Runaway girl / It's all right - Sterling Void

Sterling Void released this double A-side single in late 1988. In January 1989, 'Runaway girl/It's all right' made the UK singles chart and peaked at number 53. But this is not what made the band well-known.

In the summer of 1989, the Pet Shop Boys recorded a cover version of 'It's all right', entitled 'It's alright', which made the UK top 5. I guess lots of Pet Shop Boys fans hunted for the original song after that - I certainly did because I was rather curious how it would sound. Suffice to say that it's pretty standard late Eighties dance-type stuff.

My collection: 7" single no. 3067

Found: House of Rhythm, London, May 10, 1999

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Runaway girl' / 'It's all right'

Living by numbers - New Musik

'Living by numbers' is New Musik's biggest hit. Released in January 1980, it peaked at number 13 in the UK singles chart. It was the second single taken from their debut album 'From A to B', and a great synthpop track.

I bought the single after I bought the album. Since the single never charted in the Netherlands, I hadn't heard the track before that. Several different sleeves exist for this single; this is the UK edition, which I bought in London.

My collection: 7" single no. 2656

Found: London, June 29, 1996

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Living by numbers' / 'Sad films'

Irresistible - Cathy Dennis

A track from Cathy Dennis' second album 'Into the skyline', this single peaked at number 24 in the UK singles chart. This and subsequent singles seemed to get into the top thirty without too much trouble. In America, Dennis experienced a brief peak of fame, making a cameo in 'Beverly Hills, 90210' singing the song 'Moments of Love' (a minor U.S. chart hit).

I bought this single shortly after I'd bought the cd 'Into the skyline', but in time I experienced that Cathy Dennis' singles from 1992 aged quite quickly.

My collection: 7" single no. 2389

Found: Eastbourne, July 5, 1995

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Irresistible' / 'Irresistible (7" remix version)

Never can say goodbye - Communards

After the Communards had a number one hit in the UK in 1986 with 'Don't leave me this way', a cover of Thelma Houston's Seventies disco track, they tried to repeat this feat in 1987 with another cover of a disco track. They recorded a version of 'Never can say goodbye', which was a disco hit for Gloria Gaynor in 1974. This time around, however, they only made number 4 in the UK. The single did slightly better in the Netherlands, where it peaked at number 3.

While the single was in the chart I bought it on the then rather new cd-single format. I found the 7" single years later.

My collection: 7" single no. 2814

Found: Record fair, February 1, 1997

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Never can say goodbye' / '77 the great escape'

Love's crashing waves - Difford and Tilbrook

Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook had been in the band Squeeze since 1974. After eight years, the band broke up as a result of conflict between (other) band members. Difford and Tilbrook continued to work together, and released one self-titled album as 'Difford & Tilbrook' (1984). The album is considered to be a 'lost' Squeeze album since Difford and Tilbrook were the only constant members of that band, which reformed already in 1985.

'Love's crashing waves' was their debut single, taken from that album. I remembered it because I thought the song was very boring - probably a result from the accompanying video which was played on television repeatedly in 1984. In 1998 I bought the single after I found that the chorus was still in my head after not having heard the song for over a decade. I had a hunch, and I was right: now I like the song.

My collection: 7" single no. 2991

Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, May 27, 1998

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Love's crashing waves' / 'Within these walls of without you'

Winter song - Chris Rea

This EP features three songs that are ideal for the Winter season. But on dark evenings, I often play Chris Rea anyway, whatever season it is. 'Winter song' was released in November 1991, and reached number 27 in the UK singles chart. The EP also featured 'Tell me there's a heaven' (track not included here), which was a hit for Rea in February 1990.

I bought this single at the point I started to doubt the existance of 'Tell me there's a heaven' as a separate single release. I have no regrets though: 'Winter song' is a beautiful song in its own right.

My collection: 7" single no. 2164

Found: London, September 26, 1994

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Winter song' / 'Footprints in the snow', 'Tell me there's a heaven'

Riders on the storm - Annabel Lamb

'Riders on the storm' was written and recorded by The Doors on their 1971 album 'L.A. Woman'. According to band member Robby Krieger, it was inspired by the song '(Ghost) Riders in the Sky: A Cowboy Legend', a country and western song from 1948. The original recording incorporates real sound effects of thunder and rain, along with Ray Manzarek's Fender Rhodes electric piano playing, which emulates the sound of rain.

Annabel recorded a cover version in 1983, which leaves out much of the original version to replace it with modern synth sound effects. Unlike the original, the single didn't chart outside the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 556

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1986

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Riders on the storm' / 'No cure'

Love is a battlefield - Pat Benatar

Years after I bought 'Love is a battlefield' on 12" single, I found the 7" single and decided to buy that one as well. It was cheap enough: the sleeve was torn, but thankfully the disc was still in good order.

A number one hit in 1984, I can still picture every second of the song in my head, having heard it so often back then. As a result, I don't play this single a lot. But when I do, it takes me right back to that year, watching videos on television.

My collection: 7" single no. 2465

Found: September 9, 1995

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Love is a battlefield' / 'Hell is for children (live)'

Some people - Fra Lippo Lippi

'Some people' was another single taken from Fra Lippo Lippi's 1987 album 'Light and shade', and I'm glad to say it sounds more upbeat and less bland than the other single, 'Angel'. The single didn't help their international career much: it failed to chart in all territories, except, probably, Scandinavia.

My collection: 7" single no. 3186

Found: Mail order, 1999

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Some people' / 'Even tall trees bend (live)'

All the world loves lovers - Prefab Sprout

'All the world loves lovers' was released in 1992 as the third single from the compilation album 'A life of surprises'. After the success of previous single 'If you don't love me' (peaking at number 33 in the UK singles chart) the chart performance of this single disappointed: it only managed a lowly number 61.

I was very surprised to find that this single was 'Made in Holland'. The band had never had a hit in this country. Later I understood that Dutch record pressing plants had started to manufacture for the UK in the diminishing market for vinyl records.

My collection: 7" single no. 2090

Found: Record fair, April 16, 1994

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'All the world loves lovers' / 'Machine gun Ibiza'

I see hope in the morning light - Midge Ure

The single 'I see hope in the morning light' was released in 1991 as the second single from Midge Ure's third solo album 'Pure'. The ethnic sounds of this track couldn't persuade the record-buying public: it was his first solo single not to chart in any territory.

I bought my copy on the strength of Ure's name, having never heard this song at all. I must admit I didn't play it much myself.

My collection: 7" single no. 2363
Found: House of Rhythm, London, July 1, 1995
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'I see hope in the morning light' / 'The man I used to be'

Blue velvet - Bobby Vinton

'Blue velvet' was first a hit for Tony Bennett in 1951. Bobby Vinton recorded his version twelve years later, and made number 1 in America. In the UK, the song did not chart until it was used in a commercial by Nivea lotions. On that occasion, it made number 2.

In 1986, the song was used prominently on David Lynch's movie 'Blue velvet', which is where I heard this song when the film was televised somewhere in the late Nineties. I didn't like the movie, but I did like the song. And so I bought it when I found the 1990 UK release.

My collection: 7" single no. 3259

Found: October 20, 2000

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Blue velvet' / 'Blue on blue'

With every beat of my heart - Taylor Dayne

'With every beat of my heart' was the first single from Taylor Dayne's second album 'Can't fight fate' (1989). The single wasn't a big success, as it peaked at number 53 in the UK and didn't chart in the Netherlands.

In the UK, the single was released as a limited edition with a posterbag and featuring Taylor Dayne's debut hit 'Tell it to my heart' on the B-side. It has to be said that the two pictures on the posterbag were quite sexy.

My collection: 7" single no. 3110

Found: Big Company records, London, May 13, 1999

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'With every beat of my heart' / 'Tell it to my heart'

This house - Alison Moyet

'This house' was originally released as the B-side to Alison Moyet's single 'Love letters' (1987). When Moyet recorded her 1991 album 'Hoodoo', she decided to re-record the song, adding a bridge near the end of the song, and deleting the beautiful guitar solo that embellished the original.

It was released as the third - and most successful - single from the album, peaking at number 31 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 40 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1552

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, December 7, 1991

Cost: 3,5 guilders

Tracks: 'This house' / 'Come back home'

A question of lust - Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode released 'A question of lust' as the second single from their multimillion selling album 'Black celebration' (1986). In the Netherlands, where the band had a little difficulty getting any chart success, it was only their fourth chart single, peaking at number 24. However, in the UK, where the band was usually more successful, it only made number 28.

'A question of lust' was only the second single by Depeche Mode featuring lead vocals by Martin Gore, the first one being 'Somebody' (1984).

My collection: 7" single no. 438

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1986

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'A question of lust' / 'Christmas island'

I see a boat on the river - Boney M

Not long after the American band Styx released their single 'Boat on the river', Boney M released 'I see a boat on the river'. It was another big hit for the band, reaching number 7 in the Netherlands. The track appeared on the compilation album 'The magic of Boney M', along with the B-side, 'My friend Jack'. This track was released as an A-side in the UK, but only made number 57 there.

My collection: 7" single no. 47

Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1980

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'I see a boat on the river' / 'My friend Jack'

Gli impermeabili - Paolo Conte

Italian singer Paolo Conte had his first Dutch chart success in 1987 with 'Gli impermeabili', a beautiful melodic piece of work. It peaked at number 30 in the Dutch Top 40. His biggest hit 'Max' followed six months later.

I didn't catch this song as it was in the charts, but got to know it later through a Paolo Conte compilation album. I bought the single some time after that, having already forgotten what the song sounded like, but remembering that I liked it. Sometimes all you need is a title.

My collection: 7" single no. 2273
Found: Record fair, April 23, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Gli impermeabili' / 'Simpati-Simpatia'

Come back to me - Janet Jackson

'Come back to me' is the fifth single taken from Janet Jackson's highly successful album 'Rhythm nation 1814'. It reached number 20 in the UK singles chart in January 1990.

Part of the success can be attributed to this limited edition 7" box set, which came with a free fold-out poster and an '1814' metal badge. I had a hard time finding a copy of this, but finally managed to do this during a holiday in London in October 1990.

My collection: 7" single no. 1169

Found: Record Exchange, London, October 1990

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Come back to me (7" I'm beggin' you mix)' / 'Alright (7"R&B mix)'

The piano song - Freur

Freur's second album 'Get us out of here!' (1985) was only released in Germany and the Netherlands. The single 'The piano song' was taken from this album, but it was another unsuccessful release by the band.

In 1986, Freur went into recess when John Warwicker left the band. A year later, remaining members Karl Hyde, Rick Smith, Alfie Thomas and Bryn Burrows, along with bassist Baz Allen started a new band called Underworld, and had a minor success with the single 'Underneath the Radar' (1988).

My collection: 7" single no. 2955

Found: Record fair, February 7, 1998

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'The piano song' / 'Emeralds and pearls'

Mama used to say - Junior

Junior Giscombe debuted in 1982 with 'Mama used to say'. It was a number 7 hit in the UK, but also made it into the top 10 in the USA, which earned him a 'best newcomer' award from Billboard magazine. This flying start didn't help his further career, though: the only other top 10 hit Junior had in the UK was a duet with Kim Wilde in 1987 ('Another step (closer to you)').

I got to know the song because of an acapella rendition during a television programme. It was interesting enough for me to try and find out the original version.

My collection: 7" single no. 2383

Found: House of rhythm, London, July 1, 1995

Cost: 60p

Tracks: 'Mama used to say' / 'Mama used to say (instrumental mix)'