Stop for a minute - Sandra

'Aus dem Tatort 'Salü Palü'', says this sleeve, which means that Sandra's 'Stop for a minute' was used in the soundtrack of an episode of the German detective series 'Tatort'. The song was a new one, not having appeared on Sandra's two albums that were released up to that point. The track would appear as a new track on her first compilation album 'Ten on one', which was meant to close the gap between Sandra's second and third album.

I didn't know this song when I bought the single - I was simply attracted by the beautiful (and glossy) sleeve. It's one of Sandra's stronger pop tracks, so I have no regrets.

My collection: 7" single no. 1607

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, March 28, 1992

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Stop for a minute' / 'Two lovers tonight'

Pearl in the shell (live) - Howard Jones

The Howard Jones fanclub released three different live singles in the course of a few years. This second single was recorded by Radio Clyde, but a date and venue are not mentioned on the label.

The live tracks are 'Pearl in the shell' (originally released on Howard Jones' debut album 'Human's lib') and 'Things can only get better' (originally released on Howard Jones' second album 'Dream into action').

My collection: 7" single no. 2792

Found: Howard Jones fanclub, received November 28, 1996
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Pearl in the shell (live)' / 'Things can only get better (live)'

Shout - Tears for fears

'Shout' is commonly referred to as Tears for fears' signature song. Roland Orzabal commented: 'A lot of people think that 'Shout' is just another song about primal scream theory, continuing the themes of the first album. It is actually more concerned with political protest. It came out in 1984 when a lot of people were still worried about the aftermath of The Cold War and it was basically an encouragement to protest.'

The single was a big success, topping the charts in Australia, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Switzerland. In the UK, the single peaked at number 4. I bought the single when it was brand new, right before I would become sick of hearing it. But it's still a great song.

My collection: 7" single no. 253

Found: Wouters, Den Haag, December 1984

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Shout' / 'The big chair'

Niemand weet dat jij bestaat - Het Goede Doel

Although I pretty much kept up to date with the releases by het Goede Doel, I completely missed the release of this single. Presumably, 'Niemand weet dat jij bestaat' ('No-one knows that you exist') was released in early 1990 as the third and last single from their 1989 album 'Souvenir'. The single did not chart.

I only found out about this release because I bought a stack of Goede Doel singles from a private seller. I completed my collection of this group all at once!

My collection: 7" single no. 3770

Found: Marktplaats.nl, received June 3, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Niemand weet dat jij bestaat' / 'Niemand weet dat jij bestaat (instrumental)'

Lovetown - Peter Gabriel

The soundtrack of the motion picure 'Philadelphia' contained a famous Bruce Springsteen track, 'Streets of Philadelphia'. But strangely enough it is less well known that the soundtrack also contained a new Peter Gabriel track, entitled 'Lovetown'.

That's unfortunate, because the track is simply mesmerizing. The single only managed a number 47 placing in the UK, and did not chart in most other territories. The B-side was taken from Peter Gabriel's then-current album 'Us'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2506

Found: Record fair, October 30, 1995

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Lovetown' / 'Love to be loved'

Pretty good year - Tori Amos

Released as the second single from Tori Amos' second album 'Under the pink', 'Pretty good year' was an emotional ballad, quite different from her previous singles. By this time, Tori's cult following had grown into thousands and they followed her every move almost religiously. The cd-singles of 'Pretty good year' contained four different bonus tracks, one of which appeared on the B-side of this 7" vinyl single: 'Honey'. Tori has often stated that in hindsight she regretted not including that track on the album.

The single peaked at number 7 in the UK, but was not released in America. Around this time, Tori Amos was touring Europe - and I've got a signed cd-single of 'Pretty good year' to prove that I, too, was there. Her concerts in Nijmegen and Scheveningen are still amongst the best concerts I've ever witnessed.

My collection: 7" single no. 2084

Found: Record fair, March 26, 1994

Cost: 10 guilders

Tracks: 'Pretty good year' / 'Honey'

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'