José had two solo hits under her belt (with 'I will follow him' and 'Secret love') when she released her fourth solo single 'The good times'. It was a new track, composed by Piet Souer, with a lot of the trademarks of the two previous singles: a bright production, an upbeat sound and a recognisable melody.
However, it was not a cover version and it seemed like José could only have a hit with cover versions: 'The good times' did not chart in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 168 Found: Studio Echo, Den Haag, 1982 Cost: 5,5 guilders Tracks: 'The good times' / 'Say no more'
The Police created an impressive music video for 'Wrapped around your finger'. They performed the song in a candle-lit room, interspersed with scenes of Sting running among several tall candlesticks carefully arranged in a sort of maze. The video suited the song very well.
'Wrapped around your finger' is a tale of an apprentice who seeks esoteric wisdom under the tutelage of an erotic teacher, eventually superseding the mentor to become the master. Like other Police songs from this period, it features mythological and literary references, notably to the Scylla and Charybdis monsters of Greek mythology, and the German legend of Faust. The single reached number 7 in the UK singles chart, number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 17 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 495 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Wrapped around your finger' / 'Someone to talk to'
'Anything for you' was recorded by Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine. Such was the success of this single, that the album 'Let it loose' whence it came from was repackaged and renamed 'Anything for you' at the time of its release.
The single reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 2 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 744 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, February 11, 1989 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Anything for you' / 'Anything for you (English/Spanish version)'
The history of the bands All about Eve and The Mission has been intertwined from the very beginning. Mission frontman Wayne Hussey sang backing vocals on some tracks on All about Eve's debut album, whereas Julianne Regan from All about Eve sang backing vocals on the Mission's 'Severina'.
Also, Regan was in a relationship with Mission guitarist Simon Hinkler for some time. When the couple broke up, it inspired Hussey to write 'Butterfly on a wheel'. The track was featured on the Mission's album 'Carved in sand' and was released as a single just before the end of 1989. It reached number 12 in the UK singles chart in January 1990.
My collection: 7" single no. 1165 Found: Free Record Shop, 1990 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Butterfly on a wheel' / 'The grip of disease'
Gary Lux was born in Ontario, Canada, but returned to live in Austria with his parents during his childhood. He represented Austria during the Eurovision Song Contest on six occasions, first as a member of the group Westend in 1983 and as a backing singer in 1984, 1993 and 1995. Only in 1985 and 1987 he was the starring performer.
His 1985 entry was 'Kinder dieser Welt' ('Children of the world'). The song finished eighth in a field of 19 competitors.
My collection: 7" single no. 4469 Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received January 28, 2010 Cost: 1,8 euro Tracks: 'Kinder dieser Welt' / 'Kino'
Frank Boeijen has often expressed that he regretted recording 'Linda'. There was some pressure from the record company to finally come up with a hit single, and this repetitive piece of Dutch pop did the trick. The line 'Linda / Ik wil alles voor je doen' ('Linda / I'd do anything for you') is repeated more than a dozen times, and the verses are not very imaginative either.
'Linda', released in May 1983, reached number 28 in the Dutch Top 40 and gave the Frank Boeijen Groep their first hit single.
My collection: 7" single no. 348 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Linda' / 'Nachtportier'
This 12" single is a good example of how a 12" single should be. Kim Appleby released 'Light of the world' as the first single from her second album 'Breakaway' and had several remixers do their job on this track. The result is three different remixes of 'Light of the world'.
The first remix is made by Phil Kelsey, who would also remix Kim Wilde's 'If I can't have you' that same year. The second remix is an extended version of the single version, while the third remix is made by Phil Harding and Ian Curnow, long standing Stock Aitken & Waterman collaborators. At over 20 minutes, this is a good package for your money.
My collection: 12" single no. 527 Found: London, 1994 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Light of the world (Phil Kelsey remix)' / 'Light of the world (extended mix)', 'Light of the world (Harding & Curnow remix)'
After trying and failing to reach a wider audience with Holidays in Eden, Marillion figured it was time to go back to their roots and make a more progressive rock-oriented album again. The result was 'Brave', a concept album based on a news story Steve Hogarth heard on the radio about a girl who was taken into police custody after being found wandering the Severn Bridge. She did not know who she was, where she came from and refused to even speak. This inspired Hogarth to write a fictional story about this girl and what might have led to her being on Severn Bridge in this state.
'Brave' was not a hit album because of EMI's lack of promotion and the fact that it had no real single potential. However, three singles were released: 'The great escape', 'The hollow man' and 'Alone again in the lap Of luxury'. 'The hollow man' was the most successful of the three, peaking at number 30 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 2083 Found: UK, received March 26, 1994 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'The hollow man' / 'Brave'
Although 'Fields of gold' was covered by Eva Cassidy and reportedly brought many people to tears, it still is a bit of an overlooked Sting classic. He wrote and recorded the track on his 1993 album 'Ten summoner's tales'. It was released as the third single from the album that year.
The single reached number 23 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 16 in the UK singles chart and number 52 in Germany.
My collection: 7" single no. 2392 Found: Marlyn Music, Eastbourne, July 5, 1995 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Fields of gold' / 'We work the black seam'
'Come closer' is another single by the Dutch band Renée that didn't make the Dutch Top 40. Not that the track wasn't promoted: several television appearances have survived the three decades since its release (see here and here).
I didn't like the song when it came out, but I appreciated it more in hindsight. This is why I bought the single 20 years after its original release.
My collection: 7" single no. 3272 Found: November 10, 2000 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Come closer' / 'It's absurd'
One of the most successful collaborations in Eighties pop is the Eurythmics. Dave Stewart and Annie Lennox were continually changing their sound, releasing one hit single after another. 'Right by your side' was lyrically and sonically different from past single releases from the band. The track is an uptempo love song featuring calypso music, synthesized steel drum and marimba sounds as well as a horn section.
The track was released as the second single from Eurythmics' third album 'Touch'. It reached number 10 in the UK singles chart and number 20 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 3097 Found: House of Rhythm, London, May 13, 1999 Cost: 40p Tracks: 'Right by your side' / 'Right by your side (Party mix)'
After the big success of her first two albums and the track 'In all the right places' for the soundtrack of the movie 'Indecent proposal', Lisa Stansfield released her third solo album 'So natural' in 1993. It was her very first musical work almost entirely realized by the singer herself along with her husband and collaborator Ian Devaney. Previously, the pair had worked in a trio with Andy Morris, but he only shared writing credits on three tracks on this album.
It's all speculation whether this is really the cause, of course, but without Morris, Stansfield had a hard time maintaining her commercial success. The title track was released as a single, which reached number 15 in the UK singles chart but failed to reach the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 1994 Found: HMV, London, October 18, 1993 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'So natural' / 'So natural (Roger's club mix)'
Although their success in the Seventies was phenomenal, in the early Eighties the success of the band Hot Chocolate headed for a steady decline. Their last big success was 1982's 'It started with a kiss', but subsequent singles didn't fare as well.
'Tears on the telephone', released in September 1983, was Hot Chocolate's last hit single in the Netherlands, peaking at number 14. It sold less well in the UK, where it only reached number 37.
My collection: 7" single no. 3121 Found: July 24, 1999 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Tears on the telephone' / 'It's my birthday'
1981 is a very successful year for the Dutch duo Maywood. They release three hit singles, of which 'Distant love' is the first, and they win the prestigious Silver Harp awards in the Netherlands. They also receive prizes and awards in Germany, Poland, Japan and Korea. A world tour takes them to Sweden, Finland, Bulgaria, Indonesia en de Soviet Union.
'Distant love' reaches number 15 in the Dutch Top 40, a placing that is exceeded by the two subsequent single releases.
My collection: 7" single no. 80 Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1981 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'Distant love' / 'I'm in love for the very first time'
Taken from the album 'Dancing with strangers', 'Loving you again' was released five years after another Chris Rea single 'Loving you'. Despite the similar title, the songs had very little in common and if nothing else it showed the progression of Chris Rea's music through these years: it had become a little harder edged.
'Loving you again' was a moderate success, peaking at number 47 in the UK singles chart, number 25 in Ireland and number 43 in Germany.
My collection: 7" single no. 803 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, April 21, 1989 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Loving you again' / 'Donahue's broken wheel'
'Spasticus Autisticus' was written by Ian Dury and Chas Jankel in 1981 for the International Year of Disabled Persons. The lyric was deliberately provocative, as the word Spastic (a name for sufferers of cerebral palsy) was becoming taboo in Britain, due to its use as a derogatory term. Despite the fact that Dury was himself disabled (from polio, rather than cerebral palsy), the BBC deemed it offensive to polite sensibilities and denied it airplay, only confirming the validity of Dury's uncompromising lyrics.
The single did not chart in any territory, but I remember it made quite an impression on me when the single was first released and Dury performed it on television in the music programmes at the time.
My collection: 7" single no. 2939 Found: Record fair, Leiden, January 31, 1998 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Spasticus Autisticus' / 'Spasticus Autisticus (Version)'
'I don't wanna go on with you like that' was taken from Elton John's 1988 album 'Reg strikes back'. Written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, the song describes the breakup of a lovers' relationship.
When the single was released in the summer of 1988, it reached number 30 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was kept from the top spot by the single 'Monkey' by George Michael.
My collection: 7" single no. 660 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, October 1, 1988 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'I don't wanna go on with you like that' / 'Rope around a fool'
'Breakfast in America' was the title track of Supertramp's 1979 album. During the recording of this album, tensions between band members and main songwriters Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson were rising. Hodgson later commented: 'Rick didn't like the song 'Breakfast in America' and didn't want it on the album. He also didn't want the album to be titled 'Breakfast in America' either and I guess I won out on both accounts'.
When released as a single, 'Breakfast in America' became a big hit in various countries. It reached number 9 in the UK singles chart and number 16 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 851 Found: Den Haag, May 27, 1989 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Breakfast in America' / 'Gone Hollywood'
'Confusion' was released as a double A-side single with 'Last train to London' in the UK and Ireland, whereas the two tracks were released as separate singles in other territories. Thanks to this fact, we can conclude that 'Confusion' was actually the better selling of the two, since it was a top 10 hit in four other countries, in contrast to 'Last train to London', which only reached the top 10 in France. Meanwhile, the double A-side single reached number 8 in the UK and number 9 in Ireland.
Both tracks were taken from Electric Light Orchestra's 1979 album 'Discovery', from which three previous singles had already been released.
My collection: 7" single no. 2758 Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 29, 1996 Cost: 20p Tracks: 'Confusion' / 'Last train to London'
'It's called a heart' was the second new track to be lifted from Depeche Mode's compilation album 'The Singles (81-85)'. Both Alan Wilder and Martin Gore have commented about their dislike of the track in hindsight. They actually wanted 'Fly on the windscreen' to be the A-side of this single, but the record company thought the violent nature of the song would be suitable for radio play (Imagine hearing the first line, 'Death is everywhere' on a sunny Sunday morning).
The single was released with a limited edition poster sleeve in the Netherlands. In the UK singles chart, 'It's called a heart' reached number 18.
My collection: 7" single no. 351 Found: Den Haag, 1985 Cost: unknown Tracks: 'It's called a heart' / 'Fly on the windscreen'
The mother and daughter duo Maxi & Chris Garden represented Germany during the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Lied für einen Freund' ('Song for a friend'). Like many of Germany's entries, the song was written and composed by Ralph Siegel and Bernd Meinunger, but this one is actually a rather baroque track musically speaking: lots of orchestral backing, piano riffs and, well, a disappointing lyric.
At the close of voting, 'Lied für einen Freund' finished 14th in a field of 21 competitors.
My collection: 7" single no. 4455 Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received January 28, 2010 Cost: 1,5 euro Tracks: 'Lied für einen Freund' / 'Du und ich'
Donna Summer has been around for such a long time, that many of her singles are still wellknown. From her output in the Eighties, 'State of independence' is quite probably her best known song. The track was originally written and recorded by Jon Anderson & Vangelis on their 1981 album 'The friends of Mr. Cairo'.
Donna Summer recorded her version a year later on her 1982 self-titled album, with Quincy Jones producing. Her version of the song features an all-star choir including among others Michael Jackson, Brenda Russell, James Ingram, Dionne Warwick, Kenny Loggins, Lionel Richie and Stevie Wonder. Upon its original release, it became a number 1 hit in the Dutch Top 40, peaking at number 14 in the UK singles chart and number 41 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Remixes were released in 1990 and 1996.
My collection: 7" single no. 293 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'State of independence' / 'Love is just a breath away'
'The train' was the second single taken from the 1988 album 'Hat' by the Nits. The song was written and produced by the band. The sleeve of the single featured stills from the rather strange music video. And like the music video, the song was rather strange as well.
'Strange and beautiful' was increasingly becoming the trademark of the Nits, which earned them a big fan following in the Netherlands, but also a lack of commercial success: this single did not chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 753 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, February 17, 1989 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'The train' / 'Blue'
Mylene Farmer's song 'Beyond my control' was inspired by two characters in the 1782 French novel 'Les liaisons dangereuses'. In the song, the voice heard on the chorus of the song which repeats 'It's beyond my control' is in fact a sample of John Malkovich's voice from the film 'Les liaisons dangereuses' by Stephen Frears. The song deals with self-control, love and death. Farmer tells her own story from the sampled sentence: that of a woman who kills her unfaithful lover after a night of love.
The single reached number 8 in France and number 10 in the French-speaking part of Belgium. The single was also released in the Netherlands, but without any chart success.
My collection: 7" single no. 2220 Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 17, 1994 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'Beyond my control' / 'Beyond my control (Ya ya version)'
The statement is quite belittling: to say to the thousands of victims of an earthquake, in this case in Haiti: 'Everybody hurts sometimes'. Yet, that's what happening right now: an array of pop stars have recorded a cover version of this sog by R.E.M. I haven't heard it yet, but when Leona Lewis and Mariah Carey are involved, it's bound to be an atrocious track.
So let's go back to the original. Much of the song was written by R.E.M. drummer Bill Berry. He said about the song: 'If you're consciously writing for someone who hasn't been to college, or is pretty young, it might be nice to be very direct. In that regard, it's tended to work for people of a lot of ages.'
My collection: 7" single no. 1916 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, May 22, 1993 Cost: 6,5 guilders Tracks: 'Everybody hurts' / 'Pop song 89'
'Midnight man' is a track from Flash and the Pan's fifth studio album 'Early morning wake up call'. The album was produced by Harry Vanda and George Young themselves, like all their albums.
The track was edited for the single release. The single reached number 66 in Australia and number 23 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 289 Found: Den Haag, 1985 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Midnight man' / 'Fat night'
'Save me' was released as a single in January 1980, six months before the album 'The game' was released, on which the track appeared. Brian May wrote the song about a friend whose relationship had ended.
The single reached number 5 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 11 in the UK singles chart, while it was also a top 10 hit in Ireland, Italy and Norway.
My collection: 7" single no. 1575 Found: Record fair, January 25, 1992 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'Save me' / 'Let me entertain you'
Released as the last single from Tori Amos' second album 'Under the pink' in Europe (as opposed to the USA, where it was released as the first single), 'God' was issued in several different formats. The 7" picture disc featured the album version and a remix, whereas the cd-single and the 12" single featured a few more remixes.
One has to question the point of those remixes though. The 'acapella vocal and rain mix' is basically the prettiest version of three remixes that are basically the same: the 'Thinking mix 2' and the 'Rainforest Resort mix' are just lengthier versions with some alterations in them. The only reason why this 12" single is worth owning, is the CJ Bolland mix: this one actually adds something to the track that makes it sound danceable, and even gives it a poppy, Kraftwerk-ish appeal.
'Julia' was a track on the soundtrack of the movie '1984', which was composed and recorded entirely by the Eurythmics. It was subsequently released as the second and final single from the album. The song is a ballad with very sparse electronic instrumentation and an almost a cappella performance by Lennox. Her vocals are accentuated by vocoder effects in the background. The title and lyrics of the song are based upon the novel's heroine and love interest, Julia.
The single was released as a limited edition in the UK, featuring a pop-up sleeve and a picture disc with a still image from the film, featuring English actress Suzanna Hamilton as Julia. The single reached number 44 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 1346 Found: Sister Ray, London, October 18, 1990 Cost: 4 pounds Tracks: 'Julia' / 'Ministry of love'
Although for some this song may be a bit too melodramatic, this was my favourite single of the year 1991. 'Spending my time' was one of the best tracks on Roxette's 1991 album 'Joyride', and when it was released as a single, it was coupled with a very strong non-album track, 'The sweet hello the sad goodbye'. The cd-single also added a great extended remix of the track.
The single reached number 29 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 22 in the UK singles chart. In 1996, a Spanish version, 'Un dia sin ti' was recorded on the album 'Baladas en Español'.
My collection: 7" single no. 1548 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, November 2, 1991 Cost: 6,5 guilders Tracks: 'Spending my time' / 'The sweet hello, the sad goodbye'
In 1988, Maarten Peters left his record company Dureco after releasing two albums with them, and signed a new contract with EMI. His first release for EMI was the standalone single 'Dance this night away'.
Despite the danceable music and the straightforward lyric, the single was not a chart success. It almost seemed like his career was heading for a nosedive, but in 1989 Peters came back with a new album, that would give him his biggest successes.
My collection: 7" single no. 634 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1988 Cost: 3,5 guilders Tracks: 'Dance this night away' / 'Dance this night away (instrumental)'
A nice romp on the beach with an Asian woman: David Bowie knew how to have a good time in the early Eighties. The video for 'China girl' caused some controversy, as back then, artists were not generally showing their naked bodies too often. (These days you would long for even one of them to put on some clothes...) It was a visual reference to the movie 'From here to eternity', but still some TV channels censored the music video.
'China girl' was written by Bowie and Iggy Pop and originally recorded by Iggy Pop on his 1977 album 'The idiot'. David Bowie recorded the song in 1983 on his album 'Let's dance'. He decided to put the song on his album when Pop was in dire straits and was close to facing bankruptcy. The inclusion of the song on the album and the subsequent release as a single helped him to get back on his feet financially, as he collected half the royalties. The single reached number 2 in the UK and the Netherlands, while also reaching number 10 in the USA.
My collection: 7" single no. 1602 Found: Record fair, March 28, 1992 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'China girl' / 'Shake it'
Released in September 1980, Kate Bush's 'Army dreamers' can actually be described as an EP, as it contained not one, but two B-side tracks: an old demo recording from 1973 called 'Passing through air' and the album version of 'Delius', though without the outro of Babooshka through the first few seconds of the tracks as on the album 'Never for ever'.
The lyric of 'Army dreamers' was about the effects of war and about a mother who grieves for her young son, who was killed on military maneuvers. Saddened by his unnecessary death, she wrestles with her guilt over what she could have done to prevent it. The single reached number 16 in the UK singles chart and number 36 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 76 Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1980 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Army dreamers' / 'Delius', 'Passing through air'
'We don't need another hero' by Tina Turner doesn't sound too far removed from an earlier hit, 'What's love got to do with it'. That's not a surprise, given that the track was written and produced by the same people behind Turner's album 'Private dancer'. It was recorded for the soundtrack of the movie 'Mad Max: beyond Thunderdome', in which Turner had a starring role.
On the track, Turner was backed by a choral group from King's House School in Richmond, London. The song's lyrical content and theme is mostly a statement of anti-war and anti-violence. It reached number 1 in several European countries, number 7 in the Dutch Top 40, number 3 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 315 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985 Cost: 3,5 guilders Tracks: 'We don't need another hero' / 'We don't need another hero (instrumental)'
The 12" single of 'He's a liar' was featured on this blog some time ago already, but mostly when I've got a 12" single, I also have the 7" single. And this one is no exception.
'He's a liar' was the first single from the Bee Gees album 'Living eyes', released in 1981. It had been approximately 2 years since the last Bee Gees single had been released - which was an eternity at that time - and although this song sounded nothing like the Bee Gees disco era singles, this single was ignored in most territories because the band had become so heavily associated with disco - and disco was no longer in fashion.
My collection: 7" single no. 882 Found: All that music, Leiden, June 16, 1989 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'He's a liar' / 'He's a liar (instrumental)'
'Hazy shade of winter' was written by Paul Simon and recorded by Simon & Garfunkel in 1966 for their 1968 album, 'Bookends'.
The Bangles recorded a harder-edged cover the song for the soundtrack of the 1987 movie 'Less than zero'. It was released as a single and subsequently reached number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 11 in the UK singles chart and number 13 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 1460 Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 27, 1991 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Hazy shade of winter' / 'She's lost you' (Joan Jett & the Blackhearts)
Originally, producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis toyed with the idea of making Janet Jackson's 'Love will never do (without you)' a duet. They thought about possibly getting Prince, Johnny Gill, Ralph Tresvant, or anyone else working with them at the time. During the recording of the first verse, Jimmy Jam told Janet to 'sing it low like some guy would sing it.' As a result, they kept the idea of her singing the first verse in a low octave but go an octave up on the second verse.
The single became Janet Jackson's fifth number 1 single in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, the final of seven top five singles from the album 'Rhythm Nation 1814', making her the only artist to achieve seven top five singles from one album in the USA. Its success was more moderate in Europe: in the UK singles chart, 'Love will never do (without you)' peaked at number 34, and in the Dutch Top 40 it reached number 33. The single remix did a lot to ruin what was actually a great song on the album.
My collection: 7" single no. 1377 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, January 26, 1991 Cost: 6,5 guilders Tracks: 'Love will never do (without you) ('Work it out' 7" with intro)' / 'Love will never do (without you) (The love 7")'
The lyric of the song 'Maggie May' describes the ambivalence and contradictory emotions of a young man involved in a relationship with an older woman. It was written from Rod Stewart's own experience. He later commented: 'Maggie May was more or less a true story, about the first woman I had sex with, at the Beaulieu Jazz Festival.'
The track was recorded by Stewart in 1971 for his album 'Every picture tells a story'. It was initinially included as the B-side of the single 'Reason to believe', but after dj's took to 'Maggie May' instead, the sides were flipped and 'Maggie May' became the A-side. It finally reached number 1 in the UK and the USA, while it reached number 3 in the Dutch Top 40. The song was Stewart's first substantial hit as a solo performer and launched his solo career.
My collection: 7" single no. 1863 Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, January 30, 1993 Cost: 4,5 guilders Tracks: 'Maggie May' / 'Reason to believe'
For some time in the Eighties, the Pointer Sisters were one of the most successful black groups around. Their album 'Black & White', released in 1981, reached high positions in the album charts in various countries including the UK and USA.
The single 'Should I do it' was taken from this album. The single reached number 13 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 9 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 3289 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 24, 2001 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Should I do it' / 'Take my heart, take my soul'
Al Bano and Romina Power represented Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest twice. Their first attempt was in 1976 with the song 'We'll live it all again'. They returned in 1985 with 'Magic oh magic', which contrary to their previous entry was sung almost entirely in Italian - with the exception of the title of course.
At the close of voting, 'Magic oh magic' finished seventh in a field of 19 competitors. Although Al Bano and Romina Power had some hits outside of Italy in the early Eighties, this single did not give them any chart success outside of Italy.
My collection: 7" single no. 4467 Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received January 28, 2010 Cost: 3,5 euro Tracks: 'Magic oh magic' / 'It's forever'
The last single from Black's debut album 'Wonderful life' was an edited version of 'Paradise'. To boost the sales of the single, a limited edition box set including postcards and a large poster was released. For some time, this was a holy grail I was searching for frantically in the Dutch record shops that simply refused to import something like this. In the end, I found a copy in London during a holiday there, a year after its release.
The single, meanwhile, reached number 38 in the UK singles chart during a three week chart run. It was to be Black's final top 40 hit in the UK.
My collection: 7" single no. 599 Found: Record Exchange, London, October 1989 Cost: 1,5 pound Tracks: 'Paradise (edit)' / 'Dagger reel'
The track 'Atomic' was composed by Jimmy Destri and Debbie Harry. According to Harry, 'He was trying to do something like 'Heart of glass', and then somehow or another we gave it the spaghetti western treatment. The lyrics, well, a lot of the time I would write while the band were just playing the song and trying to figure it out. I would just be scatting along with them and I would just start going, 'Ooooooh, your hair is beautiful.''
The single version of 'Atomic' was in fact a remix. The original 4:35 version as featured on the albums 'Eat to the beat' opens with an intro inspired by the nursery rhyme 'Three blind mice' and includes an instrumental break with a bass guitar solo. The 7" version mixed by Mike Chapman omits the intro and replaces the instrumental break with a repeat of the verse.
My collection: 7" single no. 2489 Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 30, 1995 Cost: 40p Tracks: 'Atomic' / 'Die young stay pretty'
Frank Boeijen, lead singer of the Frank Boeijen Groep had to undergo surgery on his vocal chords because of a medical problem in early 1983. It had some effect on the sound of his voice, which is why there are actually two versions of this track, 'Het antwoord' ('The answer'). The track on the single was recorded before the surgery, whereas the version on the album '1001 hotel', as well as all the other tracks on the album, was recorded after the surgery.
All this makes this single a bit of a rarity. This version of the song has never been released on cd, while the single has never been a hit. What about the B-side? Well, that was simply a track from the previous album.
My collection: 7" single no. 214 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1983 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Het antwoord' / 'Sneeuwblind'
'Through the barricades' is the title track of Spandau Ballet's 1986 album. It was released as the second single from the album. The lyric of the song was inspired by love prevailing over the troubles in Northern Ireland. The single was released as a limited edition with a gatefold sleeve.
The single reached number 6 in the UK singles chart and number 3 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 3258 Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 20, 2000 Cost: 40p Tracks: 'Through the barricades' / 'With the pride (live in '85)'
Although I was a really big fan of Yazoo in the early Eighties, I never had the money to buy their 12" singles. And by the time I did, I'd played my singles so often that I just didn't want to buy those 12" singles anymore.
On one occasion I did, though: I found a cheap American 12" single of 'Situation' in 1993 and because of its low price I bought it. It's got two versions of 'Situation' on it, that were finally released on cd in 2008 when the box set 'In your room' was released.
My collection: 12" single no. 168 Found: Record fair, 1993 Cost: 5 guilders Tracks: 'Situation (remix by François Kevorkian)' / 'Situation (dub version)'
'I go to sleep' is a track from the second album by the Pretenders, called 'Pretenders II'. Although it is not one of their most exciting tracks, it is one of their biggest hits, as it peaked at number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the Dutch Top 40.
I didn't like the song when it first came out, but a few years later I learned to like it. That's how it went with many more Pretenders tracks.
My collection: 7" single no. 787 Found: All that music, Leiden, March 30, 1989 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'I go to sleep' / 'Waste not want not'
'Did it in a minute' is my bugspray single. I bought the single on the same day I was going on a holiday with my parents and my sister. I was only ten years old, of course, and we were leaving late one afternoon. When I came home with this single, my father had already sprayed my room, so I went up there and held my breath while I lay down the single on the desk in my room. I did it in a minute, by the way. Strange memories can last a lifetime.
The single was not the biggest success for Hall and Oates. While it peaked at number 9 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, it went by unnoticed by the rest of the world.
My collection: 7" single no. 128 Found: Rapsody, Den Haag, 1981 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'Did it in a minute' / 'Head above water'
José had two solo hits under her belt (with 'I will follow him' and 'Secret love') when she released her fourth solo single 'The good times'. It was a new track, composed by Piet Souer, with a lot of the trademarks of the two previous singles: a bright production, an upbeat sound and a recognisable melody.
