Secret - Heart

'Secret' was released as the fourth and final single from Heart's tenth studio album 'Brigade'. The single at number 64 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 79 on the UK singles chart.

When I found this single, I did not know it had been released. I did know the track, because my sister owns the album 'Brigade'. I always thought it was one of the best tracks on the album so I was very happy to get this single.

My collection: 7" single no. 2343

Found: Record Exchange, London, June 26, 1995

Cost: 60p

Tracks: 'Secret' / 'I love you'

Hazard - Richard Marx

'Hazard' tells the story of a relationship between Marx's character (usually considered the protagonist) and a woman named Mary. Mary is presumably murdered and Marx, shunned by many in the small town Hazard in Nebraska since his childhood, is immediately considered the main suspect. Marx, however, maintains his innocence throughout the song, and the question of such is left open to the listener's interpretation.

I got to know the song because of the music video being aired on television regularly in early 1992. The single peaked at number 3 in the UK singles chart, although it did not chart in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 1593
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, March 21, 1992
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Hazard' / 'Big boy now'

We just - Moses

Although I'm not exactly a fan of Italo disco music, the single 'We just' by Moses was an interesting one. Full of samples and beautiful synth solos, it was a memorable track, even if it seemed to be devilishly simple.

It was a hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 3. The song was apparently the theme to the Italian music programme Discoring. At the time, synthesizer themes were all the rage, because the BBC's 'Top of the pops' used Paul Hardcastle's 'The wizard' at the time.

My collection: 7" single no. 394

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1986

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'We just' / 'Our revolution'

A woman needs love (Just like you do) - Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio

The band Raydio started in the second half of the Seventies and had a few hits with songs like 'You can't change that'. From 1980 onwards, they became known as 'Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio', giving more prominence to their lead singer.

'A woman needs love' was taken from their fourth album from 1981. It reached number 7 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2584

Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 23, 1995

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'A woman needs love (just like you do)' / 'So into you'

Talk - Coldplay

'Talk' was released as the third single from Coldplay's 2005 album 'X&Y'. A number one hit in the Netherlands, it also reached number 10 in the UK and number 4 in Canada.

The band received permission from the German band Kraftwerk to use the main riff from their song 'Computer love' from their 1981 studio LP 'Computer world' for 'Talk', replacing Kraftwerk's synthesizers with guitars. According to reports, Chris Martin from Coldplay sent a letter to Kraftwerk in basic German, which he'd learnt at school.

My collection: 7" single no. 3421

Found: London, December 2005

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Talk' / 'Gravity'

I believe in you - Talk Talk

I wrote about 'I believe in you' before, but that was because of the promotional 7" single that I own. A few years after getting that one, I found a version of the commercially available single, featuring the B-side 'John Cope'. Since this single was made in Spain, it is a bit of a rarity as well.

The single failed to breach the charts in any country as far as I know. Tim Pope directed a music video for this track, featuring Mark Hollis sitting with his guitar, singing the lyrics. 'That was a massive mistake,' said Hollis afterwards. 'I thought just by sitting there and listening and really thinking about what it was about, I could get that in my eyes. But you cannot do it. It just feels stupid.'

My collection: 7" single no. 2613
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, February 10, 1996
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'I believe in you (edit)' / 'John Cope'

Storm chaser - Erasure

Erasure released the 'Storm chaser' EP in September 2007. While the cd-single contained eight remixes of five different tracks plus a duet with Cyndi Lauper, the 7" single only had two tracks, making it a single, not an EP.

Released as a picture disc, the single still did not chart in the UK - or any other country for that matter.

My collection: 7" single no. 3577
Found: eBay, received February 2, 2009

Cost: 3 pounds

Tracks: 'Storm in a teacup (single version)' / 'Sucker for love (edit)'