Fred Astaire - Mo

'Fred Astaire' was the Mo's biggest hit in the Netherlands. It was released in January 1981 and reached number 18 in the Dutch Top 40. It was taken from the self-titled album 'Mo', which reached number 10 in the albums chart.

Ironically, out of all the Mo singles I have, it took me the longest time to buy this single. I couldn't remember how this song went, and when I finally did, the single didn't pop up in record stores and record fairs anymore. But in 2000 I succeeded in adding this one to my collection. It's a good thing, too: the B-side 'Band with bassoon' is just as good as the A-side.

My collection: 7" single no. 3220

Found: October 12, 2000

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Fred Astaire' / 'Band with bassoon'

Download: here

The foolish thing to do - Heaven 17 featuring Jimmy Ruffin

Heaven 17 teamed up with Jimmy Ruffin to record this single, 'The foolish thing to do', in 1986. Ruffin was famous for the hit single 'What becomes of the broken hearted' and further hit singles recorded on the Motown label in the late Sixties and early Seventies, whereas Heaven 17 had had several hit singles in the first half of the eighties. Working together, they made a modern sounding soul song. Unfortunately, their effort wasn't rewarded by the audience: the single didn't chart anywhere.

For me, it was the first Heaven 17 single I ever bought. I quite resisted buying Heaven 17 singles because my sister was so into them. She was putting down my favourites, so it was only fair that I did the same with hers. But in the end, I couldn't resist this song.

My collection: 7" single no. 1408
Found: Concerto, Amsterdam, April 3, 1991
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'The foolish thing to do (version 1)' / 'My sensitivity (gets in the way)'
Download: here

Haunt me - Sade

In 1988, Sade released her third album, 'Stronger than pride'. As far as I knew, three singles were drawn from it: 'Love is stronger than pride', 'Paradise', 'Nothing can come between us' and 'Turn my back on you'. I was greatly surprised when I found this single, 'Haunt me', in 1996. It was the first and only time I saw it.

According to the information I got when I bought this single, it was released in Spain. However, the single was made in Holland, as the label says. A 12" single also exists, with the extended version of 'Make some room' on the B-side.

My collection: 7" single no. 2628

Found: Record fair, March 16, 1996

Cost: 10 guilders

Tracks: 'Haunt me' / 'Make some room'

Download: here

Luxemburg - The Good Cause

The Dutch group Het Goede Doel decided to try and forge an international career with this single, 'Luxemburg'. It was an English translation of 'België' ('Belgium'), their biggest hit in the Netherlands. Unfortunately, in the translation a lot of the humour of the original version had been lost. If only for the cultural fact that the Dutch tend to look down on their southerly neighbours, whereas no-one really has an opinion about Luxemburg.

After an appearance in a European broadcast (with this video), the single sunk without a trace. Still, it is kindof a collectors item in the Netherlands, because it wasn't released there.

My collection: 7" single no. 3018

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 5, 1998

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Luxemburg' / 'Bread and circuses (instrumental)'

Download: here

Dynamite - Mud

Mud was founded in 1968 by Rob Davis, Les Gray, Dave Mount and Ray Stiles. They were one of Britain's most successful glam rock bands, with three number one singles and eight further top 10 hits.

Even though 'Dynamite' only reached number 4 in the UK, it was a number 1 hit in the Netherlands in 1974. This is also how I found out about the band. Even though I was only four years old, I was watching the Dutch chart show Toppop every week, and my family still remembers how I kept requesting whether bands like the Sparks or Mud would return in that week's edition. I bought this single mostly for sentimental reasons. I didn't play it very often. I'd grown up, after all.

My collection: 7" single no. 1902

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 2, 1993

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Dynamite' / 'Do it all over again'

Download: here

Alane - Wes

One of the most irritating songs of 1998 was 'Alane' by Wes - at least, that's my opinion. Not that a lot of people agreed: it was a top 10 hit in the Netherlands and reached number 11 in the UK singles chart.

Still, when I found out that there was a remix of this track by the Trouser Enthusiasts, it piqued my interest. I went hunting for this remix - but for some time I wasn't successful. Until I finally found a 12" single with the remix and a dub version. It makes a great dance track out of a stupid, boring song. Well, that's quite an achievement!

My collection: 12" single no. 415

Found: London, 2000

Cost: 5 pounds

Tracks: 'Alane (Trouser Enthusiasts Orgasmic Apparition Mix)' / 'Alane (Trouser Enthusiasts Spectrophiliac Dub)'

Download: here

Bandido - Azucar Moreno

The sisters Antonia and Encarnación Salazar formed Azucar Moreno (meaning 'brown sugar') in 1982. They signed with EMI Spain and recorded two albums, to moderate success in their home country. In 1988 they signed with CBS-Epic and relaunched their music with a bolder production style and matching sexier image.

In 1990 they represented Spain in that year's Eurovision Song Contest, taking place in Zagreb with this song, 'Bandido'. The start of their performance was marred by sound problems. Due to a tape technician not starting the pre-recorded backing track in time both the singers, their band and the live orchestra missed their cues. The song then started all over. Despite all this, 'Bandido' finished fifth. I bought the single as soon as I could. In those days, Eurovision songs - even the non-winning ones - still appeared in record shops around the corner...

My collection: 7" single no. 1234

Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, May 19, 1990

Cost: 6,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Bandido' / 'Bandido (Instrumental)'
Download: here