Refugee - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers formed in 1976 when Tom Petty, Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench left the band Mudcrutch. 'Refugee' was released in 1980 as the second single from their album 'Damn the torpedoes'. The single peaked at number 15 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 21 in the Netherlands.

I hadn't heard this song in a long time when I came across it on television in 1995. Only a week later, I found the single. I still rate this as a pretty strange coincidence.

My collection: 7" single no. 2425

Found: July 22, 1995

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Refugee' / 'It's rainin' again'

Grand hotel - Procol Harum

Procol Harum is best known for their classic single 'A whiter shade of pale', which has a notable classical influence. However, the band is also well known for incorporating blues and pop into their music. The group's members Gary Brooker and Robin Trower were always torn between these two styles, with Brooker's classical background and Trower's tendency towards blues material. When Trower left the band in 1971, Procol Harum tended more towards the classical side.

This is evidenced well in this single from 1973: 'Grand hotel' combines a stately melody with a church choir and a rather bombastic orchestral backing. The single charted in the Netherlands and peaked at number 23.

My collection: 7" single no. 2624

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 2, 1996

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Grand hotel' / 'A rum tale'

Speciale aanbieding - Het Goede Doel and VOF de Kunst

In 1988, Het Goede Doel made the album 'Iedereen is anders' ('Everyone is different'), collaborating with different Dutch artists for every track on the album. This resulted in a rather interesting album. The songs of Henk Temming and Henk Westbroek proved to be well executed by Het Goede Doel themselves, but the vocals were from various other artists such as Marco Bakker, Herman van Veen, Ramses Shaffy and Richenel. Rene Froger's career was unfortunately helped with this album too; he scored his first number 1 hit with 'Alles kan een mens gelukkig maken', after a series of flops. But hey, shit happens.

This single, 'Speciale aanbieding' ('Special discount') was performed with VOF de Kunst, which at that point was a band solely represented by singer Nol Havens. The song was not a success, because it didn't chart. But the instrumental version of the track was a nice extra goodie.

My collection: 7" single no. 810

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, May 6, 1989

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Speciale aanbieding' / 'Speciale aanbieding (instrumentale versie)'

Downtown - One 2 Many

Camilla Griehsel, Dag Kolsrud and Jan Gisle Ytterdal formed One 2 Many in 1988. They released their only album 'Mirror' on A&M Records. Several singles were drawn from the album, but this one was the first and most successful.

'Downtown' originally came out in October 1988. It reached number 65 in the UK singles chart and number 1 in Norway. A few months later, in February 1989, the single entered the Dutch Top 40, where it peaked at number 24. In May 1989, the single was re-released in the UK and made number 43. It also found its way into the American singles chart, where it peaked at number 37.

I saw the music video for 'Downtown' on television and was immediately interested. The song featured a lot of piano (my favourite instrument), the vocals were infectuous and the melody was beautiful. I bought the single soon after that. A few years later, I found the 1989 UK edition with a different sleeve (pictured below).

My collection: 7" single no. 755 / no. 2893

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, February 17, 1989 / Beanos, East Croydon, London, October 29, 1997

Cost: 6 guilders / 1 pound

Tracks: 'Downtown' / 'Welcome to my city'

Iemand als jij - Barbara

Barbara Deckx was born on January 22, 1974 in Turnhout, Belgium. She represented Belgium during the 1993 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Iemand als jij', a simple but effective ballad. The song ended up on 25th place, the lowest placing of all contestants. This was arguably because of the self-made beige dress she wore, but of course there are suspicions that her being slightly overweight didn't help either. Obese people are commonly referred to as the scum of the earth, unfortunately.

Besides the Dutch and French versions of the song included on this 7" single, there are also versions in English and German.

My collection: 7" single no. 2977

Found: March 1, 1998

Cost: 125 Belgian Francs

Tracks: 'Iemand als jij' / 'Je n'ai jamais aimé quelqu'un comme toi'

Call me when you're sober - Evanescence

'Call me when you're sober' was released in August 2006 as the first single from Evanescence's second album 'The open door'. Frontwoman Amy Lee wrote the song together with guitarist Terry Balsamo. He joined the band when Evanescence's previous guitarist Ben Moody left. Amy Lee's sisters Carrie and Lori were credited as backing vocalists on this track.

The single reached number 4 in the UK singles chart and peaked at number 13 in Ireland and Germany. In the Netherlands, the single rose to number 9.

My collection: 7" single no. 3581

Found: eBay, received February 2009

Cost: 3 pounds

Tracks: 'Call me when you're sober' / 'Call me when you're sober (acoustic version)'

Fooled around and fell in love - Elvin Bishop

Elvin Bishop was born on October 21, 1942 in Glendale, California. He started out in music in the early Sixties when he joined the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. In 1968 he went solo and formed the Elvin Bishop Group.

In 1976 Bishop released his most memorable single, 'Fooled around and fell in love', about his love affair with the late Jenny Villarin, the mother of his late daughter Selina Bishop. The single peaked at number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 8 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 920

Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 25, 1989

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Fooled around and fell in love' / 'I love the life I lead'

Only a fool - Mighty Sparrow and Byron Lee

'Only a fool' was a hit for Mighty Sparrow, Byron Lee and the Dragonaires twice: originally in 1969 and then again in 1978. In 1969 the single reached number 31 during its three week chart run. When it returned, entering the Dutch Top 40 on December 31, 1977, the single stayed in the chart for 27 weeks (!) and reached number 2.

When it charted in 1978 I got to know this song, but I felt it was a dull, boring song. Now that I'm older, I quite like the old sound of this track and the melody really fits the melancholy lyric. Sometimes you need to get older to appreciate certain music.

My collection: 7" single no. 2293

Found: May 13, 1995

Cost: 1 guilders

Tracks: 'Only a fool' / 'Make the world go away'

Each word's a beat of my heart - Mink DeVille

In 1983, the rock band Mink DeVille released their fifth album 'Where angels fear to tread'. Mink DeVille as a rock group had effectively ceased to exist as a band; only lead singer Willy DeVille remained from the original band. For this album, Willy DeVille reached deeper into his Latin roots, even recording a salsa number, 'Demisado Corazon.'

This single, 'Each word's a beat of my heart', reached number 89 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 12 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 1102

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

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Each word's a beat of my heart' / 'River of tears'

The only way out - Cliff Richard

I was still defining my own taste circa 1982. Having struck a deal with my sister to buy as much different singles from one another, I was almost forced to find songs that I liked and she didn't. That way, I found out that Cliff Richard's 'The only way out' was a song I liked a little, while she hated it. So I went out and bought the single pretty quickly. I even played it a few times, but after 1982, it was all over for Cliff. I've had this single for the majority of my life, but now is the first time in 25 years I've played it again...

Chart-wise, this single was a success. It reached number 10 in the UK and Ireland and got to number 13 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 134

Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1982

Cost: 6 guilders

Track: 'The only way out' / 'Under the influence'

The caterpillar - The Cure

When The Cure released 'The caterpillar', the strange but wonderful music video was a regular on all music television stations in Europe. It was shot in the Great Conservatory in Syon Park, London. The single peaked at number 14 in the UK and number 51 in Australia.

Despite liking this song a lot, I never got round to buying the single. And when I was ready to, it all but disappeared from the face of the earth. In fact, when I finally bought this single, it was the last time I ever saw a copy. It's strange, because I am a regular visitor of record fairs and shops, but apparently, this single has become quite rare.

My collection: 7" single no. 2990

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

Cost: 2,5 pounds

Tracks: 'The caterpillar' / 'Happy the man'

Fernando - Abba

The song 'Fernando' was originally written for Anni-Frid Lynstad's solo album 'Ensam' (1975). The lyric of this version, which was written in Swedish, differed substantially from the English version recorded by Abba. Bjorn Ulvaeus from the band comments: 'That lyric is so banal and I didn't like it. It was a love lyric, someone who loved Fernando, but I inherited the word 'Fernando' and I thought long and hard, what does Fernando tell me? I was in my summerhouse one starry evening and the words came, 'There was something in the air that night' and I thought of two old comrades from some guerrilla war in Mexico who would be sitting in the porch and reminiscing about what happened to them back then and this is what it is all about. Total fiction.'

The single became one of Abba's best selling singles, reaching the top of the charts in more than a dozen countries worldwide.

My collection: 7" single no. 1939

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 11, 1993

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Fernando' / 'Tropical loveland'

I don't believe in you - Talk Talk

For a long time, this was 'that missing Talk Talk single' for me. I knew that 'I don't believe in you' was released as the last single from their album 'The colour of spring', but I simply couldn't find a copy. For years I searched for it, only to find it at a record fair in 1992. I was quite surprised when I didn't have to pay a fortune for it.

Still, this is a pretty rare one. Most of Talk Talk's singles and B-sides have been released on cd compilations, but the B-side of this one, a live version of 'Does Caroline know?', performed live at the Montreux Jazz Festival in the Summer of 1986, remains unreleased on cd. A regrettable oversight, since it is a brilliant live track. The single, meanwhile, only managed a number 96 placing in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1600

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, March 28, 1992

Cost: 4 guilders

Tracks: 'I don't believe in you' / 'Does Caroline know? (live)'

One more chance (new remix 86) - Pet Shop Boys

I can't imagine that the Pet Shop Boys were very happy with this single release. ZYX Records released this 1986 remix of 'One more chance' after they switched record labels, moved to Parlophone Records and released a couple of successful albums. This remix was based on the original version of 'One more chance', which the Pet Shop Boys recorded with New York producer Bobby Orlando in 1984.

'One more chance' was based on an unused backing track Bobby Orlando had recorded for the actor/singer Divine, provisionally titled 'Rock me'. Neil Tennant then wrote a lyric for the song while in Broadway, exploring themes of masochism and 'romantic paranoia'. This remix single did not become a hit but I presume it's quite rare.

My collection: 7" single no. 2641

Found: May 12, 1996

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'One more chance (Hurricane remix by Tess)' / 'Theme for the Pet Shop Boys (part 2)'

Blue hotel - Chris Isaak

'Blue hotel' was a track from Chris Isaak's self-titled second album. Released in 1987, the single peaked at number 31 in the Netherlands. In the UK, the single only charted after the success of 'Wicked game' in 1990. It was re-released in 1991, and then reached number 17 in the UK singles chart.

I've always thought that the lyric 'Life don't work out my way' was one of the best lines in pop. I think it's also a universal truth.

My collection: 7" single no. 2620
Found: February 24, 1996
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Blue hotel' / 'Waiting for the rain to fall'

Look mama (live) - Howard Jones

This third and - as far as I know - last single released by the Howard Jones fanclub featured two more live tracks. This time, they were recorded at Red Rocks, Denver, Colorado on June 12, 1985.

'Look mama' and 'Life in one day' were both released as singles from Howard Jones' second album 'Dream into action'. My criticism on this particular single is that it doesn't really have a rich, lush sound that is often part of a live recording. It sounds rather metallic. The lengthy version of 'Life in one day' is quite delicious, however.

My collection: 7" single no. 2793

Found: Howard Jones fanclub, received November 28, 1996

Cost: 3 pounds

Tracks: 'Look mama (live)' / 'Life in one day (live)'

Will you marry me? - Paula Abdul

Released as the fifth and final single from her 1992 album 'Spellbound', 'Will you marry me?' is, as the title suggests, a rather sloppy ballad. It is embellished by a harmonica solo performed by Stevie Wonder. The single was released right as Abdul became engaged and married to Emilio Estevez. They married in California on April 29, 1992 but then divorced two years later in May 1994.

The single only reached number 74 in the UK, but did rise to number 8 in Canada and number 14 in Germany. I bought the single in London when I found it in a bargain bin, completing my set of Paula Abdul singles from that album.

My collection: 7" single no. 1730

Found: Virgin Megastore, London, October 17, 1992

Cost: 25p

Tracks: 'Will you marry me? (edit)' / 'Goodnight my love'

Disappointed - Electronic

After the release and promotion of their first album, Johnny Marr and Bernard Sumner recorded albums with The The and New Order respectively, regrouping with Neil Tennant in 1992 to record their fourth and highest-charting single 'Disappointed', which they had played live on a short tour of Europe the previous December.

The song was based on a piano riff by Marr's brother Ian and worked up into a full backing-track by Johnny Marr and Bernard Sumner. They decided to ask Neil Tennant to complete the song and he wrote the lyrics and vocal melody. Some of the words ('Disenchanted once more...') were partly inspired by Mylène Farmer's 1991 hit 'Désenchantée'. The single peaked at number 6 in the UK singles chart and remained Electronic's biggest chart success to date.

My collection: 7" single no. 1748

Found: HMV, London, October 19, 1992

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Disappointed' / 'Idiot country two'

Something good - Utah Saints

On the one hand, it is of course a stroke of genius to sample a Kate Bush vocal for a single, because all people with good taste will appreciate anything incorporating Kate's vocals. On the other hand, is Kate Bush's delicate music suitable for this kind of techno house stuff? I always had doubts about this - and I still do.

'Something good' by the Utah Saints utilises a sample of Kate Bush's 'Cloudbusting' to make a whole new track. And it is a 'track', not a 'song', unfortunately. The single peaked at number 4 in the UK and Ireland and number 10 in Australia. The track was recently remixed and re-released as 'Something Good 08'. In that version, it made the Dutch Top 40, peaking at number 34.

My collection: 7" single no. 1669
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, June 20, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Something good' / 'Trance atlantic flight'

Only one word - Propaganda

Compared to the aggressive sound of their debut album 'A secret wish', the material on Propaganda's second album '1234' was rather subdued. 'Only one word', the second single from the album, was a good example: the first line-up of Propaganda would never even have considered a ballad to be released as a single. Yet, here it was. Personally, I rate this as one of my favourite Propaganda tracks of all.

The international audience reacted with disinterest. In the UK, the single only managed a number 71 placing in the singles chart - in other countries the single did not chart at all.

My collection: 7" single no. 2018

Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 19, 1993

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Only one word' / 'Open spaces'