Living by numbers - New Musik

'Living by numbers' is New Musik's biggest hit. Released in January 1980, it peaked at number 13 in the UK singles chart. It was the second single taken from their debut album 'From A to B', and a great synthpop track.

I bought the single after I bought the album. Since the single never charted in the Netherlands, I hadn't heard the track before that. Several different sleeves exist for this single; this is the UK edition, which I bought in London.

My collection: 7" single no. 2656

Found: London, June 29, 1996

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Living by numbers' / 'Sad films'

Irresistible - Cathy Dennis

A track from Cathy Dennis' second album 'Into the skyline', this single peaked at number 24 in the UK singles chart. This and subsequent singles seemed to get into the top thirty without too much trouble. In America, Dennis experienced a brief peak of fame, making a cameo in 'Beverly Hills, 90210' singing the song 'Moments of Love' (a minor U.S. chart hit).

I bought this single shortly after I'd bought the cd 'Into the skyline', but in time I experienced that Cathy Dennis' singles from 1992 aged quite quickly.

My collection: 7" single no. 2389

Found: Eastbourne, July 5, 1995

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Irresistible' / 'Irresistible (7" remix version)

Never can say goodbye - Communards

After the Communards had a number one hit in the UK in 1986 with 'Don't leave me this way', a cover of Thelma Houston's Seventies disco track, they tried to repeat this feat in 1987 with another cover of a disco track. They recorded a version of 'Never can say goodbye', which was a disco hit for Gloria Gaynor in 1974. This time around, however, they only made number 4 in the UK. The single did slightly better in the Netherlands, where it peaked at number 3.

While the single was in the chart I bought it on the then rather new cd-single format. I found the 7" single years later.

My collection: 7" single no. 2814

Found: Record fair, February 1, 1997

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Never can say goodbye' / '77 the great escape'

Love's crashing waves - Difford and Tilbrook

Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook had been in the band Squeeze since 1974. After eight years, the band broke up as a result of conflict between (other) band members. Difford and Tilbrook continued to work together, and released one self-titled album as 'Difford & Tilbrook' (1984). The album is considered to be a 'lost' Squeeze album since Difford and Tilbrook were the only constant members of that band, which reformed already in 1985.

'Love's crashing waves' was their debut single, taken from that album. I remembered it because I thought the song was very boring - probably a result from the accompanying video which was played on television repeatedly in 1984. In 1998 I bought the single after I found that the chorus was still in my head after not having heard the song for over a decade. I had a hunch, and I was right: now I like the song.

My collection: 7" single no. 2991

Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, May 27, 1998

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Love's crashing waves' / 'Within these walls of without you'

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)'