Regrets - Mylene Farmer and Jean-Louis Murat

Already in 1989, Mylene Farmer said that she liked Jean-Louis Murat's songwriting. They corresponded for two years until they finally recorded the duet 'Regrets' in 1991. It is a love song in which two lovers are answering tenderly and with melancholy, while they are separated by the death of one of them. Only memories allows the one that is left behind to savour the well-being of the past relationship.

The song was released as the third single from Farmer's third album 'Ainsi soit je...', reaching number 3 in France and number 2 in the French-speaking part of Belgium.

My collection: 7" single no. 2221
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 17, 1994
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Regrets' / 'Regrets (Classic bonus beats)'

Lessons in love - Level 42

'Lessons in love' was released in April 1986 as the first single from Level 42's seventh studio album 'Running in the family'. It was the first of five singles from that album, and paved the way for international success for the band.

For the first time they reached the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it peaked at number 12 in 1987. In the UK, the single reached number 3, while in the Dutch Top 40 it got to number 2. Level 42 scored their first hit with this in Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Indonesia and other countries.

My collection: 7" single no. 1333
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1990
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Lessons in love' / 'Hot water (live)'

Sexcrime (1984) - Eurythmics

When the British film '1984' was made in the UK, the Eurythmics were contacted to make the soundtrack. They agreed, and so the album of the same name came to be. 'Sexcrime (1984)' was the first single lifted from the album, released in October 1984.

The single peaked at number 4 in the UK singles chart, becoming Eurythmics' sixth song in a row to enter the Top 10. It was also a big hit throughout Europe and became one of the duo's biggest selling singles in Australia.

My collection: 7" single no. 2024
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 19, 1993
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Sexcrime (1984)' / 'I did it just the same'

Arizona sky - China Crisis

'Arizona sky' was released in 1986 as the first single from China Crisis' fourth album 'What price paradise'. The single was a minor success in the UK, reaching number 47 in the singles chart.

I bought the 12" single quite recently, but I've had the 7" single for almost two decades now.

My collection: 7" single no. 1456
Found: Record fair, June 27, 1991
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Arizona sky' / 'Trading in gold'

Aloha-oe, until we meet again - Goombay Dance Band

Germany has been responsible for quite a few dodgy acts through the years, and Goombay Dance Band can be considered as one of them. They formed in the late Seventies, and styled their music to combine Caribbean soca and calypso with western pop.

'Aloha-oe, until we meet again' was released in 1980 as the follow-up to their debut hit 'Sun of Jamaica'. The track was inspired by a traditional Hawaiian song. This single reached number 6 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 60
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1980
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Aloha-oe, until we meet again' / 'Conga man'

Can you feel it - The Jacksons

Michael Jackson and his brothers formed the Jacksons, a successful group that made hit singles until the Eighties, after which solo careers took preference over the group effort. 'Can you feel it' is arguably the band's last big hit, released on the 1980 album 'Triumph' and released as a single in early 1981. It reached number 6 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the Dutch Top 40, while it only reached number 77 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The accompanying music video was noted for its remarkable special effects created by Robert Abel and Associates. Michael created the video's concept and Tito's sons Taj and Taryll appeared as extras.

My collection: 7" single no. 844
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 27, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Can you feel it' / 'Wondering who'

I'm not afraid - Black

Through the years I have heard some horrendous single edits, but none have been as monstrous as the 7" edit of Black's 'I'm not afraid'. Someone took a blunt knife and started hacking into this track, particularly during the last few minutes. You can hear the voice being cut during singing, each and every cut is audible. And all this to bring down the length of this track with one minute. Perhaps they should just have released the five minute version.

Consequently, this single, the follow-up to Black's biggest hit 'Wonderful life', did not chart. What's interesting about the sleeve is that the German version, pictured here, features the entire lyric of the song on the front, whereas on the UK single (which I don't own, unfortunately) only the refrain, printed in blue, is shown.

My collection: 7" single no. 589
Found: Gé Hofenk, Leiden, February 16, 1988
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'I'm not afraid' / 'Have it your own way'

Let's dance - Chris Rea

Chris Rea released his ninth studio album 'Dancing with strangers' in 1987. The single 'Let's dance' was taken from this album: a bouncy pop song about, well, dancing.

Released in June 1987, 'Let's dance' became Rea's biggest hit up to that point, reaching number 12 in the UK singles chart during a 10 week chart run.

My collection: 7" single no. 931
Found: July 6, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Let's dance' / 'I don't care anymore'

Verkeerd om terug te kijken - Boeijen en Pennings

You can bet that there are loads of people in the Netherlands desperately searching for this single, willing to pay a small fortune for it too. Meanwhile, I accidentally found it in a second hand shop in 1991 for the equivalent of 1 euro.

'Verkeerd om terug te kijken' ('Wrong to look back') is the only single released by the Dutch duo Frank Boeijen and Wout Pennings. They met in 1977 and recorded and released one album in 1978. They were picked up by the Dutch record label CNR, which enabled them to re-record the album, which like this single was released in 1979. Both the album and the single flopped, but Frank Boeijen went on to form the Frank Boeijen Groep and had a lot of success during the Eighties, after which he went solo, founding a career that is still going strong now.

My collection: 7" single no. 1494
Found: H. v.d. Horst, Den Haag, July 18, 1991
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Verkeerd om terug te kijken' / 'De zee'

The rain - Oran 'Juice' Jones

The 12" single of Oran 'Juice' Jones' 'The rain' featured the album version, and as such the longest version that exists of this track. Both sides were taken from his debut album 'Juice', which was a modest success in America but failed to make much of an impression in Europe.

After Jones failed to have significant follow-up success, he left the music industry to tend to his terminally ill mother and raise his family.

My collection: 12" single no. 51
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 8 guilders
Tracks: 'The rain' / 'Your song'

The rain - Oran 'Juice' Jones

Oran 'Juice' Jones was born in 1959 in Houston, Texas and raised in Harlem, New York. He was the first artist who was signed to OBR Records, a subsidiary of Def Jam. In 1986 he released his debut album 'Juice', which spawned the hit single 'The rain'. This single was promoted with a music video that was based on the album version of the song, even though the single was shortened by two minutes, omitting a speech to a girl who has committed foul play.

The single reached number 9 in the BIllboard Hot 100 chart and number 5 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 503
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'The rain (short version)' / 'Your song'

Only when you leave - Spandau Ballet

'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)'

It started with a kiss - Hot Chocolate

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'

Rocket man - Elton John

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 - The Pretenders

'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)'

Never trust a stranger - Kim Wilde

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'

Horoscopes - Sheeba

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'

Emma my dear - The Bolland Project feat. Colin Blunstone

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 - Right said Fred

'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 - Fleetwood Mac

'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'