It's raining - Darts

The British doo-wop revival band Darts were very successful in the Seventies. The eight piece band had three successive number 2 hits in the UK singles chart with covers of early U.S. rock and roll and R&B songs.

'It's raining', released in July 1978, was the last of them. It was also the band's last hit in the Netherlands, where it peaked at number 5 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4850
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, May 14, 2010
Cost: 1,5 euro
Tracks: 'It's raining' / 'Messing shoe blues'

Love games - Level 42

'Love games' was the first single taken from Level 42's debut album and their first chart success. This 12" single features the full length version of the track, which is over seven minutes long.

According to a blurb on the back of the sleeve, 'Having grown up with influences such as Miles Davis, Keith Jarrett, Stevie Wonder, John McLaughlin plus George Benson the blend was right for one of the most exciting developments in British music for years.'

My collection: 12" single no. 428
Found: Record Exchange, London, 2002
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Love games (full length version)' / 'Forty two'

Won't you hold my hand now - King

The British band King were very successful in the UK in 1984, and so it didn't take long for the record company to realise that they could also have a shot at launching the band in the USA. That's where this 12" single was made, and this copy was released for promotion as a gold stamp on the back of the sleeve proves.

This 12" single features three remixes of the track 'Won't you hold my hand now', one of the heavier tracks on the band's debut album. The sleeve design features a photograph by Sheila Rock, who made many beautiful portraits of Eighties artists.

My collection: 12" single no. 361

Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 1998

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Won't you hold my hand now ('Heavy times' mix)' / 'Won't you hold my hand now ('85 Reasons to hold hands mix)', 'Won't you hold my hand now (dub mix)'

Menage a trois - K-Ram

I have a copy of the single by K-Ram called 'Menage a trois'. Some time after buying the single I found this 12" single and I decided I wanted to hear the remix - especially since I could buy the 12" single for a low price.

K-Ram sounds a lot like Wham!, but it tries too hard to do so without being able to match the quality of the duo's lyrics.

My collection: 12" single no. 337
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 2000
Cost: 2,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Menage a trois (Whopper chopper mix)' / 'Menage a trois', 'Menage a trois (instrumental)'

Sensitive - Mick Karn

Japan member Mick Karn released his solo single 'Sensitive' in 1982. On the track, he collaborated with Ricky Wilde, who had just had his production debut on his sister's debut album 'Kim Wilde' in 1981. Ricky produced the track and also performed guitar and keyboards on it.

This 12" single features a remix of 'Sensitive', as well as the atmospheric B-side 'The sound of waves'.

My collection: 12" single no. 327
Found: Record fair, 1995
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Sensitive (remix)' / 'The sound of waves'

Professional widow / Hey Jupiter - Tori Amos

Tori Amos has made some beautiful music during the Nineties, but her career took a bizarre turn in 1996 when her record company thought it would be a great idea to remix her songs from the album 'Boys for Pele'. The remix of 'Professional widow' sounded nothing like the original and was a random collection of noises put together by one Armand van Helden, but it gave her a number 1 hit in the UK.

This 12" single features two further remixes: a beautiful version of 'Hey Jupiter' and an awful version of 'Talula'. Proof that remixes can add or detract from a track is given on this disc in equal measures, although the two awful remixes are considerably longer than the beautiful one.

My collection: 12" single no. 540
Found: unknown, 1996
Cost: 15 guilders
Tracks: 'Professional widow (Armand's Star Trunk Funkin' mix)' / 'Hey Jupiter (The Dakota version - radio edit)', 'Talula (BT's Synethasia mix)'

Severina - The Mission

Probably the biggest asset of the British band The Mission is that sometimes they used the angelic voice of Julianne Regan from All about Eve for their backing vocals. They did this, for instance, on their 1987 single 'Severina'. It was great that this 12" remix of 'Severina' highlights her voice even more.

The 12" single became an even more attractive package because of the limited edition poster included with it. Not that the men from the Mission were so handsome, but anything extra is always fun to have.

My collection: 12" single no. 323
Found: Record fair, 2000
Cost: 25 guilders
Tracks: 'Severina (Aqua-marina mix)', 'Wishing well' / 'Tomorrow never knows (Amphetamix)'

Kids in America - Kim Wilde

In 1981, Kim Wilde debuted with the single 'Kids in America'. It was a big hit all over Europe, but in the USA it took almost a year for it to be released. When it was released, it did reach the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 25.

This promotional 7" single was released in the USA to help along radio promotion. This rare single features the track on both sides, so as to avoid DJ's playing the B-side by mistake. It was quite extraordinary to find this single in pristine condition almost 30 years after its release.

My collection: 7" single no. 4849
Found: eBay.com, received May 11, 2010
Cost: $7
Tracks: 'Kids in America' / 'Kids in America'

Onschuld - Frank Boeijen

The fourth single from Frank Boeijen's debut solo album 'Wilde bloemen' ('Wild flowers') was the track 'Onschuld' ('Innocence'). It was re-recorded in June 1992, which didn't help its chart performance incidentally: like the other three singles from the album, it didn't chart in the Netherlands.

The B-side was recorded for the album together with Henny Vrienten, frontman of the popular Dutch Eighties band Doe Maar.

My collection: 7" single no. 1704
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, September 5, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Onschuld' / 'Het ijs'

May this be your last sorrow - Banderas

To this day, I am still mystified as to why the Banderas only ever recorded one album. Their music was accessible, the voice of Caroline Buckley sounded a lot like Madonna's - except better - and their album 'Ripe' was one of the best records of 1991 - in my opinion of course.

'May this be your last sorrow' was the third and last single drawn from that album, and this promotional 12" single features one remix that wasn't included on the commercially available cd-single. The 'Jimmy Phensic mix' isn't that wonderful, but still, it's an exclusive track.

My collection: 12" single no. 220
Found: Big Company Records, London, October 1992
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'May this be your last sorrow (7")', 'May this be your last sorrow (Less Stress 12") / 'May this be your last sorrow (Smith & Mighty - The Original Plan mix)', 'May this be your last sorrow (Smith & Mighty - The Jimmy Phensic mix)'

European queen - Billy Ocean

Not only did Billy Ocean record different versions of his song 'Caribbean queen', entitled 'African queen' and 'European queen', but there were also different edits of those songs. This single of 'European queen' features an edit which is shorter by 30 seconds when compared to the album version, but also an instrumental version which is actually longer than the album version! It's only 10 seconds longer, but still...

Having heard this song too often back in 1984, I never bought it, but now, more than a quarter of a century later, it's actually fun to hear this again.

My collection: 7" single no. 4848
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 8, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'European queen' / 'European queen (instrumental)'

Carribean queen - Billy Ocean

'Caribbean queen' was recorded by Billy Ocean in 1984 with Robert John 'Mutt' Lange co-writing and producing the track. The single reached number 6 in the UK singles chart, number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 15 in the Dutch Top 40.

The song was recorded with different titles for different parts of the world - resulting in versions such as 'European queen' and 'African queen'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4847
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 8, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Caribbean queen' / 'European queen'

King for a day - Thompson Twins

Following on from their hugely successful 1984 album 'Into the gap', the Thompson Twins experienced some troubles with their follow-up, 'Here's to future days' (1985). Frontman Tom Bailey was diagnosed with nervous exhaustion just before the release of the album and holding off on its release eventually led to reconsideration of the whole project. After Bailey's recovery, they re-recorded the album with producer Nile Rodgers taking over from Alex Sadkin.

Still, the album turned out to be less successful than its predecessor. The singles, too, disappointed commercially. 'King for a day' flopped in many territories and only reached number 22 in the UK - although it still made number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4846
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 8, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'King for a day' / 'Rollunder'

They don't know - Tracey Ullman

Kirsty MacColl wrote and recorded 'They don't know' in 1979. It was a popular song on the radio in the UK, but a strike at her distributors prevented the single from being shipped and promoted properly, preventing release of the single. The song was not included on any album, but later appeared on a compilation album 'Galore' (amongst others).

In 1983, Tracey Ullman recorded a cover version of the song on her debut album, 'You broke my heart in 17 places'. It became the album's most successful single, charting in the top ten of various national charts including a number 2 placing in the UK and number 8 in the USA and the Netherlands. MacColl performed backing vocals on Ullman's version and keeping her original "bay-ay-be-ee" in the middle of the song.

My collection: 7" single no. 4845
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 8, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'They don't know' / 'The B side'

Sister paradise - Time Bandits

The second single release by the Dutch band Time Bandits was not as succesful as their debut. Whereas 'Live it up' soared to number 9 in the Dutch Top 40, this single did not chart.

It didn't bode well for their debut album, but that was a pretty good success nonetheless. The band of Alides Hidding and company would be successful throughout the Eighties.

My collection: 7" single no. 4844
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 8, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Sister paradise' / 'Cues part II'

Ordinary lives - Bee Gees

'Ordinary lives' was released in early 1989 as the first single from the Bee Gees' sixteenth studio album 'One'. Following the premature death of their younger brother Andy Gibb in 1988, the Bee Gees dedicated this song and their new album to him.

The single was a moderate success, reaching number 8 in Germany, number 23 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 54 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4843
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 8, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Ordinary lives' / 'Wing and a prayer'

Star - Kiki Dee

In 1981, 'Star' was Kiki Dee's first solo single release in four years, after the duet with Elton John, 'Don't go breaking my heart' made her a household name in 1978. The single was taken from her first album for her new label Ariola, 'Perfect timing'. Until then, Kiki Dee had been signed to Elton John's record company Rocket.

'Star' was written by Doreen Chanter of the Chanter Sisters. The single reached number 13 in the UK singles chart. Between 1987 and 1990 it was the theme song of the BBC One programme 'Opportunity knocks'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4842
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 8, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Star' / 'Give it up'

Jive talkin' - Boogie Box High

Boogie Box High were a musical project headed by Andros Georgiou in the late Eighties that featured a range of musical collaborations such as his cousin George Michael, guitarist Nick Heyward (of Haircut 100), keyboardist Mick Talbot (of Style Council), guitarist–songwriter David Austin, bassist Deon Estus and others.

Released in 1987, Boogie Box High's first single 'Jive talkin'' quickly reached number one in several countries. Part of this success was caused by the involvement of George Michael, who sang lead and backing vocals on the track. Due to contractual obligations to Epic Records, George was never credited on the original release, although fans quickly recognized his voice, making the song an instant hit.

My collection: 7" single no. 4841
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 8, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Jive talkin'' / 'Rhythm talkin' (part 1)'

I can dream about you - Dan Hartman

Dan Hartman recorded 'I can dream about you' for the soundtrack of the movie 'Streets of fire'. In the movie, the sog was performed by Winston Ford.

Dan Hartman's version was released as a single in 1984. It reached number 6 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 12 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4840
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 8, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'I can dream about you' (Dan Hartman) / 'Blue shadows' (The Blasters)

Dim all the lights - Donna Summer

'Dim all the lights' was taken from Donna Summer's album 'Bad girls' and produced by longtime collaborator Giorgio Moroder with Pete Bellotte. Just like the two previous singles from the album, 'Hot stuff' and 'Bad girls', this was another massive hit for her, reaching number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 29 in the UK singles chart. However, in the Netherlands, the single flopped.

Donna Summer herself wrote the song, without any co-writers. As such, 'Dim all the lights' was her only hit single that she wrote alone. She originally intended to give the song to Rod Stewart, but changed her mind at the last minute.

My collection: 7" single no. 4839
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 8, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Dim all the lights' / 'There will always be a you'