Winter song - Chris Rea

This EP features three songs that are ideal for the Winter season. But on dark evenings, I often play Chris Rea anyway, whatever season it is. 'Winter song' was released in November 1991, and reached number 27 in the UK singles chart. The EP also featured 'Tell me there's a heaven' (track not included here), which was a hit for Rea in February 1990.

I bought this single at the point I started to doubt the existance of 'Tell me there's a heaven' as a separate single release. I have no regrets though: 'Winter song' is a beautiful song in its own right.

My collection: 7" single no. 2164

Found: London, September 26, 1994

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Winter song' / 'Footprints in the snow', 'Tell me there's a heaven'

Riders on the storm - Annabel Lamb

'Riders on the storm' was written and recorded by The Doors on their 1971 album 'L.A. Woman'. According to band member Robby Krieger, it was inspired by the song '(Ghost) Riders in the Sky: A Cowboy Legend', a country and western song from 1948. The original recording incorporates real sound effects of thunder and rain, along with Ray Manzarek's Fender Rhodes electric piano playing, which emulates the sound of rain.

Annabel recorded a cover version in 1983, which leaves out much of the original version to replace it with modern synth sound effects. Unlike the original, the single didn't chart outside the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 556

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1986

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Riders on the storm' / 'No cure'

Love is a battlefield - Pat Benatar

Years after I bought 'Love is a battlefield' on 12" single, I found the 7" single and decided to buy that one as well. It was cheap enough: the sleeve was torn, but thankfully the disc was still in good order.

A number one hit in 1984, I can still picture every second of the song in my head, having heard it so often back then. As a result, I don't play this single a lot. But when I do, it takes me right back to that year, watching videos on television.

My collection: 7" single no. 2465

Found: September 9, 1995

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Love is a battlefield' / 'Hell is for children (live)'

Some people - Fra Lippo Lippi

'Some people' was another single taken from Fra Lippo Lippi's 1987 album 'Light and shade', and I'm glad to say it sounds more upbeat and less bland than the other single, 'Angel'. The single didn't help their international career much: it failed to chart in all territories, except, probably, Scandinavia.

My collection: 7" single no. 3186

Found: Mail order, 1999

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Some people' / 'Even tall trees bend (live)'

All the world loves lovers - Prefab Sprout

'All the world loves lovers' was released in 1992 as the third single from the compilation album 'A life of surprises'. After the success of previous single 'If you don't love me' (peaking at number 33 in the UK singles chart) the chart performance of this single disappointed: it only managed a lowly number 61.

I was very surprised to find that this single was 'Made in Holland'. The band had never had a hit in this country. Later I understood that Dutch record pressing plants had started to manufacture for the UK in the diminishing market for vinyl records.

My collection: 7" single no. 2090

Found: Record fair, April 16, 1994

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'All the world loves lovers' / 'Machine gun Ibiza'

I see hope in the morning light - Midge Ure

The single 'I see hope in the morning light' was released in 1991 as the second single from Midge Ure's third solo album 'Pure'. The ethnic sounds of this track couldn't persuade the record-buying public: it was his first solo single not to chart in any territory.

I bought my copy on the strength of Ure's name, having never heard this song at all. I must admit I didn't play it much myself.

My collection: 7" single no. 2363
Found: House of Rhythm, London, July 1, 1995
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'I see hope in the morning light' / 'The man I used to be'

Blue velvet - Bobby Vinton

'Blue velvet' was first a hit for Tony Bennett in 1951. Bobby Vinton recorded his version twelve years later, and made number 1 in America. In the UK, the song did not chart until it was used in a commercial by Nivea lotions. On that occasion, it made number 2.

In 1986, the song was used prominently on David Lynch's movie 'Blue velvet', which is where I heard this song when the film was televised somewhere in the late Nineties. I didn't like the movie, but I did like the song. And so I bought it when I found the 1990 UK release.

My collection: 7" single no. 3259

Found: October 20, 2000

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Blue velvet' / 'Blue on blue'