Mirror mirror - Dollar

The four singles that Trevor Horn produced for Dollar were among the most successful of the duo's career. Among those, 'Mirror mirror' was the most successful one, peaking at number 4 in the UK singles chart and staying in there for 17 weeks.

Personally, I think it's the least dodgy of all Dollar singles. There's always been something naff about the duo's output, but this single is actually quite decent.

My collection: 7" single no. 3435

Found: Esbjerg, Denmark, June 17, 2006

Cost: 10 Danish crowns

Tracks: 'Mirror mirror' / 'Radio'

Download: here

Johnny Johnny - Prefab Sprout

Another impressive single by Prefab Sprout, released from the album 'Steve McQueen'. On that album it was entitled 'Goodbye Lucille #1'. This song is a tense affair, and only lets go in the last few seconds, when the track fades out.

I was fascinated by this song when it was released, and played it dozens of times after I found this single at a discount price. In my book, it's still one of Prefab Sprout's best songs ever.

My collection: 7" single no. 399

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Johnny Johnny' / 'Wigs'

Download: 'Johnny Johnny' / 'Wigs'

Children of paradise - Boney M

'Children of paradise' was released as a single in autumn of 1980 to fill the gap between Boney M's 1979 album 'Oceans of fantasy' and the 1981 album 'Boonoonoonoos'. The single featured the religiously-inspired title track and a disco cover of the 1968 psychedelic track 'In a gadda-da-vida' by Iron Butterfly.

As usual, the single became a Europe-wide hit for Boney M. I bought the single as soon as it came out. Aged 10, I bought all of Boney M's singles at the time.

My collection: 7" single no. 73

Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1980

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Children of paradise' / 'Gadda-da-vida'

Download: here

You won't see me cry - Wilson Phillips

At the time I bought this single, the forthcoming demise of the 7" vinyl single format as a commercial item in Europe was getting more obvious by the week. Although 7" singles were still being made in the UK, European pressings became increasingly rare. At the time of buying this single, I was buying every track I liked on this format on principle.

'You won't see me cry' was actually the first Wilson Phillips track I liked - all their previous singles were dull and uninteresting to me. It wasn't a hit in the Netherlands, but it peaked at number 18 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1684

Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, July 11, 1992

Cost: 6,5 guilders

Tracks: 'You won't see me cry' / 'This doesn't have to be love'

Download: here

Something for the weekend - The Divine Comedy

After having been in the music business for seven years, and having released three albums, The Divine Comedy suddenly found chart success in the UK for the first time with this single, 'Something for the weekend'. Released in June 1996 in advance of the fourth album 'Casanova' it peaked at number 14 in the UK singles chart - and it would be the first of many chart hits that followed.

I found this single while on holiday in York. I knew about the Divine Comedy, but wasn't aware that this new single was released. I bought it despite not having heard it, and of course I bought every single and album since then.

My collection: 7" single no. 2647

Found: HMV, York, June 28, 1996

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Something for the weekend' / 'Songs of love (Theme from 'Father Ted')

Download: here

Love machine - Supermax

The band Supermax was set up by the Austrian musician and producer Kurt Hauenstein. Other members of his band were Hans Ochs, Ken Taylor, Lothar Krell, Peter Koch and the singers Cee Cee Cobb and Jean Graham.

'Love machine' was their biggest hit, peaking at number 6 in Switzerland, number 9 in Austria and number 11 in the Netherlands. The single even reached the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 96. The track was taken from the album 'World of today', where it appears in its entirity. For the single, it was divided into two parts.

My collection: 7" single no. 2294

Found: May 13, 1995

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Love machine part 1' / 'Love machine part 2'

Download: here

Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel

Peter Gabriel's 'Sledgehammer' will always be remembered mostly because of this video. It was directed by Stephen R. Johnson. Aardman Animation and the Brothers Quay provided claymation, pixilation, and stop motion animation that gave life to images in the song. In 1987, it won nine MTV Video Music Awards, a record which still stands today. It ranked at number four on MTV's 100 Greatest Music Videos Ever Made (1999). MTV later announced that 'Sledgehammer' is the most played music video in the history of the station.

The lyric of the song contains thinly-veiled sexual innuendo, which was common in soul music from the 1960's, which the song was influenced by. The lyrics include phallic references such as a steam train, bumper cars, a Big Dipper (roller coaster) and a fruit cage. It also includes references to the sexual reproduction of plants, mentioning pollination, fruit and bees.

I bought this single a decade after it came out. At the time of its chart ascent, the song was played so often on radio and television that I thought I would never play this record anyway. And I was right. I still haven't played it much.

My collection: 7" single no. 2832

Found: Record Exchange, London, February 8, 1997

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Sledgehammer' / 'Don't break this rhythm'

Download: here