Give up your guns - The Buoys

Bill Kelly, Fran Brozena, Jerry Hludzik, Carl Siracuse, Chris Hanlon and Sally Rosoff formed the Buoys in the early Seventies. The band was based in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Songwriter Rupert Holmes wrote their first hit 'Timothy' in 1971 and selected the Buoys to record this song himself.

The follow-up single 'Give up your guns', a narrative featuring an escaped bank robber. The single has the distinction of becoming a top 10 hit twice: it reached number 5 in the Dutch Top 40 in the summer of 1972, then reached number 8 in the summer of 1979.

My collection: 7" single no. 376
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Give up your guns' / 'The prince of thieves'

I drove all night - Cyndi Lauper

'I drove all night' was written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly for Roy Orbison. He first recorded the song in 1987, but it was only released in 1992, after it was a top 10 hit for Cyndi Lauper in 1989.

Lauper recorded the track for her third solo album 'A night to remember'. The single reached number 6 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 7 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 876
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, June 10, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'I drove all night' / 'Maybe he'll know'

Never as good as the first time - Sade

I'm glad to say that my collection of Sade singles also contains some rarities. Some of them have already been featured on this blog - and here's another one. 'Never as good as the first time' was the third single from Sade's second album 'Promise' and while it was re-recorded for the single release, this Spanish promo contains the album version of the track.

What's more, it is a one-sided disc. Although the B-side does have a label, there is no groove pressed on it. The sleeve features the Spanish tour dates and a photograph that is not used on the regular sleeve of the single. Quite the collector's item!

My collection: 7" single no. 3268
Found: October 22, 2000
Cost: ?
Tracks: 'Never as good as the first time'

I want that man - Deborah Harry

After having been in the band Blondie for years, Debbie Harry recorded her first solo album 'Kookoo' in 1981. The band then regrouped briefly, before disbanding in 1983. Six years later, Harry released her second solo album 'Def dumb and blonde'.

'I want that man' was the first single taken from that album. Produced by Tom Bailey (ex-Thompson Twins) and Eric "E.T." Thorngren, the single sounded more poppy than any of her previous work, either with or without the band Blondie. She was rewarded with a number 13 peak position in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1057
Found: HMV, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'I want that man' / 'Bike boy'

Irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann - Nena

Nena released the original version of 'Irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann' in 1984. It was the first single from their 1985 album 'Feuer und Flamme', released a year later. After two previous singles failed to reach the German top 10, this one shot up to number 3, shuffling the band right back into the limelight again.

This 12" single features an extended mix of the track. It would be translated into English by Lisa Dalbello as 'Anyplace, anywhere, anytime' that same year, recorded on the band's 1985 English album 'It's all in the game'. In 2003, Nena had a hit with that track when she re-recorded it with Kim Wilde.

My collection: 12" single no. 330
Found: Record fair, 1999
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann' / 'Ganz oben (live)', 'Der bus is' schon weg (live)'

Drag me down - The Boomtown Rats

'Drag me down' was a single by the Boomtown rats, released in 1984, shortly before lead singer Bob Geldof became a charity celebrity, writing 'Do they know it's Christmas' for Band Aid and organising Live Aid a year later.

It was a good career move for Geldof, as 'Drag me down' was the last chart hit for the Boomtown Rats, stalling at number 50 in May 1984.

My collection: 7" single no. 4052
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, September 19, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Drag me down' / 'An icicle in the sun'

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'