On my radio - The Selecter

Two Tone was the big hype of the late Seventies and early Eighties. Fronted by bands like the Specials, Madness and The Beat. The Selecter was another band making music in this genre, which mixed elements of ska, punk rock, rocksteady, reggae and pop. The band consisted of Pauline Black, Compton Amanor, Charley Anderson, Charley 'H' Bembridge, Desmond Brown, Neol Davies and Arthur Hendrickson.

Their first track appeared on the B-side of the Specials' hit song 'Gangsters'. Then they released 'On my radio' (1979), which became a top 10 hit in various countries. It peaked at number 8 in the UK and number 10 in the Netherlands. After this, they released several more singles, of which only one made the Dutch Top 40. They continued to have some success in the UK until the end of 1980. They reformed in 1991 to minimal success.

My collection: 7" single no. 92
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1981
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'On my radio' / 'Too much pressure'

On the turning away - Pink Floyd

'On the turning away' was the second single taken from Pink Floyd's 1987 album 'A momentary lapse of reason', the first album without Roger Waters. The song lyric is about poverty and oppression, lamenting on the tendency of people to turn away from those afflicted with such conditions. The B-side was recorded live in Atlanta on November 5, 1987.

I didn't hear this single when it was released, but picked it up from my brother's collection soon after. When I played the single, I realised it was a beautiful power ballad I really wanted to have myself. By then, the disc had disappeared from the shops, and I had to wait for a couple of years to finally find my own copy.

My collection: 7" single no. 1419

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, April 7, 1991

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'On the turning away' / 'Run like hell (live)'

It's your conscience - Deniece Williams

Deniece Williams was born on June 3, 1950. She started her career with the 1976 album 'This is Niecy', containing the hit single 'Free'. Every year she released a new album, until a short break in 1980. In 1981, her album 'My melody' was released, containing this single, 'It's your conscience'. Like most of her material, it was a softpop song.

I heard this song on a compilation album I bought in the late Eighties. A decade later, I bought the single. Just for completeness sake: if you know a good single, you have to have it, right?

My collection: 7" single no. 3122
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, July 24, 1999
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'It's your conscience' / 'Sweet surrender'

I will be with you - T'pau

It could have been too much to ask for, but the fifth single from T'pau's debut album 'Bridge of spies' was, like the four previous ones, a big hit in the UK. It peaked at number 14 in the singles chart. Outside of the UK, the single did nothing - and I don't think it was even released in most countries.

'I will be with you' is a beautiful powerballad, a bit like 'Valentine' and 'China in your hand' but different. Part of the attraction was this special limited edition gatefold sleeve, in which frontwoman Carol Decker looks quite delicious.

My collection: 7" single no. 647
Found: Sister Ray, London, 1989
Cost: 2,5 pounds
Tracks: 'I will be with you' / 'Still so in love'

Walk through the fire - Peter Gabriel

Peter Gabriel contributed the track 'Walk through the fire' to the soundtrack of the 1984 movie 'Against all odds'. It's interesting to note that other Genesis members contributed to the soundtrack as well: Mike Rutherford contributed the song 'Making a big mistake' and Phil Collins recorded the well-known title track.

It's interesting how little is known about this track by Peter Gabriel: I couldn't find any background information about it on the web. I did find out that it peaked at number 69 in the UK. So not a big hit, then.

My collection: 7" single no. 2481
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, October 29, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Walk through the fire' (Peter Gabriel) / 'The race' (Larry Carlton)

Autobahn - Kraftwerk

Perhaps Kraftwerk's best known track, 'Autobahn' is an ode to the German expressways. The track is intended to capture the feeling of driving on the Autobahn: from the high-speed concentration on the fast lane, to tuning the car radio, to the monotony of a long trip. For the single version, the original 22 minute track was edited down to a mere three minutes.

Released in 1975, the single peaked at number 11 in the UK singles chart and number 12 in the Netherlands. The album of the same name was equally successful, peaking at number 4 in the UK and number 9 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 2686

Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, July 3, 1996

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Autobahn' / 'Kometenmelodie 1'

Download: here

Un banc, un arbre, une rue - Severine

Severine was born as Josiane Grizeau on October 10, 1948 in Paris. She represented Monaco in the 1971 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Un banc, un arbre, une rue'. The lyric of the song focuses on the loss of childhood innocence, and people following their dreams. Severine recorded the song in French, English, German and Italian. This single features the original French version.

She won the Contest, but this did not result, as is usual, in the 1972 Contest being hosted in Monaco, as the country did not have the resources. Instead, it took place in Edinburgh, UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 3598

Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, March 14, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Un banc, un arbre, une rue' / 'Viens'

Download: here