, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Abacab' / 'Another record'

Junger Tag - Gitte

As bad as this year's Dutch entry for the Eurovision Song Contest is, there is still hope, as history tells us there have been many dreadful songs competing. Although for the really embarrassing ones you would have to go back a decade or three. Take for instance Gitte, the pride of Germany in 1973.

Gitte Hænning was born on June 29, 1946 and quickly rose to fame as a child star in Fifties. After she moved to Sweden, she had a hit with 'Tror du jag ljuger' in 1961. A year later she tried to enter the Eurovision Song Contest for Denmark, but she was disqualified because the composer Sejr Volmer-Sørensen had whistled the song in the canteen of the DR. In 1973 she competed for Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Junger Tag'. As nondescript as the song was, it still finished eighth in a field of 17 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 4456
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received January 28, 2010
Cost: 4 euro
Tracks: 'Junger Tag' / 'Hallo, wie geht es Robert'

Ever fallen in love - Fine Young Cannibals

'Ever fallen in love' was written in 1978 by Pete Shelley and recorded by his group the Buzzcocks. It was a fastpaced, urgent song which reached number 12 in the UK singles chart when it was released.

The Fine Young Cannibals recorded a cover version of the track for the soundtrac kof the movie 'Something wild' in 1986. Their version reached number 9 in the UK singles chart and number 35 in the Dutch Top 40 (where the Buzzcocks version hadn't charted at all).

My collection: 7" single no. 909
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 25, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Ever fallen in love' / 'Couldn't care more'

Let me be the one - Five Star

'Let Me Be the One' was the fourth single taken from Five Star's debut album 'Luxury of life', released in the summer of 1985.

It became the group's second UK Top 20 single of the year, peaking at number 18. It also reached number 11 in the Dutch Top 40 that autumn.

My collection: 7" single no. 1723
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, October 3, 1992
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Let me be the one' / 'Beat 47'

Money for nothing - Dire Straits

Bizarrely, Mark Knopfler from the Dire Straits wrote 'Money for nothing' during a visit at a New York appliance store. At the back of the store, there was a wall of TV's which were all tuned to MTV. A man working there, dressed in a baseball cap, work boots, and a checkered shirt was watching them. As he was standing there, Knopfler remembers the man coming up with classic lines such as 'what are those, Hawaiian noises? That ain't workin'' etc. Knopfler asked for a pen to write some of these lines down and then eventually put those words to music. According to Knopfler: 'He's singing the song. I wanted to use a lot of the language that the real guy actually used when I heard him, because it was more real...'

Sting contributed backing vocals to the track, and the classic line 'I want my MTV'. Knopfler modelled his guitar sound for the recorded track after ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons' trademark guitar tone, as ZZ Top's music videos were already on heavy rotattion on MTV. Gibbons later told an interviewer in 1986 that Knopfler had solicited Gibbons on how to replicate the tone, adding, 'He didn't do a half-bad job, considering that I didn't tell him a thing!'.

'Money for nothing' was not a hit in the Netherlands (which is quite remarkable in fact!) but reached number 4 in the UK singles chart and was a number 1 hit in Canada and the USA.

My collection: 7" single no. 320
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Money for nothing' / 'Love over gold (live)'

Fantasie - Frank Boeijen Groep

For a long time, I didn't even know this single existed. It didn't chart and no mention of it was made in any of the music publications at the time. It must have been bad promotion, then, that caused this single to go down so badly.

'Fantasie' ('Fantasy') is an unusually light-weight pop song for the Frank Boeijen Groep, urging the listener to use his fantasy to make life a little less difficult. The B-side is a bit more gloomy, about love in the then-separated city of Berlin. Both tracks were taken from the band's second album 'Twee' ('Two').

My collection: 7" single no. 1225
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, April 22, 1990
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Fantasie' / 'Liebling'

The biggest fool of all - Cock Robin

You could wonder if it's a good idea to re-release a song that was not successful the first time around, years later on the occasion of a compilation album, but without any promotion or even any new tracks or remixes to go with it. But that's exactly what happened with this single. 'The biggest fool of all' was originally released in 1987 as the second single from Cock Robin's second album 'After here through midland', but it flopped in most territories.

When the record company released 'The best of Cock Robin' in 1992, the track was re-released - and failed to chart yet again.

My collection: 7" single no. 1652
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, May 9, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'The biggest fool of all' / 'Coward's courage'

When we were young - Bucks Fizz

'When we were young' was a change in direction for Bucks Fizz. The production was heavy and the song had an ominous tone, far removed from the group's usual pop sound. It was the first and only single to feature lead vocals by Jay Aston. Aston's vocals were notably different from her solo appearances on previous Bucks Fizz songs Aston herself has said that she was adopting an effected voice, similar to Hazel O'Connor. She has since stated, despite the song's success, her vocal affectation wasn't a good idea, although has rated it her favourite Bucks Fizz song, while member Cheryl Baker has commented that she never liked the song due to its downbeat tone.

Reaching number 10 in the UK singles chart, this was to be Bucks Fizz's last top 10 hit for three years. In the Dutch Top 40, the single reached number 14 and they wouldn't have any chart hits until three years later.

My collection: 7" single no. 1088
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, October 27, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'When we were young' / 'Where the ending starts'

She bop - Cyndi Lauper

'She bop' was, for some, a controversial song as the lyric was full of allusions to masturbation, such as 'They say I better stop / or I'll go blind'. Lauper said she wanted little kids to think the song was about dancing, and to understand the real meaning as they got older. This is probably why the lyric is quite oblique.

The single was a top 10 hit in most countries where it was released, although there were exceptions: in the UK it only reached number 46 and in the Dutch Top 40 it only got to number 34.

My collection: 7" single no. 469
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, October 20, 1986
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'She bop' / 'Witness'

That was yesterday - Foreigner

'That was yesterday' was the second single from Foreigner's album 'Agent provocateur'. The song was written by Lou Gramm and Mick Jones and was remixed for the single release.

The single reached number 12 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 28 in the UK singles chart and the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 277
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'That was yesterday' / 'Two different worlds'

A better love - London Beat

'A better love' was the second single taken from London Beat's second album 'In the blood'.

The previous single 'I've been thinking about you' was a number 1 hit in the US and the Netherlands, but this single was not as successful: it peaked at number 18 in the US and number 14 in the Netherlands. In the UK, this single stalled at number 52.

My collection: 7" single no. 1359
Found: Den Haag, December 5, 1990
Cost: - (present)
Tracks: 'A better love' / 'K.I.S.S.'

L.A. Woman - Billy Idol

It was quite a brave move for Billy Idol to record a cover version of the Doors' famous track 'L.A. Woman', the title track of the band's last album before Jim Morrison died. But his version turns out surprisingly well, adding a lot of power to the track that was already fast paced to begin with.

It was released as the second single from Billy Idol's fifth album 'Charmed life'. It reached number 70 in the UK singles chart and number 52 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. I bought the album not so long after I bought the single, because an edit is always too short.

My collection: 7" single no. 1281
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, August 23, 1990
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'L.A. Woman (edit)' / 'License to thrill'

Who is wrong and who's right - Kirsten and Søren

Kirsten Siggard (born September 7, 1954) and Søren Bundgaard (born March 4, 1956) were no strangers to the Eurovision Song Contest when they represented Denmark in 1988: they first entered in 1984 as Hot Eyes with the song 'Det' lige det'. They returned in 1985 with the song 'Sku' du spørg' fra no'en?'. They reached 4th and 11th place respectively.

In 1988 they got another shot at Eurovision fame with the song 'Ka' du se, hva' jeg sa'?'. No longer named Hot Eyes but simply Kirsten & Søren, they had their best result, reaching third place in the Contest. This single, featuring the English and French versions of the song, was released in various European countries, but did not chart outside Denmark.

My collection: 7" single no. 4395
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Who is wrong and who's right' / 'Ecoute moi mon amie'

Follow you follow me - Genesis

I didn't hear 'Follow you follow me' until the second half of the Eighties, and I couldn't believe this was a song from 1978. The track was taken from Genesis's ninth studio album 'And then there were three...', a title to reflect the departure of band member Steve Hackett, reducing the band to a trio. This lineup would last until 1996, and give them their biggest mainstream successes.

The slow, sentimental ballad was composed by the band with lyrics by Mike Rutherford. The band had concluded that their music was attracting mainly male audiences, and this song was a deliberate attempt to attract female audiences as well. The strategy worked: they had their first top 10 hit in the UK (peaking at number 7) and their first top 40 hit in America (peaking at number 23). It was also their first single hit in the Netherlands, where it peaked at number 17 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 816
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 13, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Follow you follow me' / 'Ballad of big'

Blue Monday - New Order

'Blue Monday' has often been named as the best selling 12" single of all times. It was never released as a single (although a 1988 remix of the track was) and sold over one million copies when it was released. In an interview the band claimed to have written the song in response to crowd disappointment at the fact that they never played encores. This song, they say, allowed them to return to the stage, press play on a synthesiser and leave the stage again.

The 12" single's die-cut sleeve, which looks like a floppy disk, was designed by Peter Saville. A popular story about the sleeve is that it cost so much to produce it that the record company lost money on each copy sold. Although this seems very unlikely, it is probably true that New Order saw little profit from the single's success, since an investment in the Haçienda nightclub swallowed much of the money they made from their hit.

My collection: 12" single no. 157
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1993
Cost: 2,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Blue Monday' / 'On the beach'

RSVP - Five Star

'R.S.V.P.' was the sixth single release from Five Star's debut album 'Luxury of life'. A limited edition poster bag was released to boost sales, featuring not only two photographs of the band but also a fact file on all five members. Apparently a cassette with dub mixes was included in the package, but I didn't get that when I bought my second hand copy years after the release.

The single peaked at number 45 in the UK singles chart, but failed to chart in other territories.

My collection: 7" single no. 3102
Found: London, May 13, 1999
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'R.S.V.P.' / 'Say goodbye'

Music and lights - Imagination

Even if their music was a bit formulaic, Imagination were masters of the soulpop genre. Or rather, their producers Tony Swain and Steve Jolley knew how to create a sound that the lead singer Leee John's voice thrived in.

'Music and lights' was another example of their brand of music, and successful it was too: it reached number 12 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 5 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2876
Found: London, October 28, 1997
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Music and lights' / 'Music and light (instrumental)'

Everyday - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

'Everyday' was the third and last single from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's 1993 album 'Liberator'. It was also their last to be released on the 7" vinyl format. Although Paul Humphreys was no longer a member of the band, he was still one of the writers of this song.

It reached number 59 in the UK singles chart and number 60 in the German singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2005
Found: HMV, London, October 18, 1993
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Everyday' / 'Every time'

This is the right time - Lisa Stansfield

Released in August 1989, 'This is the right time' was Lisa Stansfield's first solo success, reaching number 13 in the UK singles chart. The single was released after Stansfield had a hit with the dance combo Coldcut in March that year. 'People hold on' reached number 11 in the UK singles chart and was a Europe-wide hit.

'This is the right time' was included on Stansfield's debut album 'Affection', the same album that would give her her breakthrough single, 'All around the world'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2033
Found: Sounds Familiar, London, October 19, 1993
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'This is the right time' / 'Affection'

Running in the family - Level 42

The single 'Running in the family', released in February 1987, was the title track from their most successful album, released in March 1987. The band first performed the song live in 1986, but at the time it featured different lyrics.

The single release peaked at number 6 in the UK singles chart and number 3 in the Dutch Top 40. In the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, the single stalled at number 83.

My collection: 7" single no. 2821
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, February 1, 1997
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Running in the family' / 'Dream crazy'

Saint Saviour Square - China crisis

The fifth studio album by China Crisis was called 'Diary of a hollow horse', which earned critical acclaim, but little commercial success.

The first single from the album was 'Saint Saviour Square', which failed to chart. The B-side was a non-album track (although it was included on the cd version of the album as a bonus track). Walter Becker produced this track, as well as some tracks on the album. He is of course best known for his work with Steely Dan.

My collection: 7" single no. 2518
Found: Record Exchange, London, November 1, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Saint Saviour Square' / 'Back home'

All I want - Howard Jones

On his third album 'One to one', Howard Jones made a more or less deliberate move towards a more 'American' sound. The result was an album that lacked the glossy production of 'Dream into action' (his second album) and the beauty of 'Human's lib' (his debut album).

The first single, 'All I want' was still a rather catchy song. It was released in a limited edition 'booklet' sleeve, featuring various photographs of Howard Jones by Simon Fowler. The single reached number 35 in the UK singles chart and number 76 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1036
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'All I want' / 'Roll right up'

Strut - Sheena Easton

In 1984, Sheena Easton released the album 'A private heaven'. The song 'Strut' was released as the third single from the album, after the tracks 'Back in the city' and 'Hungry eyes' failed to chart in most territories. The music video and the sleeve signalled the first steps of Easton towards a more sexually suggestive image.

The single reached number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 8 in Canada, but in Europe it wasn't successful.

My collection: 7" single no. 1911
Found: Leiden, May 19, 1993
Cost: 0,5 guilder
Tracks: 'Strut' / 'Hungry eyes'

Ashes to ashes - David Bowie

David Bowie revived his old character Major Tom for the 1980 single 'Ashes to ashes'. According to David Bowie, he was 'wrapping up the seventies really for myself, and that seemed a good enough epitaph for it'.

'Ashes to ashes' was released as the first single from Bowie's 'Scary monsters (and super creeps)' album (1980). It reached number 1 in the UK singles chart and number 21 in the Dutch Top 40. Major Tom, meanwhile, popped up once again in 1996 on the single 'Hallo Spaceboy'.

My collection: 7" single no. 69
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1980
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Ashes to ashes' / 'Move on'

Shake the disease - Depeche Mode

'Shake the disease' was the first of many Depeche Mode singles that disappointed me upon first listening. As their music became more complex, it was less easy to like, although I still think their best work was made circa 'Ultra', one of their most difficult to grasp albums.

Released in April 1985, 'Shake the disease' was the band's 13th single in the UK, and one of two new tracks on their compilation album 'The singles (81-85)'. While not a hit in the Netherlands, it reached number 18 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 291
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Shake the disease' / 'Flexible'

Dansen - Clouseau

The Belgian band Clouseau were the best thing since sliced bread in Belgium almost right from their early beginnings. The single 'Dansen' ('Dancing') is one of their very first releases, a powerpop track that wouldn't look too bad compared to English releases from around that time.

The lyric of the song is a simple affair about a boy who is looking forward to Saturday night, when he'll be dancing with some sultry girl in a discotheque. The single did not chart anywhere else, but it was a hit in Belgium of course.

My collection: 7" single no. 1277
Found: August 16, 1990
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Dansen' / 'Dansen (instrumental)'

The big L. - Roxette

Britney Spears used the imagery and themes from the circus to revive her ailing career recently. The Swedish band Roxette did a similar thing for their single 'The big L.', although their career was thriving and would continue to do so. It would give them a colourful music video and a rather glam single sleeve nonetheless.

'The big L.' was the third single from their 1991 album 'Joyride'. It was a top 10 hit in Japan, while reaching number 14 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 21 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1513
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, August 29, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'The big L.' / 'One is such a lonely number (demo, September '87)

Mad about you - Sting

Sting released his third solo album 'The soul cages' in 1991. The album was dedicated to his recently deceased father and had a suitably melancholic sound, which was notable in most of the singles released from the album as well.

'Mad about you' was the second single from 'The soul cages'. While it reached number 56 in the UK singles chart, number 59 in Germany and number 13 in Italy, it failed to chart everywhere else.

My collection: 7" single no. 1433
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, April 26, 1991
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Mad about you' / 'Tempted (live)'

The best things in life are free - Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson

I've always had a soft spot for Janet Jackson's Eighties and early Nineties material, but this single version of 'The best things in life are free' is quite abyssmal. At the time, the single was promoted with a music video that featured a different version of the song - this one bounces around and sounds too hollow and also adds some unnecessary rapping.

The single was a release from the soundtrack of the money 'Mo' Money' in 1992. It reached number 24 in the Dutch Top 40, number 10 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 2 in the UK singles chart. A remix was made and released in 1995 on the occasion of Janet Jackson's compilation album 'Design of a decade'. That time around, it reached number 7.

My collection: 7" single no. 1702
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, September 5, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'The best things in life are free' / Snippets: 'Money can't buy you love' (Ralph Tresvant), 'Let's just run away' (Johnny Gill), 'Let's get togeher (So groovy now)' (Krush)

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

The Pet Shop Boys have always been known for their many remixes, even releasing remix compilations called 'Disco' in between albums. Back in 1991, they had several releases of their double A-side single 'Where the streets have no name (Can't take my eyes off you)'/'How can you expect to be taken seriously'.

I found this 12" single for 1 pound in London. While missing the picture sleeve and housed in a standard 'Our Price' sleeve, the disc was interesting enough to warrant me buying it. The three remixes were created by David Morales, one of the better known DJ's circa 1991, when the single was released.

My collection: 12" single no. 212
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 1993
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Where the streets have no name (Can't take my eyes off you) (David Morales remix) / 'How can you expect to be taken seriously? (Mo Mo Remix)', 'How can you expect to be taken seriously? (Ragga Zone remix)'

Zo mooi - Frank Boeijen Groep

'Zo mooi' ('So beautiful') was the first single release from the Frank Boeijen Groep's second album. Released in September 1982, it was also the first single from the band that I bought upon its release. I was never much of a fan of Dutch music, but there was something special about this song: it grabs your attention from the first to the last second.

The B-side of this single has become quite a rarity, because it is one of only a handful of tracks that was never released on cd.

My collection: 7" single no. 157
Found: Studio Echo, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Zo mooi' / 'Verrekijker'

You could be mine - Guns n' Roses

Contrary to popular belief, 'You could be mine' was not originally going to be the official theme song of 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day'. However, the references to Guns N' Roses that were made in the film were so clear and obvious that it was the best business decision to make when director James Cameron decided to recruit the band to perform a song. Arnold Schwarzenegger had the band members over for dinner at his own home to negotiate the deal.

The song appeared during the closing credits of 'Terminator 2' and was heard in the film itself in early scenes with John Connor. The original script called for The Ramones song 'I wanna be sedated' to be played instead. he single reached number 5 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 3 in the UK singles chart. I bought this single at a time when loud music appealed to me a lot. Now the track just bores the hell out of me.

My collection: 7" single no. 1515
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, September 20, 1991
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'You could be mine' / 'Civil war'

A song goes out around the world - Egon Egemann

Egon Egemann studied classical violin and Jazz at Graz Music Academy in Austria. He settled in Switzerland following studies in Boston (USA) and founded the Egon Family Orchestra. By the end of 1989 he had decided to start a solo career. In 1990 Egon was selected to represent Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1990 with the song 'Musik klingt in die Welt hinaus'. The song finished eleventh out of 22 competitors at the Contest.

Egemann returned to Eurovision in 1998, as composer of Switzerland's entry in Birmingham, 'Lass ihn'. Performed by Gunvor it came twenty second (last) with no points.

My collection: 7" single no. 4408
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'A song goes out around the world' / 'Musik klingt in die Welt hinaus'

Don't talk to me about love - Altered Images

This 12" single of Altered Images's most successful single 'Don't talk to me about love' contains an impressive 8 minute 30 seconds version of the track. And I say 'most successful', as it was the only single by the UK band to have almost made it into the Dutch Top 40.

'Don't talk to me about love' is included on a lot of Eighties compilation albums, but this extended version remains a rarity.

My collection: 12" single no. 526
Found: unknown
Cost: unknown
Tracks: 'Don't talk to me about love (extended version)' / 'Last goodbye'

Stage fright - Chic

By 1981, disco was out of style and most bands who were popular during the disco age were struggling. Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers were successful as producers - most notably with Diana Ross's 1980 album - but their own band Chic was suffering.

The album 'Take it off' and the only single from that album, 'Stage fright', went by unnoticed by the public. Truth be told, 'Stage fright' is a rather weak track in comparison to Chic's biggest hits. Maybe the bands from the disco age were just not inspired anymore.

My collection: 7" single no. 4562
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, February 4, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Stage fright' / 'So fine'

It's raining men - Weather girls

Martha Wash and Izora Armstead got together in the late Seventies as 'Two tons o' fun', who had three minor hits in America in 1980 and 1981. In 1982 they changed their group name to the Weather Girls, scoring an instant worldwide hit with the song 'It's raining men', selling over 6 million copies worldwide.

The song was originally offered to Diana Ross, Donna Summer, Cher and Barbra Streisand, but they all turned it down. After the success in 1983, the song has been covered numerous times by artists such as RuPaul and ex-Spice Girl Geri Halliwell.

My collection: 7" single no. 4561
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, February 4, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'It's raining men' / 'It's raining men (longer)'

We'll be dancing - Time Bandits

In the beginning of 1987, Alides Hidding has finished writing songs for the new Time Bandits album, but the other members of the band are not enthusiastic about the material. Hidding decides to fire them all and look for a new band. He recruits Hugo de Bruin, Jean Monsou, Michel de Groot and Loek Coenraad to have it his own way.

After another writing session in America with Dan Hartman, the new album 'Can't wait for another world' and the single 'We'll be dancing' are released. Both are commercial disappointments. Hidding decides to end the Time Bandits and moves to America.

My collection: 7" single no. 4560
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, February 4, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'We'll be dancing' / 'Pasadena dream world'

Macho city - Steve Miller Band

'Circle of love' was the eleventh studio album by the Steve Miller Band, released in 1981. Side 2 of the original LP was a 16 minute track called 'Macho city'. An edit of this track was made for the single that was released in December 1981.

The single didn't chart in the UK, but reached number 33 in the Dutch Top 40. The B-side was an old classic of the band: the iconic 'Fly like an eagle'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4559
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, February 4, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Macho city' / 'Fly like an eagle'

My baby just cares for me - Nina Simone

Nina Simone recorded 'My baby just cares for me' in 1958 for her debut album, 'Little girl blue'. The track remained relatively obscure until 1987, when it was used in a UK television commercial for Chanel No. 5 perfume.

To follow up this exposure, the track was released as a single, entering the UK singles chart in October 1987, becoming Simone's first hit after 19 years absence from the chart. The single reached number 5 in the UK singles chart and number 1 in the Dutch Top 40. A claymation music video was produced by Aardman Animations, directed by Peter Lord.

My collection: 7" single no. 4558
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, February 4, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'My baby just cares for me' / 'Love me or leave me'

Colour my love - Fun Fun

Fun Fun is an acquired taste for me: in the Eighties I hated their simple dance tunes, now there's a bit of nostalgia and the realization that much of today's music is much worse than that.

The hit 'Colour my love' was an international smash hit. It reached number 10 in the Dutch Top 40 and also charted in most of Europe.

My collection: 7" single no. 4557
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, February 4, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Colour my love' / 'Bonus beats'

Round and around - Jaki Graham

Jaki Graham had her first chart hit when she recorded the duet 'Could it be I'm falling in love' with David Grant in 1985. She followed up that single with 'Round and around', a track from her debut album 'Heaven knows'.

It became her first solo top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at number 9. While it was also released in Europe, the single failed to chart there.

My collection: 7" single no. 4556
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, February 4, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Round and around' / 'Victim of emotion'

December, 1963 (Oh, what a night) - The 4 seasons

So what happened in December 1963? The song was originally about the end of prohibition - the period from 1920-1933, during which the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol for consumption were banned nationally in the USA - with the title 'December 5th, 1933', but the lyric was changed at the urgings of Frankie Valli and lyricist Judy Parker. Instead, the song became a nostalgic remembrance of a young man's 'first time' with a woman.

The single was released in December 1986 and reached number 1 in the UK singles chart and the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, as well as peaking at number 3 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4555
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, February 4, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'December, 1963 (Oh what a night)' / 'Slip away'

Touch by touch - Diana Ross

Diana Ross released the album 'Swept away' in 1984. Four singles were drawn from the album: 'All of you' (a duet with Julio Iglesias), 'Swept away', 'Missing you' and 'Touch by touch'. The last one reached number 47 in the UK singles chart and number 10 in the Dutch Top 40.

I found two copies of this single in the shop: one with a boring, basically grey sleeve featuring only the title of the song and the Diana Ross logo from the album (made in Germany), and this one (made in Holland). Since the German single had a better looking label, I swapped the discs and got the best of both worlds... But serious collectors would probably gasp at this blasphemy.

My collection: 7" single no. 4554
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, February 4, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Touch by touch' / 'Fight for it'

Mindless boogie - Hot Chocolate

The album 'Going through the motions' was released in 1979. It was a departure for Hot Chocolate in that it found the band making a conscious effort to appeal to Euro-disco audiences. The band's previous albums might have had the occasional Euro-disco track, but this time, the style is dominant.

The single 'Mindless boogie' was taken from the album, and besides being a very danceable track it also featured a rather ironic lyric. Back in the late Seventies, the death-to-disco crowd frequently described disco as 'mindless boogie' - and it wasn't a compliment. The single reached number 46 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4553
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, February 4, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Mindless boogie' / 'Don't turn it off'

Laat je gaan / Just let go - Petra and Co

Phil Sterman, Phil Wilde and A. Larson wrote 'Laat je gaan' / 'Just let go' and recorded it with vocalist Petra de Steur. It was the end of the Eighties and repetitive techno and house tracks were all the rage. The single was released in the autumn of 1989 and became a hit in Belgium and the Netherlands.

In the Dutch Top 40, the single reached number 19 in the Dutch Top 40. Petra & co continued for a couple of years, until producer Phil de Wilde moved on to other acts, such as 2 Unlimited.

My collection: 7" single no. 4552
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, February 4, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Just let go' / 'Laat je gaan'