'Only when you leave' was the first single from Spandau Ballet's fourth album 'Parade'. The previous album, 'True', had brought the band a lot of success, and so the new album explored the territory of smooth and commercial pop songs a little further, without taking too many chances.
The strategy paid off: without much trouble the single reached its peak position of number 3 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the Dutch Top 40. It was all downhill from there.
My collection: 7" single no. 1033 Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989 Cost: 10p Tracks: 'Only when you leave' / 'Paint me down (live)'
Hot Chocolate was very popular in the Seventies with several top 3 hits, but in the Eighties, things weren't as good for them. 'It started with a kiss', released in the summer of 1982, would turn out to be their last big hit, after which they would still have several chart hits in the UK, but the majority would land outside the top 10.
'It started with a kiss' reached number 5 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the Dutch Top 40. The song was written by frontman and lead singer Errol Brown.
My collection: 7" single no. 385 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1984 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'It started with a kiss' / 'Emotion explosion'
This single has the unique distinction to be the inspiration for two very recognisable women in music: Kate Bush and Tori Amos. Kate Bush recorded a cover of 'Rocket man' in 1994, whereas Tori Amos performed 'Tiny dancer' during her concert tour in the same year.
The song 'Rocket man' was conceived when Bernie Taupin saw a shooting star or a distant airplane. The lyric describes a Mars-bound astronaut's mixed feelings at leaving his family in order to do his job. The single reached number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 6 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1972.
My collection: 7" single no. 2552 Found: Record fair, November 19, 1995 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Rocket man' / 'Tiny dancer'
'Thin line between love and hate' was written by the brothers Robert and Richard Poindexter with Jackie Members and first performed in 1971 by the New York City-based vocal group The Persuaders. It became the group's biggest hit in the autumn of 1971, reaching number 15 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The Pretenders recorded a cover version of the track in 1984 on their album 'Learning to crawl'. Featuring Paul Carrack on keyboards and backing vocals, their version reached number 83 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 49 in the UK singles chart and number 27 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 912 Found: June 25, 1989 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Thin line between love and hate' / 'Time the avenger (live)'
Kim Wilde recorded 'Never trust a stranger' as a track on her sixth album 'Close'. It was released as the third single from the album in the autumn of 1988 in a remixed version, made by Ricky Wilde, Kim's brother.
The single became another big hit for Kim, reaching number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the Dutch Top 40. In the UK, a limited edition gatefold sleeve of this single was available.
My collection: 7" single no. 662 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, October 7, 1988 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Never trust a stranger' / 'Wotcha gonna do'
The Irish girlgroup Sheeba was formed in 1977 by Maxi, Marion Fossett and Frances Campbell. In 1981 they represented Ireland during the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Horoscopes'. It finished fifth in a field of 20 contestants.
Following their exposure in the 1981 contest, they signed a recording contract in the UK and released the singles 'The next night' and 'Mystery', neither of which found success. In 1982 they were involved in a road accident in the West of Ireland that brought their career to an eventual halt due to their reluctance to continue touring. Today, Maxi is a successful broadcaster with RTE in Dublin; Marion Fossett is ring-mistress of the well-known family circus, Fossetts; and Frances Campbell is a broadcaster in Northern Ireland.
My collection: 7" single no. 4406 Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Horoscopes' / 'You came through love with me'
Having released singles and albums as Bolland & Bolland and as Bolland throughout the Seventies and Eighties, Rob and Ferdi Bolland renamed themselves The Bolland Project for their 1991 album 'Darwin - the evolution'.
One of the tracks on the album was released as a single. It was the beautiful ballad 'Emma my dear', recorded with the aid of Colin Blunstone, who did vocal duties. The single did not chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 1665 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, June 13, 1992 Cost: 6,5 guilders Tracks: 'Emma my dear' / 'For a moment in time'
'Bumped!' was the first single from Right said Fred's second album 'Sex and travel'. It combined Nineties rhythms with a rather forgettable melody and lyric. I mainly bought this single out of curiosity - but I have to say I haven't played it much since I bought it.
The single was a succes in the UK and the Netherlands, peaking at number 32 and number 30 respectively.
My collection: 7" single no. 2035 Found: Virgin Megastore, London, October 22, 1993 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Bumped!' / 'Turn me on (Re-wrap version)'
'Everywhere' was the fifth single taken from Fleetwood Mac's 1987 album 'Tango in the night'. Released in February 1988, it reached number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 3 in the Dutch Top 40. In the USA, where the single was released in November 1987, it reached number 14 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
This single was also the first cd-single release by the band in most territories. I bought the cd-single at the time of its release, and only bought the 7" single 12 years later.
My collection: 7" single no. 3196 Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 16, 2000 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'Everywhere' / 'When I see you again'
Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich explained that the band wanted to try something new with the idea of a ballad - instead of the standard melodic verse and heavy chorus, the band opted to reverse the dynamic, with heavy, distorted verses and a softer, melodic chorus, played with classical guitars. The song describes a man who never took risks and ultimately regretted it.
The single became another hit for the band, peaking at number 27 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 15 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 1553 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, December 7, 1991 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'The unforgiven' / 'Killing time'
The proceeds of the very successful album and movie 'Purple rain' enabled Prince to build his recording studio Paisley Park Studios. So what came first, the studio or this song? Well, the song was recorded before 'Purple rain' was completed, so you do the math.
'Paisley Park' was included on Prince's 1985 album 'Around the world in a day'. It has a psychedelic feel, similar to some of The Beatles' later work with echoed guitar and finger cymbals. The lyrics describe a Utopian place that one can feel in their heart, despite the chaos of the world around them. The single reached number 18 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 301 Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1985 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Paisley Park' / 'She's always in my hair'
I've always considered this EP to be great value for money: not only did you get a double A-side with 'Somebody' and 'Blasphemous rumours', this disc also contained two live tracks, of which especially 'Everything counts' is quite fabulous. The single reached number 16 in the UK singles chart and number 27 in the Dutch Top 40.
'Somebody' is a soft, gentle love song in which Martin Gore sings of his desire to find a lover and confidant. The lyric does suggest a hint of sarcasm with the final lines: 'Things like this make me sick. In a case like this, I'll get away with it'. The song was reportedly sung in the studio by Gore without his clothes on.
By contrast, 'Blasphemous rumours' is a loud, angry song. The lyric tells the story of a sixteen-year-old girl's failed attempt to kill herself by slitting her wrists. This story is continued when the girl is 18. She renews her faith in God only to be struck by a car, end up on life support, and dying shortly afterwards. The conclusion: 'I don't want to start any blasphemous rumours but I think that God's got a sick sense of humour, and when I die, I expect to find Him laughing.' The song was considered offensive and was banned on some American radio stations. In the UK, although the song was not banned, it also aroused a firestorm of controversy, leading even the Church itself to speak out against the song. Well, of course... God forbid that people would even think about these things!
My collection: 7" single no. 254 Found: Den Haag, 1984 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Somebody', 'Everything counts (live)' / 'Blasphemous rumours', 'Told you so (live)'
Here's another nice track from the Netherlands for your listening pleasure. 'Laat mij maar alleen' ('Just leave me alone') by the Klein orkest ('Little orchestra') is a charming piece of pop from the summer of 1982. Stating 'Even if loneliness is hard, sometimes it's worse when you're together', it's one of those 'Can't live with you, can't live without you' statements, set to upbeat music.
The single reached number 27 in the Dutch Top 40 and was the first of only three hit singles for the group that existed for seven years, between 1978 and 1985.
My collection: 7" single no. 161 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1982 Cost: 3,5 guilders Tracks: 'Laat mij maar alleen' / 'Het leed versierd'
'A groovy kind of love' was written by Toni Wine and Carol Bayer Sager. It is heavily based on the Rondo movement of Sonatina in G major, op. 36 no. 5 by Muzio Clementi. The song was first recorded by Diane & Annita in 1965.
Phil Collins recorded his cover of the song in 1988. He decided to record it when he took a starring role in the film 'Buster', which had a Sixties setting. The song first appeared on the soundtrack of the movie, while it was also released as a single. It hit number 1 in the USA, the UK and the Netherlands.
My collection: 7" single no. 799 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, April 17, 1989 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'A groovy kind of love' / 'Big noise (instrumental)'
Tina Turner was famous for her big hits in the Sixties, but by 1984, she was totally forgotten. She released a new album 'Private dancer' in 1984, from which this single, 'What's love got to do with it' was taken. The song was originally written for the R&B singer Phyllis Hyman.
No-one expected this single to become the great success it became. It reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 3 in the UK singles chart and number 15 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 1008 Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989 Cost: 50p Tracks: 'What's love got to do with it' / 'Don't rush the good things'
Duran Duran's guitarist at the time, Warren Cuccurullo, is credited with developing the instrumentation for 'Come undone', most importantly its guitar hook, which he developed while trying to do a re-interpretation of 'First Impression' from their 1990 album Liberty. The lyrics were written by vocalist Simon Le Bon as a birthday gift for his wife, Yasmin le Bon.
The single reached number 13 in the UK and number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. By contrast, it did not chart in the Netherlands at all.
My collection: 7" single no. 1915 Found: Record fair, May 22, 1993 Cost: 8 guilders Tracks: 'Come undone' / 'Ordinary world (acoustic)'
Although the rebel yell was a battle cry used by Confederate soldiers during the American Civil War, Billy Idol reportedly refers to the whiskey brand of the same name, a brand of bourbon whiskey distilled and bottled at the Bernheim distillery in Louisville, Kentucky. During an event he attended, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones were taking swigs of 'Rebel Yell'; Billy decided and stated that he would set off to write a 'Rebel Yell' song.
The song was co-written by guitarist Steve Stevens. The instrumental introduction, which sounds like a combination of electric guitar and electronic keyboard, is performed by Stevens on guitar alone, who intended it to sound this way. The single was originally released in 1984, but re-released in a gatefold sleeve in the UK in 1985 and peaked at number 2 in the UK singles chart on that occasion.
My collection: 7" single no. 1740 Found: Record Exchange, London, October 18, 1992 Cost: 1 pound Tracks: 'Rebel yell' / '(Do not) Stand in the shadows'
As the years went by, it was easy to accuse Janet Jackson of using a formula for her albums: there were always a few ballads, some dance songs and one obligatory rock-oriented track. In the case of her 1989 album 'Rhythm Nation 1814', it was 'Black cat', released as the sixth single from the album.
The B-side of the single features 'The 1814 Megamix'. Remixed by Alan Coulthard, it includes snippets of Jackson's previous hit singles 'Alright', 'Escapade', 'Rhythm nation', and 'Miss you much'.
My collection: 7" single no. 1330 Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1990 Cost: 1 pound Tracks: 'Black cat' / 'The 1814 Megamix'
'Hello, you fool, I love you'. It was the message Per Gessle's girlfriend left on his piano - and a chorus was born. 'Joyride' was the first single release from Roxette's 1991 album 'Joyride'. The single topped the charts across Europe (including the Netherlands), Australia, Canada and the United States. In the UK, 'Joyride' peaked at number 4.
The B-side, 'Come back (before you leave)', reappeared on Roxette's next album, 'Tourism'.
My collection: 7" single no. 1437 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, April 26, 1991 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Joyride' / 'Come back (before you leave)'
'Change of heart' was the second single taken from Cyndi Lauper's second album, 'True colours' (1986). The Bangles sang background vocals on the track. In the US Billboard Hot 100 chart the single reached number 3. In Europe, audience reaction was much less enthousiastic: in the UK singles chart the single stalled at number 67, whereas it didn't chart in the Netherlands at all.
I had to search for quite a long time for this single: when it was released, it didn't appear in Dutch record shops at all. I found a 12" single a few years later, and only in 1991 I found the single.
My collection: 7" single no. 1483 Found: Wreckastow, Rotterdam, July 3, 1991 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'Change of heart' / 'Witness'
'Only when you leave' was the first single from Spandau Ballet's fourth album 'Parade'. The previous album, 'True', had brought the band a lot of success, and so the new album explored the territory of smooth and commercial pop songs a little further, without taking too many chances.
