Wonderful life - Black

'Wonderful life' is the song they can play at my funeral. It's the perfect combination of beautiful music and a raher cynical lyric - although it can also be perceived as being a rather upbeat lyric as well. Add to this the perfect voice of Colin Vearncombe, and you have one of the best pop songs of all time.

When it was originally released in 1985 on the independent Ugly Man label, a limited edition double single was made, featuring not two, but four great tracks. Re-recordings of all of these traks would appear on Black's debut album in 1987 on A&M records, except 'Birthday night', a song that never resurfaced. And for that, this double single is a true collectors item for Black fans. This original version reached number 72 in the UK singles chart. It was the first single by Black to reach the chart, if only for one week.

My collection: 7" single no. 2627
Found: March 9, 1996
Cost: 5 pounds
Tracks: 'Wonderful life' / 'Birthday night' // 'Sometimes for the asking' / 'Everything's coming up roses'

Sweet and low - Deborah Harry

'Sweet and low' was another single from Deborah Harry's 1989 album 'Def, dumb and blonde'. Originally produced by Chris Stein, Toni C and Deborah Harry, the track was remixed for the single by Phil Harding and Ian Curnow, associates of Stock, Aitken & Waterman. At the time of the release of this single, Harry embarked on a solo tour in the USA, UK and Australia in early 1990.

The single reached number 57 in the UK singles chart and was released in a limited edition with a poster sleeve. Of course, I had to have that one.

My collection: 7" single no. 1707
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 19, 1992
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Sweet and low' / 'Lovelight'

The swords of a thousan men - Tenpole Tudor

Tenpole Tudor released their debut album 'Eddie, Old Bob, Dick and Gary' in 1981. The second single from the album, 'Wunderbar', was a European hit, but its predecessor did less well. Still, in the UK it was their biggest hit, reaching number 6 in the UK singles chart.

My copy of the single is a Belgian pressing, which in fact is a pretty rare thing: I think I've only got a handful of singles made in Belgium.

My collection: 7" single no. 3295
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'The swords of a thousand men' / 'Love and food'

Against all odds - Phil Collins

Phil Collins wrote 'Against all odds' for the 1984 movie of the same name. It was originally titled 'How can you just sit there?', and was one of many songs to be written for Collins' debut album 'Face value' (1981). Collins rewrote the lyric for the 1984 version which was released on the soundtrack album of 'Against all odds'.

When it was released as a single, it reached number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the Dutch Top 40, it reached number 10. Back in 1984, I didn't really like this song and its boring music video - my appreciation for it became bigger in the early Nineties.

My collection: 7" single no. 2370
Found: House of Rhythm, London, July 1, 1995
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'Against all odds' (Phil Collins) / 'Making a big mistake' (Mike Rutherford)

I heard a rumour - Bananarama

'I heard a rumour' was the first single from Bananarama's 1987 album 'Wow!', which was their second album to be produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman. The song has all the features of a SAW production: a steady beat, lots of synth sounds and an accesible pop treatment. It has to be said that the B-side is a weird one, featuring samples from Princess's 'Say I'm your number one' amongst other things.

My copy was released as a limited edition with a poster sleeve. The single reached number 14 in the UK singles chart and number 17 in the Dutch Top 40. In America the single was even more successful, reaching number 4.

My collection: 7" single no. 547
Found: Tower Records, London, October 1987
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'I heard a rumour' / 'Clean cut boy (Party size)'

Whoops now / What'll I do - Janet Jackson

As far as I know, it doesn't happen that often that a 'hidden track' on a cd album is subsequently released as a single. But that's exactly what happened with Janet Jackson's 'Whoops now' in 1995. It was the eighth single taken from Jackson's 1993 album 'Janet', and it was released in the UK as a double A-side with 'What'll I do', another album track.

This 7" single was released as a picture disc only, which might have helped sales a little. The single reached number 9 in the UK singles chart, while it reached number 1 in New Zealand.

My collection: 7" single no. 2257
Found: Wreckastow, Rotterdam, March 22, 1995
Cost: 8 guilders
Tracks: 'Whoops now (radio edit)' / 'What'll I do'

Bakerman - Laid Back

The single 'Bakerman' by Laid Back was notable for its music video, directed by Lars von Trier, featuring members of the band falling down in the sky as part of a parachute jump. The music is also interesting, while the lyric is a little repetitive. The track featured guest vocals by Hanne Boel.

The single reached number 23 in the Dutch Top 40, while a remix version reached number 1 in Greenland in 2006.

My collection: 7" single no. 1189
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, May 3, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Bakerman' / 'I walk proud'

Delicate - Terence Trent d'Arby featuring Des'ree

Terence Trent d'Arby returned to form in 1993, when he released his third album 'Symphony or damn'. The songs were certainly more accessible than his work on the second album 'Neither fish nor flesh' and he also managed to reach the higher regions of the UK singles charts again.

The best single from the album in my opinion was the second one: 'Delicate', a duet with Des'ree. Just like the previous single 'Do you love me like you say?' this reached number 14 in the UK singles chart, but it also managed to scrape in the Billboard Hot 100 chart, although it stalled at number 74.

My collection: 7" single no. 1993
Found: HMV, London, October 18, 1993
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Delicate' / 'She's my baby', 'Dance little sister'

Runaway - Freur

I found this 12" single in 1995, a beautiful relic from the early Eighties. As mentioned before, Freur's single 'Runaway' was the second single from Freur's debut album 'Doot doot' and didn't bring them the commercial success they may have hoped for.

The 12" single is a real treat, because it features alternate versions of both the A-side and the B-side of the single. I have always like Freur for their debut single 'Doot doot' (Well, and the 12" single 'Doot doot' as well), but this one is a close second.

My collection: 12" single no. 249
Found: London, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Runaway (Dun difrunt)' / 'You're a hoover (Dun difrunt too)'

Nobody knows - Nik Kershaw

'Nobody knows' is another single from Nik Kershaw's 1985 album 'Radio Musicola'. The lyric of the song deals with tabloid journalists, paparazzi and the public's right to know intimate details of celebrities' lives.

The single did not chart in the UK, but reached number 73 in Australia and number 2 in Japan.

My collection: 7" single no. 3077
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, May 10, 1999
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Nobody knows' / 'One of our fruit machines is missing'

Papillon - Editors

The first single from the Editors' third album 'In this light and on this evening' (which came out just recently) is 'Papillon'. Contrary what one might expect, this song is very synth-driven and almost sounds like an old Depeche Mode track. It has already reached number 1 in Belgium.

The music video is something I can't watch, full of running people. For some reason, it makes me physically ill to see these people running around. If you like this track, you can also download a free MP3 of an exclusive remix of this track from this page on the NME website.

My collection: 7" single no. 4103
Found: eBay.co.uk, received October 14, 2009
Cost: 4 pounds
Tracks: 'Papillon' / 'Eat raw meat = Blood drool (demo)'

Paris is burning - Ladyhawke

When I wrote about 'Paris is burning' by Ladyhawke in August, I noted that that single contained only a remix and the French version of the song. What I didn't know was that in the mean time the single had been re-released in March. This limited release (only 600 copies were made, apparently) was pressed on white vinyl and featured the original version of 'Paris is burning' plus a remix. Of course, a download bundle was also available.

While the original release reached number 61 in the UK singles chart, this re-release reached number 47.

My collection: 7" single no. 4102
Found: eBay.co.uk, received October 14, 2009
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Paris is burning' / 'Paris is burning (Chicken Lips Zeefungk beatdown)'

We are golden - Mika

I'm really sorry now that I didn't buy the 7" singles from Mika's debut album 'Life in cartoon motion', because when you find them now on eBay, each one of them costs a fortune. So I decided to be quicker this time around, with the release of 'We are golden', the first single from Mika's second album. It was pressed on - you guessed it - gold coloured vinyl.

According to Mika, the song is 'big sounding and aggressive, but in a good way. It's got a gospel choir on it and a kids' choir, but unlike the first record they're not singing sweetly, they're screaming at the top of their lungs'. The single has already reached number 4 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4101
Found: eBay.co.uk, received October 14, 2009
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'We are golden' / 'We are golden (Jokers of the scene are not who you think they are remix)'

Net als in de film - Toontje Lager

Even if you're not able to understand the Dutch language, when you listen to this single it will be obvious from the music alone that the Dutch music scene was is pretty fine shape back in 1982. The instrumental break in 'Net als in de film' ('Just like in the movies') is up there with the pop classics of its time. And for the Dutch readers of this blog: the lyric of the B-side is a wonderfully cynical response to that old Dutch classic 'De glimlach van een kind' ('The smile of a child').

While Dutch music is much more popular these days, the quality is surprisingly low. Still, it reaches the higher regions of the Dutch Top 40 without much effort. By contrast, this excellent single only reached number 31 in July 1982.

My collection: 7" single no. 2813
Found: Record fair, Leiden, February 1, 1997
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Net als in de film' / 'De glimlach van een kind, deel 2'

Nothing can come between us - Sade

'Nothing can come between us' was released as the third single from Sade's 1988 album 'Stronger than pride'. The single was the second to feature backing vocalist Leroy Osbourne prominently, after 'Never as good as the first time'.

It was one of Sade's less successful singles, as it only reached number 92 in the UK singles chart. In other territories the single didn't chart at all, except in some of the segregated American charts (R&B and AC, reaching number 3 and 21 respectively).

My collection: 7" single no. 672
Found: Free Record Shop, Den haag, October 28, 1988
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Nothing can come between us' / 'Make some room'

Heading west - Cyndi Lauper

'Heading west' was the third single from Cyndi Lauper's album 'A night to remember'. It was written by Lauper with Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly. The lyric of the song is about moving on from a past relationship, which was the overall theme of the album.

The single became a minor hit in the UK, reaching number 68 in the UK singles chart during a one week chart run.

My collection: 7" single no. 1275
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 16, 990
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Heading west' / 'Calm inside the storm'

The gap - Thompson Twins

While in the UK the Thompson Twins released a special single version of 'Sister of Mercy', the German record company decided that the album track 'The gap' was the better single choice. It was also released in the USA, where it reached number 69.

'Sister of mercy' does appear on the B-side of this single, incidentally, but that is the album version of the track.

My collection: 7" single no. 2315
Found: Record fair, June 3, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'The gap' / 'Sister of mercy'

Cry like a rainy day - Feargal Sharkey

I actually have no idea whether Feargal Sharkey's 'Cry like a rainy day' was released as a single commercially. My copy of the single is made for promotion, with a peculiar catalogue number 'HEY MR DJ 1'. The single features two tracks from his 1991 album 'After the mardi gras'.

The title track is featured on the B-side and the real reason for me buying this single. I heard the track on a cd-single I bought a few months before (for a measly 1 guilder) and didn't pass up on the opportunity to have it on vinyl as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 2535
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, November 1, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Cry like a rainy day' / 'After the mardi gras'

If you cared - Kim Appleby

The fourth single from Kim Appleby's self-titled debut album was also released on 12" single. This 12" single contains three remixes of the track. The remix on the A-side was made by Pete Schwier and George DeAngelis, while the two on the B-side were made by Ben Chapman.

I bought the disc in London, after I saw that one of these tracks (the 12" swing mix) does not appear on the cd-single of 'If you cared'. One has to be complete, of course.

My collection: 12" single no. 140
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 1992
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'If you cared (12" remix)' / 'If you cared (12" Ben Chapman mix)', 'If you cared (12" swing mix)'

Diamonds and pearls - Prince

'Diamonds and pearls' is the title track from Prince's 1991 album, recorded with the New Power Generation and featuring the powerful vocals of band member Rosie Gaines. The repeated lyric 'If I gave U diamonds and pearls, would U be a happy boy or a girl?' echoes the lyrics 'I'll buy U diamonds and pearls only if U're a good girl' from Prince's 1982 song, 'International lover'.

The track was released as the album's third single in November 1991. It reached number 25 in the UK singles chart and number 15 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3098
Found: House of Rhythm, London, May 13, 1999
Cost: 40p
Tracks: 'Diamonds and pearls' / 'Q in doubt'