How do you do! - Roxette

With a hit album ('Joyride') under their belt, Roxette toured extensively in 1991 and 1992. During that tour, they decided to record songs on the road, in hotel rooms, studios and throwing in some live recordings as well. The album 'Tourism' (1992) was born, and the first single from that album was 'How do you do!', a typically upbeat Roxette track.

The single reached number 58 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 2 in Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands and number 13 in the UK singles chart. The B-side is a live version of 'Fading like a flower' which was not included on the album.

My collection: 7" single no. 1686
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, July 11, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'How do you do!' / 'Fading like a flower (live)'

Lithium - Nirvana

Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain described 'Lithium' as 'one of those songs I actually did finish while trying to write it instead of taking pieces of my poetry and other things'. He added that the sog is about a man who, after the death of his girlfriend, turns to religion 'as a last resort to keep himself alive. To keep him from suicide. I did infuse some of my personal experiences, like breaking up with girlfriends and having bad relationships'.

The song was originally recorded in April 1990 with Butch Vig producing. It appeared as a track on their debut album 'Nevermind' and released as a single from the album. It reached number 11 in the UK singles chart and number 16 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1695
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, August 15, 1992
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Lithium' / 'Been a son (live)'

Be free with your love - Spandau Ballet

After a hiatus from recording during which Spandau Ballet band members Gary and Martin Kemp established themselves as credible actors in the gangster film 'The Krays', the band released 'Heart like a sky' in September 1989. Although the album was not the commercial success they'd hoped for, several singles were released, with varying degrees of success.

'Be free with your love' was one of the standout tracks from the album, and released as the second single from it. It reached number 42 in the UK singles chart and number 33 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1183
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 3, 1990
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Be free with your love' / 'Be free with your love (Dance mix edit)'

Don't get me wrong - The Pretenders

'Don't get me wrong' was the first single taken from the Pretenders' 1986 album, 'Get close'. This song was more commercial than the band's usual sound, with a jangly guitar sound and a pop melody. However, the lyrics were still as edgy as their earlier material.

The single reached number 10 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and the UK singles chart, while peaking at number 19 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2556
Found: Record fair, November 19, 1995
Cost: 1 guilders
Tracks: 'Don't get me wrong' / 'Dance!'

Seven tears - Goombay Dance Band

Although decidedly uncool, the Goombay Dance Band were able to have a major hit across Europe in the spring of 1982 with 'Seven tears'. The song was written by Wolff-Ekkehardt Stein and Wolfgang Jass and produced by Jochen Peterson.

The single reached number 4 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 15 in Austria. It also spent three weeks at number 1 in the UK Singles Chart, being only the second time a German act had topped that chart, only six weeks after Kraftwerk had achieved that feat with 'The model'. Incidentally, my copy of the single was made in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 137
Found: 1982
Cost: unknown
Tracks: 'Seven tears' / 'Mama Coco'

Better be good to me - Tina Turner

'Better be good to me' was written by Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman and Holly Knight and originally recorded by Spider, a band from New York City of which Holly Knight was a member.

Tina Turner recorded her version on her comeback album 'Private dancer' in 1984. When it was released as a single, it reached number 5 in the US Billboard Hot 100, chart, number 36 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 45 in the UK singles chart. It is still one of Tina Turner's most popular and recognizable songs.

My collection: 7" single no. 270
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Better be good to me' / 'When I was young'

Texas - Chris Rea

'Texas' was released as the third single from Chris Rea's 1990 album 'The road to hell'. The lyric tells of two people who are tired of the situation around them and are discussing moving to the American state of Texas. As often with Chris Rea, it's hard to tell whether this is a serious lyric or one to be interpreted as tongue-in-cheek.

The single only reached the UK singles chart for one week, at number 69. It has been played on radio stations in Texas, and is sometimes played as background music before Texas Rangers baseball games at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

My collection: 7" single no. 1250
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, June 21, 1990
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Texas' / 'Let's dance (live)'

Adult education - Daryl Hall and John Oates

Daryl Hall and John Oates recorded two new tracks for their 1984 compilation album 'Rock 'n' Soul Part 1'. One of the two tracks was 'Adult education'.

When 'Adult education' was released as a single, it had moderate success in most territories: it peaked at number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 63 in the UK singles chart. However, in the Netherlands it was their biggest hit overall, peaking at number 4.

My collection: 7" single no. 1841
Found: Record fair, January 23, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Adult education' / 'I can't go for that (No can do)'

Sat in your lap - Kate Bush

'Sat in your lap' was a track on Kate Bush's 1982 album 'The dreaming', but released as a single 15 months before the release of that album. The track was later remixed and slightly altered to fit it better with the overall feel of the album. About the lyric, Kate commented: ''Sat inyour lap' is very much a search for knowledge. And about the kind of people who really want to have knowledge but can't be bothered to do the things that they should in order to get it. So they're sitting there saying how nice it would be to have this or to do that without really desiring to do the things it takes you to get it. And also the more you learn the more ignorant you realize you are and that you get over one wall to find an even bigger one.'

The single reached number 11 in the UK singles chart and number 18 in Ireland. In other territories, 'Sat in your lap' failed to become a hit.

My collection: 7" single no. 427
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 29, 1986
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Sat in your lap' / 'The lord of the reedy river'

Suicide blonde - INXS

'Suicide blonde' was written by Michael Hutchence and Andrew Farriss of the group INXS, after the band had gotten back together after a year-long sabbatical during 1989. The track was named after a woman who had bleached her own hair because she had 'dyed' by her own hand and who was 'love devastation'.

The music showed some new influences: Jon Farriss' drums sounded similar to the dance music rhythms at the time, especially the acid house sounds popular in the UK. Similarly, the blues harp intro on the track, performed by Charlie Musselwhite, was sampled rather than recorded live.

My collection: 7" single no. 1846
Found: January 23, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Suicide blonde' / 'Everybody wants u tonight'

I'm so excited - Pointer Sisters

The Pointer Sisters originally released 'I'm so excited' on their 1982 album 'So excited!'. The track was remixed for a single release in 1984. It reached number 9 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 18 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 11 in the UK singles chart.

In the music video, the sisters acted as if they were getting ready for a night out. Anita is shown dressing up and putting on makeup, Ruth in a nightgown seductively and playfully getting dressed on her bed, and June taking a bubble bath. The video created a minor controversy in America because of a shot where June gets out of the tub. Although the towel she has is covering her stomach, it doesn't prevent June from showing a little 'too much' of her lower body. The shot was edited in slow-motion for later broadcasts.

My collection: 7" single no. 623
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 26, 1988
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'I'm so excited' / 'Dance electric'

When the rain begins to fall - Jermaine Jackson and Pia Zadora

The Israeli millionaire Meshulam Riklis is widely credited for launching (or buying) Pia Zadora's career as a celebrity. He married her in 1977, and shortly after that she made her debut as the Dubonnet Girl, appearing in print and television commercials for the apéritif distributed by a company he owned.

He then financed the movies 'Butterfly' and 'Voyage of the rock aliens', in which Zadora had a starring role. 'When the rain begins to fall' was a duet of Zadora with Jermaine Jackson, recorded for the latter movie. The song was a big success in Europe, most of all the Netherlands where it reached number 1 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 611
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 7, 1988
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'When the rain begins to fall' / 'Substitute'

Sad man - Renée

'Sad man' was released as the third single from Renée's 1980 album 'Reaching for the sky'. The single was promoted for a couple of weeks, but then the record company's attention went towards the Stars on 45 project, which eventually became an international hit.

'Sad man', meanwhile, suffered. Although 10.000 copies of the single were apparently sold, it did not land in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3285
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Sad man' / 'Reaching for the sky'

Take the long way home (live) - Supertramp

Roger Hodgson commented in 1990: ''Take The Long Way Home' has a quality about it that just makes me feel warm inside. I don't know if it's the harmonies or the melodies, or whatever, but I never get sick of it. I always saw the song a little ambiguous. It's on two levels. I see 'home' as being internal and external. It's kind of a play on words. Definitely part of the song is about the shallowness of success and getting caught up in a world and success and chasing, being popular, or whatever, is taking 'the long way home'. Because I think 'home' in its deepest sense is inside, is being at peace with oneself.'

Originally released on the album 'Breakfast in America' in 1979, a live version was recorded on the album 'Paris' a year later and released as a single. This single was not a commercial success, but it's a good version nonetheless.

My collection: 7" single no. 2794
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 14, 1996
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Take the long way home (live)' / 'From now on (live)'

You know I love you... don't you? - Howard Jones

This limited edition double single is a bit of a weird one, as the second disc only has one side. And so this whole double single edition is made for just one track extra. To make things even stranger: another orchestral track, a version of 'Hungry for the flesh' was recorded at the same time as 'Hide and seek', but both tracks would only be released on the 12" single of the next single, 'A little bit of snow'.

'You know I love you... don't you?' was released as the second single from Howard Jones's third album 'One to one' in November 1986. It was his first single not to reach the UK top 40, stalling at number 43. In the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, however, the single reached number 17.

My collection: 7" single no. 490
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 15 guilders
Tracks: 'You know I love you... don't you?' / 'Dig this well deep' // 'Hide and seek (Orchestral version)'

London town - Bucks Fizz

Written by Andy Hill, the lyric of 'London town' tells of someone who is finding it difficult to adjust to life in a big city but is determined to stay. Lead vocals on the track were performed by member Bobby G, although he was unhappy with the way his vocals were mixed, giving them a distorted quality, claiming that he 'sounded like a munchkin'.

Released in September 1983, this was the Bucks Fizz's tenth single. It was the first of their singles not to reach the top 20 in the UK. It peaked at number 34 during a six week chart run.

My collection: 7" single no. 1667
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, June 20, 1992
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'London town' / 'Identity'

Stripped - Depeche Mode

'Stripped' was the first single from Depeche Mode's 1986 album 'Black celebration'. It was the first time that the band presented their gloomier side, a side they would explore more on later albums. The track was laden with samples: the underlying beat is a distorted and slowed-down sound of a motorcycle engine running, while the main melody begins with a car's ignition starting, and the end uses sounds of fireworks. The single peaked at number 15 in the UK singles chart.

In the USA, the B-side 'But not tonight' was preferred. The single was flipped, which did not please the band, because they saw the track as a useless poppy track they recorded in less than a day. To make matters worse, 'But not tonight' did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1328
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1990
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Stripped' / 'But not tonight'

Time to say goodbye - Arabesque

Although Arabesque broke up in 1984 when Sandra wanted to pursue a solo career, Jasmin and Michaela continued as Rouge, soldiering on for the remainder of the Eighties.

Meanwhile, the song 'Time to say goodbye' was released as a single and a 12" single by Arabeque in 1985. It was not a commercial success, but fans of the group may have been very happy to get this 'posthumous' release.

My collection: 12" single no. 331
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 1999
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Time to say goodbye (extended)' / 'Time to say goodbye', 'Stop crying for the moon'

Cradle of love - Billy Idol

'Cradle of love' is a good example of how a rather unremarkable song is brought to attention by an imaginative music video. The video was played often on MTV at the time, and since the video makes you want to watch things go wrong again and again, the song sticks in your mind. Not a surprise, then, that I ended up buying the single.

Billy Idol released 'Cradle of love' in April 1990. The single reached number 34 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1340
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1990
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Cradle of love' / '311 man'

Bailar pegados - Sergio Dalma

Sergio Dalma was born as Josep Sergi Capdevila Querol on September 28, 1964 in Sabadell, Spain. He started his career singing in bands and as backing vocalist, until he won the talent show 'Gent d'aqui'. His debut album 'Esa chica es mia' in 1989. Although the album was not very successful, Dalma was chosen to represent Spain during the 1991 Eurovision Song Contest.

'Bailar pegados' was a dramatic ballad that was tipped to win before the Contest took place. In the end, his song finished fourth out of 22 competitors. Dalma continues to be a successful artist in Spain, having had a number 1 album in 2008.

My collection: 7" single no. 4566
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received February 16, 2010
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Bailar pegados' / 'Amor descafeinado'