One small day - Ultravox

The first single from Ultravox's 1984 album 'Lament' was an unusual track in their catalogue, because for the first time in a long time, the band omitted the use of synthesizers in favour of a more guitar-driven rock song. As such, I always considered it to be one of the band's worst singles.

The single still made number 27 in the UK singles chart and number 16 in Ireland. But in Europe, the single did not chart. I finally bought the single in 1999, simply because of the fact that I have most of the band's singles - and this one was pressed on clear vinyl. The instrumental B-side is an intriguing piece, anyway.

My collection: 7" single no. 3062

Found: House of Rhythm, London, May 9, 1999

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'One small day' / 'Easterly'

Absent friends - The Divine Comedy

'Absent friends' was the title track of The Divine Comedy's 2004 album, and released as its second single. The song was a return to form, sounding like many tracks on the 1998 album 'Fin de siecle'. The B-side featured a track that was exclusive to the 7" vinyl format.

The single peaked at number 38 in the UK singles chart, not the big success the band and the record company were hoping for. As such, it was the last single to be released from the album.

My collection: 7" single no. 3406

Found: hmv.co.uk website, 2004

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Absent friends' / 'Anthem for bored youth'

Theater - Katja Ebstein

Katja Ebstein was born on March 9, 1945 in Girlachsdorf, Germany (now Gniewków, Poland). She released her debut album 'Katja - die Stimme' in 1970. That same year she represented Germany during the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Wunder gibt es immer wieder', reaching third place. This encourages her to try again in 1971. But the song 'Diese Welt' again reached third place in the Contest.

Nine years and several albums later, Katja participated in the 1980 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Theater'. Written by Ralph Siegel and Bernd Meinunger, this reached second place. If Ebstein would have participated once more, who knows... she might have won. We'll never know.

I actually bought this single in 1980 for 1 guilder. One or two years later, after barely playing the single, I exchanged it with my sister for Visage's 'Fade to grey'. In my current administration, this would have been single no. 61. Now it has become number 3744.

My collection: 7" single no. 3744
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Theater' / 'Getrennt von Tisch und Bett'

Give it up - Talk Talk

'Give it up' was released as the third single from Talk Talk's 'Colour of spring' album. I appreciated this single a lot more than 'Life's what you make it' and 'Living in another world', because it wasn't played on radio and television on a daily basis. Which also meant that it didn't become a hit. It only charted in the UK, reaching number 59.

In fact, 'Give it up' started a trend. Talk Talk would never chart in most countries except the UK, Ireland and (once) Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 446
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, August 9, 1986
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Give it up' / 'Pictures of Bernadette'

I could fall in love with you - Erasure

'I could fall in love with you' was released in April 2007 as the first single from Erasure's 13th studio album 'Light at the end of the world'. It was the first 7" single release by Erasure since 'Run to the sun' (1994). The single peaked at number 21 in the UK singles chart.

Vince Clarke explained about the song: 'Before we started this album, I was really keen for it not to be mid-tempo - I'm having a mid-tempo crisis! Our albums seem to have got slower and slower, so I started searching for classic funk or disco bass lines, put some ideas together with chord changes and bass lines underneath, and emailed them to Andy for him to sing over the top. The song, like this album, is quite 'up' and uptempo because we're both in good spaces right now.'

My collection: 7" single no. 3498

Found: eBay, received December 23, 2008

Cost: 3 pounds

Tracks: 'I could fall in love with you (Jeremy Wheatley radio mix)' / 'I like it'

Vibeology - Paula Abdul

I had high hopes for 'Vibeology' when it was released as the fourth single from Paula Abdul's 1991 album 'Spellbound'. Unfortunately the release was marred by bad remixes in a house style. I had a lot of doubts whether I would even buy this single, but since I had the other singles I couldn't let this one go. I did wait a couple of years, though.

It was still a reasonable success in various countries: in America it peaked at number 16, it went to number 19 in the UK and in the Netherlands the single got to number 13. The biggest success of this track was in Canada, where it made number 3.

My collection: 7" single no. 2351
Found: Record Exchange, London, June 26, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Vibeology' / 'Vibeology (Hurley's House 7")'
Download: here (password: http://popgems.blogspot.com)

Cornflake girl - Tori Amos

The first single from Tori Amos' second album 'Under the pink' was 'Cornflake girl'. The title was inspired by Alice Walker's novel 'Possessing the secret of joy', about a young African woman going through the ritual of female genital mutilation. Amos was angered by the idea that a mother could subject her daughter to such a brutal act, and the song arose as an exploration of the idea of betrayal between women.

Accompanied by a weird music video, the song still managed to peak at number 4 in the UK singles chart and even broke the Dutch Top 40, where Amos had never had a chart placing before. In the Netherlands it rose to number 26.

My collection: 7" single no. 2082

Found: Record fair, March 8, 1994

Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Cornflake girl' / 'Sister Janet'