She drives me crazy - Fine Young Cannibals

'She drives me crazy' was the first single taken from the Fine Young Cannibals's second album 'The raw and the cooked'. It peaked at number 5 in the UK and reached number one in the USA's Billboard Hot 100.

My copy of the single was issued on red vinyl in a red tin can. The other four singles of the same album were also released in tin cans, each in their own unique colour of vinyl. An item like that takes up a lot of space, but it's so much fun to have.

My collection: 7" single no. 2786

Found: London, November 1996

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'She drives me crazy' / 'Pull the sucker off'

Download: Album 'The platinum collection', including both tracks

Break it up - Lois Lane

The Dutch group Lois Lane was Founded by Monique Klemann, she originally worked with backing singer Angela. When she left the band in 1985, Monique replaced her with her own sister, Suzanne Klemann. In 1987, they won a band contest in the Netherlands, which earned them a recording contract. The bouncy 'Break it up' became their debut single.

It ended up just outside the Dutch Top 40 in the summer of 1987. They would reach that chart with their third single, the theme song of the movie 'Amsterdamned'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3489

Found: Geest, Den Haag, 2006

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Break it up' / 'Nothing left'

Download: here

Sans contrefaçon - Mylene Farmer

After I'd decided I wanted to hear more from Mylene Farmer, things went pretty fast. Thanks to record fairs, I was able to buy a lot of her early material quickly. 'Sans contrefaçon' was a song I'd seen on television thanks to its accompanying video, and I was happy to find this old single.

It was originally released on October 16, 1987. The song's lyrics seem to be autobiographical. Indeed, in interviews, Farmer often explained that when she was younger, a lot of people thought she was a boy because of her short hair. To play on this doubt, she even confessed to putting a handkerchief in her trousers. Although the song doesn't deal with homosexuality, over years it has become somewhat of a gay anthem.

My collection: 7" single no. 1871

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, March 27, 1993

Cost: 10 guilders

Tracks: 'Sans contrefaçon' / 'La ronde triste'

Download: Album 'Ainsi soit je...', including both tracks (password: Ralf)

No regrets - Robbie Williams

Not to be confused with the Walker Brothers song of the same name, 'No regrets' is an equally monumental piece of work. Written by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers, this track features backing vocals by Neil Tennant from the Pet Shop Boys and Neil Hannon from the Divine Comedy. The single peaked at number four in the UK, but fared less well everywhere else. The B-side, 'Antmusic', was a cover of the famous Adam and the Ants track. It also featured in the soundtrack of the movie 'A Bug's life'.

I ordered this single in the UK, since it was getting increasingly difficult to find vinyl singles. This is also the only Robbie Williams vinyl that I own, as it is by far his best track.

My collection: 7" single no. 3047

Found: Esprit Mail Order, January 16, 1999

Cost: 4 pounds

Tracks: 'No regrets' / 'Antmusic'

Download: here

Little girl lost - The Icicle Works

The Icicle Works released their fourth album 'Blind' in 1988. This contained the reggae-inspired track 'Little girl lost', a track I got to know thanks to a four track cd-single which also featured the earlier single 'Evangeline'. The Icicle Works never managed to get into the Dutch Top 40, and this single was no exception.

I bought this single during a trip to London to see two live concerts on two nights: Black and All About Eve were both playing in the same week in that town. On the last day of my trip, I was hit by a kidney stone. What a memorable week.

My collection: 7" single no. 3167
Found: House of Rhythm, London, January 18, 2000
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'Little girl lost' / 'Tin can'
Download: here

Sleepwalk - Ultravox

'Sleepwalk' was the first single drawn from Ultravox's classic album 'Vienna' (1980). The song was primarily used to achieve a record contract with Chrysalis in 1980 after the band were sacked from their previous label, Island records. Compared to previous singles with John Foxx as their frontman, it was moderately successful in the UK singles chart, peaking at number 29.

The single's B-side, 'Waiting' is an intriguing instrumental track. It was recently released on cd as part of a special disc celebrating the classic album that is 'Vienna'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2540

Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, November 1, 1995

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Sleepwalk' / 'Waiting'

Download: here (password: UVXx8+Mu )

Making plans for Nigel - XTC

XTC's 'Making plans for Nigel' reached number 32 in the Dutch Top 40 in 1979. It fared better in the UK, where it reached number 17. The video of this song impressed me greatly when I was a child; it made me remember the band and this single for years on end. I didn't buy the single, so I spent years searching for it. I finally found it during a holiday in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 2695

Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, July 3, 1996

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Making plans for Nigel' / 'Bushman president', 'Pulsing pulsing'

Download: here