Bitter-sweet - Marc Almond

The second single from Marc Almond's 1988 album 'The stars we are' was 'Bitter-sweet', a beautifully orchestrated song. It only managed a number 40 placing in the UK chart, which was disappointing after the success of the previous single 'Tears run rings', which had peaked at number 26 and also managed a placing in the US Billboard Hot 100.

Like other singles from the album, this one was released as a limited edition pressed on clear vinyl. I'm glad I was able to find one for my collection.

My collection: 7" single no. 2697

Found: House of Rhythm, London, July 3, 1996

Cost: 80p

Tracks: 'Bitter-sweet' / 'King of the fools'

Théàtre - Katja Ebstein

Katja Ebstein performed 'Theater' during the 1980 Eurovision Song Contest. This is rather well known, for she reached second place. It's less wellknown that she recorded several versions of this song in other languages. One of them is the French version, 'Théàtre', a rather literal translation of the German song.

The B-side is not a French version of the B-side of 'Theater', 'Getrennt von Tisch und Bett', but another song by Ebstein, translation into French as 'Qu'est-ce qu'elle a'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2956

Found: Bea Records, February 7, 1998

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Théàtre' / 'Qu'est-ce qu'elle a'

Live your life - Stephanie

Released as the third single from Stephanie's first album 'Besoin', 'Live your life' was remixed by a certain Dimitri. Although French-speaking countries favoured the B-side 'Fleur du mal', this single was arguably a bigger success.

'Fleur du mal' only charted in France, peaking at number 16, whereas 'Live your life' went to number 9 in Norway. No further chart performances are known. Stephanie's music career ended just as soon as it had began - although she would still release a single called 'Winds of chance' in 1991 and perform vocals on Michael Jackson's 'In the closet' in 1992 - although she was not credited for this, but rather called a 'mystery girl'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3147

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, October 23, 1999

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Live your life' / 'Fleur du mal (A Paul)'

Antmusic - Adam and the Ants

'Antmusic' was the third single released in the UK from the hugely popular Adam & the Ants album 'Kings of the wild frontier' (1980). 'Antmusic' fared better than the first two singles and peaked at number 2 in January 1981, being held off the top by the re-release of John Lennon's 'Imagine' after he was murdered in New York City in December 1980.

The video to 'Antmusic' featured the group playing in a discothèque with a giant juke box, and persuading the young audience to turn away from disco music and dance to the new-styled 'Antmusic'. The band was also presented in the Netherlands, with two drummers being the main gimmick of this band. Despite this, the single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2902

Found: Record Exchange, London, October 30, 1997

Cost: 50p

Tracks: 'Antmusic' / 'Fall-in'

I am a camera - The Buggles

'I am a camera' was written by the Buggles for their second album 'Adventures in modern recording' (1981). Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes started writing the song before joining up with the band Yes. A version of the song was released as 'Into the lens' on the Yes album 'Drama'. When Horn and Downes continued with the new The Buggles album, the song was completed as 'I am a camera'.

The single was a non-charter for the Buggles. It still stuck in my mind as a great songs more than a decade later.

My collection: 7" single no. 2937

Found: January 31, 1998

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'I am a camera' / 'Fade away'

Vacation - Gogo's

Belinda Carlisle, Jane Wiedlin, Charlotte Caffey, Kathy Valentine and Gina Schock formed the Gogo's in 1978. Initially a punk band, the band moved into rock territory with their debut album 'Beauty and the beat' (1981). After a Grammy award for Best New Artist in 1982, they released their second album 'Vacation'.

This single is the title track from that album. While the album got a Grammy award for Best Packaging, this single did not chart in Europe.

My collection: 7" single no. 3134
Found: Den Haag, July 24, 1999
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Vacation' / 'Beatnik beach'

Oh, Lori - Alessi

According to a text on the back of the sleeve of this single, 'the choice of 'Oh, Lori' for this single was made easy - from the beginning it has been one of the album's most-favoured cuts'. The single peaked at number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 6 in the Netherlands.

The jazzy 'Oh Lori' is uncharacteristic for my taste, although a few jazzy tracks appear in my singles collection. The Alessi brothers have a typical Seventies smoothness around them which charmed me for a while.

My collection: 7" single no. 1093

Found: All that music, Leiden, November 11, 1989

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Oh Lori' / 'I was so sure'

Gijzelaar - Het Goede Doel

'Gijzelaar' ('Hostage') was Het Goede Doel's first chart hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 28 in September 1982. The single was controversial with some broadcasters, because of the lyric of the song: 'I wish I was a hostage / Then dinner would always be ready / I would never have to do the dishes / and I could always play cards'.

The single appeared on the band's debut album 'België', which was released in November 1982.

My collection: 7" single no. 3762

Found: Marktplaats.nl, received June 3, 2009

Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Gijzelaar' / 'Gijzelaar (instrumentaal)'

Plus grandir (live mix) - Mylene Farmer

'Plus grandir' was originally released as the second single from Mylene Farmer's debut album 'Cendres de lune' (1985). These days, that single costs a small fortune. The song deals with subjects that Farmer was especially fond of at the time : difficulty of leaving childhood, fear of aging, permanent pain of living and death. Laurent Boutonnat wrote the music, which was rather pop for such a sensitive theme. About the lyrics, Farmer said: 'Old age traumatizes me, it's what I wanted to say in the song'.

This live version was released in 1990, and taken from her album 'En concert'. It peaked at number 35 in the French singles chart, but did not chart in other territories.

My collection: 7" single no. 1870

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, March 27, 1993

Cost: 8 guilders

Tracks: 'Plus grandir (live mix)' / 'Plus grandir (Mum's rap)'

Love will lead you back - Taylor Dayne

Taylor Dayne was never one for subtlety, and so she delivers 'Love will lead you back' as one of her trademark powerballads: lots of loud vocals. The song, written by Diane Warren, is about a woman who is willing to set her lover free because she is confident that one day his love will lead him back to her: 'Sometimes it takes some time out on your own now / to find your way back home'. Warren has stated that she began writing the song while in a hotel in Russia, and that she had originally intended the song to be offered to Whitney Houston, but Arista Records president Clive Davis wanted to let Dayne record the song.

The single reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 11 in Australia, but otherwise it wasn't a big success. In the UK, the single stalled at number 69.

My collection: 7" single no. 1361

Found: Free Record Shop, Den haag, December 8, 1990

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Love will lead you back' / 'I'll be your shelter'

Cry wolf - A-ha

'Cry wolf' was released as the second single from A-ha's second album 'Scoundrel days'. The theme of the video was taken from the story of the boy who cried wolf, which was also the inspiration for the song. Pal Waaktaar commented about the song: ''Cry Wolf' has my first decent word-picture: ‘He came from where the winds are cold and truth is seen through key-holes…' Otherwise lots of bass, riffs and pure youthful force… Not so much substance, perhaps'.

The single was a top 5 hit in the UK and peaked at number 16 in the Netherlands. The single was released in a limited edition fold-out picture bag, which was a beautiful item to have. Actually, I like the sleeve more than I like the song...

My collection: 7" single no. 486
Found: Free Record Shop, 1987
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Cry wolf' / 'Maybe maybe'

Every angel - All about Eve

'Every angel' was the third single released from All About Eve's debut album. It was remixed for the single release by Paul Samwell-Smith and Tony Phillips. The B-side featured a new acoustic track, 'Wilde flowers'. The single was another chart success for the band, peaking at number 30.

The music video for this song was the one that started my interest in the band. It was broadcast on a satellite channel somewhere in 1988, and it was obvious to me that I should investigate this band further. This is how I found one of their singles, 'Martha's harbour' a week later. Finding 'Every angel' proved to be more difficult: it took me until 1990 to find this one.

And then, of course, there was also a limited edition release of the 7" single (pictured below). This fold-out cover featured a band photograph, featuring for the first time the four piece lineup consisting of Julianne Regan, Tim Bricheno, Andy Cousin and Mark Price.

My collection: 7" single no. 1180

Found: Oldies Unlimited, received February 26, 1990

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Every angel' / 'Wild flowers'

Rivers of Babylon - Boney M

'Rivers of Babylon' is a song written and recorded by Brent Dowe and Trevor McNaughton of The Melodians in 1972. It is based on the Biblical hymn Psalm 137, a hymn expressing the yearnings of the Jewish people in exile following the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem in 586 BC. The rivers of Babylon are the Euphrates river, its tributaries, and the Chebar river. The song also has words from Psalm 19:14.

The song was covered in 1978 by Boney M, with a version that was released as a single. In the UK Boney M. sold more than 1,985,000 copies of the song, making the single officially three times platinum and one of the all-time best-selling singles in the UK. It was also the group's only significant US chart entry, peaking at number 30 in the Pop charts. Some controversy arose when the first single pressings only credited Frank Farian and Reyam (aka Hans-Jörg Mayer) of Boney M; after an agreement with Dowe and McNaughton, these two were also credited on later pressings.

My collection: 7" single no. 71
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1980
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Rivers of Babylon' / 'Brown girl in the ring'

Mrs. Thompson - Just 4 Fun

The Norwegian quartet Just 4 Fun was formed especially for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1991. The members were Marianne Antonsen, Jan Groth, Eiríkur Hauksson and Hanne Krogh. Krogh had represented Norway once before, in 1985 when she won together with Elisabeth Andreassen as Bobbysocks.

'Mrs. Thompson' was written by Dag Kolsrud, who previously was a member of the band One 2 Many. The song was not a big success: it placed 17th in the Contest. Still, I liked the song a lot and was very happy when I found this single.

My collection: 7" single no. 2071

Found: Bea Records, February 19, 1994

Cost: 8 guilders

Tracks: 'Mrs. Thompson (Norwegian version)' / 'Mrs. Thompson (English version)'

Play it cool - Freiheit

The German band Münchener Freiheit started their international career in 1987 with an English language album entitled 'Romancing in the dark'. The single 'Play it cool' was taken from this album. It showcased their slight formulaic but effective pop.

The single was very successful in Europe, reaching number 3 in the Netherlands and top 10 in various other European countries. It was another one of those singles I didn't buy because it was played so often on the radio - only years later I still wanted to get my hands on a copy.

My collection: 7" single no. 1856

Found: Concerto, Amsterdam, January 30, 1993

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Play it cool' / 'Hide away'

Whole lotta Rosie - ACDC

'Whole lotta Rosie' can be described as the ultimate superficial rock song. The song was apparently based on singer Ron Scott's actual sexual experiences with an obese woman, whose first name was Rosie. The song's first verse reveals Rosie's physical measurements (42"-39"-56"), and that she weighs nineteen stone (approximately 120 kilograms).

The song was an annual appearance on Dutch radio station Veronica's Top 100 of all times, which is where I finally got interested in this song. Upon its release in 1978, it peaked at number 3 in the Dutch Top 40. Two years later, it reached number 36 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1706

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 19, 1992

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Whole lotta Rosie' / 'Dog eat dog'

Unless - Pale Fountains

When I found 'Thank you' after a couple of years searching, I also found this single, 'Unless'. I decided to give it a try - and I wasn't disappointed. It's the same kind of elegant pop music that they made on 'Thank you'.

'Unless' was released in January 1984 and didn't reach the charts - much like all their other singles. The Pale Fountains split up soon after this release, leaving Mick Head to form Shack and Andy Diagram to join James. Bassist Chris McCaffery died in 1986 of a brain tumour.

My collection: 7" single no. 1831

Found: Record palace, Amsterdam, January 13, 1993

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Unless' / 'Natural'

Bon anniversaire - Guesch Patti

Released as the final single from her 1988 album 'Labyrinthe', 'Bon anniversaire' was another spirited track by Guesch Patti and her band Encore. I got to know the track because my sister had bought the album and I played this track more than a few times. It was only a year after the release when I found out that it had been released as a single.

Of course, it was not a hit in the Netherlands - where French music usually has a hard time breaking through - but it did reach the charts in a few French-speaking countries.

My collection: 7" single no. 1139

Found: All that music, Leiden, December 28, 1989

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Bon anniversaire' / 'Backstage d'une star'

All cried out - Alison Moyet

'All cried out' was released as the second single from Alison Moyet's debut album 'Alf'. Produced by Steve Jolley and Tony Swain, the track reached number 8 in the UK singles chart and number 19 in the Dutch Top 40. On various complilation cd's usually an extended version of this song is used, making this single cut a rare treat.

In 2002, 'All cried out' was covered by the German pop band No Angels. A year later the song was also covered by German electro-industrial act Wumpscut on their 2003 studio album 'Preferential Legacy'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2462

Found: September 9, 1995

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'All cried out' / 'Steal me blind'

Tule luo - Katri Helena

Katri Helena represented Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest twice, in 1979 and 1993. 'Katson sineen taivaan' finished 14th in 1979, whereas 'Tule luo' ('Come to me') only managed 17th place. It should have been a good warning for the Netherlands, but they were stubborn and sent Willeke Alberti to the Contest only a year later.

That's not to say that 'Tule luo' was a bad song: if anything, it was melodious - a lot more melodious than many other Finnish entries around that time. But perhaps Katri Helena, who was born on March 17, 1945 had become a little too old for the young viewing audience of the Contest.

My collection: 7" single no. 1973

Found: Bea Records, October 17, 1993

Cost: 10 guilders

Tracks: 'Tule luo' / 'Viesti'