'cause cheap is how I feel - Cowboy Junkies

The Canadian band Cowboy Junkies were formed in 1985 by Michael, Margo and Peter Timmins with Alan Anton. They have always been popular in Canada, but were unable to gain popularity in other territories.

I heard about the band when I hung out with some friends in the early nineties who were very into alternative music. Artists like Tori Amos, Happy Rhodes, Sarah McLachlan, Cocteau Twins and the like filled the room when we were together. I picked up this single because I liked the song a lot, but I never pursued the band any further.

My collection: 7" single no. 1612

Found: March 28, 1992

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: ''cause cheap is how I feel' / 'Thirty summers'

Download: Album 'Caution horses', including both tracks

This world of water - New Musik

New Musik was an English synthpop group, formed in 1979 in London by Tony Mansfield, Clive Gates and Cliff Venner. Their debut album 'From A to B' contained four hit singles, of which 'This world of water' was the only one to reach the Dutch Top 40, peaking at no. 30 in the summer of 1980. This is also how I found out about the band. Now, decades later, I can say that I own all of their singles. But this one was the first that I bought!

My collection: 7" single no. 911

Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 25, 1989

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'This world of water' / 'Missing persons', 'Tell me something new'

Download: here

How could this go wrong - Exile

So this is the 12" single I found almost a quarter of a century after it was released. I didn't even know this version existed, but when I saw this record I was very excited. The original song is exciting enough, but an eight minute extended version would be even better. This 12" single delivers on all fronts: it's got a different sleeve, the remix is fantastic and the quality of the vinyl, like most discs from RAK records, is excellent.

My collection: 12" single no. 315

Found: Record fair, 2002

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'How could this go wrong [extended]' / 'Being in love with you is easy'

Download: here

How could this go wrong - Exile

I got to know the group Exile because of their hit ballad 'Kiss you all over'. When shortly afterwards the released this exciting disco-inspired rock song 'How could this go wrong', I was slightly confused. Of course I was only a child, so I didn't realise that a group that made ballads could also make uptempo tracks. But my premonition was not off: I thought this would never be a hit after such a beautiful song. It only reached number 37 in the Dutch Top 40. I like to think I contributed to that fact, by waiting until it left the charts until I bought it. But then again, my pocket money didn't stretch far enough for me to be able to buy chart single at that time...

My collection: 7" single no. 22

Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1979

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'How could this go wrong' / 'Being in love with you is easy'

Download: here

Puppet on a string - Sandie Shaw

Sandie Shaw won the 1967 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Puppet on a string'. It subsequently spent three weeks at the top of the UK singles chart. On the national final on UK television, Shaw performed five songs, of which one would be selected to represent the UK. Shaw was very disappointed when this song was chosen. 'I hated it from the very first oompah to the final bang on the big bass drum. I was instinctively repelled by its sexist drivel and cuckoo-clock tune.' Despite all this, she won the Eurovision Song Contest convincingly, although she put it down to her existing popularity on the European continent.

When I bought this single, two versions were staring at me from the shelf. I chose this one, because of the sleeve that contains a photograph from the actual Song Contest performance.

My collection: 7" single no. 3542

Found: Empire Records, January 9, 2009

Cost: 3,5 euro

Tracks: 'Puppet on a string' / 'Tell the boys'

Download: Album 'Princess of Britpop', including both tracks (password: www.freesoftwarealliance.com )

Like flames - Berlin

Berlin was formed in Orange County, California in the late Seventies. The band consisted of John Crawford, David Diamond and Terri Nunn. Their big break came in 1987, when they recorded 'Take my breath away' for the hit movie 'Top Gun'. It brought them a number one hit in many countries including the Netherlands and the UK. The band then tried to build on this success with this single, 'Like flames'. This single, and other ones, couldn't match the success with 'Take my breath away', and so the band disbanded within a year.

My collection: 7" single no. 3371

Found: London, December 2002

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Like flames' / 'Trash' // 'Take my breath away' / 'No more words'

Download: Album 'Count three and pray', including these tracks (password: =(J+E)= )

Black man Ray - China Crisis

China Crisis's third album was produced by Walter Becker, of Steely Dan fame. Named 'Flaunt the imperfection', the album was preceded by the single 'Black man Ray', which became an international hit.

I bought a limited edition set of two picture discs during a holiday in London. It was a strange find: each shaped picture disc contained one side, one disc holding the 'A-side' ('Black man Ray') and the other holding the 'B-side' ('Animalistic').

My collection: Picture disc (unnumbered)

Found: London, 2001

Cost: 5 pounds

Tracks: 'Black man Ray' // 'Animalistic'

Download: here