God only knows - Judie Tzuke

'God only knows' was written by Tony Asher and Brian Wilson and originally performed by the Beach Boys on their famous album 'Pet Sounds'. The song was one of the first pop songs to use the word 'God' in the title. Tony Asher once noted the irony that this, one of the all-time greatest love songs, starts with the line 'I may not always love you'.

The song was covered by many artists, including Andy Williams, Neil Diamond and David Bowie. Judie Tzuke's version was released in 1990, but, like all her other singles with the exception of 'Stay with me 'till dawn', it didn't reach the charts. It is still a great version.

My collection: 7" single no. 2812

Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, February 1, 1997

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'God only knows' / 'Safe house'

Download: here

Quit playing games (with my heart) - Backstreet Boys

It is extremely uncool to confess that one owns a Backstreet Boys single. But I have to. And I'm not even ashamed about it. 'Quit playing games (with my heart)' is simply a well-produced, well executed pop song. No more, no less.

This single is a picture disc 7". When this song was released in 1995, the 7" format was becoming extinct. Few singles were released on vinyl, so whenever there was a song I liked, I always bought it. Obviously this was meant for young girls, so they could hang the record on their walls. My goal was to keep buying 7" singles for as long as I could. And I'm happy to say, I am still doing that.

My collection: 7" single no. 2807

Found: January 25, 1997

Cost: 10 guilders

Tracks: 'Quit playing games (with my heart)' / 'Give me your heart'

Download: Album 'Backstreet Boys', including both tracks

Quién maneja mi barca - Remedios Amaya

Like many Europeans, I first saw Remedios Amaya on television during the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest with this performance. But unlike many Europeans, I became rather interested. The Spanish singer received zero points from the international juries, but the story that she was an analphabetic - according to the Dutch commentator; I couldn't verify this - who performed on bare feet made me laugh and I continued to watch this performance with big eyes.

Nothing happened for many years: I had no recording of the event, just my memory. When the internet started to become popular, I had a new chance to hear the song. And so I finally got to buy the single in 1999. Quite a rare find, in the Netherlands. Thank God for record fairs.

My collection: 7" single no. 3152

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 19, 1999

Cost: 7 guilders

Tracks: 'Quién maneja mi barca' / 'Noche, luna y olivo'

Download: here

It's all in the game - Nena

After her international success with '99 red balloons', German singer Nena tried to equal that success with later work. Her attempts were sympathetic, but not successful. Her first album 'Nena' was slightly successful in the UK, but the second English-language album 'It's all in the game' sunk without a trace.

For European fans the album was somewhat of a rarity. Until its recent re-release on cd, copies were changing hands for as much as 300 dollars on eBay. When I bought this 12" single, it was considerably cheaper. I stumbled upon it during a record fair and fancied owning an early version of 'Anyplace anywhere anytime', the song that Nena would re-record in 2002 as a duet with Kim Wilde. And that version reached number one in several European countries...

My collection: 12" single no. 471

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, 2004

Cost: 5 euro

Tracks: 'It's all in the game (remix)' / 'Anyplace, anywhere, anytime (remix)', 'Let's humanize'

Download: here

Talk to me - Kiss

The second single to be taken from Kiss's album 'Unmasked' (at least, in the Netherlands), 'Talk to me' was written by Ace Frehley, who also performed lead vocals on this track. It performed even worse than 'Shandi' in the charts, because it didn't make the Dutch Top 40.

Band member Peter Criss didn't play drums on the album 'Unmasked', although he was credited for this. It was the beginning of the end: Peter Criss left the band in 1980. He was replaced by Eric Carr, who debuted during a lip-synched performance of 'Talk to me' and 'She's so European' on German television. Carr would be drumming in Kiss until his death in 1991.

My collection: 7" single no. 62

Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1980

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Talk to me' / 'Naked city'

Download: Album 'Unmasked', including both tracks

I didn't mean to turn you on - Robert Palmer

There was also a 12" version of 'I didn't mean to turn you on'. It appeared one day at discount price and with a totally different sleeve and three versions of the track, I simply had to have it. I was sortof disappointed when I played the record, though: Robert Palmer's voice sounded a bit weaker in this mix and it seemed to be an early version of the track. Later I would find out that remixer Bruce Forrest has done more bad remixes in his career. I'm not a fan of this guy.

'I didn't mean to turn you on' went to number 9 in the UK charts in the summer of 1986. Mariah Carey covered the track in 2001 for her ill-fated movie 'Glitter'. That version was produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, like the original version by Cherrelle. Robert's version was produced by Bernard Edwards (from Chic).

My collection: 12" single no. 43

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1986

Cost: 7,95 guilders

Tracks: 'I didn't mean to turn you on (extended dance mix)', 'I didn't mean to turn you on (A cappella beats)' / 'I didn't mean to turn you on (dub version)', 'Addicted to love (LP version)'

Download: here

I didn't mean to turn you on - Robert Palmer

I first heard 'I didn't mean to turn you on' on television, as performed by Cherrelle. I wasn't impressed, although I have to admit now that I've seen that video again (it's here) I have to say I do like the very eighties funk.

Robert Palmer's version appeared not much later. His video was certainly more interesting (as you can see here), with all those dancing girls. (It was a variation on the 'Addicted to love' video (here it is!), where models were handling instruments as well.) His version of the song was better too. No wonder then, that I bought it as soon as I could.

My collection: 7" single no. 442
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, July 31, 1986
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'I didn't mean to turn you on' / 'Get it through your heart'
Download: here

Tell Michelle - White fire

Writing about singles isn't always easy. Take, for instance, the group White Fire: they released on single, 'Tell Michelle', in 1980. The sleeve portrais two people: a man and a woman. There's no clue who they were. The record is produced by Jeremy Paul, another person who has left no trace on the web. The single didn't make the charts in the UK and didn't make the Dutch Top 40 either. What else is there...

I bought this single because I remembered it from the radio. It was the summer holiday before I started my library school study. And, well, that's it. Great song.

My collection: 7" single no. 896

Found: All that music, Leiden, June 23, 1989

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Tell Michelle' / 'Don't lock away your love'

Download: Album 'Disco '81', including 'Tell Michelle'

The living daylights - A-ha

When you hear this year's James Bond track by Alicia Keys and Jack White, you would almost forget that there was a time when James Bond tracks were actually really good. 'The living daylights' by A-ha is a good example. Not that co-writer John Barry was actually happy to work with A-ha: he would say afterwards that he found working with the band 'exhausting'. According to keyboardist Magne Furuholmen, 'Apparently he compared us to Hitlerjugend in a newspaper interview'.

'The living daylights' was John Barry's last score for the James Bond series. Maybe he should take back the reins now that things are getting so out of hand.

My collection: 12" single no. 281

Found: Record Exchange, London, 1995

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'The living daylights (extended version)' / 'The living daylights (7" version)', 'The living daylights (instrumental)'

Download: here

Don't you want me baby - Mandy Smith

Mandy Smith was born on July 17, 1970 and forged a career as a model from an early age. In 1987, she signed to PWL and released a handful of singles produced by Stock Aitken and Waterman. Her first single, 'I just can't wait' generated a lot of press attention, just like her relationship with Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman, who was more than 30 years older than her. They married in 1989 and divorced only two years later.

'Don't you want me baby' was released just weeks before her marriage. According to the press release that was included with the single I bought, Mandy covered the Human League track because it is 'one of her all time favorites'. Personally, I prefer the B-side, which is a bit more bouncy and poppy.

My collection: 7" single no. 3063

Found: London, May 9, 1999

Cost: 50p

Tracks: 'Don't you want me baby' / 'If it makes you feel good'

Download: here

Epic - Faith no more

Faith no more's 'Epic' is in many ways just another hard rock song. It's actually because of the last few seconds of this track that I ended up buying the single. After all the aggression and tension comes a beautiful piano intermezzo, and then the track fades out. There's something very poetic in that.

The music video for 'Epic' received extensive airplay from MTV in 1990, despite provoking protests from animal rights activists for slow motion footage of a fish flopping out of water.

My collection: 7" single no. 1525

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 21, 1997

Cost: 10 guilders

Tracks: 'Epic' / 'War pigs (live)'

Download: Epic

Hanna Hanna - China Crisis

Having just had a top 10 hit with 'Wishful thinking' in 1984, China Crisis followed it up with another track from their album 'Working with fire and steel': 'Hanna Hanna'. The 12" single contained an extended mix plus two live tracks: 'Here come a raincloud' and their debut single 'African and white'.

'Hanna Hanna' didn't repeat the success of 'Wishful thinking': it only reached no. 44 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 12" single no. 407

Found: Record Exchange, London, 2002

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Hanna Hanna (extended mix)' / 'Here come a raincloud (live)', 'African and white (live)'

Download: here

He is sailing - Jon and Vangelis

Jon Anderson, best known from his work with Yes, and the Greek synth wizard Vangelis worked together on a number of albums. 'He is sailing' is taken from their album 'Private collection', which contains eight lengthy tracks. It was nowhere near as successful as their 1981 singles 'I'll find my way home' and 'I hear you now', which is surprising as this track stands up well next to those two. This is probably also why no further singles were released: their next single was a re-release of 'State of independence', the song that was successfully covered by Donna Summer in 1982.

My collection: 7" single no. 3471

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, December 11, 2008

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'He is sailing [edit]' / 'Polonaise'

Download: here

Love cascade - Leisure Process

Gary Barnacle formed Leisure Process together with ex-Positive Noise singer Ross Middleton in 1982. During that time he was also working with Kim Wilde, with whom he also had a relationship. Their single 'Love cascade' was released on Epic records. It didn't make the charts anywhere, just like their three other singles, 'A way you'll never be', 'Anxiety' and 'Cashflow'.

Gary Barnacle continued doing session work after their brief career, working with amongst others Level 42, Public Image Ltd. and the Pet Shop Boys.

My collection: 7" single no. 3478

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, December 11, 2008

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Love cascade' / 'The Fluke'

Download: here

Sacramento - Middle of the Road

Sally Carr, Ken Andrew, Ian McCredie and Eric McCredie formed Middle of the Road on 1 April 1970 in Glasgow, Scotland. They had already played together under the name 'Part Three' since 1967 and later in Latin American style under the name Los Caracas. They moved to Italy later in 1970, because they hadn't found success in the UK. There they met producer Giacomo Tosti, who developed the sound that would make them famous.

'Sacramento' was Middle of the Road's fourth hit single, reaching number one in Germany, Switzerland, Norway and the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 3473

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, December 11, 2008

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Sacramento' / 'Love sweet love'

Download: here

Slave to the rhythm - Grace Jones

'Slave to the rhythm' was originally intended to be the second single of Frankie goes to Hollywood, as a follow-up to their number one hit 'Relax'. The song was assembled and produced by Trevor Horn after he worked on 'Two tribes', but the project was finally given to Grace Jones. The song did not reach number one but is still a favourite among fans of Grace Jones and Trevor Horn. The single version of 'Slave to the rhythm' is a version of the album track 'Ladies and Gentlemen: Miss Grace Jones', the closing song of the album. The B-side 'G.I. Blues' on this single is alternatively known as 'Annihilated Rhythm'. The single was re-released in 1994 and there were several different 12" singles and remixes available of that release.

I bought my copy of this single in fact today, as part of a collection of 18 singles in a second hand shop in my hometown. Sometimes all a man needs is a good stack of vinyl to perk up his mood.

My collection: 7" single no. 3485

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, December 11, 2008

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Slave to the rhythm' / 'GI Blues'

Download: here

(What) In the name of love - Naked Eyes

Watching music television daily can provide you with lots of new impressions. I learned a lot about the music scene in 1983 and 1984. When I saw this clip, I knew Naked Eyes was a group to watch. Two decades later, I own a compilation cd and several 7" and 12" singles by this duo.

'(What) In the name of love' appeared on the B-side of the 12" single of 'Promises, Promises', but got released as a single a year later. The new version was produced by Arthur Baker. The 12" single I own was made in America, meaning that they were actually attracting some attention over there as well. Not bad for an English duo.

My collection: 12" single no. 357

Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 2002

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: '(What) In the name of love (extended version)' / '(What) In the name of love (instrumental version)', '(What) In the name of love (single version)'

Download: here

Last thing on my mind - Bananarama

'Last thing on my mind' was a big hit for Steps in 1998. I did like the song but the track sounded a bit too bland for my liking. I didn't think that the guys and girls of Steps could sing, and that put the track down a bit. So I was pretty glad when I found out that it was a cover of a Bananarama track.

Bananarama have of course been around for ages. They started out with Fun Boy Three on 'It ain't what you do it's the way that you do it' and had another series of hits only a couple of years ago with their comeback album 'Drama' (2005). Their version of 'Last thing on my mind' is a pop gem.

My collection: 7" single no. 3011

Found: Record fair, Netherlands, August 20, 1998

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Last thing on my mind' / 'Another lover'

Download: Album 'Please yourself', including both tracks

Bana bana - Pan

The Turkish entry for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1989 was legendary. The group Pan sang 'Bana Bana', a traditionally arranged popsong. The conductor directed the orchestra with acrobatic gestures, while the group sang a very excited chorus that was unintelligible for those not speaking the Turkish language.

Unfortunately, the song was not available on single. For a long time I thought I wasn't ever released on vinyl. There was a compilation cd of that year's contestants, and it contained a recording of the song. I was satisfied with that. And then the unthinkable happened: more than a decade later, I suddenly found this single. It contains two remixes of the song. It was a real find. I took the tattered sleeve for granted.

My collection: 7" single no. 3151

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 19, 1999

Cost: 10 guilders

Tracks: 'Bana bana (After midnight mix)' / 'Bana bana (Before midnight mix)'

Download: here

After a fashion - Mick Karn & Midge Ure

Obviously, my parents weren't thrilled that I spent most of my time at home watching music TV stations like Music Box and Sky Channel, while I should actually be making homework. But it was obvious that I was never going to do that while there was so much going on in music at that time. While I was hoping for my favourite clips to show up, I learned a lot about the UK music scene. I would run into videos like this and then find out that the songs were actually very interesting. I often couldn't get the singles in the Netherlands, and so I just kept them on my mental want list. I bought 'After a fashion' in 1994, a decade later.

My collection: 7" single no. 2086

Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, March 26, 1994

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'After a fashion' / 'Textures'

Download: here