I wouldn't normally do this kind of thing - Pet Shop Boys

'I wouldn't normally do this kind of thing' is a track on the Pet Shop Boys' fifth studio album 'Very'. The track was remixed and released as the third single from the album in November 1993. It reached number 13 in the UK singles chart. The single was remixed for the 12" and cd-single formats by six different remixers.

In 1998, Robbie Williams recorded a cover version of this track as a bonus track on his single 'Let me entertain you'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2063
Found: Wreckastow, Rotterdam, December 24, 1993
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'I wouldn't normally do this kind of thing' / 'Too many people'

Familiar ground - Lori Spee

When I was young, I had a weekly allowance of three guilders. The record shop around the corner sold chart singles for six guilders, so I had to save up for two weeks to buy a singles. But fortunately, the shop also sold off singles that left the charts for three guilders. So usually I opted for these discount discs. Sometimes this resulted in a bad buy: a single I bought and then rarely ever played again.

These bad buys usually happened in weeks when there weren't that many good singles available at discount price. Lori Spee's 'Familiar ground' is a good example of this: throughout my life I think I played this single five times, at most. Lori was an American immigrant, based in the Netherlands, singing these kind of middle of the road songs and having moderate success with it. This particular single did not chart at all.

My collection: 7" single no. 120
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Familiar ground' / 'Problem child'

By your side - Sade

'By your side' was the first single from Sade's fifth studio album 'Lovers Rock', released in 2000. The track was nominated for the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, losing out to Nelly Furtado's 'I'm like a bird' (unbelievably). The single reached number 17 in the UK singles chart.

As far as I know, this is the only release of the single on 7": an American pressing featuring the same track on both sides. It's also, as far as I know, the last 7" single release by Sade.

My collection: 7" single no. 3270
Found: HMV, London, October 23, 2000
Cost: 4 pounds
Tracks: 'By your side' / 'By your side'

Dangerous - Roxette

'Dangerous', written by Per Gessle, is the fourth single released from Roxette's album 'Look Sharp!'. Gessle penned it just before Roxette's first tour in 1987.

Released at the end of 1989, it was the group's third top 10 showing on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 2 in February 1990. In the Dutch Top 40, the single reached number 17.

My collection: 7" single no. 1195
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, March 14, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Dangerous' / 'Surrender (live)'

Every 1's a winner (Groove mix) - Hot Chocolate

Ben Liebrand has remixed many tracks since the early Eighties, and some of them were even released as singles. Some examples already made their way onto this blog, and here's another one: his 1987 remix of Hot Chocolate's 'Every 1's a winner'. It was released after his remix of 'You sexy thing', released in January 1987, reached number 10 in the UK singles chart.

This remix was less successful by comparison: it only made number 69 in the UK singles chart in April 1987.

My collection: 7" single no. 2321
Found: Record fair, June 3, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Every 1's a winner (Groove mix)' / 'So you win again'

Secret - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

'Secret' is a single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark released as a single from their 1985 album 'Crush'. It was their second hit in the US, peaking at number 63 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also made the top 40 in the UK at number 34. The song was also featured in the movie 'Arthur 2: On the rocks' and on its soundtrack album.

This single was released as a limited edition in a poster sleeve.

My collection: 7" single no. 2374
Found: Record fair, February 1, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Secret' / 'Drift'

The promise you made - Cock Robin

'The promise you made' was written by Peter Kingsbery for the debut album of his band Cock Robin. It was released as the album's second single in 1986. It became a major hit in the Netherlands, topping the Dutch Top 40 March 1986 for several weeks. It also went top 10 in France, Germany and Switzerland.

I own two different versions of the single: one was released in Europe with a beautiful coloured sleeve (pictured above). In the UK, an alternate sleeve was used, with a monochromo photograph and an alternate design (pictured below).

In 2005, Belgian singer Kate Ryan recorded and released a cover version of this song, in French and English.

My collection: 7" single no. 785 / no. 2021
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 30, 1989 / House of Rhythm, London, October 19, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'The promise you made' / 'Have you any sympathy'

Even aan mijn moeder vragen - Bloem

The Dutch band Bloem was formed in 1980 by Joost Timp, Cor Claessen, Juus Piek and Tom Sijmons. Their debut single 'Even aan mijn moeder vragen' ('Have to ask my mum') was an immediate hit, selling 45.000 copies in the Netherlands and reaching number 14 in the Dutch Top 40.

I didn't like that song, but I got to hear the B-side, which was fantastic. The lyric of 'Kassa's overdag' ('Tills at daytime') was written from the point of view of a shoplifter. I liked the track so much I even mutilated the sleeve of this single not so long after I bought it, making it seem like the B-side was the A-side. Defacing sleeves is a capital offence, of course. In my defense: I was very young.

My collection: 7" single no. 99
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1981
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Even aan mijn moeder vragen' / 'Kassa's overdag'

Electric avenue - Eddy Grant

'Electric avenue' is one of Eddy Grant's most popular tracks. It was taken from his 1983 album 'Killer on the rampage'. The song is named after Electric Avenue, a market street in the Brixton area of London, England.

The single reached number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and the UK singles chart, and number 6 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2826
Found: February 1, 1997
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Electric avenue' / 'Walking on sunshine'

One day I'll fly away - Randy Crawford

Randy Crawford left the Crusaders in 1979 and started a solo career. It took off right away with this single, the beautiful ballad 'One day I'll fly away'. I remember it became a chart tip on the Dutch broadcaster TROS, played every hour on the radio. At the end of the day I wished she would really fly away.

The single reached number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 1 in the Dutch Top 40 in the autumn on 1980.

My collection: 7" single no. 822
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 13, 1989
Cost: 1 guilders
Tracks: 'One day I'll fly away' / 'Last night at danceland'

Relax - Frankie goes to Hollywood

I don't have many Frankie goes to Hollywood singles (though that may still change when I get a chance), but this is one of them: the 1993 re-release of 'Relax', originally the band's debut single in 1983. It was re-released to promote the compilation album 'Bang! The Greatest hits of Frankie goes to Hollywood'.

The single featured a new 1993 version of 'Relax' on the B-side, although that one is basically just a slightly sped up version of the track. The single reached number 5 in the UK singles chart and number 8 in the Dutch Top 40. Both peak positions were lower than ten years before.

My collection: 7" single no. 2059
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, December 3, 1993
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Relax' / 'Relax MCMXCIII'

One step ahead - Nik Kershaw

'The works' was Nik Kershaw's fourth album, released in 1989. Although it was intended to be his big comeback after two years away from the music scene, the album did not have the amount of success which was hoped for.

The first single from the album was 'One step ahead', a decent pop song with a slight retro sound when compared to its contemporaries. The single reached number 55 in the UK singles chart during a one week chart run.

My collection: 7" single no. 2143
Found: Utrecht, August 2, 1994
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'One step ahead' / 'When I grow up'

See you - Depeche Mode

After Vince Clarke left Depeche Mode, the remaining members were left to their own devices. Martin Gore stepped up and wrote the first post-Clarke single, 'See you'. It was still a rather innocent love song, showing once again how much has changed since then. If he would have written this song now, it would have been the point of view of a stalker, or something.

'See you' became the band's biggest hit up to that point, reaching number 6 in the UK singles chart, which was higher than all three previously released singles.

My collection: 7" single no. 746
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'See you' / 'Now this is fun'

Control - Janet Jackson

'Control' was the fourth single taken from Janet Jackson's third album of the same name. The song was written by Jackson, James Harris III, and Terry Lewis and produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The lyric is about Jackson who wants to finally take control of her life. Its arrangement, built upon complex rhythmic tracks, showcased a state-of-the-art production.

Jackson has performed the song on almost all of her tours. The single reached number 5 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 42 in the UK singles chart and number 12 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2323
Found: June 3, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Control' / 'Fast girls'

Love like a river - Climie Fisher

'Love like a river / It's flowing' is not one of the biggest poetic accomplishments of all time, but at least Climie Fisher managed to make a nice popsong with these words. They released 'Love like a river' in the autumn of 1988 and had a hit with it in various European countries. The single peaked at number 22 in the UK singles chart and hit number 18 in Austria.

This single was released in a limited edition with a free poster. I managed to score a copy years after its release.

My collection: 7" single no. 2887
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, October 29, 1997
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Love like a river' / 'Love changes everything'

Waves - Blancmange

When I heard Blancmange's 'Waves' for the first time, I thought it was a fascinating track. With an intro lasting for 40 seconds and an instrumental backing that was nothing short of overwhelming, it was one of those singles I simply had to own.

'Waves' was released in February 1983 and reached number 19 in the UK singles chart. In the Netherlands, the single failed to chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 214
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1983
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Waves' / 'The game above my head'

Kid - Pretenders

I got to know the song 'Kid' by the Pretenders when they released an acoustic ballad version of the song in 1994. After I bought that cd-single I got curious about the original version, and it's that curiosity that made me buy this 7" single.

'Kid' was originally released as the second single from the Pretenders, taken from their self-titled 1979 debut album. The single reached number 33 in the UK singles chart and number 90 in Australia. It was their last single release before 'Brass in pocket', the song that would take them all the way to number 1 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2704
Found: House of Rhythm, London, July 3, 1996
Cost: 20p
Tracks: 'Kid' / 'Tattooed love boys'

You don't love me - Marilyn

Well, I've got the 12" single of 'You don't love me', but I've got the 7" single as well. It was Marilyn's third single, reaching number 40 in the UK singles chart, which was lower than his previous two efforts - but it was his first single to score in European charts. In the Dutch Top 40, 'You don't love me' reached number 14.

His debut album 'Despite straight lines' was released one year later, in 1985. The album failed to chart and subsequent singles were also unsuccessful. The momentum of Marilyn had gone as fast as it came.

My collection: 7" single no. 781
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 24, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'You don't love me' / 'Raining again'

Don't answer me - Alan Parsons Project

In 1984, Alan Parsons Project released their seventh and commercially most successful album 'Ammonia Avenue'. The first single from the album was 'Don't answer me', a track that had a 'wall of sound' production style made famous by Phil Spector.With lead vocals by Eric Woolfson and an animated music video, the track became a big hit all over Europe.

'Don't answer me' reached number 7 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 58 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3314
Found: March 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Don't answer me' / 'You don't believe'

Don't cry for me Argentina - Sinéad O'Connor

Sinéad O'Connor released her version of the classic Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice song 'Don't cry for me Argentina' as the second single from her album 'Am I not your girl', an album of covers of mostly jazz standard. This particular track came from the musical Evita.

Sinéad O'Connor's version managed to reach number 53 in the UK singles chart, although it failed to chart in most other territories.

My collection: 7" single no. 1802
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, December 19, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Don't cry for me Argentina' / 'Scarlet ribbons (live)'