Don't tell me - Blancmange

1984 was a successful year for the duo Blancmange. Their album 'Mange tout' reached the top 10 in the UK albums chart, while the singles 'Waves', 'Blind vision' and 'That's love that it is' all reached the UK top 40.

The biggest hit that year, however, was the dynamic 'Don't tell me'. It reached number 8 in the UK singles chart and also reached number 25 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 583
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Don't tell me' / 'Get out of that'

Pandora's box - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

'Pandora's box' was the second single taken from OMD's 1991 album 'Sugar tax'. The song was inspired by silent film actress Louise Brooks and is named after one of the films she starred in. The phrase 'Pandora's box' does not appear in the lyric of the song.

Released in June 1991, the single reached number 7 in the UK singles chart, as well as the charts in Sweden and Austria. In France, the single peaked at number 49.

My collection: 7" single no. 1509
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, August 17, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Pandora's box' / 'All she wants is everything'

Boys in the street - Eddy Grant

In 1984, Eddy Grant released his seventh album 'Going for broke'. After the success of its predecessor 'Killer on the rampage', the album took a similar approach but was less successful chart-wise. The single 'Boys in the street' reached number 78 in the UK singles chart but flopped in most other territories.

This copy of the single was pressed in Germany and released as a limited edition on red vinyl.

My collection: 7" single no. 3274
Found: Record fair, November 11, 2000
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Boys in the street' / 'Time to let go'

Changes - Imagination

It's like the old saying: 'The more things change, the more they stay the same'. In 2010, as in 2009 and 2008, I will continue to publish information about my 7" singles and 12" singles. I expect to have put up my whole collection in a few months from now, after which I will always put up new acquisitions.

And so, this year should start with 'Changes', a 1983 hit single for the British soul trio Imagination, taken from their second album 'In the heat of the night'. The single reached number 31 in the UK singles chart and number 23 in the Dutch Top 40. As always, the single was produced by Steve Jolley and Tony Swain.

My collection: 7" single no. 2146
Found: Record Palace, Amsterdam, August 25, 1994
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Changes' / 'So good, so right'

Sing little birdie - Teddy Johnson and Pearl Carr

So yesterday I went on another shopping spree, this time in Amsterdam. I visited two shops I have been before, plus three new addresses, of which one was particularly of interest. As the shop's website announced, some Eurovision singles were just in, and I bought a whole stack of them. Some unique stuff, discs I've never even seen before!

So I thought I would finish this year by writing an entry on the last 7" single I bought in 2009. Interestingly enough, it's a single from 50 years ago. In 1959, the United Kingdom was represented by the husband and wife duo Teddy Johnson and Pearl Carr with the song 'Sing little birdie'. They finished in second place.

See you next year!

My collection: 7" single no. 4412
Found: Second life music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Sing little birdie' / 'If I could live my life again'

In all the right places - Lisa Stansfield

Lisa Stansfield recorded 'In all the right places' for the soundtrack of the movie 'Indecent proposal'. The artwork of the sleeve contains a photograph of the two actors that starred in the movie: Demi Moore and Woody Harrelson.

The song was written by Stansfield with her producers Andy Morris and Ian Devaney, along with John Barry, who was responsible for the score of the movie. The single reached number 8 in the UK singles chart and number 20 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2580
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 16, 1995
Cost: 4 guilders
Tracks: 'In all the right places' / 'In all the right places (Soul mix)'

Feel the love - 10CC

'Windows in the jungle' was released in 1983 as the ninth studio album by 10CC. Eric Stewart recalled that the finished album did not meet his initial expectations: 'It started as a concept album and I'm sorry I didn't pursue that goal, the pressure for the hit single always got in the way with 10CC albums.'

'Feel the love' was the second single from the album. It was promoted with a tennis-themed music video directed by former 10CC members Godley and Creme. The single did not chart in the UK, but did reach number 7 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 887
Found: All that music, Leiden, June 16, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Feel the love' / 'She gives me pain'

Numb - Pet Shop Boys

'Numb' is one of the few songs recorded by the Pet Shop Boys that wasn't written by themselves. The song was composed by Los Angeles songwriter Diane Warren and originally meant to be a new song on the Pet Shop Boys' 2003 compilation 'PopArt'. The track was finally included on their 2006 album 'Fundamental'.

'Numb' was subsequently released as the third single from the album in a drastically edited, nay, butchered version. The single peaked at number 23 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3448
Found: HMV, London, 2006
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Numb' / 'Party song'

Missing you - Diana Ross

I started today with a tribute to Marvin Gaye, so it's only fitting that I end today with one as well. Diana Ross recorded 'Missing you' in 1984, not long after Gaye's tragic death. Ross and Gaye had both been artists at Motown from the early Sixties to the early Eighties, and had also recorded a duets album together called 'Diana & Marvin' (1973).

The song was written and produced by Lionel Richie, who wrote the song shortly after he had conversations about Gaye with Diana Ross. Released in late 1984, the song became one of Ross' last major hits in the USA, reaching number 10 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the UK singles chart, 'Missing you' reached number 76.

My collection: 7" single no. 266
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1984
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Missing you' / 'Touch by touch (instrumental)'

Easier to walk away - Elton John

The sleeve of this single announces that all royalties from the sale of the record will be divided equally between four charities: the Terence Higgins Trust, London Lighthouse, Jefferiss Research Wing Trust and Body Positive. But that wasn't the most attractive thing about this single: 'Easier to walk away' is a strong pop song, and quite a change from the dull dross that was 'Sacrifice', Elton John's biggest hit in the UK in 1990.

'Easier to walk away' was released as a single from Elton's greatest hits compilation 'The very best of Elton John', released in 1991. The single only reached number 63 in the UK singles chart and number 51 in Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 1502
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 6, 1991
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Easier to walk away' / 'I swear I heard the night talking'

This used to be my playground - Madonna

'This used to be my playground' was written and produced by Madonna and Shep Pettibone, and recorded as one of the last songs during the sessions for her 1992 studio album 'Erotica'. The single was released in the summer of 1992, and reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 3 in the UK singles chart and number 8 in the Dutch Top 40.

The song also featured in the movie 'A league of their own', starring Madonna, Tom Hanks and Geena Davis. In spite of its commercial success, Madonna has never performed it live. It also does not appear on succeeding greatest hits albums.

My collection: 7" single no. 3239
Found: London, October 19, 2000
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'This used to be my playground (single version)' / 'This used to be my playground (album version)'

The hurtin' doesn't go away - Anita Meyer

Anita Meyer was born on October 29, 1954. She starts singing at an early age and starts performing during her teens together with her brother. Her first solo success comes in 1976, when she releases her debut single 'The alternative way', produced by Hans Vermeulen, a famous Dutch singer/songwriter.

Although 'The alternative way' is a number 1 hit in the Netherlands, subsequent singles fail to equal that success, and this single, 'The hurtin' doesn't go away', released in 1981, fails to chart. It is the last single before her biggest chart success, 'Why tell me why', which stays at number 1 for several weeks.

My collection: 7" single no. 138
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'The hurtin' doesn't go away' / 'You'

Woman in love - Barbra Streisand

'Woman in love' may be one of Barbra Streisand's most famous songs. It was released as a single from her 1980 album 'Guilty'. Like the entire album, the song was written by Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees.

The single reached number one in the USA, Canada, most European countries, as well as Australia and South Africa.

My collection: 7" single no. 402
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Woman in love' / 'Run wild'

Una rosa es una rosa - Mecano

The sentence 'Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose' was written by Gertrude Stein as part of the 1913 poem 'Sacred Emily', which appeared in the 1922 book 'Geography and Plays'. In that poem, the first 'Rose' is the name of a person. The quote is often interpreted as meaning 'things are what they are'. In Stein's view, the sentence expresses the fact that simply using the name of a thing already invokes the imagery and emotions associated with it.

'Una rosa es una rosa es una rosa', the Spanish translation of Stein's verse, is the chorus of a song by the Spanish pop music group Mecano that appeared on their 1991 album, 'Aidalai'. The lyric of the song tells the story of a man in love with a woman who by turns hurts and soothes him.

My collection: 7" single no. 1685
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, July 11, 1992
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Una rosa es una rosa' / 'Cruz de navajas'

Separate lives - Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin

Stephen Bishop wrote 'Separate lives'. He reportedly recorded the song himself as a duet with Kim Wilde, but in the end, it appeared as a duet between Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin. They recorded the track for the soundtrack of the movie 'White nights'.

'Separate lives' reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 4 in the UK singles chart. The song was subsequently nominated for an Oscar for 'Best original song'. It lost to Lionel Richie's 'Say you, say me' from the same movie.

My collection: 7" single no. 1416
Found: April 7, 1991
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Separate lives' / 'I don't wanna know'

Devil woman - Cliff Richard

'Devil woman' was written by Terry Britten and Christine Holmes. It was first recorded by Holmes under the name Kristine. The song is told from the point of a view of a man jinxed from an encounter with a stray cat with evil eyes, and his discovery that the psychic medium, a Gypsy woman, whose help he sought to break the curse was the one responsible for the curse in the first place.

When Cliff Richard recorded the song in 1976 and released it as a single, it reached number 5 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the UK singles chart. 'Devil woman' reached number 9.

My collection: 7" single no. 3199
Found: September 30, 2000
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Devil woman' / "Love on (Shine on)'

Roll over lay down - Status Quo

The sixth studio album by Status Quo was 'Hello!', released in 1973. 'Roll over lay down' was the first track on that album, but the only single released from 'Hello!' was 'Caroline'.

'Roll over lay down' still became one of the band's better known tracks, due to its single release from the subsequent live album 'Live!', released in 1975. This live ep, featuring three tracks, reached number 9 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1632
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, April 18, 1992
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Roll over lay down' / 'Gerdundula', 'Junior's wailing'

Machinery - Sheena Easton

If it wasn't for my sister, I might never have bought 'Machinery' by Sheena Easton when I did. She played this single over and over when it was released, and not long after that I bought myself a copy.

'Machinery' is a track from Easton's third album 'Madness, money and music'. It didn't chart in the Netherlands, but it reached number 38 in the UK singles chart and number 57 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 147
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Machinery' / 'So we say goodbye'

No one can - Marillion

'No one can' was released as the second single from Marillion's 1991 album 'Holidays in Eden'. In the UK, the single was released in a limited edition box set, including a badge and four art prints.

Upon its original release, 'No one can' reached number 33 in the UK singles chart. The track was re-released in 1993, when Marillion released a greatest hits album. On that occasion, the single peaked at number 26.

My collection: 7" single no. 1505
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, August 7, 1991
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'No one can' / 'A collection'

True - Spandau Ballet

The song 'True' was a definite change of style for the band Spandau Ballet. It was a slow pop-ballad, paying tribute to Marvin Gaye and the sound he helped to establish. It was released a year before Gaye was murdered in 1984.

The single became Spandau Ballet's biggest and most remembered song, reaching number 4 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and the Dutch Top 40 and number 1 in the UK singles chart. In the UK, the single was released in a special gatefold sleeve.

My collection: 7" single no. 3250
Found: London, November 2000
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'True' / 'Lifeline (Edited remix for U.S.A.)'