Following - The Bangles

'Following' was the fifth and last single to be taken from the Bangles' very successful album 'Different light'. In the UK, it was released in a limited edition poster sleeve. I bought this single without knowing the song just because of this poster sleeve - I love limited edition versions as I've stated before on this blog.

The single reached number 55 in the UK singles chart, but failed to chart in other territories.

My collection: 7" single no. 1217
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, April 22, 1990
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Following' / 'Dover beach'

Oh Patti (Don't feel sorry for loverboy) - Scritti Politti

'Oh Patti (Don't feel sorry for loverboy)' is a track on Scritti Politti's 1988 album 'Provision'. It features Miles Davis, who plays a trumpet solo. The single reached number 13 in the UK singles chart and number 29 in the Dutch Top 40.

This very attractive limited edition box set features the single plus three postcards and a sect of stamps. The colour poster that should be in it as well is missing, so I hope I can find a complete box set one day.

My collection: 7" single no. 761
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, March 2, 1989
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Oh Patti (Don't feel sorry for loverboy)' / 'Oh Patti (instrumental)'

Who - Diana Ross

'Who' is a track on Diana Ross's 1982 album 'Silk electric'. It was released as a single but, unlike other singles from the album, it didn't chart in any territory. Since I can't find any details about this single, I even start to wonder whether it was released worldwide. This copy was made in Holland and it may have been an exclusive release.

My collection: 7" single no. 4421
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, January 9, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Who' / 'Anywhere you run to'

The alternative way - Anita Meijer

This single represents Anita Meijer's breakthrough in the Netherlands. After some time as a singer in the band Rainbow Train, she recorded 'The alternative way' as a duet with Hans Vermeulen, who also produced and arranged the track. It quickly rose to the top of the Dutch Top 40 in the summer of 1976.

It would take Meijer five years to reach number 1 again with the less engaging 'Why tell me why'. Although very famous in the Netherlands, she was never able to score any hits in other countries.

My collection: 7" single no. 4420
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, January 9, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'The alternative way' / 'You showed me how'

I wish - Stevie Wonder

Some singles are just classic tracks and it can be quite surprising to come across them in the bargain bin. But that's just what happened with 'I wish' by Stevie Wonder, one of the most recognisable tunes from 1977.

The track was written by Wonder himself. The lyric is about looking back on his childhood. Taken from his classic album 'Songs in the key of life', it reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 5 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4419
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, January 9, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'I wish' / 'You and I'

A way you'll never be - Leisure Process

When you hear 'A way you'll never be', you may think it's a Level 42 track. And you wouldn't be too far from the truth: guest musicians on this track are Mark King and Phil Gould from Level 42. It didn't help the commercial appeal of this single: it sunk without a trace.

I bought 'Love cascade' last year and that track was good enough to make me curious about the rest of this band's output.

My collection: 7" single no. 4418
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, January 9, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'A way you'll never be' / 'Rachel dreams'

Mama told me - Fantastique

Fantastique was brought together by the producers team Cat Music in 1980. Dick van Dam and Astrid Leuwener were the faces of this duo, who scored their first hit in 1981 with 'Mama told me'. Not only did it reach number 27 in the Dutch Top 40, it also scored well elsewhere in Europe.

The track is a typical nonsensical popsong, with not a lot of substance. Apparently, the track was re-released in remixed form many times after Fantastique drifted into oblivion and it remained a favourite in disotheques all through the Eighties.

My collection: 7" single no. 4417
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, January 9, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Mama told me' / 'Musica fantastica'

The wanderer - Donna Summer

'The wanderer' was written by Donna Summer together with her producer Giorgio Moroder. She'd worked with Moroder while she was signed to Casablanca Records. When she left that label in 1980 after a dispute, she signed to the new Geffen label and continued to work with Moroder.

By 1980, disco had experienced a backlash. Rock music was becoming popular and Donna Summer's 1980 album reflected this: the songs were very new wave and rock-flavoured. This first single from the album became a big hit for Summer in the United States - peaking at number 3 in the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, while reaching number number 48 in the UK singles chart and number 26 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4416
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, January 9, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'The wanderer' / 'Stop me'

Take five - The Dave Brubeck Quartet

I was never really looking for this single, but I think this is the first time I actually saw it, and I bought it right away. This is the track my wife and I talked about when I showed her my record collection for the first time. I didn't have it, and she instructed me to download it so we could dance to it. And so I did, of course. It's good to have a physical representative of this track now.

'Take five' was written by Paul Desmond and recorded by the Dave Brubeck Quartet on their 1959 album 'Time out'. This piece became one of the group's best-known tracks, famous for its distinctive, catchy saxophone melody and use of the unusual quintuple (5/4) time, from which its title is derived. This single was made in Holland in 1969, but in the Dutch chart, it reached number 9 in 1962.

My collection: 7" single no. 4415
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, January 9, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Take five' / 'Unsquare dance'

Jimmy - Renée

'Jimmy' was the fifth single release from the Dutch band Renée, released in June 1980. It was the first single taken from the band's 1980 album 'Reaching for the sky' and it was received positively by critics and DJ's.

The single did not break the Dutch Top 40, which was disappointing after two hit singles.

My collection: 7" single no. 4414
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, January 9, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Jimmy' / 'Change your style'

Now that we found love - Third World

'Now that we found love' was written by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff and originally recorded by The O'Jays.

In 1978, the reggae band Third World recorded a cover version of this song. When it was released as a single, it reached number 47 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 10 in the UK singles chart and number 3 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4413
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, January 9, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Now that we found love' / 'Night heat'

People are people - Depeche Mode

'People are people' was written by Martin Gore, with Alan Wilder creating much of the sound of the track. It was released as Depeche Mode's tenth single in March 1984, reaching number 1 in Germany, number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 10 in the Dutch Top 40.

Despite its success, Martin Gore considers 'People are people' one of his least favourite songs. He prefers his songs to have subtle meanings so that people can find their own meanings to it, and this lyric does not fit that description. It was never performed live again after 1988.

My collection: 7" single no. 591
Found: All that music, Leiden, February 16, 1988
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'People are people' / 'In your memory'

Don't dream it's over - Crowded House

The band Crowded House broke up in 1996. The record company quickly released a compilation album featuring all of the band's hits during the decade they existed. One of those hits was 'Don't dream it's over', and it was this track that was re-released as a single in the UK.

Released on blue vinyl, this single features a live version of 'Weather with you', recorded during their last ever UK performance at the Phil Jupitus show at BBC GLR, June 21, 1996. As far as re-releases go, it did quite well: upon its original release in June 1987, 'Don't dream it's over' reached number 27 in the UK singles chart; the November 1996 re-release peaked at number 25.

My collection: 7" single no. 2750
Found: Virgin Megastore, London, October 28, 1996
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Don't dream it's over' / 'Weather with you (live)'

There is life on earth - Sonja Lumme

Studio versions of Eurovision songs don't always do justice to the songs. They can sound quite meagre compared to the version that was performed on stage - especially before 1999, when the orchestra was abandoned in the show.

Sonja Lumme represented Finland during the 1985 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Eläköön elämä' - and yes, I have no idea what that means either. She finished ninth in a field of 19 competitors. She recorded it in English for this single. 'There is life on earth' was probably only a hit in Scandinavia.

My collection: 7" single no. 4410
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'There is life on earth' / 'Give me a call'

In the long run - Paul Young

'In the long run' was released as the third single from Paul Young's 1986 album 'Between two fires' - but only in the Netherlands. In the UK, the B-side of this single, 'Why does a man have to be strong' was chosen as the A-side.

This single did not chart and can be considered a turning point in Paul Young's career. Up until then, every single he released was a chart hit all over Europe and in the UK. From this moment on, his career would have highs as well as lows.

My collection: 7" single no. 4385
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'In the long run' / 'Why does a man have to be strong'

Little lies - Fleetwood Mac

'Little lies' was written by Christine McVie with her husband at the time, Eddy Quintela. It was recorded as a track on Fleetwood Mac's 1987 album 'Tango in the night' and released as the album's third single.

Upon its release in September 1987, the single reached number 5 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the Dutch Top 40, 'Little lies' reached number 10.

My collection: 7" single no. 2307
Found: May 27, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Little lies' / 'Ricky'

Volare - Al Martino

Al Martino (October 7, 1927 - October 13, 2009) was an American singer and actor. His greatest successes as a singer took place between the Fifties and Seventies.

One of his many successes was this disco version of 'Volare', originally performed by Domenico Modugno as 'Nel blu dipinto di blu' during the 1958 Eurovision Song Contest. It reached number 3 in the Dutch Top 40 in early 1976.

My collection: 7" single no. 4379
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Volare' / 'You belong to me'

Suddenly - Billy Ocean

After a string of uptempo hit singles, Billy Ocean surprised many with the slow ballad 'Suddely'. It was the title track of his 1984 album, but released a a single in 1985. Such was the success of this ballad, that he would release further slow songs like 'There'll be sad song (to make you cry)' in later years.

The single peaked at number 4 in the UK singles chart and the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, while peaking at number 23 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 821
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 13, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Suddenly' / 'Lucky man'

Back on the chain gang - The Pretenders

'Back on the chain gang' was originally going to be about Ray Davies, with whom Chrissie Hynde had a relationship. They also had a daughter together. The meaning of the song changed when James Honeyman-Scott, guitarist of the Pretenders, died of a drug overdose at the age of 25 in 1982.

The song was released as a single in 1982 and later included on the Pretenders' 1984 album 'Learning to crawl'. The single reached number 5 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 17 in the UK singles chart and number 30 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2313
Found: June 3, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Back on the chain gang' / 'My city was gone'

Miss you like crazy - Natalie Cole

Natalie Maria Cole was born in 1950 as the daughter of Nat King Cole and former Duke Ellington Orchestra singer Maria Cole. She started singing herself from an early age and had her first performance aged 11. Her father died of lung cancer just four years later. After graduation in 1972, she started singing in small clubs. She released her first album, 'Inseparable', in 1975. Many albums followed, until 1989's 'Good to be back' gave her the biggest hit of her career: 'Miss you like crazy'.

The single reached number 2 in the UK singles chart, number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 18 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1425
Found: April 7, 1991
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Miss you like crazy' / 'Good to be back'