Going home (Theme of the Local Hero) - Mark Knopfler

Local Hero is a Scottish film starring Peter Riegert, Denis Lawson, Peter Capaldi and Burt Lancaster. The film is set in the fictional fishing village of Ferness on the west coast of Scotland. A young representative of an American oil company is sent to the village on a mission.

The film's soundtrack, which got more sales than the film itself, was written by Mark Knopfler, who at the time was still a member of Dire Straits. The theme song 'Going home' was released as a single and peaked at number 20 in the Dutch Top 40. While I didn't buy many instrumental singles, I did like this one so much that I bought it while it was still in the charts.

My collection: 7" single no. 188

Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1983

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Going home (Theme of the Local Hero)' / 'Smooching'

Somebody - Junior

Junior Giscombe was born June 6, 1960 in London. In 1982 he made his debut with 'Mama used to say', which peaked at number 7 in the UK. Further big hits eluded him, with the exception of 'Another step', the duet he recorded with Kim Wilde, which was released as a single in 1987.

Before that, though, I found out about him because of the single 'Somebody', which released in 1984. The video featured regularly on music television stations. I finally found the single fifteen years later...

My collection: 7" single no. 3171

Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, January 18, 2000

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Somebody' / 'Somebody (Extreme mix)'

Kiss and tell - Bryan Ferry

Bryan Ferry wrote the song 'Kiss and tell' as a response to his former girlfriend Jerry Hall's autobiography, which included some less than complimentary remarks about Ferry. The track became famous not so much for itself, but for the video which included several models, including the then-controversial Mandy Smith, who was in a relationship with Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman, who was 44 years older than she was.

The song ended up peaking at number 41 in the UK singles chart. This limited edition box set edition included a fold-out lyric sheet, two postcards and, of course, the single.

My collection: 7" single no. 2280

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, May 6, 1995

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Kiss and tell' / 'Zamba'

Don't rush me - Taylor Dayne

The fourth and last single from her debut album 'Tell it to my heart' was, amazingly, the most successful one in America, peaking at number 2. In the UK it stalled at number 76 and in the Netherlands the single didn't chart at all.

While I was collecting Taylor Dayne singles at the time, I waited a long time before I bought this one. I felt the song wasn't that interesting and the B-side was an album track as well, making it a less desirable item. In the end I found it very cheap, and added it to my collection to be complete. I never played this single much, though.

My collection: 7" single no. 794

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, April 15, 1989

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Don't rush me' / 'In the darkness'

Download: Album 'Tell it to my heart', including both tracks

I just want to be your everything - Andy Gibb

Andy Gibb was born on March 5, 1958 as the youngest brother of Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb, also known as the Bee Gees. Gibb began playing at tourist clubs around Ibiza, and later back in his homeland of the Isle of Man, as a young teenager. The idea of his joining the Bee Gees was often suggested, but he never did this because of the fact that he was eight years younger than Robin and Maurice, who in turn were three years younger than Barry.

After returning to Australia in 1975, Andy began recording a series of his own compositions. One of them, 'Words and music' would eventually reach Top 5 on the Sydney music charts in 1976. This led to Andy being invited by Robert Stigwood to launch his international career. Gibb released 'Flowing rivers', including this single, 'I just want to be your everything'. It was released in the summer of 1977, and peaked at number 26 in the UK singles chart. It initially flopped in the Netherlands, but then got a re-release in September and still reached number 24 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 864

Found: All that music, Leiden, June 2, 1989

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'I just want to be your everything' / 'In the end'

We could be together - Debbie Gibson

Debbie Gibson was born on August 31, 1970. Aged just sixteen, she debuted with the single 'Only in my dreams' and the album 'Out of the blue'. In America, she was presented as the 'good girl' as opposed to 'bad girl' Tiffany, who was of the same age.

I was not attracted to Debbie Gibson's bubblegum pop music at all. I didn't buy any of her singles. But in 1989, I heard 'We could be together' and thought it was a nice track. I was a bit surprised when it wasn't released in the Netherlands, but I bought a copy of the single that October, since I was in London anyway. Twenty years later it sounds like a bland song after all...

My collection: 7" single no. 998

Found: Tower Records, London, October 16, 1989

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'We could be together' / 'Over the wall (dub version)'

At Seventeen - Janis Ian

Janis Ian was born on April 7, 1951. She released 'At Seventeen' on her seventh album 'Between the lines', released in 1975. The lyric of the song is a commentary on adolescent cruelty and teenage angst, as reflected upon from the maturity of adulthood. The song was inspired by a newspaper article about a former teenage debutante who learned the hard way that being popular did not solve all her problems. The track won a Grammy award for 'best female pop vocal performance' in 1976.

I bought the single when it was re-released in 1991 in promotion for the compilation album 'Up 'til now'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1551
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, December 7, 1991
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'At Seventeen' / 'Applause'

Somebody (Hey girl) - Video

In an earlier entry on this blog, I already wrote about the 12" version of 'Somebody (Hey girl)' by Video. Though I bought the 12" single this year, I bought the 7" single in 1993. It features, of course, the single version of the track, and a different instrumental version than the one on the 12" single. And so, here it is...

My collection: 7" single no. 2065
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, December 29, 1993
Cost: 1 guilders
Tracks: 'Somebody (Hey girl)' / 'Somebody (Hey girl) (instrumental)'

Victims - Culture club

After many uptempo and midtempo singles, 'Victims' was Culture Club's first proper ballad, released as a single in late 1983. The single reached number 3 in the UK singles chart, and only number 16 in the Dutch Top 40.

I first bought the single during the 1985 edition of Parkpop, which was the regular German pressing. 15 years later I found myself confronted with a posterbag edition, sightly worn but still in good condition. It was a steal! So I bought this one too.

My collection: 7" single no. 309 / no. 3266
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 1985 / Record Exchange, London, October 20, 2000
Cost: 3 guilders / 50p
Tracks: 'Victims' / 'Colour by numbers'

Nacida para amar - Nina

Nina was born as Ana Maria Agusti Flores in Barcelona on October 1, 1966. Her music career started in the Eighties in bands like Costa Brava and Xavier Cugat. In 1989 she represented her country Spain with this song, 'Nacida para amar' ('Born to love'), a beautiful ballad composed by Juan Carlos Calderón. That same year, she released her debut solo album 'Una mujer como yo'.

The song finished sixth in the contest, but the beautiful Nina always stuck in my mind. I bought a compilation cd of the 1989 Eurovision Song Contest in Switzerland that year, and this single appeared in my collection in 1998.

My collection: 7" single no. 2976

Found: Record fair, March 1, 1998

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Nacida para amar' / 'Nacida para amar (version instrumental)'

De man van het journaal (Goeienavond) - Dingetje

Dingetje is the alias of Frank Paardekoper. His career in music started in 1977 with a parody of 'Cokane in my brain' (Dillinger), entitled 'Ik ga weg Leen' ('I'm going away Leen'). Four years later he recorded 'Houtochdiekop', a parody of Joe Dolce's 'Shaddap your face'.

Contrary to a lot of his material, 'De man van het journaal' ('The man of the news') is an original track. It features funny paragraphs performed like a news bulletin on music that resembles the tune of the TV news in the Netherlands at the time. Released in 1985, the single didn't chart. Backing vocals on this track were performed by Esther Tuely.

My collection: 7" single no. 355
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'De man van het journaal (Goeienavond)' / '2 saté'

Cold as ice (remix) - Foreigner

After Foreigner had a lot of success in 1984 and 1985 with their album 'Agent Provocateur' and the singles 'I want to know what love is' and 'That was yesterday', record company Atlantic released a remixed version of their earlier song 'Cold as ice' in the UK. It seemed like a great move: the original version had become a classic and a remix would probably do just as well almost a decade after the song's original release. There was even a double single release, with a second disc including two live tracks.

Unfortunately, the single only reached number 64 in the UK singles chart and disappeared after only two weeks. I still thought it was a nice item, so I snapped it up when I saw the discounted item.

My collection: 7" single no. 2900

Found: Record Exchange, London, October 30, 1997

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Cold as ice (remix)' / 'Reaction to action' // 'Head games (live version)' / 'Hot blooded (live version)'

More mistakes - Gruppo Sportivo

The Dutch band Gruppo Sportivo formed in 1976. The original line-up consited of Hans Vandenburg, Peter Calicher, Max Mollinger, Eric Wehrmeyer, José van Iersel and Meike Touw. According to frontman Vandenburg: 'We picked our name because we saw it on a poster and liked the sound... and we are a sort of team. We write in English because no one else outside Holland speaks Dutch and we want our songs to be heard and listened to everywhere.'

The band came to popularity just after the height of punk rock. Their biggest hit was 1979's 'Disco really made it', which is featured on the ep, according to the track listing. Unfortunately when I bought this ep I found out that the track is mislabeled. I don't know the real title of that track. It's a good thing that 'Bernadette' is actually a good song as well, otherwise I would have felt totally cheated.

My collection: 7" single no. 3238

Found: London, 2000

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Bernadette', 'Disco really made it'(?), 'Are you ready?' / 'Girls never know', 'Tokyo', 'Rubber gun'

I can't help myself - Icehouse

'I can't help myself' is the debut single of the Australian synthpop/rock band Flowers. It was released in May 1980. The debut album was called 'Icehouse', which later became the band name. In the UK, the single was released in October 1981 under that new band name. The single did not chart outside of Australia.

I picked up the single at an open air market during the free one day festival Parkpop, which is held annually on the last Sunday of June in Den Haag.

My collection: 7" single no. 1475

Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 30, 1991

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'I can't help myself' / 'Fatman'

I love the sound of breaking glass - Nick Lowe

Nick Lowe reached number 7 in the UK singles chart with 'I love the sound of breaking glass'. It was his first solo hit single, after having been a member of bands like Brinsley Schwarz and Rockpile.

His debut solo single was 1976's 'So it goes', followed by three further singles that didn't chart. 'I love the sound of breaking glass' (1978) was a radio hit even in the Eighties, which is how I got to hear it. The B-side, an old track by Lowe with his band Rockpile, has a pretty funny lyric by the way.

My collection: 7" single no. 2497
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 30, 1995
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'I love the sound of breaking glass' / 'They called it rock'

Pale shelter - Tears for fears

Tears for Fears released 'Pale Shelter' as a single three times. The first edition - this one - was produced by Mike Howlett and was released as the band's second single, after their debut single 'Suffer the children'. Both tracks of this single would appear on the band's debut album 'The hurting', but in re-recorded versions.

About the lyric, Roland Orzabal said: 'It's a kind of a love song, though more referring to one's parents than to a girl'. The title of the song is a reference to "Pale Shelter Scene", a 1941 drawing by British sculptor Henry Moore.

My collection: 7" single no. 2536
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, November 1, 1995
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Pale shelter (You don't give me love)' / 'The prisoner'

Going underground - The Jam

With a basic knowledge of English as a child, I thought this song was about taking the subway in London. In reality, of course, the lyric is an indictment of the British policy on arms, referencing the government of the UK's commitment to nuclear weapons, implying a level of acceptance on the part of the general population.

The Jam had three instant number one hits in the UK in 1980, of which this was the first. The band consisted of Paul Weller, Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler and broke up in 1982.

My collection: 7" single no. 48

Found: Rapsody, Den Haag, 1980

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Going underground' / 'The dreams of children'

Call me my baby - Georgie Davis

Kees Rietveld was born in Den Haag, Netherlands in 1969. He participated in the Soundmix show in the Netherlands in 1985, and won the contest with his imitation of Stevie Wonder. After this television debut, he scored a Dutch top 10 hit as Georgie Davis with 'Blackstar', a very Wonderesque-sounding track.

Davis released four more singles, but all of them failed to reach the Dutch Top 40. The last one was 'Call me my baby', a more adult-sounding track released in December 1988. In 1990 he participiated in the national finals for the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Eenmaal', but ended up being last of the ten participants.

My collection: 7" single no. 748

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, February 17, 1989

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Call me my baby' / 'I don't wanna wait to give up'

Shouldn't have to be like that - Fra Lippo Lippi

The Norwegian band Fra Lippo Lippi had a European hit with 'Shouldn't have to be like that' in 1986. It would be their only hit, because subsequent singles were hits in countries like Norway and the Phillipines only. In the Phillipines the band still has a great fan following to this day.

I found this picture disc during a holiday in London. I liked it so much, that I bought it even though it looks discoloured and worn. I've never seen a copy again. I do have the regular single as well, but a collector's item is always more interesting to use for show and tell. So here it is...

My collection: 7" single no. 390

Found: Record Exchange, London, October 1989

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Shouldn't have to be like that' / 'The distance between us'

Maggie - Fay Lovski

Another single by Fay Lovski, and another one that didn't become a hit. It was a popular song on radio and television, probably because of its upbeat sixties-style production. The song was taken from the album 'Confetti', an album I've been looking for since the late Eighties, mostly because of the track 'He don't love me anymore', a beautiful ballad that was not released as a single, unfortunately.

I found this single just before going to a birthday party in Utrecht that night. It was an annual tradition to buy some records before going to that party.

My collection: 7" single no. 2228

Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, December 30, 1994

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Maggie' / 'Fool moon'