To France - Mike Oldfield

Mike Oldfield enjoyed a commercial peak with his singles in the first half of the Eighties. He employed different singles to add vocals to his tracks, one of the most successful being 'Moonlight shadow' in 1983 with Maggie Reilly. He did a kind of reprise in 1984 with the single 'To France', also sung by Reilly.

The single was less successful in the UK, but in the Netherlands it peaked at number 3. Maggie Reilly reinterpreted the song in 1996 on her solo album 'Elena'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3783

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, June 20, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'To France' / 'In the pool (instrumental)'

Palm of my hand - Pale Fountains

After the success of 'Thank you', I can imagine that the Pale Fountains would have expected more success with the follow-up single 'Palm of my hand', released in 1983. It is a short, but effective song. However, the single was ignored by the record-buying public although it did get some radio exposure.

I didn't know this track at all but since I liked the other two singles by the band already featured on this blog, I decided to take the gamble. And once again, it paid off.

My collection: 7" single no. 3784

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, June 20, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Palm of my hand' / 'Love's a beautiful place'

Breakaway - Tracey Ullman

'Breakaway' is a song written by Jackie DeShannon and Sharon Sheeley. It was originally recorded by Irma Thomas in 1964 and released as the B-Side of her biggest hit, the US number 17 hit single 'Wish someone would care'.

Tracey Ullman recorded a cover of 'Breakaway' in 1983 as her debut single. It reached number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the Netherlands. It subsequently appeared on Ullman's album 'You broke my heart in 17 places', which was released in 1984.

My collection: 7" single no. 3787

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, June 20, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Breakaway' / 'Dancing in the dark'

Protection - Donna Summer

In 1981, David Geffen approached Jon Landau, Springsteen’s manager and producer, and asked if Springsteen would be interested in writing a song for Donna Summer. Summer had just recently signed for Geffen Records. Springsteen agreed to write a song and he gathered the E Street Band to record a demo. However when Landau heard the result, 'Cover me', he persuaded Springsteen to keep that song for himself. Springsteen then wrote 'Protection'.

The song became a track on Donna Summer's self-titled album from 1982. On the track, Springsteen played the guitar solo and can clearly be heard on fadeout vocals. It was released as a single in Belgium and Japan only.

My collection: 7" single no. 3779

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, June 20, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Protection' / '(If it) Hurts just a little'

Stiekem gedanst - Toontje Lager

Dutch music from the Eighties can be interesting at times. At the height of the synthpop age, even Dutch artists were inspired to make good tracks. (Which is interesting, because since then, nothing really interesting has happened.)

One of those bands was Toontje Lager. They released three albums during the Eighties, all of them filled with easily recognisable synthpop tunes. 'Stiekem gedanst' ('Secretly danced') came from the band's album 'Stiekem dansen' ('Dancing secretly'). It was their biggest hit, peaking at number 8 in the summer of 1983.

My collection: 7" single no. 3782

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, June 20, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Stiekem gedanst' / 'Amigo'

Gente di mare - Tozzi and Raff

Umberto Tozzi and Raffaele Riefoli represented Italy during the 1987 Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Gente di mare' ('People of the sea'). It was a decent effort - although at the time I thought the song was unspeakably boring - reaching third place in the Contest.

While not winning the Contest the song achieved considerable popularity, becoming a Top 10 hit in most parts of Europe and Scandinavia in the summer of 1987. In the Netherlands, the single peaked at number 20.

My collection: 7" single no. 3773

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, June 20, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Gente di mare' / 'Lascia che sia il tuo cuore'

The locomotion - Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin

'The loco-motion' was written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King in 1962. The original recording of the song was sung by Eva Boyd, under the stage name Little Eva, which reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1962.

Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin recorded their version of the song in 1986. It became the duo's last hit, reaching the number 70 spot in the UK singles chart. A subsequent cover version by Kylie Minogue was more successful, reaching number 2 in the UK. Artistically, this is the more interesting version.

My collection: 7" single no. 3775

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, June 20, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'The locomotion' / 'Make me promises'