Hounds of love - Futureheads

'Hounds of love' was originally released by Kate Bush in 1985. The song is about being afraid to fall in love (in the song this feeling is compared to being chased by a pack of hounds).

The Futureheads made a cover version of this song and released it in February 2005. It became their biggest hit to date, reaching number 8 in the UK singles chart. Besides two different cd-singles, the track was also released on 7" vinyl.

My collection: 7" single no. 3409
Found: HMV, London, 2005
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Hounds of love' / 'Man made (A mistake)'
Download: here

Don't look back - Fine Young Cannibals

'Don't look back' was the third single taken from Fine Young Cannibals' second album 'The raw & the cooked'. It sold less well than 'Good thing', peaking at number 34 in the UK singles chart. It fared even worse in the Netherlands, because it didn't chart at all.

Like 'Good thing' and 'She drives me crazy', a limited edition of the single was released housed in a tin can. This time, the single was pressed on yellow vinyl.

My collection: 7" single no. 985

Found: Ter Meulen, Rotterdam, 1987

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Don't look back' / 'You never know'

Download: cd-single ''Don't look back', including both tracks

The lady don't mind - Talking heads

'The lady don't mind' was the last single released by the Talking Heads before their hugely successful 'Road to nowhere'. In the summer of 1985, this single reached number 13 in the Dutch Top 40, whereas it didn't chart in the UK.

'Little creatures', the album where this single was drawn from, was released in 1985 as well. It was Talking Heads' sixth album. 'The lady don't mind' was the only track on the album written and composed by the entire band.

My collection: 7" single no. 313
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'The lady don't mind' / 'Give me back my name'
Download: Album 'Little creatures', including both tracks

En dag - Tommy Nilsson

Tommy Nilsson was born on March 11, 1960. He became lead singer of the Swedish heavy metal band Horizont in the late Seventies. He started a solo career in 1981, when he was signed to a French record company by producer Yves Accary. His single 'No way no how' sold one million copies, his debut album over 200,000 copies. After his debut album contained disco tracks and ballads, the next album was full of rock songs, composed by Nilsson and Alex Contanstinos. After two years of travelling between France and the United States, Nilsson decided to go back to Sweden. He first joined another metal band, Easy Action, who released two albums. The group eventually split up and Nilsson went solo again.

He represented Sweden in the 1989 Eurovision Song Contest, the one that was won by Yugoslavia with one of the worst winning songs ever: 'Rock me' by Riva. Nilsson was placed fourth.

My collection: 7" single no. 2967

Found: Bea Records, February 21, 1998

Cost: 10 guilders

Tracks: 'En dag' / 'Someday'

Download: here

Baby I don't care - Transvision Vamp

'Baby I don't care' was taken from Transvision Vamp's second album 'Velveteen' and was released in 1989. The song is their most well-known song, peaking at number 3 in both the UK and Australia. The guitar riff in this song is based on The Sonics' version of 'Louie Louie', with Wendy James's scream modelled on their lead singer Gerry Roslie's.

My collection: 7" single no. 965

Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, August 12, 1989

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Baby I don't care' / 'Time for change', 'Strings of my heart'

Download: here

Riptide - Robert Palmer

'Riptide' was a single taken from Robert Palmer's 1986 album of the same name. The single just missed the Dutch Top 40, and didn't chart in the UK. It was only months before Palmer had a big hit with his next single, 'Addicted to love'.

This double single actually contained the previous hit single 'Johnny and Mary' as the second disc, which was another reason for me to buy this item. That single reached number 21 in the Dutch Top 40 in 1980, whereas it peaked at number 44 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3159

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, 2002

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Riptide' / 'Back in my arms' // 'Johnny and Mary' / 'No, not much' (live on 'The Tube'), 'Trick bag (live on 'The Tube')'

Download: here

It's hard to be tender - Carly Simon

In the Eighties, Carly Simon contributed songs to many film and television scores. 'It's hard to be tender' was contributed to the soundtrack of the 1986 TV miniseries 'Sins', starring Joan Collins. She played a woman who survived the Nazi horror in France, then became a French model/fashion designer who goes through all sorts of soapish trials and tribulations. The series was based on Judith Gould's novel of the same name.

The B-side features an instrumental track which includes some vague melodic references to the A-side track.

My collection: 7" single no. 1090

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, November 4, 1989

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'It's hard to be tender' (Carly Simon) / 'Face to face with the mirror' (Francis Lai)

Download: here