Free - Deniece Williams

Born as June Deniece Chandler, Deniece Williams debuted in the Seventies when she performed backing vocals for Stevie Wonder, together with Minnie Riperton and Syreeta Wright. In 1976, she signed to Columbia Records and recorded her debut album 'This is Niecy'.

The first single from this album was 'Free'. It reached number 25 in the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, and in the UK it topped the chart for two weeks. I got to know the song because of a compilation cd and eventually when I came across the single, I bought it.

My collection: 7" single no. 3343

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 2001

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Free' / 'Cause you love me baby'

Download: Album 'This is Niecy', including both tracks

A girl called Johnny - The Waterboys

'A girl called Johnny' was released in March 1983, as the first single from the album 'The Waterboys'. The song was a tribute to Patti Smith. It reached number 80 in the UK singles chart.

I bought the single during an outdoor music festival. It turned out to be an Italian pressing. Always nice to buy foreign pressings, because they seem more worthwhile to me.

My collection: 7" single no. 1458

Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 27, 1991

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'A girl called Johnny' / 'The late train to heaven'

Download: here

Je suis venue te dire que je m'en vais - Jo Lemaire + Flouze

Jo Lemaire was born on January 5, 1956 in Gembloux, Namur (Belgium). She debuted in the late Seventies with her musical group, Jo Lemaire + Flouze. When they released the synthpop track 'Je suis venue te dire que je m'en vais', a moody uptempo track, they became instantly wellknown in Europe and Canada. A year later, in 1982, the group separated, and Lemaire divorced Philippe Depireux, a fellow former bandmember. She moved to Bilzen with her new partler, Fa Vanham, and started a solo career.

'Je suis venue te dire que je m'en vais' is still one of the great synthpop classics and personally it's one of my all-time favourites.

My collection: 7" single no. 667

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1988

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Je suis venue te dire que je m'en vais' / 'Escape'

Download: Album 'Pigmy world', including both tracks

Dreiklangs dimensionen - Rheingold

In 1980 Rheingold was formed by Bodo Staiger, Lothar Manteuffel and Birgitte Kunze. They released their self-titled debut album that same year. Although this album contained 'Dreiklangs dimensionen' and the single reached number 17 in the German singles chart, it took two years for the single to break through in the Netherlands and reach number 20 there.

Rheingold was part of the 'Neue Deutsche Welle' movement, and they were the first band to get into the German top 20 with a single. It's still a modern synthpop classic.

My collection: 7" single no. 2051

Found: Record fair, November 20, 1993

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Dreiklangs dimensionen' / 'Rendezvous'

Download: here

On the border - Al Stewart

Everyone remembers Al Stewart's hit 'Year of the cat', and rightfully so, because it's a classic track. It was also his only hit in the UK. But in the Netherlands it's a different story: 'Year of the cat' reached number 6 in the Dutch Top 40, but the next single, 'On the border', did even better, reaching number 5.

I bought this single, with a slightly tattered sleeve, in 1995. When I saw the man live on February 16, 1996, I took the sleeve with me. And I was lucky: I actually met the man after the concert and got this sleeve signed, as well as the cd I bought there. I consider this quite a collector's item, although I don't know how much people would give for an Al Stewart signature these days...

My collection: 7" single no. 2566

Found: All that music, Leiden, November 19, 1995

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'On the border' / 'Flying sorcery'

Download: Album 'Year of the cat', including both tracks

Fantasy Island - The Millionaires

In 1982, the Dutch national final for the Eurovision Song Contest was pretty exciting. It took place in Scheveningen and was presented by Lenny Kuhr (who had won the contest in 1969). The three songs 'Fantasy Island', 'Pierement' and 'Jij en ik' were all sung by three contestants: Bill van Dijk, Bonnie St. Claire and the Millionaires.

'Fantasy island' was the big favourite of the audience. A jury of experts preferred 'Jij en ik'. When this was announced, the audience reacted with a lot of booing and whistling. Bill van Dijk was chosen as the best performer of this song, and he went on to represent the Netherlands at the Contest. His single flopped, whereas the Millionaires recorded 'Fantasy island' and had a minor hit with it, reaching number 31 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3139

Found: Den Haag, July 24, 1999

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Fantasy Island (Dutch version)' / 'Fantasy island (English version)'

Download: here

Catch - The Cure

The Cure's then-current single 'Catch' was not at the top of my list of singles I wanted to buy when I went to London in the summer of 1987. But when I saw this limited edition, I quickly changed my mind. I knew about clear vinyl discs, but with the sleeve also transparent, this truly was an eyecatcher!

'Catch' was the second single taken from the Cure's album 'Kiss me kiss me kiss me'. It reached number 27 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 549

Found: Tower Records, London, 1987

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Catch' / 'Breathe'

Download: here