Cut me down (remix) - Lloyd Cole and the Commotions

Lloyd Cole and the Commotions formed in Glasgow, Scotland in 1982. The band consisted of Lloyd Cole, Blair Cowan, Lawrence Donegan, Neil Clark and Stephen Irvine. Their debut album 'Rattlesnakes', released in 1984, was a commercial and critical success. When they released 'Easy pieces' a year later, they continued this success.

'Cut me down' was the third single from this second album. Released as a limited edition double pack, it included two live tracks from September 1985 ('Are you ready to be heartbroken?') and December 1984 ('Forest fire'). 'Cut me down' peaked at number 38 in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 3650

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Cut me down (remix)' / 'Are you ready to be heartbroken? (live)' // 'Perfect blue (Instrumental)' / 'Forest fire (live)'

Our house - Madness

Released in November 1982, 'Our house' reached number 5 in the UK singles chart. The single was also a big success in America, where it peaked at number 7. The song subsequently won an Ivor Novello award for 'best song'.

I remembered the song most for its video, which depicted the band acting out the song's lyrics in an old mews. The song's lyrics mostly describe the daily activities in the house, with some of the band portraying the 'family'. The video cuts between scenes of the 'family', the band playing in a living room, and exterior shots of various other houses including Buckingham Palace.

My collection: 7" single no. 3635

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Our house' / 'Walking with mr. Wheeze'

Littlest things - Lily Allen

Lily Allen was born May 2, 1985 as the daughter of actor/musician Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen. She debuted in 2006 with the single 'Smile' and the album 'Alright, still'. 'Littlest things' was the third single from that album, peaking at number 21 in the UK, which was the only country where this single was actually released.

The B-side, 'Everybody's changing' is a cover of the song by Keane, recorded live at BBC Radio 2 in Dermot O'Leary's show.

My collection: 7" single no. 3668

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 7 euro

Tracks: 'Littlest things' / 'Everybody's changing'

Un tout petit pantin - Sandie Shaw

Sandie Shaw represented the United Kingdom during the Eurovision Song Contest in 1967. With the song 'Puppet on a string' she managed to win the Contest, despite the fact that Shaw herself hated the song from beginning to end.

She recorded several versions of the song that year, amongst others in German, Spanish and this one, in French. The French EP features four songs in French, all of which were originally recorded in English. 'J'ai rêvé de lui' was originally 'Had a dream last night', 'Prends la vie du bon coté' was 'Tell the boys' and 'Tout est changé' was 'I don't think you want me anymore'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3640

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Un tout petit pantin', 'J'ai rêvé de lui' / 'Prends la vie du bon coté', 'Tout est changé'

We let the stars go - Prefab Sprout

'We let the stars go' was the second single taken from Prefab Sprout's 1990 album 'Jordan: the comeback'. The album was, like the single, produced by Thomas Dolby, and nominated for a Brit Award.

This single comes with a press release from Germany, which states: ''We let the stars go', mit der Prefab Sprout einmal mehr unter Beweis stellen, dass es nicht unbedingt immer der lauten Töne bedarf, um eine Erfahrung mitzuteilen'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3656

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 0,8 euro

Tracks: 'We let the stars go' / 'Cruel'

Me (Without you) - Andy Gibb

In 1980, Andy Gibb released 'Andy Gibb's Greatest Hits' to finalize his contract with RSO Records. The album contained two new songs: 'Time is time' and 'Me (Without you)'. Both were released as a single. 'Me (Without you)' was Andy Gibb's last Top 40 entry in the USA, although it only made number 40.

At the time, Andy Gibb had a relationship with Victoria Principal, with whom he recorded his last chart single in 1981, 'All I have to do is dream'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3655
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009
Cost: 0, 5 euro

Tracks: 'Me (Without you)' / 'Melody'

Churches - New Musik

This single by New Musik was released in France only. 'Churches' is a track from New Musik's second album 'Anywhere'. The photograph on this sleeve also appeared on an American album called 'Sanctuary', which collected tracks from New Musik's debut album 'From A to B' and 'Anywhere'.

'Churches' is one of the standout tracks from 'Anywhere'. I don't know if the single charted in France.

My collection: 7" single no. 3639

Found: 7" single no. 3639

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Churches' / 'They all run after the carving knife'