L'oiseau et l'enfant - Marie Myriam

Hard to believe, but it's now 32 years ago that a French-language song won the Eurovision Song Contest. Amina came close in 1991, but it's been mainly English songs since 1977. Between 1956 and 1977, 11 songs in French won the contest. And this was the last one: 'L'oiseau et l'enfant' by Marie Myriam.

She was born as Miriam Lopes on May 8, 1957 in Braga, Portugal. She represented France in the 1977 Eurovision Song Contest and won with 15 points more than the number 2, 'Rock bottom' by Lynsey de Paul and Mike Moran for the United Kingdom.

My collection: 7" single no. 3609

Found: eBay, France, received March 20, 2009

Cost: 3 euro

Tracks: 'L'oiseau et l'enfant' / 'On garde toujours'

Hot water - Level 42

Level 42 was founded in 1979 by Mark King, Mike Lindup, Rowland Gould and Phil Gould. 'Hot water' was a single taken from their fifth album 'True colours'. The single was a big hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 3. By comparison, it fared worse in the UK, where it only got to number 18.

When this single charted, it was played on the radio so often that I didn't need to buy the single. I went on to buy some Level 42 singles in the Nineties, but this one never got into my collection. On my birthday in 2007, my wife (who was then still my girlfriend) gave me this single, which she'd gotten from a Kringloop store while looking around there. It was really funny, because I don't think she knew I didn't have this yet and probably had no clue what this song sounded like. I'm glad to have it now.

My collection: 7" single no. 3614
Found: Birthday present, Den Haag, August 31, 2007
Cost: nothing
Tracks: 'Hot water' / 'Standing in the light'

Turn it on again - Genesis

As Genesis had been recording and touring constantly in 1977 and 1978, it was decided by the members Tony Banks, Phil Collins, and Mike Rutherford to take the majority of 1979 off. Banks and Rutherford started working on solo material, while Collins made an attempt to save his marriage by following his wife to Canada. This didn't work, and so Collins returned to the UK and started working on solo material of his own, as well as new songs for Genesis.

'Turn it on again' appeared on their comeback album 'Duke' (1980) and subsequently became a live favourite. It peaked at number 8 in the UK, whereas it only made number 38 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 52

Found: Rapsody, Den Haag, 1980

Cost: 3,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Turn it on again' / 'Behind the lines part 2'

Unconditional love (Planet earth) - Gentlemen without weapons

Kenny Young is an American songwriter who has been active as writer, artist and producer since 1963. In 1988, he was the founder member of the group Gentlemen without weapons. They released one album, 'Transmissions', from which this single was taken.

The album was unique because it used no instruments, only samples of animal noises. The point being that Young wanted to draw attention towards environmental awareness. The unique album was accompanied by a video produced by Pink Floyd's art director Storm Thorgeson, who also designed the album and single covers.

My collection: 7" single no. 766

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 16, 1989

Cost: 3,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Unconditional love (Planet earth)' / 'The way of the dodo'

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'