Don't box me in - Stewart Copeland and Stanard Ridgway

While the world was waiting for a new album by The Police, the members of the group went their own way to do solo projects. Sting recorded a solo single, and drummer Stewart Copeland recorded the soundtrack for the movie 'Rumblefish', which was directed, produced and co-written by Francis Ford Coppola.

As Coppola started to work on the soundtrack of the movie, he envisioned a mainly percussive soundtrack to symbolize the idea of time running out. He asked Copeland to improvise a rhythm track. Coppola soon realized that Copeland was a far superior composer and let him take over. The song 'Don't Box Me In' was a collaboration between Copeland and singer/songwriter Stan Ridgway, leader and frontman of the band Wall of Voodoo.

My collection: 7" single no. 3115

Found: London, May 14, 1999

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Don't box me in' / 'Drama at home'

Download: here

Visioni - Alice

Alice is an Italian singer, who rose to prominence in Europe in 1984 when she represented Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest together with Franco Battiato, singing 'I treni di Tozeur'. She has had a very successful solo career in her native Italy.

I bought this single, 'Visioni', at a time when I was always trying out new music. Sometimes it was based on nothing more than the sleeve, like in this instance. The style of music is obvious from the sleeve layout: I was expecting pop and that's what I got. It's a nice little song, although the B-side is actually stronger and more intriguing than the A-side.

My collection: 7" single no. 2437

Found: Concerto, Amsterdam, August 19, 1995

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Visioni' / 'Il sole nella pioggia'

Download: here

Oh Sheila - Ready for the world

Ready for the world was founded by Melvin Riley and Gordon Strozier in Flint, Michigan. They were joined by Gregory Potts, Willie Triplett, John Eaton and Gerald Valentine to form a pop/soul/dance band. Their best known hit is 'Oh Sheila', which sounds a lot like a Prince song and could be interpreted as an ode to Sheila E.

The double single which I bought in 1999 features not only the original version of this song but also an 'Extraterrestrial mix' made by John Morales.

My collection: 7" single no. 3071

Found: May 10, 1999

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Oh Sheila (Extraterrestrial mix)' / 'Slide over' // 'Oh Sheila (original mix)' / 'I'm the one who loves you'

Download: 'Oh Sheila (Extraterrestrial mix)', Album 'Ready for the world', including the three other tracks

Real wild child (Wild one) - Iggy Pop

In 1994, one of pop's most underrated artists included a cover of one of rock's most overrated artists in her live set. Kim Wilde went on a Hits Tour, performing most of her own biggest hits, but she also played Iggy Pop's 'Real wild child'. Personally I never understood what the big deal was about Iggy Pop: formerly with The Stooges, a punkrock band, he continued to make the same kind of songs throughout his career. Compare 'Lust for life' (1977) with this track (1987) and you will hardly notice any difference.

Still, as part of my Kim Wilde collection I also had to have this original song, and so I bought this single in 1995 after some months of searching.

My collection: 7" single no. 2551

Found: Record fair, November 19, 1995

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Real wild child (Wild one)' / 'Fire girl'
Download: Album 'Blah Blah Blah', including both tracks

She's strange - Cameo

Cameo started out as a 13-member group in the seventies, called the New York City Players. In March 1984, they had their first hit outside of America, reaching number 37 in the UK singles chart with this single, 'She's strange'. It is a far cry from later hits like 'Word Up' and 'Candy', with its understated, subtle music and close harmony vocals. The video was a regular on music television during that year, but in the Netherlands, the single couldn't be found.

I finally bought this 12" single as a good alternative. With a long version and a club mix of the track, it is a treat.

My collection: 12" single no. 404

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

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'She's strange (long version)', 'Love you anyway' / 'She's strange (club mix)', 'Groove with you'

Download: here

Allergies - Paul Simon

While I was never a big Paul Simon fan, 'Allergies' is an interesting song. The single never charted in the UK, but it did reach number 31 in the Dutch Top 40 in 1983. It was taken from Simon's album 'Hearts and bones'. The songs on this album were apparently planned to be part of a Simon & Garfunkel reunion album after their famous concert in Central Park on September 19, 1981. Simon finally recorded and released the songs solo.

My collection: 7" single no. 3395

Found: Geest, Den Haag, 2004

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Allergies' / 'Think too much'

Download: Album 'Hearts and bones', including both tracks

Limited Edition Hits E.P. Number Two - A-ha

The record company repeated the trick of the Limited Edition Hits E.P. with an E.P. Number Two. It was the second single from A-ha's 1990 album 'East of the sun west of the moon' that got the Hits E.P. treatment. 'I call your name' was coupled with 'The sun always shines on T.V.', 'Hunting high and low' and 'The blood that moves the body'.

'I call your name' peaked at number 44, and while further singles were drawn from A-ha's album, no further Hits E.P.'s were compiled.

My collection: 7" single no. 2386

Found: House of Rhythm, London, July 1, 1995

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'I call your name', 'The sun always shines on T.V.' / 'Hunting high and low', 'The blood that moves the body'

Download: Album 'Headlines and deadlines', including these tracks