Notorious - Duran Duran

After a break for a year during which one half of Duran Duran formed Arcadia and the other half formed the Power Station, the group came back together. However, Roger and Andy Taylor left the band by the time the new album 'Notorious' and the lead single of the same name were released.

As a trio, the band had enlisted the help of Nile Rodgers to take over production duties. Rodgers also plays guitar on the single. It was a good return for the band: the single reached number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 6 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2297
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 199X
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Notorious' / 'Winter marches on'

Life in technicolor II - Coldplay

'Life in technicolor' appears as an instrumental track on Coldplay's album 'Viva la vida', but this vocal version was actually already recorded at the time as well. It was finally released on the mini album 'Prospekt's March'.

The single 'Life in Technicolor II' was released as digital download and 7" vinyl only in February 2009. It reached number 28 in the UK singles chart and number 15 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3582
Found: eBay.co.uk, received February 11, 2009
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Life in technicolor II' / 'The goldrush'

Ghosts - Japan

'Ghosts' was a single taken from Japan's 1981 album 'Tin drum'. Bereft of drums, the minimalist track would not be described as a 'commercially viable' single in most circumstances. However, Japan's popularity at the time allowed the single to become unexpectedly popular. It reached number 5 in the UK singles chart.

Although it was their biggest hit, Japan split up just months after this single. In 2000 David Sylvian re-recorded 'Ghosts' using the original Japan backing track and included it on his compilation 'Everything and nothing'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2847
Found: Record fair, February 1997
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Ghosts' / 'The art of parties (version)'

King's call - Philip Lynott

If you think 'King's call' sounds suspiciously like a Dire Straits track, you're not far off: one of the guest performers on this track is Mark Knopfler. The song is an ode to Elvis Presley, taken from Lynott's first solo album 'Solo in Soho'.

The single was originally a hit for Lynott in the UK in June 1980, reaching number 35 in the UK singles chart. It was re-released after his death in January 1987, but on this occasion it only reached number 68. Things went the other way around in the Netherlands: the single did not chart in 1980 but reached number 20 in 1987.

My collection: 7" single no. 598
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 21, 1988
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'King's call' / 'Ode to a black man'

Sunday girl - Erasure

'Sunday girl' was released as the second single from Erasure's 13th studio album 'Light at the end of the world' in June 2007. In the UK, it was released as a 7" picture disc single. The lyric of the song tells the story of someone who has immersed herself in nightlife and while in a nightclub catches the attention of the protagonist, who offers to dance with her 'til Sunday morning' but warns 'don't you mess your life up, Sunday Girl.'

The single reached number 33 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3487
Found: eBay.co.uk, received December 24, 2008
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Sunday girl (radio mix)' / 'Take me on a highway'

The emperor's new clothes - Sinéad O'Connor

'The emperor's new clothes' was the second single from Sinéad O'Connor's 1990 album 'I do not want what I haven't got'. It was released in a limited edition numbered box set featuring a giant fold out poster and three postcards. This is number 4915.

The single reached number 23 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 31 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1291
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, September 1, 1990
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'The emperor's new clothes' / 'What do you want'

In your eyes - Niamh Kavanagh

Niamh Kavanagh was born in 1968 in Dublin. Her first big break came when she performed as a lead and backing vocalist on the soundtrack of 'The commitments', the 1991 movie starring Robert Arkins.

Two years later, she represented Ireland during the Eurovision Song Contest with 'In your eyes', a horrifyingly ugly ballad which for some strange reason won the hearts of the European juries, causing Ireland to win for the second time in a row that year. As if none of the other 24 songs were better. The single managed to reach number 24 in the UK singles chart, while, more appropriately, it didn't chart in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 1975
Found: HMV, London, October 17, 1993
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'In your eyes' / 'In your eyes (instrumental)'

Sideshow - Wendy and Lisa

When Britney Spears managed to have a pretty successful comeback recently, it was suggested that this was partly because she used the 'commercial' imagery of a circus. Apparently songs about circuses and clowns are always successful. Although I have to add, I know a few songs about this subject that didn't have any commercial success whatsoever. But this isn't one of them.

'Sideshow' was released as the second single by Wendy & Lisa, taken from their self-titled debut album. It did better in the UK singles chart than their debut single 'Waterfall', peaking at number 49. In the Dutch Top 40, this single reached number 30.

My collection: 7" single no. 2328
Found: June 3, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Sideshow' / 'Chance to grow'

Rover's return - The Korgis

I don't have an enormous amount of instrumental hit singles, and certainly the only instrumental song that became the signature track for an artist I can think of was Mike Oldfield's 'Tubular bells'. But 'Rover's return' by the Korgis is another good example.

It may have been the funny barking noises and the upbeat character of the track that caused it to be played so often on the radio in 1980. This in turn helped it become a big hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 6 in the Dutch Top 40. The track was obviously less popular with UK DJ's, as it didn't chart there.

My collection: 7" single no. 2466
Found: September 9, 1995
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Rover's return' / 'Dumb waiters'

Him - Rupert Holmes

Rupert Holmes fifth album 'Partners in crime' was released in 1979. It contained his biggest hit 'Escape', but also 'Him', which was released as the follow-up. The single reached number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 18 in the Dutch Top 40. In the UK, the single reached number 31.

My collection: 7" single no. 2411
Found: Record fair, 1994
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Him' / 'Get outta yourself'

Kiss this thing goodbye - Del Amitri

After the chart success of 'Nothing ever happens', Del Amitri's debut single 'Kiss this thing goodbye' was re-released in 1990. A numbered limited edition 7" with a gatefold sleeve was also released; this is number 15500.

The single reached number 43 in the UK singles chart, but also managed to break the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 35. I wonder if it's the banjo in this track that did the trick...

My collection: 7" single no. 1339
Found: London, October 17, 1990
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Kiss this thing goodbye' / 'No holding on'

The ballad of Lucy Jordan - Marianne Faithfull

'The ballad of Lucy Jordan' was originally written by American poet and songwriter Shel Silverstein and recorded by Dr. Hook.

Faithfull recorded her cover version of the song on her 1979 album 'Broken English'. It was released as a single in November 1979. Faithfull later commented that the story she intended to put across in the song was that Lucy climbs to the roof top but gets taken away by 'the man who reached and offered her his hand' in an ambulance to a mental hospital, and that the final lines ('At the age of thirty-seven she knew she'd found forever / As she rode along through Paris with the warm wind in her hair...') are actually in her imagination at the hospital. Funny, I always thought the line meant she was dead.

My collection: 7" single no. 1338
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1991
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'The ballad of Lucy Jordan' / 'Brain drain'

So hard - Pet Shop Boys

'So hard' was the first single taken from the Pet Shop Boys' 1990 album 'Behaviour'. According to Neil Tennant, the song is about 'two people living together; they are totally unfaithful to each other but they both pretend they are faithful and then catch each other out'. The single reached number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 15 in the Dutch Top 40.

The B-side of this single is 'It must be obvious'. Tennant commented about this track that it 'rather horrifyingly features my first ever guitar solo'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1434
Found: April 26, 1991
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'So hard' / 'It must be obvious'

Blood makes noise - Suzanne Vega

'Blood makes noise' is the third single taken from Suzanne Vega's 1992 album '99.9 F°'. While it only reached number 60 in the UK singles chart, it was the only single from the album to achieve some chart success in other countries as well. The single reached number 61 in Australia, number 42 in New Zealand and number 27 in Canada.

The B-side was recorded live at the Paleo Festival in Nyon, Switzerland on July 26, 1991.

My collection: 7" single no. 2397
Found: London, July 6, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Blood makes noise' / 'Neighbourhood girls (live)'

The end of the innocence - Don Henley

As has become obvious to me, this blog is not only viewed by friendly people. Sometimes a prick comes along. The prick in question commented on my earlier entry on Don Henley's 'The boys of summer', suggesting that the info in that posting was not correct and that I should 'do [my] homework'. I wonder if a person like that would be able to come up with an active blog like this.

Fortunately for him, there's not much information about 'The end of the innocence', also by Don Henley. All I can say about it is that it was produced by Henley and Bruce Hornsby, with the latter also playing piano on this track. And to me the fascinating thing is that the beauty and excellence of the A-side of this single is matched by the horrible horribleness of the B-side.

My collection: 7" single no. 1149
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, January 12, 1990
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'The end of the innocence' / 'If dirt were dollars'

No doubt about it - Hot Chocolate

'No doubt about it' was written by Mike Burns, Simon Glen and Donny Most. It is an unusual lyric, dealing with life from outer space. The music is almost futuristic, laden with synthesizers which would become more common after 1980, when this single was released.

It was a successful single for Hot Chocolate, because it reached number 2 in the UK singles chart. In the Dutch Top 40 the single peaked at number 14.

My collection: 7" single no. 939
Found: All that music, Leiden, July 7, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'No doubt about it' / 'Gimme some of your lovin''

Joan of Arc - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

The second single from OMD's third album 'Architecture & Morality' was the beautiful 'Joan of Arc'. Not to be confused with 'Maid of Orleans', which was subtitled 'The waltz of Joan of Arc', which was the next single and would be a worldwide hit.

This single was less successful worldwide, although it did reach number 5 in the UK singles chart, only one place lower than 'Maid of Orleans'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2493
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 30, 1995
Cost: 40p
Tracks: 'Joan of Arc' / 'The romance of the telescope (unfinished)'

Let me be the one - Five Star

'Let me be the one' was released in the summer of 1985 as the fourth single from the group's 'Luxury of life' album.

This 12" single features two remixes of the track, of which the 'Philadelphia remix' features famous saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr. As an extra treat, there's a dub mix of one of their early hits, 'All fall down' and of course the instrumental B-side 'Beat 47'.

My collection: 12" single no. 463
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, 2008
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Let me be the one (Philadelphia remix)', 'Let me be the one (Dance mix by Hardrock) / 'All fall down (M&M dub mix)', 'Beat 47'

Johnny wanna live - Sandra

'Johnny wanna live' originally appeared on Sandra's fourth album 'Paintings in yellow' (1990). When it was decided in the summer of 1992 that a compilation album, '18 greatest hits' was to be released, Sandra re-recorded the track to be included as a new single.

The song's lyric protests against cruelty to animals. In an interview in Sweden. Sandra explained the origins of the song citing her disapproval of people wearing fur coats. The single reached number 9 in Israel and number 37 in Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 1790
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, November 14, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Johnny wanna live' / 'Mirrored in your eyes'

Big yellow taxi - Amy Grant

Joni Mitchell originally wrote 'Big yellow taxi'. She commented about the song: 'I wrote 'Big yellow taxi' on my first trip to Hawaii. I took a taxi to the hotel and when I woke up the next morning, I threw back the curtains and saw these beautiful green mountains in the distance. Then, I looked down and there was a parking lot as far as the eye could see, and it broke my heart... this blight on paradise. That's when I sat down and wrote the song'.

Amy Grant recorded her version of this song in 1994 for her album 'House of love'. In my opinion, it's the best version of the song. It reached number 20 in the UK singles chart and number 67 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

My collection: 7" single no. 2335
Found: HMV, Lonodn, June 26, 1995
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Big yellow taxi' / 'House of love'