While Righeira became famous with two summer hits with Spanish titles, 'Vamos a la playa' and 'No tengo dinero', Stefano Rota and Stefano Righi were actually from Italy. Indeed, the sound of their singles is very 'Italo disco'.
'No tengo dinero' was released in 1984 and reached number 10 in the Dutch Top 40. It was also a hit in the rest of Europe, although it didn't chart in the UK (where 'Vamos a la playa' had reached number 53).
My collection: 7" single no. 2951 Found: Record fair, Leiden, February 7, 1998 Cost: 1 guilder Track: 'No tengo dinero' / 'Dinero scratch'
In the summer of 1987, MTV Europe started broadcasting. I was there when it happened and I think I saw about 70% of everything they broadcasted during the first few weeks. I quickly concluded that MTV wasn't going to make me happy: they had a very limited stock of music videos and they kept playing the same titles over and over again. I think I saw the video for 'It's a sin' eight times every single day.
Which is why to this day I'm a bit bored by this song. It is a good track, I simply heard it too damn much. The single was a massive hit, topping the charts in Austria, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. In the UK, the single peaked at number 3.
My collection: 7" single no. 551 Found: Tower Records, London, 1987 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'It's a sin' / 'You know where you went wrong'
'Shocked' was written and produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman for Kylie Minogue’s third album 'Rhythm of love' (1990). The song was never intended for single release but when remixed by DNA and featured a rap penned and performed by Pauline Bennett a.k.a Jazzi P the commercial potential was big enough to warrant a release. (Obviously I prefer the B-side version which isn't tainted by the inane rantings of a madwoman.)
The single peaked at number 6 in the UK singles chart and at number 2 in Ireland.
My collection: 7" single no. 3323 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, March 24, 2001 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Shocked (DNA mix)' / 'Shocked (Harding/Curnow mix)'
Suzanne Vega had a few hits under her belt when she released '99.9F°' in 1992. Personally, I think it's her best work, because it mixes the sometimes rather dull folk influences she was working with up to that point with industrial music and dance beats.
'In Liverpool', the first single taken from the album, was a beautiful ballad with a strong melody. The single only charted in the UK, but stalled at number 52.
My collection: 7" single no. 2693 Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, July 3, 1996 Cost: 1,5 pounds Tracks: 'In Liverpool' / 'Some journey (live)'
'Hold me now' can be considered the Thompson Twins biggest hit. It reached number 4 in the UK singles chart and was a top 10 hit in Europe and America. Alannah Currie from the band later commented: 'The biggest trouble that we've had basically is that the song was a huge hit, it was really bigall over the world. Which is great, but it was just an accidental thing. It was just a song that we wrote. But after that then, we got everybody—managers, the record company—on our back to write 'Hold me now, part 2' and harrassing you to try and find a formula. But we can't really. We'll never find a formula for what we did. And that upsets some of them.'
I was quite shocked to find that I had to pay 5 guilders for this picture disc six years after its release, while the song was never a hit in the Netherlands. But oh well, it was still worth it.
My collection: 7" single no. 1105 Found: All that music, Leiden, November 11, 1989 Cost: 5 guilders Tracks: 'Hold me now' / 'Let loving start'
La Roux is a synthpop duo consisting of Eleanor Jackson and Ben Langmaid. 'Bulletproof' is their third single, released in June 2009. Jackson commented about the lyric of the song: 'Bulletproof is just about looking at a situation that's usually a reoccurring one. It could be to do with anything in your life - whatever you want it to be about.'
The 7" single release is a square picture disc with two playable sides, although the B-side basically consists of an empty groove. The single topped the UK singles chart, but so far it hasn't charted in the Netherlands.
My collection: 7" single no. 4009 Found: eBay.co.uk, received August 22, 2009 Cost: 2 pounds Track: 'Bulletproof'
Recently a luxury box set of Mike Oldfield's 'Tubular bells' was released. The so-called 'Ultimate edition' features a new stereo mix of the original album, demos, a surround sound mix, a book and a vinyl LP. When I was listening to all this, I also heard 'Mike Oldfield's single', a single released in 1974 to promote the album. It was a beautiful outtake from part 2 of 'Tubular bells'. (Part 1 is universally acclaimed for its 'Exorcist' theme, but part 2 is actually lesser known by most people).
I decided to try and get my hands on a copy - which is a lot harder than it sounds. I found a copy but unfortunately it does not have a picture sleeve. Well, anyway, it contains the music and that's the most important thing. The single reached number 31 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 4008 Found: 45rpm.co.uk, received August 22, 2009 Cost: 4 pounds Tracks: 'Theme from 'Tubular bells'' / 'Froggy went a-courting'
Before Linda Martin won the 1992 Eurovision Song Contest, representing Ireland with 'Why me', she participated once before in 1984. Her song, 'Terminal 3' was written by Johnny Logan, who won the 1980 edition of the Contest for Ireland. She almost won the 1984 Eurovision Song Contest, but received 8 points less than the winning song ('Diggi loo diggy ley'), and thus came second.
While I was not impressed with the winning song, I was glad that Ireland didn't win. The song sounded quite boring at the time. It's not so bad now, when you hear it.
My collection: 7" single no. 4007 Found: Record fair, Den Haag, August 22, 2009 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'Terminal 3' / 'Feels like I'm walking in my sleep'
'Honey honey' was originally written by Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Stig Anderson and released as a single by Abba in April 1974. The single was not released in the UK.
British disco singer Polly Brown, formerly fronting the band Pickettywitch, recorded a cover of the song together with singer Tony Jackson. They called themselves Sweet Dreams. This cover version reached number 10 on the UK singles chart. In the USA, Abba's original song had to compete with Sweet Dreams' cover version. Although the Sweet Dreams single only reached number 68 in the US Billboard Hot 100, while Abba's version reached number 27, it may have somewhat hindered its success.
My collection: 7" single no. 4006 Found: Record fair, Den Haag, August 22, 2009 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'Honey honey' / 'I surrender'
The song 'Waterloo' really needs no introduction. It was a massive hit for Abba after they won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with it. Since then, numerous cover versions have been recorded and released. Some of them were very imaginative and original, other were carbon copies of the original. This one is more like the latter, but in a rock arrangement.
Dr. and the Medics previously had a big hit in the UK with their cover version of 'Spirit in the sky'. This song was less successful: released in November 1986, it reached number 45 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 4005 Found: Record fair, Den Haag, August 22, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Waterloo' / 'Damaged brains'
I've only recently started to collect singles by Risqué. It's not necessarily because I'm so impressed by their music, because it's all very lightweight pop. But lightweight pop can be entertaining as well - and that's why I collect it.
'Starlight' was the second hit single for the four Dutch ladies. It wasn't a big hit though: it only reached number 35 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 4004 Found: Record fair, Den Haag, August 22, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Starlight' / 'Starlight (instrumental)'
If my collection would be all about chart hits, I would be very satisfied with the fact that I completed the list of chart hits by Future World Orchestra today. They were in the Dutch Top 40 four times, and since I already had two hit singles by them, the two hit singles I bought today complete the set.
'I'm not afraid of the future' was released in April 1982 and reached number 26 in the Dutch Top 40. As good as the A-side is, the B-side sounds very much like a Dutchman trying to sing in English.
My collection: 7" single no. 4003 Found: Record fair, Den Haag, August 22, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'I'm not afraid of the future' / 'Just for you'
Time has been kind to the debut single of the Future World Orchestra. The duo called themselves this in 1981 because of their use of synthesizers, which were a relatively new phenomenon back then.
'Desire' was relased in November 1981 and reached number 20 in the Dutch Top 40. It was a promising start for the Dutch duo, although they would never reach a higher position in the chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 4002 Found: Record fair, Den Haag, August 22, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Desire' / 'Casablanca nights'
When Abba broke up in 1982, the world still expected to hear more from the band. They never officially announced that they would never record together again, so the hope was still there when this single was released.
'Thank you for the music' was originally released in 1977, but in 1984 it was re-released to promote a new compilation album entitled 'From Abba with love', which contained a curious collection of tracks: eight hit singles, one solo track by Frida, one solo track by Agnetha, two B-sides and two album tracks. Both the album and the single were only released in the Netherlands. The single was not a big success: while the album topped the Dutch albums chart, this single only reached number 38 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 4001 Found: Record fair, Den Haag, August 22, 2009 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'Thank you for the music' / 'Medley: Pick a bale of cotton-On top of old Smokey-Midnight special'
Today is a big day in the history of my record collection: I've bought my 4000th single! Having almost reached the age of 39, this means that on average I've bought 102 singles per year. Although I ordered a few singles abroad a week ago, none of them appeared in my mailbox, so I still bought my 4000th single during a small record fair today. And it's not just any single!
'I love it loud' was a track from Kiss's 1982 album 'Creatures of the night'. This single first came to my attention back in 1982, when my sister bought a copy in our local record shop. The movable tongue is a very distinctive feature in the sleeve for this single (see the video below). And the track itself is remarkable as well, with a 'false fade' at the end. Ever since that day, I've been searching for this single. I only saw it a couple of times during record fairs for (much) more than 20 euros. The strange thing is, it never appears on eBay as well (although right now a copy with a different sleeve is listed).
My copy of the single carries a sticker on the back, with the text: 'Sample record - not for sale'. I have to assume that this version of the single was a promotional item, and not too many of them exist. It's not bad to have a collectors item like this as my number 4000.
My collection: 7" single no. 4000 Found: Record fair, Den Haag, August 22, 2009 Cost: 5 euro Tracks: 'I love it loud' / 'Killer'
I recently found out that Puck's brother is also a follower of this blog. All you other readers will not know him, so here's a short introduction: he likes early eighties music as long as it's not 'commercial'. That notion is in itself a curious one, since every artist is in the music business to sell records after all. When they don't succeed, it's usually not by design and a cause for a lot of frustration.
Anyway, since I appreciate all of my readers, I like to oblige. So here's an obscure Split Enz single. Released in 1981, it was a top 10 hit in Australia and New Zealand, but it didn't chart in other territories. This copy was pressed in America and is one of those 'laser etched' singles. I only have two of those, the other one being Split Enz's 'History never repeats'!
My collection: 7" single no. 2616 Found: Record fair, Den Haag, February 10, 1996 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'One step ahead' / 'In the wars'
'After the love has gone' was a 1979 hit single for Earth Wind & Fire, taken from their 1979 album 'I am'. In America, the song was nominated for a Grammy for Record of the Year and won for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.
The single sold over a million copies in the USA alone, peaking at number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100, number 4 in the UK singles chart and a relatively low number 20 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 3288 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 24, 2001 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'After the love has gone' / 'Rock that!'
The song 'Rio' was inspired when Duran Duran toured Brazil and decided to write a song about their experiences there; however, the song references the Rio Grande which forms the border between Texas and Mexico. Nick Rhodes created the unusual sound at the beginning of the song by throwing several small metal rods onto the strings of a grand piano in the studio. The recorded sound was then reversed to create the intro. The laughter on the track was that of Rhodes' girlfriend at the time.
'Rio' was Duran Duran's fourth top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at number 9. The single performed even better in Canada, reaching number 3.
My collection: 7" single no. 1002 Found: HMV, London, October 16, 1989 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Rio' / 'The chauffeur (Blue silver)'
For some reason, I always associated Paul McCartney's 'Coming up' with mice. It must be because of all the high notes in the track. Although the single was released as a solo release by McCartney, the B-side was credited to Paul McCartney & Wings. The live version was recorded in Glasgow, Scotland on December 17, 1979 and 'Lunchbox/Odd sox' was recorded during the sessions for the 1975 Wings album 'Venus & Mars'.
My copy of the single has the A-side label on both sides, which could make this a collectors item. The single peaked at number 22 in the Dutch Top 40, number 2 in the UK singles chart and it topped the US Billboard Hot 100.
My collection: 7" single no. 2468 Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 16, 1995 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Coming up' / 'Coming up (live version)', 'Lunchbox/Odd sox'
'Ain't no sunshine' was originally released in 1971 by Bill Withers on his album 'Just as I am'. He was still working at a factory that made toilet seats for Boeing 747s when he recorded the song. It was originally released as the B-side of the single 'Harlem', but when DJ's played the B-side instead, it became a huge hit.
Ben Liebrand made the 'Eclipse mix' of 'Ain't no sunshine' in 1989, after his remix of 'Lovely day' (another Bill Withers track) was a hit in 1988. This single was less successful, reaching number 26 in the Dutch Top 40 only.
My collection: 7" single no. 715 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, January 6, 1989 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Ain't no sunshnie (Eclipse mix)' / 'Ain't no sunshine'
While Righeira became famous with two summer hits with Spanish titles, 'Vamos a la playa' and 'No tengo dinero', Stefano Rota and Stefano Righi were actually from Italy. Indeed, the sound of their singles is very 'Italo disco'.
