Ace of spades - Motörhead

'Ace of spades' is a loud, proud and obnoxious song by the metal band Motörhead. It is universally regarded as their main anthem. For the lyrics, lead singer Lemmy said he 'used gambling metaphors, mostly cards and dice - when it comes to that sort of thing, I'm more into the one-arm bandits actually, but you can't really sing about spinning fruit, and the wheels coming down'. In March 2005, Q Magazine placed it at number 27 in its list of the 100 greatest guitar tracks, stating 'This song has an intro which wouldn't be out of place ushering in the end of the world'.

'Ace of spades reached number 15 after its original release in November 1980. In 1993, the single was re-released, coupled with a rather ill-advised but comical remix version. Although the band were not too pleased with the remix version, the single peaked at number 23 in the UK charts.

My collection: 7" single no. 2884

Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 28, 1997

Cost: 1,5 pounds

Tracks: 'Ace of spades' / 'Dirty love'

Download: Album 'Ace of spades', including both tracks

Rendezvous 6:02 - UK

In September 1976, John Wetton, Bill Bruford, Eddie Jobson and Allan Holdsworth formed the band UK. They released a self-titled debut album in 1978 and went on a lengthy tour of America. Holdsworth and Bruford left the band, claiming musical differences as the reason. Terry Bozzio joined the band, and as a result the band became a trio, playing keyboards, bass and drums, supplemented by the violin played by Jobson. They recorded the album 'Danger Money', which was released in March 1979.

'Rendezvous 6:02' was the first single to be take nfrom that album. It peaked at number 24 in the Dutch Top 40 in the Summer of 1979.

My collection: 7" single no. 1108

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

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Rendezvous 6:02' / 'In the dead of night'

Download: here

Red guitar - David Sylvian

After spending a decade in the band Japan, David Sylvian released his debut solo album 'Brilliant trees' in 1984. The album was split in two parts: the more accessible tracks were on side A of the album, whereas the more experimental work was grouped together on side B. The biggest hit from this album was 'Red guitar', which reached number 17 in the UK singles chart in the Summer of 1984.

Originally I dismissed this single as 'boring', but after a while I still became interesed and bought the 7" single. Years after that, I bought the 12" single because I had become curious what the 'full length version' would be like. As it turns out, it is actually the album version. But since I don't have the album, this will do nicely.

My collection: 12" single no. 321

Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 1995

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Red guitar (full length version)' / 'Forbidden colours'

Download: here

The whole of the moon - The Waterboys

The Waterboys released 'The whole of the moon' in November 1985. It reached number 28 on the UK singles chart. It only reached number three in the chart after it was re-released in 1990.

The song began as a 'scribble on the back of an envelope on a wintry New York street', after Mike Scott's girlfriend asked him if it was difficult to write a song, and was unfinished at the beginning of the recording sessions of the 1985 album 'This is the sea'. It was eventually completed in May 1985. In 1991, the song was awarded the prestigious Ivor Novello Award for songwriting and composing.

My copy of the single is housed in a black sleeve with a large hole in the middle, representing space, whereas the label of the A-side of the single itself contains a picture of the moon.

My collection: 7" single no. 1046

Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'The whole of the moon' / 'Medicine Jack'

Download: here

Arms of Mary - Sutherland Brothers and Quiver

Gavin and Iain Sutherland formed originally in London in 1970, but they only found success when they fused together with another band, Quiver, that they started to enjoy chart success. Quiver consisted of Tim Renwick, Bruce Thomas and Willie Wilson. When they released 'Arms of Mary' in the Summer of 1976, they enjoyed a number 5 hit in the UK and a number 1 hit in the Netherlands. They were just enjoying this success when the punk music explosion happened. They ended up being ousted from their residency at London's Marquee Club to make way for bands like the Damned and X-Ray Spex. By the end of the Seventies, the band split up.

My collection: 7" single no. 3372
Found: Disco Market, January 11, 2003
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Arms of Mary' / 'We get along'
Download: here

Give - Missing Persons

Missing Persons was founded by Warren Cuccurullo, Dale Bozzio and Terry Bozzio. They recruited Patrick O'Hearn and Chuck Wild. After releasing an EP and a debut album, the album 'Rhyme & Reason' came out in 1984. After the success of their debut album, this album sold less well.

'Give' was the second single drawn from the album, and the striking video for it helped it make number 67 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It didn't chart in Europe, although the video was shown there on a regular basis as well. That's how I noticed this song - and eventually got to buy it.

My collection: 7" single no. 1493

Found: Van der Horst, Den Haag, July 18, 1991

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Give' / 'Clandestine people'

Download: Album 'Rhyme & Reason', including both tracks

Sol - Nova

'Sol' was the second single released by the instrumental synthpop band Nova. Expectations were high, since 'Aurora' made number one in the Dutch Top 40. By comparison, 'Sol' did less well, but it still made a very respectable number 20 in the summer of 1982.

It was the only Nova single I bought that year, since 'Aurora' had been played to death on the radio and I really didn't need to hear it anymore. That said, I don't think I played 'Sol' very often...

My collection: 7" single no. 125

Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1982

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Sol' / 'Ariane (The traveler)'

Download: Album 'Terranova', including both tracks