Put your love in me - Hot Chocolate

I first heard 'Put your love in me' on a compilation double LP which I got as a present in the summer of 1979. The double LP contained hits from the year 1978, and 'Put your love in me' was one of two Hot Chocolate tracks on that album. The track sounded very, er, erotic, which at the time I thought was rather funny. The tension of the track and the - at the time - futuristic synthesizer sounds always stuck in my mind. I finally bought the 7" single twenty years after its original release.

The single reached number 28 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 10 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3014
Found: All that music, Leiden, September 5, 1998
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Put your love in me' / 'Let them be the judge'

What have you done for me lately - Janet Jackson

Michael Jackson's little sister Janet made her worldwide breakthrough with this single, 'What have you done for me lately'. The song was written by her with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and produced by Jam & Lewis. The single reached number 1 in the Dutch Top 40, number 3 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Rapper King MC recorded a track called 'What have I done for you lately' ('...Well what have you done for me baby') that same year in response to this track.

My collection: 7" single no. 2010
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 18, 1993
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'What have you done for me lately' / 'Young love'

The king of wishful thinking - Go West

It may not have made a big impression on you if you've seen the movie 'Pretty woman', but Go West's 'King of wishful thinking' was featured in it. The movie has become a bit of a classic amongst movie fanatics, but Go West has not profited too much from that legacy.

Still, they did get a reasonable hit out of it. The single reached number 18 in the UK singles chart and number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

My collection: 7" single no. 1337
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1990
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'The king of wishful thinking' / 'Tears too late'

Leuchtturm - Nena

While Nena was becoming a household name in all of Europe with English versions of her earlier singles '99 Luftballons' and 'Nur geträumt' ('99 red balloons' and 'Just a dream' respectively), she also released a German single from her debut album 'Nena'.

In July 1983, she reached the Dutch Top 40 with 'Leuchtturm', a beautiful pop song, which reached number 13.

My collection: 7" single no. 467
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, October 20, 1986
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Leuchtturm' / 'Kino'

Kiss of life - Sade

'Kiss of life' was the third single taken from Sade's fourth studio album 'Love deluxe' (1992). Released in May 1993, it was a minor hit in the USA, where it peaked at number 78. In the UK, the single reached number 44.

I've actually got two different copies of this single: one copy is the commercial 7" single as sold in the UK, the other is a Spanish promotional 7" single, with only one side actually containing music, i.e. the track 'Kiss of life'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1954 / no. 1999
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 25, 1993 / Virgin Megastore, London, October 18, 1993
Cost: 3 guilders / 1 pound
Tracks: 'Kiss of life' / 'Room 55' (not on no. 1954)

One two five - 10CC

'Look hear?' was the seventh studio album by 10CC, released in 1980. The album was recorded at the band's Strawberry Studios South in Dorking, Surrey.

Two singles were lifted from the album, of which 'One two five' was the first. It was not a big hit, reaching only number 85 in Australia.

My collection: 7" single no. 889
Found: All that music, Leiden, June 16, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'One two five' / 'Only child'

My special child - Sinéad O'Connor

'My special child' was a single release by Sinéad O'Connor in 1991. The track was not included on any of the albums. Besides the rather bleak lyric, the song is made beautiful by the uillean pipes solo. The single raised money for 'the simple truth', a charity campaign for Kurdish refugees. The B-side is a live version of 'Nothing compares 2 u'.

The single reached number 12 in Ireland and number 60 in the UK singles chart. In other territories, it did not chart.

My collection: 7" singl eno. 1530
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, September 28, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'My special child' / 'Nothing compares 2 u (live video version)'

Long goodbye - Thompson Twins

Joe Leeway left the Thompson Twins in 1986, leaving Tom Bailey and Alannah Currie to continue as a duo. They carried on making music for another seven years. Their first release as a duo was 1987's 'Close to the bone'.

'Long goodbye' was the second single to be taken from the album, but it was even less successful than the first single, 'Get that love', which reached number 66 in the UK singles chart. This single stalled at number 89. Although one more single was released ('Bush baby'), that one did not chart at all.

My collection: 7" single no. 2538
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, November 1, 1995
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Long goodbye' / 'Dancing in your shoes'

Don't dream it's over - Crowded house

Although many people think this is Crowded House's debut single, it is actually the fourth single taken from their self-titled debut album. 'Don't dream it's over' was released in February 1987 in Australia, but it would take months for it to become a worldwide hit.

After reaching number 8 in Australia, the single reached number 27 in the UK singles chart, number 5 in the Dutch Top 40, number 2 in the USA and number 1 in Canada. The song has been covered by acts like Sixpence none the richer, Paul Young, Paul Carrack and Happy Rhodes.

My collection: 7" single no. 1097
Found: All that music, Leiden, November 11, 1989
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Don't dream it's over' / 'That's what I call love'

You keep me hangin' on - Kim Wilde

Although I was always a Kim Wilde fan during my teens, this single caused a bit of a controversy back in 1986, when it was released. My brother swore it was the worst cover version of any song he'd ever heard, while I wrote in to the fanclub saying that any track from the album 'Another step' would have been a better choice than this track.

Of course, we were both wrong. The single reached number 2 in the UK singles chart - equalling the success of her debut single 'Kids in America' five years before - and reached the top of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in the summer of 1987. Kim commented about the song: 'I remembered the song from a long time back on the radio. It wasn't a song I had in my collection, it wasn't a song I would play a lot. So when I went into the studio to record it, it was really fresh in my mind. That's why I think it's such a fresh version of that song.'

My collection: 7" single no. 457
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, September 20, 1986
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'You keep me hangin' on' / 'Loving you'

If I had you - The Korgis

'If I had you' was the Korgis' second single, released in June 1979. It reached number 13 in the UK singles chart, giving them their first hit single. Their self-titled debut album was released a month later, in July 1979.

The song was later covered by various artists, amongst which Tracey Ullman and Rod Stewart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2960
Found: Record fair, February 9, 1998
Cost: 2,5 guilders
Tracks: 'If I had you' / 'Chinese girl', 'Art school annexe'

Stranded - Heart

'Stranded' was released as the third single from Heart's tenth studio album 'Brigade'. The song was written by J. Harrington and Jamie Kylie and produced by Richie Zito. It features Nancy Wilson on lead vocals.

The track peaked at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in the autumn of 1990, but stalled at number 60 in the UK singles chart. The B-side is a highly melodic piece of work that could be considered a blueprint for many Heart tracks from around that time.

My collection: 7" single no. 2366
Found: House of Rhythm, London, July 1, 1995
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'Stranded' / 'Under the sky'

Heart of mine - Boz Scaggs

Boz Scaggs was born as William Royce Scaggs in Canton, Ohio. He recorded his debut solo album in 1965. The biggest hit of his career was 'What can I say' in 1977.

His 1986 album 'Other roads' spawned the single 'Heart of mine', his last top 40 hit in the USA, peaking at number 35. In Europe, this single did not chart. I heard this song on a cd-single my sister had bought in order to get 'What can I say' on cd. I preferred the B-side of this single - and I still do.

My collection: 7" single no. 693
Found: Rotterdam, December 1, 1988
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Heart of mine' / 'You'll never know'

My name is Prince - Prince

'My name is Prince / And I am funky' has to be one of the immortal lines from the Nineties. It's a quote from the indispensable Prince song, 'My name is Prince'. Some might say that this single was the turning point for Prince. He'd recorded so many albums that he apparently suffered from a lack of inspiration, writing a song about himself and his musical abilities. It reeks of selfgratification.

It's interesting to note that he changed his stage name to an unpronounceable symbol not long after the release of this single - taking his career into a nosedive in the process. This single, however, reached number 7 in the UK singles chart and the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1745
Found: Virgin Megastore, London, October 19, 1992
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'My name is Prince' / '2 whom it may concern'

Wild is the wind - David Bowie

'Wild is the wind' was written by Dimitri Tiomkin and Ned Washington and originally recorded by Johnny Mathis for the 1957 film of the same name. The song was covered by Nina Simone on her album 'Wild is the wind' (1966).

David Bowie recorded a version of 'Wild is the wind' in 1976 for his album 'Station to station'. Bowie was an admirer of Simone’s style, and after meeting her in Los Angeles was inspired to record the song for his album. The song was released as a single in 1981, to promoted the compilation album 'ChangesTwoBowie'. It reached number 24 in the UK singles chart and number 15 in Ireland.

My collection: 7" single no. 2012
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 18, 1993
Cost: 1,5 pounds
Tracks: 'Wild is the wind' / 'Golden years'

Original sin - INXS

The Australian rock band INXS recorded 'Original sin' on their fourth album 'The swing' in 1984. The song was written by Michael Hutchence and Andrew Farriss, and produced by Nile Rodgers. Singer Daryl Hall sings the chorus along with Hutchence. Nile Rodgers called him up and asked him to sing on the song. Rodgers had produced 'Adult education' by Hall & Oates the previous year.

When the song was released as a single, it reached number 58 in the US Billboard Hot 100, number 29 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 1 in Australia.

My collection: 7" single no. 2322
Found: June 3, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Original sin' / 'Jan's song (live)', 'To look at you (live)'

Tears on my pillow - Kylie Minogue

'Tears on my pillow' was written by Sylvester Bradford and Al Lewis in 1958. The song was originally recorded by Little Anthony & The Imperials as their debut single.

Kylie Minogue recorded her version of this song on her second album 'Enjoy yourslef'. It was released as a sigle in November 1989 in Australia, and two months later in Europe. The song reached number 1 in the UK singles chart and peaked at number 19 in the Dutch Top 40. The B-side was released as a single in Sweden, reaching number 1.

My collection: 7" single no. 3326
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, March 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Tears on my pillow' / 'We know the meaning of love'

Desire - U2

I think this single is definite proof that I'm a sucker for special editions. The song 'Desire' was never really my cup of tea, but the gatefold sleeve was so nice, that in the end I still bought this single. I was very disappointed with U2 at this time, since they'd made such great singles before, and they were going down a very 'American-sounding' road with the album 'Rattle & Hum'. And everyone knows that British music always sounds better.

The single reached number 1 in the UK singles chart, number 2 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1167
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1988
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Desire' / 'Hallelujah here she comes'

Fly like an eagle - Seal

'Fly like an eagle' was originally a hit for the Steve Miller Band in 1976. Seal recorded a cover version of the song in 1997 for the soundtrack of the movie 'Space Jam', a live-action/animated film starring Michael Jordan, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and many more Looney Tunes characters. His version was probably just as ill-advised as his current album 'Soul', but it's still a pretty listenable version. The single peaked at number 13 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and in the UK singles chart as well.

This single is a great find, as it's another one of those tracks I didn't believe existed on 7" vinyl. It's a jukebox edition, with an almost unreadable label.

My collection: 7" single no. 4128
Found: eBay.co.uk, received October 26, 2009
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Fly like an eagle (radio mix)' / 'Fly like an eagle (CJ Cosmack's edit)'

Election day - Arcadia

Duran Duran broke up in early 1985, in order to have a year for the members to pursue other musical interests. While John and Andy Taylor formed the Power Station, Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and Roger Taylor formed Arcadia. They recorded one album, entitled 'So red the rose', described by Le Bon as 'the most pretentious album ever made'.

The first single from the album was 'Election day', a weird and wonderful track featuring guest vocals by Grace Jones. The single reached number 6 in the US Billboard Hot 100, number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 11 in the Dutch Top 40. My copy has a gatefold sleeve, which was released as a limited edition in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 609
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 1989
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Election day' / 'She's moody and grey, she's mean and she's restless'