Stay (I missed you) - Lisa Loeb and Nine Stories

Lisa Anne Loeb was born March 11, 1968 in Bethesda, Maryland (USA). She started her career in 1994 with the song 'Stay (I Missed You)'. The song was originally named 'Stay', but at the time it was getting popular, there were several popular songs with 'Stay' in the title, such as the U2 song 'Stay (Faraway, So Close!)'. '(I Missed You)' was tacked on to the end to differentiate it from the others.

The single became a number 1 hit in America and peaked at number 6 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2160
Found: HMV, London, September 26, 1994
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Stay (I missed you)' / 'Stay (I missed you) (Living room mix)'

Vi maler byen rød - Birthe Kjaer

Birthe Kjaer was born on September 1, 1948. She's a Danish singer who began her career in the late Sixties. She made several attempts to represent Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest by participating in the national finals of 1980, 1986 and 1987. In 1989 she was finally chosen to do so with the upbeat song 'Vi maler byen rød' ('We paint the town red'). After a hilarious intro, the song keeps its optimistic atmosphere alive. The performance ensured a third place in that year's Contest for Denmark, one of the best placings for the country since Denmark won the 1963 edition.

Kjær hosted the Danish national final to pick the 2009 entry for the Contest, which was broadcast on January 31, 2009.

My collection: 7" single no. 2969
Found: Bea Records, February 21, 1998
Cost: 8 guilders
Tracks: 'Vi maler byen rød' / 'Det menneske, jeg er'

Could it be I'm falling in love - Worlds Apart

The boyband Worlds Apart was founded in 1993 by Dan Bowyer, Cal Cooper, Schelim Hannan, Steve Hart, Marcus Patrick and Aaron Poole. Bowyer, Patrick and Poole left the band within a year, to be replaced by Nathan Moore. This formation had some chart success with hits like 'Heaven must be missing an angel', 'Everlasting love' and 'Could it be I'm falling in love'. Do these track titles sound familiar? Could be - Worlds Apart released a lot of covers during their career. After five hits in the UK their career played out mostly in Europe, especially in France where they became very popular.

'Could it be I'm falling in love' ended up being in my collection because of this limited edition poster sleeve and the fact that the tracks on this single were produced by Ricky Wilde. The B-side track 'Like it was, like it is' was co-written by him as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 3069

Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, May 10, 1999

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Could it be I'm falling in love' / 'Everlasting love', 'Like it was, like it is'

Those were the days / Goodbye - Mary Hopkin

This single features two hits by Mary Hopkin. She was born on May 3, 1950. She started her music career as a folk singer in a Welsh local group called the Selby Set and Mary. After her appearance in the BBC talent show 'Opportunity knocks' she was recommended by model Twiggy to Paul McCartney, who signed her to the Beatles' Apple label.

Her debut single, 'Those Were the Days', produced by McCartney, was released in the UK in 1968 and went on to become a number1 hit. on 30 August 1968. The 1969 single 'Goodbye' reached number 2 in the UK. It's funny that her chart performance was just the opposite in the Netherlands, with 'Goodbye' reaching number 1 and 'Those were the days' peaking at number 2.

My collection: 7" single no. 1957

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 25, 1993

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Those were the days' / 'Goodbye'

You're the voice - Heart

Heart released a live album called 'Rock the house' in 1991. The album marked a sharp decline in sales after a period of success that began in 1985 with the release of the self-titled 'Heart'. The single 'You're the voice' was taken from this album, a cover of the song by John Farnham.

I bought the single not because I thought this was a particularly good version (live tracks are usually unlistenable) but because of the limited edition etched disc. This disc featured the lyric of the song on one side, and the A- and B-side track on the other side. These kind of special editions are always so nice to have.

My collection: 7" single no. 3080

Found: London, May 10, 1999

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'You're the voice', 'Call of the wild'

For the love of Conchita - Doce

The Portuguese girl group Doce was formed in 1980 by Laura Diogo, Lena Coelho, Fátima Padinha, and Teresa Miguel. They participated in the Portuguese national final for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1980, but finished second. In 1981 they tried again, with the song 'Ali-Bábá, um homem das Arábias', which finished fourth. Their third try in 1982 was successful: the song 'Bem bom' brought them to Harrowgate to participate in that year's Contest.

After this song was released as a single, they followed it up with 'For the love of Conchita'. It didn't chart in most countries, except for Portugal. I bought the single while buying a stack of singles in my favourite shop round the corner, just out of curiosity.

My collection: 7" single no. 3294

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 24, 2001

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'For the love of Conchita' / 'Choose again'

Why - Annie Lennox

After having been one half of Eurythmics together with David A. Stewart, Annie Lennox started to work on a solo album together with former Trevor Horn protegé Stephen Lipson. The first result of their work was the single 'Why', released in early 1992. The single was an immediate commercial success, peaking at number 1 in Italy, number 5 in the UK and Ireland and number 6 in Norway, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

I bought the single immediately after its release, convinced as I was that Annie Lennox's work was worth buying. And it was, at least for that first album 'Diva'. Later albums never quite reached that level of quality in my humble opinion...

My collection: 7" single no. 1594

Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, March 21, 1992

Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Why' / 'Primitive'