Head over heels - Abba

'Head over heels' was the second single taken from Abba's 1981 album 'The visitors'. The song was written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. The lead vocal was sung by Agnetha Fältskog, singing about her 'very good friend', played in the accompanying music video by Anni-Frid Lyngstad, an overactive high-society woman who rushes through the shops, with her hapless and exhausted husband (played by Ulvaeus) following behind.

The single was not the big success previous singles were, only managing a top 10 placing in France, Austria, the Netherlands and Belgium. In the UK, the single only peaked at number 25, breaking a run of 18 consecutive top 1o hits in that country.

I bought the single as soon as it came out, as had become usual for Abba singles around that time. Fourteen years later, I found the UK edition with a different - but beautiful - picture sleeve (pictured below).

My collection: 7" single no. 107 / no. 2700
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1982 / House of Rhythm, London, July 3, 1996
Cost: 6 guilders / 1 pound
Tracks: 'Head over heels' / 'The visitors'

Ploem ploem jenka - Trea Dobbs

After a few unsuccessful years in Eurovision, the Dutch broadcaster decided to organise the National final in a different way. Between February 8 and 12, every night a different artist sang three songs. A jury selected the songs for the final on February 13. Conny van den Bos won the national selection with ''t Is genoeg'.

The concept proved to be a successful one, as various songs from that week were popular. One of them was Trea Dobbs' 'Ploem ploem jenka', released by Decca as a single. While this was a rather simple song, 'Stad' ('City') on the B-side, a melancholy ballad about lost love, was thoroughly impressive.

My collection: 7" single no. 3753

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

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Ploem ploem jenka' / 'Stad'

I love the heaven's solo - Tanita Tikaram

'I love the heaven's solo' was already a B-side of Tanita Tikaram's 1990 single 'Little sister leaving town', before it was re-recorded for her 1991 album 'Everybody's angel'. This version was released as the second single from that album.

The single did not chart, and so no further singles were taken from the album.

My collection: 7" single no. 2550

Found: Record exchange, London, November 2, 1995

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'I love the heaven's solo' / 'Only in name'

Together in electric dreams - Giorgio Moroder and Philip Oakey

The film 'Electric dreams' was director Steve Barron's first full feature film. Barron had made a name for himself conceiving and directing music videos, such as the Human League's 'Don't you want me'. For his film, Barron enlisted Giorgio Moroder as director of music. He wrote most of the score. Barron wanted the end credits to roll to 'an emotional song'.

Moroder wrote 'Together in electric dreams' which was to be a male solo vocal. When he asked who Barron would like to sing the lyrics, Barron immediately thought of his former associate Philip Oakey. When Oakey recorded the song it was over very quickly, after the first full recording Moroder told Oakey that the first take was 'good enough, as first time is always best'. Oakey who thought he was just rehearsing insisted on doing another take. Moroder let him but to this day Oakey is convinced that Moroder still used the first take on the final production.

The song soon overshadowed the success of the film. Oakey states that it is ironic that a track that took literally ten minutes to record would become a worldwide hit, while some of his Human League material that took over a year to record didn't.

My collection: 7" single no. 492

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1985

Cost: 4 guilders

Tracks: 'Together in electric dreams' / 'Together in electric dreams (instrumental)'

Forbidden city - Electronic

'Forbidden city' was the first single taken from Electronic's second album 'Raise the pressure'. It was written by Bernard Sumner, Johnny Marr and ex-Kraftwerk member Karl Bartos.

The song was not a huge hit, peaking at number 14 on the UK singles chart, but did receive substantial radio play in Britain. It remains one of Johnny Marr's favourite Electronic songs and opened up their best of compilation in 2006, with stills from its Tom Merriton-directed video used for the front cover and inside the booklet.

My collection: 7" single no. 2713
Found: HMV, London, July 4, 1996
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Forbidden city' / 'Imitation of life'

The plastic age - The Buggles

'The plastic age' was the second single by the Buggles. Hopes were high, since 'Video killed the radio star', their debut single, was a worldwide hit. The futuristic song only charted in the UK and the Netherlands, peaking at number 16 and 27 respectively.

The song alludes to plastic surgery and the stress of modern culture. The Buggles also created an unusual, futuristic and illusion-like music video to promote the song.

My collection: 7" single no. 1096

Found: All that music, Leiden, November 11, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'The plastic age' / 'Island' [mistitled 'The plastic age' on the label]

One love to give - Stephanie

More than the previous single 'Ouragan/Irresistible', 'One love to give' showed the vocal inadequacies of Princess Stephanie of Monaco. With a synth-heavy backing (which was so popular in the Eighties) and a rather strong composition, Stephanie wasn't able to keep up. But still she was rewarded with a number 1 hit in Sweden and a number 10 placing in the German singles chart.

French speaking countries preferred the version in their own language: 'Flash' went to number 4 in France and number 28 in Switzerland.

My collection: 7" single no. 2999

Found: June 20, 1998

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'One love to give' / 'Le sega Mauricien'