Train of thought - A-ha

The third single from A-ha's debut album 'Hunting high and low' came in the most beautiful sleeve they ever had. The image of the band members in the same drawing style of the accompanying music video was something very arty indeed. I was lucky enough to get the UK pressing of the single, with a stiff cardboard sleeve.

I was disappointed when the single did not chart in the Netherlands. In the UK, it was also the lowest charting single of the four that were released from the album, but it still peaked at number 8.

My collection: 7" single no. 395

Found: LP top 100, Den Haag, 1985

Cost: 5,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Train of thought (remix)' / 'And you tell me (demo)'

I.M.U.R. - Luv'

This single is a present which I got from my parents when we were on holiday in Paris. Being only eight years old, my musical taste was still forming, but I did already have an ear for pretty melodies. Luv' had just hit the Dutch charts with 'Eeny meeny miny moe' (where it would reach number 11), a pretty but vacuous popsong, and I was very surprised to find that the French had put that song on the B-side in favour of 'I.M.U.R.'.

I knew that song too, and thought it was pretty modern-sounding. Indeed, in the Eighties this sound would become very popular. Girl group pop never sounded so nice.

My collection: 7" single no. 24

Found: Paris, 1979

Cost: nothing (it was a present)

Tracks: 'I.M.U.R.' / 'Eeny meeny miny moe'

Don't you write her off - McGuinn, Clark and Hillmann

After the break-up of the Byrds, Roger McGuinn released several solo albums throughout the Seventies. He also toured with Bob Dylan during his 1975 and 1976 'Rolling thunder revue'. In 1978, McGuinn joined fellow ex-Byrds Gene Clark and Chris Hillman to form McGuinn, Clark & Hillman'. The band released its debut album in 1979.

'Don't you write her off" reached number 33 in America and number 17 in the Netherlands. The single did not chart in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 962

Found: All that music, Leiden, August 10, 1989

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Don't you write her off' / 'Sad boy'

Big time - Peter Gabriel

Peter Gabriel's song 'Big time' is often compared to his previous hit 'Sledgehammer', because both tracks are uptempo, both come from the same album 'So' (1987) and both were promoted by music videos that used several animation techniques. Still, 'Big time' was not the big hit 'Sledgehammer' was. In the Netherlands, 'Big time' peaked at number 24 and in the UK it reached number 13. It was the first Peter Gabriel single that was also released on the new cd-single format.

The song deals with a man's efforts to achieve success - but his vision of success is quite peculiar and naive.

My collection: 7" single no. 524
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Big time' / 'Curtains'

Fortune fairytales - Lois Lane

After being dumped by their record company, the band Lois Lane had to find a way to release their next album. They created the label LowLand records, signed a marketing and distribution deal with Polydor records, and off they went.

'Fortune fairytales' was the first single released this way. A limited edition of the single was signed by the entire band, and as you can see, I managed to buy a copy. The single became a good success in the Netherlands, peaking at number 6 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1212

Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, April 20, 1990

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Fortune fairytales' / 'Just can't help myself'

Knowing me, knowing you - Abba

Recorded in 1976 at the Metronome studio in Stockholm, 'Knowing me knowing you' was released as a single in February 1977. The B-side was 'Happy Hawaii', an early version of 'Why did it have to be me'. Group member Benny Andersson named 'Knowing me, knowing you' as one of Abba's best recordings in a 2004 interview, along with 'Dancing queen', 'The winner takes it all' and 'When I kissed the teacher'.

The single became a number 1 hit in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Mexico and South Africa. In the Netherlands and Switzerland it peaked at number 3. It was a top 10 hit in eight further countries.

My collection: 7" single no. 233
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1984
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Knowing me, knowing you' / 'Happy Hawaii'

China - Tori Amos

'China' was the first Tori Amos single I ever bought. I was actually searching for 'Silent all these years', but this was the only single my record dealer had at the time. Somehow I was confident that this would also be an interesting single, and so I bought it without even having heard it. When I played it at home, I was immediately convinced. 'China' is a beautiful ballad. Not long after that, I found out that the B-side was also a beautiful piece ofwork.

'China' peaked at number 51 in the UK singles chart, but it did not chart in any other territory.

My collection: 7" single no. 1615

Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, April 4, 1992

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'China' / 'Sugar'