Solsbury hill (live) - Peter Gabriel

Peter Gabriel released 'Peter Gabriel plays live' as his fifth album in 1983. The album was originally released as a double album and longplay cassette, with sixteen songs and a running time of over 80 minutes. It was eventually issued as a double CD set, and, in 1985, as a single CD version 'Plays Live – Highlights' with only twelve songs and some significant track time alterations.

This live version of 'Solsbury hill' was lifted from the album for a single release. It was not a hit, but apparently it inspired Sarah McLachlan to record a cover of this song a decade later.

My collection: 7" single no. 5157
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Solsbury hill (live)' / 'Kiss of life (live)'

Do you remember? (live) - Phil Collins

'Do you remember?' was originally a track on Phil Collins's 1990 album 'But Seriously'. Shortly after the release of that album, Collins released 'Serious hits... live!', an album with live versions of his best songs. A live version of 'Do you remember?' was released as a single in the UK and Europe and managed to reach number 57 in the UK singles chart.

The song was written by Collins and produced by Collins and Hugh Padgham. Singer-songwriter Stephen Bishop is a backing vocalist on the track. The B-side features a live version of one of the Eighties' most accomplished love songs, 'Against all odds'.

My collection: 7" single no. 5158
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Do you remember (live)' / 'Against all odds (live)'

One of these nights - Eagles

'One of these nights' is a song written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey and recorded by the Eagles. The title track from their 1975 album, the song became their second single to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart after 'The best of my love'. The single version was shortened from the album version of the song, removing most of the song's intro and most of its fade-out.

According to songwriter Glenn Frey, the song is about putting things off. 'We've all said, 'one of these nights I'm gonna do something - get that girl, make that money, find that house'. We all have our dreams - a vision we hope will come true someday. When that 'someday' will come is up to each of us.'

My collection: 7" single no. 5175
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'One of these nights' / 'Visions'

Let the music play - Shannon

'Let the music play' was released by Shannon in 1983. The original version of the record was produced by Mark Liggett and Chris Barbosa. The rhythmic ingenuity of the track included a drum-machine pattern produced by a filtered Roland TR-808.

The single reached number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and reached number 14 in the UK singles chart. Although Shannon never reached the US top 40 again, she had five more hits in the UK. Despite this, she is still regarded as a one hit wonder.

My collection: 7" single no. 5162
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Let the music play' / 'Let the music play (dub version)'

Als de zon schijnt in je hart - Lou Prince

Yesterday I presented Aline's attempt at covering Wind's 'Lass die Sonne in dein Herz', today I give you Lou Prince's version. It's another unknown singer, this time from the Netherlands, who has also recorded a Dutch version of the song - though with different lyrics than Aline.

Like Aline, this version never troubled the charts. Although the sleeve actually mentions a Lou Prince fanclub, I doubt it was ever reached the three digit mark.

My collection: 7" single no. 5179
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Als de zon schijnt in je hart' / 'Zonder jou'

Tennis - Chris Rea

'Tennis' was Chris Rea's third album, released in 1980. The title track was released as a single ahead of the album in March 1980. The single went by without troubling the charts in any territory.

The album wasn't much more successful: it reached number 60 in the UK albums chart - and that was all.

My collection: 7" single no. 5170
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Tennis' / 'If you really love me'

Brother Louie - Hot Chocolate

Not to be confused with the Modern Talking song from the Eighties, this single by Hot Chocolate was written by band members Tony Wilson and Erroll Brown and released in April 1973. It's a song about an interracial love affair and a father who does not approve. Founding father of British blues Alexis Korner has a spoken word part in the song.

The single was a hit for the band, peaking at number 7 in the UK singles chart. The song was later covered by the American band Stories, the Quireboys and - unfortunately - Dutch singer Bert Heerink who created a Dutch version called 'Julie July'.

My collection: 7" single no. 5165
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Brother Louie' / 'I want to be free'

C'mon let's boogie - Kirka

As it says in Wikipedia: 'Kirill "Kirka" Babitzin (22 September 1950 – 31 January 2007) was a musician from Finland, but now he's dead'. It's a bit harsh, but it is the truth. There's more to the story than that of course, but there you go.

Kirka represented Finland in Eurovision Song Contest 1984 with the song 'Hengaillaan' (which is Finnish for 'hanging out'). The song finished ninth in a field of 19 competitors. This single features an English language version of the song, entitled 'C'mon let's boogie'.

My collection: 7" single no. 5177
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'C'mon let's boogie' / 'Oh Marie'

Don't stand another chance - Janet Jackson

Two major compilation albums with hits by Janet Jackson have been released so far, but both of them failed to include her earliest singles. Only a UK limited edition double cd package of 'Design of a decade' (1995) included a 12" version of 'Young love', 'Say you do' and this single, 'Don't stand another chance'.

It's even more amazing when you think that Janet actually released 10 singles before she hit it big with 'What have you done for me lately' - and subsequent singles. And one more thing: between 1982 and 1985 she didn't need to get her tits out to sell records. But then, she only sold half a million records in that time...

My collection: 7" single no. 5155
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Don't stand another chance' / 'Rock 'n' roll'

Give me just a little more time - Kylie Minogue

'Give me just a little more time' was originally released in 1970 as the debut single of Chairmen of the Board, an American soul band. The song was written by Holland, Dozier & Holland, who also released the single on their own Invictus label.

It was covered in 1991 by Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue. Minogue's version was featured in a commercial for Accurist watches at the time. It was one of the last tracks to be recorded for her fourth album, 'Let's get to it. It peaked at number 2 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 5152
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Give me just a little more time' / 'Do you dare (NRG edit)'

Eternity - Sheena Easton

'No sound but a heart' was Sheena Easton's eighth studio album, released in 1987 on the EMI label. The album was issued in Canada, Mexico, Japan, and other Asian markets. The album consisted of midtempo and ballad songs. The release of 'No sound but a heart' was hampered in the United States after EMI America was absorbed into EMI Manhattan records and two scheduled release dates for the album (February and June of 1987) were not met.

The album produced only one single, 'Eternity', written by Prince. The single was, amazingly, not a hit. This was Easton's final release on the EMI label, where she had started her career. She subsequently moved to MCA Records the following year in 1988.

My collection: 7" single no. 5149
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Eternity' / 'Shockwave'

Laat de zon in je hart - Aline

There is no information available about this release, so I don't know who Aline is, but I'll wager a guess that she's from Belgium. The label, Diamonds Records, is unknown, but the photograph on the sleeve was credited to one Clement in Maasmechelen and Diamonds Records could be reached via a Belgian phone number.

So what is 'Laat de zon in je hart'? It's a Flemish cover version of Wind's successful 1987 Eurovision Song Contest entry 'Lass die Sonne in dein Herz'. A collector's item of sorts.

My collection: 7" single no. 5178
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Laat de zon in je hart' / 'Memories of the wind (instrumental)'

Girls night out - Jody Watley

After the band Shalamar split up, Jody Watley moved to England, and while there she recorded a guest vocal with British Jamaican roots reggae group Musical Youth for their album 'Different Style'. She also recorded demos with Gary Langan, Anne Dudley and J.J Jeczalik (who later became Art of Noise). A brief stint with Phonogram Records yielded two demos that were released as promo records.

'Girls night out' was one of them, a single released in 1985. Billed simply as 'Jody', I only discovered this single because the shopkeeper was smart enough to put them in the 'Jody Watley' section. Otherwise, I wouldn't have found this bubbly piece of pop.

My collection: 7" single no. 5151
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Girls night out' / 'My house (4-free)'

9 fragmenten uit de nieuwe elpee Bad - Michael Jackson

When Michael Jackson released a follow-up to his hugely successful 'Thriller' album in 1987, it was nothing less than a sensation. The lead single 'I just can't stop loving you' was a big hit and the album was sure to be big as well.

This promotional single was released in Belgium, featuring nine snippets from the album. Why the track 'Just good friends', featuring Stevie Wonder, was not included on this preview I do not know, but I'm sure that 'Leave me alone' was omitted because, well, it was a bonus track on the cd only at the time. In the Netherlands, this single was released as a flexi disc as a freebie with the magazine Top 10. This Belgian single was sponsored by the newspaper Het Nieuwsblad and the bank Spaarkrediet. The title? '9 fragments from the new LP 'Bad''.

My collection: 7" single no. 5154
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: Medley of 'Bad', 'The way you make me feel', 'I just can't stop loving you', 'Liberian girl', 'Dirty Diana', 'Another part of me', 'Speed demon', 'Smooth criminal' and 'Bad' (Plays the same both sides)

Take your time (Do it right) - SOS Band

'Take your time (Do it right)' was released in 1980 as a single from the S.O.S. Band's album 'S.O.S.'. It is often regarded as one of the last big hits of the disco era.

Although a bit hit in the USA, the single only reached number 51 in the UK singles chart and didn't chart in the Netherlands. Listen to it now, and you'll find it's a very classy pop song.

My collection: 7" single no. 5148
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Take your time (Do it right) part 1' / 'Take your time (Do it right) part 2'

Anxiety - Leisure Process

Leisure Process was a British New Wave duo formed in the early 1980s. They consisted of Ross Middleton, previously of post-punk Glasgow band Positive Noise, and session sax player Gary Barnacle. Four singles were released before their split.

'Anxiety' was their last single, released in 1983. Like all previous singles, it was released by Epic Records and produced by Martin Rushent.

My collection: 7" single no. 5145
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Anxiety' / 'The company'

Words - Bee Gees

In November 1990 Universal Music released 'The very best of Bee Gees', a compilation album featuring the band's most popular tracks in chronological order from 'New York mining disaster 1941' (1967) to 'Ordinary lives' (1989).

To further promote the album, a single was released in early 1991, featuring two tracks from that album: 'Words', a hit for the Bee Gees in 1968, and 'Run to me', a hit from 1972. Dutch readers will know that 'Run to me' was also a big hit for Lee Towers & Anita Meyer in 1986.

My collection: 7" single no. 5138
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Words' / 'Run to me'

One way love - Agnetha Faltskog

Agnetha's second solo album after Abba effectively ended in 1982 was the Eric Stewart-produced 'Eyes of a woman', released in March 1985. The album sold well in parts of Europe, reaching number 2 in Sweden and the Top 20 in Norway and Belgium, but failed to match the success of the previous album, 'Wrap your arms around me'.

Lead single 'I won't let you go' enjoyed considerable chart success in both Continental Europe and Scandinavia, but its follow-up 'One way love' was less of a success: it only reached number 12 in Sweden and number 37 in Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 5133
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'One way love' / 'Turn the world around'

Ship of fools - Erasure

'Ship of fools' was released in February 1988 as Erasure's first single from their third album 'The innocents' and their eighth single overall.

'Ship of fools' marked Erasure's first release without record producer Flood. Known for creating slick, pop-oriented production style, Stephen Hague took over producing duties for The Innocents album. 'Ship of fools' also marks Erasure's first ballad single-release. Its B-side, 'When I needed you', is also a ballad. Both tracks were written by Vince Clarke and Andy Bell. The single reached number 6 in the UK Singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 5131
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Ship of fools' / 'When I needed you'

Oh mama - Lili and Sussie

The Swedish duo Lili and Sussie released several singles, but none of them were more bubbly and danceable than their biggest hit, 'Candy love'. This single, released in 1987, was another attempt at having a hit.

Produced by Tim Norell, Ola Hakansson and Anders Hansson, the single wasn't a hit outside Sweden - but I don't know if it was a hit in Sweden.

My collection: 7" single no. 5146
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Oh mama' / 'One more night'