Masked moods - Blue Rondo

Nothing can adequately describe that feeling of satisfaction, relief and happiness when you finally hold in your hand that one item you've been searching for ages. In this case, twenty five years! I got to know 'Masked moods' thanks to this video, which appeared regularly on the Music Box TV channel.

I loved this song, but I could never find the single, despite looking for it intensively ever since 1984, when it was released. I did find the album 'Bees Knees & Chicken Elbows' (1984), which contains a different version of the track. But I was obviously after the single version. Last week, I finally spotted a copy on the Vinyl Tap website. I bought it, and today I could finally hold it in my hands. A long quest has finally come to an end.

My collection: 7" single no. 3760

Found: Vinyl Tap website, received May 29, 2009

Cost: 7 euro

Tracks: 'Masked moods' / 'Samba no pé'

Samson - Emly Starr

Emly Starr was born as Marie-Christine Mareel in Laarne, Belgium on September 5, 1957. Her music career started in 1976 with the single 'Tears of gold'. After five years, she represented Belgium during the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Samson'. The song finished in 13th place, in a field of 20 participants.

The song is inspired by the Biblical story of Samson, with Starr singing that the object of her desires is like Samson in that he is not interested in love. She suggests that he should 'find yourself a Delilah'. This single features the Dutch and English version of the track.

My collection: 7" single no. 3739

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Samson (Nederlandstalige versie)' / 'Samson (English version)'

Hou van mij - Het Goede Doel

'Hou van mij' ('Love me') was the sixth single by Het Goede Doel, released in April 1983. The single was notable for lasting for almost 6 minutes, making it another lengthy track in the tradition of the band's biggest hit 'Belgie', released just months earlier.

The single reached number 29 in the Dutch Top 40, the group's lowest chart placing since their singles started charting.

My collection: 7" single no. 3751

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, May 27, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Hou van mij' / 'Iets van gevoel'

Biscaya - James Last

Despite a career spanning many decades, German orchestra leader James Last never managed to crack the Dutch Top 40. His albums sold millions all over Europe including the Netherlands, but the singles were less successful here.

Until he released 'Biscaya'. This single became his one and only hit song, reaching number 5 in the summer of 1982. I didn't know much about James Last when I bought this single - it was merely one of the few singles that were available for 3 guilders in the shop where I used to spend my last money. I can never decide if this is a beautiful track or just plain cheesy.

My collection: 7" single no. 143

Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1982

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Biscaya' / 'Verlorener Sommer'

Little Suzi's on the up - Ph.D.

The duo Ph.D. (Jim Diamond and Tony Hymas) followed up 'I won't let you down' within a few months, hoping to have similar success. They didn't: the single did not chart anywhere. The music video for this song was shown as the fifth video on MTV in America, on its first broadcasting day on August 1, 1981.

Subsequent singles were equally unsuccessful and when singer Jim Diamond contracted hepatitis, the band couldn't go on tour. This ultimately led to the group disbanding. Diamond would come back some time later as a solo artist.

My collection: 7" single no. 2139
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, August 2, 1994
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Little Suzi's on the up' / 'I'm gonna take you to the top'

Sweet bird of truth - The The

Released in 1987 as the first single from The The's second album for Epic Records, 'Sweet bird of truth' did not chart. Perhaps this was because the subject matter of the song was a bit 'heavy'. The band's key member Matt Johnson wrote the song about an airforce pilot who is apparently killing people above the Gulf of Arabia.

At the time of its release, Matt Johnson was actually the only remaining member of The The, using session musicians to create the music on the album 'Infected'. I actually have a cd-single of 'Sweet bird of truth' as well, one of those early cd-single releases.

My collection: 7" single no. 1343
Found: London, October 17, 1990
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Sweet bird of truth' / 'Sleeping juice'

Le blé en herbe / Pour un flirt - Michel Delpech

Michel Delpech was born on January 26, 1946 in the Paris suburb Courbevoie. He clocked up hit after hit in France during the Seventies. In the Netherlands, he only made the charts once. 'Pour un flirt' reached the Dutch Top 40 in the Summer of 1971 and reached number 3.

This French single contains 'Pour un flirt', but oddly enough it's on the B-side. The A-side contains the unknown - at least, unknown to me - song 'Le blé en herbe'. I got this single as a present. 'Pour un flirt' is one of those songs that belong in every collection - it's an evergreen.

My collection: 7" single no. 3759
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, May 28, 2009
Cost: -
Tracks: 'Le blé en herbe' / 'Pour un flirt'