An Englishman in New York - Godley and Creme

The title of this single has become associated with Sting, who released his song in 1988. Eight years before that, Godley & Creme released their own 'Englishman in New York', a totally different song with comparable success. At least, in the Netherlands, where it peaked at number 3. In the UK, this single did not chart at all.

While the duo would become directors of music videos later on, this single was already accompanied by an innovate music video, directed by Godley and Creme themselves.

My collection: 7" single no. 2558

Found: November 19, 1995

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'An Englishman in New York' / 'Silent running'

Greenland - Pierre Moulin

When you search for 'Pierre Moulin' on the web, the only relevant link is a site where this very single is for sale. I guess you can say that Pierre is not a very renowned musician. And when you hear these tracks, you know why: it's muzak at best.

So why did I buy this single all those years ago? Well, the title of the B-side caught my eye. It's indeed a cover of the famous Kate Bush track. And since I am a fan of Kate Bush, I had to hear this track. (This was in the days when MP3's weren't freely available everywhere on the internet). I guess it is some sort of rarity, so another item I'm glad to own.

My collection: 7" single no. 2981

Found: Record fair, April 4, 1998

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Greenland' / 'Wuthering heights'

Only the ones we love - Tanita Tikaram

Released as the first single from Tanita Tikaram's third album 'Everybody's angel' (1991), 'Only the ones we love' was not a very big success. The single peaked at number 69 in the UK singles chart and did not chart in the Netherlands.

The song featured backing vocals by Jennifer Warnes, who also sang on a few other tracks on the album. Though critically acclaimed, commercial success seemed to elude Tikaram even more than with the previous album.

My collection: 7" single no. 1421

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, April 7, 1991

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Only the ones we love' / 'Me in mind'

Shades - Iggy Pop

Black, also known as Colin Vearncombe, recorded a cover version of 'Shades' in 1991 as the B-side of his single 'Here it comes again'. I loved the track, loved the melody and the sheer power of the song. When I found out it was a cover of an Iggy Pop song, I started getting curious about the original version as well. So when I stumbled across this single, I couldn't resist buying it.

The original version is a bit rawer, less polished than the Black version. The song, written by Iggy Pop and David Bowie, was not a hit. It was taken from Iggy's 1986 album 'Blah blah blah'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2545
Found: Record Exchange, London, November 1, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Shades' / 'Baby it can't fall'

Madre dolcissima - Zucchero

'Madre dolcissima' (1989) was Zucchero's last single before his international breakthrough with 'Senza una donna', the duet with Paul Young in 1991. Clocking it at over 7 minutes, it was quite a lengthy single and a very interesting track.

It was taken from Zucchero's 1989 album 'Oro incenso e birra', which was recorded in Memphis. The album includes the Italian hit singles 'Diamante', 'Overdose (d'Amore)', 'Il mare' and 'Wonderful world'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1354
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, November 10, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Madre dolcissima' / 'Nice (Nietzsche) che dice'

Send me an angel - Real life

The Australian new wave band Real life formed in 1980. Original members were David Sterry, Richard Zatorski, Alan Johnson and Danny Simcic. Their debut single, 'Send me an angel', released in 1983 was the biggest hit of their career, peaking at number 2 in Australia and number 1 in Germany. Oddly enough, the single did not chart in the Netherlands.

The first time I heard the track was on a German compilation double album which I bought in 1984 during a holiday. I liked the song a lot, but it was only ten years later that I decided to buy the single as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 2295

Found: Music Machine Mailorder, Hoorn, May 18, 1995

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Send me an angel' / 'Like a gun'

(Keep feeling) Fascination - Human League

'(Keep Feeling) Fascination' was released in April 1983 as a non-album single. It went to number 2 in the UK singles chart and peaked at number 8 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Philip Oakey and backing singers Susan Ann Sulley and Joanne Catherall perform vocal duties on this track as usual, but the track also features a rare vocal by band member Jo Callis.

The song has recently been used in two movies: 'Fever pitch' (2005) and 'You don't mess with the Zohan' (2008). Just to prove that Eighties music is still relevant today.

My collection: 7" single no. 2828

Found: Record Exchange, London, February 1, 1997

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: '(Keep feeling) Fascination' / 'Total panic'