Nothing has been proved - Dusty Springfield

'Nothing has been proved' (1989) was a single by Dusty Springfield, written and produced by the Pet Shop Boys. The song was their second collaboration, following their hit song 'What have I done to deserve this?' in 1987. It features an orchestral arrangement by Angelo Badalamenti and a tenor saxophone solo by Courtney Pine.

The song was composed for the 1989 movie 'Scandal', an account of the so called Profumo Affair, a British public scandal in 1963 which profoundly affected the ruling Conservative Party government. The lyrics of the song describe the actual course of the events and mention the main characters involved; Mandy Rice-Davies, Christine Keeler and Stephen Ward.

The single made number 16 in the UK singles chart and number 18 in the Dutch Top 40. In the UK, a limited edition single with a gatefold sleeve was released (pictured below). I didn't know about this release until I found it in a second hand shop seven years after its original release...

My collection: 7" single no. 774 / no. 2766
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, March 18, 1989 / House of Rhythm, London, October 29, 1996
Cost: 6 guilders / 40p
Tracks: 'Nothing has been proved' / 'Nothing has been proved (instrumental)'

What I am - Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians

Edie Brickell attended high school at the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas, and then attended Southern Methodist University for a year and a half. In 1985 she made the decision one night in a bar to get up on stage with a local folk rock group, New Bohemians. She joined the band as lead singer and the group became Edie Brickell & New Bohemians. Their 1988 debut album 'Shooting rubberbands at the stars' became a critical and commercial success.

The album's first single 'What I am' was written by Edie Brickell and Kenny Withrow. It peaked at number 31 in the United Kingdom, while reaching number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100. This limited edition single box set contained the 7" single and an illustrated poster with all the song lyrics from the album.

My collection: 7" single no. 2394
Found: London, July 6, 1995
Cost: 6 pounds
Tracks: 'What I am' / 'I do'

Where the wild roses grow - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Kylie Minogue

'Where the wild roses grow' was written by Australian singer-songwriter Nick Cave. He was inspired to write it after listening to the traditional song 'Down in the willow garden', a tale of a man courting a woman and killing her while they are out together. The song featured guest vocals by Australian pop-singer Kylie Minogue and was released as the first single from the ninth album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, 'Murder ballads' (1996).

It became the band's most successful single worldwide, reaching number 1 in Israel and Croatia, number 11 in the UK singles chart and number 9 in the Dutch Top 40. 'Where the wild roses grow' was also certified Gold in Australia where it sold 50,000 copies.

My collection: 7" single no. 2516
Found: Virgin Megastore, London, October 31, 1995
Cost: 2,3 pounds
Tracks: 'Where the wild roses grow' / 'The ballad of Robert Moore and Betty Coltrane'

I quit - Bros

I never understand the Bros-mania that took the UK by storm in 1987. They weren't so special, these two brothers Matt and Luke Goss and one friend, Craig Logan. Their debut album 'Push' was released in early 1988 and the record company milked it for all its worth, releasing single after single because the young people who were so wild about them would just about buy anything anyway.

I bought 'I quit' after it ended up in the discount bin after a relatively disappointing chart run in the Netherlands, reaching only number 33. The nice thing about this single was the extra inner sleeve.

My collection: 7" single no. 704
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, December 17, 1988
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'I quit' / 'I quit (Acid drops)'

Een beetje geld voor een beetje liefde - Angelique

Angelique's 'Een beetje geld voor een beetje liefde' ('A little money for a little lovin'') was a parody of Nicole's winning song for the 1982 Eurovision Song Contest, 'Ein Bisschen Frieden'. I won't translate the entire lyric here for non-Dutch people reading this blog, but the bottom line is that the singer describes the day job of a hooker, indirectly implying that sweet innocent Nicole had a job on the side as well.

The song was a big success in the Netherlands, released in July 1982 - not long after the original - it reached number 2 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 127
Found: Studio Echo, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Een beetje geld voor een beetje liefde' / 'Vader wat klotsen je ballen'

Candy - Cameo

'Candy' was a hit single for the band Cameo in 1987. It reached number 27 in the UK singles chart and number 12 in the Dutch Top 40. The band tried to capitalize off the song's success by re-using the melody on the song 'Honey' from their next album, 'Machismo'.

The song has been sampled by various artists, including 2Pac, Will Smith and Mariah Carey.

My collection: 7" single no. 2474
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 16, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Candy' / 'Don't be lonely'

Candy - The Meteors

Taken from the Meteors' 1980 album 'The hunger', 'Candy' was another unsuccessful single for the band, as it didn't chart.

I didn't know the song when I bought this single, but I was really passionate about the other single from the same album, 'Together too long'. Unfortunately, this single is a lot less engaging.

My collection: 7" single no. 3138
Found: July 24, 1999
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Candy' / 'It sucks'

Sunshine reggae - Laid Back

Laid Back had an enormous European summer hit on their hands when they released 'Sunshine reggae' in September 1983. Despite the bad timing, the single still reached number 2 in the autumn of that year in the Neherlands.

The B-side featured 'White horse', a single that would become a worldwide hit for the band a few months later.

My collection: 7" single no. 3135
Found: July 24, 1999
Cost: 1 guilders
Tracks: 'Sunshine reggae' / 'White horse'

Le freak - Chic

Chic's Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers created 'Le freak' on New Year's Eve 1977. They were invited at the famous Studio 54 discotheque but they weren't let in by the doorman after their contact forgot to leave their name at the door. They went back to Rogers' apartment and started jamming. The song was originally entitled 'Fuck off', but during the night they decided to change that into 'Freak out', and subsequently named the song 'Le freak'.

The track with the now-famous Chic riff reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and was the highest-selling single on Warner Bros. records until it was replaced in 1990 by Madonna's 'Vogue'. The single also reached number 7 in the UK and number 2 in the Netherlands.

I bought the single in 1992, years after its original release, because for a decade I didn't actually like the song. The second time I bought the single was in 1998 when I thought that I didn't have it - but of course I did. Fortunately I now have two different versions of the single, with the second one I bought having the most beautiful sleeve of the two (pictured below).

My collection: 7" single no. 1792 / no. 3043
Found: All that music, Leiden, November 25, 1992 / Disco Market, Den Haag, December 11, 1998
Cost: 3,5 guilders / 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Le freak' / 'Savoir faire'

Live for loving you - Gloria Estefan

'Live for loving you' was the final single from Gloria Estefan's 1991 album 'Into the light'. Written as a collaboration with Diane Warren, Gloria expressed her love for her husband Emilio Estefan Jr. with this song.

The single was not a big success in Europe, but did peak at number 33 in the UK singles chart and number 22 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Personally I preferred the album version to the single remix, but since both were found on this single, I bought it anyway.

My collection: 7" single no. 1557
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, December 14, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Live for loving you (single remix)' / 'Live for loving you'

Don't look any further - Dennis Edwards

Dennis Edwards was born February 3, 1943 in Birmingham, Alabama (USA). He made a career in music in the early Sixties. He is most noted for being one of The Temptations' lead singers replacing David Ruffin after the band's heyday.

The 1984 hit single 'Don't look any further' featured Siedah Garrett, who would go on to duet with Michael Jackson three years later on the song 'I just can't stop loving you'. 'Don't look any further' reached number 72 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 45 on the UK singles chart and number 12 on the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1385
Found: All that music, Leiden, February 22, 1991
Cost: 2,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Don't look any further' / 'I thought I could handle it'

Crying in the rain - A-ha

'Crying in the rain' was written by Howard Greenfield and Carole King and originally recorded by The Everly Brothers. Their version peaked at number 6 in the UK singles chart and number 30 in the Netherlands.

Almost three decades later, in 1990, A-ha recorded their version of the song, making this the only cover version in their career so far. The single reached number 13 in the UK but rose to number 11 in the Netherlands, outperforming the Everly Brothers. The single was their first release from the album 'East of the sun west of the moon', released in November 1990.

My collection: 7" single no. 1314
Found: HMV, London, October 15, 1990
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Crying in the rain' / '(Seemingly) Non-stop July'

Promise me - Beverley Craven

'Promise me' was the debut single from Beverley Craven. It was released in the summer of 1990. While her debut album reached number 3 in the UK albums chart, this single did not reach the UK singles chart. Meanwhile, it was a big hit in Europe, reaching number 8 in the Dutch Top 40 for instance.

The song was recorded in a Chinese version performed by Sandy Lam a year later. The song was also covered by Bulgaria-born French singer, songwriter and harpist Rossitza Milevska on her debut cd 'Pop harp' in 2006.

My collection: 7" single no. 1332
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1990
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'Promise me' / 'I listen to the rain'

Don't take away the music - Tavares

Five Cape Verdean-American brothers from New Bedford, Massachusetts formed Tavares in 1973. They were Ralph, Arthur, Antone, Feliciano and Perry Lee Tavares. In 1976/1977 they had three memorable disco hits, 'Heaven must be missing an angel', 'Don't take away the music' and 'Whodunit'.

'Don't take away the music' peaked at number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 3 in the Dutch Top 40. In 1984, Ralph Tavares stepped down from the group, and Tiny left in the mid 1990s, but the other three brothers continue to tour.

My collection: 7" single no. 2859

Found: August 9, 1997
Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Don't take away the music (part 1)' / 'Don't take away the music (part 2)'

7 teen - Regents

The Regents were a new wave band formed in London in the late 70's by Martin Sheller, Rupy Johnson, Fast Eddie, Damian Pew and Bic Brak. They had a brief UK chart career with just two singles.

Their debut single '7 teen' peaked at number 11 in the UK singles chart. Their second single 'See you later' only made it to number 55. They also released on album, the self-titled 'Regents'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3304

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 24, 2001

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: '7 teen' / 'Hole in the heart'

Song instead of a kiss - Alannah Myles

'Song instead of a kiss' was released as the first single from Alannah Myles' second album 'Rockinghorse'. While the album did not make a lot of impact in Europe (although the fact that she posed nude with a horse on the cover of that album was a well-publicised fact), it did earn her a Grammy nomination in America.

This single reached number 32 in the Dutch Top 40 and was the last of Alannah Myles' singles to chart in Europe.

My collection: 7" single no. 1803

Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, December 19, 1992

Cost: 6,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Song instead of a kiss' / 'Rockinghorse'

Can't stop these things - China Drum

It doesn't happen very often that I buy a single for the B-side, but in this instance, I did. China Drum recorded a cover of Kate Bush's 'Wuthering heights' and it was included on the B-side of the single 'Can't stop these things'. In 1996, which is when this single was released, 7" vinyl singles were becoming increasingly rare, but British indie bands still released singles on that format quite a lot.

The single had a one week run in the UK singles charts, at number 65.

My collection: 7" single no. 2655
Found: London, June 29, 1996
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Can't stop these things' / 'Wuthering heights'

Exile - Enya

'Exile' is a track on Enya's 1988 album 'Watermark'. Somehow the track managed to find its way onto the soundtrack of the movie 'L.A. Story' three years later. The record company didn't waste a minute in trying to cash in on this and released 'Exile' as a single.

It's a beautiful track, but anything but commercially viable. The single vanished without a trace.

My collection: 7" single no. 2222
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 17, 1994
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Exile' / 'On your shore'

Give give give - Dance Aid

Everyone remembers Live Aid, Band Aid and USA for Africa, but the stream of charity singles that followed was frankly quite embarrassing. Stock Aitken & Waterman were scraping the barrel in 1987 when they released 'Give give give' by Dance Aid. The proceeds of the single went to Disco Aid, but what that organisation was all about, I can't find out.

The interesting thing about this song is that you can't make out who's singing the lines. None of the voices are recognisable, they all blend together into one anonymous blob. Mel & Kim apparently contributed to this song as well - or so the sleeve claims - but I have yet to recognise them. Needless to say, the single flopped everywhere.

My collection: 7" single no. 587
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Give give give' / 'Give give give (Senza voce)'

Hollywood - Freddie James

Freddie James was born in Chicago, Illinois (USA) in 1965. At a young age he started a music career. In fact, in 1979 his debut single 'Get up and boogie' became a worldwide hit. The follow-up single 'Hollywood' sounded a lot like that hit, and subsequently failed to make the same sort of impact.

I mainly remember that this song was played on the radio once, and just after Freddie sang 'I'm going to Hollywood to become a star' the presenter commented: 'He'll have to eat lots of porridge first'.

My collection: 7" single no. 40
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1980
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Hollywood' / 'Crazy disco music'