Personal Jesus - Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode released 'Personal Jesus' in the autumn of 1989 as the first single from their album 'Violator'. According to Martin Gore, the song was inspired by the book 'Elvis and me' by Priscilla Presley: 'It's a song about being a Jesus for somebody else, someone to give you hope and care. It's about how Elvis was her man and her mentor and how often that happens in love relationships; how everybody's heart is like a god in some way, and that's not a very balanced view of someone, is it?'

My collection: 7" single no. 1067
Found: HMV, London, October 18, 1989
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Personal Jesus' / 'Dangerous'

With every heartbeat - Five Star

Five Star's single 'With every heartbeat' was released in 1989. It was their last single for RCA, the label they signed with in 1983. It proved a failure for the group, stalling at number 49 in the UK singles chart. The song never appeared on a studio album, but was included on the group's 'Greatest hits' album, released later in 1989.

The single was released in a limited edition with a gatefold sleeve including a booklet with pictures of the group members and the lyric of the song.

My collection: 7" single no. 2753
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 29, 1996
Cost: 1,5 pounds
Tracks: 'With every heartbeat' / 'Sound sweet'

This time I know it's for real - Donna Summer

With 'This time I know it's for real', Donna Summer presented herself as a Stock Aitken & Waterman protege for the first time. It was the first single to be taken from her 1989 album 'Another place and time', which was entirely written and produced by the infamous trio.

The single became Donna Summer's biggest hit since the Seventies, peaking at number 3 and number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the Dutch Top 40, the single managed to get to number 5.

My collection: 7" single no. 788
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, April 1, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'This time I know it's for real' / 'Whatever your heart desires'

Noi - Matia Bazar

Although it is not the band's biggest hit, my favourite song of Matia Bazar is 'Noi', released in 1987 from the band's album 'Melo'. Unfortunately, the track was edited for the single release, leaving out an interesting guitar solo. Even more unfortunate is the fact that I could only find this single without a picture sleeve at the time.

'Noi' did not chart, but it is still a very great piece of music.

My collection: 7" single no. 768
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 16, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Noi' / 'Da qui a'

Factory man - Maarten Peters and the Dream

It wasn't easy for Maarten Peters to get some commercial success. All of his single releases between 1985 and 1987 failed to reach the Dutch Top 40, with one exception. It must have been a relief that his eighth single 'Factory man' managed to get to number 35 in May 1987.

'Factory man' was the first single from his second album 'Burn your boats', released around the same time as this single. The B-side, 'May 29th', was taken from his debut album and was written after an incident at the Heizel stadium in Belgium on May 29, 1985. Hooligans from Liverpool and Turin started fighting, which eventually caused a wall to collapse. 39 people were killed and 400 were injured.

My collection: 7" single no. 518
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Factory man' / 'May 29th'

I'd do anything for love (but I won't do that) - Meat Loaf

When Meat Loaf sang that he would do anything for love but he won't do 'that', a lot of people were left with the question: what, exactly, is 'that'? At the song's conclusion, the female vocalist predicts two things that the protagonist will do: 'You'll see that it's time to move on and you'll be screwing around'. To both of these, he replies, 'I won't do that!'. Although Meat Loaf believed that the lyrics were unambiguous, the singer recalls that Steinman predicted that they would cause confusion. Meat Loaf says that the question, 'What is 'that'?' is one of the most popular questions he is asked.

Clocking in at over 7 minutes, it's another one of those epic Jim Steinman tracks that Meat Loaf became so popular with at the end of the Seventies. The single was taken from Meat Loaf's 1993 album 'Bat out of hell II: Back into hell' and reached number 1 in 28 countries.

My collection: 7" single no. 1987
Found: HMV, London, October 18, 1993
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'I'd do anything for love (but I won't do that)' / 'Back into hell'

New beginning (Mamba Seyra) - Bucks Fizz

'New beginning' was released in May 1986 and was considered to be a comeback single, since the band hadn't released anything in eight months. The single featured new member Shelley Preston who had replaced Jay Aston a year earlier. It was also their first release on new record label, Polydor after their five-year contract with RCA had finished.

The song was written by Mike Myers and Tony Gibber and was produced by Myers along with the group's regular producer Andy Hill. According to the group's members, the recording of the song took an unusually long time to record. As well as the group recording their vocals repeatedly, there was also a children's choir and gospel choir used on the track. The musicians in the studio also were used on distant back-up vocals. Cheryl Baker remembers one version where Hill instructed them to deliberately sing out of tune, which she found difficult.

My collection: 7" single no. 478
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'New beginning (Mamba seyra)' / 'In your eyes'

Kronenburg park (Ga die wereld uit) - Frank Boeijen Groep

The song 'Kronenburg park' is named after the park in Nijmegen, the city where Frank Boeijen grew up. The park is known for its prostitutes hunting for work. Boeijen apparently wrote the song after recognising one of the women in the park from his childhood. The subtitle 'Ga die wereld uit' ('Get out of that world') can be interpreted as a plea to women to leave this profession.

The single was the second one taken from the band's fifth album. Released in April 1985, 'Kronenburg park' managed to reach number 12 in the Dutch Top 40, becoming one of their biggest hits.

My collection: 7" single no. 288
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Kronenburg park (Ga die wereld uit)' / 'De waarheid'

Are you getting enough of what makes you happy? - Hot Chocolate

Released in July 1980, 'Are you getting enough of what makes you happy?' was the second single from Hot Chocolate's 1980 album 'Class'. During a seven week chart run in the UK singles chart, it reached number 17.

As usual, the single was written by lead singer Errol Brown and produced by Mickie Most.

My collection: 7" single no. 4655
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Are you getting enough of what makes you happy?' / 'I've got you on my mind'

Landslide of love - Transvision Vamp

It doesn't sound very romantic, a 'Landslide of love', but there you have it: it's the title of Transvision Vamp's eighth single.

Released as the third single from the band's second album 'Velveteen', it spent five weeks in the UK singles chart and peaked at number 14.

My collection: 7" single no. 4660
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Landslide of love' / 'Hardtime', 'He's the only one for me'

Light of a gypsy - Pussycat

In 1984, Pussycat released the album 'After all' on their new label Ariola. 'Light of a gypsy' is released as the first single from the album. Both however fail to make an impact on the album and singles chart.

A year later, the band decides to call it quits. Lead singer Tony Willé tries to release some solo work, but it is also commercially unsuccessful.

My collection: 7" single no. 4680
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Light of a gypsy' / 'You'

I don't know what it is but I love it - Chris Rea

Released as the first single from his 1984 album 'Wired to the moon', Chris Rea was unable to get chart success with 'I don't know what it is but I love it'.

The single only managed to reach number 65 in the UK singles chart during a two week chart run. All this despite a rather interesting B-side track that wasn't included on the album.

My collection: 7" single no. 4683
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I don't know what it is but I love it' / 'Mystery man'

Totally hot - Olivia Newton-John

The 1979 album by Olivia Newton-John was called 'Totally hot', and the title track was released as a single. Featuring a more aggressive sound, the single failed to impress the audience who had come to know her as the sweet Sandy from the 'Grease' movie.

Both the A-side and the B-side were taken from the album, which was more successful: it was certified platinum in the USA and gold in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 4700
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Totally hot' / 'Talk to me'

Boundaries - Jon Anderson

Jon Anderson released 'Animation' in 1982 during the Yes hiatus following the release of their album 'Drama'. At the time, Anderson was collaborating with Vangelis and Mike Oldfield and exploring new age and electronic pop.

The track 'Boundaries' was released as the second single from the album. It didn't chart in any territory. The track would later appear on other works by Anderson (entitled 'O'er', on 'The promise ring') and Yes (entitled 'Somehow, someday', on 'Open your eyes').

My collection: 7" single no. 4725
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Boundaries' / 'Much better reason'

Love is the seventh wave - Sting

'Love is the seventh wave' was the second single from Sting's 1985 solo debut album 'The dream of the blue turtles'. The song is supposedly about love being the seventh wave, or the strongest wave in a series of waves, thus wiping out any sort of problems. It concludes with a brief, self-mocking reference to Sting's biggest hit song with The Police, 'Every breath you take', which had been about the dark side of love that leads to sexual jealousy and obsession.

The single reached number 7 in the Dutch Top 40, but stalled at number 41 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4706
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Love is the seventh wave (new mix)' / 'Consider me gone (live)'

I wanna be - Lois Lane

The Dutch band Lois Lane released the second single from their second album 'Fortune fairytales' in the spring of 1990. 'I wanna be' was a straightforward pop song.

The single reached number 15 in the Dutch Top 40, becoming their fifth consecutive chart hit. Unfortunately, their next single would not make the chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4726
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I wanna be' / 'Attracted to you'

Sanctify yourself - Simple Minds

'Sanctify yourself' was released as the second single from the Simple Minds' 1986 album 'Once upon a time', their seventh studio album. Released in the wake of their biggest hit 'Don't you (forget about me)' (1985), the band were able to ride the wave of success for some time. This single reached number 10 in the UK singles chart, number 11 in the Dutc hTop 40 and number 14 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

This double single set features a second disc with two live recordings, recorded at the Ahoy' in Rotterdam on December 3, 1985.

My collection: 7" single no. 4716
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Sanctify yourself' / 'Sanctify yourself (instrumental)' // 'Street hassle (live)' / 'Love song (live)'

All I need is a miracle - Mike and the Mechanics

'Mike + the Mechanics' is the debut album released by Genesis bassist and guitarist Mike Rutherford's side project 'Mike and the Mechanics' in 1985. The album featured two hit singles: 'Silent running', featuring lead vocals by Paul Carrack, and the up-tempo 'All I need is a miracle'.

Both songs reached the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 charts, peaking at numbers 6 and 5 respectively. 'All I need is a miracle' stalled at number 53 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4712
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'All I need is a miracle' / 'You are the one'

A kind of magic - Queen

'A kind of magic' was originally written by Roger Taylor before Freddie Mercury took it over, added the bassline, some connectors and re-arranged the structure. Regardless, it was still credited to Taylor. The new version was featured on the album of the same name and released as its first single. An alternate version plays during the credits of the movie 'Highlander'.

The phrase 'A kind of magic' is actually used by Christopher Lambert in the film and impressed Taylor so much that he made it into a full song. There are references to the film in the lyrics – 'one prize, one goal'; 'no mortal man' and 'here can be only one'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4709
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'A kind of magic' / 'A dozen red roses for my darling'

I'm sorry - Hot Chocolate

'I'm sorry' is one of the lesser known Hot Chocolate singles, released in November 1983. It was a commercial disappointment. After 'Tears on the telephone' reached number 37 in the UK singles chart, this single stalled at number 89.

The single was taken from Hot Chocolate's 1983 album 'Love shot', which was produced by Mickie Most.

My collection: 7" single no. 4654
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I'm sorry' / 'Love is a good thing'