Uncertain smile - The The

The album version of 'Uncertain smile', which appeared on The The's first album for CBS Records, 'Soul mining' (1983), was released two years after the original single 'Uncertain smile'. The album version featured a lengthy piano solo, whereas the single version from 1982 featured saxophone and flute solos. The piano solo was played by Jools Holland, who revealed in his 2007 biography that they were in fact two separate solos joined together.

This version even made the Dutch Top 40, peaking at no. 31. Interestingly enough, this release didn't chart in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 346

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Uncertain smile' / 'Three orange kisses from Kazan'

Download: here

Katoozazaï - Nadieh

Nadieh was born on September 7, 1958 as Karin Meis. In September 1979 she married Iranian science and Bahai teacher Zia Reyhani. She started her music career as Karin Reyhani singing in the BB Band and De Dupe. In 1986 she records the solo single 'Windforce 11', which will be her only chart success, reaching number 23 in the Dutch Top 40. 'Katoozazaï' is the first single from her 1988 album 'Company of fools'. It is a melodic piece of work, which earns her a CD Award. Nadieh passed away on April 5, 1996 as a result of cancer.

My collection: 7" single no. 2598

Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, December 30, 1995

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Katoozazaï' / 'The sound of melting ice'

Download: here

Bring your daughter to the slaughter - Iron Maiden

'Bring your daughter to the slaughter' is the second single from Iron Maiden's 1990 album 'No prayer for the dying'. The song was originally recorded and released by Bruce Dickinson on the soundtrack album for the movie 'A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child'. When Dickinson rejoined his band after a two year hiatus, they recorded a new version of the track, which eventually became a number one hit for them in the UK. It would also be their only number one hit in that country.

The single was released in a special edition with one side containing autographs of the band members etched in the disc, with the other side containing both the 'A-side' and 'B-side' track.

My collection: 7" single no. 1381

Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, February 13, 1991

Cost: 6,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Bring your daughter to the slaughter', 'I'm a mover' / Etched side

Download: Bring your daughter to the slaughter, I'm a mover

Chenko (Tenka-io) - Red Box

'Chenko (tenka-io)' was the fifth single to be taken from Red Box's debut album 'The circle and the square'. An early version of the track had already appeared on an independent label (see also this entry), so the album version of 'Chenko' was remixed.

For the longest time, I believed this single did not exist. I'd seen the video on television some time after Red Box had some commercial success with 'For America', but when I bought the album in the second half of the Eighties, the song 'Chenko' was different from the video version I'd seen. It was a relief when I finally did find this single.

My collection: 7" single no. 3184

Found: Esprit Mailorder, UK, 1999

Cost: 4 pounds

Tracks: 'Chenko (tenka-io) (remix)' / 'Speeches'

Download: here

P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) - Michael Jackson

'P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)' was the sixth single to be taken from Michael Jackson's legendary album 'Thriller'. The song was originally written by Jackson and Greg Phillinganes and was a mid-tempo soul jam. Quincy Jones wanted the song to be more upbeat, so he re-wrote it. This version ultimately appeared on the album.

When Michael Jackson was accused of child molestation in the Nineties, I always wondered about this particular track. Why, exactly, did he sing about a Pretty Young Thing? All the accusations were wrong, I think, but this track is a bit suspicious nonetheless....

My collection: 7" single no. 3533

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, January 9, 2009

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)' / 'Working day and night'

Download: here

Scream down at me - China Crisis

China Crisis released 'Scream down at me' before their debut album 'Difficult shapes & Passive rhythms' in 1982. Both the A and the B-side wouldn't appear on that album, probably as a result of its lack of chart success. Also, the tracks were very different from the sophisticated sounds that were included on the debut album: the drums were more prominent and the singing was less subtle as well.

I didn't know this track when I bought the single; I simply bought it because I was curious. I do admit that this single is not as beautiful as their later work would be.

My collection: 7" single no. 3173

Found: Record Exchange, London, January 18, 2000

Cost: 50p

Tracks: 'Scream down at me' / 'Cucumber garden'

Download: here

Don't say you leave this summer - Albert West

Albert Westelaken was born on September 2, 1949 in Den Bosch, Netherlands. In the early Seventies he was lead singer of the Shuffles, until he left the band in 1973 to pursue a solo career. His third solo single, 'Ginny come lately', a cover of a song by Brian Hyland, became a big hit not only in the Netherlands but in all of Europe. It gave his career the boost it needed to become as successful as it would stay throughout the Seventies.

'Don't say you leave this summer' was recorded and released in 1981. It was taken from his album 'A piece of me', which was produced by Martin Duiser. The female vocals were provided by another wellknown Dutch singer: Anita Meyer. The single reached number 26 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 835

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 20, 1989

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Don't say you leave this summer' / 'Hey Paula'
Download: here