The lover in me - Sheena Easton

Under the wings of Prince, Sheena Easton reinvented herself as a sex bomb in the mid-Eighties. This image proved to be successful mostly in the United States, but sometimes her singles would have some chart success in Europe as well.

'The lover in me' was released in 1988 as the first single from Easton's album of the same name. Produced by LA & Babyface, it was one of her biggest hits in the USA and her first top 20 hit in the UK after eight years, peaking at number 15. In the Dutch Top 40, the single peaked at number 12.

My collection: 7" single no. 775
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, March 23, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'The lover in me' / 'The lover in me (instrumental)'

Anne - Clouseau

The Belgian group Clouseau participated in the 1991 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Geef het op', but they also tried to get on the international Eurovision stage in 1989. Their song 'Anne' was one of the candidates at the 1989 national final in Belgium, but lost in the end to Ingeborg's 'Door de wind'.

In Belgium, the single 'Anne' still managed to become a big hit. The group found themselves in a wave of popularity that would last for at least three years.

'Anne' was re-released in 1990 in a limited edition with a different B-side. I had the re-release first, but when I came across a copy of the original release I couldn't resist buying that one as well. The B-side of that one is a great acapella track.

My collection: 7" single no. 1532 / no. 2845
Found: Bruxelles, October 11, 1991 / Record fair, April 5, 1997
Cost: 100 Belgian Francs / 2 guilders
Tracks (no. 1532): 'Anne' / 'Mary-Lou'
Tracks (no. 2845): 'Anne' / 'Killertip (ze zit)'

Little 15 - Depeche Mode

'Little 15' barely made it onto the album 'Music for the masses' and was never intended to become a single. However, the French record label insisted they release it, and so it still happened. Copies of the single did make it to the UK on import, however, giving the band a minor chart placing, as it peaked at number 60. In Germany, the single was a bigger hit, peaking at number 16, in Austria it reached number 25 and in Switzerland it peaked at number 18.

The B-side is a beautiful instrumental performed by Alan Wilder entitled 'Stjärna' (mislabelled 'Stjarna'), which is Swedish for 'star', written by Martin Gore.

My collection: 7" single no. 642
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, July 23, 1988
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Little 15' / 'Stjarna'

Un canto a Galicia - Julio Iglesias

Julio Iglesias was well known in his native Spain, but even his 1970 Eurovision entry 'Gwendolyn' didn't make him the international star he would become later on.

His first international success was the single 'Un canto a Galicia', released in the summer of 1972. That single sold 1 million copies in Germany and reached number 1 in the Dutch Top 40. It was the start of an international career that would last well into the Eighties.

My collection: 7" single no. 4628
Found: Markt, Rotterdam, March 9, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Un canto a Galicia' / 'Como el alamo al camino'

Du - Peter Maffay

Peter Maffay was born on August 30, 1949 in the Romanian town of Brasov as Peter Alexander Makkay. He was the son of a German mother and Hungarian father. In 1963, he joined his first band, The Dukes. After completing his education and working for Chemigraphics, an art manufacturer, Maffay worked in clubs, where he distributed his music.

Peter Maffay's solo career started with the publication of his first single, 'Du' ('You'). It was the biggest German hit in 1970 and brought Maffay instant fame.The single also charted outside of Germany: in the Netherlands, the single was a number 1 hit for five weeks in March 1971.

My collection: 7" single no. 4627
Found: Markt, Rotterdam, March 9, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Du' / 'Jeder Junge braucht ein Mädchen'

Don't leave me this way - Communards

'Don't leave me this way' first charted in 1975 when it was recorded by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. A year later, a cover version by Thelma Houston hit the international charts.

The Communards decided to record another cover version in 1986. It was a very Hi-NRG version, featuring guest vocals by Sarah Jane Morris. The single topped the UK singles chart for four weeks in September 1986 and stayed at number 1 for five weeks in the Dutch Top 40. Several remixes were issued, notably the 'Son of Gotham City Mix' which was split across two sides of a 12" single and ran for a total of 22 minutes 55 seconds.

My collection: 7" single no. 4626
Found: Markt, Rotterdam, March 9, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Don't leave me this way' / 'Sanctified'

On every street - Dire Straits

'On every street' was released in early 1992 as the third single of Dire Straits' sixth and final studio album from 1991. I wasn't too wild about the two earlier singles 'Calling Elvis' and 'Heavy fuel', but this single seemed to be a return to the atmospheric tracks like 'Private investigations' and 'Brothers in arms'.

No promotional video was made for the song, and the B-side was an old track, from the band's 1980 album 'Making movies'. The single stalled at number 42 in the UK singles chart as a result.

My collection: 7" single no. 1590
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, February 29, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'On every street' / 'Romeo & Juliet'

Niet meer nodig - Sietze Dolstra

These days I'm not too wild about Dutch language music, but as a child that was difference. I guess the main attraction was that I could understand what people were singing, but I also guess that the music was a bit better back then.

There's a lot of drama in Sietze Dolstra's 'Niet meer nodig' ('Not needed anymore'): it's the story of a woman who is married to a trucker who is always away from home, a son that grows up and leaves her alone - and when she reaches out to the church because she doesn't feel so well, she gets an answering machine on the line. All this is set to a beautiful melody, as you can hear even if you don't understand Dutch.

My collection: 7" single no. 57
Found: Rapsody, Den Haag, 1980
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Niet meer nodig' / 'Liedje van verlangen'

Can't wait another minute - Five Star

'Can't wait another minute' was originally recorded by Lewis and covered by Five Star on their 1986 album 'Silk and steel'. It was released as the first single from that album.

The single reached number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 41 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, but did not chart in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 1794
Found: All that music, Leiden, November 25, 1992
Cost: 2,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Can't wait another minute' / 'Don't you know I love it'

All over the world - Electric Light Orchestra

'All over the world' is taken from the soundtrack of the movie 'Xanadu' (1980) featuring Olivia Newton-John, Gene Kelly, and Michael Beck. The song also appears on the soundtrack album and was released as the second single from that album in 1980.

he single reached number 13 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 11 in the Dutch Top 40 and also number 11 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2817
Found: February 1, 1997
Cost: unknown
Tracks: 'All over the world' / 'Midnight blue'

Sara - Circus Custers / Achter de wolken schijnt de zon - Johan Verminnen

When the men from the Dutch group Het Goede Doel decided to record an album with different Dutch and Belgian artists, choosing a different artist for every track, deciding the best single from that album wasn't a very easy task.

The record company finally decided to release two tracks from the album on two one-sided singles in one bundle. As luck would have it, the two songs were exact counterparts of one another: 'Sara' is a sad tale of two people having a baby which turns out to have Down syndrome, whereas 'Achter de wolken schijnt de zon' ('Every cloud has a silver lining') is an optimistic tale of people who don't let themselves be brought down by life's negative twists and turns. The package did not become a hit, however.

My collection: 7" single no. 694
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, December 3, 1988
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Sara' (Circus Custers) // 'Achter de wolken schijnt de zon' (Johan Verminnen)

Come along - Duo Datz

Duo Datz consists of Orna and Moshe Datz. They are best known in Israel for their middle of the road type music and their series of children's dvd's.

In 1991, they represented Israel with the song 'Kan'. They finished third in a field of 22 competitors. This single features both the original and the English version of the song.

My collection: 7" single no. 1490
Found: Den Haag, July 7, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Come along' / 'Kan'

L'amour de ma vie - Sherisse Laurence

Sherisse Stevens was born as Sherisse Laurence in Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada. From 1978 to 1983 she hosted the show 'Circus' on CTV in Canada.

In 1986 she was chosen to represent Luxembourg at the Eurovision Song Contest. Her song 'L'amour de ma vie' ('The love of my life'), performed first on the night, was written by Frank Dostal and Alain Garcia and composed by Rolf Soja. The song finished third with 117 points.

My collection: 7" single no. 4391
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'L'amour de ma vie' / 'The love of my life'

Hold me - Fleetwood Mac

In 1989, the record company shied away from releasing 'No questions asked', one of two new tracks on Fleetwood Mac's 1988 'Greatest Hits' album. Instead, they put it on the B-side of a re-release of the song 'Hold me', which was originally a hit in 1982. Written by Christine McVie and Robbie Patton, it became one of Fleetwood Mac's biggest hits in the USA. Released in July 1982, it peaked at number 4 for seven weeks.

The 1989 re-release was not quite as successful. It reached number 94 in the UK singles chart and number 29 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 806
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, April 28, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Hold me' / 'No questions asked'

Nous on veut des violons - Morgane

Morgane was born as Ingrid Simonis in Blegny, Belgium on August 23, 1975. In 1992, she was selected to represent Belgium during the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Nous on veut des violons' ('We want violins'). It proved to be an unsuccessful entry, finishing 20th in a field of 23 competitors.

Morgane released several more records after the contest, but after a few years he gave up her own career to become the mother of three children. In 2009, she relaunched her career, now performing rock/gothic-influenced music.

My collection: 7" single no. 4393
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Nous on veut des violons' / 'Nous on veut des violons (instrumental)'

I'll set you free - The Bangles

'I'll set you free' was released as the fourth and final single from the Bangles' 1988 album 'Everything'. The track was remixed by Bernard Edwards, making it 24 seconds longer than the album version and featuring a vocal introduction by Susanna Hoffs.

Although the three previous singles were a big success, this single stalled at number 74 in the UK singles chart. It was also a minor hit in Australia, reaching number 81. No promotional film was made for the single, as the band had all but broken up.

My collection: 7" single no. 993
Found: HMV, London, October 16, 1989
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'I'll set you free (remix)' / 'Watching the sky'

I'm not satisfied - Fine Young Cannibals

Although I have the limited edition singles in a tin can from all four previous single releases from Fine Young Cannibals' 1989 album 'The raw and the cooked' (1989) - 'She drives me crazy', 'Good thing', 'Don't look back' and 'I'm not the man I used to be' - I have not been able to locate the fifth one. It's not even offered on eBay or similar websites these days. It's a frustration, but I do have the 'normal' single.

Written by lead vocalist Roland Gift and bassist David Steele, 'I'm Not Satisfied' depicts a man who criticizes the weekends for being too short, his girlfriend for being too possessive, and the city for being too depressing. This fifth single release from 'The raw and the cooked' (1989) reached number 46 in the UK singles chart, number 83 in Canada and number 90 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1193
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, March 9, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'I'm not satisfied' / 'I'm not satisfied (The Nicci edit)'

Looking at midnight - Imagination

'Looking at midnight' was released in May 1983, while Imagination were very much a part of the chart scene. Produced and co-written by Steve Jolley and Tony Swain, the single followed a formula that had become familiar for the band: falsetto vocals and swirling synth sounds.

The single reached number 29 in the UK singles chart, but was the first after a long line of single releases to not chart in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 3176
Found: February 19, 2000
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Looking at midnight' / 'Follow me'

No son of mine - Genesis

'No son of mine' was released as the first single from Genesis' 1991 album 'We can't dance'. The lyric tells the story of a boy who runs away from his abusive home, and - after some reconsideration - attempts to return, only to be rebuked by his father. In interviews, Phil Collins has said that the lyrics are deliberately vague as to whether the narrator or his mother is the victim of the abuse.

The track is notable for a distinctive sound heard during the intro and before the second verse. Referred to by the band as 'elephantus', the sound was created by Tony Banks recording Mike Rutherford's guitar with a sampler and then playing three notes on the bottom register of the keyboard, greatly lowering the pitch. The single relaunched Genesis' career after four years absence from the charts, peaking at number 6 in the UK singles chart and number 8 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1547
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, November 2, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'No son of mine' / 'Living forever'

Over de muur - Klein orkest

'Over de muur' ('Over the wall') can be considered an Eighties classic in Dutch pop music. It was recorded by Klein orkest in 1984, at the height of the cold war. The song bemoaned the existance of the wall in Berlin and the strange differences between the two sides of the city: the stern greyness of communism on one side, exorbitant behaviour of capitalism on the other side. 'Only the bird flying from west to east Berlin are not called back and not shot down'.

The single reached number 10 in the Dutch Top 40 in the summer of 1984. When the record company released a greatest hits compilation of the band in 1989, the single was re-released. Even now the wall had come down, the single was again a hit, peaking at number 25 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1129
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, December 8, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Over de muur' / 'Achter elke deur'