This man is mine - Heart

'This man is mine' was the first single to be released from Heart's sixth studio album, 'Private audition' (1982). The song is an ode to The Supremes. The single peaked at number 33 in the US Billboard Hot 100, but didn't chart in the UK and the Netherlands.

I knew Heart mostly for their earlier singles 'Magic man' and 'Crazy on you', so this song was very different from that material. I liked it instantly, though, and when I got a little older I was very happy to be able to buy this single.

My collection: 7" single no. 1100

Found: All that music, Leiden, November 11, 1989

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'This man is mine' / 'America'

Download: Album 'Private audition', including both tracks

Silly games - Lindy Layton

Lindy Layton was born on December 7, 1970. She was a founding member of the band Beats International, who scored a major hit with 'Dub be good to me' in 1990. While in Beats International, Lindy also launched a solo career. Her debut single was 'Silly games', a cover of a song originally recorded by Janet Kay in 1979. While Kay reached number 2 in the UK singles chart in 1979, Layton only managed number 22 in 1990.

My collection: 7" single no. 1721

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, October 3, 1992

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Silly games' / 'Silly games (Classical groove)'

Download: here

Each and every one - Everything but the girl

Everything but the girl are a two person band, formed in Hull in 1982 by Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt. They released their debut album 'Eden' in 1984. It featured their first hit single, 'Each and every one', which reached number 28 in the UK and number 9 in the Netherlands.

I thought the song was intensely dull when it came out. Of course, there were a lot more interesting pop acts around at that time to grab my interest. So I only grew to like this song later, and it was at the end of the eighties that I finally bought this single.

My collection: 7" single no. 847

Found: Den Haag, May 27, 1989

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Each and every one' / 'Laugh you out the house'

Download: here

Drowning in Berlin - Mobiles

The Mobiles were founded in 1981 and featured band members Anna Marie, Jhon Smithson, Chris Downton, David Blundell, Russ Madge and Eddie Smithson. Their debut single 'You're not alone' didn't chart, but their second single 'Drowning in Berlin' became a massive hit single. It reached number 9 in the UK singles chart. They were invited to play in the television programme Top of the Pops as a result. The band members then claimed they were sacked from their day jobs because they took a day off in order to be able to appear in this programme. They only released one album, 'Drowning in Berlin', which was released on cd in 2005.

My collection: 7" single no. 2130

Found: Record Palace, Amsterdam, July 30, 1994

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Drowning in Berlin' / 'Tiptoe in paradise'

Download: here

Gentleman who fell - Milla

Milla Jovovich is best known for her modelling and acting work, but in 1994 she released her only music album to date, 'The Divine Comedy'. 'Gentleman who fell' was the first and only single drawn from this album. I bought all the cd-singles I could find (there are quite a few different promo's around) so I also had to have the 7" vinyl single, of course.

While the album was not a commercial success, it was highly praised and well-received by critics. And rightfully so: the left-of-center sound, influenced by folk and played on mainly acoustic instruments is a treat for the ears.

My collection: 7" single no. 2170

Found: Virgin at Marble Arch, London, September 26, 1994

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Gentleman who fell' / 'You did it all before (acoustic)'

Download: cd-single 'Gentleman who fell', including both tracks

No regrets - Midge Ure

As a big fan of Ultravox, even at an early age of 11, I got very worried when Midge Ure released this solo single. Sure, 'No regrets' was a beautiful song, as skillfully performed as any Ultravox track, but did it mean that my favourite group was falling apart? Fortunately, it didn't: Ultravox were going to release a few albums yet.

I found out later that 'No regrets' was a cover of a song originally performed by the Walker Brothers. And even though I really like that version a lot, I have to say I'll always prefer Midge's synth-driven cover. The B-side delivers exactly what the title promises.

My collection: 7" single no. 329

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'No regrets' / 'Mood music'

Download: here

Together too long - The Meteors

The Dutch band Meteors was founded in 1977 Ferdinand Bakker, Job Tarenskeen and Hugo Sinzheimer. They enlist three more musicians: Åke Danielson, John Vee and Erik de Zwaan. In 1979 they record their debut album 'Teenage heart', which contains the minor hit 'It's you only you'. 'Together too long' is the lead single from their second album 'Hunger' (1980), which is recorded after Tarenskeen, Vee and De Zwaan quit the band. They are replaced by Kim Haworth and Gerrit Veen. 'Together too long' is by far the most intense song the group ever recorded, but like the other singles it doesn't reach the higher regions of the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 613

Found: All that music, Leiden, 1987

Cost: 3,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Together too long' / 'Out of the race'

Download: here