Leningrad - Billy Joel

This single was released when the Russian town St. Petersburg was still called Leningrad. The song was written by Billy Joel about a Russian clown named Viktor, whom he met while touring the Soviet Union in 1987. Throughout the song, major items of Viktor's and Joel's lives are compared to show the cultural difference of the United States of America and the Soviet Union.

'Leningrad' was taken from Joel's eleventh studio album 'Storm front' (1989) and managed to chart in the UK, the Netherlands and Germany, peaking at number 53, 15 and 14 respectively.

My collection: 7" single no. 1140
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, January 6, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Leningrad' / 'The times they are a changin' (live)'

Best kept secret - China Crisis

Released in 1987, 'Best kept secret' was the second and last single release from the China Crisis album 'What price paradise', which was released the year before. It was their first single to also be released as a cd-single, which was a new format at the time.

The single reached number 36 in the UK singles chart and as such was the last single by China Crisis to reach the top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1025
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Best kept secret' / 'The instigator (Italian fuzzbox version)'

Long blond animal - Golden Earring

I have to be honest and say that these days I don't like Golden Earring at all. They have turned into a band that is mercilessly repeating itself with performances in theatres with unplugged concerts. The band members are these old men who should think about having an annual prostrate checkup instead of planning new tourdates.

Back in 1980, it was a different story: the album 'Prisoner of the night' was released and the single 'Long blond animal' was a rock track that was totally out of sync with the new wave sounds that were taking over the charts. Still it managed to get to number 19 in the Dutch Top 40. The band was considering to throw in the title as the album and two later singles didn't sell as well. Maybe they should have done it - it might have saved us from the misery they are going through now.

My collection: 7" single no. 849
Found: Den Haag, May 27, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Long blond animal' / 'Triple treat'

Vivo cantando - Salomé

Salomé was born as Maria Rosa Marco on June 21, 1943 in Barcelona, Spain. She found international fame in 1969 when she represented Spain during the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Vivo cantando' ('I live singing'). Two memorable aspects of the performance were Salomé's costume – a pantsuit covered in long strands of porcelain resembling beads – and the fact that the singer chose to dance on the spot during certain parts of the song.

The song ended up winning the contest in a tie with three other songs: United Kingdom's 'Boom Bang-a-Bang' performed by Lulu, 'De troubadour' by Lenny Kuhr representing the Netherlands, and 'Un jour, un enfant' sung for France by Frida Boccara. From these countries, only Spain never managed to win again after 1969.

My collection: 7" single no. 4411
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Vivo cantando' / 'Abrazame otra vez'

Round and round - Spandau Ballet

'Round and round' was the fourth and last single from Spandau Ballet's 1984 album 'Parade'. It was a hit in the UK, but it performed less well in the chart than its three predecessors, stalling at number 18.

In Europe, 'Round and round' performed even worse, failing to chart in most countries.

My collection: 7" single no. 2593
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, December 30, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Round and round' / 'True (live)'

Sweet sixteen - Billy Idol

Billy Idol's third studio album 'Whiplash smile', released in 1986, contained the midtempo ballad 'Sweet sixteen', which was subsequently released as a single in 1987. At the time of its release, I bought a cassette single in London, and only got around to buying the 7" single two years later.

The single reached number 7 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 17 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1086
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, October 27, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Sweet sixteen' / 'Beyond belief'

Reasons to be cheerful, part 3 - Ian Dury and the Blockheads

'Reasons to be cheerful, part 3' can be described as a 'shopping list song'. It is a simple list of a number of reasons to be cheerful. The list of reasons to be cheerful includes Buddy Holly, equal voting rights for men and women, Piccadilly Circus in London, porridge oats, wine, Elvis Presley, a cure for smallpox, going to the toilet, National Health Service's free glasses, Woody Allen, the song 'Volare', Smokey Robinson and nudity.

The single was released in July 1979 and reached number 3 in the UK singles chart. How apt.

My collection: 7" single no. 1601
Found: Record fair, March 28, 1992
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Reasons to be cheerful, part 3' / 'Common as muck'

Ole, ole! - Izhar Cohen

Izhar Cohen returned to the Eurovision Song Contest for Israel in 1985 after winning the 1978 edition with 'A-ba-ni-bi'. He performed the song 'Ole, ole!' together with four unnamed band mates. At the close of voting, the song finished 5th in a field of 19 competitors.

I already have the English release of 'Olé olé' for a few months now, but it was a great relief to find this version, as it contains the original Hebrew version of the song as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 4389
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Ole, ole! (English version)' / 'Ole, ole! (Hebrew version)'

Escapade - Janet Jackson

'Escapade' was inspired by the Martha & the Vandellas 1965 single 'Nowhere to run', which Jackson originally intended to remake, but instead choose to record a new song with a similar feel after a suggestion from producer Jimmy Jam.

When released as the third single from her 1989 album 'Rhythm Nation 1814', the song peaked at number 1 in the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks in March 1990. The single also reached number 17 in the UK singles chart and number 13 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1191
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, March 2, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Escapade' / 'Escapade (instrumental)'

Can't stay away from you - Gloria Estefan

When 'Can't stay away from you' was released in the autumn of 1988, it was credited to Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine, effectively phasing out the band name. The album 'Let it loose', from which the single was taken, was re-released as 'Anything for you', also reflecting this change of name.

Meanwhile, the ballad 'Can't stay away from you' became a big hit for Estefan, reaching number 6 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 1 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 743
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, February 11, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Can't stay away from you' / 'Let it loose'

In dreams - Marty Wilde

After his daughter Kim had some success with her first two albums, father Marty decided to get back into the game as well. He signed with Kaleidoscope Records, a small subsidiary of Epic Records, and released this cover of the Roy Orbison track 'In dreams'.

The single did not become the success he may have hoped for. The problem is, while this is a good version of the song, it was a bit out of time. It mystifies me why he didn't try out a song of his own - after all, Marty Wilde was one of the best songwriters in the UK at the time, with many hit singles under his belt.

My collection: 7" single no. 3434
Found: Esbjerg, June 17, 2006
Cost: 10 Danish crowns
Tracks: 'In dreams' / 'Hard to find, easy to lose'

Vrijdagavond - Frank Boeijen Groep

It's interesting how record companies sometimes think they know better than the artist. For the second single of the Dutch Frank Boeijen Groep, the record company re-edited the track 'Vrijdagavond' ('Friday night'), including the chorus not two, but four times. The cuts are audible and frankly only make the song repetitive.

No wonder, then, that 'Vrijdagavond' did not chart in the Netherlands. It subsequently became a very rare single, which many fans are searching for even now. I found my copy almost 20 years after its release in 1981.

My collection: 7" single no. 3188
Found: eBay.nl, received September 12, 2000
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Vrijdagavond' / ''s Nachts wanneer ik waak'

Found my girl - Imagination

Released in 1985, 'Found my girl' was dedicated to Charlotte. The song was written by Leee John and Ashley Ingram, so without any additional information I can only assume that the girl meant something to one of them - or both. However passionate the message in the song, it left the audiences cold, as the single didn't chart in any territory.

The 12" single adds two live tracks into the mix, and if you think Imagination live is quite a boring affair, think again: the live arrangement of the earlier single 'In and out of love' is quite, er, imaginative.

My collection: 12" single no. 525
Found: Kringloop, Sassenheim, January 23, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Found my girl' / 'In and out of love (live)', 'I gave it all (live)'

Perfect day - Duran Duran

This limited edition 'scratch 'n' sniff' sleeve still works after 15 years: there is a sweet strawberry/cherry smell coming from the front when you rub it. It's a good gimmick, but fortunately the music on the disc is very good too.

Duran Duran recorded an album of covers in 1995, entitled 'Thank you'. Lou Reed called Duran Duran's version of 'Perfect day' 'the best cover ever done of one of my songs', and rightfully so. The song was notable for a rare appearance by Roger Taylor. He had been Duran Duran's first drummer, but left the band at the height of their fame in 1986, and had had little contact with them in the ten years since. He rejoined Duran Duran in the studio to record 'Perfect day', 'Watching the detectives' and 'Jeepster'. 'Perfect day' reached number 28 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2258
Found: Record fair, April 8, 1995
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Perfect day' / 'Femme fatale (alternative mix)'

Johnny come home - Fine Young Cannibals

Released in late 1984, 'Johnny come home' was the debut single by the British band Fine Young Cannibals, taken from their self-titled debut album. The lyric of the song tells the gritty realistic story of a runaway youth, and alternates from the first-person narrative, explaining how his arrival in the big city has not turned out as he expected, to the view of the parents in the chorus, expressing their wish that he would come home.

The single reached number 76 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, but was a big hit in Europe, peaking at number 8 in the UK singles chart and number 21 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 323
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Johnny come home' / 'Good times and bad'

Every breath you take - The Police

Sting commented about 'Every breath you take': 'I woke up in the middle of the night with that line in my head, sat down at the piano and had written it in half an hour. The tune itself is generic, an aggregate of hundreds of others, but the words are interesting. It sounds like a comforting love song. I didn't realise at the time how sinister it is. I think I was thinking of Big Brother, surveillance and control.'

Sting later said he was troubled by how many people think the song is more positive than it is. He insists it's about unrequited love (the song was written at the time he and his then wife divorced), about the obsession with the lost lover, the jealousy and surveillance that followed. It went on to become the Police's signature tune. As of 2003, Sting was still taking in an average of $2000 per day in royalties. In October 2007, Sting was awarded a Million-Air certificate for 9 million airplays of 'Every breath you take' in the United Kingdom.

My collection: 7" single no. 763
Found: Den Haag, 1988
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Every breath you take' / 'Murder by numbers'

Sunday girl - Blondie

'Sunday girl' was the fourth single to be taken from Blondie's album 'Parallel lines'. Two versions of the song were included on the single: one in English and one in French. My copy of the single unfortunately didn't come in a picture sleeve - and so I'm still searching for one that does.

The single reached number 1 in the UK, Australia and Ireland, while also reaching number 13 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 176
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1981
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Sunday girl' / 'Sunday girl (French version)'

Shiny happy people - R.E.M.

Although the intro of 'Shiny happy people' is a lovely melody, it doesn't sit well with the rest of the song, which is a pretty straightforward rock song. I've always had mixed feelings towards this song, but still felt positive enough to buy it when I did.

'Shiny happy people' was the second single from R.E.M.'s 1991 album 'Out of time'. The song features guest backing vocals by Kate Pierson of the B52's who also appeared in the song's music video. The single peaked at number 10 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 6 in the UK singles chart and number 10 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1510
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, August 17, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Shiny happy people' / 'Forty second song'

Pass the Dutchie - Musical Youth

Last week, my wife came home from the local Kringloop shop with two singles, one of them being 'Save your love (for #1)' by René and Angela. The other one was 'Pass the dutchie' by Musical Youth. Although the sleeve was in perfect shape, unfortunately it contained the wrong single. When I went shopping yesterday, I found the single once more, and so I now own it.

Musical Youth recorded 'Pass the Dutchie' in 1982. It was a major hit, reaching number 1 in the UK and the Netherlands in the autumn of 1982. It was a cover version of the song 'Pass the Koutchie' by The Mighty Diamonds, which deals with the recreational use of cannabis. For the cover version, the song's title was changed to 'Pass the Dutchie', and all obvious drug references were removed from the lyrics.

My collection: 7" single no. 4454
Found: Kringloop, Lisse, January 23, 2010
Cost: 0,7 euro
Tracks: 'Pass the Dutchie' / 'Please give love a chance'

All right - Christopher Cross

At the time of its release in February 1983, I thought that Christopher Cross's 'All right' was one of the dullest songs on the planet. But 27 years later, you can see that I've changed my mind. The fact is, these days it's hard to find any melodic pop songs anymore and it's good to be able to travel back to the early Eighties via singles like this.

'All right' is a track from the album 'Another page', also released in 1983. It reached number 16 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 51 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4453
Found: Kringloop, Lisse, January 23, 2010
Cost: 0,7 euro
Tracks: 'All right' / 'Long world'