Jerusalem - Alphaville

In 1992, Alphaville member Ricky Echollette commented about 'Jerusalem': 'One day we were given the sketch for a theatre play, for which we were supposed to write the soundtrack. It's the story of a man, who at night convinces lonely passers-by on Brooklyn Bridge to commit suicide. He offers them as human sacrifices for his lover, who, years ago - because of him - committed suicide at the same location. In his frenzy he turns her into Eris, the Goddess of Revenge. Due to time problems, we were unable to pursue this project. But it was in that time, that 'Jerusalem' came to life.'

The song was included on Alphaville's second album 'Afternoons in Utopia', which was released in 1986. 'Jerusalem' was released as a single in Germany only, reaching number 57 in the charts.

My collection: 7" single no. 4715
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Jerusalem' / 'Vingt mille lieues sous les mers'

Als er iemand is, die op je wacht - Annie

Those who read my previous entry on Annie's 'Mishandeld, vernederd, verkracht' already know that one could expect only the very worst in the lyrics of this Dutch artist. Which is why at some point I actually started collecting her singles. Several titles will follow on this blog, but this single is a strange one, as it seems particularly innocent.

The A-side, 'Als er iemand is, die op je wacht' ('If there's someone waiting for you') describes the joy of having a relationship - and sharing all the good and bad things in life. The B-side, 'Oma is jarig' ('Grandma's birthday') describes a birthday party of a woman whose children and grandchildren will come to visit. Especially on the B-side, there's still an air of impending doom. You half expect Grandma to die at the end of the song - but strangely, it doesn't happen. Maybe it was an effort to make something more commercially appealing. Of course, it didn't work: like all of Annie's other singles, this one didn't chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2871
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 16, 1995
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Als er iemand is, die op je wacht' / 'Oma is jarig'

If you can't give me love - Suzi Quatro

After having had several successes in the early Seventies with her particular brand of glam rock tracks, Suzi Quatro had a hard time finding any success after 1974. She still released records, but they all failed to chart. In the mean time, she worked as a session musician.

'If you can't give me love' was the single that changed her fortunes. It reached number 4 both in the UK singles chart and in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4711
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'If you can't give me love' / 'Cream dream'

All this time - Sting

Sting commented about 'All this time': 'It's about the death of my father, so its pretty dark as a record but on this song the words are foiled by this fairly jolly tune. That's something I like to do quite a lot, combine dark subject matter with upbeat music. No, its not based on a dream. The lyrics seem surreal, but they are all images I remembered from my home town: ferries, priests, shire horses. I grew up by the shipyards. I just wanted to escape. I suppose it was quite a surreal place, though. It is the landscape of my dreams.'

The song was released as the first single from Sting's 1991 album 'The soul cages'. It was most successful in Canada, where it reached number 1. In the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, 'All this time' peaked at number 5, whereas it reached number 13 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 22 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4707
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'All this time' / 'I miss you Kate (instrumental)'

Tied up - Olivia Newton-John

'Tied up' was one of two new songs recorded for the 1982 compilation album called 'Olivia's Greatest Hits Volume 2'. The song was the second single released from the album, following 'Heart attack', the other new track recorded for the package.

The song features Tom Scott on horns. He was also the opening act for Olivia's 1982 'Physical' world tour.The single reached number 38 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4697
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Tied up' / 'Physical (live)'

Don't be foolish - Peter Marsh and Vangelis

Peter Marsh started out in the British music scene together with his brother-in-law, Ken Nicol. First as Nicol and Marsh, but later changing names to Easy Street, they released three albums together. After that Peter mainly played with short-lived bands and projects such as Twist (1979) and Mannfred Mann's band Chance (1980).

In 1980 Peter Marsh hung around Nemo Studios for a while, contributing several songs on Vangelis' album 'See you later'. They also recorded this single together: 'Don't be foolish'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4685
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Don't be foolish' / 'Doesn't matter'

I wanna dance - Take it easy

The Dutch band Take it easy thought it was a good idea to record and release two Dutch translations of Eurovision songs in 1987. Why they picked two songs that didn't win, but the numbers 4 and 12 is beyond me.

'I wanna dance' (also known as 'Ja sam za ples') was the Yugoslavian entry by Novi Fosili, which finished fourth in the contest. 'Boogaloo' was originally performed in Swedish by Lotta Engberg, finishing twelfth. The Dutch translations are amusing versions, but nothing very spectacular. Obviously, the single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4397
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I wanna dance' / 'Boogaloo'

Chemistry - The Nolans

The Nolans released the album 'Portrait' in 1982. The album, like its predecessor, was produced by Ben Findon and Nicky Graham separately. Both producers were now giving the songs a heavy disco sound such as 'Don't let it go by' (by Findon) and 'Chemistry' (by Graham).

'Chemistry' was released as a single, which peaked at number 15 in the UK singles chart. Meanwhile, 'Portrait' finished as one of the top 100 selling albums of 1982 in the UK and was certified gold by the BPI.

My collection: 7" single no. 4642
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Chemistry' / 'Are you thinking of me'

A little tenderness - Sheena Easton

'A little tenderness' was released in 1981 as the third single from Sheena Easton's second album 'You could have been with me'. By that time, several singles had been released with almost the same sleeve: compare the one picture here with the ones of 'You could have been with me' and 'Ice out in the rain' and you'll be amazed.

This single did not reach the Dutch Top 40 or the UK singles chart. No further singles were released from the album.

My collection: 7" single no. 4688
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'A little tenderness' / 'Family of one'

Mississippi - Pussycat

With the song 'Mississippi', the band Pussycat reached the Dutch Top 40 for the very first time. And it was a big success, as it peaked at number 1 for four weeks in the Dutch chart in December 1975. The single also spent four weeks at the top of the UK singles chart a year later.

Written by Werner Theunissen and produced by Eddy Hilberts, the lyric of the song is about the history of music, how rock music became more popular than country music.

My collection: 7" single no. 4734
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, March 20, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Mississippi' / 'Do it'

The William Tell Overture - Mike Oldfield

The 'William Tell Overture' is the instrumental introduction to the opera 'William Tell' by Gioachino Rossini. There has been repeated use (and sometimes parody) of this overture in popular media and it is quoted by Dmitri Shostakovich in his Symphony No. 15. William Tell was composed in 1829 and was the last of Rossini's 39 operas.

Mike Oldfield recorded a guitar-based version of the William Tell Overture in 1976. When released as a single, it failed to chart in all territories. It remains one of his lesser known singles.

My collection: 7" single no. 4733
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, March 20, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'William Tell Overture' / 'First excursion'

Sugar - Ruud Bos

The Dutch broadcaster TROS showed the weekly television drama 'De Fabriek' ('The factory') in 1981 and 1982. The sugar factory of the Dutch company CSM was one of the locations where the series was filmed. It became a television hit, with several million viewers every week.

One of the assets of the series was the theme tune, composed by Ruud Bos. Entitled 'Sugar' on this single, it is familiar even to some people who never even saw the series. Still, the single was never a hit in the Netherlands. I still consider this single a rare find.

My collection: 7" single no. 4732
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, March 20, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Sugar' / 'Action'

Barbados - Typically Tropical

Typically Tropical was a British duo comprising Geraint Wyn Hughes and Jeffrey Calvert. They met through Hughes' band Quasar. They recorded the song 'Barbados' in 1974, after Calvert had been on holiday in Barbados and based the song on his experiences. It was recorded with various session musicians, including guitarist Chris Spedding, drummer Clem Cattini, and Vic Flick.

The song was ready for release in November 1974, but the release was stalled by the record company because they thought the song was better suited as a summer hit. They were right: the song reached number 1 in the UK singles chart, also peaking at number 10 in the Dutch Top 40 shortly afterwards. The Dutch Vengaboys made a horrible version of this song in 1999, entitled 'We're going to Ibiza'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4731
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, March 20, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Barbados' / 'Sandy'

Working my way back to you - Spinners

'Working my way back to you' was written by Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell. It was originally recorded by The Four Seasons in 1966, becoming a top 10 hit in the USA, but it was less successful in other territories.

In 1980, The Spinners' medley of "Working my way back to you' and Michael Zager's 'Forgive me girl' topped the UK singles chart for two weeks in April. In the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and in the Dutch Top 40, the single peaked at number 2.

My collection: 7" single no. 4730
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, March 20, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Working my way back to you' / 'Disco ride'

Sweet freedom - Michael McDonald

The soundtrack of the 1986 American movie 'Running scared' featured several wellknown artists. Kim Wilde delivered 'Say you really want me', Patti Labelle sang 'I know what I want' and Michael McDonald performed 'Sweet freedom'.

The former Doobie Brothers member also managed to have a worldwide hit with his song, because it was released as a single. 'Sweet freedom' reached number 12 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4729
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, March 20, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Sweet freedom' / 'The freedom eights'

No commitments - PS and the Footnotes

I bought 'Final love song' a long time ago, but I was aware of another single by PS & the Footnotes, the Dutch band that never found fame despite a short-lived record deal with EMI.

'No commitments' was also released in 1984 and was equally unsuccessful in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4677
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'No commitments' / 'Straight through the heart'

Eve of destruction - Geff Harrison

'Eve of destruction' was written by P.F. Sloan in 1965 as a grave warning of imminent apocalypse, and considered by some to be the epitome of a protest song. It expressed the frustrations and fears of young people in the age of the Cold War, Vietnam, the nuclear arms race, and the civil rights movement. The most famous version of this song was recorded that same year by Barry McGuire. It earned him a worldwide hit.

This version was recorded and released in 1984 by the German singer Geff Harrison. It updates the Sixties track a bit, although it can hardly be considered a very Eighties version.

My collection: 7" single no. 4648
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Eve of destruction' / 'How can you sleep'

Cantara Pepe - The Press

In 1980, the Dutch band The Walkers changes its name into The Press. Consisting of Rene Innemee, Michel and Walter Nita, John Coenen, Floor Minnaert and Willy Bronzwaer, they release their debut single 'I'm gonna shoot the D.J.' a few months later.

In July 1981, they release the follow-up, 'Cantara Pepe'. This single, taken from their album 'Press here', reaches number 11 in Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4675
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Cantara Pepe' / 'In the quiet of the night'

Kick it in - Simple Minds

'Kick it in' was released as the third single from the 1989 Simple Minds album 'Street fighting years'. Although I wasn't that convinced that this song was actually any good, I was curious about the 89 remix of 'Waterfront', which is included on the B-side of this single. And so it still ended up in my collection.

The single reached number 15 in the UK singles chart, while also making number 29 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4670
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Kick it in' / 'Waterfront (89 remix)'

Day after day - The Pretenders

The Pretenders released their second album 'Pretenders II' in August 1981. Most critics at the time called it disappointing, although it is now generally considered a great album.

The track 'Day after day' was released as a single. The accompanying music video was played a lot on MTV in the USA, but that didn't lead to any chart success. In the UK, meanwhile, the single peaked at number 45.

My collection: 7" single no. 4676
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Day after day' / 'In the sticks'