Self control - Laura Branigan

'Self control' is one of those songs I heard a lot in 1984, so much that I got entirely sick of it. Radio stations kept playing it and whenever I watched television the video would appear at some point. It got so boring! But ultimately it is a great song, and two decades later I can finally hear it again.

Laura Branigan recorded the song in 1984 for her album of the same name. The song was originally recorded and sung that same year with the same English lyrics by Italian singer Raf, who wrote the song together with Giancarlo Bigazzi and Steve Piccolo.

Branigan died at her home on Long Island, New York, on August 26, 2004. Her death was attributed to a previously undiagnosed brain aneurysm. She had been experiencing headaches for a few weeks before her death but did not seek medical attention. Not so much self control, then.

My collection: 7" single no. 3480

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

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Self control' / 'Silent partners'

Download: Album 'Self control', including both tracks

Black on black - Dalbello

In 1994 I bought a promotional cd-single of Heart's 'Black on black'. It turned out to be a cover version of a song originally performed by Dalbello. Heart's version rocked a lot, so naturally I became rather curious about the original song.

Lisa Dalbello released her fifth studio album 'She' in 1987. It included her biggest hits, 'Tango' and 'Black on black'. Even though it is described as a rock album, I have to say that her version of 'Black on black' sounds rather mechanic.

My collection: 7" single no. 3118

Found: June 27, 1999

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Black on black' / 'Baby doll'

Download: here

Videotheque - Dollar

'Videotheque' was released in 1982 and, like many of their singles, it was produced by Trevor Horn. Lots of echo effects and synthesizers once again disguise the limited vocal abilities of the two.

I have special memories attached to this track. During the 2002 Here And Now Tour, Dollar was one of the performing acts, and during their set 'Videotheque' was one of the dodgy highlights. Together with my friend, with whom I saw many of these concerts, we laughed a lot about the lyric of this song. I bought the single some time later, even if I was questioning if I would ever play it again.

My collection: 7" single no. 3434

Found: Esbjerg, Denmark, June 17, 2006

Cost: 10 Danish crowns

Tracks: 'Videotheque' / 'Living a life of dreams'

Download: here

With you I'm born again - Billy Preston and Syreeta

The beautiful balled 'With you I'm born again' was performed by Billy Preston and Syreeta Wright in 1980. The song appeared on Billy Preston's 1980 album 'Late at night'. The B-side of this single features a beautiful instrumental version, played on the piano by the gifted Billy Preston.

Syreeta Wright died on July 6, 2004 of congestive heart failure, a side effect of chemotherapy and radiation treatments she was receiving to combat breast and bone cancers. She was 57 years old. Billy Preston died on June 6, 2006 as a result of kidney failure and other complications, after having been in a coma for almost eight months. He was 59 years old.

My collection: 7" single no. 1368

Found: January 3, 1991

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'With you I'm born again' / 'With you I'm born again (instrumental)'
Download: here

Help is on its way - Little river band

Little River Band was an Australian rock band consisting of Glenn Shorrock, Graeham Goble, Beeb Birtles, Ric Formosa, Roger McLachlan and Derek Pellicci. 'Help is on its way' was one of only three of their singles that made the Dutch Top 40, peaking at number 20 (the other two peaked at number 13). It was taken from their third album 'Diamantina Cocktail', released in 1977. The band has released over twenty albums between 1975 and now, and still perform live in the USA - around 100 shows every year.

My collection: 7" single no. 2606

Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, January 27, 1996

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Help is on its way' / 'Changed and different', 'L.A. in the sunshine'

Download: Album 'Diamantina Cocktail', including these tracks

I'm not the man I used to be - Fine Young Cannibals

The fourth single from the Fine Young Cannibals' second album 'The raw and the cooked' was 'I'm not the man I used to be'. It reached number 20 in the UK singles chart before the end of 1989.

Just like 'Don't look back', '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 white vinyl. There's also a limited edition of 'I'm not satisfied', but I'm still manically searching for that one.

My collection: 7" single no. 2785

Found: London, November 1996

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'I'm not the man I used to be' / 'Motherless child'
Download: here

Live at the Astoria - All About Eve

Some things are forever lost in time. Like for instance the shop where I bought this bootleg e.p. of All About Eve. All I remember was they had expensive Kate Bush singles on the wall, and that I bought this e.p. there. And I think it was near a busy motorway, somewhere in London. Well, not much to go on, and so I never saw that shop again.

This bootleg e.p. is something extraordinary: it's an audience recording of All About Eve's performance at the Astoria. The sleeve gives no further information, so it could have been their concert there on February 28, 1987, November 14, 1987. March 4, 1988, March 5, 1988 or March 27, 1988. Well, that narrows it down...

My collection: 7" single no. 1069

Found: London, October 19, 1989

Cost: 5 pounds

Tracks: 'Every angel', 'Candy tree' / 'In the clouds', 'Flowers in our hair' (all tracks live at the Astoria, London)

Download: here