Chalk dust (The umpire strikes back) - The Brat

Roger Kitter is a British actor and comedian. He is best known for his role as Captain Bertorelli in the seventh season of the comedy series ''Allo 'Allo'.

In 1982, Kitter released a single as The Brat, entitled 'Chalk dust (The umpire strikes back)'. In the track, he parodied John McEnroe, who was famous for his verbal fights with umpires during tennis matches. 'The ball's in, everyone can see that the ball's in! Chalk dust!' was one of the most famous expressions of the year 1982, when this single reached third place in the Netherlands. In the UK, the single reached number 19.

My collection: 7" single no. 1094

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

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Chalk dust (The umpire strikes back)' / 'Moody mole'

Rattlesnakes - Lloyd Cole and the Commotions

'Rattlesnakes' was the title track of Lloyd Cole and the Commotions' debut album, released in 1984. While it only peaked at number 65 in the UK, the single was the band's only hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 31.

The repeated mention of Simone de Beauvoir in the lyric gave the band their literary, slightly geeky image. Cole cites Bob Dylan and Booker T. & the MGs as major influences, but also notes the impact of his studies in English and philosophy on both the album's title, a reference to the novel 'Play it as it lays' by Joan Didion.

My collection: 7" single no. 3360
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, 2002
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Rattlesnakes' / 'Sweetness'

What kind of fool - All about Eve

'What kind of fool' was the last single to be released from All about Eve's self-titled debut album. It was a new version of the track, backed with a version of 'Gold and silver', a track that would reappear on All about Eve's second album 'Scarlet and other stories', released a year later. The single did worse in the UK singles chart than 'Martha's harbour', peaking at number 29.

I bought this single while on holiday in London. I wasn't aware of its release, so it was a happy find. I was very impressed with the beautiful sleeve, but only became a real All about Eve fan when I bought the new single that same week... It was 'Road to your soul'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1004

Found: Record Exchange, London, October 19, 1989

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'What kind of fool' / 'Gold and silver'

Touch - Noiseworks

Noiseworks formed in Sydney in 1985. The original lineup of Noiseworks was Jon Stevens, Stuart Fraser, Steve Balbi, Justin Stanley and Kevin Nicol. Their self-titled debut in 1987 had a series of successful singles, such as 'No lies', 'Take me back' and 'Welcome to the world.' The album sold more than 200,000 copies in Australia.

The band's second album, 1988's 'Touch', proved to be another big hit going Top 10 on debut. From this album, the title track was released as a single. It peaked at number 9 in Australia. The video was televised in Europe, and when I saw it, I decided to buy the single. However, I can't say I've played it often since then... The single was not a hit in Europe.

My collection: 7" single no. 802

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, April 21, 1989

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Touch' / '5 more days'

I need your loving - Human League

Back in the Eighties, I used to buy the UK music magazine Smash Hits regularly. One of the features of that magazine was the song lyrics from recent singles. Some of them weren't successful in the Netherlands at all, but mostly I did hear them despite that fact. In the case of the Human League's 1986 single 'I need your loving', I didn't hear the track until I bought the single in 1989.

Why did I buy the single? Mostly because the Human League released more than a few good singles during their career. But also because the song lyric I read in Smash Hits intrigued me. The whole lyric was basically a repeat of 'I need your loving / I need your kissing baby'. I'm pretty sure this is why the single only had a one week chart run in the UK, at number 72.

My collection: 7" single no. 848

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 27, 1989

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'I need your loving' / 'I need your loving (instrumental)'

Don't come around here no more - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

'Don't come around here no more' is a track from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' 1985 album 'Southern accents' and one of Tom Petty's biggest hits. The track was co-written and co-produced with David A. Stewart of Eurythmics. The original inspiration was a romantic encounter that Stewart had with Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac.

The single peaked at number 13 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 50 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2764

Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 29, 1996

Cost: 40p

Tracks: 'Don't come around here no more' / 'Trailer'

Did you see me coming - Pet Shop Boys

A very recent release for a change. 'Did you see me coming?' was released on June 1, 2009 as the second single from the Pet Shop Boys' tenth studio album 'Yes'. It entered the UK singles chart at number 21 a week later - only the third Pet Shop Boys single ever to miss the top 20 in Britain.

The single was released on two different cd-singles and this 12" single, which featured two remixes not on the cd-singles.

My collection: 12" single no. 498

Found: Recordstore.co.uk, received June 16, 2009

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Did you see me coming? (PSB Possibly more mix)', 'Did you see me coming? (Unicorn Kid mix)' / 'The way it used to be (Richard X mix)'