Dead from the waist down - Catatonia

'Dead from the waist down' was released as the first single from Catatonia's fourth album 'Equally cursed and blessed'. The decision had been taken by the band quite early on that 'Dead From The Waist Down' would feature a string arrangement. Paul Jones and Owen Powell of the band previously decried the gratuitous use of strings to make a track sound 'posher' by simply plastering them over a perfectly good arrangement, and so the band were keen to find something which truly complemented what they had already recorded.

It was a good choice: the single peaked at number 7 in the UK singles chart, making it the last of their three UK top 10 hits. The single was pressed on yellow vinyl and also included a large poster featuring the cover artwork.

My collection: 7" single no. 3113

Found: HMV, London, May 14, 1999

Cost: 2,5 pounds

Tracks: 'Dead from the waist down' / 'Branding a mountain'

Fantasy dream - Ami Aspelund

Ami Aspelund was born on September 7, 1953 in Vaasa, Finland. While her sister Monica represented Finland during the 1977 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Lapponia', Ami followed in her footsteps in 1983 with the song 'Fantasiaa'. Monica finished on 10th place, Ami did only slightly worse, finishing on 11th place.

The single 'Fantasy dream', released in Germany, features both the English and Finnish versions of the song. It's a great upbeat track, and one of the better Finnish contributions to the Contest during the Eighties.

My collection: 7" single no. 3714

Found: Marktplaats.nl, received May 22, 2009

Cost: 2,5 euro

Tracks: 'Fantasy dream' / 'Fantasiaa'

Tears are not enough - ABC

Hard to imagine now, but there was a time when no-one knew the band ABC. They even had to release their debut single 'Tears are not enough' in 1981 to try and catch the public eye. The single version of 'Tears are not enough' was different from the album version. While the album version was produced by Trevor Horn, the single version was produced by one Steve Brown.

As far as debuts go, the band did well. The single peaked at number 19 at the end of 1981. The next year the debut album 'Lexicon of love' would be released - it would become a classic album of the Eighties.

My collection: 7" single no. 2015

Found: Record Exchange, London, October 19, 1993

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Tears are not enough' / 'Alphabet soup'

Mono - The Monotones

During the Seventies Aart Mol, Geertjan Hessing, Erwin van Prehn, Cees Bergman and Elmer Veerhoff were members of the successful group Catapult. When success eluded them they decided to start over as Rubberen Robbie, a group specializing in Dutch music, and The Monotones, making new wave music.

In January 1980 the Monotones release the single 'Mono', a track that sounds a bit like 'Popmuzik' and 'Video killed the radio star'. They are rewarded with a number 15 placing in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3327

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, March 24, 2001

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Mono' / 'Monotone music'

Winter - Tori Amos

Taken from the debut album 'Little earthquakes', Winter was Tori Amos' third single for Atlantic Records. It was released in 1992. Amos wrote the song about her relationship with her father, who is a minister.

The single became Tori's first UK top 40 hit, peaking at number 25. It was released in a variety of formats, but the UK was the only country where this song was released on 7" vinyl.

My collection: 7" single no. 1741

Found: Record Exchange, London, October 18, 1992

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Winter' / 'The pool'

The turn of a friendly card - The Alan Parsons Project

The title track of the Alan Parsons Project album 'The turn of a friendly card' was released as a single in the autumn of 1980. On the album, the track was divided into two parts of 2'44 and 3'22. The single version lasts 3'20 but is not the same as part two.

The single appeared in the Dutch Tipparade, the 'bubbling under' chart for the Top 40, but did not reach the top 40 itself. Still, it made enough of an impression on me to still want to have it a decade later.

My collection: 7" single no. 1461

Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, June 27, 1991

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'The turn of a friendly card' / 'Snake eyes'

If she knew what she wants - The Bangles

This limited edition double single features not one, but two hit singles. Although 'hit' singles may be overstating things a bit. 'Hero takes a fall' was originally released in 1984 and only managed a number 96 placing in the UK singles chart. 'If she knew what she wants' was a bit more successful, reaching number 31 in the UK and Australia, but also number 30 in Austria, number 29 in the USA, number 20 in Switzerland and number 17 in Germany!

'If she knew what she wants' was the second single taken from the Bangles' 1986 album 'Different light', the album that would later bring forth the biggest hit of the group's career: 'Walk like an Egyptian'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3165

Found: House of Rhythm, London, January 18, 2000

Cost: 1,5 pounds

Tracks: 'If she knew what she wants' / 'Angels don't fall in love' // 'Hero takes a fall (remix)' / 'James'

Hocus pocus - Focus

The Dutch band Focus was formed in 1969. After their debut album the line-up changed to Jan Akkerman, Cyril Havermans, Pierre van der Linden and Thijs van Leer. Their 1971 album 'Moving waves' included the song 'Hocus pocus', which would achieve international fame. The instrumental rock classic consists of Akkerman's guitar chord sequence used as a recurring theme, with interludes that include alto flute riffs, accordion, guitar, and drum solos, whistling, nonsensical vocals, falsetto singing, and yodeling.

Their third album 'Focus III' (1972) included the track 'Sylvia', written by Van Leer, which became a major hit in many countries including the UK, where it reached number 4. This single contains both tracks, which made number 9 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 2950

Found: Record fair, Leiden, January 31, 1998

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Hocus pocus' / 'Sylvia'

Forbidden colours - David Sylvian and Riuichi Sakamoto

'Forbidden colours' is the vocal version of the track 'Merry Christmas mr Lawrence'. The lyrics were written and performed by David Sylvian, who had worked with Riuichi Sakamoto once before on the single release 'Bamboo houses'. This single peaked at number 16 in the UK singles chart.

Since the release of this single, both Sakamoto and Sylvian have recorded several interpretations of the song, both instrumental and vocal. An orchestral version featuring vocals by Sylvian was included on Sakamoto's 1999 album 'Cinemage'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2879

Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 28, 1997

Cost: 40p

Tracks: 'Forbidden colours' / 'The seed and the sower'

Reggae OK - Riki Sorsa

Riki Sorsa, born December 26, 1952, represented Finland in the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest with a song about that typically Finnish music style: 'Reggae OK'. It surprised the international juries so much that they forgot to vote for it. The song ended up in 16th place (with 20 countries participating).

Sorsa started his music career in 1975 in the band ZOO. Despite his poor placing in the Contest, he continued his career in Finland, releasing more than a dozen albums between 1981 and now.

My collection: 7" single no. 3715

Found: Marktplaats.nl, received May 22, 2009

Cost: 2,5 euro

Tracks: 'Reggae OK' / 'Autograph'

Dancing with tears in my eyes - Ultravox

More than anything else, I've always considered 'Dancing with tears in my eyes' a soundtrack to the music video Ultravox made in 1984. I can't imagine the music without that video anymore. I thought bringing down the enormous theme of a nuclear holocaust to the story of one man and woman was incredibly moving.

'Dancing with tears in my eyes' was the second single from 'Lament', Ultravox's seventh studio album, released in 1984. The single effectively put Ultravox back on the map, peaking at number 3 in the UK single charts, and reaching the top 10 in many European countries. In the Netherlands, it peaked at number 6.

I bought the single as soon as it came out. It was the German pressing with tour dates on the front cover (pictured above). A few years later I found a UK limited edition of the single with a booklet sleeve, pressed on clear vinyl (pictured below).

My collection: 7" single no. 235
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1984
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Dancing with tears in my eyes' / 'Building'

The sound of crying - Prefab Sprout

Released as the first single from the compilation album 'A life of surprises: the best of Prefab Sprout', 'The sound of crying' was the biggest success Prefab Sprout had in the UK since 'The king of Rock 'n' Roll' reached number 7 in the UK.

'The sound of crying' was also more successful than the four subsequent singles taken from the compilation album. This single peaked at number 23, but it was only the first time in four years that the band cracked the top 30 again.

My collection: 7" single no. 1674

Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, June 27, 1992

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'The sound of crying (edit)' / 'The sound of crying (full version)'

Was soll ich tun - Sandra en Andres

Like I mentioned here, it's a miracle that Puck and I didn't buy the same singles on May 5. While he bought 'Als het om de liefde gaat' and its English version (soon on this blog) somewhere else in the country, I was back in my hometown buying this single: 'Was soll ich tun', the German version of 'Als het om de liefde gaat'.

Part of the charm of Eurovision collections is owning different language versions of entries. They are often collectable, because Eurovision artists usually don't have a lot of success abroad. As was the case with this one: it did not chart anywhere.

My collection: 7" single no. 3696

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, May 5, 2009

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Was soll ich tun' / 'Wenn der Zigeuner lacht'

Change - Tears for Fears

Released in February 1983, 'Change' was a number 3 hit for Tears for Fears in the UK. The song also gave the band their first charting single in America when it cracked the Billboard Top 75 in August 1983. Roland Orzabal commented about the song: 'It's not really about much. It's just one of those cheap pop lyrics.'

The real rarity on this single is the B-side. 'The conflict' was never released on cd as far as I know. It describes a conflict between two individuals. Sung by Curt Smith, this is one of the few songs in the Tears for Fears catalogue on which he shares a writing credit.

My collection: 7" single no. 910

Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 25, 1989

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Change' / 'The conflict'

The promise of a new day - Paula Abdul

The second single from Paula Abdul's 1991 album 'Spellbound' was the upbeat 'The promise of a new day'. A number one hit in the USA, it fared less well in Europe. Probably because this part of the world is less vulnerable to hollow phrases like 'Tides are turning bringing winds of change'.

Despite the tacky lyric, I did like the song and had no qualms about buying this single. 'Spellbound' was one of my favourite albums of 1991 but it has not aged so well, unfortunately.

My collection: 7" single no. 1512
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, August 23, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'The promise of a new day' / 'The promise of a new day (West Coast 7 inch edit)'

I.G.Y. - Donald Fagen

The band Steely Dan broke up in 1981 after nine years. Founder member Donald Fagen didn't sit on his laurels: he recorded a solo album instead. 'The Nightfly' (1982) became a critical and commercial success and yielded a few hit singles, of which 'I.G.Y.' was the biggest. It peaked at number 30 in the Netherlands.

Synthpop wizard Howard Jones recorded a cover version of this song as a new track for his 1993 compilation album 'The best of Howard Jones'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1810
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 4, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'I.G.Y.' / 'Walk between raindrops'

Love - Dream Academy

'Love' was written by John Lennon and originally appeared on his 1970 album 'John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band'. The Dream Academy recorded their cover version of the song in 1990 and released it as a single. Although it sounded very contemporary (or perhaps because of that), it did not chart in any territory.

The song did appear on their third and last album 'A different kind of weather' (1991). The cd-single of 'Love' featured six remixes of the track, with other remixes appearing on other formats. Perhaps they overdid it a bit.

My collection: 7" single no. 2854

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, June 21, 1997

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Love' / 'Mordechai Vanunu'

Eloise - Barry Ryan

Barry Ryan was born as Barry Stephenson on October 24, 1948 in Leeds, UK. Barry and his twin brother Paul started performing at the age of fifteen. As Paul & Barry Ryan they released several singles. When Paul couldn't cope with all the stress involved with showbusiness, the two brothers decided that Barry would go solo, while Paul wrote songs for him. The biggest success they had was 'Eloise', a dramatic and heavily orchestrated track, released in 1968. The single peaked at number 2 in the UK and topped the chart in the Netherlands.

I couldn't find the original single so I settled for this 'Old Gold' re-release from 1984. The B-side is Jim Stafford's 'Spiders and snakes', a far more modest hit from 1973. It peaked at number 13 in the UK and did not chart in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 1413
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, April 3, 1991
Cost: 4,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Eloise' (Barry Ryan) / 'Spiders and snakes' (Jim Stafford)

That's the way it is - Mel and Kim

In February 1988, Supreme Records released what would become Mel & Kim's last single, 'That's the way it is'. Mel Appleby had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing treatment in a specialized hospital. Pete Waterman later explained: 'Mel had to check herself out of the cancer hospital in order for her to lay vocals down for that track. The doctors said that it would be at least twelve months before Mel would be able to record material again, so we put the second album on hold and prayed that she'd get better soon. Tragically that never happened.'

'That's the way it is' was promoted with a music video that didn't feature Mel & Kim, just dancers. Still, the single was a success, peaking at number 10 in the UK and number 8 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 588

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, February 13, 1988

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'That's the way it is' / 'You changed my life'

Mr. Solitaire - Animal Nightlife

It would be fair to say that the band Animal Nightlife made music very much like the band Sade: funky, jazzy, soulful music with good melodies and catchy choruses. The band formed in the early Eighties, its members were vocalist 'Flid', Leonardo Chignoli, Billy Chapman, Paul Waller and Andy Polaris.

The music video for 'Mr. Solitaire' was a regular on music channels in 1984. It caused me to get a bit sick of it in the end. That summer, it peaked at number 25 in the UK singles chart. Years later, I realised I wanted to have this song - and then spent ages trying to find it.

My collection: 7" single no. 2579

Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 16, 1995

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Mr. Solitaire' / 'Lazy afternoon'