I caught you out - Rebecca de Ruvo

Rebecca de Ruvo was born in Stockholm in 1969. She debuted on Swedish television in 1988, presenting the youth programme 'Druvan'. Soon after that, she started presenting programmes like 'Awake on the wild side' and 'Dial MTV' on MTV Europe (back when they were still broadcasting music programmes). Personally I always had a soft spot for her, because of her bubbly presentation and extremely beautiful appearance.

In 1994, she tried her hand at music. The single 'I caught you out' was released in the autumn, but unfortunately it wasn't a commercial success. A solo album may have been recorded, but it was never released. De Ruvo joined the band Breaker a few years later, but they were equally unsuccessful.

My collection: 7" single no. 2161

Found: HMV, London, September 26, 1994

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'I caught you out (Ben Liebrand's Station Edit)' / 'I caught you out (Nellee Hooper's Album Mix)'
Download: here

Communication - Spandau Ballet

You could say that 'Communication' was the last credible single by Spandau Ballet before they sold out to smooth middle-of-the-road pop blandness. Although it was the second single from the album 'True', it wasn't until the title track was released as the third single that the band was put down by critics.

'Communication' was Spandau Ballet's first hit in America, reaching number 59 in the Billboard Hot 100. In Europe it didn't do much, although it reached number 12 in the UK. I bought the single after I'd seen the video on TV, and I was pleasantly surprised by the short but sweet remix on the B-side.

My collection: 7" single no. 374

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Communication' / 'Communication (edited club)'

Download: here

Amoureux solitaires - Lio

Lio was born as Wanda Ribeiro de Vasconcelos in 1962 in Mangualde, Portugal. In 1968, she and her family moved to Belgium. She debuted in 1980 with the single 'Le banana split', a hit in Belgium and France. Her second single, 'Amoureux solitaires' also made it to the singles chart in the Netherlands, reaching number 3 in the Dutch Top 40. While her career continued in Belgium and France, she never made the Dutch chart again.

I didn't like 'Amoureux solitaires' when it came out, it was only a decade later, when I started discovering music by other French artists like Laurent Voulzy and Mylene Farmer, that I started to rediscover it. The first time I bought the single the sleeve contained a wrong disc. I should have paid more attention! About six months later, I was more successful.

My collection: 7" single no. 1928

Found: Parkpop, June 27, 1993

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Amoureux solitaires' / 'Petite Amazone'

Download: here

In love with you - Maribelle

If it wasn't obvious already, I have a built-in loathing of Dutch music. Most Dutch productions are cheesy and substandard, while most Dutch artists think the world of themselves. So I approach Dutch contributions to the Eurovision Song Contest with caution - and more often than not, I find them downright appalling.

More than a decade after Maribelle represented the Netherlands at the Contest in 1984 and finished 13th, my friend played me his copy of the single. It was quite a shock to find that 'Ik hou van jou' was actually a true classic. Not because of the cheesy lyrics or the slightly overemotional rendition by the singer, but for the sheer beauty of the melody the orchestra plays. After I got the Dutch single I went looking for the English version. This single is actually quite rare, since it wasn't a hit anywhere.

My collection: 7" single no. 2982
Found: Bea Records, April 4, 1998
Cost: 15 guilders
Tracks: 'In love with you' / 'I want you back again'
Download: here

Tomorrow's just another day - Madness

'Tomorrow's just another day' is was taken from Madness's fourth album 'The rise and fall'. It peaked at number 8 in the UK singles chart in February 1983. It was released as a double A-side with the track 'Madness (Is All in the Mind)'.

The single version is a slight remix of the album track. A slower, blues-style version of the song, with Elvis Costello on vocals, was included as a bonus track on the 12" single.

My collection: 7" single no. 886

Found: All that music, Leiden, June 16, 1989

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Tomorrow's just another day' / 'Madness (is all in the mind)'

Download: Album 'Madness presents the rise & fall', including both tracks

See you tonight - Tower

Tower consisted of Marian Pijnaker, Ton Hoogeboom, Cor van der Hoogt, Henk van Loon and Ben Peterzen. They released their debut album 'Titan' in 1981. The single 'See you tonight' reached number 11 in the Dutch Top 40. Their next single, 'Goin' home' peaked at number 15. Shortly afterwards, the group disbanded. Pijnaker and Van Hoogt formed a new band, Split Decision, and released one single. They then decided to go on as Tower again, but without any commercial success.

'See you tonight' is their one and only monumental piece of work. Impressive synths and powerful singing make this song a rare feat: a Dutch quality production!

My collection: 7" single no. 610

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 7, 1988

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'See you tonight' / 'Higher faster'

Download: here

Europe after the rain - John Foxx

John Foxx is the stage name of Dennis Leigh, born in Chorley, Lancashire (England) around 1947. After recording three albums with the band Ultravox (in their pre-Midge Ure periode) in the Seventies and touring America, John announced he would pursue a solo career upon returning to England. His debut solo single 'Underpass' was a modest hit in the UK.

'Europe after the rain', taken from his second solo album 'The garden' was the last single to reach the UK top 40, peaking exactly at number 40. The song was played a lot on local radio in the Netherlands, which is how I found out about it. I'd all but forgotten the song when I bought it in 1998. And it was a big pleasure to rediscover it.

My collection: 7" single no. 2954

Found: Record fair, Leiden, February 7, 1998

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Europe after the rain' / 'This jungle'

Download: Album 'The garden', including both tracks