Open your eyes - Snow Patrol

'Open your eyes' was released as the fifth single from Snow Patrol's 2006 album 'Eyes open'. Released in February 2007, the single peaked at number 26 in the UK singles chart. It went number 1 in Slovakia and number 21 in Ireland.

The song has proved to be an effective track for campaigns. It was used in Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign, the BBC HD service campaign, a promo for the second season of the TV series 'Gossip girl' and the season 12 finale and season 13 premiere of 'ER'. The B-side is a cover of Ricky Wilde's 'I am an astronaut', which was previously featured on the Save the Children charity compilation album 'Colours are brighter'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3499
Found: eBay.co.uk, received December 23, 2008
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Open your eyes' / 'I am an astronaut'

Trick of the night - Bananarama

Before I bought the 12" single of 'Trick of the night', I found this ep featuring four tracks. Just like on the 12" single, 'Trick of the night' was featured in two different versions: one produced by Tony Swain and Steve Jolley, and one by Stock, Aitken & Waterman.

The single peaked at number 32 in the UK singles chart, whereas it peaked at number 76 in the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. This ep was released in a beautiful gatefold sleeve, the inner side featuring an illustration of the trio plus the lyric of the song.

My collection: 7" single no. 2765
Found: House of Rhythm, October 29, 1996
Cost: 40p
Tracks: 'Trick of the night #1', 'Cut above the rest' / 'Trick of the night #2', 'Set on you'

Amiga Quartett - Mel and Kim

The 'Amiga Quartett' was a series of four track ep's released in the German Democratic Republic, the Eastern part of Germany that existed until the end of the Eighties, featuring tracks from a certain artist or band. In this installment, the ep is filled with four tracks by Mel & Kim. They were enjoying a lot of success in Europe with 'Showing out' and 'Respectable' at the time. The state-controlled record company picked four tracks from their debut album to release them on this ep.

What's remarkable about this ep is the rather butchered version of 'Showing out'. It is edited in a different way than usual, taking rather random passages from the album version of the track and glueing them together, sometimes audibly wrong.

My collection: 7" single no. 2926
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 13, 1997
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Respectable', 'From a whisper to a scream' / 'Showing out', 'Who's gonna catch you'

1000 oceans - Tori Amos

Tori Amos explained that the idea for '1000 oceans' came to her in a dream. An old African woman was humming the melody to her, and she got up around 5:30 in the morning to record it. The inspiration for the lyrics came when her father-in-law died, and she claims the song helped her husband deal with the grieving process. The lyrics contain reference to Silbury Hill, an ancient mound in Wiltshire, England. This is a place often visited by Amos and her husband.

The single did not chart. This vinyl single is also the last Tori Amos vinyl single around; subsequent releases were no longer released on this format with the sole exception of 'A sorta fairytale'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3142
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, 1999
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: '1000 oceans' / 'Baker baker (live)'

Love is - Vanessa Williams and Brian McKnight

'Love is' was recorded in 1993 as a duet of Vanessa Williams and Brian McKnight. The track originally appeared on the soundtrack of the TV drama series 'Beverly Hills, 90210'. As a result of this exposure, the song peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming McKnight's breakthrough hit and another hit for Williams. The single also charted in Australia, where it peaked at number 49. In other territories, the single flopped.

I bough this single a few years after its original release. I was quite happy to find this single because at that time, vinyl singles were becoming increasingly rare.

My collection: 7" single no. 2712
Found: House of Rhythm, London, July 3, 1996
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'Love is' (Vanessa Williams & Brian McKnight) / 'After the love' (Brian McKnight)

Glow - Rick James

Rick James scored his second and last top 10 hit in the Netherlands with the 1985 single 'Glow'. The single did not chart in the UK. It was an almost megalomaniac piece of work, with lots of solos and clocking in at 5 minutes and 40 seconds.

James' last hit was 'Loosey's Rap' in 1989. It all went downhill from there, as he descended into a drug- and crimefilled Nineties. On the morning of August 6, 2004, Rick James was found dead in his home by his caretaker. James had died as a result of his various health conditions of diabetes, stroke, a pacemaker, and a heart attack. Through his autopsy it was discovered he was under the influence of five different drugs, including marijuana and cocaine, at the time of his death.

My collection: 7" single no. 353
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Glow' / 'Glow (instrumental)'

(Just like) Starting over - John Lennon

'(Just like) Starting over' was released as the first single from John Lennon's 1980 album 'Double fantasy' and his first single in five years. It was chosen by Lennon, not because he felt it was the best track on the album, but because it was the most appropriate one, following his five year absence from the music business. The original title of the song was 'Starting over'. '(Just like)' was added at the last minute because a country song of the same title was released by Tammy Wynette just a few months before.

Released in October 1980, the single reached number one in the UK and the USA two weeks after Lennon was killed by a madman on December 8 of that year. The sound of Yoko Ono getting an orgasm on the B-side was an added bonus.

My collection: 7" single no. 2898
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 30, 1997
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: '(Just like) Starting over' (John Lennon) / 'Kiss kiss kiss' (Yoko Ono)

Forest fire (remix) - Lloyd Cole and the Commotions

After Lloyd Cole & the Commotions decided to call it quits, the record company released a compilation album with all their single releases. To accompany the album, a single was released. A remix of the track 'Forest fire' was made by Bruce Lampcov. The single did not chart.

The band broke up in 1989 amid reports of personality clashes between members, but they reformed in 2004 to perform a 20th anniversary mini-tour of the UK and Ireland.

My collection: 7" single no. 2476
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 16, 1995
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Forest fire (remix)' / 'Perfect blue (remix)'

Chiquitita - Abba

Before the song 'Chiquitita' was created, it existed in various working forms. Titles like 'Kålsupare', 'Three wise guys' and 'In the arms of Rosalita' all passed by. The song was finally recorded as 'Chiquitita' in December 1978 and released a month later, as the first single from the album 'Voulez-vous'.

Upon its release it was featured in the 1979 UNICEF charity event, the 'Music for UNICEF' concert, broadcast worldwide from the United Nations General Assembly. The single subsequently became a charttopper in Belgium, the Netherlands, Finland, Ireland, Spain, South Africa, Switzerland, Mexico and New Zealand. In the UK, the single peaked at number 2.

My collection: 7" single no. 2247
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 4, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Chiquitita' / 'Lovelight'

Freedom - Wham!

Wham! enjoyed their first UK number 1 hit with 'Wake me up before you gogo' in the summer of 1984. When the next single 'Freedom' was released, no-one could have suspected that it would become another charttopper for the duo. Not only that, but it also became the number 10 best selling single in the UK that year.

Meanwhile, the duo went on tour in China. The music video showed images from that tour. Wham were the first 'western' band to tour the Asian country.

My collection: 7" single no. 3848
Found: Zeeheldenfestival, Den Haag, July 4, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Freedom' / 'Freedom (instrumental)'

The captain of her heart - Double

There aren't that many Swiss bands that achieved international success, but Double managed it in 1985 with their single 'The captain of her heart'. It reached number 8 in the UK singles chart. Furthermore, it was a top 10 hit in the Dominican Republic, Italy, Canada, France, Norway and Germany. Interesting enough, it only reached number 11 in Switzerland.

The band consisted of Kurt Maloo and Felix Haug. The sleeve of this single pictures four members, but I couldn't find information about the additional two...

My collection: 7" single no. 368
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'The captain of her heart' / 'Your prayer takes me off part 2'

Torch - Soft Cell

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'

Love of life - Earth and Fire

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'

Julie - Daniel

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'

Cry - Michael Jackson

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'

You are not alone - Michael Jackson

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)'

Scream - Michael and Janet Jackson

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)'

Will you be there - Michael Jackson

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'

Heal the world - Michael Jackson

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 - Michael Jackson

'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)'