Paradise by the dashboard light - Meat Loaf

Although the label on this single claims that 'Paradise by the dashboard light' has a running time of 7 minutes and 55 seconds, it is actually only 5 minutes and 25 seconds - which means it is a single edit of the epic album version, excluding the lengthy baseball commentary and some minor musical bits. I would regret this if I was actually planning on listening to this song ever again - which I won't for another decade or two.

Still, I have to concede that 'Paradise by the dashboard light' is a classic track, one that is forever synonymous to Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman's brilliant collaboration. I wish it wasn't played so damn often though.

My collection: 7" single no. 378
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Paradise by the dashboard light' / ''Bat' Overture'

Bloedend hart - De Dijk

The Dutch band De Dijk ('The Dike') released the single 'Bloedend hart' ('Bleeding heart') in the summer of 1982. The amusing tale of the Christian broadcaster NCRV always stuck with me: they took offence to the line 'Ik kijk wat door de ramen / en ik krab wat aan mijn kont' ('I'm looking through the windows / and I'm scratching my ass') and through some clever manipulation they managed to change the line to '...en ik krab wat aan mijn hond' ('...and I'm scratching my dog'). Personally, I think scratching your dog is a lot nastier than scratching your own ass.

This minor controversy didn't help the single: it failed to reach the Dutch Top 40 when it was released.

My collection: 7" single no. 158
Found: Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Bloedend hart' / 'Geldgebrek en rock & roll'

As long as you follow - Fleetwood Mac

The production process of making 7" vinyl singles has been successful for millions of copies: you take a piece of vinyl, press the grooves on it, cut off the edges to make a round piece of vinyl and punch a hole in the middle. But sometimes, things go wrong. My copy of 'As long as you follow' by Fleetwood Mac had a hole in the middle, but it was not exactly in the middle. As a result, the sides were unlistenable.

I never went back to the shop with the single, but I did buy a promotional copy of it, made in Spain, seven years later. This copy featured 'As long as you follow' on both sides. For this blog, I used my original copy to record the B-side. It's a matter of putting the record on the right spot on the record player. I think the recording still turned out alright!

'As long as you follow' was a new track on the compilation album 'Greatest hits', released in 1988 after Fleetwood Mac's previous album 'Tango in the night' was very successful. Lindsey Buckingham had left the band and he was replaced by Billy Burnette (mainly for lead vocals) and Rick Vito. The single reached number 13 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 66 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 756 / no. 2612
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, February 23, 1989 / Record fair, Den Haag, February 10, 1996
Cost: 6 guilders / 3 guilders
Tracks (no. 756): 'As long as you follow' / 'Oh well (live)'
Tracks (no. 2612): 'As long as you follow' / 'As long as you follow'

To be with you again - Level 42

The album 'Running in the family' by Level 42 was a big success, and part of the success was the singles that kept entering the charts. 'To be with you again' was the third single from the album and it was just as successful as the previous two.

'To be with you again' reached number 6 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 10 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2752
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 29, 1996
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'To be with you again' / 'Microkid (live)'

Last days of summer - Imagination

'Last days of summer' was released in the summer of 1985 as a single by Imagination. Their last hit was 1984's 'Thank you my love', and this new single would be the second in a long line of singles that would be unsuccessful in all territories.

The B-side featured a live recording of the earlier hit 'Shoobedoo da dabba doobee', recorded at Hammersmith Odeon in London.

My collection: 7" single no. 3107
Found: Big Company Records, London, May 13, 1999
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Last days of summer' / 'Shoobedoo da dabba doobee (live)'

Oye mi canto - Gloria Estefan

'Oye mi canto' showed off some of Gloria Estefan's musical roots, much like in the style of her earlier music with Miami Sound Machine, and is in the style of the earlier hit 'Conga', which is included on this single as the B-side track.

Released as the fourth single from her album 'Cuts both ways', it reached number 48 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 16 in the UK singles chart and number 8 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1058
Found: London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Oye mi canto' / 'Conga'

If - Janet Jackson

In the song 'If', Janet Jackson is consumed with sexual fantasies of a man who doesn't even know she exists. An electric guitar and a sample from Diana Ross & the Supremes' 1969 song 'Someday we'll be together' are the musical ingredients for this fast-paced track. The single contains a B-side track called 'One more chance', which is a cover of a song her brother Randy wrote, produced, and performed for The Jacksons' 1984 album 'Victory'.

'If' was released as the second single from Janet's album 'janet.' in the summer of 1993. It reached number 1 in Canada, number 14 in the UK singles chart, number 4 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 10 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2004
Found: HMV, London, October 18, 1993
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'If' / 'One more chance'

Girl you know it's true - Milli Vanilli

The tale of Milli Vanilli is all too familiar: they had a lot of success in the late Eighties, then people found out that they didn't actually sing the songs themselves and started burning their records. I never quite understood that attitude: you like a song or you don't, and it doesn't really matter who sings them, does it? Sure, it is misleading, but Frank Farian was never the most honest man in pop: Boney M's songs were rarely sung by the band members either - and no-one ever complained about that.

Anyway, 'Girl you know it's true' is a fine example of a Milli Vanilli track. (And let's be honest: when you've heard one, you've heard them all.) This remix is of special interest for Boney M fans. What a coincidence!

My collection: 12" single no. 528
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 199X
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Girl you know it's true (Super club mix)' / 'Girl you know it's true (radio mix)', 'Magic touch'

E.S.P. - Bee Gees

E.S.P. stands for Extrasensory perception, a paranormal ability, but it's also the title track of the Bee Gees' 1987 album, which was released as a single in the autumn of 1987. The acapella intro on the album version was edited out for the single version.

The single reached number 51 in the UK singles chart and number 32 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2596
Found: Utrecht, December 30, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'E.S.P.' / 'Overnight'

Babe - Styx

Syrupy sweet and slightly silly, the ballad 'Babe' was a big hit at the end of the Seventies for the American band Styx. Written by band member Dennis DeYoung as a birthday present for his wife Suzanne, it was not originally intended to be a Styx track, but the band decided to include it on their album 'Cornerstone' upon hearing the demo by DeYoung and Styx membes John and Chuck Panozzo.

The song became Styx's first and last US number-one single, also reaching number 6 in the UK singles chart and number 9 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1089
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, October 27, 1988
Cost: 1 guilders
Tracks: 'Babe' / 'I'm OK'

Strangelove - Depeche Mode

'Strangelove' may well be one of Depeche Mode's best singles ever. The melody, the hook, the lyric and the instrumentation: it's all damn near perfect. The band was able to combine the upbeat poppy influences of their earlier work with the gloomy, disturbing vibe of their later work.

I wasn't the only one to appreciate the single: even in the Netherlands, where Depeche Mode have always had a hard time reaching the charts, it peaked at number 24 in the Dutch Top 40. In the UK singles chart, 'Strangelove' hit number 16.

My collection: 7" single no. 523
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Strangelove' / 'Pimpf'

When tomorrow comes - Eurythmics

I remember the feeling of disillusionment when I first heard 'When tomorrow comes' by the Eurythmics. They were always known for their synthpop tracks, but on this song, there was literally no synthesizer in sight. And weren't there already too many guitar bands?

'When tomorrow comes' isn't a bad song, though. The album 'Revenge' would continue this rock sound, making the synthpop label on Eurythmics a bit misplaced anyway. Meanwhile, this single only reached number 30 in the UK singles chart and number 19 in the Dutch Top 40, while becoming a top 10 hit in Scandinavia and Australia.

My collection: 7" single no. 463
Found: V&D, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'When tomorrow comes' / 'Take your pain away'

Whenever you're ready - Five Star

Released in August 1987, 'Whenever you're ready' was the first single from Five Star's third album 'Between the lines'. It is a bouncy popsong full of subtle sounds and a rather straightforward chorus-verse structure.

The single reached number 11 in the UK singles chart and number 18 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1184
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 3, 1990
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Whenever you're ready' / 'Forever yours'

Suspended in gaffa - Kate Bush

'I'm scared of the changes' says a little voice in this track, 'Suspended in gaffa' by Kate Bush. It's a minor detail in the enormous soundscape created by Kate Bush in this track, but one that caused me to listen to this track over and over again from 1982 until today. The song lyric is about seeing something one really wants, then not being able to see or experience it ever again. The 'gaffa' of the title and chorus refers to gaffer tape, the tough black tape used by technicians in film and concert industries.

Released as the third single from her fourth album 'The dreaming' - with the exception of the UK where 'There goes a tenner' was released instead - it was not a commercial success for Kate Bush. I actually own two versions of this single: I bought the first one, a German pressing, as soon as it came out. Just four months ago, I found the Dutch edition with a slightly different sleeve.

My collection: 7" single no. 172 / no. 4116
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Suspended in gaffa' / 'Ne t'en fuis pas'

On my own - Patti Labelle and Michael McDonald

Although 'On my own' was a duet between Patti Labelle and Michael McDonald, both were in separate cities when they recorded their individual parts. They were mixed together during mastering. This was reflected in the music video, which showed Labelle and McDonald performing the song on two different locations. 'On my own' couldn't have been a more apt title for this song.

The track was taken from LaBelle's album 'Winner in you' and written and produced by Burt Bacharach and his former wife Carole Bayer Sager. The single reached number 2 in the Dutch Top 40 and the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 448
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, August 26, 1986
Cost: 4 guilders
Tracks: 'On my own' / 'Stir it up'

Everlasting love - Howard Jones

Sometimes even Wikipedia is intriguing. In the description for 'Everlasting love' by Howard Jones it says: 'The video had mummies.' I'm sure this is true, but having never seen the video, it was a bit puzzling. These days, fortunately, you can hop over to YouTube and see it for yourself. (Proving the point that this blog is still a journey of discovery for me too.)

The song was co-produced by ex-Tears for Fears band member Ian Stanley. It was released as the first single from Howard Jones' 1989 album 'Cross that line'. It reached number 12 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, while stalling at number 62 on the UK Singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1019
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'Everlasting love' / 'The brutality of fact'

1.000.000 sterren - Frank Boeijen Groep

The Frank Boeijen Groep had to come up with another hit after their previous single 'Zwart wit' had been such a convincing top 5 hit. '1.000.000 sterren' ('1,000,0000 stars') was a song that didn't meet these expectations, although it was still able to reach number 29 in the Dutch Top 40.

Having been successful with their first music video for 'Zwart wit', another music video was made for this single. While 'Zwart wit' was shown sometimes in later years, the video for '1.000.000 sterren' disappeared from tv screens forever.

My collection: 7" single no. 229
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1984
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: '1.000.000 sterren' / 'Het antwoord (live)'

Aufrecht geh'n - Mary Roos

'Aufrecht geh'n' ('Walk tall') was the German entry in the 1984 Eurovision Song Contest, performed by Mary Roos. The song was composed by Michael Reinecke with lyrics by Michael Kunze, who previously had written the lyrics to Silver Convention's 1977 entry 'Telegram'. This was also Mary Roos' second Eurovision entry; she had represented Germany at the 1972 Contest with 'Nur die Liebe läßt uns leben', which finished third in a field of 18 competitors.

Obviously, the Germans were hoping for a similar result in 1984. But this time around Mary Roos wasn't so lucky: she finished 13th in a field of 19 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 4392
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Aufrecht geh'n' / 'Wer sagt, daß ich verlier''

Que mon coeur lâche - Mylene Farmer

This is the last single by Mylene Farmer to be released on the 7" vinyl format. It was released to coincide with the release of the album 'Dance remixes', which was a collection of remixes of previous hits by Mylene. The track was originally recorded for a charity compilation album coordinated by Etienne Daho, which would benefit AIDS research. However, it was refused for that album, because the lyric was considered to be too ambiguous and seemed to advocate sexual intercourse without the use of a condom. Mylene did refute these claims, but in the end she recorded an acoustic version of an other track for the charity album, and this track ended up being a single.

The single reached number 9 in the French singles chart and number 8 in the Belgian (Wallonia) singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2629
Found: Record fair, March 16, 1996
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Que mon coeur lâche' / 'Que mon coeur lâche'

Worship - Clouseau

The third and final single from Clouseau's second English language album 'In every small town' (1993) was the beautiful ballad 'Worship'. A simple yet effective track with just vocals and keyboards, it is one of the essential love songs in my collection.

The single was not a commercial success, but I'm still happy to have found a 7" vinyl copy. These were the days that 7" singles were becoming extinct, after all.

My collection: 7" single no. 2844
Found: Record fair, April 5, 1997
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Worship' / 'How long'

Burning bush - Savage Progress

'Burning bush' was one of those strange synthpop singles from 1984 that irritated me at first, until I grew to like it later. Although none of the four singles from Savage Progress were a hit in the UK, 'Burning bush' is probably their best known song.

This 12" single features both the A- and B-sides of the 7" single, plus a remix entitled 'Mad Mix II'. It's one of those remixes you either love or loathe. I've still not decided, though.

My collection: 12" single no. 416
Found: Record fair, 1999
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Burning bush (Mad Mix II)' / 'Burning bush', 'Tears of love'

Underground - David Bowie

David Bowie played a starring role in the Jim Henson movie 'Labyrinth' and also contributed music to the soundtrack of that movie. 'Underground' was selected as the lead single, a deviation from Bowie's catalogue in that it sounded slightly like a gospel track, with a large chorus of backing vocalists and blues guitarist Albert Collins.

The single reached number 21 in the UK charts and number 6 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1459
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 27, 1991
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Underground' / 'Underground (instrumental)'

Brothers in arms - Dire Straits

'Brothers in arms' is a classic album by Dire Straits, which spawned the hit single 'Money for nothing'. A few years later, things got turned around: the compilation album 'Money for nothing' spawned the single 'Brothers in arms'. The single was re-released to promote the compilation album, which came out just in time for Christmas 1988.

'Brothers in arms' was a hit in the UK in 1985, but this re-release was unsuccessful in all territories. For me, it was the first opportunity to get this track on a 7" single.

My collection: 7" single no. 695
Found: Den Haag, December 5, 1988
Cost: - (present)
Tracks: 'Brothers in arms' / 'Going home (live)'

If I ever lose my faith in you - Sting

'If I ever lose my faith in you' was released as the second single from Sting's 1993 album 'Ten summoner's tales' in January 1993.

The single reached number 17 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, also winning a Grammy award in 1994 for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. In the Dutch top 40, the single reached number 15 and in the UK singles chart it reached number 14.

My collection: 7" single no. 2345
Found: Record Exchange, London, June 26, 1995
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'If I ever lose my faith in you' / 'Every breath you take (live)'

Little bit of snow - Howard Jones

Although Howard Jones's current album 'Ordinary heroes' is full of ballads, none of them can come close to this epic ballad, 'Little bit of snow'. It's a very intimate work, but this is what makes it so special. A track on his third album 'One to one', it was an unlikely single release.

Hence, the UK single release was the only one: the song was not released as a single in other territories. The success wasn't overwhelming either: during a one week chart run, it reached number 70 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2529
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, November 1, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Little bit of snow' / 'Let it flow'

I don't want to live without you - Foreigner

Recorded as a track on Foreigner's 1987 album 'Inside information', 'I don't want to live without you' was released as the second single from that album.

The single became the band's sixteenth and - to this day - final entry in the Billboard top 40, peaking at number 5 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The single did not chart in the UK, but reached number 19 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1978
Found: London, October 17, 1993
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'I don't want to live without you' / 'Face to face'

Talking in your sleep - Bucks Fizz

'Talking in your sleep' was written and recorded by the Romantics in 1983. It was a hit in the USA, but failed to chart in the UK.

The song was picked up in 1984 by Bucks Fizz. Their version was recorded on their fourth album 'I hear talk' and released as a single. Their version reached number 15 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3143
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 18, 1999
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Talking in your sleep' / 'Don't think you're fooling me'

Away - Maarten Peters

After having been a member of the Frank Boeijen Groep for a year, Maarten Peters embarked on a solo career that gave him some success in the second half of the Eighties. His first taste of chart success came when he released the single 'Away', a song written by himself and produced by Jos Haagmans, not coincidentally a member of the Frank Boeijen Groep.

The single reached number 36 in the Dutch Top 40 during a 4 week chart run. Not a high placing, but then better things were on their way in the years to come.

My collection: 7" single no. 514
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Away' / 'Away (instrumental)'

I gave you my heart (didn't I) - Hot Chocolate

Although this single was released in 1983, I didn't hear it until 1988. When I did hear it, it was hard to believe that this was a Hot Chocolate track: it was a poppy track, but lacked the funky feel of most of their material. Still, I liked it a lot and after some time hunting for this single, I found it.

'I gave you my heart (didn't I)' was the last original hit single for Hot Chocolate in the UK, peaking at number 13 in early 1984. Although the band never formally broke up, they stopped releasing original material in 1984. Remixes and reissues did manage to get into the UK singles chart subsequently, but this single represents the end of Hot Chocolate as an active band.

My collection: 7" single no. 841
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 27, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'I gave you my heart (Didn't I)' / 'Jeannie'

Hey now, whatcha gonna do - José

Released in 1983, 'Hey now, whatcha gonna do' was another single by José that failed to chart in the Dutch Top 40. The song was written and produced by Pim Koopman and stayed faithful to the uptempo, major key popsongs that José was known for even when she was still a member of the girl trio Luv'. Still, the single failed to become a success.

I bought the single when it came out, and always wondered about the photograph on the sleeve: for a woman, the upper body looks decidedly, er, flat.

My collection: 7" single no. 219
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1983
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Hey now whatcha gonna do' / 'Hey now whatcha gonna do (instrumental)'

Enséñame a cantar - Micky

Micky was born as Miguel Ángel Carreño Schmelter in Madrid in 1943. He began his music career in 1962 leading the band Micky y Los Tonys, which released 30 singles and 5 albums. He started a solo career in the Seventies. After his single 'Bye bye fräulein' (1976) entered the charts in Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, he was chosen to represent Spain during the 1977 Eurovision Song Contest.

The song 'Enséñame a cantar' ('Teach me to sing') was written by Fernando Arbex. On the night of the Contest, it finished ninth in a field of 18 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 4458
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received January 28, 2010
Cost: 1,5 euro
Tracks: 'Enséñame a cantar' / 'Profundamente'

Young Turks - Rod Stewart

'Young Turks' is a track on Rod Stewart's 1981 album 'Tonight I'm yours'. It was released as the second single from the album. In English slang, a 'Young Turk' is a rebellious kind of teenager who would go against the grain.

The single reached number 5 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 11 on the UK Singles chart. In the Dutch Top 40, the single reached number 9.

My collection: 7" single no. 445
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 9, 1986
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Young Turks' / 'Tora tora tora'

Little bit of heaven - Lisa Stansfield

The last single taken from Lisa Stansfield's 1993 album 'So natural' was the dance track 'Little bit of heaven'. Written by Lisa Stansfield and her husband Ian Devaney, it was one of the few uptempo tracks on the album, and a bit of a return to form.

The single reached number 32 in the UK singles chart during a 4 week chart run. After this, Stansfield's career went into a nosedive, as subsequent albums failed to impress the recordbuying audiences.

My collection: 7" single no. 2091
Found: April 16, 1994
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Little bit of heaven' / 'Gonna try it anyway'

Queen of rain - Roxette

'Queen of rain' was originally written and recorded for Roxette's highly successful album 'Joyride' and considered as the closing track. When it was replaced by another ballad called 'Perfect day', the song reappeared on Roxette's next album, 'Tourism'.

It was released as the second single from that album in the autumn of 1992. It reached number 12 in Sweden, number 19 in Germany, number 28 in the UK singles chart and number 26 in the Dutch Top 40. The B-side was recorded live at the Entertainment Centre in Sydney, Australia in December 1991.

My collection: 7" single no. 1781
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, October 31, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Queen of rain' / 'It must have been love (live)'

Empty garden - Elton John

'Empty garden' was written by Elton John after his friend John Lennon was murdered by an obsessed fan in front of his New York City apartment on December 8, 1980. He first performed the song live at Madison Square Garden in 1982, with Lennon's widow Yoko Ono and their son Sean in the audience.

The 'Empty garden' referred to in the song is Madison Square Garden, where John Lennon did a duet with Elton in 1974 during his last stage performance. Elton has since performed the song several times at Madison Square Garden. The single was released in the summer of 1982, reaching number 13 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 51 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2435
Found: All that music, Leiden, August 19, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Empty garden' / 'Take me down to the ocean'

Adieu sweet Bahnhof - The Nits

'Adieu sweet Bahnhof' is the title of the Nits' 1984 album, which they recorded with producer Jaap Eggermont, who became famous internationally thanks to his 'Stars on 45' project. The song was the title track of that album.

It is also the title of a single, which the Nits released five years later. The single version was recorded live and included on their 3LP box 'Urk', a collection of live recordings made in Amsterdam, Utrecht and Moscow in the winter of 1988. The single reached number 26 in the Dutch Top 40 and was their last hit single until 1992's 'Soap bubble box'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1124
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Adieu sweet Bahnhof (live)' / 'In the Dutch mountains (live)'

Empty spaces - Spandau Ballet

As the Eighties drew to a close, the career of Spandau Ballet was also seemingly coming to an end. The album 'Heart like a sky' did not meet the expectations commercially speaking, and the singles taken from the album also had little success in the charts.

'Empty spaces' was the third single from 'Heart like a sky', and stalled at number 94 in the UK singles chart. In other territories, the single did not chart at all.

My collection: 7" single no. 1142
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, January 13, 1990
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Empty spaces' / 'Fight for ourselves (live)'

That's the way love goes - Janet Jackson

'That's the way love goes' was written and produced by Janet Jackson with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Jackson came up with the title, inspired by the downbeat tone of the music created by Jam and Lewis.

Although the record company wanted to have 'If' as the first single from Janet's new album in 1993, Jam and Lewis argued that 'That's the way love goes' would be the better choice. They were right: it was a number 1 hit in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, also reaching number 5 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 2 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2003
Found: HMV, London, October 18, 1993
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'That's the way love goes' / 'That's the way love goes (instrumental)'

Nothing else matters - Metallica

Metallica's James Hetfield wrote this song while on the phone with his girlfriend. Since he held the phone with one hand, he plucked the four open strings with the other, which eventually made up the first two bars of the song. The lyrics were also dedicated to his girlfriend, which talk about being 'so close, no matter how far', indicating the bond they shared even when Hetfield was on tour. Initially, the song wasn't meant to go on the album, and Hetfield had written it for himself, but when drummer Lars Ulrich heard it, it was recorded for the album anyway.

The single reached number 5 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 6 in the UK singles chart. The band re-recorded the track with a full orchestra in 1999 for the album 'S&M'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1816
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, January 9, 1993
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Nothing else matters' / 'Enter sandman (live)'

Socrates - Elpida

Elpida Karayiannopoulou was born October 1, 1950 in Spercheiada, Greece. At 14, she moved to Athens with her two older brothers to study. After this, she started a career in music when she became a singer of an orchestra, eventually recording an album with them and then forging her own career.

She became internationally known when she represented Greece during the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Socrates'. She finished eighth out of 19 competitors. She returned to the contest in 1986, representing Cyprus with the song 'Tora zo'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4570
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received February 20, 2010
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Socrates' / 'Pou na ise agapi'

Eternal flame - The Bangles

Written by Susanna Hoffs with Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg, 'Eternal flame' was inspired by two eternal flames: one for Elvis Presley that Michael Steele saw when the band was at Graceland, and one at a local synagogue in Palm Springs which Steinberg attended as a child. Steinberg: 'Susanna was talking about The Bangles having visited Graceland, and she said there was some type of shrine to Elvis that included some kind of eternal flame. As soon as those words were mentioned, I immediately thought of the synagogue in the town of Palm Springs, California where I grew up. I remember during our Sunday school class they would walk us through the sanctuary. There was one little red light and they told us it was called the eternal flame.'

Released as a single from the Bangles' 1988 album 'Everything', it reached number 1 in the USA, the UK, the Netherlands, Australia, Ireland, Norway and Sweden.

My collection: 7" single no. 734
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, February 7, 1989
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Eternal flame' / 'What I meant to say'

Sugar - Lori Spee

American-born Dutch singer Lori Spee released her third album 'Intuition' in 1983. The single 'Sugar' was taken from this album in January 1984. Supported by a concert tour in the Netherlands, the single still didn't manage to conquer a place in the Dutch Top 40.

It is actually a nice song, although it was maybe a bit too 'middle of the road' in this synthpop-dominated era in music.

My collection: 7" single no. 1236
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 25, 1990
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Sugar' / 'Time alone'

Synchronicity II - The Police

Personally, I think the best Police track is 'Synchronicity II', as it displays an amount of aggression that is not equalled in any other piece of music I know. The title refers to Carl Jung's theory of Synchronicity. It tells the story of an emasculated husband and harried father whose home, work life, and environment are terrible and depressing. One of the best lines in the track is 'every single meeting with his so-called superior/is a humiliating kick in the crotch', as the visual image underlines the music so well.

According to Sting: 'Jung believed there was a large pattern to life, that it wasn't just chaos. Our song 'Synchronicity II' is about two parallel events that aren't connected logically or causally, but symbolically.'

I have two copies of this single: the regular UK single featuring the B-side 'Once upon a daydream', and a Brazilian copy, which features the earlier single 'Wrapped around your finger' on the B-side. 'Synchronicity II' reached number 17 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1166 / no. 3247
Found: Record fair, 1990 / London, October 20, 2000
Cost: 5 guilders / 1 pound
Tracks (no. 1166): 'Synchronicity II' / 'Wrapped around your finger'
Tracks (no. 3247): 'Synchronicity II' / 'Once upon a daydream'

We're like starlight - Gry

Gry Johansen was born August 28, 1964. She represented Denmark during the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Kloden drejer' ('The planet's spinning'). The song finished 17th out of 20 competitors. She made two further bids for Eurovision in Denmarkt in 1989 and 2000, but both times she was unsuccessful.

This single features an English version of 'Kloden drejer', entitled 'We're like starlight'. It was released in several European countries, but without commercial success.

My collection: 7" single no. 4407
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'We're like starlight' / 'For one more night'

A question of time - Depeche Mode

Following Depeche Mode's single 'A question of lust', 'A question of time' was released as Depeche Mode's 17th single in August 1986. The track was remixed for the single, running at a slightly faster temp and pitch than the album version on 'Black celebration'. The accompanying music video was the first to be directed by Anton Corbijn and brought forth a big relationship with him and the band which still lasts to this day.

The single reached number 17 in the UK singles chart, but was unsuccessful in many other territories.

My collection: 7" single no. 474
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'A question of time (remix)' / 'Black celebration (live)'

Modern love - David Bowie

David Bowie has claimed that 'Modern love' was inspired by Little Richard, and it maintains the album's theme of a struggle between God and man. It was the first track on his 1983 album 'Let's dance' and released as its third single.

By the time 'Modern love' was issued and edited as a single, Bowie's Serious Moonlight Tour was underway. The track had become a popular encore on the tour. A live version, recorded in Montreal on July 13, was on the B-side. It reached number 2 in the UK singles chart, number 9 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 14 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1253
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 24, 1990
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Modern love' / 'Modern love (live)'

Spark - Tori Amos

This promotional 12" single was released in the USA in support of 'Spark', the first single from Tori Amos's 1998 album 'From the choirgirl hotel'. It is a very interesting item, because of the B-side: the instrumental version of 'Spark' was not released on any other format, either commercially or on any other promotional item. This is why this 12" single is still sought after among Tori Amos fans.

I was lucky enough to find a copy during a record fair in the Netherlands, and I've treasured the item ever since.

My collection: 12" single no. 365
Found: Record fair, 1998
Cost: 25 guilders
Tracks: 'Spark' / 'Spark (instrumental)'