Love is like oxygen - Sweet

The Sweet were a popular glam rock band throughout the Seventies in the UK, racking up no less than 10 top 10 hits, including one number 1 hit. 'Love is like oxygen' was their last hit single, peaking at number 9 in the UK singles chart. The single was released after the band had switched labels and took on a different style, comparable to Electric Light Orchestra. Indeed, 'Love is like oxygen' is often mistaken for an ELO song.

In the Netherlands, the single peaked at number 16. I think I've always liked the song, but I did forget about it for a couple of years. When I heard it again in the early Nineties, I started to look for this single. It took me ages to finally find it.

My collection: 7" single no. 2840

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, April 5, 1997

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Love is like oxygen' / 'Cover girl'

Mirror man - Human League

'Mirror man' was released in November 1982 as the first single after the Human League's hugely successful 'Dare!' album and tour. The track was reportedly inspired by the Motown sound. The lyric was subject to a lot of speculation, until in 1988 Phil Oakey revealed that it was about Adam Ant. Oakey had become concerned that Adam was starting to believe his own publicity, and was in danger of losing touch with reality. Oakey had avoided revealing this at the time for fear of offending the song's subject.

The single became a number two hit in the UK, and peaked at number 24 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 2815
Found: Record fair, February 1, 1997
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Mirror man' / 'You remind me of gold'

White horse - Laid Back

The Danish group Laid Back was formed by Tim Stahl and John Guldberg in Copenhagen in 1979. After hitting it big in Europe in 1982 with 'Sunshine reggae', they released 'White horse', an anti-drug abuse themed track about people who were lured into the drug culture/lifestyle that was commonplace in the 1980s.

The single reached number 17 in the Netherlands and also was a number 1 hit in the American dance/disco chart (as shown on the sleeve).

My collection: 7" single no. 2796

Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 14, 1996

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'White horse' / 'Don't be mean'

I got a feeling - Lisa Stansfield

Before Lisa Stansfield hit it big in 1989, performing vocals on the Coldcut track 'People hold on', she tried her hand at solo singles for a couple of years. This was one of them: 'I got a feeling', a track written by Lamont Dozier and Brian and Edward Holland, better known as the Motown songwriting team Holland-Dozier-Holland.

This single, released in 1983, was not a hit, just like early singles 'Alibis' (1981), 'The only way' (1982) and 'Listen to your heart' (1983).

My collection: 7" single no. 2675
Found: Record Exchange, London, July 2, 1996
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'I got a feeling' / 'Red lights'

You're history - Shakespear's sister

'You're history' was released as the second single by Shakespear's Sister after the double A-side 'Heroine/Break my heart', which failed to chart in 1988. In the summer of 1989, 'You're history' became their first UK hit peaking at number 7 on the UK singles chart.

The single was released as a limited edition box set featuring the single, a full colour poster and a lyric sheet.

My collection: 7" single no. 2751

Found: October 28, 1996

Cost: 10 guilders

Tracks: 'You're history' / 'Dirty mind (Live in Leningrad)'

Bohemian rhapsody - Queen

What can you write about a monumental piece of music like 'Bohemian rhapsody' that hasn't already been written dozens of times - and with more eloquence - by others? Suffice to say that a lengthy article in Wikipedia contains all you need to know.

This sleeve of the Dutch pressing of 'Bohemian rhapsody' is quite amusing for it lists the B-side as 'With my car I'm in love'. The track is of course named 'I'm in love with my car'.

My collection: 7" single no. 305

Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, 1985

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Bohemian rhapsody' / 'I'm in love with my car'

Just outside of heaven - H2O

H2O were a Scottish band, formed in 1978 in Glasgow by Colin Ferguson, Colin Gavigan, Ian Donaldson, Kenny Dorman, Pete Keane and Ross Alcock. Their biggest success was the synthpop single 'I dream to sleep' which reached number 17 on the UK singles chart in June 1983.

'Just outside of heaven' was the band's second single. It reached number 38 later the same year. In 1984 they released their only album 'Faith', but further success eluded them and they split soon after.

My collection: 7" single no. 2472
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, April 16, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Just outside of heaven' / 'Stranger to stranger'