Lovefool - The Cardigans

The Swedish band The Cardigans formed in Jönköping in 1992. Heavy metal musicians Peter Svensson and Magnus Sveningsson formed the band together with singer Nina Persson plus Bengt Lagerberg and Lars-Olof Johansson. Their debut album 'Emmerdale' was released in 1994, followed by the second album 'Life' in 1996. Signing to Mercury Records in 1996, their first international release 'First band on the moon' featured the hit 'Lovefool'.

The single peaked at number 2 in the UK singles chart and topped the chart in New Zealand. I found this limited edition white vinyl 7" single while on holiday in London. The band had some further international hits but unfortunately they weren't released on 7" vinyl. What a shame!

My collection: 7"single no. 3262

Found: Record exchange, London, October 20, 2000

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Lovefool' / 'Nasty sunny beam'

Big bubbles, no troubles - Ellis, Beggs and Howard

The debut single of Ellis, Beggs & Howard, 'Big bubbles, no troubles' was released in the summer of 1988. It was a hit in the Netherlands (peaking at number 16) and several other European countries, though it only made number 41 in the UK singles chart.

Briefly after its release, I found the cd-single at discount price. The picture disc included two mixes of the song. It was only after some time that I realised I didn't have the single version of this song. And so, when I found the single in 1995 I was pretty happy.

Nick Beggs performed this song live as part of his set as a 'support act' during the November 2007 European tour of Kim Wilde. He performed it armed only with a backing track and a Chapman stick. The song still sounded as fresh as ever!

My collection: 7" single no. 2587

Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, December 30, 1995

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Big bubbles, no troubles' / 'Rock me'

Je ogen hebben geen geheimen / Främling - Carola

Swedish singer Carola was born on September 8, 1966. She represented Sweden in the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Främling', which ended up in third place. Carola proceeded to record three versions in other languages: 'Love isn't love' (English), 'Fremder' (German) and 'Je ogen hebben geen geheimen', the Dutch version which helped the single get to number 7 in the Dutch Top 40.

The album of the same name sold over one million copies in Sweden, making it the biggest-selling album in Swedish music history.

My collection: 7" single no. 2971
Found: February 21, 1998

Cost: 4 guilders

Tracks: 'Je ogen hebben geen geheimen' / 'Främling'

That's what they say about love - Flip

Flip formed in the mid-Eighties. Singer/songwriters Anthony Duke and Frank Walsh recruited Gary Duke, Andy Kinch and Tristian Batory. In 1984 the band were signed to Arista Records, recording an album 'Flip' on 'Private I' records. It was recorded at Abbey Road, Wessex, Sarm and Air Studios and produced by Peter Collins, Colin Thurston and Eric Stewart (10cc). Stewart played on 'Love incognito', he also added a solo on the track 'Demand'.

The single 'That's what they say about love' was released in Spring 1986, and managed to squeeze into the Dutch Top 40, peaking at number 37.

My collection: 7" single no. 417
Found: V&D, Den Haag, June 21, 1986
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'That's what they say about love' / 'Love incognito'

French kiss - Lil Louis

A novelty record. Chicago house music producer Louis Burns produced a dance track in 1989 with female house-music singer Shawn Christopher performing some moaning and groaning on the, ahem, climax of the song.

The single went number one in the Netherlands, and peaked at number 2 in the UK, Switzerland and Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 2142

Found: White noise, Utrecht, August 2, 1994

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'French kiss' / 'New York'

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'