Fraction too much friction - Tim Finn

After the release of Split Enz 1982 album 'Time and Tide', Tim Finn decided to give the band a break after 10 years. It was Tim's intention to take the time to work some of the new songs that he wanted to release, but felt were not Enz material. Tim later commented that he tried some of the songs out with the band, but it just wasn't working.

'Fraction too much friction' was one of those songs. It became Tim Finn's first solo single, taken from the 1984 album 'Escapade'. A huge hit in Australia in New Zealand, the single also peaked at number 2 in the Dutch Top 40. The song was played a lot on the radio at the time, which meant that I didn't want to hear the song for a quarter of a century. I recently bought the single. Now I can listen to the song again.

My collection: 7" single no. 3697

Found: Empire Records, May 5, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Fraction too much friction' / 'Below the belt'

In the air tonight - Phil Collins

'In the air tonight' is the debut single by Phil Collins, the first single taken from his 1981 album 'Face value'. Phil Collins himself commented about the lyric of the song: 'I don't know what this song is about. When I was writing this I was going through a divorce. And the only thing I can say about it is that it's obviously in anger. It's the angry side, or the bitter side of a separation.'

The song became a number 1 hit in New Zealand and Germany, peaking at number 2 in the Netherlands and the UK. The song's popularity increased later on in the Eighties after a nearly complete recording of it was featured in the pilot episode of the American television show Miami Vice ('Brother's Keeper'), thus becoming one of the first pop/rock songs to be featured as part of a TV programme in this manner.

I bought the single already in 1987, but recently found a limited edition version of it featuring a booklet with drawings by Phil's brother Clive Collins.

My collection: 7" single no. 568 (1 & 2)

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1987 & Record fair, Utrecht, November 22, 2008

Cost: 1 guilder & 1 euro

Tracks: 'In the air tonight' / 'The roof is leaking'

Magic man - Heart

'Magic man' was released as the second single from Heart's debut album 'Dreamboat Annie' (1976). With lengthy guitar solos, the song featured notable Minimoog synthesizer usage. Written by Ann and Nancy Wilson, the song is sung from the viewpoint of a young girl who is being seduced by an older man (referred to as a Magic Man), much to the chagrin of her mother, who begs the girl to come home.

In interview, Ann Wilson revealed the 'Magic Man' was her then-boyfriend, band manager Michael Fisher, and part of the song was an autobiographical tale of the beginnings of their relationship. The single became Heart's first Top 10 hit in the United States, peaking at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. In the Netherlands, the single peaked at number 7, while it didn't chart in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 554

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1987

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Magic man' / 'How deep it goes'

Hi - Ofra Haza

Without a doubt, the most famous track by Israeli singer Ofra Haza is 'Im nin' alu', released in 1988. But before she conquered the world with this track, she participated in the 1983 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, representing Israel. Haza reached second place in the competition.

The lyric of the song, written by Avi Toledano (who represented Israel himself in 1982 with 'Hora') states that the singer is still alive despite the 'thorns' she has endured. Later on in the song, this is revealed to be a metaphor for 'the nation of Israel' surviving various attempts at destroying it. The song had further profound meanings since it was performed on German soil with the Holocaust background and in the city of Munich, the site of the Munich massacre during the Olympic Games in 1972.

My collection: 7" single no. 3179
Found: Bea Records, April 16, 2000
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Hi' / 'High'

F.L.M. - Mel and Kim

At the time of release of Mel & Kim's third single, during a promotional visit to Japan in June 1987, Mel Appleby became ill with a suspected spinal disc herniation, after complaining of a back problem for several months. Upon returning to the UK, Mel was diagnosed with secondary cancer of the spine, after previously being treated for liver cancer when she was 18, prior to the duo's rise to fame.

The sisters withdrew from publicity while Mel underwent treatment, and footage from their Montreux Festival performance was used to compile the music video for 'F.L.M.'. While the media speculated that Mel was terminally ill, both sisters categorically denied this, stating that Mel had suffered a debilitating back injury. 'F.L.M.', meanwhile, rose to number 7 in the UK singles chart, and peaked at number 10 in the Netherlands.

The single was released in two different sleeves: the European sleeve (pictured above) being different from the one released in the UK (pictured below).

My collection: 7" single no. 533 (1 & 2)

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987 & HMV, London, October 1987

Cost: 6 guilders & 2 pounds

Tracks: 'F.L.M.' / 'F.L.M. (Instrumental)'

The border - America

America was formed in 1971 by Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peek. They recorded seven albums together until Peek left the band in 1977. Beckley and Bunnell went on together and recorded three albums without Peek. Their fourth album was 1983's 'Your move'. It was a collaboration with former Argent star Russ Ballard, who had been responsible for their 1982 hit 'You can do magic'.

In the end, Ballard wound up writing most of the songs and performing most of the instruments in addition to his production duties. Beckley and Bunnell were basically singers on an album that Ballard had made for them, although they did contribute some material of their own. On one track, Bunnell decided to rewrite Ballard's lyrics, and the hit song 'The border' was the result. Set to the backing of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the saxophone work of Raphael Ravenscroft, the single reached number 33 on the US charts in August 1983. The single also made number 24 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 979

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 29, 1989

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'The border' / 'Sometimes lovers'

In the heat of the night - Sandra

Released in November 1985, 'In the heat of the night' was Sandra's second solo single taken from the debut album 'The Long Play'. On the album this song lasted for over five minutes, the single version was edited to 3'48. It was a number one hit in Israel and peaked at number 2 in Germany, Sweden and Switzerland. In the Netherlands, it peaked at number 15.

I didn't like Sandra's music at first, but got turned on by a friend who lived in Utrecht. I felt a strange sense of appropriateness when I bought this single in that city.

My collection: 7" single no. 1859

Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, January 30, 1993

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'In the heat of the night' / 'Heatwave (instrumental)'