Play it cool - Freiheit

The German band Münchener Freiheit started their international career in 1987 with an English language album entitled 'Romancing in the dark'. The single 'Play it cool' was taken from this album. It showcased their slight formulaic but effective pop.

The single was very successful in Europe, reaching number 3 in the Netherlands and top 10 in various other European countries. It was another one of those singles I didn't buy because it was played so often on the radio - only years later I still wanted to get my hands on a copy.

My collection: 7" single no. 1856

Found: Concerto, Amsterdam, January 30, 1993

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Play it cool' / 'Hide away'

Whole lotta Rosie - ACDC

'Whole lotta Rosie' can be described as the ultimate superficial rock song. The song was apparently based on singer Ron Scott's actual sexual experiences with an obese woman, whose first name was Rosie. The song's first verse reveals Rosie's physical measurements (42"-39"-56"), and that she weighs nineteen stone (approximately 120 kilograms).

The song was an annual appearance on Dutch radio station Veronica's Top 100 of all times, which is where I finally got interested in this song. Upon its release in 1978, it peaked at number 3 in the Dutch Top 40. Two years later, it reached number 36 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1706

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 19, 1992

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Whole lotta Rosie' / 'Dog eat dog'

Unless - Pale Fountains

When I found 'Thank you' after a couple of years searching, I also found this single, 'Unless'. I decided to give it a try - and I wasn't disappointed. It's the same kind of elegant pop music that they made on 'Thank you'.

'Unless' was released in January 1984 and didn't reach the charts - much like all their other singles. The Pale Fountains split up soon after this release, leaving Mick Head to form Shack and Andy Diagram to join James. Bassist Chris McCaffery died in 1986 of a brain tumour.

My collection: 7" single no. 1831

Found: Record palace, Amsterdam, January 13, 1993

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Unless' / 'Natural'

Bon anniversaire - Guesch Patti

Released as the final single from her 1988 album 'Labyrinthe', 'Bon anniversaire' was another spirited track by Guesch Patti and her band Encore. I got to know the track because my sister had bought the album and I played this track more than a few times. It was only a year after the release when I found out that it had been released as a single.

Of course, it was not a hit in the Netherlands - where French music usually has a hard time breaking through - but it did reach the charts in a few French-speaking countries.

My collection: 7" single no. 1139

Found: All that music, Leiden, December 28, 1989

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Bon anniversaire' / 'Backstage d'une star'

All cried out - Alison Moyet

'All cried out' was released as the second single from Alison Moyet's debut album 'Alf'. Produced by Steve Jolley and Tony Swain, the track reached number 8 in the UK singles chart and number 19 in the Dutch Top 40. On various complilation cd's usually an extended version of this song is used, making this single cut a rare treat.

In 2002, 'All cried out' was covered by the German pop band No Angels. A year later the song was also covered by German electro-industrial act Wumpscut on their 2003 studio album 'Preferential Legacy'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2462

Found: September 9, 1995

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'All cried out' / 'Steal me blind'

Tule luo - Katri Helena

Katri Helena represented Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest twice, in 1979 and 1993. 'Katson sineen taivaan' finished 14th in 1979, whereas 'Tule luo' ('Come to me') only managed 17th place. It should have been a good warning for the Netherlands, but they were stubborn and sent Willeke Alberti to the Contest only a year later.

That's not to say that 'Tule luo' was a bad song: if anything, it was melodious - a lot more melodious than many other Finnish entries around that time. But perhaps Katri Helena, who was born on March 17, 1945 had become a little too old for the young viewing audience of the Contest.

My collection: 7" single no. 1973

Found: Bea Records, October 17, 1993

Cost: 10 guilders

Tracks: 'Tule luo' / 'Viesti'

Hurricane - Athlete

Part one of 'Hurricane' was already featured on this blog, so here is part two. I bought this one earlier in fact, so the search was on since then. This second part of the double single features a new track, which did not appear on the album 'Beyond the neighbourhood'. The single was pressed on orange vinyl, to add to the collectability even more.

As written before, the single only managed to reach number 31 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3486
Found: eBay, received December 20, 2008
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Hurricane' / '09/05 Speyside'