Dieser Traum darf niemals sterben - Atlantis 2000

In Dutch we call this 'a dragon of a song', meaning that it is fascinatingly bad. One has to wonder why this got through the national final, to be performed at the 1991 Eurovision Song Contest. 'Dieser Traum darf niemals sterben' ('This dream must never die') was performed by a sextet calling themselves Atlantis 2000. The group consisted of Alfons Weindorf, Jutta Niedhardt, Helmut Frey, Eberhard Wilhelm, Klaus Pröpper and Clemens Weindorf. The song was composed by Weindorf and Frey, but could easily have come from the infamous duo Siegel and Meinunger.

The syrupy ballad hints at the unity of East and West Germany, while the lyric states that humanity must learn to overcome its tendency towards hate in order to achieve unity.

My collection: 7" single no. 3602

Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, March 14, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Dieser Traum darf niemals sterben' / 'Eines Tags'

Yesterday's men - Madness

After all the fun and games of Madness' previous work, 'Yesterday's men' suddenly sounded stern and serious. What's more, the single signalled the beginning of the end for the band. Mike Barson, who was one of the founders of Madness and a principal songwriter, left the band in October 1983, partly because he lived in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The band left their label Stiff records in 1984 and started releasing records on their on Zarjazz label. In 1985, that label released the album 'Mad not mad', from which 'Yesterday's men' was taken. The single peaked at number 18 in the UK charts. Two further singles stalled below that position.

The band then attempted to record a new album, but after recording 11 demo tracks the band cited 'musical differences' as a reason to split.

My collection: 7" single no. 1013

Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989

Cost: 50p

Tracks: 'Yesterday's men' / 'All I knew'

You're the voice - John Farnham

John Farnham was born on July 1, 1949. Between 1982 and 1985 he was the lead singer of the Australian band Little River Band. He went solo after that and released 'You're the voice' in October 1986. The song was written by Andy Qunta, Keith Reid, Maggie Ryder and Chris Thompson

In Australia, the song was one of the biggest hits of the year, topping the singles chart for many weeks. It is also Farnham's biggest international success, reaching the top 10 in many European countries. In the Netherlands, it stalled at number 15.

My collection: 7" single no. 1533

Found: Brussels, October 11, 1991

Cost: 70 Belgian Francs

Tracks: 'You're the voice' / 'Going, going, gone'

The lover in me - Sheena Easton

'The lover in me' was the first single from Sheena Easton's 1988 album of the same title. It reached number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 12 in the Netherlands and number 15 in the UK. The track was produced by L.A. and Babyface and the sleeve of the single confirmed Sheena Easton's image as a seductive vamp.

The 12" single contains three versions of the track, which all sound alike but have different lengths. The extended version is not a big surprise: it is indeed extended, but really nothing exciting happens. Oh well, the bigger version of the sleeve is enough of a convincing reason to buy it.

My collection: 12" single no. 493

Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, March 14, 2009

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'The lover in me (extended version)' / 'The lover in me (radio edit)', 'The lover in me (instrumental)'

Dum dum girl - Talk Talk

'Dum dum girl' was the third single taken from Talk Talk's second album 'It's my life'. Released in the summer of 1984, it reached number 74 in the UK singles chart, but ended up at number 20 in Germany, number 32 in Switzerland and number 24 in the Netherlands. Not their biggest hit, obviously, but certainly a reasonably good chart performance.

I bought two different issues of this single, because the sleeves were so different from eachother. The first one I bought was the Dutch one, featuring an illustration by James Marsh, who made more illustrations for Talk Talk's record covers. That some illustration appeared on the UK sleeve, but smaller and together with a photograph of the band. It's the only UK sleeve featuring a band photograph, as far as I know!

My collection: 7" single no. 2148 / no. 2897

Found: Record Palace, Amsterdam, August 25, 1994 / Beanos, East Croydon, London, October 29, 1997

Cost: 2 guilders / 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Dum dum girl' / 'Without you'

New thing from London town - Sharpe and Numan

Another single by Bill Sharpe and Gary Numan, released in 1986. While their first collaboration 'Change your mind' was released by the record company Polydor, to which Sharpe was signed, this single appeared on Gary Numan's own record label Numa Records.

'New thing from London town' was a less surprising track from the duo. Gary's phrasing sounds a little forced and the song is slightly middle of the road. Still, it's a great track with lush synthesizer sounds.

My collection: 7" single no. 2934

Found: Record fair, Leiden, January 24, 1998

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'New thing from London town' / 'Time to die'

Hey little girl - Icehouse

'Hey little girl' was released by Icehouse in 1982 on their album 'Primitive man'. It was the first Australian recording to feature a Linn drum machine. The single became a hit in the Netherlands in November of that year. Before that, it peaked at number 7 on the Australian singles chart.

The song has a certain atmosphere that always appealed to me a lot: a bit mysterious and melancholy, somehow. It's another one of those singles which I had to search for a lot time. I ordered it a couple of times from the mailorder company 'Oldies Unlimited' in England, but it was always out of stock.

My collection: 7" single no. 731
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 3, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Hey little girl' / 'Love in motion'