Live at the Marquee - Howard Jones

I was pretty surprised when I found this single. I thought it was a very obscure item, released possibly before Howard Jones' debut single 'New song'. Two live tracks recorded at the Marquee, of which one - the A-side, 'What can I say', written by Howard Jones and William Bryant - I didn't know at all.

As it turns out, this was the 7" single that was included in a limited edition package of the 12" single of Howard Jones' second single, 'What is love'. Since I'm not likely to find that 12" single, I'm glad to have bought this single on its own.

My collection: 7" single no. 4755
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, April 5, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'What can I say (live)' / 'Bounce right back (live)'

Goodnight tonight - Wings

'Goodnight tonight' began as an instrumental track which Paul McCartney had recorded in 1978. Needing a single for Wings to accompany the album 'Back to the egg', he took out the track and brought it into the studio, where the full Wings lineup completed it. Since the track was over seven minutes long, an edited version was used as the single, with the full version available as a 12" single.

The single reached number 5 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and the UK singles chart and number 21 in the Dutch Top 40. McCartney's former songwriting partner John Lennon later commented that he didn't care for the song, but enjoyed McCartney's bass guitar on the single.

My collection: 7" single no. 4746
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, April 5, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Goodnight tonight' / 'Daytime nighttime suffering'

(Feels like) Heaven - Fiction Factory

'(Feels like) Heaven' is one of the big pop standards of the eighties. It was released by Fiction Factory in early 1984. It was the band's only big hit, reaching number 6 in the UK singles chart, and number 12 in the Dutch Top 40.

I also have the 12" single in my collection, but whenever I came across the 7" single I always thought I already had it. There was some doubt when I bought it this time, but I finally managed to pull it off and buy the damn thing.

My collection: 7" single no. 4748
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, April 5, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: '(Feels like) Heaven' / 'Everyone but you'

Love's theme - Love Unlimited Orchestra

'Love's Theme' is an instrumental piece recorded by Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra and released in 1973. It is one of the few instrumental and purely orchestral singles to reach number 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart in the United States, in early 1974. In the Dutch Top 40, the single reached number 6 in March 1974. The recording, with a large string orchestra and wah-wah guitar, is considered to be an influence to the disco sound, which would become popular the following year.

In May 1993, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark released their single, 'Dream of me (Based on Love's Theme)' on which they sang their own lyrics over a sample of this Barry White's composition.

My collection: 7" single no. 4741
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, April 5, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Love's theme' / 'Sweet moments'

We are not amused - Kayak

The Dutch band Kayak was famous in the Seventies and early Eighties, but still their singles are very hard to find. So whenever I see one these days, I pick it up. In this case, I didn't even know the song - but I wasn't disappointed. Kayak makes very beautiful rock songs, sometimes with a hard edge, and sometimes it's just all peachy.

'We are not amused' was released in May 1975 and failed to reach the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4739
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, April 5, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'We are not amused' / 'Serenades'

Love is an ocean - Earth and Fire

'Love is an ocean' was another single taken from Earth & Fire's 1981 album 'Andromeda girl'. The song was written by Bert Ruiter and lead singer Jerney Kaagman.

The single, released in February 1982, failed to reach the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4738
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, April 5, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Love is an ocean' / 'You'

Treat me like a lady - Five Star

'Treat me like a lady' was recorded in Five Star's new high-tech studio in the grounds of their family home, Stone Court in Ascot, Berkshire. The studio reportedly cost them £2.5 million. It was their first single for their new record label, Epic.

The single was released in a limited edition envelope pack, including five square 7" photographic prints. It reached number 54 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1196
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1990
Cost: 8 guilders
Tracks: 'Treat me like a lady' / 'Don't stop'

Adult education - Daryl Hall and John Oates

When Daryl Hall & John Oates released the compilation album 'Rock 'n Soul part 1' in 1984, 'Adult education' was a new track on that album, and released as a single to promote the compilation.

Someone thought it would be a good idea to do the same in 1991, when the compilation 'Looking back' was released. Of course, this single flopped.

My collection: 7" single no. 4742
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, April 5, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Adult education' / 'Rich girl'

I want to break free - Queen

The song 'I want to break free' is more famous for its music video than for its music. Directed by David Mallet, the video was a parody of the northern British soap opera 'Coronation Street'. In it, the band members of Queen dressed in drag, as mildly similar characters found in the soap at the time. The video also featured a ballet piece with the Royal Ballet.

The single reached number 1 in Austria, Belgium, New Zealand, Finland and the Netherlands and peaked at number 3 in the UK singles chart. In the USA, the single only reached number 45. Again, this is explained by the music video, as many people in the USA failed to see the soap-opera connection and interpreted the video as an open declaration of transvestitism and Mercury’s homosexuality. The narrowmindedness of these people prevented all of Queen's singles to reach the top 40 in the USA until 'The show must go on' reached number 2 in 1991.

My collection: 7" single no. 4737
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, April 5, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I want to break free' / 'Machines (or 'Back to humans')'

Rag doll - Aerosmith

The lyric of 'Rag doll' was primarily written by Steven Tyler and Jim Vallance. The song was originally titled 'Rag time' but when Holly Knight was called in to help change the lyric, she suggested 'Rag doll'. This was actually another title Steven and Jim thought of, but Holly ended up getting credits just for two words. Steven was horrified about this and often complained to his manager.

The single peaked at number 17 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 42 in the UK singles chart and number 19 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 721
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, January 21, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Rag doll' / 'St. John'

Baggy trousers - Madness

'Baggy trousers' was included on Madness' 1980 album 'Absolutely' and released as a single in September 1980. Written by lead singer Suggs, the lyric of the song reminisces on school days. The band first began performing the song at live shows in April 1980.

The single reached number 3 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the Dutch Top 40. In the UK, it was the eleventh best-selling single of 1980.

My collection: 7" single no. 4736
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, April 5, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Baggy trousers' / 'The business'

Temptation - Heaven 17

Heaven 17 recorded 'Tempation' in 1983 on their album 'The luxury gap'. Carol Kenyon provided backing vocals on this track as well as lead vocals in the bridge and chorus. The song also featured an orchestra, arranged and conducted by John Wesley Barker.

The single reached number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 27 in the Dutch Top 40 - their first hit abroad.

My collection: 7" single no. 4752
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, April 5, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Temptation' / 'We live so fast'

Brave new world - David Essex

I guess you could call this the Find Of The Day: during a record fair I found this single today, and it is one that I was aware of, but never found until now. 'Brave new world' was the third single taken from Jeff Wayne's impressive 'War of the worlds' album, released in the autumn of 1978.

The album version of this track clocks in at 12 minutes, and so it has been edited down to 5 minutes and 24 seconds, omitting mostly non-singing parts in the track. The single reached number 55 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4754
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, April 5, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Brave new world' / 'Streetfight'

Heart of stone (Leave me alone) - Maarten Peters

The second single from Maarten Peters' third and most successful album 'White horses in the snow' was the ballad 'Heart of stone (Leave me alone)'. Although the single did not chart, it certainly gave him some exposure, as he played in many television shows at the time.

This single brings together two of the longest tracks on the album, and also the most accomplished ones. Although Maarten Peters' pronunciation and diction is most certainly Dutch, the songs could almost have been made by a British singer/songwriter.

My collection: 7" single no. 1130
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, December 8, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Heart of stone (Leave me alone)' / 'Prince of darkness'

Here we are - Gloria Estefan

'Here we are' was the third single from the album 'Cuts both ways' by Gloria Estefan. It was one of her successful ballads that followed the fomula of previous ballads and was rewarded with the same amount of commercial success.

The single reached number 6 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 23 in the UK singles chart and number 14 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1128
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, December 8, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Here we are' / '1, 2, 3 (live)'

Cry to heaven - Elton John

I hated the song 'Nikita' by Elton John. I thought it was a sentimental piece of drivel with a much too repetitive chorus. This made it hard to like 'Cry to heaven', released a few months later. Still, I did buy the single a few years later, realising that this song actually had an interesting melody.

'Cry to heaven' reached number 12 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 47 in the UK singles chart. It was less successful than 'Nikita', which inexplicably became a top 10 hit almost everywhere.

My collection: 7" single no. 656
Found: Leiden, September 23, 1988
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Cry to heaven' / 'Candy by the pound'

I wish it would rain down - Phil Collins

'I wish it would rain down' was released in 1989 as the second single from Phil Collins' album 'But seriously'. Phil Collins commented that it was as close as he had ever gotten at the time to writing a blues song. He asked Eric Clapton to provide the guitar playing throughout the song. As Collins recalls, 'I said 'Eric, have I never asked you to play? Come on, I've got a song right up your street'.

The song was a top ten hit in many countries, including Canada where it topped the chart. In the USA and the Netherlands, the single reached number 3, while peaking at number 7 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1174
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, February 17, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'I wish it would rain down' / 'Homeless (Another day in paradise - demo)'

Ducks - The Tiptops

From the information I could gather online, the Tiptops were a Belgian group. This single, 'Ducks', was their first release in the summer of 1962. I bought this single in Denmark on the strength of the title: I am not a duckophile for nothing.

This is the kind of music you might hear on radio shows at the time, as background music. It's not been a hit in Europe, although I imagine it could have been a hit in Belgium.

My collection: 7" single no. 3426
Found: Esbjerg, June 17, 2006
Cost: 10 Danish crowns
Tracks: 'Ducks' / 'Little Sally'

Who's that girl - Eurythmics

Not to be confused with the Madonna track that was released four years later, 'Who's that girl' was released by the Eurythmics in 1983. The music video featured Annie Lennox appearing in a male and female version. She appeared as a nightclub singer performing the song and also as a man who is a member of the audience. The video features cameo appearances by Bananarama, Cheryl Baker and Jay Aston of Bucks Fizz, Kiki Dee, Hazel O'Connor, Kate Garner of Haysi Fantayzee, Thereza Bazar of Dollar and Marilyn. In the end of the clip, the female-Lennox is shown kissing the male-Lennox.

The single reached number 3 in the UK singles chart, number 21 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 28 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 208
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1983
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Who's that girl?' / 'You take some lentils... and you take some rice'

How am I supposed to live without you - Michael Bolton

'How am I supposed to live without you' was originally recorded in 1983 by Laura Branigan. The song was written by Michael Bolton. He wrote several songs for various artists, during a gap of seven years in which he didn't release records of his own. His first two albums, 'Michael Bolton' (1975) and 'Everyday of my life' (1976) had failed to chart, but after he wrote some hit singles for others, his own career started once more from 1983 onwards.

In 1989, he released the album 'Soul provider', on which he recorded 'How am I supposed to live without you' himself. It turned out to be a good choice: it was his first international hit, peaking at number 3 in the Dutch Top 40 and the UK singles chart. From then on, he remained popular in various countries for inexplicable reasons: these days I find his voice particularly grating.

My collection: 7" single no. 1262
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, July 14, 1990
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'How am I supposed to live without you' / 'Forever eyes'