Shipbuilding - Tasmin Archer

'Shipbuilding' was written by singer/songwriter Elvis Costello and producer Clive Langer during the Falklands War of 1982. Costello's lyrics discuss the contradiction of the war bringing back prosperity to traditional shipbuilding areas of Merseyside (Cammell Laird), Tyneside (Swan Hunter) and Belfast (Harland and Wolff) to build new ships to replace those being sunk in the war, whilst also sending off the sons of these areas to fight and, potentially, lose their lives in those same ships.

Tasmin Archer recorded the song as part of her 'Shipbuilding EP', which contains covers of four Costello songs. The EP reached number 40 in the UK singles chart in 1994.

My collection: 7" single no. 2665
Found: Leeds, June 30, 1996
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Shipbuilding', 'Deep dark truthful mirror' / 'All grown up', 'New Amsterdam'

Cry for help - Rick Astley

Having left the Stock-Aitken-Waterman stable of stars, Rick Astley presented himself as a 'serious' artist in 1991 with his third album 'Free'. 'Cry for help', released as the first single from the album, was written by Astley himself with Rob Fisher, one half of the duo Naked Eyes in the Eighties.

The single reached number 7 in both the UK singles chart and the US Billboard Hot 100. In the Netherlands, it reached number 11.

My collection: 7" single no. 1378
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, February 2, 1991
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Cry for help' / 'Behind the smile'

The unforgettable fire - U2

This month sees the release of the deluxe edition of U2's classic 1984 album 'The unforgettable fire'. It is a milestone in the history of music, and best of all: the deluxe edition will contain a bonus disc with two previously unreleased tracks from the album sessions, plus the B-sides and remixes that have been so hard to find until now.

This is the double single edition of the title track, released in 1985. I was truly in love with this track at the time, and would have killed to get the double single my sister came home with in May of that year. Fortunately, these double singles weren't so hard to find in the Netherlands (unlike many other double singles at the time). Five tracks of pure genius. U2 were never again as good as they were back then.

My collection: 7" single no. 286
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 12 guilders
Tracks: 'The unforgettable fire' / 'A sort of homecoming' // 'Love comes tumbling', 'Sixty seconds in kingdom come' / 'The three sunrises'

Escape (The Pina Colada song) - Rupert Holmes

Contrary to the belief of some, Rupert Holmes did not wrote 'Escape' after a similar event as told in the song happened to himself. Instead, the lyrics were inspired by a want-ad he read while idly perusing the personals. As Holmes commented, 'I thought, what would happen to me if I answered this ad? I'd go and see if it was my own wife who was bored with me.'

The chorus originally started with 'If you like Humphrey Bogart', which Holmes changed at the last minute, replacing the actor with the name of the first exotic cocktail he could think of. The song landed at number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 in December 1979 and number 23 in the UK singles chart in January 1980. In the Netherlands, the single reached number 13 in February 1980.

My collection: 7" single no. 299
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Escape (The Pina Colada song)' / 'Drop it'

Poing - Rotterdam Termination Source

Rotterdam Termination Source is a Dutch house act, formed by producers Maurice Steenbergen and Danny Scholte. The duo joined Paul Elstak's hardcore label Rotterdam Records in 1992 and released their debut single 'Poing'. It was nothing but a novelty record, combining the sound of a computerized bouncing ball to a hard beat, the kind of mindless noise that was becoming popular around that time with xtc-filled brainless mongrels.

The single became a number 2 hit in the Netherlands, shamelessly exposing the lack of taste at the time. Although it has to be assumed there were also people who were, like me, just buying this for the ridiculousness of it all. The track was voted 'worst song of all times' on a Dutch radio station in 2000.

My collection: 7" single no. 1691
Found: Melody Maker, August 1, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Poing' / 'Bonus poing'

Nineteen forever - Joe Jackson

In the Nineties, Joe Jackson moved away from pop music, but not before he released one of his best albums, 'Blaze of glory'. The first single from the album was 'Nineteen forever', a great energetic song. The single reached number 27 in the Dutch Top 40, but did not chart in the UK.

Jackson felt the album was one of his best efforts and toured to support it with an eleven piece band in the USA and Europe from June to November 1989. He was disappointed with both the commercial reaction and his record label's lack of support. He parted ways with A&M, who then released the 1990 compilation 'Steppin' out: the very best of Joe Jackson'.

My collection: 7" single no. 840
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, May 27, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Nineteen forever' / 'Acropolis now'

Let me live - Queen

Queen's record company had a taste for the bizarre when they released 'Let me live' as a single, given the fact that lead singer Freddie Mercury was already dead for almost five years. Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor and Brian May shared lead vocal duties on this song. Rebecca Leigh-White, Gary Martin, Catherine Porter and Miriam Stockley provided the backing vocals on this track.

The fourth single from the album 'Made in heaven' reached number 9 in the UK singles chart, but only number 36 in the Netherlnads. But then, this limited edition 7" picture disc was only released in the UK of course. Cd-singles are just not that appealing, whatever anyone says.

My collection: 7" single no. 2650
Found: HMV, London, June 28, 1996
Cost: 2,3 pounds
Tracks: 'Let me live' / 'Fat bottomed girls (digital remaster)', 'Bicycle race (digital remaster)'

Halt mich - Herbert Grönemeyer

Back in 1988, it was a strange thing to get my head around: a German singing a lovesong. At the time, all the history lessons were telling us that Germans were cruel people who were responsible for atrocious crimes just short of a half century ago. And here came Herbert Grönemeyer with one of the most beautiful lovesongs ever written.

I was only 18 when this song was released, young enough to think in black and white, good and bad. These days we know that you can't hold everyone responsible for decades on end. Fortunately, the single was rewarded with a decent placing in the Dutch chart: it reached number 23.

My collection: 7" single no. 677
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, November 12, 1988
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Halt mich' / 'Lesmona'

Because of love - Janet Jackson

'Because of love' was released as the fourth single from Janet Jackson's 1993 album 'Janet' in January 1994. The track is a rather traditional love song and was produced, like the album, by Jackson, James Harris III and Terry lewis.

The single peaked at number 10 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 19 in the UK singles chart, but it didn't chart in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 2080
Found: March 8, 1994
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Because of love' / 'Because of love (Frankie & David 7")'

Really saying something - Bananarama

'He was really sayin' somethin'' was written by Motown songwriters Norman Whitfield, William "Mickey" Stevenson and Edward Holland, Jr. in 1964. The song was originally recorded by the Velvelettes in 1964.

Bananarama recorded their version of the song as the first single from their debut album 'Deep sea skiving'. Fun Boy Three provided backing vocals, after they had a hit with Bananarama earlier in the year with 'It ain't what you do (It's the way that you do it'. With this single they had another hit together, peaking at number 5 in the UK singles chart and number 11 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1976
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, October 17, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Really saying something' / 'Give us back our cheap fares'

Paperback writer - The Beatles

This single is part of a boxed set of all of Beatles 7" singles, reissued some time in the Seventies. I wish I could find that box set for a relatively cheap price, but so do many others. Every time it pops up on eBay, you can spend a fortune on it. So for now, I'll have to be satisfied with the three separate singles I bought in 1986. This is the first of them.

'Paperback writer' was originally released in 1966. Written in the form of a letter from an aspiring author to a publisher, 'Paperback writer' was the first Beatles single that was not a love song. The single reached number 1, well, everywhere.

My collection: 7" single no. 455
Found: Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Paperback writer' / 'Rain'

We close our eyes - Go west

'We close our eyes' was the debut single by Go West, composed by both members Peter Cox and Richard Drummie. The accompanying music video was directed by Godley & Creme. The single spent fourteen weeks on the UK singles chart, peaking at number 5. In the Netherlands, it reached number 22.

I bought the 12" single quite quickly after the release of this single, but the 7" single followed almost a decade after its original release.

My collection: 7" single no. 2289
Found: May 6, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'We close our eyes' / 'Missing persons'

Jump in the river - Sinéad O'Connor

After three singles from her debut album 'The lion and the cobra' were released, Sinéad O'Connor released a stand-alone single in the autumn of 1988. 'Jump in the river' was only a minor success, stalling at number 81 in the UK singles chart, although it did reach number 29 in Ireland.

The B-side is a live recording of the track 'Never get old' from the aforementioned debut album. It was recorded at Dominion theatre in London on June 3, 1988.

My collection: 7" single no. 2549
Found: November 2, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Jump in the river' / 'Never get old (live)'

I've seen that face before - Grace Jones

'I've seen that face before' was the third single taken from Grace Jones' 1981 album 'Nightclubbing'. The song combines 'Libertango', an Argentine tango classic written by bandoneonist Ástor Piazzolla, with a reggae arrangement en new lyrics by Grace Joes and Barrey Reynolds.

This version of the single, which I've only seen once (when I bought it), features not only a beautiful sleeve, but also a Spanish version on the B-side. It replaces the French spoken verse 'Tu cherches quoi ? À rencontrer la mort ? Tu te prends pour qui ? Toi aussi tu détestes la vie...' with a literal translation in Spanish. The single reached number 2 in the Dutch Top 40. Bizarrely, it did not chart in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 2995
Found: London, May 27, 1998
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'I've seen that face before' / 'I've seen that face before (Spanish version)'

Waiting in vain - Bob Marley and the Wailers

Musicians always live forever. After the death of Bob Marley, there was no shortage of new albums and singles. 'Waiting in vain' was released as a single when the compilation album 'Legend' appeared in 1984. It was originally recorded in 1977 for Marley's album 'Exodus'. This single was mixed by Julian Mendelsohn.

The original release of 'Waiting in vain' reached number27 in the UK singles chart. This new release reached number 31 in the summer of 1984. In the Netherlands, the song only charted once in 1984, reaching number 32.

My collection: 7" single no. 1890
Found: Record fair, May 2, 1993
Cost: 4 guilders
Tracks: 'Waiting in vain' / 'Blackman redemption'

Half a minute - Matt Bianco

Basia was the lead singer on this single by Matt Bianco, released in the autumn of 1984. While it only reached number 23 in the UK singles chart, it spent 10 weeks in the chart, which was quite a feat.

The summery video was a regular on television, even in the Netherlands, where it did not chart. I found the single years later. I think I must have seen it many times before I bought it, but the sleeve is a bit inconspicuous.

My collection: 7" single no. 1764
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 20, 1992
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Half a minute' / 'Matts Mood II'

The sign - Ace of base

'The sign' was the first single taken from Ace of Base's second album 'Happy nation'. The single continued the success story of the Swedish band, as it reached number 1 in America, Australia, Canada, Argentina, Spain and Austria. In the Netherlands, it reached number 3 and in the UK singles chart, it peaked at number 2.

After this single, Ace of base continued to release albums and singles, but this was their last big hit worldwide.

My collection: 7" single no. 2490
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 30, 1995
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'The sign' / 'The sign (long version)'

You'll never be so wrong - Hot Chocolate

'You'll never be so wrong' was written by Ricky and Marty Wilde, who had just been successful launching Kim Wilde, their sister and daughter respectively, as an artist with the singles 'Kids in America'. Producer Mickie Most had just accepted 'Chequered love' as her second single, but they still needed a B-side. They recorded 'You'll never be so wrong', but Most responded that the track was too good to be a B-side. He wanted to give Hot Chocolate a shot with the track.

And so Hot Chocolate released this single in May 1981. It reached number 51 in the UK singles chart, but did considerably better in Europe. In the Netherlands, for instance, it reached number 23. Kim Wilde's version of the track subsequently appeared as a track on her debut album.

My collection: 7" single no. 581
Found: 1987
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'You'll never be so wrong' / 'Robot love'

Till you come back to me - Leo Sayer

'Till you come back to me' is a cover of a song originally performed by Stevie Wonder. Leo Sayer recorded it on his tenth album, 'Have you ever been in love', which was released in 1983. When it was released as a single, it effectively ended a run of chart hits Sayer had since the early Seventies. The single reached number 51 in the UK singles chart.

I heard the track on the radio very frequently back in 1983 and 1984. When I found this single a decade later, I was pretty happy as I'd never seen a copy!

My collection: 7" single no. 1943
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 11, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Till you come back to me' / 'Train'

You keep me hangin' on - The Supremes

'You keep me hangin' on' was written by the famous Holland-Dozier-Holland writing team. It was recorded by The Supremes in 1966. Many elements of the recording, including the guitars, the drums, and Diana Ross's lead vocal, were multitracked (the parts were recorded multiple times and the takes layered over one another). This was done to create a fuller sound than the previous Supremes records. The song was recorded nine different times with the Supremes and session band The Funk Brothers before the producers got the version they were finally satisfied with.

'You keep me hangin' on' was the first single from the Supremes' 1967 album 'The Supremes sing Holland-Dozier-Holland'. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks in November 1966. In the Netherlands, it reached number 26.

My collection: 7" single no. 2979
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, April 4, 1998
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'You keep me hangin' on' / 'Hang on Sloopy'