Temptation (Brothers in Rhythm remix) - Heaven 17

After a very successful decade for Heaven 17 in the Eighties, the band went quiet in the early Nineties. The first sign of life was a remix of 'Temptation', released in November 1992. It reached number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 16 in the Dutch Top 40.

The single was followed by the compilation album 'Higher and Higher - The Best of Heaven 17' in 1993.

My collection: 7" single no. 4076
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Temptation (Brothers in Rhythm remix edit)' / 'Temptation (Brothers in Rhythm instrumental)'

The shuttered palace - Ellen Foley

Some time ago, I had a reaction on one of my posts by Karla Devito. It really surprised me in a way that even the most logical things can surprise a person. Of course, celebrities are mere mortals too, but it is kindof weird that they log in to your blog and read it. Since she mentioned she loved Ellen Foley, this one's for her. And for me too, since I've searched for this single for some time.

'The shuttered palace' is a track from Foley's 1981 album 'Spirit of St. Louis'. It was written by Mick Jones and Joe Strummer from the Clash. It did not chart in Europe as far as I know, and in the UK only the album managed to reach number 57 in the UK albums chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4075
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'The shuttered palace' / 'Beautiful waste of time'

Hup daar is Willem - Ed en Willem Bever

Almost two months ago I bought 'Het stoomlied', the first hit single from the Dutch television programme 'De fabeltjeskrant'. Driven by nostalgia, I went looking for that other hit: 'Hup daar is Willem'. And I'm glad to say that I found a copy - although the picture sleeve is unfortunately missing. This will do for now.

'Hup daar is Willem' reached number 4 in the Dutch Top 40 and was the last top 10 hit from the children's programme. One other single reached the Dutch Top 40, but that was an ill-advised song about the Dutch football club Ajax. Since I have no interest in sports whatsoever, I will pass on that one.

My collection: 7" single no. 4072
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Hup daar is Willem' / 'M'n bloementuin is m'n wondertuin'

Mockingbird - Belle Stars

'Mockingbird' was originally a hit for Inez and Charlie Foxx in 1969. The song was covered by James Taylor and Carly Simon in 1974.

The Belle Stars released their version of the song in October 1982. It was only a modest success, peaking at number 51 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4073
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Mockingbird' / 'Turn back the clock'

Megamix - Boney M

When Abba had a comeback of sorts with the 'Abba Gold' compilations in the early Nineties, other acts followed suit. 'Boney M Gold' was released in 1992, and this single was released to promote the compilation. It was a megamix of five big Boney M hits: 'Rivers of Babylon', 'Sunny', 'Ma Baker', 'Daddy Cool' and 'Rasputin'.

At a time when Seventies acts were anything but cool, this Megamix was a surprise hit, peaking at number 13 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4074
Found: Marktplaats.nl, September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Megamix' / 'Bang Bang Lulu'

Lovegame - Lady Gaga

'Let's have some fun / This beat is sick / I wanna take a ride / on your disco stick'. Well, if you don't know what a 'disco stick' is, Lady Gaga is all too happy to explain: 'It's another of my very thoughtful metaphors for a cock. [...] I don't think disco stick is subtle. It's very clear what that lyric is all about. If anything, I happen to think people are frivolously hard on me. A lot of youth-oriented pop music is much racier than mine. 'Throw me on the floor, take off my clothes, give it to me, baby, let's dirty dance'. All these records are so provocative, but it's the context of what I'm doing that makes people concerned. [...] But if I wanted to make music to make people sing 'la di da' that would be very boring."

Otherwise, there was no need to complain for Lady Gaga: the single reached the top 10 in ten different countries. In the UK singles chart, it stalled at number 25, whereas in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart it reached number 5.

My collection: 7" single no. 4065
Found: eBay.co.uk, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Lovegame' / 'Lovegame (Space Cowboy remix)'

Movin' on - Bananarama

Bananarama was literally 'Movin' on' with this single, released in August 1992. In 1991, Jacquie O'Sullivan had left the group, and remaining members Keren Woodward and Sara Dallin chose not to search for a replacement this time. Instead, they continues as a duo.

While they were moving on, they also moved back: they reunited with Stock and Waterman as producers - who similarly had parted ways with Aitken. The two duos worked on the album 'Please yourself', of which this single was the first one. It reached number 24 in the UK singles chart and number 32 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4071
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Movin' on' / 'Treat me right'

A day's wait - Altered Images

After being championed by legendary DJ John Peel, Altered Images quickly garnered enough attention to be offered a record deal with Epic Records in 1981. Mainstream success eluded the band until their third single 'Happy birthday' was released.

'Dead pop stars', their debut single, reached a lowly number 67 in the UK singles chart, but this second single 'A day's wait' did not chart at all. It was after this single that Altered Images recorded their debut album.

My collection: 7" single no. 4070
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'A day's wait' / 'Who cares?'

The night you murdered love - ABC

'The night you murdered love' was the second single from ABC's 1987 album 'Alphabet City'. The track featured a more modern sound for the band, including some catchy vocals by band leader Martin Fry. The single peaked at number 31 in the UK singles chart and number 10 in the Dutch Top 40.

This is one ABC single I never bought, not because I didn't like the track but more because it was played on the radio so often back in 1987. I never really felt the need to own this single - until now, that is.

My collection: 7" single no. 4069
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'The night you murdered love' / 'Minneapolis'

When all is said and done - Abba

'When all is said and done' is a track from Abba's 1981 album 'The visitors'. It was released as a single in Australia and the USA - and this is the sleeveless US pressing. Written during a time of emotional turmoil, Björn Ulvaeus has admitted that the recent divorce between Benny Andersson and Frida Lyngstad was at the back of his mind during the songwriting process for this song. Björn sought approval from Benny and Frida before the group began working with the song. When recording began in March 1981, only one month had passed since their separation.

'When all is said and done' was a reasonable success in the United States, peaking at number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 - and Abba's final top 40 hit there. Now if I could only find the picture sleeve somewhere...

My collection: 7" single no. 4068
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 0,75 euro
Tracks: 'When all is said and done' / 'Should I laugh or cry'

Superhuman touch - Athlete

'Superhuman touch' is the latest single by the English rock band Athlete. It was released in August this year as the first single from their new album 'Black swan'. After switching from Parlophone records to Fiction records, it was a good surprise to see that the 7" single format wasn't abandoned. Even better, the 7" single features an exclusive B-side track.

After the album 'Beyond the neighbourhood', which was a bit disappointing critically and commercially, it seems with this new album the band is back on track. I've already ordered the new cd!

My collection: 7" single no. 4067
Found: eBay.co.uk, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Superhuman touch' / 'Ghosts from the past'

Paparazzi - Lady Gaga

'Paparazzi' is the most recent single release by Lady Gaga, released in July this year. The song was written by her to portray her struggles and her love for fame. Gaga herself commented about the song: 'The song is about a few different things – it's about my struggles, do I want fame or do I want love? It's also about wooing the paparazzi to fall in love with me. It's about the media whoring, if you will, watching ersatzes make fools of themselves to their station. It's a love song for the cameras, but it's also a love song about fame or love – can you have both, or can you only have one?'

As usual for a Lady Gaga single, the 7" single was released as a picture disc. It reached number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4064
Found: eBay.co.uk, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Paparazzi' / 'Paparazzi (Yuksek remix)'

Your love alone is not enough - Manic street preachers

It may have been a surprise to some to hear a female vocal on a Manic Street Preachers track. And some may even have wondered who it was. Well, the guest star here was Nina Persson, who is known as the frontwoman of The Cardigans.

'Your love alone is not enough' was released as a single in April 2007. It reached number 2 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4066
Found: eBay.co.uk, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Your love alone is not enough' / 'Fearless punk ballad'

New in town - Little boots

Every now and again, I discover a new artist that has actually been around for a little while but I just managed to miss it. It doesn't matter because usually I'm there early enough to still collect all the relevant singles. Little boots is my latest discovery, recording so-called electropop music that incorporates a lot of influences from the Eighties into a more modern sound.

'New in town' is Little boots' debut single, released in May this year. Victoria Christina Hesketh, who uses Little boots as her stage name, wrote the song herself together with Greg Kurstin. According to her, the song is about 'being a stranger in a strange place which is fun but also has a dark side, and someone showing you around and in the end just kind of letting go'. The single reached number 13 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4062
Found: eBay.co.uk, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'New in town' / 'New in town (No one is safe - Al Kapranos remix)'

The beginning - Seal

'The beginning' was the third single taken from Seal's debut album 'Seal'. Released in October 1991, it was not as successful as the two previous singles, reaching number 24 in the UK singles chart and number 10 in the Dutch Top 40.

Personally I thought this track was not the best choice for a single and I hesitated a little before I bought it. Fortunately the mantra 'a collector has to be complete' was already making its way into my brain around that time.

My collection: 7" single no. 1495
Found: Melody Maker, July 20, 1991
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'The beginning' / 'Deep water (acoustic)'

Zuipen - Rubberen Robbie

'Zuipen' ('Booze') could have been a typical product of the early Eighties, a time when youth unemployment was the highest it had ever been. The 'no future' slogans proclaimed by the punks were still in vogue and getting unemployment benefit was almost something of a status symbol.

The group Rubberen Robbie (a Dutch parody of the name Plastic Bertrand, a punker from the Seventies) recorded 'Zuipen' actually in 1978 as their debut single. It was a big hit with Dutch pirate stations, although it didn't manage to reach the Dutch Top 40. The group would continue to record parodies and humorous tracks in the years to come.

My collection: 7" single no. 1414
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, April 7, 1991
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Zuipen' / 'Hebbie ouwe krante?'

Rosanna - Toto

'Rosanna' may well be one of the era-defining tracks of the Eighties. The instantly recognisable Toto track was written by the band's primary songwriter, David Paich. Many people think the song is about Rosanna Arquette, who at the time had a troublesome relationship with band member Steve Porcaro. The title was actually just coincidential: Paich needed a name to fit well into the chorus.

The single peaked at number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 3 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 12 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2429
Found: August 19, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Rosanna' / 'It's a feeling'

Another way to die - Jack White and Alicia Keys

A lot of care went into the James Bond themes in the early days. And I have to say, the quality was still there in the Nineties, although some of the tracks released in the Eighties and Nineties relied on cliche a little too much. But with the latest Bond movie, 'Quantum of solace', nothing really is Bond anymore - and the theme song went the same way.

'Another way to die', performed by Jack White and Alicia Keys, sounds like a hastily compiled demo, in which the writer, Jack White, forgot to include a melody and a comprehensible song structure. On the plus side: it's the first time since Madonna's 'Die another day' that the Bond theme appeared on the 7" vinyl format again and it is pressed on semi-gold coloured vinyl.

My collection: 7" single no. 3576
Found: eBay.co.uk, received February 2, 2009
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Another way to die' / 'Another way to die (instrumental)'

Run to the sun - Erasure

'Run to the sun' was the second single from Erasure's sixth studio album 'I say I say I say', released in July 1994. It was the last single by Erasure to be released on the 7" single format in the UK in the Nineties. It was pressed on yellow vinyl and came with a free full colour poster.

The single peaked at number 6 in the UK singles chart. The single's B-side, a ballad entitled 'Tenderest moments', is a fan favorite and was later re-recorded by Erasure in an acoustic version for their 2006 album 'Union Street'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2156
Found: September 3, 1994
Cost: ?
Tracks: 'Run to the sun' / 'Tenderest moments', 'Run to the sun (Beatmasters' Intergalactic mix)

Walking on thin ice - Yoko Ono

I'll have to give full credit to Puck for introducing me to this song. I don't know exactly when, but it may well have been when the remixes of this track were released in 2003. Somehow I managed to miss this track when it was first released in 1981 - although it did not chart in the Netherlands.

Yoko Ono released this single, like the sleeve states, 'For John'. The lyrics talk of the unpredictability of life and death - of 'throwing the dice in the air' - and reach the conclusion, 'when our hearts return to ashes, it will be just a story...'. With the world in shock of John Lennon's death just two months before the released of this single in February 1981, a new poignancy was added to the already haunting yet highly danceable track.

My collection: 7" single no. 4061
Found: eBay.com, received September 23, 2009
Cost: $4
Tracks: 'Walking on thin ice' / 'It happened'