If she knew what she wants - The Bangles

This limited edition double single features not one, but two hit singles. Although 'hit' singles may be overstating things a bit. 'Hero takes a fall' was originally released in 1984 and only managed a number 96 placing in the UK singles chart. 'If she knew what she wants' was a bit more successful, reaching number 31 in the UK and Australia, but also number 30 in Austria, number 29 in the USA, number 20 in Switzerland and number 17 in Germany!

'If she knew what she wants' was the second single taken from the Bangles' 1986 album 'Different light', the album that would later bring forth the biggest hit of the group's career: 'Walk like an Egyptian'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3165

Found: House of Rhythm, London, January 18, 2000

Cost: 1,5 pounds

Tracks: 'If she knew what she wants' / 'Angels don't fall in love' // 'Hero takes a fall (remix)' / 'James'

Hocus pocus - Focus

The Dutch band Focus was formed in 1969. After their debut album the line-up changed to Jan Akkerman, Cyril Havermans, Pierre van der Linden and Thijs van Leer. Their 1971 album 'Moving waves' included the song 'Hocus pocus', which would achieve international fame. The instrumental rock classic consists of Akkerman's guitar chord sequence used as a recurring theme, with interludes that include alto flute riffs, accordion, guitar, and drum solos, whistling, nonsensical vocals, falsetto singing, and yodeling.

Their third album 'Focus III' (1972) included the track 'Sylvia', written by Van Leer, which became a major hit in many countries including the UK, where it reached number 4. This single contains both tracks, which made number 9 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 2950

Found: Record fair, Leiden, January 31, 1998

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Hocus pocus' / 'Sylvia'

Forbidden colours - David Sylvian and Riuichi Sakamoto

'Forbidden colours' is the vocal version of the track 'Merry Christmas mr Lawrence'. The lyrics were written and performed by David Sylvian, who had worked with Riuichi Sakamoto once before on the single release 'Bamboo houses'. This single peaked at number 16 in the UK singles chart.

Since the release of this single, both Sakamoto and Sylvian have recorded several interpretations of the song, both instrumental and vocal. An orchestral version featuring vocals by Sylvian was included on Sakamoto's 1999 album 'Cinemage'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2879

Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 28, 1997

Cost: 40p

Tracks: 'Forbidden colours' / 'The seed and the sower'

Reggae OK - Riki Sorsa

Riki Sorsa, born December 26, 1952, represented Finland in the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest with a song about that typically Finnish music style: 'Reggae OK'. It surprised the international juries so much that they forgot to vote for it. The song ended up in 16th place (with 20 countries participating).

Sorsa started his music career in 1975 in the band ZOO. Despite his poor placing in the Contest, he continued his career in Finland, releasing more than a dozen albums between 1981 and now.

My collection: 7" single no. 3715

Found: Marktplaats.nl, received May 22, 2009

Cost: 2,5 euro

Tracks: 'Reggae OK' / 'Autograph'

Dancing with tears in my eyes - Ultravox

More than anything else, I've always considered 'Dancing with tears in my eyes' a soundtrack to the music video Ultravox made in 1984. I can't imagine the music without that video anymore. I thought bringing down the enormous theme of a nuclear holocaust to the story of one man and woman was incredibly moving.

'Dancing with tears in my eyes' was the second single from 'Lament', Ultravox's seventh studio album, released in 1984. The single effectively put Ultravox back on the map, peaking at number 3 in the UK single charts, and reaching the top 10 in many European countries. In the Netherlands, it peaked at number 6.

I bought the single as soon as it came out. It was the German pressing with tour dates on the front cover (pictured above). A few years later I found a UK limited edition of the single with a booklet sleeve, pressed on clear vinyl (pictured below).

My collection: 7" single no. 235
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1984
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Dancing with tears in my eyes' / 'Building'

The sound of crying - Prefab Sprout

Released as the first single from the compilation album 'A life of surprises: the best of Prefab Sprout', 'The sound of crying' was the biggest success Prefab Sprout had in the UK since 'The king of Rock 'n' Roll' reached number 7 in the UK.

'The sound of crying' was also more successful than the four subsequent singles taken from the compilation album. This single peaked at number 23, but it was only the first time in four years that the band cracked the top 30 again.

My collection: 7" single no. 1674

Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, June 27, 1992

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'The sound of crying (edit)' / 'The sound of crying (full version)'

Was soll ich tun - Sandra en Andres

Like I mentioned here, it's a miracle that Puck and I didn't buy the same singles on May 5. While he bought 'Als het om de liefde gaat' and its English version (soon on this blog) somewhere else in the country, I was back in my hometown buying this single: 'Was soll ich tun', the German version of 'Als het om de liefde gaat'.

Part of the charm of Eurovision collections is owning different language versions of entries. They are often collectable, because Eurovision artists usually don't have a lot of success abroad. As was the case with this one: it did not chart anywhere.

My collection: 7" single no. 3696

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

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Was soll ich tun' / 'Wenn der Zigeuner lacht'