Wanted dead or alive - Bon Jovi

'Wanted dead or alive' is the phrase Jon Bon Jovi used for this song to show how he identifies with wild west heroes as being hated (wanted dead or alive). The band Bon Jovi had originally planned to do a wild west-themed album in the Eighties, but scrapped the idea.

Released as the third single from Bon Jovi's 1986 album 'Slippery when wet'. It peaked at number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 13 in the UK singles chart and number 24 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 532
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Wanted dead or alive' / 'Shot through the heart'

Trödler und Co - Peter, Sue and Marc

One of four appearances at the Eurovision Song Contest by Peter, Sue & Marc, 'Trödler & Co' is certainly the most memorable one. Together with the unknown trio Pfuri, Gorps & Kniri, they performed a track that sounded a lot like slightly deranged gypsy music. 'Trödler' translates like 'dawdler', so presumably this is music by people who procrastinate a lot. (No, I don't know what that means either).

Representing Switzerland for the third time in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1979 with this song, they finished tenth in a field of 19 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 4457
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received January 28, 2010
Cost: 3,5 euro
Tracks: 'Trödler & Co' / 'Groovy Musik'

Mai Tai - Body and soul

'Body and soul' was Mai Tai's second hit single in the UK, but there was a difference with the European version of 'Body and soul': it was released on the Virgin label, had a different sleeve and a different B-side. The B-side was 'What goes on', a hit single in the Netherlands in the previous summer.

Released in July 1985, Mai Tai scored their second top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at number 9.

My collection: 7" single no. 2385
Found: House of Rhythm, London, July 1, 1995
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Body & soul' / 'What goes on'

Isn't it midnight - Fleetwood Mac

'Isn't it midnight' was released as the sixth and final single from Fleetwood Mac's 1987 album 'Tango in the night'. The song was co-written and sung by Christine McVie.

In the UK singles chart, 'Isn't it midnight' reached number 60 in June 1988. In Ireland, the single reached number 23.

My collection: 7" single no. 3197
Found: Record fair, Amterdam, September 16, 2000
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Isn't it midnight' / 'Mystified'

Mercy mery me/I want you - Robert Palmer

Robert Palmer recorded two of Marvin Gaye's songs, 'Mercy mercy me' and 'I want you' in a medley to form one hit single. I'm still not sure about this choice, as both songs come off a bit weird as lyrically they have very little in common. Still, it was a hit for Palmer, reaching number 9 in the UK singles chart and number 25 in the Dutch Top 40.

My reason for buying this single is actually the B-side, which was co-written by Colin Vearncombe, a.k.a. Black.

My collection: 7" single no. 2822
Found: February 1, 1997
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Mercy mercy me/I want you' / 'Oh yeah'

Nights in white satin - The Moody Blues

The classic 'Nights in white satin' was first featured on the Moody Blues album 'Days of future passed'. Band member Justin Hayward wrote the song at age nineteen in Swindon, and titled the song after a friend gave him a gift of satin bedsheets. The song itself was a tale of a yearning love from afar, which leads many to assume it is a tale of unrequited love endured by Hayward. The track was originally over seven minutes long, but it was edited for the single version, omitting spoken poetry and orchestral passages.

The B-side of this 'Golden Oldies' single is the track 'I'm just a singer in a rock and roll band', a hit single from 1973. The track was written by bassist John Lodge. It is one of John Lodge's signature high-energy rock and roll songs, which lyrically is a rant by Lodge, who was frustrated that many of their fans looked up to them as spiritual leaders in a sense. He is basically disproving that fact, and proclaiming that he is 'just a singer in a rock and roll band.'

My collection: 7" single no. 256
Found: Leiden, 1984
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Nights in white satin' / 'I'm just a singer in a rock and roll band'

Make it happen - Mariah Carey

'Make it happen' was written and produced by Mariah Carey with David Cole and Robert Clivillés of the C+C Music Factory, and recorded for Carey's second album, 'Emotions' (1991). The song is characterized best as a dance/gospel track with uplifting lyrics like 'If you believe in yourself enough and know what you want, you're going to make it happen.'

After Carey's first five U.S. singles had reached number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, her sixth single 'Can't let go' had peaked at number 2. It was hoped that 'Make it happen' would be a number 1 again, but this time the single got to number 5. It did no better in the UK, where the single stalled at number 17.

My collection: 7" single no. 1623
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, April 18, 1992
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Make it happen' / 'Emotions (Special motion edit)'

Shake your body (down to the ground) - The Jacksons

'Shake your body (down to the ground)' was released as a single from the Jacksons' album 'Destiny' in December 1978. The single version was edited down to almost four minutes from the original eight minute album version. The single reached number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 3 in the Dutch Top 40.

Performed during the Michael Jackson 30th Anniversary concert at Madison Square Garden in September 2001, it would be the last song performed live by the Jacksons.

My collection: 7" single no. 1576
Found: Record fair, January 25, 1992
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Shake your body (down to the ground)' / 'That's what you get (for being polite)'

Blue emotion - Fiat Lux

Fiat Lux is one of those great unknown synthpop bands from the first half of the Eighties. They had two singles in the lower regions of the UK singles chart, but that was about it for them. I featured their singles on this blog last year, but I'm glad to say that I also own the 12" versions of most of them too.

'Blue emotion' is a particularly good 12" single, as it features extended versions of both the A-side and the B-side. When you listen to 'Blue emotion', you could easily mistake the band for Ultravox, as it's got these creepy synth sounds that wouldn't sound out of place on the classic album 'Vienna'.

My collection: 12" single no. 246
Found: 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Blue emotion (extended version)' / 'Sleepless nightmare (extended version)'

Take me down - Clouseau

'Take me down' was written by Kris Wauters from the band Clouseau with Nick Barron. It was released as the second single from their second international album 'In every small town'.

Although I consider this album to be the band's best work, most people did not agree: the single flopped and the album was to be Clouseau's last work in the English language.

My collection: 7" single no. 2070
Found: February 19, 1994
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Take me down' / 'Take me down (instrumental)'

Mama - Genesis

'Mama' was written and recorded by Genesis on their 1983 album 'Genesis'. Phil Collins commented at the time: 'Our manager, when he first heard it, thought it was about abortion, the kind of feeling of the foetus saying to the mother 'Please give me a chance, can't you feel my heart, don't take away my last chance'. All those lyrics are in the song but in fact what it is, is just about a young teenager that's got a mother fixation with a prostitute that he's just happened to have met in passing and he has such a strong feeling for her and doesn't understand why she isn't interested in him.'

Most people remember the song for Phil Collins' sinister laugh halfway through. Producer Hugh Padgham revealed that the inspiration for the laugh came from rap music pioneer Grandmaster Flash's song 'The Message'. The single reached number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 7 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 213
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1983
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Mama' / 'It's gonna get better'

1999 / Little red corvette - Prince

'1999' was recorded by Prince on his 1982 album of the same name. Prince shares lead vocals on the track with members of his band The Revolution, namely Dez Dickerson, Lisa Coleman and Jill Jones. Originally conceived to be a three-part harmony, it was later decided to separate out the voices that started each verse. It was released as a single in the same year, launching Prince to superstardom along the way.

On New Year's Eve 1999, Prince (his stage name at that time still being an unpronounceable symbol) held a concert entitled 'Rave un2 the year 2000' at his Paisley Park Studios Soundstage, and he later vowed never to play it again. However, in August 2007, as part of his Earth Tour, he reintroduced the song to his set after an absence of eight years.

My collection: 7" single no. 2908
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 31, 1997
Cost: 50p
Tracks: '1999' / 'Little red corvette'

How many lies - Spandau Ballet

'How many lies' was released in early 1987 as the third and final single from Spandau Ballet's 1986 album 'Through the barricades'. The single featured a live version of 'Communication', recorded at the NEC in Birmingham on the B-side.

The single reached number 34 in the UK singles chart and number 25 in the Dutch Top 40. While the band was traditionally also successful in Australia and Germany, 'How many lies' did not chart in these countries.

My collection: 7" single no. 2603
Found: Record fair, January 27, 1996
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'How many lies?' / 'Communication (live)'

Bailemos un vals - José Vélez

José Vélez was born as José Velásquez Jiménez, November 15, 1951 in Telde, Gran Canaria. He started his career in music in the late Sixties as a member of the Grupo Marabilla. He started a solo career after the group dissolved.

He represented Spain during the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Bailmos un vals' ('Let's dance a Waltz'). The song was written by Manuel de la Calva and Ramón Arcusa, the team beind Massiel's winning entry in the 1968 Contest, 'La la la'. It ended up ninth in a field of 20 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 4403
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Bailemos un vals' / 'Por que te fuiste 'pa'?'

Ik ben de man - Raymond van het Groenewoud

I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, but in hindsight I wonder if it was really a good idea to accept this single into my collection: I never played it besides the time I got it and now for this blog. 'Ik ben de man' ('I am the man') by Belgian single Raymond van het Groenewoud is a nice song, but it's nothing remarkable.

I got it from the shop owner at the shop where I went to get my weekly chart singles back in 1990. It was probably the only way for him to get rid of these singles, as they didn't sell at all. Six months later, Van het Groenewoud would have his first and only number 1 hit in the Netherlands with 'Liefde voor muziek' ('Love for music').

My collection: 7" single no. 1271
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, July 28, 1990
Cost: -
Tracks: 'Ik ben de man' / 'Geen boodschap'

Red letter day - China Crisis

I don't know if Valentine's day qualifies as a red letter day, but it's Sunday today, so what the heck. Here's a special song for the occasion: China Crisis's 'Red letter day'. It was released as the second single from their 1989 album 'Diary of a hollow horse'. A special treat on this single is the acoustic version of the title track of that album, as it's been so beautifully done. I actually like the acoustic version better than the original version.

The single was not a hit in the UK, despite its special packaging: the single was housed in a special outer sleeve: a red envelope.

My collection: 7" single no. 995
Found: HMV, London, October 16, 1989
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Red letter day' / 'Diary of a hollow horse (acoustic)'

Love take over - Five Star

I don't think anyone remembers the band The Limit. They had a hit in 1985 with the track 'Say yeah'. (And no, I don't have it either.) The Limit consisted of Rob van Schaik and Bernard Oates, and they also wrote 'Love take over' for Five Star.

'Love take over' was released as the fifth single from Five Star's debut album 'Luxury of life'. It reached number 25 in the UK singles chart and number 27 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2409
Found: Record fair, 1994
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Love take over' / 'Keep in touch'

For your babies - Simply Red

In 1991, Simply Red released the album 'Stars'. It was arguably one of their best selling albums, also yielding five singles. The third single was 'For your babies', a midtempo track written and composed by Mick Hucknall.

The single reached number 9 in the UK singles chart and number 11 in Ireland. It did not chart in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 1582
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, February 10, 1992
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'For your babies' / 'For your babies (Edition Français)'

The good times - José

José had two solo hits under her belt (with 'I will follow him' and 'Secret love') when she released her fourth solo single 'The good times'. It was a new track, composed by Piet Souer, with a lot of the trademarks of the two previous singles: a bright production, an upbeat sound and a recognisable melody.

However, it was not a cover version and it seemed like José could only have a hit with cover versions: 'The good times' did not chart in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 168
Found: Studio Echo, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'The good times' / 'Say no more'

Wrapped around your finger - The Police

The Police created an impressive music video for 'Wrapped around your finger'. They performed the song in a candle-lit room, interspersed with scenes of Sting running among several tall candlesticks carefully arranged in a sort of maze. The video suited the song very well.

'Wrapped around your finger' is a tale of an apprentice who seeks esoteric wisdom under the tutelage of an erotic teacher, eventually superseding the mentor to become the master. Like other Police songs from this period, it features mythological and literary references, notably to the Scylla and Charybdis monsters of Greek mythology, and the German legend of Faust. The single reached number 7 in the UK singles chart, number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 17 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 495
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Wrapped around your finger' / 'Someone to talk to'