If a Depeche Mode single would be released these days, it's hard to imagine that the sleeve would look like this one here. 'The meaning of love' was released in 1982 as a single from their second album 'A broken frame'. It's obvious that their much was much more simple and upbeat back then.
'The meaning of love' reached number 12 in the UK singles chart, but was less successful in Germany, where it reached number 64. It did not chart in the Netherlands at all.
My collection: 7" single no. 2708 Found: House of Rhythm, London, July 3, 1996 Cost: 60p Tracks: 'The meaning of love' / 'Oberkorn (It's a small town)'
Benjamin Earl Nelson was born on September 28, 1938. After a music career as a member of the Five Crowns and the Drifters, he went solo in 1960, taking on the stage name Ben E. King. That same year, he wrote 'Stand by me', originally intended for use by the Drifters, but they passed on the chance to record it.
King then recorded the song himself, and released it as a single in 1961. It reached number 4 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. This single is a UK re-release from 1987 on the occasion of the track featuring on the movie 'Stand by me'. On this occasion, it reached number 1 in the UK and number 7 in the Netherlands.
My collection: 7" single no. 1016 Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989 Cost: 40p Tracks: 'Stand by me' (Ben E. King) / 'Yakety yak' (The Coasters)
'Moments in love' was a beautiful electronic track by Art of Noise, released in the spring of 1987. Although it wasn't their biggest hit in the UK, where it peaked at number 51, it did reach number 10 in the Dutch Top 40, making it their biggest hit up to that point - surpassed only when they released 'Kiss' with Tom Jones a few years later.
There are several versions of 'Moments in love', but this single version is by far the most concise.
My collection: 7" single no. 529 Found: Free Record Shop, 1987 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Moments in love' / 'Beatbox diversion 10'
Kingdom Come formed in 1987 after frontman Lenny Wolf's band Stone Fury broke up. He recruited Pittsburgh-based lead guitarist Danny Stag, Louisvillians Rick Steier and James Kottak and Northern Californian Johnny B. Frank on bass. The band's debut album, 'Kingdom Come' was their only international hit. The musical style was very close to the early blues-rock style of Led Zeppelin.
Their second single was the power ballad 'What love can be'. It was a big hit in America, but sold less well in Europe. Still, I picked it up from the radio and played it a lot for a couple of weeks during the summer of 1988.
My collection: 7" single no. 650 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, August 25, 1988 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'What love can be' / 'The shuffle'
'DJ culture' was a new track on the Pet Shop Boys compilation album 'Discography', released in 1991. It was released as a single to promote that compilation. According to the singer Neil Tennant, the lyric of the song was about the insincerity of President George H. W. Bush's speeches at the time of the First Gulf War, utilising Winston Churchill's wartime rhetoric, in a manner similar to how artists sample music from other artists.
When the single was released, it peaked at number 13 on the UK singles chart. In the Netherlands, the single did not chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 1556 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, December 14, 1991 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'DJ Culture' / 'Music for boys'
In 1980, just like previous years, Luv's career is going well. They are successful in various countries around the world, such as Mexico where a Spanish version of 'Ooh, yes I di' ('Si que si') reaches the top of the charts. In the Netherlands, meanwhile, the single 'One more little kissy' is released, reaching number 9 in the Dutch Top 40.
It is to be their last single release with band member Patty Brard, who announces in the autumn of 1980 that she is leaving Luv'. She also demands half a million guilders from the Luv' company, a sum which she is awarded after a court case. It is not the end of Luv', however: in September 1980 Ria Thielsch takes Brard's place.
My collection: 7" single no. 54 Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1980 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'One more little kissy' / 'I win it'
Paul Simon wrote 'Bridge over troubled water' in the summer of 1969 while Art Garfunkel was filming 'Catch-22' in Europe. When the duo got together to record what was to be their last album together, Garfunkel liked Simon's falsetto voice on the demo and suggested that Simon sing. He and producer Roy Halee also thought the song needed three verses and a 'bigger' sound towards the end. Simon agreed and penned the final verse, though he felt it was less than fully cohesive with the earlier verses.
Paul Simon then insisted that Garfunkel should sing the song. He later expressed regret that he did this, as it focused attention on Garfunkel and relegated Simon to a backing position. When the song was released as a single, it became a worldwide hit, reaching the top of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and the UK singles chart and number 5 in the Dutch Top 40. My copy of the single was made in Australia.
My collection: 7" single no. 622 Found: Parkpop, June 1988 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Bridge over troubled water' / 'Keep the customer satisfied'
While in the UK 'Why can't it wait til morning' was released as a single, mainland Europe preferred the more uptempo 'It don't matter to me'. With this rather simplistic sleeve, it still didn't manage high chart placings.
As a result, this was the last single release from Phil Collins' 1982 album 'Hello, I must be going!'.
My collection: 7" single no. 2316 Found: June 3, 1995 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'It don't matter to me' / 'Why can't it wait til morning'
Evridiki Theokleous was born on February 25, 1968 in Limassol, Cyprus. After studying music, theatre and dance at Le Studio des Variétés in Paris, France, she moved to Athens, Greece in 1989 to launch a career in music. Her debut album 'Gia proti fora' was released in 1991.
In 1992, she represented Cyprus during the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Teriazoume'. This song ended in eleventh place. This 12" single features the original Greek version as well as English and French translations. Evridiki would return to the Contest in 1994 with 'Ime anthropos ki ego' (which finished in 11th place as well) and in 2007 with 'Comme ci, comme ça', which didn't end up in the final.
My collection: 12" single no. 329 Found: Trehantiri, London, 2000 Cost: 10 pounds Tracks: 'Teriazoume' / 'In love I trust', 'Le feu c'est nous'
The first single from the Simple Minds' 1991 album 'Real life' was 'Let there be love'. Although the song still had a very full sound, gone were the days of stadium rock and misplaced missionarism. Jim Kerr was becoming less of a Bono clone and started focusing on music again. What a nice change.
The single reached number 6 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the Dutch Top 40. The single version was an edit of the album version.
My collection: 7" single no. 1404 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, March 30, 1991 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Let there be love' / 'Good night'
'The taste of your tears' was the second single taken from King's second album 'Bitter sweet', both released in 1985. The beautiful sleeve of this single and the equally beautiful music video helped it become a big hit in the UK, peaking at number 11 in the singles chart in the autumn of 1985.
In the Netherlands, the single did not chart. Since I was an avid follower of UK-based music video television stations, I picked up this track soon enough, but then had to wait for years to finally find this single.
My collection: 7" single no. 1029 Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989 Cost: 1 pound Tracks: 'The taste of your tears' / 'Crazy party'
Rory Block was born as Aurora Block on November 6, 1949. She grew up in Manhattan, New York City, and studied classical guitar during her teens. She came in contact with the folk and blues scene and soon enough started writing her own songs.
The album 'Best blues and originals', released in 1987, was Rory Block's tenth album. It featured the song 'Lovin' whiskey', which became a surprise hit in the Netherlands, reaching number 17 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 1427 Found: April 7, 1991 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Lovin' whiskey' / 'Ain't no way to do'
''Walking like a man, hitting like a hammer'... The first two verses are guide lyrics, words just scribbled down to have something to sing. Couldn't come up with anything better, so we kept them. Everybody gets lucky sometimes...', said Per Gessle, after the 1989 Roxette single 'The look' had become a worldwide hit.
When 'The look' was about to be released in Sweden as the third single from Roxette's second album 'Look sharp!', an American exchange named Dean Cushman returned from Sweden and urged radio station KDWB in Minneapolis to play the song. From there, 'The look' spread on cassette copies to other radio stations. With the song's radio success, EMI quickly released 'The look'. Suddenly, Roxette had a number 1 hit in the USA before the album was even released.
Personally, I didn't like the song at all, but eventually bought it because of the B-side: 'Silver blue' ended up on Roxette's 1992 album 'Tourism'.
My collection: 7" single no. 2602 Found: January 27, 1996 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'The look' / 'Silver blue (demo)'
'The tracks of my tears' is one of those classic Motown tunes. Recorded by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles in 1965, it is actually listed on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 songs that shaped Rock and Roll. But is it Rock and Roll? I'd like to consider it soul music.
The single reached number 9 in the UK singles chart in 1969, whereas it only reached the Dutch Top 40 when it was re-released in 1987, although on that occasion it still only made number 37.
My collection: 7" single no. 1080 Found: HMV, London, October 19, 1989 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'The tracks of my tears' / 'I second that emotion'
Sophie B. Hawkins was born on November 1, 1967 in Manhattan, New York City. Her debut album 'Tongues and tails' was released in 1992. Her debut single was 'Damn I wish I was your lover', which became a number 5 hit in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
In Europe, the single's succes was more moderate. It reached number 14 in the UK singles chart and number 32 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 1672 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, June 20, 1992 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Damn I wish I was your lover' / 'Don't stop swaying'
Bob Marley composed 'Stir it up' in 1967. It was first made popular by Johnny Nash in 1972. It was finally released by Bob Marley himself in 1979. This live recording of 'Stir it up' reached the Dutch Top 40 in March1979 and peaked at number 2.
It was Marley's first top 10 hit in the Netherlands. It's interesting to note that his next two hits in the Netherlands also reached number 2.
My collection: 7" single no. 1625 Found: April 18, 1992 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Stir it up' / 'Rat race'
In the summer of 1975, Summer approached Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte with an idea for a song. She had come up with the lyric 'Love to love you, baby' as the possible title for the song. Moroder in particular was interested in developing the new disco sound, and used Summer's idea to develop the song into an overtly sexual disco track. Summer was initially hesitant to go along with this idea, but eventually agreed on recording a demo so someone else could record the song after that. Moroder was so astounded with Summer's orgasmic vocals and her imaginative moans and groans that he insisted she should release the single herself. Summer reluctantly agreed and the song, titled 'Love to love you', was released to modest success in Europe.
when the song reached American record company executive Neil Bogart, he was so impressed that he requested Moroder to produce a longer version of the track. Moroder, Bellotte and Summer recorded a 17 minute version, renamed it 'Love to love you baby', and had an American number 2 hit before they knew it. Sex sells.
My collection: 7" single no. 2231 Found: January 10, 1995 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Love to love you' / 'Need-a-man blues'
I think it's fair to say that 'Breathing' is an early masterpiece by Kate Bush. The lyric is about a foetus, very much aware of what is going on outside the womb and frightened to be born into a world poisoned by nuclear fallout. The lyrics also refer to the foetus absorbing nicotine from the mother's smoking.
The single version is different from the album version, although only the most avid Kate Bush fans can tell the difference: it's a sound missing in the first verse, and an extra drumroll in the musical intermezzo later on in the song. (This single version was released on cd only once, on a compilation to benefit Greenpeace.)
Thanks to these avid fans we also know what is said by the scientist in this song: 'In point of fact it is possible to tell the difference between a small nuclear explosion and a large one by a very simple method. The calling card of a nuclear bomb is the blinding flash that is far more dazzling than any light on earth--brighter even than the sun itself--and it is by the duration of this flash that we are able to determine the size of the weapon. After the flash a fireball can be seen to rise, sucking up under it the debris, dust and living things around the area of the explosion, and as this ascends, it soon becomes recognisable as the familiar "mushroom cloud". As a demonstration of the flash duration test let's try and count the number of seconds for the flash emitted by a very small bomb; then a more substantial, medium-sized bomb; and finally, one of our very powerful,"high-yield" bombs.' It's rather scary.
The sleeve of the single was originally designed to be mostly black, but a white version was made as well, released in France and Germany.
My collection: 7" single no. 273 (black) / no. 2050 (white) Found: Den Haag, 1983 / November 13, 1993 Cost: 1 guilder / 10 guilders Tracks: 'Breathing' / 'The empty bullring'
'Tusk' was recorded by Fleetwood Mac on their 1979 double album of the same name. It was based in part on a rehearsal riff the band used for sound-checks. 'Tusk' was recorded live at Dodger Stadium (without an audience) in Los Angeles, California in collaboration with the University of Southern California Trojan Marching Band. The performance was also filmed for the song's music video.
The single reached number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 6 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 718 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, January 13, 1989 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Tusk' / 'Never make me cry'
'Nasty' was written by Janet Jackson after she was confronted with abusive men. She later commented: 'They were emotionally abusive. Sexually threatening. Instead of running to Jimmy or Terry for protection, I took a stand. I backed them down. That's how songs like 'Nasty' and 'What have you done for me lately' were born, out of a sense of self-defense. Control meant not only taking care of myself but living in a much less protected world. And doing that meant growing a tough skin. Getting attitude. '
The song became the second single taken from Janet Jackson's 1986 album 'Control'. It reached number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 19 in the UK singles chart and number 5 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 2470 Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 16, 1995 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Nasty' / 'You'll never find (a love like mine)'
If a Depeche Mode single would be released these days, it's hard to imagine that the sleeve would look like this one here. 'The meaning of love' was released in 1982 as a single from their second album 'A broken frame'. It's obvious that their much was much more simple and upbeat back then.
