I want candy - Bow wow wow

'I want candy' was originally recorded by the Strangeloves in 1965. The punk band Bowwowwow recorded their cover version of this song in 1982, at the height of their success.

Originally, this was the first single by Bow wow wow I owned, but within weeks of buying it I started to doubt whether I really wanted to have it or not. Making use of this situation, my sister eventually traded the single for another one. Fourteen years later, I bought a new copy of this single in England. It turned out to be a 'special edition', featuring 'I want candy' on the A-side and the Bow wow wow logo etched on the other side of the disc.

My collection: 7" single no. 2778

Found: Record exchange, London, October 31, 1996

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'I want candy'

Download: Bow wow wow EP, featuring this track

Hot stuff - Donna Summer

During the great shopping spree of 1979, which I wrote about earlier, this was one of the other finds. This single came in a custom 'Casablance' sleeve, and featured a track by Donna Summer. At the time I knew all about her, thanks to 'funny' songs like 'I feel love' and 'Down deep inside'. Little children always have to laugh about groaning women, at least that's what I think. 'Hot stuff' was a bit more 'serious'. It was a good dance track, but I deemed it a bit 'boring' in the long run. That's why I never played this single much.

My collection: 7" single no. 14

Found: London, July 1979

Cost: 10p

Tracks: 'Hot stuff' / 'Journey to the centre of your heart'

Download: Album 'Bad girls', including both tracks

101 - Sheena Easton

In the 1980's, Sheena Easton metamorphosed from an innocent little Scottish starlet into an American vamp. The change happened in 1983, after she'd recorded a rather bizarre duet with country star Kenny Rogers. She collaborated with Prince, recorded the suggestive track 'Strut' and revived her slumping career. She continued to work with Prince, as evidenced in his 1987 track 'U got the look' and this track, '101', which was written by the musical wizard from Minneapolis.

Originally, '101' is a steamy ballad. On the 12" single, it is remixed by David Morales and Prince respectively. It adds some extra energy to the track.

My collection: 12" single no. 430

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, 2003

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: '101 (Def house mix)' / '101 (Uptown mix)'

Download: here (password: DjPaulT)

Milk - Garbage

The band Garbage is specialized in rock tracks with a twist. Their Bond anthem 'The World is not enough' is one example of their greatness, and this track, 'Milk', is another. Aside from their music, Garbage have also been known for their great attraction to unlikely formats. They released 3" cd singles in blister packs long after the 3" format had been abandoned by record companies, and they released 7" singles in thick, attractive sleeves to make their records attractive for collectors.

The 7" single for Milk included a large foldout poster with no image on it, just a red square, and a cardboard outer sleeve with a 3d reflecting image. A beautiful item for those who appreciate special editions...

My collection: 7" single no. 2800

Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 14, 1996

Cost: 10 guilders

Tracks: 'Milk (Wicked mix)' / 'Milk (Tricky remix)'

Download: 'Milk (Remixes)', including both tracks

Money - Flying Lizards

'Money' was first recorded by Barret Strong back in 1959. It was covered by the Beatles and then much later in 1979 by the Flying Lizards. They were a British experimental rock group, making their name with this and other postmodern cover versions of songs.

At a very young age I was confronted with this song and I liked it a lot. I was especially impressed with the fact that the song continued on the B-side, with instrumental improvisations.

My collection: 7" single no. 53

Found: Rapsody, Den Haag, 1979

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Money' / 'Money B'

Download: here

Sounds like a melody - Alphaville

The German band Alphaville rose to fame with the song 'Big in Japan', a number 2 hit in the Netherlands in May 1984. Three months later, they released 'Sound like a melody', a song that appealed more to my taste, but less to the taste of the general public.

I can't recall how I first heard the 12" version of that song, but most likely it was because my sister bought and played it. I was most impressed: not only had the song become longer, but I felt it had also gained intensity. The instrumental piece at the end of the song was expanded and seemed to come to a point where you almost can't bear it anymore. I bought my copy of the 12" years later.

My collection: 12" single no. 464

Found: unknown

Cost: 10 guilders

Tracks: 'Sounds like a melody [extended]' / 'The Nelson Highrise (Sector One: The Elevator)'

Download: here

Moviestar - Harpo

Jan Harpo Torsten Svensson was born on April 5, 1950 in Stockholm, Sweden. In 1975 he rose to international fame with his song 'Moviestar'. It reached number one in Sweden and Germany, number 2 in Australia and the Netherlands. Although Harpo is still active in the music business to this day, he never repeated this level of success.

One of the backing singers on 'Moviestar' was Frida from that other famous Swedish act, Abba. I am sure that I didn't know this as a kid, even though I was an Abba fan, but the song had an incredible impact on me. I loved the melody, the strange accent in the vocals, and played my sister's copy of the single time and again. I bought my own copy in 1991.

My collection: 7" single no. 1520

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 21, 1991

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Moviestar' / ' I don't know why'

Download: here