Tell it like it is - Don Johnson

Don Johnson is best known for his acting work in the television series Miami Vice. Once you are famous in America, you can do pretty much whatever you want, so mister Johnson opted for a singing career, despite not having a very remarkable voice.

'Tell it like it is' is a song written by George Davis and Lee Diamond and recorded several times by different artists, to varying degrees of success. It was first recorded by Aaron Neville, who released the song as a solo single in 1966. It became a hit, peaking at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 in early 1967. Don Johnson's version was only released in the UK and Europe to reasonable success: the single peaked at number 6 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 1051
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Tell it like it is' / 'Angel city'

Bliss - Tori Amos

'Bliss' was the first single from Tori Amos' 1999 double album 'To Venus and back'. One disc of that album was filled with new tracks, whereas the other disc was filled with atrocious live tracks. Atrocious, because the audiences kept screaming through the music. I'll never understand why people felt the need to do that during Tori Amos concerts.

Tori Amos commented about the song: 'I sing Father I killed my monkey to lead off the song, which explains that sometimes you even destroy your own so they can't excavate it. When I was growing up, I started becoming very secretive about my thoughts and the sensory world I would go to, because there's a lot of mind control that goes on constantly, people wanting access: 'What are you thinking?' So sometimes I'd have my own defense going, which would be to look them straight in the eye and make them think I've killed my imagination. But it's like, I'll take control.'

My collection: 7" single no. 3145
Found: Record fair, 1999
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Bliss' / 'Hey Jupiter (live)'

Jealous heart - Maire Brennan

When you listen to this single and you know Máire Brennan's sister Enya's body of work, it's hard to imagine that there was ever a rowdy party at the Brennan residence. The music of the two sisters is beautiful, but sometimes verging on boring.

This second single from Máire Brennan's debut solo album 'Máire' flopped in the UK. The B-side, sung in Gaelic, would not be out of place in a church repertoire. Sometimes you would just wish that Máire would rock out a little.

My collection: 7" single no. 1735
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1992
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Jealous heart' / 'Citi Na gCumann'

Casanova - Luv'

'Casanova' was Luv's fifth hit single, released in April 1979. First awarded the 'Alarmschijf', Radio Veronica's weekly tip for the chart, the single quickly moved up to sixth place in the Dutch Top 40. Nothing else is very spectacular about the song: it sounds a lot like the trio's earlier material.

I bought the single back when I was just an eight year old. I was a fan of Boney M, Abba and Luv', and having learned the importance of a record collection at a very early age from my older brother and sister, I bought anything they released. The least you can say about Luv' nowadays is that their records had great sleeves back then.

My collection: 7" single no. 20
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1979
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Casanova' / 'DJ'

What becomes of the broken-hearted - Jimmy Ruffin

Jimmy Ruffin was born on May 7, 1939 in Collinsville, Mississippi. Ruffin abandoned his gospel background to become a session singer in the early Sixties. He first signed with a Motown Records subsidiary, the short-lived Miracle, in 1961. He recorded a one-off single, before he was drafted for national service.

After leaving the U.S. Army, he returned to Motown. He turned down the opportunity to join the Temptations and instead recommended his brother David Ruffin for the job. In 1966 he released 'What becomes of the broken-hearted'. In the UK, the single peaked at number 8. When it was re-released in 1974, the single improved on this placing, peaking at number 4!

My collection: 7" single no. 3281
Found: February 9, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'What becomes of the broken-hearted' / 'Don't you miss me a little bit baby'

Giddyap a gogo - Ad Visser and Daniel Sahuleka

Ad Visser was born in Amsterdam on April 28, 1947. After a short spell in the avant garde trio Blurp and working for several record companies, he becomes the face of the weekly pop programme Toppop, broadcast in the Netherlands between 1970 and 1985.

In 1982 he writes the book 'Sobriëtas' with a soundtrack released on LP. The single 'Giddyap a gogo', with guest vocals from Dutch artist Daniel Sahuleka, is taken from this LP, and becomes a surprise hit. The single peaks at number 26 in the Dutch Top 40 and Ad Visser actually presents and performs his own song on Toppop.

My collection: 7" single no. 560
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Giddyap a gogo' / 'Relief of Demorzan'

Thriller - Michael Jackson

Somehow I couldn't imagine Michael Jackson playing 50 dates in London this year, but the way it doesn't come to pass is even more bizarre than I could ever have imagined. 'Where were you when you heard Michael Jackson died?'. Well, I saw the first reports coming in late last night and as the first rumour of his death appeared on the internet I went to sleep. The next morning I got up in the knowledge that he was probably dead. And the news only confirmed my expectation. It's a sad day.

Michael Jackson leaves behind an unequalled musical legacy. By themselves the songs aren't that extraordinary, but the whole catalogue of his hits is quite amazing. 'Thriller' is probably the song that confirmed his status as a superstar in 1984. With the guest voice of Vincent Price and the amazing music video, this is the one single that I chose to represent Jackson's amazing career.

My collection: 7" single no. 3758

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, May 27, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Thriller (special edit)' / 'Things I do for you (live)' (The Jacksons)