Cut me down (remix) - Lloyd Cole and the Commotions

Lloyd Cole and the Commotions formed in Glasgow, Scotland in 1982. The band consisted of Lloyd Cole, Blair Cowan, Lawrence Donegan, Neil Clark and Stephen Irvine. Their debut album 'Rattlesnakes', released in 1984, was a commercial and critical success. When they released 'Easy pieces' a year later, they continued this success.

'Cut me down' was the third single from this second album. Released as a limited edition double pack, it included two live tracks from September 1985 ('Are you ready to be heartbroken?') and December 1984 ('Forest fire'). 'Cut me down' peaked at number 38 in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 3650

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Cut me down (remix)' / 'Are you ready to be heartbroken? (live)' // 'Perfect blue (Instrumental)' / 'Forest fire (live)'

Our house - Madness

Released in November 1982, 'Our house' reached number 5 in the UK singles chart. The single was also a big success in America, where it peaked at number 7. The song subsequently won an Ivor Novello award for 'best song'.

I remembered the song most for its video, which depicted the band acting out the song's lyrics in an old mews. The song's lyrics mostly describe the daily activities in the house, with some of the band portraying the 'family'. The video cuts between scenes of the 'family', the band playing in a living room, and exterior shots of various other houses including Buckingham Palace.

My collection: 7" single no. 3635

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Our house' / 'Walking with mr. Wheeze'

Littlest things - Lily Allen

Lily Allen was born May 2, 1985 as the daughter of actor/musician Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen. She debuted in 2006 with the single 'Smile' and the album 'Alright, still'. 'Littlest things' was the third single from that album, peaking at number 21 in the UK, which was the only country where this single was actually released.

The B-side, 'Everybody's changing' is a cover of the song by Keane, recorded live at BBC Radio 2 in Dermot O'Leary's show.

My collection: 7" single no. 3668

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 7 euro

Tracks: 'Littlest things' / 'Everybody's changing'

Un tout petit pantin - Sandie Shaw

Sandie Shaw represented the United Kingdom during the Eurovision Song Contest in 1967. With the song 'Puppet on a string' she managed to win the Contest, despite the fact that Shaw herself hated the song from beginning to end.

She recorded several versions of the song that year, amongst others in German, Spanish and this one, in French. The French EP features four songs in French, all of which were originally recorded in English. 'J'ai rêvé de lui' was originally 'Had a dream last night', 'Prends la vie du bon coté' was 'Tell the boys' and 'Tout est changé' was 'I don't think you want me anymore'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3640

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Un tout petit pantin', 'J'ai rêvé de lui' / 'Prends la vie du bon coté', 'Tout est changé'

We let the stars go - Prefab Sprout

'We let the stars go' was the second single taken from Prefab Sprout's 1990 album 'Jordan: the comeback'. The album was, like the single, produced by Thomas Dolby, and nominated for a Brit Award.

This single comes with a press release from Germany, which states: ''We let the stars go', mit der Prefab Sprout einmal mehr unter Beweis stellen, dass es nicht unbedingt immer der lauten Töne bedarf, um eine Erfahrung mitzuteilen'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3656

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 0,8 euro

Tracks: 'We let the stars go' / 'Cruel'

Me (Without you) - Andy Gibb

In 1980, Andy Gibb released 'Andy Gibb's Greatest Hits' to finalize his contract with RSO Records. The album contained two new songs: 'Time is time' and 'Me (Without you)'. Both were released as a single. 'Me (Without you)' was Andy Gibb's last Top 40 entry in the USA, although it only made number 40.

At the time, Andy Gibb had a relationship with Victoria Principal, with whom he recorded his last chart single in 1981, 'All I have to do is dream'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3655
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009
Cost: 0, 5 euro

Tracks: 'Me (Without you)' / 'Melody'

Churches - New Musik

This single by New Musik was released in France only. 'Churches' is a track from New Musik's second album 'Anywhere'. The photograph on this sleeve also appeared on an American album called 'Sanctuary', which collected tracks from New Musik's debut album 'From A to B' and 'Anywhere'.

'Churches' is one of the standout tracks from 'Anywhere'. I don't know if the single charted in France.

My collection: 7" single no. 3639

Found: 7" single no. 3639

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Churches' / 'They all run after the carving knife'

You thrill me - Exile

'You thrill me' was released as the follow-up single to Exile's worldwide hit 'Kiss you all over' in 1978. In America, the single reached the top 40 for one week only, making the 'Top-hit in USA' banner on this sleeve a tad overenthusiastic.

In Europe the single sunk without a trace. I bought this single because I saw it for the first time and I've always had a soft spot for Exile.

My collection: 7" single no. 3665

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'You thrill me' / 'Don't do it'

We all stand together - Paul McCartney and the Frog Chorus

'We all stand together' was viewed by some as definite proof that Paul McCartney had lost his marbles. Beatles-haters pointed to this song as track to try to demonstrate the infantility of the entire Beatles catalogue. It is, of course, a novelty song, taken from the animated movie 'Rupert and the Frong Song'.

The 'Frog Chorus' backing on the song was provided by the King's Singers choral group and the choir of St Paul's Cathedral. The single peaked at number 3 in the UK and number 12 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 3623

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'We all stand together' / 'We all stand together (Humming version)'

Chacun fait (c'qui lui plait) - Chagrin d'amour

Chagrin d’amour is a French pop duo, often hailed as the artists to record the first French hip hop album. In 1982, they released 'Chacun fait (c'qui lui plait)', a single taken from their debut album of the same name. It was probably the first ever French rap single.

The single barely missed the Dutch Top 40 in 1982. I had vague memories of this song when I bought the single and was slightly disappointed: beside the catchy chorus, there isn't much else.

My collection: 7" single no. 3641

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Chacun fait (c'qui lui plait)' / 'Chacun fait (c'qui lui plait) (dub instrumental)'

The way you make me feel - Michael Jackson

With all the controversy always surrounding Michael Jackson, you'd almost forget the man is responsible for many catchy tunes throughout the years. And this is one of them. 'The way you make me feel' was the third single release from his 1987 album 'Bad'. It reached number 1 in the USA and Canada, number 3 in the UK and number 6 in the Netherlands.

Jackson has released so many singles that I missed out on buying some of them. Lately I'm trying to fill the holes in my collection, and I'm hopeful I will have all of his singles from 'Off the wall' onwards soon.

My collection: 7" single no. 3651
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'The way you make me feel' / 'The way you make me feel (instrumental)'

Amsterdam, Amsterdam (Nur hier bin ich zuhaus) - Maggie MacNeal

Maggie MacNeal represented the Netherlands during the 1980 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Amsterdam'. It was the first Eurovision Song Contest I was allowed to see live. I had seen the 1978 and 1979 editions, but only on video since I was not allowed to stay up that late. But the 1980 edition, held in the Netherlands, was reason enough for my parents to relax the rules a little. The counting of the votes was very exciting: for a while, it seemed that the Netherlands would actually win the contest! In the end, 'Amsterdam' finished fifth and Ireland's Johnny Logan won.

Such was the international appeal of 'Amsterdam', that the record company decided to release alternative versions of the track. In Germany, the record-buying public was treated to 'Amsterdam, Amsterdam (Nur hier bin ich zuhaus)' .

My collection: 7" single no. 3672

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 4 euro

Tracks: 'Amsterdam, Amsterdam (Nur hier bin ich zu Haus)' / 'Amsterdam (Englische Originalversion)'

This is not a love song - PIL

Ex-Sex Pistols frontman Johnny Rotten presented his new song 'This is not a love song' in the Netherlands' best music TV show Countdown in 1983. After the performance, the presented walked up to him and tried to start an interview with the remark: 'That's a nice lovesong'. Johnny simply replied with: 'Yeah', and walked away.

The single peaked at number 17 in the Netherlands and number 5 in the UK. I bought a three inch cd-single of the track at the end of the Eighties, but only now I have the 7" vinyl equivalent.

My collection: 7" single no. 3624

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'This is not a love song' / 'Public Image'

My male curiosity - Kid Creole and the Coconuts

This track was released as a single from the soundtrack of the movie 'Against all odds'. The title track, performed by Phil Collins, had already been a big hit, and it was hoped that this single would do similarly well. It didn't.

However, it was played regularly on the local radiostation I always listened to in 1984, and so it became engraved in my memory.

My collection: 7" single no. 3661

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'My male curiosity' (Kid Creole & the Coconuts) / 'Making a big mistake' (Mike Rutherford)

Good-bye bad times - Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder

I've seen this single countless times over the years, but I never made the decision to buy it until now. Philip Oakey, frontman of the Human League, and producer Giorgio Moroder, had a big hit with 'Together in electric dreams' in 1984.

They got together again in 1985 to work on an album that was to be called 'Body beat', but finally was simply named after the performers. The record label had high expectatoins for the first single from the album, 'Good-bye bad times', but they did not come true. Both the single and the album flopped. This is still a nice popsong though.

My collection: 7" single no. 3653

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 0,8 euro

Tracks: 'Good-bye bad times' / 'Good-bye bad times (instrumental)'

L'amour toujours - Telex

The Belgian synthpop group Telex released their fourth album 'Wonderful world' in 1984. The single 'L'amour toujours', released a year later, was taken from this album. The single wasn't a commercial success for the band.

I didn't know this song when I bought it, I just assumed that it would be just as nice as the other Telex singles I have. And it is.

My collection: 7" single no. 3637

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'L'amour toujours' / 'I don't like music'

Bitakat hob - Samira

In 1980, Morocco competed in the Eurovision Song Contest for the first - and so far, only - time. It was the first time that the contest featured a song in Arabic, while the music also showed clear Arabic influences.

Samira Bensaïd, who was born on January 10, 1958 in Rabat, performed the song 'Bitakat hob' ('Message of love') as the fifth of 19 performers in the Contest, finished 18th. This low placing may have contributed to the withdrawal by Morocco from further Contests.

I bought this single for its rarity value - and was very happily surprised when it also contained an original press sheet inside!

My collection: 7" single no. 3674

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 3 euro

Tracks: 'Bitakat hob' / 'Les enfants de l'amitié'

Lifeline - Spandau Ballet

Released in September 1982, 'Lifeline' became Spandau Ballet's fourth top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at number 7. Produced by Steve Jolley and Tony Swain, this track is a sign that the band were slowly moving away from their earlier, rougher work and taking a slightly more commercial-sounding approach.

This picture disc was a limited edition release, which probably helped the sales of the single in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 3627

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Lifeline' / 'Live & let live'

Adventures in modern recording - The Buggles

I didn't know this single existed until I saw it mentioned on discogs.com recently. 'Adventures in modern recording' is the title track from the Buggles' second album, and it sums up the career of band member Trevor Horn pretty nicely. During and since the Buggles, he's always been on the forefront of modern recording and producing, creating the most fabulous albums out there.

This single, however, was not rewarded with chart success, just like the other singles taken from the album - as well as the album itself.

My collection: 7" single no. 3671

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Adventures in modern recording' / 'Blue nylon'

Rough justice - Bananarama

It's hard to tell from this image, but the sleeve of this single has a 3D postcard on the front. It's this kind of collectable issues that always draws me in. I had to buy 'Rough justice' anyway, because it's one of those tracks that take me right back to the year 1984, the year in which I avoided homework by watching music videos on television every day.

The socially conscious 'Rough justice' deals with social apathy towards children, poverty and starvation. The single peaked at number 23 in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 3670

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Rough justice' / 'Live now'