Shock the monkey - Peter Gabriel

I first heard Peter Gabriel's 'Shock the monkey' as part of a compilation album for Greenpeace, released in the mid-Eighties. That compilation was remarkable for its inclusion of Kate Bush's 'Breathing' - the single version no less.

I never actually knew 'Shock the monkey' was released as a single, but that's mostly because it was not a hit in the Netherlands. Released in September 1982, it reached number 58 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4728
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Shock the monkey' / 'Soft dog (instrumental)'

Spirit, body and soul - The Nolan Sisters

In 1979, the Nolan Sisters participated in the UK national final for the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Harry my Honolulu lover'. It was considered a favourite before the final took place, but in the end it came fourth, with Black Lace going on to represent the UK.

The group was picked up by Epic Records and the song was released as their first single for the label. It failed to chart. The follow-up 'Spirit, body & soul' was released in October 1979 and was ore successful: it peaked at number 34 .

My collection: 7" single no. 4640
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Spirit, body & soul' / 'More to love'

Can't get it out of my head - Electric Light Orchestra

First released on Electric Light Orchestra's fourth album 'Eldorado' in July 1974, 'Can't get it out of my head' was relased as a single in November 1974.

It became the band's first top ten single in the US, reaching number 9. It also reached number 19 in the Dutch Top 40. Amazingly, both the single and LP failed to chart in the UK. In 1978 the song was included on a four-track ELO EP that was released in the UK only, which reached number 34 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4692
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Can't get it out of my head' / 'Illusions in G Major'

Love will tear us apart - Paul Young

'Love will tear us apart' was originally recorded by the British band Joy Division in 1979. The lyric ostensibly reflect the problems in frontman Ian Curtis's marriage to Deborah Curtis, as well as his general frame of mind in the time leading up to his suicide in May 1980. Deborah Curtis had the phrase 'Love will tear us apart' inscribed on Ian Curtis's memorial stone.

Paul Young took on the task of recording a cover version of the song on his 1983 debut solo album 'No parlez'. Although his version lacks the macabre undertones of the Joy Division version, it's still a reasonably good effort. The track was released as a single in the Netherlands only, reaching number 25 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4672
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Love will tear us apart' / 'One step forward'

She was naked - Supersister

Supersister was formed in Den Haag, Netherlands in 1970 by Robert Jan Stips, Sacha van Geest, Marco Vrolijk and Ron van Eck. They made a name for themselves with progressive rock and made their debut with the album 'Present from Nancy'.

Their single 'She was naked' was a hit in the early summer of 1970, peaking at number 11 in the Dutch Top 40. The B-side, 'Spiral staircase' is really interesting for its weird lyric.

My collection: 7" single no. 4695
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'She was naked' / 'Spiral staircase'

All summer long - Chris Rea

'All summer long' was released as a single from Chris Rea's commercially and critically acclaimed album 'Shamrock Diaries' (1985). The album reached number one in several countries including Germany and The Netherlands.

While this single did not reach the UK singles chart, it did reach number 35 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4681
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'All summer long' / 'Dancing shoes'

Bodega Bay - Ruby Carmichael

The man on this photograph is hard to recognise - even for his fans. It's Henny Vrienten, who became the frontman of Doe Maar, a band that was seriously popular in the first half of the Eighties in the Netherlands.

He started his career in the bands Les Cruches and Sweet William in 1970. After this, he recorded singles and albums, using the names Paul Santos and Ruby Carmichael. 'Bodega Bay' was released in 1976 as the second and last single by Ruby Carmichael. I actually owned the single once before, between 1978 and 1981. Then I either threw it away or swapped it for another single with my sister. It was great to find this record again.

My collection: 7" single no. 4686
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Bodega Bay' / 'If I knew'

Life on mars - Wall Street Crash

Twenty years ago, while I was studying, a girl I knew was very interested in David Bowie. Then, one day, she said that she was also looking for records by Wall Street Crash. She asked me - knowing that I was an avid collector of records - to look out for singles and LP's by this band. A week later, I went to Leiden and bought one LP and three singles by Wall Street Crash for her.

One of those singles was this one: a cover of David Bowie's 'Life on Mars'. Needless to say, she was very glad with the find, and especially this single. I played it before I gave it away, and had to admit that this was quite a good cover version. It's amusing that I found the single after such a long time in the very same shop!

My collection: 7" single no. 4671
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Life on Mars' / 'The mountains o'Mourne', 'Shot down'

Born to be sold - Transvision Vamp

'Born to be sold' was released in October 1989 as the ninth single by Transvision Vamp. The single featured two live tracks on the B-side, one of which was a cover version of the Rolling Stones' 'Down on you'.

The single reached number 22 in the UK singles chart, but like most of their singles, it didn't chart in Europe.

My collection: 7" single no. 4661
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Born to be sold' / 'Down on you (live)', 'Last time (live)'

Young 'n' Russian - The Korgis

AlthoughI bought a copy of the Korgis' debut single 'Young 'n' Russian' a few months ago, I bought another one last week. The reason for that was the attractive sleeve and the fact that it had a different B-side.

This copy was made in the United Kingdom, whereas the one I had was made in France. I already have an obsession for UK copies of singles, and when they have different B-sides, that doesn't help much to restrain me, of course...

My collection: 7" single no. 4634
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Young 'n' Russian' / 'Mount Everest sings the blues'

And she was - Talking Heads

'And she was' was a track on the 1985 Talking Heads album 'Little creatures'. The song was written by David Byrne. According to him, the song was written about a girl he knew who used to take LSD in a field next to a Yoo-hoo beverage factory in Baltimore, Maryland.

The single reached number 54 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 17 in the UK singles chart. It was the band's last hit single in the Netherlands, peaking at number 25.

My collection: 7" single no. 4666
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'And she was' / 'Perfect world'

Crime passionel - Frank Boeijen Groep

When I was 14 years old, I'd never heard of the expression 'Crime passionel', the Dutch expression for a crime of passion. No wonder: it's borrowed from French and at the time I always had bad grades for French. It was also the title of the new single by the Dutch band Frank Boeijen Groep, released in January 1985.

Guitarist Wil Theunissen had left the group, and his place was taken by Maarten Peters. 'Crime passionel' was the first single from the band's fifth album 'Foto van een mooie dag' ('Photograph of a beautiful day'), which would be released a few months later. The single didn't chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 287
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Crime passionel' / 'De kooi'

Beat the beat - Mari Wilson

Released in February 1982, 'Beat the beat' was the first single by Mari Wilson to reach the UK singles chart. It peaked at number 59, which was not a very impressive placing, but it was only a taster of the bigger success to come.

The single was packaged in a Fifties style sleeve with a short blurb by Rex Luxore from Mari's record company, The Compact Organization. According to him, the 'lilting tune is courted by Mari with all the loving care with which a great ballerina perfects a dancing step.'

My collection: 7" single no. 4674
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Beat the beat' / 'Glamourpuss'

I'll be over you - Toto

I first heard 'I'll be over you' as a bonus track on Toto's cd-single 'Stop loving you', released in 1987. It was years later until I found out that it was actually a track on their 1986 album 'Fahrenheit', and released as a single in its own right.

'I'll be over you' reached number 31 in the Dutch Top 40, but failed to chart in other territories. It features backing vocals by Michael McDonald - a very recognisable voice.

My collection: 7" single no. 4665
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I'll be over you' / 'In a word'

Who do you think you're foolin' - Donna Summer

Donna Summer released her first album for Geffen Records in 1980. Entitled 'The wanderer', it was something of a departure as it sounded more like a rock/new wave album compared to her previous disco output.

With the single 'Who do you think you're foolin'?', Donna Summer attempted to reach the same audience as contemporaries like Blondie and Pat Benatar. Unfortunately, it wasn't successful, as the single only managed to reach number 40 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In other territories, the single flopped.

My collection: 7" single no. 4667
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Who do you think you're foolin'' / 'Running for cover'

Dirty ol' man - Three Degrees

This year, the self-titled debut album by the Three Degrees will finally be released on cd. The UK label Big Break Records has taken up the project, releasing an album that originally saw the light of day in 1973 on the Philadelphia International label.

The album spawned three hits, the first of them being 'Dirty ol' man'. This single reached number 1 in the Dutch Top 40 and was awarded a gold record in both Belgium and the Netherlands. The other two hits were 'Year of decision' and 'When will I see you again'. Hearing the whole album should be interesting.

My collection: 7" single no. 4663
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Dirty ol' man' / 'Can't you see what you're doing to me'

Habadaba riwikidi - Urban Heroes

In 1981, the Dutch band Urban Heroes record and release their second album: 'The age of Urban Heroes'. The track 'Habadaba riwikidi' is released as a single and reaches number 21 in the Dutch Top 40. It remains their biggest hit.

That same year, they released a live album, produced by Rinus Gerritsen from the Golden Earring.

My collection: 7" single no. 4662
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Habadaba riwikidi' / 'Chips'

Night owl - Gerry Rafferty

In 1979, Gerry Rafferty had to come up with a follow-up to his very successful debut solo album 'City to city' (1978), which featured his best known hit 'Baker Street'. The result was 'Night owl', released in June 1979.

The title track was released as a single ahead of the album. In the UK singles chart, the single reached number 5, becoming Rafferty's second and last top 10 hit. In Europe, however, the single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4658
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Night owl' / 'Why won't you talk to me'

Man to man - Hot Chocolate

Hot Chocolate's 1976 single 'Man to man' was remarkable for its lyric: it's about a man who confronts the new lover of his wife and mother of their two children, asking him to 'love her' and 'love our children too'. It's a remarkable thing to do, especially for men at that time.

The single managed to reach number 14 in the UK singles chart as the third single from Hot Chocolate's 1975 self-titled album.

My collection: 7" single no. 4651
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Man to man' / 'Eyes of a growing child'

Autostop - Patty Pravo

Patty Pravo was born on April 9, 1948 in Venice, Italy as Nicoletta Strambelli. She studied at the conservatory institute of Benedetto Marcello. At the age of fifteen, she left home to live in London and then Rome where she began her career singing in the Piper Club. In 1966 she made her first single, 'Ragazzo triste' ('Sad Boy'), an Italian version of the song 'But you're mine' by Sonny & Cher.

In 1970 Patty hosted her own programme called 'Bravo Pravo', broadcast on French television, and in 1978 appeared in the highly controversial Italian TV show, Stryx, where she wore provocative clothing which attracted much attention. 'Autostop' was released in 1979 and reached number 13 in the Italian chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4647
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Autostop' / 'New York'