All kinds of everything - Dana

The first time Ireland won the Eurovision Song Contest, it was actually with a nice song (It's a shame they broke with that tradition from the second time they won). Dana Rosemary Scallon sang 'All kinds of everything' in 1970 and won the Contest.

The sleeve of this Dutch pressing of the song pictures previous winner Lenny Kuhr (who was one of four winners of the 1969 Contest) handing a bunch of flowers and the Eurovision award to Dana.

My collection: 7" single no. 1638

Found: All that music, Leiden, May 3, 1992

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'All kinds of everything' / 'Channel breeze'

Our lips are sealed - Fun Boy Three

'Our lips are sealed' was written by Gogo's guitarist Jane Wiedlin and Fun Boy Three's Terry Hall. It was released as the Gogo's debut single in 1981, and reached number 47 in the UK. A year later, Fun Boy Three recorded their own versiono the single, which was released in1983. This version was more successful, peaking at number 7 in the UK singles chart.

This limited edition features a second single with two live tracks, recorded at the Regal Theatre in Hitchin (UK).

My collection: 7" single no. 3248

Found: London, 2000

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Our lips are sealed' / 'Our lips are sealed (Urdu version)' // 'We're having all the fun (live)' / 'Going home (live)'

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'