Hurricane - Athlete

Released as the first single from their 2007 album 'Beyond the neighbourhood', 'Hurricane' did not receive as much success as previous singles 'Wires' and 'Half light', only reaching number 31 in the UK singles chart.

The single was released on two 7" singles, this one being the first. Pressed on blue vinyl, it came in a gatefold sleeve to house this disc and the second one, which was released separately. In the eighties at least one would be able to buy a double single for the price of one...

My collection: 7" single no. 3618

Found: eBay, received April 16, 2009

Cost: 3 euro

Tracks: 'Hurricane' / 'Hurricaned (dub remix)'

Vanity kills - ABC

ABC reinvented themselves as cartoon characters for their 1984 album 'How to be a zillionaire'. At the time of release, the band consisted of core members Martin Fry and Mark White, plus Eden (the British journalist Fiona Russell-Powell) and David Yarritu. Eden and David Yarritu were hired for their unconventional look on stage and in videos.

'Vanity kills' appeared in the UK singles chart for one week in June 1985 on number 70. The B-side 'Judy's jewels' is a rarity: it was never released on cd.

My collection: 7" single no. 2419

Found: All that music, Leiden, July 22, 1995

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Vanity kills' / 'Judy's jewels'

De mallemolen - Heddy Lester

Heddy Lester was born in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands on June 18, 1950 as Heddy Affolter. Her biggest claim to fame is her appearance in the 1977 Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'De mallemolen', written by her younger brother Frank Affolter. She finished 12th in a field of 18 competitors.

The lyric of the song uses a merry-go-round as a metaphore for life. For some reason, the quote 'The merry-go-round goes along without you / your horse doesn't stay empty for long' always seems mighty depressing to me. But the B-side makes matters even worse: it's about a man who doesn't hear a bird sing, kills a bug under his feet and hates children. Such negativity!

My collection: 7" single no. 3695

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, May 5, 2009

Cost: 2,5 euro

Tracks: 'De mallemolen' / 'De man die voorbij kwam'

Slow train to dawn - The The

'Slow train to dawn' was released as the fourth single from The The's 1986 album 'Infected'. The single stalled at number 64 in the UK singles chart, which was a disappointment since previous singles had done better, especially 'Heartland' which had peaked at number 29.

This track featured guest vocals by Neneh Cherry, who was unknown at that point but would go on to make a name for herself in 1989 with her debut album 'Raw like sushi'. Drums were performed by David Palmer, who had previously been in the band ABC.

My collection: 7" single no. 2459

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 9, 1995

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Slow train to dawn' / 'Harbour lights'

Mickey - Toni Basil

Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn wrote the song 'Kitty' for the UK pop group Racey. They recorded the track in 1979. In 1982, Toni Basil, born as Antonia Christina Basilotta on September 22, 1943, recorded the track as 'Mickey'.

Basil had a crush on actor and Monkee Micky Dolenz during her work as a choreographer and dancer on the set of the Monkees 1968 movie 'Head'. It prompted her to change the lyrics to 'Mickey' to better suit her real-life experience, and the gender from female to male. The single reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number two in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3217

Found: Record fair, October 12, 2000

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Mickey' / 'Thief on the loose'

Alphabet st. - Prince

'Alphabet st.' was the first single from Prince's 1988 album 'Lovesexy'. It peaked at number 9 in the UK and number 5 in the Netherlands. The packaging for this single was quite unique: there was no real sleeve, just a transparent sleeve with a sticker displaying the artist's and track name on it. The next single 'Glam slam' would be packaged in the same way.

The B-side is essentially an instrumental version of 'Alphabet st.' with an added rap by Cat Glover, who choreographed and appeared in several of Prince's videos and his concert film 'Sign 'O' the times', traveled with him as a backing vocalist and dancer on the Sign 'O' the Times Tour and Lovesexy World Tour. Following her work with Prince, she released the EP 'Catwoman' in 1989.

My collection: 7" single no. 2281

Found: May 6, 1995

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Alphabet st.' / 'Alphabet st.'

Paranoimia - The Art of Noise with Max Headroom

'Paranoimia' was released as a single by the group Art of Noise in 1986. The track featured the computer generated television personality Max Headroom on vocals. The original version of the track (without Max Headroom) features on the album 'In visible silence'.

The single reached number 12 in the UK Singles Chart, and peaked at number 11 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 470

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1986

Cost: 4 guilders

Tracks: 'Paranoimia' / 'Why me?'