This is not a love song - PIL

Ex-Sex Pistols frontman Johnny Rotten presented his new song 'This is not a love song' in the Netherlands' best music TV show Countdown in 1983. After the performance, the presented walked up to him and tried to start an interview with the remark: 'That's a nice lovesong'. Johnny simply replied with: 'Yeah', and walked away.

The single peaked at number 17 in the Netherlands and number 5 in the UK. I bought a three inch cd-single of the track at the end of the Eighties, but only now I have the 7" vinyl equivalent.

My collection: 7" single no. 3624

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'This is not a love song' / 'Public Image'

My male curiosity - Kid Creole and the Coconuts

This track was released as a single from the soundtrack of the movie 'Against all odds'. The title track, performed by Phil Collins, had already been a big hit, and it was hoped that this single would do similarly well. It didn't.

However, it was played regularly on the local radiostation I always listened to in 1984, and so it became engraved in my memory.

My collection: 7" single no. 3661

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'My male curiosity' (Kid Creole & the Coconuts) / 'Making a big mistake' (Mike Rutherford)

Good-bye bad times - Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder

I've seen this single countless times over the years, but I never made the decision to buy it until now. Philip Oakey, frontman of the Human League, and producer Giorgio Moroder, had a big hit with 'Together in electric dreams' in 1984.

They got together again in 1985 to work on an album that was to be called 'Body beat', but finally was simply named after the performers. The record label had high expectatoins for the first single from the album, 'Good-bye bad times', but they did not come true. Both the single and the album flopped. This is still a nice popsong though.

My collection: 7" single no. 3653

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 0,8 euro

Tracks: 'Good-bye bad times' / 'Good-bye bad times (instrumental)'

L'amour toujours - Telex

The Belgian synthpop group Telex released their fourth album 'Wonderful world' in 1984. The single 'L'amour toujours', released a year later, was taken from this album. The single wasn't a commercial success for the band.

I didn't know this song when I bought it, I just assumed that it would be just as nice as the other Telex singles I have. And it is.

My collection: 7" single no. 3637

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'L'amour toujours' / 'I don't like music'

Bitakat hob - Samira

In 1980, Morocco competed in the Eurovision Song Contest for the first - and so far, only - time. It was the first time that the contest featured a song in Arabic, while the music also showed clear Arabic influences.

Samira Bensaïd, who was born on January 10, 1958 in Rabat, performed the song 'Bitakat hob' ('Message of love') as the fifth of 19 performers in the Contest, finished 18th. This low placing may have contributed to the withdrawal by Morocco from further Contests.

I bought this single for its rarity value - and was very happily surprised when it also contained an original press sheet inside!

My collection: 7" single no. 3674

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 3 euro

Tracks: 'Bitakat hob' / 'Les enfants de l'amitié'

Lifeline - Spandau Ballet

Released in September 1982, 'Lifeline' became Spandau Ballet's fourth top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at number 7. Produced by Steve Jolley and Tony Swain, this track is a sign that the band were slowly moving away from their earlier, rougher work and taking a slightly more commercial-sounding approach.

This picture disc was a limited edition release, which probably helped the sales of the single in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 3627

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Lifeline' / 'Live & let live'

Adventures in modern recording - The Buggles

I didn't know this single existed until I saw it mentioned on discogs.com recently. 'Adventures in modern recording' is the title track from the Buggles' second album, and it sums up the career of band member Trevor Horn pretty nicely. During and since the Buggles, he's always been on the forefront of modern recording and producing, creating the most fabulous albums out there.

This single, however, was not rewarded with chart success, just like the other singles taken from the album - as well as the album itself.

My collection: 7" single no. 3671

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Adventures in modern recording' / 'Blue nylon'