Come home Billy Bird - The Divine Comedy

In 2004, The Divine Comedy released their eighth studio album, 'Absent friends'. The first single, 'Come home Billy Bird' featured ex-Kenickie vocalist Lauren Laverne. Released on 7" vinyl, the B-side track was 'All things', which was not released on the cd-single and remains unreleased on cd to this day.

'Come home Billy Bird' was only the second 7" vinyl single I bought in 2004 (the first one being 'Waterloo'), on a total of only five. To date it is still the year in which I bought the lowest number of 7" singles since 1977.

My collection: 7" single no. 3405

Found: hmv.co.uk website, 2004

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Come home Billy Bird' / 'All things'

Download: here

Living on video ('85 re-mix) - Trans X

After I'd bought 'Living on video' shortly after it was released, Trans X disappeared from the scene. The duo consisting of Pascal Languirand and Cerstin Strecker, hailing from Canada, did release some more singles, but they failed to chart outside of Canada. In 1985, Trans X released a 1985 re-mix of 'Living on video', which reached number 9 in the UK singles chart. Incidentally, the original version didn't chart in that country. In the Netherlands, the original version reached number 12 in the summer of 1983, but this remix version didn't chart. And so I only found out about this single more than a decade later.

My collection: 7" single no. 2896

Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, October 29, 1997

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Living on video ('85 re-mix)' / 'Digital world'
Download: here

If I say yes - Five Star

'If I say yes' was the fourth single taken from Five Star's 1986 album 'Silk and steel'. The single reached number 15 in the UK singles chart, but didn't chart in the Netherlands.

The 12" single features remixes of 'If I say yes' (by Phil Harding) and the previous single 'Can't wait another minute' (by John Morales and Sergio Munzibair (a.k.a. M&M)). The instrumental B-side 'Let me down easy' completes this set.

My collection: 12" single no. 345

Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 1998

Cost: 2,5 guilders

Tracks: 'If I say yes (extended mix)' / 'Let me down easy', 'Can't wait another minute (M&M New York remix)'

Download: here

Oh, ich will betteln, ich will stehlen - The New Seekers

The New Seekers were founded in 1969 by Keith Potger after the Seekers split up. The idea was that the new group would appeal to the same market as the previous one. He recuited Laurie Heath, Chris Barrington, Marty Kristian and the sisters Eve and Sally Graham.

In 1972, the New Seekers were chosen to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest. They performed the song 'Beg, steal or borrow'. which was chosen out of six songs. They went on to finish in second place at the Eurovision final in Edinburgh. The song reached number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 3 in the Netherlands. In Germany, a German version of the song was released, entitled 'Oh, ich will betteln, ich will stehlen'. I found this single and bought it for its curiosity value.

My collection: 7" single no. 3475
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, December 11, 2008

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Oh, ich will betteln, ich will stehlen' / 'Move me Lord'

Download: here

Turn my back on you - Sade

This remix of 'Turn my back on you' was the fourth and last single drawn from Sade's third album 'Stronger than pride'. At the time, I felt it was the worst track on the album and I was very surprised to find that it was released as a single. I also remember the video, which was a busy, hyperactive affair. While I appreciate the track better now, twenty years later, the years have not been kind to the video: I still can't stand to see it.

The cd-single of this track was released as a small, 3" cd. I didn't buy it at the time, which I really regret now, because it is nowhere to be found. So contact me if you have one and want to get rid of it. :)

My collection: 7" single no. 800

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, April 21, 1989

Cost: 3,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Turn my back on you (remix)' / 'Keep looking'

Download: 'Turn my back on you (remix)'

Dirty Diana - Michael Jackson

'Dirty Diana' was the fifth single taken from Michael Jackson's 1987 album 'Bad'. Like the four previous singles, it reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, whereas it reached number 4 in the UK and number 2 in the Netherlands.

Jackson hired Billy Idol's former guitarist Steve Stevens to back him on the track. There were rumours that the lyric (and title) of the song referred to Diana, Princess of Wales or Diana Ross, but in a recent interview with Quincy Jones, he revealed that the song was actually about groupies. When Jackson performed live in London at Wembley Stadium in the presence of Lady Diana, he cut the song from the set. Ironically, she then confessed that it was one of her personal favourites.

My collection: 7" single no. 3504

Found: Record mania, Amsterdam, December 27, 2008

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Dirty Diana' / 'Dirty Diana (instrumental)'

Download: here

Fantastic day - Haircut One Hundred

I didn't know the song 'Fantastic day' when Nick Heyward appeared as one of the artists during the 2001 Here and Now tour. He played this track and it was a real live favourite. The compilation cd I bought during this tour only contained a live version, so it was great to hear the studio version when I finally found the single.

Haircut One Hundred was formed in 1980 by Nick Heyward, Les Nemes, Tim Jenkins and Rob Stroud. Jenkins left the band before they were signed to a record company, followed later by Stroud. They were replaced with Graham Jones and Blair Cunningham. With this lineup they achieved their biggest commercial successes with this single, 'Boy meets girl' (1981) and 'Love plus one' (1982).

My collection: 7" single no. 3567

Found: La La Land, Den Haag, January 31, 2009

Cost: 1,5 euro

Tracks: 'Fantastic day' / 'Ski club'

Download: here