Down under - Men at work

'Down under' was the song that launched the international career of the Australian band Men at work. The lyrics are about an Australian traveler circling the globe, proud of his nationality and about his interactions with people he meets on his travels who are interested in his home country, Australia.

Originally, 'Down under' was released as the B-side to the single 'Keypunch operator', a rare custom-pressed single by Men at Work. When the track was released as an A-side, it reached number 1 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4114
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, October 17, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Down under' / 'Helpless automaton'

Talking loud and clear - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

'Talking loud and clear' was released as the second single from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's 1984 album 'Junk culture'. The single reached number 11 in the UK singles chart and number 5 in the Dutch Top 40.

I remember not being very impressed with OMD's 1984 singles. They sounded too lush compared to the stark synth sound of their earlier singles. Fortunately time has been friendly to their music and it's a very pleasant listen now.

My collection: 7" single no. 4113
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, October 17, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Talking loud and clear' / 'Julia's song'

Overkill - Men at work

'Overkill' was released as a single from the 1983 Men at work album 'Cargo'. It was written by lead singer Colin Hay, reaching number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 21 in the UK singles chart and number 16 in the Dutch Top 40.

The song found a second life nineteen years later when it was used in the US sitcom 'Scrubs' in the episode 'My overkill'. Colin Hay performed a cameo in which he performed the song acoustically.

My collection: 7" single no. 4112
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, October 17, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Overkill' / 'Till the money runs out'

Living eyes - Bee Gees

'Living eyes' is the second single taken from the 1981 Bee Gees album of the same name. They completely broke away from their disco sound with the release of this album, however this didn't help the album become a commercial success. It only sold 750,000 copies worldwide, which was not much compared to its predecessor 'Spirits having flown' which sold 16 million copies.

The title track was released as the album's second single, but it was equally unsuccessful. It only reached number 45 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and didn't chart in the UK and the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 4111
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, October 17, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Living eyes' / 'I still love you'

Red red wine - UB40

'Red red wine' was originally written and recorded by Neil Diamond in 1968. Tony Tribe, a Jamaican singer, recorded a reggae version in 1969. It was this version, apparently, that inspired UB40 to record a cover version of the song for their 1983 album 'Labour of love'. Their version featured a lighter, reggae-style flavor compared to Diamond's somber, acoustic ballad.

UB40's version of 'Red red wine' reached number 1 in the UK singles chart and the Dutch Top 40 in the summer of 1983.

My collection: 7" single no. 4110
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, October 17, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Red red wine' / 'Sufferin''

Help - Bananarama and Lananeeneenoonoo

In 1989, Bananarama recorded an acceptable cover version of the Beatles' 1965 song 'Help'. In an effort to raise money for the Comic Relief charity, they enlisted the help of French & Saunders and Kathy Burke to appear as Lananeeneenoonoo and do funny things with the track. As everyone knows, women comedians are rarely funny, and so this comedy version was in dire need of, er, help.

Still, the single reached number 3 in the UK singles chart and even managed to reach number 25 in the Dutch Top 40. Personally, I think the Comic Relief singles 'Living doll' (with Cliff Richard) and 'Rockin' around the Christmas tree' (with Kim Wilde) were much better.

My collection: 7" single no. 4109
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, October 17, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Help' (Bananarama) / 'Help' (Bananarama & Lananeeneenoonoo)

Look away - Big Country

'Look away' was the first single from Big Country's third studio album 'The seer'. Released in April 1986, it was the fourth UK top 10 hit for the band, peaking at number 7. The single was an even bigger success in Ireland, topping the charts for one week, and becoming the band's only number one hit.

I didn't like the song much when it was released, but now, two decades on, I think it's a great rock track. These days a lot of Eighties music sounds a lot better than it did back then. Must be because a lot of music from today is so crap.

My collection: 7" single no. 4108
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, October 17, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Look away' / 'Restless natives'

This must be love - Lois Lane

'This must be love' was released as the third single from Lois Lane's 1990 album 'Fortune Fairytales'. The single did not chart and thus became the final single release from the album.

The song does sound a bit different from the rest of the band's repertoire, which may have turned off the audience. Personally I think it's a nice track, although it's not the best they've ever made.

My collection: 7" single no. 4107
Found: Empire Records, October 17, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'This must be love' / 'Say I love you'

What I did for love - Three Degrees

'What I did for love' was written by Edward Kleban and Marvin Hamlisch and originally appeared in the 1975 musical 'A chorus line', that won 9 Tony Awards in 1976.

This Three Degrees version appeared in 1976, but it was not very successful: it did not chart in any territory.

My collection: 7" single no. 4106
Found: Empire Records, October 17, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'What I did for love' / 'Macaroni man'

Dreamin' - Vanessa Williams

With 'Dreamin'', Vanessa Williams delivers a perfect piece of Eighties elevator music. Amazingly, it became the biggest hit from her debut album 'The right stuff' in the USA: it reached number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

In Europe, the song was much less popular: it stalled at number 74 in the UK singles chart and it didn't chart in the Netherlands at all.

My collection: 7" single no. 4105
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, October 17, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Dreamin'' / 'The right stuff (instrumental)'

Twenty four hours - Earth and Fire

'Twenty four hours' was the last top 20 hit for Earth & Fire in the Netherlands. It was the first single taken from their 1982 album 'In a state of flux', released in November 1982.

The single reached number 13 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4104
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, October 17, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Twenty four hours' / 'Strange town'

Forever autumn - Justin Hayward

In 1989 the Jeff Wayne epic 'War of the worlds' was re-released, including for the first time on the cd format. To promote this, two singles were re-released as well: 'The eve of the war' (a re-release I'm still looking for) and 'Forever autumn'.

It's almost needless to say that these re-releases were not a commercial success. 'Forever autumn' did not reprise its 1978 chart success at all. But at least it's a pretty new sleeve and a nice collector's item for fans of 'The war of the worlds'.

My collection: 7" single no. 935
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, July 7, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Forever autumn' / 'Thunder child'

Sailing - Christopher Cross

Christopher Cross released his debut album in 1980. 'Sailing' was released as the second single from that album, and was a great success: it reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Meanwhile, it reached number 48 in the UK singles chart and number 18 in the Dutch Top 40.

The song won a Grammy Award in the US for 'Song of the year' and 'Arrangement of the year', while Cross won the 'Best new artist' award.

My collection: 7" single no. 2479
Found: Flea market, Den Haag, October 14, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Sailing' / 'Say you'll be mine'

Too much love will kill you - Queen

Brian May wrote 'Too much love will kill you' with Frank Musker and Elizabeth Lamers. The song was recorded in the Eighties and intended to be included on Queen's 1989 album 'The miracle'. In 1992, Brian May performed the song during the Freddy Mercury tribute concert, after Mercury's death the year before. It was released as a single by May, which reached number 5 in the UK and number 1 in the Netherlands.

The Queen version finally saw the light on the 1995 album 'Made in heaven'. It was released as a single, with the 7" vinyl pressed on pink vinyl. This single reached number 15 in the UK singles chart - but it didn't reach the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2633
Found: HMV mailorder, received April 13, 1996
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Too much love will kill you' / 'We will rock you (digital remaster)', 'We are the champions (digital remaster)'

Do I have to say the words? - Bryan Adams

In 1991, Bryan Adams released his seventh album 'Waking up the neighbours'. The album's best known track is of course '(Everything I do) I do it for you', which was used in the soundtrack of the movie Robin Hood. 'Do I have to say the words' was released as the album's fifth single in the autumn of 1992.

It peaked at number 4 in Canada, number 11 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 30 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1728
Found: HMV, London, October 17, 1992
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Do I have to say the words' / 'Summer of '69 (live)'

EDIT: I received a notice from Blogger that this post was complained about. I trust it's from the same people who posted a reaction on this post. They are obviously terrified that anyone should hear any Bryan Adams music, even if it's any good. The message these people are sending is: don't listen to music, you might get inspired to buy it yourself. And they wonder why the music industry is in such terrible shape...

Where did I go wrong - UB40

'Where did I go wrong' was another single by UB40 from their 1988 self-titled album. The track was written and produced by the band.

While it reached number 26 in the UK singles chart, it was a bigger hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 4.

My collection: 7" single no. 688
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1988
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Where did I go wrong' / 'Where did I go wrong (instrumental)'

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'