99 Luftballons - Nena

It was not their debut single, but the biggest hit of Nena's career did come early on in their career. The lyric of the song was written by the band's guitarist Carlo Karges after he was at a Rolling Stones concert in Berlin. He noticed that balloons were being released. As he watched them move toward the horizon, he noticed them shifting and changing shapes, to the point of looking a lot like some UFO. He thought about what might happen if they floated over the Berlin Wall to the Soviet sector. The lyric speaks of an apocalyptic overreaction by military forces.

When the song was released as a single from Nena's debut album in early 1983, it was an immediate hit not only in German-speaking countries, but also in the Netherlands, where it topped the Dutch Top 40 for a few weeks.

My collection: 7" single no. 444
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 9, 1986
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: '99 Luftballons' / 'Ich bleib' im Bett'

Valentine - Nils Lofgren

Nils Lofgren released his first album with Rykodisc in 1991. It was titled 'Silver lining' and featured the single 'Valentine'. The track featured Bruce Springsteen on backing vocals. For most artists, this is quite a feat, but Nils Lofgren had already been in Springsteen's E-Street band for almost a decade. The arrangement must have been really easy.

It meant a hit for Lofgren, at least in the Dutch Top 40 where the single reached number 16. The single did not chart in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 1645
Found: May 3, 1992
Cost: 4 guilders
Tracks: 'Valentine (edit)' / 'Valentine (album version)'

Don't look back in anger - Oasis

'Don't look back in anger' was written by Noel Gallagher from the band Oasis. He commented: '[It] reminds me of a cross between 'All the young dudes' and something the Beatles might have done.' And: 'I don't actually know anybody called Sally. It's just a word that fit, y'know, might as well throw a girl's name in there. It's gotta guarantee somebody a shag off a bird called Sally, hasn't it?'.

The single reached number 1 in Irelandand the UK, but stalled at number 55 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 33 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2634
Found: April 13, 1996
Cost: 8 guilders
Tracks: 'Don't look back in anger' / 'Step out'

When I think of you - Janet Jackson

'When I think of you' was released as the third single from Janet Jackson's third album, 'Control'. The song was written by Jackson with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who also produced the track.

It is Janet Jackson's first number 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. It reached number 10 in the UK singles chart and number 3 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1642
Found: May 3, 1992
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'When I think of you' / 'Pretty boy'

Sorry seems to be the hardest word - Elton John

'Sorry seems to be the hardest word' was written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. It was one of the rare instances where Elton John himself wrote much of the lyric. The track was released in 1976 as a track on his album 'Blue moves'. When it was released as a single, it reached number 11 in the UK singles chart, number 6 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 14 in the Dutch Top 40.

In 2007, Marty Wilde released a cover version of this track on a compilation cd to commemorate his 50 years as a performing artist. It was a duet with his daughter Kim, a successful artist in her own right. Although their version is commendable, nothing beats the beauty of the original.

My collection: 7" single no. 612
Found: All that music, Leiden, 1988
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Sorry seems to be the hardest word' / 'Shoulder holster'

Cherish the day - Sade

I think this 7" single is quite rare. As far as I know, 'Cherish the day' was only released on this format in Spain. And even then, it was just a promotional single. I guess I was lucky to find a copy.

'Cherish the day' was the fourth and final single from Sade's fourth album 'Love deluxe'. Despite the fact that it was remixed for the single release, it was not a very successful single. It only reached number 53 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2444
Found: Record fair, September 2, 1995
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Cherish the day (Sade remix short version)' / 'No ordinary love'

Get here - Oleta Adams

'Get here' was originally written and performed by Brenda Russell on her 1988 album of the same name.

The solo career of American singer Oleta Adams, who made a name for herself by working with the British band Tears for Fears, took off when she released her cover version of the song as a single in the autumn of 1990. It reached number 5 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 27 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1353
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, November 10, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Get here' / 'I've got to sing my song (live)'

Five Live EP - George Michael

After the death of Freddie Mercury, the remaining members organised a concert featuring the songs of Queen, performed by them and various guest vocalists. Arguably the best of them was George Michael. His performance of 'Somebody to love' and 'These are the days of our lives' (the latter together with Lisa Stansfield), augmented with some other live tracks from other performances were put together on the 'Five Live' mini album. This EP represent four of the five tracks.

The EP reached number 1 in the UK singles chart and number 5 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1912
Found: Record fair, May 22, 1990
Cost: 8 guilders
Tracks: 'Somebody to love', 'Killer/Papa was a rolling stone' / 'These are the days of our lives', 'Calling you'

When your heart is weak - Cock Robin

Just like in Europe, 'When your heart is weak' was also the debut single for Cock Robin in the UK. But for some reason, it was released with a different sleeve and a different B-side! Whereas the European sleeve resembled the album sleeve a lot, the UK version featured a different colour photograph of the band and a unique band logo (which was only used on UK releases).

Intriguingly enough, the single did not chart in the UK. Perhaps if they'd used the European sleeve...?

My collection: 7" single no. 1596
Found: March 28, 1992
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'When your heart is weak' / 'Peace on earth'

Love games - Belle and the Devotions

Belle and the Devotions represented the United Kingdom with the Motown pastiche 'Love games' during the 1984 Eurovision Song Contest. The 12" single featured on this blog some time ago, but obviously I've got the 7" single as well.

The song ended up on seventh place in the Eurovision Song Contest and peaked at number 11 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3174
Found: Record fair, January 18, 2000
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Love games' / 'Rock me'

La femme accident - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

For some reason, I've listened to the 12" extended remix of 'La femme accident' a lot more than the original single version over the last ten years. So it was delightful to play this single again after such a long time.

'La femme accident' is a great lightweight pop track from the synthpop masters OMD. It was the third and last single release from their 1985 album 'Crush'. It reached number 42 in the UK singles chart, but failed to chart in other territories.

My collection: 7" single no. 352
Found: V&D, December 1985
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'La femme accident' / 'Firegun'

Strangers when we meet / The man who sold the world (live) - David Bowie

'Strangers when we meet' was originally recorded by David Bowie for his 1993 album 'The Buddha of Suburbia'. He re-recorded the song in 1995 for his album '1. Outside'. It was released as the second single from the album, as a double A-side with a reworked version of Bowie's 1970 song 'The man who sold the world'. While this was announced as a 'live' track, it was actually recorded in the studio, based on a reworked version as performed on the Outside Tour.

The single reached number 39 in the UK singles chart during a two week chart run. The 7" single was pressed on the ugliest shade of fluorescent green the record company could find.

My collection: 7" single no. 2719
Found: Wreckastow, Rotterdam, August 10, 1996
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Strangers when we meet' / 'The man who sold the world (live)'

Was it worth it - Pet Shop Boys

I have to say that I think the Pet Shop Boys were not particularly inspired when they recorded two new tracks for their 1992 compilation album 'Discography'. If 'DJ Culture' was a bit boring musically, 'Was it worth it' was uninspired both musically and lyrically.

As a result, it became the first single not to reach the UK top 20 since they signed to Parlophone records in 1984. This was the main reason why the song was not included on their later hits compilation 'PopArt'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1586
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, February 22, 1992
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Was it worth it' / 'Miserablism'

Material girl - Achinoam Nini

'Material girl' is of course one of the songs that made Madonna famous in the early Eighties, and also the song that gave her the nickname Material girl.

In 1991, Achinoam Nini (known internationally as Noa) and Gil Dor recorded their debut album 'Live', which featured a lot of original songs but also a few cover versions. 'Material girl' was one of them, and this track in turn was released on a one-sided promotional 12" single in Israel. Through amazing luck, I found a copy in 2000, which was shipped to me from Israel. The record was pressed on very thin vinyl and is bended quite a lot unfortunately. But it's still a unique item to own. And a great cover version, of course!

My collection: 12" single no. 518
Found: eBay.com, received December 2000
Cost: 20 guilders
Tracks: 'Material girl'

Sister madly - Crowded House

In 1988, Crowded House released their second album 'Temple of low men'. Since my sister bought the cd, I pretty much knew every track on it (at the time, cd's were still pretty rare in our house). 'Sister madly', which appears on the album, is said to be about Neil Finn waking up to find his sister having nightmares.

'Sister madly' was released as the fourth single from the album, and although I didn't know this at the time, I snapped up a copy when I saw it during a holiday in London. As far as I know, the single did not chart in any territory.

My collection: 7" single no. 1054
Found: Record Exchange, October 17, 1989
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'Sister madly' / 'Mansion in the slums'

Success made a failure of our home - Sinéad O'Connor

In 1992, Sinéad O'Connor released her third album 'Am I not your girl?', an album with cover versions of mostly jazz standards. According to O'Connor, the songs were 'the songs I grew up listening to [and] that made me want to be a singer'.

'Success has made a failure of our home' was written by J. Mullins but contained some extra material written by O'Connor. It was released as the first single from the album. It reached number 18 in the UK singles chart and number 15 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1705
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, September 5, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Success has made a failure of our home' / 'You do something to me'

Gypsy - Fleetwood Mac

Earlier this year, Stevie Nicks finally commented about the song 'Gypsy', released by Fleetwood Mac in 1982: 'In the old days, before Fleetwood Mac, Lindsey [Buckingham] and I had no money, so we had a king-size mattress, but we just had it on the floor. I had old vintage coverlets on it, and even though we had no money it was still really pretty... Just that and a lamp on the floor, and that was it—there was a certain calmness about it. (...) So that’s what 'Gypsy' means: it’s just a search for before this all happened. And later, I tacked on a line for my friend Robin, my best friend, who died of leukemia: 'I still see your bright eyes.' But then, Robin wasn’t sick yet. She got cancer, and died within a year.'

'Gypsy' was a track on Fleetwood Mac's album 'Mirage'. When it was released as a single it reached number 1 in Canada, number 12 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 46 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2308
Found: May 27, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Gypsy' / 'Cool water'

Hopelessly devoted to you - Olivia Newton-John

Unlike almost everyone in my class, I was not a fan of the movie 'Grease' when it was released back in 1978. I hated John Travolta and the rather overly dramatic number 1 hits 'Greased lightning', 'You're the one that I want' and 'Summer nights'. However, when Olivia Newton-John's single 'Hopelessly devoted to you' was released, I had to relent a little. I liked the melody a lot, and even if I couldn't understand the lyric (I was eight years old, mind you) I knew this was a pretty powerful lovesong.

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

My collection: 7" single no. 710
Found: All that music, Leiden, December 30, 1988
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Hopelessly devoted to you' / 'Love is a many splendored thing (instrumental)'

Once in your life - Sam Brown

'Once in your life' was the fourth single taken from Sam Brown's 1990 album 'April moon'. It was released in Europe only, as far as I know. Despite a colourful music video and an equally colourful sleeve, the single was not successful in the charts.

The B-side, 'So far so good' was a mainly instrumental track, and one of many bonus tracks included on Sam Brown's cd-singles circa 1990.

My collection: 7" single no. 1256
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, July 5, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Once in your life' / 'So far so good'

Clocks - Coldplay

I found this white label 12" single during a holiday in London. With no description of the tracks, I decided to give it a spin on the record players that were available in the shop, and decided within a minute that I wanted to have this. Three remixes of the Coldplay track 'Clocks'... it was simply too interesting.

Of course, these tracks were also available online as MP3's, but nothing beats the original - especially when it's on vinyl. The downside of these white labels is that there is no track listing. So I still have no clue what track 1 is.

My collection: 12" single no. 519
Found: HMV, London, 2003
Cost: 8 pounds
Tracks: 'Clocks (remix)', 'Clocks (Royksopp remix)' / 'Clocks (Cosmos remix)'