Dreamers - David Soul

'Dreamers' is a David Soul single from 1981. The track was taken from his album 'The best days of my life', although, it has to be said, those days were already a few years behind him. He performed one of the title roles of the television series 'Starsky & Hutch' between 1975 and 1979, and his biggest hits 'Don't give up on us' and 'Going in with my eyes open' charted in 1976 and 1977 respectively.

'Dreamers' is a bit of a middle of the road affair, which didn't give him the chart success he must have been hoping for.

My collection: 7" single no. 4051
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, September 19, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Dreamers' / 'That's enough for me'

Without you - Chaz Jankel

'Without you' was a single by Chaz Jankel released in 1982. I never heard the track back then, which is not surprising since it didn't chart. Still, it is quite a great song, in the mould of other Chaz Jankel tracks. As an added bonus, the B-side is a dub version of his earlier single 'Questionnaire'.

What's funny about this single (and two others I bought the same day) is that it comes from the stock of Disco Market, the shop where I bought loads of singles between 1975 and 2002. I recognized it from the '1' written on the right hand corner on the back of the sleeve - indicating that this single once cost 1 guilder.

My collection: 7" single no. 4050
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, September 19, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Without you' / 'Rêve de chèvre'

Secret love - Bee Gees

I thought I couldn't go wrong with a Bee Gees single when I bought this despite the fact that I didn't know the song. But I was wrong. The Gibb brothers don't sound particularly inspired on this single, 'Secret love'. It is taken from their 1991 album 'High civilization', which is not usually recognised as an artistic high in their career.

'Secret love' reached number 14 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 5 in the UK singles chart. I don't know why. Maybe it's the B-side...

My collection: 7" single no. 4049
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, September 19, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Secret love' / 'True confessions'

Why don't you do it? - Gilla

After two German-language singles, Gilla recorded the singles 'Do you want to sleep with me' and 'Tu es' in 1975. The third and last single of that year by Gilla was this one, 'Why don't you do it?', a track that sounded not unlike Boney M's 'Do you wanna bump?'. And that is not surprising, since both Gilla and Boney M were produced by Frank Farian.

Another great track is the B-side, in which Gilla declares to an unnamed gentleman that she wants to have a 'Baby of love' with him. I'm not even sure if that is good English...

My collection: 7" single no. 4048
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, September 19, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Why don't you do it?' / 'A baby of love'

Target practice - Belouis Some

'Target practice' was the debut single of Belouis Some, released in 1984. The B-side of this single, 'Some people' became a club hit and also the title track of his debut album, released in 1985. Meanwhile, 'Target practice' did not chart in any territory.

Belouis Some would go on to have two hits in 1985 and 1986, then disappear from the music business in 1987.

My collection: 7" single no. 4047
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, September 19, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Target practice' / 'Some people'

Friends - Jody Watley

'Friends' was the second single from Jody Watley's second album, 'Larger Than Life'. Unfortunately, she decided to collaborate on this track with rappers Eric B & Rakim, who detracted from what could have been an excellent pop track. Their vague mumblings are thrown into the middle of the song, like a garbage truck in a flowerbed.

Still, in the USA, the single peaked at number 9 in the Billboard Hot 100. In the UK, the single reached number 21 and in the Dutch Top 40, it stalled at number 25.

My collection: 7" single no. 4046
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, September 19, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Friends' / 'Private life'

Peter Gunn - Art of Noise

The theme from 'Peter Gunn' (an American television series from the late Fifties) was originally played by Henry Mancini and his orchestra. Several cover versions of the track exist, including ones by Elvis Presley, Quincy Jones and Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

This 1986 version by Art of Noise featuring Duane Eddy on guitar was awarded with a Grammy in 1987. The single reached number 8 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4045
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, September 19, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Peter Gunn' / 'Something always happens'

Ti-na-na - Huang Chung

Huang Chung consisted of Jeremy Ryder, Nick Feldman, Darren Costin and Dave Burnand in 1982, when their debut album 'Huang Chung' was released. The second single from the album was 'Ti-na-na', a lightweight poppy track. Like their earlier efforts, the single didn't chart in any territory.

I didn't know this track when I bought the single, but it was still a good buy: both the A-side and the B-side are very good tracks.

My collection: 7" single no. 4044
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, September 19, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Ti-na-na' / 'I can't sleep'

You're gonna like it - The President

After the Dutch rock band Diesel folded, band member Pim Koopmans formed The President in 1984 together with Okkie Huysdens. Their debut single 'You're gonna like it' was released in April 1984, and was taken from the album 'By appointment of'. It narrowly missed the Dutch Top 40.

When I bought my new record player last Monday, a vintage Technics, it was demonstrated in the shop with an old compilation LP. 'You're gonna like it' was playing and I liked the sound of it - although I never did back in 1984. Seeing this single in a shop yesterday was such a strange coincidence that I bought it right away.

My collection: 7" single no. 4043
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, September 19, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'You're gonna like it' / 'Don't put me on hold'

Messages - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

'Messages' is the third single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. The single provided OMD with their first top 40 hit in the UK, reaching number 13. In the Netherlands, the single narrowly missed the Dutch Top 40.

A rerecorded version of 'Messages' appears on OMD's debut album. The B-side 'Taking sides again' is an instrumental dub version of 'Messages'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2761
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 29, 1996
Cost: 20p
Tracks: 'Messages' / 'Taking sides again'

Diary - Bread

Bread became famous with their guitar-based romantic ballads, of which 'Diary' was one. Released in 1972, the single went top 20 in the USA, but did not chart in Europe. Only a few singles by Bread made the charts in Europe.

Despite the band's success, tensions existed between band members David Gates and Jimmy Griffin. All eleven of Bread's charting singles between 1970 and 1973 had been written and sung by Gates. Elektra Records had invariably selected Gates' songs for the A-sides of the singles, while Griffin felt that the singles should have been split between the two of them. It eventually led to the disbanding of Bread in 1974.

My collection: 7" single no. 1562
Found: All that music, Leiden, January 2, 1992
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Diary' / 'Down on my knees'

Matador - Garland Jeffreys

Garland Jeffreys was born in 1943 in Brooklyn, New York. In 1980 he had the biggest hit of his career in the Netherlands with 'Matador', a track featuring a mariachi band and quite funky music. The track was taken from his 1979 album 'American boy & girl'. Both the single and the album had been rejected by his American record company.

The single reached number 6 in the Dutch Top 40. After this, the American record company was suddenly interested in Jeffreys' work again...

My collection: 7" single no. 1815
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 4, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Matador' / 'American boy & girl'

Domino dancing - Pet Shop Boys

'Domino dancing' was written by Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant, and influenced by Latin pop. The song was recorded in Miami with a considerably large number of studio musicians for a Pet Shop Boys song. Public reception to the duo's new Latin sound proved disappointing. Tennant remembers: 'It entered the charts at number nine and I thought, 'that's that, then - it's all over'. I knew then that our imperial phase of number one hits was over.'

The single reached number 18 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 7 in both the UK singles chart and the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1981
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, October 17, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Domino dancing' / 'Don Juan'

Sunday bloody Sunday - U2

'Sunday bloody Sunday' is a track from U2's 1983 album 'War'. It was originally released as the album's third single in March 1983. However, this copy comes from 1985, when it was re-released after the success of 'The unforgettable fire' in the Netherlands.

It is one of U2's most overtly political songs, its lyrics describe the horror felt by an observer of The Troubles in Northern Ireland, mainly focusing on the Bloody Sunday incident in Derry where British troops shot and killed civil rights marchers. This re-released reached number 3 in the Dutch Top 40 in October 1985.

My collection: 7" single no. 332
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Sunday bloody Sunday' / 'Endless deep'

Mandinka - Sinéad O'Connor

'Mandinka' was the second single taken from Sinéad O'Connor's debut album 'The lion and the cobra'. This single, released in early 1988, featured another album track, 'Drink before the war' on the B-side.

It was the only single from the album to chart in the UK, peaking at number 17. In the Netherlands, it performed worse in the charts than its predecessor, 'Troy', peaking at number 30.

My collection: 7" single no. 2533
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, November 1, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Mandinka' / 'Drink before the war'

I love your smile - Shanice

'I love your smile' was released as the first single from Shanice Wilson's 1992 album 'Inner child'. The song features a saxophone solo by Branford Marsalis. Shanice actually says 'Blow, Branford, Blow' during the solo. Janet Jackson and René Elizondo can be heard laughing at the end of the song.

The single reached number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and the UK singles chart, whereas in the Dutch Top 40, it reached number 1. It is the most successful hit of Shanice's career.

My collection: 7" single no. 1555
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, December 7, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'I love your smile (radio version)' / 'I love your smile (instrumental)'

Love the life - Bass Culture featuring Gina G

This promotional double 12" single was a steal at 1 pound. I found it during a holiday in London. I was already familiar with Gina G, so I was a bit intrigued what this track would be like. According to the promo sheet enclosed in this set, 'Bass Culture exploded onto the international music scene in the early Nineties with their debut single 'Love the life' establishing them as Australia's leading dance outfit. The track featuring Gina G of 'Ooh aah... Just a little bit' fame, was the first in a string of successful singles for the band.'

Well, in Australia maybe, but in Europe no-one had heard of Bass Culture. And they never would, because they wouldn't reach the UK singles chart with this release either.

My collection: 12" single no. 310
Found: Record Exchange, London, 1999
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Love the life (Club mix)', 'Love the life (radio edit)' / 'Love the life (Hard life mix)' // 'Love the life (Pee Wee's mix)' / 'Love the life (Ivan Gough's mix)'

Outer space girl - The Beloved

On my way to Haaksbergen last Monday I had the album 'Conscience' by the Beloved on my iPod. It surprised me that this album from 1993 still sounded so great. It's uplifting music, that will work whether your mood is good or bad.

'Outer space girl' was the third single lifted from the album. For a long time I thought it was also the last single, but it seems that the track 'Rock to the rhythm of love' was released as a fourth single - although I'm not sure if a 7" single exists. So far, all I've seen are promotional 12" singles on eBay. 'Outer space girl' reached number 38 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1992
Found: HMV, London, October 18, 1993
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Outer space girl' / 'Outer space girl (Space Hopper mix)'

What's the colour of money? - Hollywood Beyond

Hollywood Beyond was basically a one-man band, consisting of Birmingham-based singer-songwriter Mark Rogers. The first single issed under the Hollywood Beyond name was 'What's the colour of money', an instant hit in Europe, peaking at number 7 in the UK singles chart in the summer of 1986.

The song also hit number 21 in Germany, number 14 in Switzerland and number 9 in the Dutch Top 40. The single was featured on Hollywood Beyond's debut album 'If', released in 1987.

My collection: 7" single no. 2880
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 28, 1997
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'What's the colour of money?' / 'Hollywood Beyond'

If it's alright with you baby - The Korgis

The Korgis released 'If it's alright with you baby' in 1980 as the second single from their second album 'Dumb waiters'. The single version was slightly different from the album version, omitting a few synthesizer sounds in the musical break in the middle of the song.

The single reached number 56 in the UK singles chart and number 33 in the Dutch Top 40. It was a slightly disappointing chart performance after the top 10 hit 'Everybody's got to learn sometimes'.

My collection: 7" single no. 808
Found: All that music, Leiden, May 5, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'If it's alright with you baby' / 'Love ain't too far away'