Get down - Gilbert O'Sullivan

'Get down' is a track on Gilbert O'Sullivan's 1973 album 'I'm a writer, not a fighter'. The single spent two weeks at the top of the UK singles chart and reached number 3 in the Dutch Top 40.

As young as I was in 1973, the song has always stuck in my head as one of the catchy tunes of that time. I'd all but forgotten about this track until I found the single today.

My collection: 7" single no. 4205
Found: Flea market, Den Haag, November 15, 2009
Cost: 0,30 euro
Tracks: 'Get down' / 'A very extraordinary sort of girl'

Honey - Bobby Goldsboro

Bobby Goldsboro was born on January 18, 1941 in Marianna, Florida. He left university in 1961 to pursue a music career. He played guitar with Roy Orbison between 1962 and 1964, while releasing a few unsuccessful solo singles. In 1964, he had his first hit with 'See the funny little clown', after which his solo career took off.

The biggest hit of his career was 'Honey', released in 1968. The song is an unmitigated tearjerker, in which the protagonist mourns the death of his young wife. The single reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 6 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 2 in the UK singles chart. The single was re-released in 1975, and on this occasion it reached number 2 in the UK singles chart once more. The song is quite controversial among music lovers, as it has appeared on 'worst songs of all times' lists frequently. Personally I think this track is very beautiful.

My collection: 7" single no. 4204
Found: Flea market, Den Haag, November 15, 2009
Cost: 0,40 euro
Tracks: 'Honey' / 'Muddy Mississippi line'

Nothing rhymed - Gilbert O'Sullivan

Gilbert O'Sullivan was born as Raymond Edward O'Sullivan on December 1, 1946. He attended St. Joseph's and the Swindon College of Art, playing drums in a band founded by Rick Davies (who would go on to be in Supertramp).

In 1967, O'Sullivan signed a recording contract, releasing a handful of unsuccessful singles. It was in 1971, when he signed to MAM records, when he achieved his first major success with the song 'Nothing rhymed'. It reached number 8 in the UK singles chart and number 1 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4203
Found: Flea market, Den Haag, November 15, 2009
Cost: 0,30 euro
Tracks: 'Nothing rhymed' / 'Everybody knows'

Saved by the bell - Robin Gibb

Traditionally, Robin Gibb was the lead singer of the Bee Gees, vying for the spot with his elder brother Barry Gibb during the trio's first period of success in the late Sixties. This resulted in a splitup of the Bee Gees, with all three brothers trying a solo career.

Robin's career took off really well, with his debut solo single 'Saved by the bell' reaching number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 1 in the Dutch Top 40 in the summer of 1969. The album 'Robin's reign' was less successful. In the end, the Bee Gees reformed in 1970, starting a second run of success.

My collection: 7" single no. 4202
Found: Flea market, Den Haag, November 15, 2009
Cost: 0,75 euro
Tracks: 'Saved by the bell' / 'Mother and Jack'

One love/People get ready - Bob Marley and the Wailers

'One love/People get ready' was originally released in 1977 on the Bob Marley & the Wailers album 'Exodus'. The song contains an interpolation of The Impressions' song 'People get ready' written by Curtis Mayfield. 'One love' was inspired by Marley's friend Roman Selvaggio, a North Caribbean painter.

'One love' was released as a single in 1984 to promote the posthumous compilation album 'Legend'. The single reached number 5 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4201
Found: Flea market, Den Haag, November 15, 2009
Cost: 0,75 euro
Tracks: 'One love/People get ready' / 'So much trouble in the world'

Kayleigh - Marillion

The song 'Kayleigh' has become one of those indestructible rock anthems from the Eighties, a staple on the radio and a big hit when it was originally released as a single in 1985. Although the lead singer and lyricist of the band, Fish, had at one point dated a woman whose forenames were Kay Lee, the song was more a compilation of several different women with whom he had had relationships. According to him, the song was 'his way of apologising to some of the women he had dated in the past.'

The single reached number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 16 in the Dutch Top 40. The name Kayleigh became very popular as a result of this song. In late 2005, 96% of Kayleighs living in the United Kingdom were born after 1985.

My collection: 7" single no. 303
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Kayleigh' / 'Lady Nina'

Skin trade - Duran Duran

The title 'Skin trade' was derived from the Dylan Thomas book 'Adventures in the skin trade'. The music for the song was written long before Simon Le Bon wrote the lyrics. They reflect on how everyone is selling themselves, and 'there's a little hooker in each of us'. The single was quite a departure for the band. Not only was Simon LeBon singing in a Prince-style falsetto, but a horn section played a prominent role in the track, as played by The Borneo Horns.

The single reached number 22 in the UK singles chart and number 14 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 516
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Skin trade' / 'We need you'

Never never - The Assembly

When Vince Clarke left Depeche Mode, he had a brief period of working with various other artists. His first project was Yazoo, together with Alison Moyet, and then in 1983 he got together with Feargal Sharkey to record a single as The Asssembly. 'Never never' featured a sampled guitar track, triggered note for note on a Fairlight CMI.

Vince Clarke and producer Daniel Radcliffe had planned to record more tracks as The Assembly, using a different singer on each track, but none were released after 'Never never'. This one single was a big success nevertheless, reaching number 4 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 996
Found: HMV, London, October 16, 1989
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Never never' / 'Stop/Start'

Time (Clock of the heart) - Culture Club

'Time (Clock of the heart)' was a stand-alone single in most of the world, but the track was included on the American version of Culture Club's debut album 'Kissing to be clever'. In Europe, its first inclusion on a Culture Club album was on their 1987 compilation, called 'This time: the first four years'.

The single reached number 3 in the UK singles chart, number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 7 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 832
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 20, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Time (Clock of the heart)' / 'White boys can't control it'

Change - Lisa Stansfield

There's a famous scene in the American sitcom 'Married... with children' in which Al Bundy judges a line of women with the qualifications 'Hot babe' and 'Cold shower'. Lisa Stansfield made a remarkable transformation from 'Cold shower' to 'Hot babe' in 1991, when she released her second album 'Real love'.

The first single from the album was 'Change', released in the autumn of 1991. It reachde number 10 in the UK singles chart and number 7 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1545
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, November 2, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Change' / 'A little more love'

Er is zoveel verdriet - Mam

The Dutch band Mam debuted in 1987 with this single, 'Er is zoveel verdriet' ('There's so much sadness'). It's a dynamic song that crashes around for a little over two minutes. It was played very often on Dutch radio at the time, which is how I got to know the track.

The B-side is 'Er luistert toch niemand' ('Nobody's listening anyway'), an intimate little song, in a version that is very different from the one on their debut album, released the same year. Both the album and the single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 557
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Er is zoveel verdriet' / 'Er luistert toch niemand'

See the lights - Simple Minds

'See the lights' was the second single released from Simple Minds' 1991 album 'Real life'. The track was remixed and edited for the single.

It was a moderate success for the Scottish band, reaching number 20 in the UK singles chart and number 10 in Canada.

My collection: 7" single no. 1549
Found: November 26, 1991
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'See the lights (7" version)' / 'Theme for great cities '91 (edit)'

Listen to the voices - Labi Siffre

In 1985, Labi Siffre came out of a self-imposed retirement from music after five years, when he saw a television film from South Africa showing a white soldier shooting at black children. He wrote '(Something inside) So strong', relaunching his career. The song has remained enduringly popular and is an example of the political and sociological thread running through much of Siffre’s lyrics - although personally I didn't like that song.

The follow-up 'Listen to the voices' appealed more to me, although that one was significantly less popular in the charts. It reached number 23 in the Dutch Top 40, but didn't chart in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 692
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, December 1, 1988
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Listen to the voices' / 'Never let you down'

Too funky - George Michael

'Too funky' was George Michael's final single for Sony Music before he started legal action against his record company to be freed from his contract. Although the track was intended for his album 'Listen without prejudice vol. 2', George shelved that idea and donated this song along with two others for the project 'Red Hot & Dance', an album to raise money for AIDS awareness.

Lyrically, the song was a basic, animalistic plea from George Michael for sexual activity with an individual. The track featured a sound clip from the movie 'The graduate': Anne Bancroft's line of 'Would you like me to seduce you? Is that what you're trying to tell me?'. The single reached number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 3 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2480
Found: London, October 29, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Too funky' / 'Crazyman dance'

Le soleil donne - Laurent Voulzy

One of Laurent Voulzy's biggest hits in France was 'Le soleil donne', released in 1988. The song featured verses in French, English and Spanish and a very radio- and summerfriendly melody.

The single was even released outside of France, as is evidenced with this particular single, made in Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 4198
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 8, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Le soleil donne (part 1)' / 'Le soleil donne (part 2)'

The pen is the mightiest weapon - Fay Lovsky

In 1985, Fay Lovsky released her fourth album 'Cinema'. The album was produced by Fay Lovsky herself. Two singles were drawn from the album: 'Galileo' and 'The pen is the mightiest weapon'. Both singles did not chart.

After this album, Fay joined the Dutch band The Magnificent 7, which existed between 1986 and 1991 and released only one album.

My collection: 7" single no. 4179
Found: Chelsea Records, November 8, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'The pen is the mightiest weapon' / 'Bad continuity'

Lazy Bums - Lazy Bums

The comedic duo Datner & Kushnir performed 'Shir habatlanim' (English translation: 'The Bums' song') at the 1987 Eurovision Song Contest, representing Israel. The act consisted of two comedians, Nathan Datner and Avi Kushnir, dressed in black suits and ties in the style of the Blues Brothers. The lyrics describe the daily routine of an idle loafer, evidently unemployed, who wakes up in the morning at 10 am, drinks coffee and smokes and directing his dog to do the grocery errands. As happened more often in Israel, the entry was very controversial, prompting the Israeli Minister of Culture to threaten his resignation.

The song finished 8th in the Contest, and was subsequently released as a single in the Netherlands under the name 'Lazy Bums'. The single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4153
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 7, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Lazy Bums' / 'Bumper's song'

I put a spell on you - Creedence Clearwater Revival

On her latest album, Lily Allen states that Creedence Clearwater Revival may very well be God's favourite band. When you listen to their best known track, 'I put a spell on you', you can just imagine Him playing airguitar.

'I put a spell on you' was actually a cover of a 1956 song written by Screamin' Jay Hawkins. The Creedence version reached number 3 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 539
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 1987
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'I put a spell on you' / 'Molina', 'Fortunate son'

Message in a bottle - The Police

'Message in a bottle' was released as a single from the Police's second album 'Reggatta de Blanc'. The single was The Police's first number 1 hit in the UK singles chart, peaking at number 2 in the Dutch Top 40 and only reaching number 74 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Police frontman Sting has stated later that this is his favourite song.

The Police reformed at Live Earth, a 2007 charity concert to raise awareness of global warming and other environmental hazards and performed 'Message in a bottle' as the US finale. Unfortunately Kanye West was mumbling through this track as well at the time. This 7" single was pressed on green vinyl.

My collection: 7" single no. 3261
Found: Record Exchange, London, 2002
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Message in a bottle' / 'Landlord'

The promise - Arcadia

After their first hit 'Election day', things quickly went downhill for Arcadia. The single 'Goodbye is forever' was only released in the US, while in Europe the follow-up was 'The promise', a track featuring Sting on backing vocals.

'The promise' reached number 37 in the UK singles chart and number 24 in Ireland, but failed to chart anywhere else. In fact, I only found out about the release years after it happened...

My collection: 7" single no. 2265
Found: Record fair, April 8, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'The promise' / 'Rose arcana'