What's your name - Zinno

The Belgian act Zinno earned the status of one hit wonders with their single 'What's your name?'. The track was made with samples from James Bond movies, coupled with a dance beat. Zinno consisted of Fréderic Jannin and Jean-Paul Hautier. The refrain in this track was sung by Eleonore.

The single was released on the Magic label, which was started by Dan Lacksman and Marc Moulin from the group Telex.

My collection: 7" single no. 325

Found: Studio Echo, Den Haag, 1985

Cost: 5,5 guilders

Tracks: 'What's your name?' / 'What's your name? (instrumental)'

Download: here

Un fait divers et rien de plus - Le Club

This 12" single was released in a limited edition. It features two mixes of Le Club's song 'Un fait divers et rien de plus', a track heavily influenced by American hiphop and dance club music. Le Club was a very anonymous group, which according to the credits of the song consisted of André Monet, Jacky Dieme and Olaf Zalcman.

I bought this 12" single because I liked the original version of the track. I have to say that it hasn't aged very well.

My collection: 12" single no. 317

Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 2004

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Un fait divers et rien de plus (remix)' / 'Un fait divers et rien de plus (re-remix)'

Download: here

I'm born again / Bahama Mama - Boney M

Released as a double A-side in December 1979, 'I'm born again' / 'Bahama mama' was another single in the successful run of singles Boney M had had since 1976. However, it was the first single since then that didn't reach the top 10 in the Netherlands. Perhaps the Christmas-tinted 'I'm born again' was a bit too sappy for the Dutch audience. The more uptempo 'Bahama mama' was a bit unsurprising. Aged nine and an avid Boney M fan, I had no problem buying this single as soon as I could.

My collection: 7" single no. 37

Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1979

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'I'm born again' / 'Bahama mama'

Download: Album 'Oceans of fantasy', including both tracks

There ain't no age for rock 'n roll - The Veterans

The Veterans was a Belgian duo consisting of Gus Roan and Marc Malyster. They debuted in 1980 with the single 'I'm jogging'. Roan produced and composed the song that played on the jogging hype that took place that year. The video featured a jogging old man, surrounded by beautiful ladies.

'There ain't no age for rock 'n roll' was their second single, a slightly more sophisticated, synth-driven song that even made the lower regions of Dutch singles chart. Having known this song since my childhood, I bought this single recently and quite enjoyed hearing it again.

My collection: 7" single no. 3459

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 22, 2008

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'There ain't no age for rock'n roll' / 'Nigel Gold grows old'

Download: here

Saskatchewan - Red Box

'Chenko' is not the only single released before Red Box's debut album 'The circle and the square'. 'Saskatchewan' also appeared in a more rudimentary form as a 7" and 12" single. By then, the band had signed to Sire Records. The single was recorded in the summer of 1984 and released soon thereafter. Like 'Chenko', the single wasn't a hit. Fortunately, they were able to record their album after this, otherwise the world might never have heard the wonderful songs that followed...

My collection: 7" single no. 2381

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

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Saskatchewan' / 'Speeches'

Download: here

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