Sweet little mystery - Wet Wet Wet

Wet Wet Wet had their second top 10 hit in the UK in July 1987 with 'Sweet little mystery', peaking at number 5. I'm not sure whether this double pack was actually released in the UK, since it was made in 1988.

The second disc features two tracks that were recorded in Memphis, with Willie Mitchell producing. Mitchell worked with artists such as Al Green, Syl Johnsson and Ann Peebles.

My collection: 7" single no. 697
Found: Present, December 5, 1988
Cost: -
Tracks: 'Sweet little mystery' / 'I can give you everything' // Memphis sessions: 'Sweet little mystery' / 'Heaven help us all'

If only I could - Sydney Youngblood

Sydney Youngblood was born as Sydney Ford in San Antonio, Texas on December 2, 1960. In 1988 he debuted with his single 'If only I could', which became an immediate smash hit all over Europe. The single reached number 3 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the Dutch Top 40.

The lyric of the song speaks about a world of brotherhood and love which Youngblood would like to create - 'If only I could'. It was a positive message that doesn't come across very often in dance songs.

My collection: 7" single no. 1074
Found: HMV, London, October 19, 1989
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'If only I could' / 'Spooky (instrumental)'

Make me smile (Come up and see me) - Cockney Rebel

Steve Harley from Cockney Rebel explained in a 2002 interview that the lyric of 'Make me smile (Come up and see me)' was vindictively directed at former band members, whom he felt had abandoned him. The acoustic guitar solo was originally a sound-check warm-up by Jim Cregan that was captured on tape and later used when it was realised it added to the song. It was included on the band's 1975 album 'The best years of our lives' and released as a single that same year.

It became the band's biggest hits, selling over one million copies worldwide, topping the UK and Irish singles chart and reaching number 6 in the Dutch Top 40. The song was covered by, amongst others, Duran Duran and Erasure.

My collection: 7" single no. 1041
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Make me smile (Come up and see me)' / 'Another journey'

From a river to a sea - Private Lives

It's a mystery to me why this single didn't do better in the Eighties. Released in 1984, Private Lives' 'From a river to a sea' is a beautiful track, driven by a catchy guitar hook and fiery backing vocals. John Adams' voice shines like a diamond and the whole thing is just delicious.

Private Lives only managed one hit, 'Living in a world (turned upside down)', and even that one didn't reach the higher regions of the UK singles chart. Something really went wrong back then...

My collection: 7" single no. 1833
Found: Record palace, Amsterdam, January 13, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'From a river to a sea' / 'Because you're young'

This wheel's on fire - Siouxie and the Banshees

'This wheel's on fire' was originally written by Bob Dylan and Rick Danko. Dylan and The Band recorded it in 1967, a recording that finally surfaced in 1975 on the album 'The basement tapes'. In 1968, a version by Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger and the Trinity became a top 5 hit in the UK.

In 1987, Siouxie and the Banshees recorded another cover version of the song for their album 'Through the looking glass', which consisted entirely of covers. Released as the first single from that album, it climbed to number 14 on the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2690
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, July 3, 1996
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'This wheel's on fire' / 'Shooting sun'

NRG - Adamski

This single ended up in my collection because I found it in the sleeve of an LP I bought. I don't remember which LP. A free single, oh well, that's always good, I must have thought. Except maybe it isn't.

'NRG' was actually Adamski's debut single, released in 1990. It reached number 12 in the UK singles chart. As you can see, the cover of the single features a mocked up Lucozade bottle with the 'lucozade' words replaced with 'N-R-G'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2184
Found: London, September 28, 1994
Cost: 0,00
Tracks: 'NRG' / 'I love teknology'

Abba-esque EP - Erasure

Vince Clarke and Andy Bell have always been big fans of Abba, and so they decided in 1992 to record the 'Abba-esque' EP. It was originally intended to become a full album, but that plan was finally aborted. The EP features four covers of Abba songs, of which 'Lay all your love on me' and 'Take a chance on me' received the most airplay.

The EP became Erasure's first UK number 1, while it also reached number 2 in Germany and number 7 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1670
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, June 20, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Lay all your love on me', 'SOS' / 'Take a chance on me', 'Voulez-vous'

Hold me in your arms - Rick Astley

Rick Astley himself wrote 'Hold me in your arms' as well as the B-side of ths single. Although he made a name for himself with dance songs, this single was a ballad. It was released as the second single from Astley's second album of the same name. Contrary to previous singles, which were all produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman, this one was produced by SAW-associates Phil Harding and Ian Curnow.

The single managed to reach number 10 in the UK singles chart and number 27 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 754
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, February 17, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Hold me in your arms' / 'I don't want to be your lover'

Reach out I'll be there - Four Tops

The 88 remix of 'Reach out I'll be there' was on this blog earlier, but I almost forgot that I have the original version of the song as well. I bought it somewhere in London, although it didn't come in any original sleeve.

The single topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1966, when it was originally released. It was equally successful in the UK singles chart, but only reached number 8 in the Dutch Top 40. It has since become one of those indestructible Motown classics.

My collection: 7" single no. 1066
Found: London, October 18, 1989
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Reach out, I'll be there' / 'Standing in the shadows of love'

Love pains - Yvonne Elliman

The disco song 'Love pains' was written by Michael Price, Dan Walsh and Steve Barri and was recorded by Yvonne Elliman in 1979. It gave her a hit in the USA, peaking at number 34 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and the Netherlands, where it peaked at number 19.

The single featured both a 4'15 edit and an extended version, clocking in at 5'45. The song was covered by Liza Minelli in 1989.

My collection: 7" single no. 1982
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, October 17, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Love pains' / 'Love pains [extended]'

No myth - Michael Penn

Michael Penn was born on August 1, 1958. His brother is the actor Sean Penn, who was married to Madonna for some time. 'No myth' was his debut single, released in late 1989. It became his first and only top 40 hit in the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 13. The single did not chart in Europe.

After only a few solo albums, Penn moved into movie scores, recording music for movies like 'Boogie nights' (1997) and 'The last kiss' (2006).

My collection: 7" single no. 1453
Found: All that music, Leiden, June 18, 1991
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'No myth' / 'Big house'

The living years - Mike and the Mechanics

Mike & the Mechanics released 'The living years' as the second single from their album of the same name. According to Mike Rutherford, 'The lyrics were written by B.A. Robertson and the song is about something he went through. He lost his Dad and it's about the lack of communication between him and his father before he died. There's also the irony of him having a baby just after losing his father. I had exactly the same thing happen to me at the same time, so it meant a lot to me too.'

The single reached number 1 in Canada and the USA and peaked at number 2 in the UK singles chart. In the Netherlands, it reached number 20.

My collection: 7" single no. 725
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, January 28, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'The living years' / 'Too many friends'

More than I can say - Leo Sayer

'More than I can say' was written by Sonny Curtis and Jerry Allison, who recorded it with their bad The Crickets in 1959 soon after Buddy Holly, whose backing band they were originally, died. The single was released in 1960 and became a hit for them.

Leo Sayer recorded his cover version of the song in 1980. Sayer commented later that while he was looking for an 'oldie' to record for his album 'Living in a fantasy', he saw a TV commercial for a greatest hits collection by Bobby Vee (who recorded a cover version of the song in 1961) and chose the song on the spot: 'We went into a record store that afternoon, bought the record and had the song recorded that night'. It turned out to be a good choice: the single reached number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and the UK singles chart, and also peaked at number 6 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1151
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, January 19, 1990
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'More than I can say' / 'Only fooling'

Hiroshima - Sandra

'Hiroshima' was originally recorded by the band Wishful Thinking. Sandra recorded her cover version as a track on her fourth album 'Paintings in yellow'. It was released as its first single in 1989.

Sandra's version reached number 4 in three different countries: Germany, Israel and Switzerland. Additionally, it peaked at number 16 in the French singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2095
Found: Record fair, April 16, 1994
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Hiroshima' / 'La vista de luna'

Lords of the new church - Tasmin Archer

The lyrics of 'Lords of the new church' are not primarily religious. Tasmin Archer commented about the song: 'It's about the modern breed of politicians and it was written in the very early Nineties even before things became has bad as they are now.'

The song was released as the third single from Archer's debut album 'Great expectations'. Released in May 1993, it did not perform as well as previous releases from Archer. Although it debuted inside the UK top 40 unlike previous releases, it stalled at number 26 and completely dropped off of the charts three weeks later.

My collection: 7" single no. 2388
Found: Newcastle, July 5, 1995
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Lords of the new church' / 'Hero'

I do, I do, I do, I do, I do - Abba

Personally I was never too fond of this Abba track. The most amusing thing about it was the title. The song was written by band members Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and their manager Stig Anderson.

The song's release came shortly after their previous single, 'So long', performed disappointingly in terms of charts and sales. (Although the B-side of 'I do, I do, I do, I do, I do' was 'Rock me' in most cases, this Dutch pressing has 'So long' as the B-side.) After the success of 'Waterloo', Abba were having difficulty establishing themselves as an act with longevity. 'I do, I do, I do, I do, I do' became a significant improvement on the international charts. It peaked at number 3 in the Dutch Top 40 and topped the charts in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Switzerland.

My collection: 7" single no. 1862
Found: All that music, Leiden, January 30, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'I do, I do, I do, I do, I do' / 'So long'

België - Het Goede Doel

Most people in the Netherlands remember the song 'België' ('Belgium') by het Goede Doel. The song asks that eternal question: 'Where can I go? / I can't go to Germany / They are so stern / Where can I go? / I can't go to China / They act so scary there'. An English version actually exists, it was released as 'Luxembourg' in 1984. However, that one lost a lot of its edge in translation.

'België' was the band's biggest hit, peaking at number 4 in the Dutch Top 40. The track was also quite lengthy, clocking in at 6'20.

My collection: 7" single no. 3766
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received June 3, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'België' / 'Vechten'

Is it a crime - Sade

I think 'Is it a crime' is Sade's 'Bohemian rhapsody', in that it features a few different pieces of music, once loud, then more intimate. The dynamic range of this song is quite unbelievable, although the style is unmistakably Sade.

'Is it a crime' was the second single from Sade's 1985 album 'Promise'. It wasn't a big hit, peaking at number 49 in the UK singles chart and number 32 in the Dutch Top 40. The highest placing was in Ireland, where it reached number 21.

My collection: 7" single no. 364
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Is it a crime' / 'Punch drunk'

Money love - Neneh Cherry

'Money love' was the first single from Neneh Cherry's second album 'Homebrew'. Both the single and the album disappointed in commercial terms: after the multimillonselling 'Raw like Sushi', everyone involved expected more of the chart performance of both.

The single reached number 23 in the UK singles chart and number 22 in the Dutch Top 40. I bought the single at discount price after it left the chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1788
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, Nvoember 14, 1992
Cost: 4 guilders
Tracks: 'Money love' / 'Twisted'

A hard rain's a gonna fall - Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians

'A hard rain's a gonna fall' was originally written by Bob Dylan in the summer of 1962. He recorded it in December of that year for his second album 'The freewheelin' Bob Dylan'. Some people have suggested that the refrain of the song refers to nuclear fallout, however Dylan disputes that this was a specific reference. Dylan responded to this in 1963: 'No, it's not [about] atomic rain, it's just a hard rain. It isn't the fallout rain. I mean some sort of end that's just gotta happen... In the last verse, when I say, 'the pellets of poison are flooding the waters', that means all the lies that people get told on their radios and in their newspapers.'

Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians recorded a cover version of the song in 1989 for the soundtrack of the Oliver Stone movie 'Born on the fourth of July'. Their version was released as a single, which did not chart in Europe.

My collection: 7" single no. 1194
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, March 14, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'A hard rain's a gonna fall' / 'The early days, Massapequa, 1957' (John Williams)