Every inch a lady - Kai Olsson

Okay, I admit it. There is one reason, and one reason only, why I bought this single. I didn't know Kai Olsson, I'd never heard the song, but when I saw this sleeve I simply thought I had to have it. It's a beautiful photograph, slightly arty, and it goes on on the other side of the sleeve. It's sexy but tasteful.

As for the song, well, it turned out to be a very good buy. Kai Olsson had listened to Abba very well, it's got the trademark piano sound, the background vocals, the simple but effective melody... It was a great find. All thanks to the sleeve.

My collection: 7" single no. 2379
Found: Record Exchange, London, July 1, 1995
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Every inch a lady' / 'Over the rainbow'
Download: here

The winner takes it all - Abba

My sister and I were both Abba fans. We also had a record collection each. As she's older than me, her collection was bigger than mine for a long time. I was always jealous. One holiday I had an opportunity to beat my sister to the punch. On the last day, when she said she had spent all her money, I spotted a new single by Abba. And I still had some money left. If my parents would give me the equivalent of 1 euro, I would actually have this single!

It was my sister who talked me out of it. I might not like this song, I'd never heard it, and how was I to know it would be any good? We were both Abba fans, as I said, but it kindof made sense. And so the single stayed in Vienna. A week later, my sister bought the single at home. And I had to wait for months to get mine after it left the charts for half price... The single was 'The winner takes it all', one of my all time favourite Abba tracks. There's some irony in that.

My collection: 7" single no. 67

Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1980

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'The winner takes it all' / 'Elaine'

Download: Album 'Super Trouper', including both tracks

I am the beat - The look

When The Look released 'I am the beat', I think my sister bought the single. Hearing it from her repeatedly, I got fascinated by this single. It did something that nowadays couldn't be done on a compact disc: at the end of the A-side the groove kept repeating the last few seconds. The song would only end if you took the needle from the record (which some players did automatically anyway).

I always confused The Look with The Jam. Which means I never really knew who performed this song when I was young. In 1995 I finally bought this single myself.

My collection: 7" single no. 2443

Found: Record fair, August 26, 1995

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'I am the beat' / 'You do these things to me'

Download: here

I owe you nothing - Bros

For a year or two, Bros was the hottest pop band in the UK. Their popularity was indescribable. Young girls were spending fortunes on Bros records and memorabilia. Their music was catchy, lead singer Matt Goss had a voice that resembled Michael Jackson sometimes. 'I owe you nothing' was the most energetic song of their only successful album, 'Push'.

As was customary in those days, the single 'I owe you nothing' was released in a multitude of formats. There were three different sleeves for the 7" single (each featuring a different band member) and there were various 12" singles with different remixes on them. From those, the 'Over 18 mix' was the most interesting. Shep Pettibone, Ric Wake, Nicky Graham, Gary Crowley and Steve Shin collaborated to create a remix of the track that lasted for 18 minutes and 1 second. It's worth a spin - if you have the time. The B-side groove of this 12" looked very interesting, but the sound included, as the title suggested, 'Nothing'.

My collection: 12" single no. 405

Found: Beanos, East Croydon (UK), May 1999

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'I owe you nothing (Over 18 mix)' / 'Nothing'

Download: here

I was made for lovin' you - Kiss

When I was asked what presents I wanted to have for my ninth birthday, I immediately replied that I would like some chart singles. They were too expensive for me to buy on my weekly allowance, but there were always titles that I desired. My wish was granted, and so I got Kiss for my birthday.

'I was made for lovin' you' was the nation's number one single at that time, and I was very proud that I had it. As a child you could believe that your purchase - even if someone else bought it for you - really mattered. The fact that the pressing came from France made my happiness even greater. Not that I understood the significance of different pressings, but France seemed like an exotic, far away country. The single itself, of course, is a classic.

My collection: 7" single no. 28
Found: Birthday present, August 31, 1979
Cost: nothing!
Tracks: 'I was made for lovin' you' / 'Hard times'
Download: Album 'Dynasty', including both tracks

Change of heart - Cyndi Lauper

I dare say that this is one of the best 12" singles in my collection. Cyndi Lauper's 'Change of heart' is a very energetic, bouncy song, and the remixes of the track on this record are adding to that vibe.

When I bought this record, I was scouring a row of 12" singles in a temporary shop in a building that was about to be knocked down in the centre of Den Haag. For some reason they stocked loads of English 12" singles and they were all made available for ridiculously low prices. The sleeve of this record was a big plus towards buying it, proving that good photography is essential if you want to sell records.

My collection: 12" single no. 76

Found: Haags Modehuis temporary store, Den Haag, 1989

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Change of heart (extended version)', 'Heart beats' / 'Change of heart (instrumental remix)', 'What a thrill'

Download: American 12" including the three remixes and What a thrill

Echo beach - Toyah

'Echo beach' was originally recorded by the Canadian band Martha & the Muffins in 1980. I liked that song a lot, and so it's no surprise that I would also be interested in cover versions. Toyah's version of the song was released in 1987, but I didn't find out about it until more than a decade later. That's when I found this 12" single.

It was an interesting find, because even though I like the song and Toyah's delivery of it isn't bad, it doesn't have quite the same magnetic quality the original had. The 'Surf mix' of the track is longer but doesn't add much to the song either. I would have to say that I haven't quite made up my mind on this one. But judge for yourself...

My collection: 12" single no. 387

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 1999

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Echo Beach (Surf mix)' / 'Echo Beach (7" mix)', 'Plenty'

Download: here