One of the more beautiful synthpop hits from the Eighties was Soft Cell's 1982 hit 'Torch'. It was, fortunately, recognised by the international audiences, as it peaked at number 2 in the UK and at number 10 in the Netherlands.
The lead vocals were performed, as always, by Marc Almond, but at the end a female voice joins him. According to the sleeve this is Cindy Ecstacy, which is almost certainly a pseudonym.
My collection: 7" single no. 2544 Found: Record Exchange, London, November 1, 1995 Cost: 1 pound Tracks: 'Torch' / 'Insecure me'
Throughout the Seventies, the Dutch band Earth and Fire had symphonic rock tendencies interspersed with modern keyboard sounds. This is probably illustrated best by 'Love of life', which is a song that almost sounds like Eighties synthpop - but not quite.
It was another big success for the band, peaking at number 2 in the summer of 1974.
My collection: 7" single no. 1237 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 25, 1990 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Love of life' / 'Tuffy the cat'
Daniel was born as Milan Popovic on October 29, 1955 in Titograd, Yugoslavia. In 1977 he moved to Zagreb, to try and forge a career in pop music. In 1983, he was elected to represent his country in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Džuli'. He finished on fourth place, equalling the country's best placing in the Contest in 1962.
The English version of the song, entitled 'Julie' was an international hit. In the Netherlands, the song peaked at number 3, outperforming that year's winner Corinne Hermes, who only made number 19.
My collection: 7" single no. 3218 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, October 12, 2000 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Julie' / 'Come to my Adria'
Like previous singles 'Man in the mirror' and 'Heal the world', Michael Jackson's second single from the album 'Invincible', 'Cry', addresses problems in the world, such as war, loneliness, lying and depression and suggests that if everyone pulls together as one, then we can all make a change to the world. Written by R. Kelly, who also sang backing vocals on the track, this single was a relative failure as it only reached number 25 in the UK and number 39 in the Netherlands. Although this single was made in the USA, it was never released commercially. Promotional activities were abandoned when the events of September 11, 2001 took place, and the single was replaced with the more optimistic and innocent track 'Butterflies'.
At the time of its release, Michael Jackson had fallen out of favour with the press and audience. How different it is today: the King of Pop is being buried, millions of people around the world are watching the events taking place in Los Angeles. 'We all cry at the same time', though some are less sincere about it than others. Come back Michael, all is forgiven. I can't help but being slightly cynical. But today has been great, remembering all these great singles that I have in my collection. And I will be filling in the gaps in the weeks and months to come...
My collection: 7" single no. 3827 Found: 45toeren.nl, received July 3, 2009 Cost: 3 euro Tracks: 'Cry' / 'Cry'
As far as I know, 'You are not alone' is the last single from Michael Jackson's album 'History' that was released on 7" vinyl. The R&B ballad was officially written by R. Kelly in response to difficult times in his personal life. He sent a bare demo tape to Jackson, who liked the song and decided to co-produce it with Kelly. Jackson's interest in the song was also linked to recent events in his personal life; the highly publicized allegations of child sexual abuse and his recent marriage to Lisa Marie Presley. The single was a number 1 in the UK and the USA, peaking at number 6 in the Netherlands.
In 2007, a Belgium court ruled that R. Kelly had plagiarized the 1993 song 'If we can start all over' when composing 'You are not alone'. The court transferred rights of Jackson's hit to the Belgian twin composer brothers, Eddy and Danny Van Passel. The judgment is only recognized in Belgium and airplay of the hit has been banned in that country.
My collection: 7" single no. 2740 Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, April 21, 1996 Cost: 10 guilders Tracks: 'You are not alone (radio edit)' / 'Scream louder (Flyte Tyme remix)'
In 1993, the relationship between Michael Jackson and the press soured entirely when he was accused of child abuse. Although never charged with a crime, Jackson was subject to intense media scrutiny while the criminal investigation took place. Jackson commented: 'I will say I am particularly upset by the handling of the matter by the incredible, terrible mass media. At every opportunity, the media has dissected and manipulated these allegations to reach their own conclusions.'
Michael's sister Janet wanted to become involved in the recording of 'Scream' as a show of sibling support. 'Scream' was written, composed and produced by the Jackson siblings, with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. It was the first time Michael Jackson had worked with Jam and Lewis, although Janet had worked with them successfully on numerous occasions. The single went top 10 around the world. In the UK, this limited edition single with a postersleeve was released.
My collection: 7" single no. 2333 Found: HMV, London, June 26, 1995 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Scream (Def radio mix)' / 'Scream (single edit)'
How big is the chance that Michael Jackson would have been inspired by an Italian song? Italian singer Al Bano thought it was very possible when he heard 'Will you be there', so he sued Michael Jackson, accusing him of plagiarising his song 'I cigni di Balaka'. Italian judges ruled that the two songs, both being very similar, are inspired by a traditional Indian song.
'Will you be there' was released as a single in July 1993. It was taken from the 1991 album 'Dangerous', and also appeared on the soundtrack of the movie 'Free Willy'. My copy of the single came in a limited edition posterbag. The single reached number 3 in the Netherlands, number 9 in the UK and number 7 in the USA.
My collection: 7" single no. 2390 Found: London, July 5, 1995 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Will you be there (edit)' / 'Girlfriend'
To be honest, I would never have bought this single if it hadn't come in a posterbag. Limited editions just have this fatal attraction on me. Jackson commented in 2001 that 'Heal the world' is the song he is most proud to have created. To many - including myself - it is a rather sappy ballad, including the odd platitude or two. But at the same time it shows that Jackson was really concerned about the fate of children.
During the same time as the release of this single, Jackson also created the Heal the World Foundation, a charitable organization which was designed to improve the lives of children. The organization was also meant to teach children how to help others. This concept of 'betterment for all' would become a centerpiece for the Dangerous World Tour. The single only reached number 1 in Spain, but peaked at number 2 in the UK, number 4 in the Netherlands and number 27 in the USA.
My collection: 7" single no. 2941 Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 31, 1998 Cost: 8 guilders Tracks: 'Heal the world (edit)' / 'She drives me wild'
'Jam' was released as the fifth single from Michael Jackson's album 'Dangerous'. The song features a rap performed by Heavy D, while the music video also starred professional basketballer Michael Jordan and the short-lived hiphop duo Kris Kross. It all concealed how great the song 'Jam' actually was. The single reached number 12 in the UK singles chart and number 26 in the US Billboard Hot 100.
This single packaged featured a couple of square 7" portraits and could be used as a frame. I discovered it almost by accident and was really happy to buy this limited edition UK release.
My collection: 7" single no. 3267 Found: London, October 2000 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Jam (7" edit)' / 'Beat it (Moby's sub mix)'
Only Michael Jackson would use a title like 'In the closet' for a heterosexual love song. Despite the song's suggestive title the lyric does not allude to a hidden sexual orientation but rather a concealed relationship: 'Don't hide our love/ Woman to man'.
The song's female vocal was originally labeled 'Mystery girl' but was later revealed to be Princess Stéphanie of Monaco. Originally the song was conceived as a duet between Jackson and Madonna. According to a 1992 interview with British journalist Jonathan Ross, Madonna claimed she worked on some lyrical ideas for the song but when she presented them to Michael, he decided her vocals were too weak and he decided not to continue with the project. The single reached number 8 in the UK singles chart and number 9 in the Netherlands. My copy of the single came in a limited edition poster sleeve.
My collection: 7" single no. 2484 Found: London, October 29, 1995 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'In the closet (7" edit)' / 'In the closet (The Mission radio edit)'
After two years of silence, Michael Jackson returned to the pop scene with 'Black or white', the first single from his 1991 album 'Dangerous'. Written, composed, and arranged by Jackson with the rap lyrics by Bill Bottrell, it is a song that promotes racial unity. The song's introduction and main riff are performed by guitarist Slash and Bill Bottrell.
The international audiences were obviously waiting for Jackson's comeback single, because it went number 1 in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the USA. In the Netherlands, it peaked at number 2.
My collection: 7" single no. 3254 Found: October 20, 2000 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Black or white' / 'Black or white (instrumental)'
'Liberian girl' was released in July 1989, just as I was starting an education to become a librarian. I soon dubbed the song 'Librarian girl' as a result of this. The song was released as the ninth and final single from the album 'Bad', and was dedicated to one of his best friends, Elizabeth Taylor.
The single reached number 1 in Ireland, number 13 in the UK and number 14 in the Netherlands. The music video featured a celebrity cast waiting for Michael to show up. At the end it becomes obvious that Michael was behind the camera. Among the celebrities in the video are people like Paula Abdul, Debbie Gibson, Whoopi Goldberg, Quincy Jones, Olivia Newton-John, Steven Spielberg and 'Weird Al' Yankovic.
My collection: 7" single no. 943 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, July 17, 1989 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Liberian girl' / 'Girlfriend'
'Leave me alone' only appeared on the cd version of Michael Jackson's 1987 album 'Bad' as a bonus track. It was released in Europe as the eighth single from the album. The accompanying music video was taken from the movie 'Moonwalker', in which the song featured.
The single reached number 1 in Ireland and Spain, peaked at number 2 in the UK and number 5 in the Netherlands. The song was never performed live by Michael.
My collection: 7" single no. 2500 Found: London, October 30, 1995 Cost: 1 pound Tracks: 'Leave me alone' / 'Human nature'
An early version of 'Smooth criminal' was written by Michael Jackson and John Barnes in 1985. The original demo was recorded in 1986. The original title was 'Al Capone' which is probably about the Italian-American gangster. But this version didn't make it onto the album 'Bad' and was re-worked and re-written as 'Smooth criminal'. The song contains a fast-paced beat intertwined with Jackson's lyrics about a woman named Annie, who has been attacked in her apartment by an assailant.
Released as the seventh single from 'Bad', it is also the central theme of Michael's 1988 movie 'Moonwalker'. The European sleeve of the single 'Smooth criminal' (pictured above) uses the film poster of that movie, while the UK version (pictured below) uses a still from the movie.
'Smooth criminal' was a number 1 hitsingle in Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Israel and Spain, while in the UK it peaked at number 8 and in the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 7.
My collection: 7" single no. 742 / no. 2528 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, February 9, 1989 / London, November 1, 1995 Cost: 6 guilders / 2 pounds Tracks: 'Smooth criminal' / 'Smooth criminal (instrumental)'
In his 1988 autobiography 'Moonwalk', Michael Jackson wrote: ''Bad' is a song about the street. It's about this kid from a bad neighborhood who gets to go away to a private school. He comes back to the old neighborhood when he's on a break from school and the kids from the neighborhood start giving him trouble. He sings, 'I'm bad, you're bad, who's bad, who's the best?' He's saying when you're strong and good, then you're bad.'
Released as the second single from the album 'Bad', this single reached number 1 in Belgium, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and Ireland. In the UK, the single peaked at number 3. The song was parodies by 'Weird Al' Yankovic. His version is called 'Fat'. He also parodied Jackson's album cover by having his album titled 'Even worse', complete with Yankovic dressed like Jackson.
My collection: 7" single no. 2447 Found: September 2, 1995 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Bad' / 'I can't help it'
'I just can't stop loving you' was released as the first single from Michael Jackson's 1987 album 'Bad'. Written and composed by Jackson, it was originally intended to be a duet between Jackson and his woman of choice: either Barbra Streisand or Whitney Houston. Even Aretha Franklin and Agnetha Fältskog (formerly of ABBA) were offered the song, but all four had other obligations. Quincy Jones protege Siedah Garrett volunteered to sing with Jackson. She was unaware she would be singing the song - although she had received a tape of it - until the day of the recording session, when Jones told her to step up to the microphone and sing it with Jackson.
This single features a spoken intro by Jackson backed with a longer version of the opening music. The spoken words were mixed out on later releases of the album.
My collection: 7" single no. 1078 Found: HMV, London, October 19, 1989 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'I just can't stop loving you' / 'Baby be mine'
'Beat it' is the first Michael Jackson single I ever bought. It was a stunning piece of work, combining dance rhythms with a decidedly hardrock guitar solo. The solo was performed by Eddie van Halen, who recorded his solo free of charge. 'I did it as a favor. I was a complete fool, according to the rest of the band, our manager and everyone else. I was not used. I knew what I was doing - I don't do something unless I want to do it.'
The lyrics of 'Beat it' are about defeat and courage. The line 'don't be a macho man' is said to express Jackson's dislike of violence, whilst also referencing the childhood abuse he faced at the hands of his father Joseph.
My collection: 7" single no. 192 Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1983 Cost: 5,5 guilders Tracks: 'Beat it' / 'Get on the floor'
When Michael Jackson was enjoying enormous success with 'Off the wall' on the Epic label, his previous employer Motown decided to try and cash in on the success as well. They plundered the archives and released 'One day in your life' from his 1975 album 'Forever, Michael'.
While it became a modest hit in the USA, reaching number 55, it actually reached number 1 in the UK singles chart - his first single to do so. It went on to become the 6th best-selling single of 1981 in the UK. The single also reached number 1 in Ireland and the Netherlands.
My collection: 7" single no. 820 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 13, 1989 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'One day in your life' / 'Dear Michael'
'She's out of my life' was written by Tom Bahler. He wrote the song about Karen Carpenter, who broke up with him after he'd had an affair with another woman - and father a child with her. The song became famous as the fourth single from Michael Jackson's album 'Off the wall'. Unlike the album's previous singles, which were all dance/funk tracks, this was an emotional ballad, showing another side of the American superstar.
Although he had attempted to record the song's last few moments with emotional restraint, Michael Jackson kept breaking down in tears at the end. Producer Quincy Jones subsequently decided to let Jackson's tearful recording stand: 'I said 'hey - that's supposed to be, leave it on there''.
I got the single from my brother who had more than one copy of this single after Michael Jackson's death. That in itself is a rather astounding thing, as my brother is not always this generous.
My collection: 7" single no. 3826 Found: present, July 3, 2009 Cost: nothing Track: 'She's out of my life' (Michael Jackson) / 'Push me away' (The Jacksons)
The title track from Michael Jackson's by then bestselling 1979 album 'Off the wall' was released as its third single. The track was composed by Rod Temperton. The lyric of the song pertains to getting out of troubles: 'leave that nine-to-five upon the shelf / and just enjoy yourself'.
The song peaked at number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and number 7 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 1937 Found: Disco Market, August 11, 1993 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Off the wall' / 'Working day and night'
One of the more beautiful synthpop hits from the Eighties was Soft Cell's 1982 hit 'Torch'. It was, fortunately, recognised by the international audiences, as it peaked at number 2 in the UK and at number 10 in the Netherlands.
