Don't look back - Lloyd Cole

'Don't look back' was the second single taken from Lloyd Cole's first solo album, 'Lloyd Cole' (1990). It was released in a limited edition box set featuring the single (of course) and three prints. One wonder why they weren't just stuck into the sleeve of the single, but anyway...

Released in April 1990, the single didn't make the UK top 40, stalling at number 59 instead. I only knew 'No blue skies', Cole's previous single when I saw this boxset, but I took the gamble. I'm glad I did, because this song is equally great.

My collection: 7" single no. 1301

Found: Record exchange, London, October 15, 1990

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Don't look back' / 'Blame Mary Jane'

Speed of sound - Coldplay

Released as the first single from Coldplay's third album 'X&Y', the lyric of the song 'Speed of sound' was written by singer Chris Martin about his daughter Apple. He explains: 'That's a song where we were listening to a lot of Kate Bush last summer, and we wanted a song which had a lot of tom-toms in it. I just had my daughter up also, and was kind of feeling in a sense of awe and wonderment, so the song is kind of a Kate Bush song about miracles.'

The single was released in May 2005. It reached number 2 in the UK, being held off the top spot by Crazy Frog's cover of 'Axel F'. In America, the single peaked at number 8 and in the Netherlands it reached number 6.

My collection: 7" single no. 3413

Found: HMV, London, 2005

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Speed of sound' / 'Things I don't understand'

Save your kisses for me - Brotherhood of man

Songwriter and producer Tony Hiller formed the group Brotherhood of man in 1969. The early lineup consisted of John Goodison, Tony Burrows, Roger Greenaway, Sue Glover and Sunny Leslie. After a few years they were replaced by Martin Lee, Lee Sheriden, Sandra Stevens and Nicky Stevens. This lineup was the one that participated in the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest in an effort to make a big impact in UK as well as in Europe.

'Save your kisses for me' was a number 1 hit in the UK two weeks before the Contest final. During the Contest final it was awarded the maximum twelve points by seven countries, totalling 164 points compared to the second-placed French entry with 147 points. After their Eurovision win, the song became the biggest selling single for a winning entry in the history of the Contest. It reached number 1 in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Ireland and Norway and eventually sold more than five million copies.

My collection: 7" single no. 3569

Found: La la land, Den Haag, January 31, 2009

Cost: 1,5 euro

Tracks: 'Save your kisses for me' / 'Let's love together'

S.O.S. - Abba

'S.O.S.' was written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson. The title itself was coined by Stig, though the lyrics he provided were re-written by Ulvaeus. 'S.O.S.' was among the first three songs recorded for the group's upcoming 1975 album, ABBA. Despite the song's catchiness, it was passed over as the lead single from the album; the track 'So long' was chosen instead. 'So long' was chosen primarily because it had the same uptempo beat as their 1974 hit single, 'Waterloo'.

After 'So long' performed less well than expected, 'S.O.S.' became Abba's comeback single. It was a number one hit in Australia, Belgium, Germany, Mexico, New Zealand and South Africa. In the UK, the single peaked at number 6 and in the Netherlands at number 2. Abba would from then on remain a force to be recogned with in pop music.

I have two versions of the single: I first bought the French edition (pictured above) during a record fair. 18 months later I bought a Dutch pressing (pictured below). When I bought the cd-singles box set a few years ago, the sleeve of 'S.O.S.' was different. So now I'm still looking for the German edition...

My collection: 7" single no. 2049 / no. 2298

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, November 13, 1993 / Record fair, Utrecht, May 27, 1995

Cost: 3 guilders / 2 guilders

Tracks: 'S.O.S.' / 'Man in the middle'

S.O.S. - ABC

'S.O.S.' was the second single from ABC's second album 'Beauty stab'. Previous single 'That was then but this is now' was an obvious attempt to break with the band's glamorous pop image, performing loud rock music instead. But 'S.O.S.' seemed like a return to earlier singles.

It obviously confused the audience. The single only managed a lowly number 39 position in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 777

Found: All that music, Leiden, March 20, 1989

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'S.O.S.' / 'United Kingdom'

Et les oiseaux chantaient - Sweet People

Sometime in 1979 or 1980, someone had the brilliant idea of recording birdsong and scoring it with some laid back music. I think it must have been the first notion of so-called 'new age music'. The resulting single, 'Et les oiseaux chantaient' by the Sweet People, became a hit too. It felt really out of place in the post-punk charts of 1980.

But there it was, peaking at number 10 in the Netherlands and number 4 in the UK. I think I only started to like the track once it had left the charts and some time had gone by.

My collection: 7" single no. 2153

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 7, 1999

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Et les oiseaux chantaient' / 'Perce'

Franse auto - Het Goede Doel

'Franse auto' was the fourth single from Het Goede Doel's 1986 album 'Mooi en onverslijtbaar'. Even though the album brought forth several hit singles, this is not one of them. It didn't reach the Dutch charts at all.

The lyrics were probably a bit too eccentric for the audience: 'You're exactly like a French car / when the motor still wants to run the exterior is already rotten'. Oh well, there's always the instrumental version...

My collection: 7" single no. 520

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1986

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Franse auto' / 'Franse auto (instrumentaal)'

Surrender - Jon Anderson

My wife went to a Kringloop store today and brought back a few singles for me. One of them was 'Surrender' by Jon Anderson. There were two problems with that: (1) I already had the singles and (2) the sleeve contained the wrong disc. And the latter was true for the other two singles as well. Well, at least the intention was good.

'Surrender' was a brilliant track from Jon Anderson, who is probably best known for his work with Yes and Vangelis. This single was taken from his solo album 'Animation' (1982). It gave him a top 10 hit in the Netherlands: 'Surrender' peaked at number 7 in June 1982.

My collection: 7" single no. 2055

Found: November 27, 1993

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Surrender' / 'Spider'

I'm gonna be strong - Blue Angel

Blue Angel consisted of John Turi, Arthur Neilson, Lee Brovitz, Johnny Morelli and Cyndi Lauper. The band was briefly popular in the New York club scene. They recorded one self-titled album in 1980. This album included the single 'I'm gonna be strong'. This track was written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. It was originally recorded by Frankie Laine in 1963 and Gene Pitney in 1964.

The single did not chart in Europe, but it's still a fine demonstration of Cyndi Lauper's powerful vocals. She would of course go on to have a very successful solo career later on in the Eighties. She re-recorded this song for a compilation album of her solo hits in 1994.

My collection: 7" single no. 265

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'I'm gonna be strong' / 'Just the other day'

The heaven I need - Three Degrees

After the Three Degrees single 'My simple heart' reached number 9 in the UK singles chart, the group disappeared from the scene for half a decade. They released two albums on their own 3D label, 'Album of love' and 'Live in the UK', but neither charted.

They returned to the charts in 1985 with the single 'The heaven I need', written and produced by Stock, Aitken and Waterman, who were quickly conquering the pop scene at the time. The single peaked at number 42, which was not a very high placing, but it still became one of the more convincing dance tracks of the year.

My collection: 7" single no. 3001

Found: Geest, Den Haag, 2001

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'The heaven I need' / 'Gimme gimme gimme'

Is she really going out with him? - Joe Jackson

Joe Jackson was born as David Ian Jackson on August 11, 1954. He released his debut album 'Look sharp!' in 1979. Prior to that, 'Is she really going out with him?' was released as his debut single in September 1978.

A flop in the UK, the single managed to become a radio hit in Europe, although this didn't lead to chart placings. In the Netherlands the single managed a few weeks in the bubbling under chart in April 1979. It took a re-release in August 1979 to become a number 13 hit in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 823

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 13, 1989

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Is she really going out with him?' / 'You got the fever'

Nothing (Chad Jackson remixes) - Frazier Chorus

Frazier Chorus changed track in 1990 when they released their second album 'Ray'. They positioned themselves as an act that had a certain danceability to them. The singles were remixed by prominent DJ's such as Paul Oakenfold and Chad Jackson.

This 12" single featuring three versions of a remix by Chad Jackson was an interesting find when I got it. I'd bought the single 'Nothing' during a holiday in London and thought it was one of their better singles. This remix appealed less to me, but I was still glad that I was able to find it. After all, Frazier Chorus were completely unknown in the Netherlands.

My collection: 12" single no. 110

Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, 1993

Cost: 6,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Nothing (has been proved mix)' / 'Nothing (Instrumental)', 'Nothing (beats mix 2)'

The way you are - Tears for fears

After the record company had released several singles from Tears for fears' debut album 'The hurting', the band released a new single, 'The way you are' towards the end of 1983. The single kept the band in the public eye while they were working on their second album. It peaked at number 23 in the UK and as such didn't live up to the expectations caused by the three top 5 singles taken from 'The hurting'.

The single, which heavily featured sampling and programmed rhythms, led to a departure in Tears for Fears' musical approach. In the liner notes to their 1996 B-sides album Saturnine Martial & Lunatic they wrote that 'this was the point we realised we had to change direction'. I had a hard time finding this single, since it wasn't released in the Netherlands. I finally found it in a second hand store while on holiday in London.

My collection: 7" single no. 1027
Found: Record exchange, London, October 17, 1989

Cost: 80p

Tracks: 'The way you are' / 'The marauders'

U.O. Me - Luv'

Reportedly inspired by Raffaella Carra's 'A far l'amore comincia tu', 'U.O. me' was the third single release by the Dutch girl group Luv', released in early 1978. The single reversed their fortunes in a dramatic way: second single 'Dream dream' did not chart, after debut single 'My man' had been a top 20 hit in the Netherlands. 'U.O. me' peaked at number 3 in the Netherlands, but also provided them with an international breakthrough hit.

German Schlager singer Peter Petrel recorded a German cover version entitled 'Wer hat hier denn wohl wen verführt' later on in 1978.

My collection: 7" single no. 3688

Found: Empire Records, May 5, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'U.O. me' / 'Hang on'

Gimme the sunshine - Curiosity

After the enormous success of their debut album and the singles 'Misfit' and 'Down to earth', the second album proved to be more difficult for Curiosity killed the cat. The first single from their second album 'Getahead', 'Name and number', was still a hit, but its follow-up 'First place' performed less well and the band found themselves dropped by their record label.

Cutting their name short to Curiosity, the band tried again in 1993, with a cover of Johnny Bristol's 'Hang on in there baby', which became a UK top 10 hit. The next singles, 'I need your lovin'' and 'Gimme the sunshine' continued the downward trend however, which resulted in the album Back to Front only being released in Japan and selected overseas markets. After this, the band folded for good. Frontman Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot still tours as Curiosity killed the cat these days as part of the 'Here and Now' Eighties revival concerts.

My collection: 7" single no. 2040

Found: HMV, London, October 22, 1993

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Gimme the sunshine' / 'Fall in again'

Little sister leaving town - Tanita Tikaram

'Little sister leaving town' was the second single taken from Tanita Tikaram's second album 'The sweet keeper' (1990). The single peaked at number 83 in the UK singles chart, continuing the trend of declining sales for each single Tikaram released since her debut album.

Nevertheless, 'Little sister leaving town' is one of Tikaram's more accomplished songs, creating an intimate atmosphere. The B-side was a demo version of 'I love the heaven's solo', which would become a single a few years later.

My collection: 7" single no. 1203

Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, April 6, 1990

Cost: 6,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Little sister leaving town' / 'I love the heaven's solo'

Heart - Pet Shop Boys

'Heart' was released as the fourth single from the Pet Shop Boys' second album 'Actually' (1987). The track was remixed for the single and the single itself was released in two different sleeves in the UK: one picturing Neil Tennant (above) and one with Chris Lowe (below).

The track 'Heart' was originally offered to Hi-NRG singer Hazell Dean and Madonna, but in the end the Pet Shop Boys recorded the track themselves. Originally recorded for the 1986 album 'Plase' with Shep Pettibone, the duo re-recorded it in 1987 with producer Andy Richards. The single became the band's fourth number one hit in the UK, topping the chart for three weeks in the summer of 1988. In the Netherlands, the single peaked at number 11.

My collection: 7" single no. 2677 / no. 2678

Found: Record exchange, London, July 2, 1996

Cost: 1 pound / 1 pound

Tracks: 'Heart' / 'I get excited (you get excited too)'

Another silent day - The Adventures

Lead vocalist Terry Sharpe and guitarist Pat Gribben first worked together when in 1978 they joined the punk band Starjets. This band disbanded in the early 1980s. Sharpe and Gribben then formed The Adventures in early 1984 with Gribben's wife, Eileen, Gerard Murphy, Tony Ayre and Paul Crowder. They signed to Chrysalis Records and were taken on by upcoming manager, Simon Fuller, who saw them achieve much publicity and promotion in the music press.

Their debut single 'Another silent day' was released in the summer of 1984. It was released as a limited edition double single featuring two bonus tracks. It peaked at number 71 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2358

Found: Eastbourne, June 28, 1995

Cost: 5 pounds

Tracks: 'Another silent day' / 'Happy depression' // 'Nowhere near me (demo)' / 'Token'

Fraction too much friction - Tim Finn

After the release of Split Enz 1982 album 'Time and Tide', Tim Finn decided to give the band a break after 10 years. It was Tim's intention to take the time to work some of the new songs that he wanted to release, but felt were not Enz material. Tim later commented that he tried some of the songs out with the band, but it just wasn't working.

'Fraction too much friction' was one of those songs. It became Tim Finn's first solo single, taken from the 1984 album 'Escapade'. A huge hit in Australia in New Zealand, the single also peaked at number 2 in the Dutch Top 40. The song was played a lot on the radio at the time, which meant that I didn't want to hear the song for a quarter of a century. I recently bought the single. Now I can listen to the song again.

My collection: 7" single no. 3697

Found: Empire Records, May 5, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Fraction too much friction' / 'Below the belt'

In the air tonight - Phil Collins

'In the air tonight' is the debut single by Phil Collins, the first single taken from his 1981 album 'Face value'. Phil Collins himself commented about the lyric of the song: 'I don't know what this song is about. When I was writing this I was going through a divorce. And the only thing I can say about it is that it's obviously in anger. It's the angry side, or the bitter side of a separation.'

The song became a number 1 hit in New Zealand and Germany, peaking at number 2 in the Netherlands and the UK. The song's popularity increased later on in the Eighties after a nearly complete recording of it was featured in the pilot episode of the American television show Miami Vice ('Brother's Keeper'), thus becoming one of the first pop/rock songs to be featured as part of a TV programme in this manner.

I bought the single already in 1987, but recently found a limited edition version of it featuring a booklet with drawings by Phil's brother Clive Collins.

My collection: 7" single no. 568 (1 & 2)

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1987 & Record fair, Utrecht, November 22, 2008

Cost: 1 guilder & 1 euro

Tracks: 'In the air tonight' / 'The roof is leaking'