Bitter-sweet - Marc Almond

The second single from Marc Almond's 1988 album 'The stars we are' was 'Bitter-sweet', a beautifully orchestrated song. It only managed a number 40 placing in the UK chart, which was disappointing after the success of the previous single 'Tears run rings', which had peaked at number 26 and also managed a placing in the US Billboard Hot 100.

Like other singles from the album, this one was released as a limited edition pressed on clear vinyl. I'm glad I was able to find one for my collection.

My collection: 7" single no. 2697

Found: House of Rhythm, London, July 3, 1996

Cost: 80p

Tracks: 'Bitter-sweet' / 'King of the fools'

Théàtre - Katja Ebstein

Katja Ebstein performed 'Theater' during the 1980 Eurovision Song Contest. This is rather well known, for she reached second place. It's less wellknown that she recorded several versions of this song in other languages. One of them is the French version, 'Théàtre', a rather literal translation of the German song.

The B-side is not a French version of the B-side of 'Theater', 'Getrennt von Tisch und Bett', but another song by Ebstein, translation into French as 'Qu'est-ce qu'elle a'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2956

Found: Bea Records, February 7, 1998

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Théàtre' / 'Qu'est-ce qu'elle a'

Live your life - Stephanie

Released as the third single from Stephanie's first album 'Besoin', 'Live your life' was remixed by a certain Dimitri. Although French-speaking countries favoured the B-side 'Fleur du mal', this single was arguably a bigger success.

'Fleur du mal' only charted in France, peaking at number 16, whereas 'Live your life' went to number 9 in Norway. No further chart performances are known. Stephanie's music career ended just as soon as it had began - although she would still release a single called 'Winds of chance' in 1991 and perform vocals on Michael Jackson's 'In the closet' in 1992 - although she was not credited for this, but rather called a 'mystery girl'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3147

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, October 23, 1999

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Live your life' / 'Fleur du mal (A Paul)'

Antmusic - Adam and the Ants

'Antmusic' was the third single released in the UK from the hugely popular Adam & the Ants album 'Kings of the wild frontier' (1980). 'Antmusic' fared better than the first two singles and peaked at number 2 in January 1981, being held off the top by the re-release of John Lennon's 'Imagine' after he was murdered in New York City in December 1980.

The video to 'Antmusic' featured the group playing in a discothèque with a giant juke box, and persuading the young audience to turn away from disco music and dance to the new-styled 'Antmusic'. The band was also presented in the Netherlands, with two drummers being the main gimmick of this band. Despite this, the single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2902

Found: Record Exchange, London, October 30, 1997

Cost: 50p

Tracks: 'Antmusic' / 'Fall-in'

I am a camera - The Buggles

'I am a camera' was written by the Buggles for their second album 'Adventures in modern recording' (1981). Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes started writing the song before joining up with the band Yes. A version of the song was released as 'Into the lens' on the Yes album 'Drama'. When Horn and Downes continued with the new The Buggles album, the song was completed as 'I am a camera'.

The single was a non-charter for the Buggles. It still stuck in my mind as a great songs more than a decade later.

My collection: 7" single no. 2937

Found: January 31, 1998

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'I am a camera' / 'Fade away'

Vacation - Gogo's

Belinda Carlisle, Jane Wiedlin, Charlotte Caffey, Kathy Valentine and Gina Schock formed the Gogo's in 1978. Initially a punk band, the band moved into rock territory with their debut album 'Beauty and the beat' (1981). After a Grammy award for Best New Artist in 1982, they released their second album 'Vacation'.

This single is the title track from that album. While the album got a Grammy award for Best Packaging, this single did not chart in Europe.

My collection: 7" single no. 3134
Found: Den Haag, July 24, 1999
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Vacation' / 'Beatnik beach'

Oh, Lori - Alessi

According to a text on the back of the sleeve of this single, 'the choice of 'Oh, Lori' for this single was made easy - from the beginning it has been one of the album's most-favoured cuts'. The single peaked at number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 6 in the Netherlands.

The jazzy 'Oh Lori' is uncharacteristic for my taste, although a few jazzy tracks appear in my singles collection. The Alessi brothers have a typical Seventies smoothness around them which charmed me for a while.

My collection: 7" single no. 1093

Found: All that music, Leiden, November 11, 1989

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Oh Lori' / 'I was so sure'