Hey little girl - Icehouse

The European release of 'Hey little girl' was different from the UK one. At least, that's what I concluded after I found this copy. And it wasn't just the sleeve, either: the single was pressed on clear vinyl, the title track was shorter than the one on the single I already had and the B-side was a different track as well.

'Hey little girl' peaked at number 17 in the UK, whereas in the Netherlands it got to number 13. Perhaps the European release was slightly better than the UK one? Well, I don't know, I always think that quality has nothing to do with popularity in the charts...

My collection: 7" single no. 2699

Found: Record Exchange, London, July 3, 1996

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Hey little girl' / 'Mysterious thing'

Strawberry fields forever - Candy flip

Candy Flip were a British electronic dance band associated with the Madchester music scene in the early Nineties. They were named after the slang term for the practice of taking ecstasy and LSD at the same time. The band consisted of Danny Spencer, Kelvin Andrews and Ric Peet.

The band reached number 3 in the UK singles chart with their electronic cover version of the Beatles' 'Strawberry fields forever' in 1990. The track sampled the drum beat from the track 'Funky Drummer' by James Brown. Candy Flip split up in 1992.

My collection: 7" single no. 2216

Found: Concerto, Amsterdam, November 14, 1994

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Strawberry fields forever' / 'Can you feel the love'

Tutti Ragazzi - The Nits

Henk Hofstede and Alex Roelofs formed the Nits in 1974 together with Michiel Peters and Rob Kloet. They participated in a contest a year later and won a recording contract with Dureco Records as a result. Their debut single 'Yes or no' was featured in the popular TV programme Toppop, but the limited availability of the single caused it to flop.

The band performed live a lot, and contributed 'Tutti Ragazzi' to a compilation album made by the Dutch magazine Oor. Manager Aad Link was very interested in the band and arranged a new contract with record company CBS. The album 'Tent' was released in 1979, and the single 'Tutti Ragazzi' was taken from it. It entered the Dutch Top 40 in February 1980, and peaked at number 31. It was the Nits' first hit.

My collection: 7" single no. 44

Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1980

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Tutti Ragazzi' / 'Harrow accident'

Falling - Cathy Dennis

Cathy Dennis was born as Catherine Roseanne Dennis on March 25, 1969 in Norwich, England. As a teenager she was spotted recording demos at The Kitchen in Norwich. Simon Fuller signed her to his 19 Management company and to label Polydor at age 17. A successful career in music followed.

'Falling' was the third single from Cathy's second album 'Into the skyline'. The track was remixed for the single release by the then-popular band PM Dawn. It peaked at number 32 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2667

Found: Record fair, Leeds, June 30, 1996

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Falling (PM Dawn version)' / 'Nothing moves me'

Do it again with Billie Jean - Club House

Club House was an Italian disco and house music studio group from Italy. They had a big hit in 1983 with their medley of two hits: the then-current 'Billie Jean' by Michael Jackson and the oldie 'Do it again' by Steely Dan. These days, a track like this would be called a mashup. The single got to number 9 in the Dutch Top 40 in the summer of 1983. They also made the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 75.

I recorded the track from the radio back in 1983 - and now, a quarter of a century later, I decided to do the honorable thing and get the single as well. On discount, of course. It's not that good.

My collection: 7" single no. 3611

Found: Kringloop Holland, Den Haag, March 21, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Do it again with Billie Jean' / 'Infusion'

Don't let it get you down - Echo and the Bunnymen

'Don't let it get you down' was the third single by Echo & the Bunnymen after three band members Ian McCulloch, Will Sergeant and Les Pattinson reformed the band in 1997. The single was released in three different formats and peaked at number 50 in the UK singles chart. The 7" single was the only format to contain the demo version of 'Don't let it get you down'.

I didn't buy any Echo & the Bunnyman singles previously, and only got this one because it was playing in the shop. I thought it was a nice song, so I snapped up the 7" single.

My collection: 7" single no. 2904

Found: HMV, London, October 30, 1997

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Don't let it get you down' / 'Don't let it get you down (demo)'

He's so dull - Vanity 6

The story of this single is similar to the one about 'Nasty girl': both Vanity 6 singles I owned were deleted from my collection in an act of revisionism. I always regret getting rid of singles - although I do confess I've shed no tears about the Dutch-language singles I've gotten rid of in the Eighties.

'He's so dull' is significantly less exciting that 'Nasty girl', but I still couldn't resist buying it again - especially since it was so cheap. I've got a feeling I won't be playing this one much, but at least I won't be missing this one from my collection anymore. Sometimes having a single is just about enough.

My collection: 7" single no. 3613

Found: Kringloop Holland, March 21, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'He's so dull' / 'Make-up'