Victor should have been a jazz musician - Grace Jones

After all the sonic mayhem of the Trevor Horn-produced album 'Slave to the rhythm' (1985), Grace Jones returned in 1986 with the album 'Inside story', produced by Nile Rodgers and Grace Jones herself.

The single 'Victor should have been a jazz musician' is a far cry from 'Slave to the rhythm', as it's a slow jazz track. The single was successful in the Netherlands, where it reached number 26 in the Dutch Top 40, but it failed to chart in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 2625
Found: March 2, 1996
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Victor should have been a jazz musician' / 'Crush'

De Nederlandse sterre die strale overal! - Rubberen Robbie

When Dutch producer Jaap Eggermont achieved international success with his series of 'Stars on 45' singles, the group Rubberen Robbie - also Dutch - was inspired to create a parody. They glued together bits and pieces of famous Dutch songs and wrote their own funny lyrics for these songs. It gave them their first chart hit, and quite a big one: 'De Nederlandse sterre die strale overal!' ('The Dutch stars shine everywhere!') reached number 1 in the Dutch Top 40 in the summer of 1981.

The B-side was the bluesy 'In de goot' ('In the gutter'), a story of a jobless lazy bum, who spends his days drinking and spending what little money he has on useless objects. It was a pretty accurate description of the 'no future' generation of that time.

My collection: 7" single no. 506
Found: Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'De Nederlandse sterre die strale overal!' / 'In de goot'

It's only love - Simply Red

'It's only love' was written by Jimmy and Vela Cameron and recorded by Barry White on his album 'The man' (1978).

In 1988, Simply Red recorded a cover version of the song for their third studio album 'A new flame'. It was released as the album's first single. It reached number 1 in Italy, number 7 in Ireland and number 13 in the UK. In the Dutch Top 40, 'It's only love' reached number 9.

My collection: 7" single no. 732
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, February 4, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'It's only love' / 'Turn it up'

Shoobedoo da dabba doobee - Imagination

Imagination's 'Shoobedoo da dabba doobee', released in the USA with the considerably duller title 'This means war', was released in 1984, ending a very successful run of chart hits for the band in the UK. This single failed to reach the UK singles chart and was also unsuccessful elsewhere in Europe.

Personally, I have always been fond of this track and especially its title. And it's one of those singles I've been searching for years, until I finally found it almost a decade after its release.

My collection: 7" single no. 1823
Found: Record Palace, Amsterdam, January 13, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Shoobedoo da dabba doobee' / 'Shoobedoo da dabba doobee (dub version)'

I'm gonna love you too - Blondie

Joe Mauldin, Niki Sullivan and Norman Petty wrote 'I'm gonna love you too', originally recorded by Buddy Holly in 1958. Mauldin and Sullivan were members of Holly's band The Crickets; Petty was Holly's first manager and also his recording engineer.

Blondie's version of the song was chosen as the first single from their album 'Parallel lines'. Although the band was very successful with their cover of 'Denis', which was featured on their previous albums, this single failed to chart in most territories, although it did reach number 7 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 121
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'I'm gonna love you too' / 'Fanmail'

Worlds apart - Cock Robin

Cock Robin released their third album 'First love last rites' in 1989. The music on the album was a bit darker than on previous efforts, and a little less poppy and accessible as well. Produced by Rhett Davies, the album featured some hispanic influences.

Some of these influences could be heard on the first single from the album, 'Worlds apart', released in December 1989. The single did not chart in most territories, with the exception of France, where it peaked at number 22.

My collection: 7" single no. 1116
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, November 24, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Worlds apart' / 'Don't think twice (live)'

Eyes without a face - Billy Idol

Coincidence or not? In 1960, a French horror movie called 'Les yeux sans visage' was released. Billy Idol came up with the song 'Eyes without a face' in 1984, in which Perri Lister sings exactly those French words in the background.

Although Billy Idol usually recorded more rock-oriented tracks, it was this midtempo ballad that gave him a worldwide hit. The single reached number 24 in the Dutch Top 40, number 18 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2673
Found: Record Exchange, London, June 30, 1996
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Eyes without a face' / 'The dead next door'

Hotel California / Desperado - The Eagles

Not one, but two classic songs feature on this 'Old Gold' single from 1985. I bought this single for the A-side track, 'Hotel California', a 1977 hit for the Eagles from their album of the same name. On the surface, the song tells the tale of a weary traveler who becomes trapped in a nightmarish luxury hotel that at first appeared inviting and tempting. The song is an allegory about hedonism and self-destruction in the Southern California music industry of the late Seventies; Don Henley commented: 'It's basically a song about the dark underbelly of the American dream and about excess in America, which is something we knew a lot about.'

The single reached number 8 in the UK singles chart and the Dutch Top 40 when it was released in April 1977.

My collection: 7" single no. 552
Found: WH Smith, London, October 1987
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Hotel California' / 'Desperado'

Hey mister heartache - Kim Wilde

Kim Wilde made her return to the limelight with this 1988 single, 'Hey mister heartache', the first single from her sixth album 'Close'. The track was written by Kim with her guitarist Steve Byrd and featured Junior Giscombe on backing vocals.

The single was only a minor hit, reaching number 37 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 31 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" singel no. 605
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, April 23, 1988
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Hey mister heartache' / 'Tell me where you are'

Someday (I'm coming back) - Lisa Stansfield

Lisa Stansfield recorded 'Someday (I'm coming back)' for the soundtrack of the very successful movie 'The Bodyguard' starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner. The track was released as a single in December 1992, one month after the release of Houston's dreadful theme song 'I will always love you'.

By comparison, Lisa Stansfield's single garnered much less attention from the media and record-buying public. The single reached number 10 in the UK singles chart and number 30 in the Dutch Top 40 - a stark contrast to Houston's undeserved number 1 hit.

My collection: 7" single no. 1801
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, December 11, 1992
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Someday (I'm coming back)' / 'Tenderly (live)'

Stay (Faraway, so close!) - U2

Bono and The Edge worked for a long time on 'Stay (Faraway, so close!)', a track that was inspired by the music of Frank Sinatra. They actually made the melody during sessions for U2's album 'Achtung baby', but only completed the song when they heard that Wim Wenders was looking for a song for his new movie 'Faraway, so close!'.

he single's B-side featured the song 'I've got you under my skin', as a duet between Bono and Sinatra, which was originally released on Sinatra's album 'Duets'. (I wonder how many U2 fans were excited about this track...) Released in November 1993, the single reached number number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 10 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2062
Found: Wreckastow, Rotterdam, December 24, 1993
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Stay (Faraway, so close!)' / 'I've got you under my skin'

Tragedy and mystery - China Crisis

When China Crisis started work on their second album 'Working with fire and steel', they added Gazza Johnson and Kevin Wilkinson to their line-up. Together with original members Gary Daly and Eddie Lundon they recorded a collection of tracks that included the hit singles 'Hanna Hanna', the title track and 'Tragedy and mystery'.

'Tragedy and mystery' was released as the first single from the album, six months prior to its release. A limited edition was pressed as a picture disc 7" single. While not a hit in Europe, the single reached number 46 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2014
Found: London, October 19, 1993
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Tragedy & mystery' / 'A golden handshake for every daughter'

Let's go all the way - Sly Fox

Sly Fox was formed in 1985 by Gary 'Mudbone' Cooper and Michael Camacho. They were brought together by British producer Ted Currier. Their only album, 'Let's go all the way' was released in 1985, and spawned one hit single of the same name. The song's title was often interpreted as a euphemism for sexual intercourse, though nothing else in the lyrics hinted at this.

When the single was released, it reached number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100, number 3 in the UK singles chart and number 6 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 472
Found: V&D, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Let's go all the way' / 'Como tu te llama?'

Violence of summer - Duran Duran

After the compilation album 'Decade', Duran Duran found themselves in a period of less commercial success, with a new album and a new line-up. The first single from the new album 'Liberty' was 'Violence of summer', a simple rock song.

The single was released in July 1990 and managed to reach number 20 in the UK singles chart, while it was unsuccessful in most other territories.

My collection: 7" single no. 2274
Found: Record fair, April 23, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Violence of summer (Love's taking over)' / 'Violence of summer (Love's taking over) (The story mix)'

She's a river - Simple Minds

By 1995, the Simple Minds had become 'the former super group'. The line-up had diminished to Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill, using session musicians for their tenth album 'Good news from the next world'. The album was reviewed positively in the USA, but in the UK, critics panned the album.

The single 'She's a river' preceded the release of the album, and was released in a limited edition of 7000 copies on 7". (I have number 1544.) The single reached number 9 in the UK singles chart and number 13 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2233
Found: Record fair, January 21, 1995
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'She's a river' / 'E55'

Out of my system - Feargal Sharkey

Feargal Sharkey's solo career took off with a bang in 1985, with his self-titled debut album and the associated hit singles 'A good heart' and 'You little thief'. When his second album 'Wish' was released in 1988, much of his fans had moved on and new audiences were not attracted. The album was considered a flop, just like the singles that were released from it.

'Out of my system' was one of these singles. It didn't reach the chart in any territory. I bought it after a long time of seeing it in the shop were I came regularly.

My collection: 7" single no. 2078
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 26, 1994
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Out of my system' / 'A touch of blue'

Rhythm nation - Janet Jackson

'Rhythm nation' was the second single from Janet Jackson's 1989 album 'Rhythm nation 1814'. The song preached racial unity and harmony among nations, 'looking for a better way of life' and a way to stop 'social injustice'. The song contains a sample from Sly & the Family Stone's 1969 song 'Thank you (Falettinme be mice elf agin)'. The single reached number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 11 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 23 in the UK singles chart.

I actually own two different copies of this single: the German pressing, which contains an instrumental version of 'Rhythm nation' on the B-side, and a limited edition UK pressing with a gatefold sleeve and a remix of 'Rhythm nation' on the B-side.

My collection: 7" single no. 1164 / no. 2505
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, January 27, 1990 / House of Rhythm, London, October 30, 1995
Cost: 6 guilders / 1 pound
Tracks: 'Rhythm nation' / 'Rhythm nation (instrumental' or 'Rhythm nation (CHR remix)'

Enter Sandman - Metallica

Hindsight is bliss. If I'd known that Metallica would be so vehemently against a service like Napster later on in their career, I would never have bought any of their records. But I did, and so now I'm stuck with them.

'Enter Sandman' was the first single from Metallica's black album, released in 1991. It was their most commercial album up until them, bringing the hardrock band into the mainstream for the first time. The single reached number 1 in Canada and Norway, but also reached number 5 in the UK singles chart and number 12 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1514
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, September 7, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Enter Sandman' / 'Stone cold crazy'

Neverending story - Limahl

'Neverending story' was composed by Giorgio and Keith Forsey for the German movie of the same name. Limahl, formerly from the popular band Kajagoogoo, was asked to sing the song. In the end, it didn't feature in the movie at all, but it did appear on the soundtrack album. As a reference to the film and its title, the song has no distinctive beginning, nor an end. While many songs fade out, this track not only fades out, but also fades in, thus making it 'never ending'.

The single peaked at number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 34 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1979
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, October 17, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Neverending story' / 'The ivory tower'

Unfinished sympathy - Massive

The group Massive Attack was only just becoming better known with their first hit single 'Unfinished sympathy', when the Gulf War started and anything slightly offensive was censored by the powers that be. So 'Attack' was dropped from the band's name for a while. (After all, as long as we're waging wars, we shouldn't really talk about it, should we?)

'Unfinished sympathy' featured vocals by Shara Nelson and is usually named as one of the first tracks to bring the 'triphop' genre to the mainstream. The single reached number 13 in the UK singles chart and number 1 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1428
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, April 13, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Unfinished sympathy' / 'Unfinished sympathy (Nellee Hooper 7" mix)'