January February - Barbara Dickson

Another single produced by Alan Tarney, 'January February' was also written by him. The single reached number 11 in the UK in April 1980, spending a total of 10 weeks in the chart. It was Dickson's biggest hit since "Answer Me" in 1976 and would be her biggest until the UK number 1 hit 'I Know Him So Well' together with Elaine Paige in 1985.

Mary Roos recorded a German version of this song, entitled 'Wenn ich dich nicht halten kann' ('If I cannot hold you').

My collection: 7" single no. 3292

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 24, 2001

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'January February' / 'Island in the snow'

Biko - Peter Gabriel

'Biko' was originally recorded in 1980 on Peter Gabriel's third solo album. The song was about Stephen Biko, a noted black South African anti-apartheid activist. Biko had been arrested by the South African police in late August 1977. After being held in custody for several days, he was interrogated in room 619 of the Walmer Street prison in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape. Following the interrogation, during which he sustained serious head injuries, Biko was transferred to a prison in Pretoria, where he died shortly afterwards, on September 12, 1977.

'Biko' was re-released in 1987 to draw attention to Sir Richard Attenborough's film 'Cry freedom'. This live version was recorded at the Blossom Music Centre, Cleveland, 27th July 1987.

My collection: 7" single no. 2711

Found: House of Rhythm, London, July 3, 1996

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Biko' / 'No more Apartheid'

You can swing it - Sheena Easton

The mock-Jam & Lewis production 'You can swing it' was overlooked by the record-buying audience. 'What comes naturally' was Sheena Easton's last significant hit, after which none of Sheena's singles ever charted anymore (with the exception of 'Giving up giving in' (2000), which peaked at number 54 in the UK).

It has to be said that the song sounds very dated when you listen to it now. The scratching noises even sound pre-1991. A pretty picture on the sleeve didn't even help matters anymore...

My collection: 7" single no. 1508

Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, August 10, 1991

Cost: 6,5 guilders

Tracks: 'You can swing it (7" version)' / 'You can swing it (Swingstrumental)'

Do you sleep? - Lisa Loeb and Nine Stories

The follow-up to 'Stay (I missed you)' was 'Do you sleep?'. It was taken from Loeb's debut album 'Tails'. The album was co-produced by Juan Patiño, her then longtime boyfriend. Although none of the singles from Tails matched the breakthrough appeal of 'Stay', Loeb still managed a top 20 hit in America with this single. In the UK, it only managed a placing at number 45.

The single was released as a limited edition picture disc 7", which was an appealing proposition to me. Still, the single didn't interest me that much, so it was also the last Lisa Loeb purchase I ever made.

My collection: 7" single no. 2483

Found: October 29, 1995

Cost: 1,3 pounds

Tracks: 'Do you sleep?' / 'Birds', 'When all the stars were falling'

Dancing in the city - Marshall, Hain

'Dancing in the city' was the debut single of Marshall Hain, the duo formed by Julian Marshall and Kit Hain. The single peaked at number 3 in the UK and number 7 in the Netherlands. The single even made it to the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 43 in the winter of 1979. Meanwhile, the duo released one more single, 'Coming home' and an album, 'Free ride'. After these were unsuccessful, the duo called it quits.

My collection: 7" single no. 403

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1986

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Dancing in the city' / 'Take my number'

Showing out - Mel and Kim

'Showing out' was the debut single of the sisters Mel and Kim Appleby. Originally the song was supposed to be the B-side of 'System', but ultimately the sides were flipped, and 'Showing out' became the smash hit single which is still a wellknown track even now. The single reached number 1 in the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland, and peaked at number 3 in the UK.

The single was released in two different sleeves, both of which I own. The UK sleeve (pictured above) was the first one I bought, during a holiday in London. A few years later I bought the original sleeve, released in Europe (pictured below). This single launched a short, but very successful career.

My collection: 7" single no. 546 (1 & 2)

Found: Tower Records, London, 1987 /All that music, Leiden, February 23, 1989

Cost: 2 pounds / 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Showing out' / 'System (House mix)'

P-Machinery - Propaganda

When I called this song 'Machinery' in this post, someone immediately corrected me, writing that the song is called 'P-Machinery'. Of course, I do know this, but it has been subject of a heated discussion between a friend and me over the years. His supporting evidence was that the song's lyric never mentioned 'P-Machinery'. My evidence was that it is continually listed as 'P-Machinery' in 'Britains Hit Singles' and the Dutch 'Hit Dossier'.

Whatever. The song was not a big hit in the UK, but peaked at number 12 in the Netherlands. I loved the song right from the beginning, although I didn't think it was the stroke of genius 'Duel' was. After this single, Propaganda disappeared from view for a couple of years.

My collection: 7" single no. 319

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985

Cost: 3,5 guilders

Tracks: 'P-Machinery' / 'Frozen faces'