Be my number two - Joe Jackson

Taken from his 1984 album 'Body and soul', 'Be my number two was single number three, and unfortunately the least successful of them. While 'You can't get what you want ('til you know what you want)' and 'Happy ending' made the charts in the UK, Australia, and America, 'Be my number two' was only a minor hit in the UK, peaking at number 70.

I discovered the song years after it was released, and was immediately impressed by the arrangement. The rather aggressive instrumental at the end of the song is a beautiful contrast with the rather vulnerable lyric and first half of the song. After discovering the song, I spent years finding the single. I was relieved when I finally found it.

My collection: 7" single no. 1903

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 2, 1993

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Be my number two' / 'Heart of ice'

Going home (Theme of the Local Hero) - Mark Knopfler

Local Hero is a Scottish film starring Peter Riegert, Denis Lawson, Peter Capaldi and Burt Lancaster. The film is set in the fictional fishing village of Ferness on the west coast of Scotland. A young representative of an American oil company is sent to the village on a mission.

The film's soundtrack, which got more sales than the film itself, was written by Mark Knopfler, who at the time was still a member of Dire Straits. The theme song 'Going home' was released as a single and peaked at number 20 in the Dutch Top 40. While I didn't buy many instrumental singles, I did like this one so much that I bought it while it was still in the charts.

My collection: 7" single no. 188

Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1983

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Going home (Theme of the Local Hero)' / 'Smooching'

Somebody - Junior

Junior Giscombe was born June 6, 1960 in London. In 1982 he made his debut with 'Mama used to say', which peaked at number 7 in the UK. Further big hits eluded him, with the exception of 'Another step', the duet he recorded with Kim Wilde, which was released as a single in 1987.

Before that, though, I found out about him because of the single 'Somebody', which released in 1984. The video featured regularly on music television stations. I finally found the single fifteen years later...

My collection: 7" single no. 3171

Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, January 18, 2000

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Somebody' / 'Somebody (Extreme mix)'

Kiss and tell - Bryan Ferry

Bryan Ferry wrote the song 'Kiss and tell' as a response to his former girlfriend Jerry Hall's autobiography, which included some less than complimentary remarks about Ferry. The track became famous not so much for itself, but for the video which included several models, including the then-controversial Mandy Smith, who was in a relationship with Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman, who was 44 years older than she was.

The song ended up peaking at number 41 in the UK singles chart. This limited edition box set edition included a fold-out lyric sheet, two postcards and, of course, the single.

My collection: 7" single no. 2280

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, May 6, 1995

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Kiss and tell' / 'Zamba'

Don't rush me - Taylor Dayne

The fourth and last single from her debut album 'Tell it to my heart' was, amazingly, the most successful one in America, peaking at number 2. In the UK it stalled at number 76 and in the Netherlands the single didn't chart at all.

While I was collecting Taylor Dayne singles at the time, I waited a long time before I bought this one. I felt the song wasn't that interesting and the B-side was an album track as well, making it a less desirable item. In the end I found it very cheap, and added it to my collection to be complete. I never played this single much, though.

My collection: 7" single no. 794

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, April 15, 1989

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Don't rush me' / 'In the darkness'

Download: Album 'Tell it to my heart', including both tracks

I just want to be your everything - Andy Gibb

Andy Gibb was born on March 5, 1958 as the youngest brother of Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb, also known as the Bee Gees. Gibb began playing at tourist clubs around Ibiza, and later back in his homeland of the Isle of Man, as a young teenager. The idea of his joining the Bee Gees was often suggested, but he never did this because of the fact that he was eight years younger than Robin and Maurice, who in turn were three years younger than Barry.

After returning to Australia in 1975, Andy began recording a series of his own compositions. One of them, 'Words and music' would eventually reach Top 5 on the Sydney music charts in 1976. This led to Andy being invited by Robert Stigwood to launch his international career. Gibb released 'Flowing rivers', including this single, 'I just want to be your everything'. It was released in the summer of 1977, and peaked at number 26 in the UK singles chart. It initially flopped in the Netherlands, but then got a re-release in September and still reached number 24 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 864

Found: All that music, Leiden, June 2, 1989

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'I just want to be your everything' / 'In the end'

We could be together - Debbie Gibson

Debbie Gibson was born on August 31, 1970. Aged just sixteen, she debuted with the single 'Only in my dreams' and the album 'Out of the blue'. In America, she was presented as the 'good girl' as opposed to 'bad girl' Tiffany, who was of the same age.

I was not attracted to Debbie Gibson's bubblegum pop music at all. I didn't buy any of her singles. But in 1989, I heard 'We could be together' and thought it was a nice track. I was a bit surprised when it wasn't released in the Netherlands, but I bought a copy of the single that October, since I was in London anyway. Twenty years later it sounds like a bland song after all...

My collection: 7" single no. 998

Found: Tower Records, London, October 16, 1989

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'We could be together' / 'Over the wall (dub version)'