You spin me 'round (like a record) - Dead or Alive

'You spin me 'round (like a record)' was taken from Dead or Alive's 1985 album 'Youthquake'. When it was released, it was a slow starter in the UK: it lingered outside the singles top 40 for two months. After this long period, it still rose into the top 10 and then even made number 1. The single also was a top 3 hit in Australia and Italy, peaking at number 6 in the Netherlands.

Dead or Alive was formed around singer Peter Burns, who attracted attention with his eccentric image, which was often compared to then-popular Culture Club frontman Boy George. The single was the first UK number one hit for the Stock/Aitken/Waterman production trio. At the time of its release, one of the band members was Wayne Hussey, who would go on to work with the Sisters of Mercy, and then form The Mission.

My collection: 7" single no. 272

Found: LP top 100, Den Haag, 1985

Cost: 5,5 guilders

Tracks: 'You spin me 'round (like a record)' / 'Misty circles'

Abracadabra - Steve Miller Band

The Steve Miller Band has received some criticism for this song. True, 'Abra, abracadabra / I wanna reach out and grab ya' isn't one of those lyrics you have to praise for its eloquence, but it's still a good pop song. Selling the way it did (a number one hit in America, peaking at number 2 in the UK and number 18 in the Netherlands) the audiences in various countries certainly made up their own minds.

A quarter of a century later it still sounds pretty credible. If kids were still listening to music, they would buy this I'm sure.

My collection: 7" single no. 3038

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 1, 1998

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Abracadabra' / 'Never say no'

The second time around - Shalamar

Producer and booking agent Dick Griffey put together Shalamar after the first single 'Uptown festival' (1977), performed by session singers, was a hit in America. Vocalists Jody Watley, Jeffrey Daniel and Howard Hewett were brought together in 1978. Their first international hit in this line-up was 'Take that to the bank'. They followed this up in 1979 with 'The second time around', which peaked at number 45 in the UK singles chart and number 28 in the Dutch Top 40.

A young Jody Watley was part of Shalamar. In 1984 she left the group to pursue a successful solo career.

My collection: 7" single no. 2043

Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, October 30, 1993

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'The second time around' / 'Leave it all up to love'

Walk into the wind - Vegas

'Walk into the wind' was the third single taken from the album 'Vegas' by the duo of the same name. Terry Hall and David A. Stewart (of Eurythmics fame) worked together on this album, which failed to make any chart impact. The singles fared comparatively better, although 'Walk into the wind', the last single of the three, only made it to number 65 in the UK singles chart.

I discovered Vegas thanks to the album, which I bought on impulse. Subsequently I bought all of their 7" and cd-singles.

My collection: 7" single no. 2692

Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, July 3, 1996

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Walk into the wind' / 'Wise guy'

Download: Album 'Vegas', including both tracks

The party's over - Sandra Reemer

After Teach-In won the 1975 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Ding-a-dong', the 1976 edition was organised in Den Haag, the Netherlands. Sandra Reemer was chosen to perform that year's song, which was written in English for the first time. 'The party's over' proved to be a reasonable success, finishing on ninth place in the Contest.

It was not the first time for Sandra: in 1972 she'd already sung 'Als het om de liefde gaat' together with Dries Holten as 'Sandra & Andres'. In 1979 she would return to the Contest, singing 'Colorado'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3279

Found: February 9, 2001

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'The party's over' / 'Mrs. Lonely'

Saskatchewan - Red Box

Besides the 7" single 'Saskatchewan' there was also a 12" single. The buyer got his money's worth, because he didn't just get an extended remix, but also an alternative 7" mix.

I got this 12" single from a friend, who wanted to get rid of it and had heard about my newfound obsession for Red Box releases. I didn't have much at that time (just the LP 'Heart of the sun' and a single or two), so I was very surprised when I heard the strange versions of 'Saskatchewan' on this disc. It was one of the nicest gifts I'd had in a while.

My collection: 12" single no. 224

Found: Beverwijk, 1992 (present)

Cost: nothing

Tracks: 'Saskatchewan (Crew's testing mix)' / 'Speeches', 'Saskatchewan (Alternative 7" mix)'

Radioactivity - Kraftwerk

The original single of 'Radioactivity' was released in 1976. In 1991, Kraftwerk released the album 'The mix', which contained remixed versions of some of their most popular tracks. The album included a remix of 'Radioactivity'. For the single, 'Radioactivity' was remixed by François Kevorkian and William Orbit.

The single peaked at number 43 in the UK singles chart. The album 'The mix', Kraftwerk's first since 1986's 'Electric cafe', did even better: it peaked at number 15 in the UK albums chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2332
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 25, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Radioactivity (François Kevorkian 7" remix)' / 'Radioactivity (William Orbit 7" mix)'

Radio Africa - Latin Quarter

Latin Quarter formed in the early Eighties. The line-up changed through the years, but in their 1986 heyday it was Steve Skaith, Richard Wright, Michael Jones, Greg Harewood, Yona Dunsford, Carole Douet, Martin Lascelles and Dave Charles.

Their biggest hit was 'Radio Africa' (1985), which was shown regularly on music television channels like Sky Channel and Music Box during that time. It peaked at number 19 in the UK singles chart in February 1986. It reached the Dutch Top 40 a couple of months earlier, peaking at number 37 in October 1985.

My collection: 7" single no. 2530
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, November 1, 1995
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Radio Africa' / 'Voices inside'

Time after time - Cyndi Lauper

After all the craziness of 'Girls just wanna have fun', Cyndi Lauper's next single 'Time after time' made be breathe a sigh of relief. Indeed, the woman was capable of making a beautiful song as well. She was rewarded with a number 1 in America, while the single peaked at number 3 in the UK and number 5 in the Netherlands.

Lauper co-wrote 'Time after time' with Rob Hyman of The Hooters. She indicated much of the lyrics were written about occurrences in the studio and her life at the time. The line 'the second hand unwinds' referred to producer Rick Chertoff's watch which was winding backwards.

Lauper re-recorded the song in 2005 as an acoustic version, together with Sarah McLachlan. It was included on Lauper's album 'The body acoustic'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1017

Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989

Cost: 60p

Tracks: 'Time after time' / 'I'll kiss you'

Download: Album 'She's so unusual', including both tracks (password: mobetterpop.blogspot.com)

I eat cannibals - Toto Coelo

Toto Coelo had a very short career in pop business, this single being their only hit. Released in August 1982, 'I eat cannibals' peaked at number 8 in the UK singles chart. The single was followed by 'Dracula's Tango (Sucker For Your Love)', which only made it to number 53.

An album was issued containing both singles, together with a selection of unreleased tracks in 1983 titled 'Man o' War'. This album flopped. Following this, Anita Mahadervan and Sheen Doran left the group. In 1985 the remaining three members released two singles under the Toto Coelo name. Neither of those singles ('Girl's night out' and 'Gimme some lovin") was a success.

My collection: 7" single no. 3169

Found: Record Exchange, London, January 18, 2000

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'I eat cannibals (part 1)' / 'I eat cannibals (part 2)'

Download: here

Wonderwall - Mike Flowers pops

Mike Roberts founded the Mike Flowers Pops, a British easy listening band, known for lounge music covers of both older and contemporary pop music. They first came to prominence in 1995 when they released a cover version of Oasis's hit song 'Wonderwall'. DJ Chris Evans heard the song and made it 'single of the week' on his Radio 1 Breakfast show, telling listeners that this was the original version of the song. The single was released while the Oasis original was still in the charts. It peaked at number two in the UK Singles chart.

Oasis had previously refused to let other novelty acts parody the song, but were said to have enjoyed Flowers' tape so much that they allowed the group to cut it.

My collection: 7" single no. 2658

Found: HMV, London, June 29, 1996

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Wonderwall' / 'Son of God', 'Theme from Memory Man'

Download: here

Generation sex - The Divine Comedy

After the 7" single for 'Becoming more like Alfie', subsequent singles 'The frog princess' and 'Everybody knows (except you)' weren't released on 7" vinyl. So maybe it was all over? Well, no, because the first single from The Divine Comedy's 1998 album 'Fin de siècle' was released on the format again. What's more: it contained an exclusive track, not released on other formats.

'Generation sex' was the opening track of said album and features narration by presenter and columnist Katie Puckrik. It reached number 19 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3041

Found: Mail order, UK, received November 14, 1998

Cost: 3 pounds

Tracks: 'Generation sex' / 'Postcard to Rosie'

Mixed-up world - Timex social club

Gregory Thomas, Marcus Thompson, Kevin Moore, Michael Marshall, Craig Samuel, Darrien Cleage and Alex Hill formed the Timex social club in 1982. They released their debut album 'Rumours' in 1986. Their first single, 'Vicious rumours' peaked at number 13 in the UK, number 8 in America and number 3 in the Netherlands.

The follow-up single, 'Mixed-up world' only charted in the Netherlands, peaking at number 11. Soon afterward, their producer Jay King replaced them with a new band that he formed, an R&B group called Club Nouveau. After five years of being together, the Timex Social Club broke up.

My collection: 7" single no. 519

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Mixed-up world' / 'Only you'

Download: here

The hostage - Donna Summer

Donna Summer was born as LaDonna Adrian Gaines on December 31, 1948. Prior to her introduction to the music industry, she was a gospel singer. Aged eighteen, Gaines left home and school to audition for a role in the cast of the Broadway musical 'Hair'. She didn't get the part, but was offered the European Tour when the show moved to Germany. She settled in Munich and also performed with the Viennese Folk Opera and the pop band Munich Machine. She released two singles, 'Sally go round the roses' (1971) and 'If you walkin' alone' (1972), before she met and married Austrian actor Helmut Sommer.

She took on the stage name Donna Summer and signed a contract with the Dutch record company Groovy. Her debut album 'Lady of the night' spawned two singles: the title track and 'The hostage'. This single became a number 1 hit in Belgium and reached number 2 in the Netherlands. The song was performed on an absurdist television show in the Netherlands (see it here), which must have helped its popularity somewhat.

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My collection: 7" single no. 2623

Found: Den Haag, March 2, 1996

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'The hostage' / 'Let's work together now'

Fine line - Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney released the album 'Chaos and creation in the backyard' in 2005. At the time, he was happily married with Heather Mills (that didn't last long...). Shortly before the release of the album, the first single 'Fine line' was released. It reached number 20 in the UK singles chart. The B-side of the 7" single was an otherwise unreleased track, 'Growing up falling down'.

I bought this single as a present for someone, but when I listened to it at home I decided that I wanted to keep it myself. Somehow it was never administrated as my own, so now, three years later, it has become my most recent acquisition - at least in my singles catalogue.

My collection: 7" single no. 3583

Found: HMV, London, November 8, 2005

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Fine line' / 'Growing up falling down'

Extracts from the forthcoming album - Strawberry Switchblade

This promotional clear flexi disc, housed in a four page booklet, was released in the autumn of 1984 to promote the forthcoming self-titled debut album by Strawberry Switchblade. The back of the booklet contains this promotional text:

Strawberry Switchblade, as the name may suggest, are a walking contradition. Small, frail, yet visually striking, the apparent prettiness of their songs belies the harsh reality of the lyrics. Like Macbeth's weird sisters the two seem to have sprung from the dark mists of Celtic faery. Their quiet, haunting ballads are sung in the best harmony voices since the Mamas and the Papas.

Inside you will find a flexi-disc that features extracts from the girl's debut album 'Strawberry Switchblade' with an introduction by Janice Long. Listen to it and you will realise that this is an album you must own.

My collection: 7" single no. 3000

Found: Geest, Den Haag, June 20, 1998

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Extracts from the forthcoming album 'Strawberry Switchblade'

Mind adventures - Des'ree

The title track from Des'ree's debut album 'Mind adventures' was released as her second single in March 1992. It wasn't as big a hit as 'Feel so high', peaking just at number 43 in the UK singles chart. It didn't even chart at all in the Netherlands.

By that time, I'd heard the whole album and despite a few throwaway tracks, I thought the choise of singles was pretty good. No wonder, then, that I ended up buying all the singles drawn from the album. The 7" vinyl contains an alternative 7" mix that wasn't ever released on cd as far as I know.

My collection: 7" single no. 1620
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, April 18, 1992
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Mind adventures' / 'Mind adventures (Alternative 7" mix)'

Take it back - Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd released their last studio album 'The Division Bell' in 1994. The first single drawn from that album was 'Take it back'. While most apparently a love song, it can also be interpreted to be about Mother Nature, and how man abuses the earth. This latter interpretation gains some credibility from the video, which seems to have been made with the issue very much in mind. David Gilmour remained typically vague about the subject: 'It's got really nothing to do with my personal life, believe it or not. But I'm not going to tell you what it is about. You're gonna have to work that out for yourself. I had an idea for a song about a specific subject that came from a book I was reading, but I'm not going to tell you what the subject is or what the book is.'

Backing vocals on this track were performed by three famous ladies: Sam Brown, Durga McBroom (from Blue Pearl) and Carol Kenyon (who performed vocals for a.o. Heaven 17, Mike Oldfield and Paul Hardcastle). The single was released as a limited edition on see-through red vinyl.

My collection: 7" single no. 2122

Found: Fame, Amsterdam, July 15, 1994

Cost: 6,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Take it back' / 'Astronomy domine (live)'

Hey Matthew - Karel Fialka

Karel Fialka was born in Bengal, India, to a Czech father and a Scottish mother. In 1980 he started out as a poet and musician. In 1980 he had a minor hit with 'The eyes have it', which reached number 54 in the UK singles chart. In 1987, he released 'Hey Matthew'. In the song's lyric, a father questions his child on what he sees on TV and what he wants to be when he grows up. The single peaked at number 9 in the UK singles chart, but never charted in the Netherlands.

To me, it was unclear what the song wanted to say. It almost suggests that the child is seeing too much horrible things on television, but never really does this. The melody appealed to me, though, so when I saw it in the bargain bin, I snapped up this disc.

My collection: 7" single no. 640

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, July 9, 1988

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Hey Matthew' / 'The things I saw'

Questionnaire - Chas Jankel

'When you answer all these questions / on a postcard if you please' -- it's not the kind of lyric anyone would write these days. Questionnaires have all been abandoned to the web - and otherwise no-one ever takes the time to fill them in with a pen and send them off to the address it came from.

It was an unusual song anyway, Chas Jankel's 'Questionnaire': the sound of a wailing siren on feverish party music - and then a lyric full of questions. I loved the track when it was on the radio in 1981 and so I was happy to get the single in 1993.

My collection: 7" single no. 1910

Found: Plaatboef, Leiden, May 19, 1993

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Questionnaire' / 'Boy'