Fly too high - Janis Ian

Janis Ian's biggest international hit must be 'Fly too high', released as a single in the autumn of 1979. Ian contributed the song to the soundtrack of the Jodie Foster movie 'Foxes', and also included it on her own album 'Night rains'. The track was produced and co-written by famous producer Giorgio Moroder and as such is a bit of a strange entity in Janis Ian's body of work.

The single peaked at number 44 in the UK, but was a top 5 hit in the Netherlands. At the time I felt the song was 'too dull', but a decade later I still bought it.

My collection: 7" single no. 894
Found: All that music, Leiden, June 23, 1989
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Fly too high' / 'Night rains'

Days like this - Sheena Easton

You might assume from seeing the picture of this sleeve that I bought this single for the package alone. And you would be almost right. See, the free poster was also a good incentive. But of course, Sheena Easton is an interesting artist anyway so I would be lying if I said I didn't like the song.

'Days like this' is another single from Sheena's 1988 album 'The lover in me'. The single peaked at number 43 in the UK singles chart, but failed to chart in other territories.

My collection: 7" single no. 2180

Found: House of Rhythm, London, September 27, 1994

Cost: 1,5 pounds

Tracks: 'Days like this' / 'Days like this (instrumental)'

Jack and Diane - John Cougar

Before he became John Mellencamp and, before that, John Cougar Mellencamp, he made a name for himself as John Cougar. The single 'Jack & Diane' was released in 1982 and became his first international breakthrough.

According to John, 'Jack & Diane' was written after watching 'Splendor in the Grass', a 1961 movie starring Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty. The song's tone and lyrics are evocative of a nostalgia for the novelty of youth, influenced in part by Mellencamp's own life experiences.

John also stated that the clapping wasn't supposed to be included in the finished song. It was recorded with the clapping in order to help keep tempo and then it was to be removed. However, he realized the song didn't work without it.

My collection: 7" single no. 858

Found: Den Haag, May 27, 1989

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Jack & Diane' / 'Can you take it'

It will come in time - Billy Preston

After the success of the beautiful ballad 'With you I'm born again', Billy Preston enlisted Syreeta Wright's help once again for the next single, 'It will come in time'. This time, they performed a very upbeat, up-tempo track. They had another top 10 success in the Netherlands, peaking at number 8 (where 'With you I'm born again' made it to number 4). The single didn't do as well in the UK, peaking at number 47.

My collection: 7" single no. 3282

Found: February 9, 2001

Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'It will come in time' / 'Sock-it, rocket'

Violently - Hue and Cry

Brother Pat and Greg Kane formed Hue & Cry in 1983. Their biggest hit was the 1987 single 'Labour of love', which peaked at number 6 in the UK. The single 'Violently' was released a year later and peaked at number 21.

It wasn't the title track of this EP that piqued my attention: it was their cover version of Kate Bush's 'The man with the child in his eyes' on the B-side. As an avid Kate Bush collector, I couldn't let this cover version pass me by. It is a reasonable effort, although the version by Velvet Belly, released a decade later, is much better.

My collection: 7" single no. 2527

Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, November 1, 1995

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Violently' / 'The man with the child in his eyes', 'Calamity John'

Shame - Evelyn 'Champagne' King

Evelyn 'Champagne' King was born on July 1, 1960. She released 'Shame', her only top 10 hit in America, in 1978. After a long struggle in the UK singles chart, 'Shame' eventually made the top 40, peaking at number 39. In the Netherlands, it did considerably better: peaking at number 18.

The song was covered by Kim Wilde in 1996. This is how I became interested in the original version. I bought the single in 2000 after a long hunt.

My collection: 7" single no. 3212

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 30, 2000

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Shame' / 'Dancin', dancin', dancin''

Sweet love - Anita Baker

Anita Baker was born on January 26, 1958 in Toledo, Ohio (USA). She released her debut album 'The Songstress' in 1983. Three years later, the album 'Rapture' spawned her first mainstream hit, 'Sweet love'. It peaked at number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 13 in the UK.

This double single edition was released in the UK, featuring two live tracks on the second disc, originally broadcast by BBC Radio 1. I bought this single because I liked the title track ánd because I'm a sucker for limited editions. But I have to admit, I don't really like the other three tracks in this package.

My collection: 7" single no. 2204

Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, October 8, 1994

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Sweet love' / 'No one in the world' // 'Same ole love (live)' / 'You bring me joy (live)'