Promises (as the years go by) - IQ

IQ was one of a few British bands formed during the early eighties that continued with the progressive rock style that had been abandoned by seventies bands like Genesis and Yes. Although - or perhaps because - the music they made required complex musicianship and included intricate arrangements, commercial success always eluded the band.

When they released their 1987 album 'Nomzamo', the single 'Promises (as the years go by)' actually got some airplay in the Netherlands. This is how I found out about the single.

My collection: 7" single no. 680

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, November 12, 1988

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Promises (as the years go by)' / 'Nomzamo'

Download: Album 'Nomzamo', including both tracks

Love really hurts without you - Billy Ocean

'State alternatives wherever possible'. This line was famous in the eighties, when I was ordering records in the UK via mail order. Back then, you just sent your order form with some money and hoped you would receive the singles you ordered two weeks later. I was usually lucky, and so my alternative was never used. I always wrote down 'Love really hurts without you' by Billy Ocean, because I knew the song and in time I knew I wanted to have it, but I wasn't that hot for it. Well, that's a fact: I finally bought the single in a shop in 2003 and only played it this year for the first time.

Leslie Sebastian Charles was born in Trinidad on January 21, 1950 (exactly 59 years ago today) and moved to England with his parents at the age of eight. In 1975 he took on the stage name Billy Ocean, taking the surname from the 'Ocean Estate' where he lived in East London. His debut single, 'Love really hurts without you', reached number 2 in the UK singles chart, number 11 in the Netherlands and number 22 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

My collection: 7" single no. 3390

Found: Geest, Den Haag, 2003

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Love really hurts without you' / 'You're running outa fools'

Download: here

Johnny Panic and the bible of dreams - Tears for Fears

Not actually credited to Tears for Fears, this 12" single is simply called 'Johnny Panic and the bible of dreams'. However, since the track is produced by 'Tears for Fears and Dave Bascombe', I decide to present this as a Tears for Fears track nonetheless.

The track, which is an alternative version of Tears for Fears's 1989 hit single 'Sowing the seeds of love', originally appeared as the B-side to their 1990 single 'Advice for the young at heart'. The song was later remixed by producer/DJ Fluke and released as a single in 1991. The title of the song is taken from a short story by the American writer Sylvia Plath, which was the title story in a collection of her short stories posthumously published in 1977.

My collection: 12" single no. 484

Found: London, 2002

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Johnny Panic and the bible of dreams (mix 1)' / 'Johnny Panic and the bible of dreams (mix 2)'

Download: here

For your eyes only - Sheena Easton

'For your eyes only' was the theme tune of the twelfth James Bond movie, released in 1981. Easton, who had only had one previous hit with 'Morning Train' (or '9 to 5' as it was alternatively known), had a big hit with this track, peaking at number 8 in the UK and number 1 in the Netherlands. Easton was also the only artist to be seen singing the theme song of a Bond movie during its opening titles.

Originally, the producers wanted Blondie to perform this song, but she declined. Blondie's version of the song 'For your eyes only', which is actually a different composition, appears on their 1982 album, 'The Hunter'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3402

Found: Geest, Den Haag, 2003

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'For your eyes only' / 'For your eyes only (instrumental)'

Download: here

Will you? - Hazel O'Connor

One of the ugliest sleeves ever is the one for Hazel O'Connor's 'Will you?' and the accompanying album 'Breaking glass'. It's such an unflattering photograph! And it's a shame, because 'Will you?' has to be one of the most beautiful songs of the year 1981. Hazel O'Connor started her career as an actress in the soft porn film 'Girls come first' (1975), but her big breakthrough followed five years later with 'Breaking glass', a movie in which she acted and also provided the music for. When this single and 'Eighth day' both became top 10 hits in the UK, she went on tour. Her opening act was an unknown local group from Birmingham called Duran Duran. It was the band's first opportunity to play to large audiences throughout the UK and gave them the exposure they needed to secure a recording contract...

My collection: 7" single no. 494

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1986

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Will you?' / 'Big brother'

Download: here

Met open ogen - Het Goede Doel

The Dutch band Het Goede Doel released 'Met open ogen' ('With eyes opened') in 1989. Much was made of the length of the track: it lasted for almost 15 minutes. At least, on the cd-single. The 7" vinyl version, which was made after the cd-single started selling well, only contained the 'mini-mix', which was only two and a half minutes long. This edited version didn't contain the fascinating solos and experimental segments of the full version. The track was taken from the album 'Souvenir'. Both this track and the album got criticised because they were deemed 'too pretentious'.

The song became the last hit for Het Goede Doel, reaching number 27 in the Dutch Top 40. Further singles didn't reach the chart anymore.

My collection: 7" single no. 3477

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, December 11, 2008

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Met open ogen (mini-mix)' / 'Met open ogen (mini-mix - instrumental)'

Download: cd-single 'Met open ogen', including both tracks

Dr. Sex - Pleasure and the Beast

Robert Pereno and Lowri-Ann Richards formed Pleasure and the Beast. They only recorded two singles during their short career. Their debut single was released in 1983. It was 'Dr. Sex', an upbeat new wave track with sinister edges. The video for this song appeared on music television regularly, and that's how I found about it circa 1984.

It took me fifteen years to see a copy of the single - and of course I bought it when I did. It turned up during a record fair. I never saw the single before or after. It can be considered quite a rarity, then.

My collection: 7" single no. 3158

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 27, 1999

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Dr. Sex' / 'Snake'

Download: here