Computer games - Mi-sex

The Australian new wave rock band Mi-sex was founded in 1978. The band centered around Steve Gilpin (vocals), Murray Burns (keyboards) and Kevin Stanton (guitar). In August of that year, they were signed to CBS Records. Their debut album 'Graffiti crimes' included their biggest hit 'Computer games'. This single went to number 1 in Australia and was a top 5 hit in New Zealand.

The single was also released in the Netherlands - which is how I heard it - but failed to chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2903

Found: Record Exchange, London, October 30, 1997

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Computer games' / 'Wot do you want'

Opportunities (Let's make lots of money) - Pet Shop Boys

The first version of 'Opportunities' was recorded already in 1983, produced by Bobby Orlando. However, this version wasn't released. When the Pet Shop Boys signed to Parlophone records in 1985, they re-recorded the song with J.J. Jeczalik (from Art of Noise) and Nicholas Froome producing.

This single charted lowly at number 116 in the UK. Their second single on Parlophone would be 'West End Girls' in a new version. This would become what many people thought to be their debut single - and a worldwide hit.

My collection: 7" single no. 2642

Found: Record fair, May 12, 1996

Cost: 10 guilders

Tracks: 'Opportunities (Let's make lots of money)' / 'In the night'

It's a fine day - Opus III

Opus III consisted of vocalist Kelly Hawkshaw and producers Kevin Dodds, Ian Munro and Niger Walton. 'It's a fine day', their debut single in 1992, was a cover of a 1983 single by Jane & Barton. Their debut album 'Mind fruit' was an uplifting dance album, with a strong environmental message in the lyrics and album liner notes.

This single peaked at number 5 in the UK singles chart and was also a minor hit in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 2391

Found: Eastbourne, July 5, 1995

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'It's a fine day' / 'Evolution rush'

Take a chance on me - Abba

Much has been said about Abba's later years, when both couples had divorced and their music took on an increasingly serious tone. It's easy to forget that it all started out as great fun. 'Take a chance on me' is one of those upbeat tracks. The song's origins sprang from Ulvaeus, whose hobby was running. While running, he would sing a "tck-a-ch"-style rhythm to himself over and over again, which then evolved into "take-a-chance" and the eventual lyrics.

'Take a chance on me' was a number one hit in Austria, Belgium, Ireland and the UK, and peaked at number 2 in the Netherlands. The song was covered by Erasure on their 'Abba-esque' EP (1992).

My collection: 7" single no. 2117

Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, June 11, 1994

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Take a chance on me' / 'I'm a marionette'

Cold spell ahead - The The

The The was founded by Matt Johnson in the late Seventies, together with Keith Laws and Peter Fenton-Jones. The latter dropped out within a year, and Peter Ashworth and Tom Johnston were added to the band. They recorded and released the debut single 'Controversial subject'. After this, Johnston and Ashworth dropped out of the band. As a duo (Johnson and Laws), The The began playing shows with some of that era's most influential groups: Wire, Cabaret Voltaire and Scritti Politti amongst others. In 1981, Johnson issued a solo album on 4AD called 'Burning Blue Soul'; years later, it would be re-issued and credited to The The. In September 1981, the duo signed a contract with Some Bizzare Records, and released the 7" single 'Cold Spell Ahead'. Shortly thereafter, Laws left and the only remaining member of The The was Johnson.

'Cold spell ahead' was re-released in 1992. This re-release is in my collection - the original release it probably very expensive and hard to get.

My collection: 7" single no. 1755
Found: Tower Records, London, October 19, 1992

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Cold spell ahead' / 'Hot ice'

Teenage queenie - Pussycat

Taken from their 1981 album 'Blue lights', 'Teenage queenie' was a minor hit for the Dutch band Pussycat, peaking at number 36 in the Dutch Top 40. It was also their penultimate hit: 'Lovers of a kind' (1983) would get to number 15, but after that, the hits dried up. The band finally broke up in 1985.

Pussycat will always be remembered for their worldwide hit 'Mississippi', which gave them a number one hit in the UK in 1976. This song sounds very different from that one, though the band's signature sound, formed by slide guitars and Toni Willé's distinctive voice is still there.

My collection: 7" single no. 903

Found: All that music, Leiden, June 23, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Teenage queenie' / 'Who's gonna love you'

How can we hang on to a dream - Tim Hardin

Tim Hardin was born on December 23, 1941. His career as an American folk musician started in 1966, with the release of his debut album 'Tim Hardin 1'. This contained the song 'Misty roses', which reached the top 40 in America. His second album 'Tim Hardin 2' was released in 1967, and contained 'How can we hang on to a dream', which was his only UK hit, charting for one week on number 50. The song did considerably better in the Netherlands, where it made number during its ten week chart run.

Tim Hardin developed a heroin addiction, which took control of his life by the time his last album, 'Nine', was released in 1973. He died of a heroin and morphine overdose on December 29, 1980. In 1987, the song was re-released after it was used on the soundtrack of the Dutch movie 'Zoeken naar Eileen' ('Searching for Eileen'). This time around, the song peaked at number 4. I always considered it to be a very moving song.

My collection: 7" single no. 1813
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 9, 1993
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'How can we hang on to a dream' / 'Misty roses'