Love is - Vikki

Vikki Watson was born in 1959 in Liss, Hampshire (UK). As a child she took singing and dancing lessons, and then went on to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. She wanted to become an opera singer, but soon realized that her voice was more suited to popular music.

In 1985 she represented the United Kingdom during the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Love is', gaining fourth place. The single reached number 49 in the UK singles chart. She toured the United States and then returned to her Celtic roots. She did well in terms of touring, television shows and live work, yet a difficult lifestyle coupled with the commercial direction of the material, drove her to emigrate to the United States. These days she is performing world music under the pseudonym Aeone.

My collection: 7" single no. 3828
Found: 45toeren.nl, received July 3, 2009
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Love is' / 'Lead me through the darkness'

Livin' thing - Electric Light Orchestra

'Livin' thing' was written by Jeff Lynne and appears on ELO's 1976 platinum-selling album 'A New World Record'. In the UK and Canada the single peaked at number 4, whereas in the Netherlands ELO scored their first top 10 hit with this, peaking at number 6. According to 'Unzipped', Suzi Quatro's autobiography, her sister Patti sang uncredited backing vocals on the track, particularly the 'higher and higher' parts.

The chorus of the song ('It's a livin' thing / It's a terrible thing to lose / It's a given thing / What a terrible thing to lose') has been subjected to frequent interpretation, because the lyric never explicitly identifies what 'it' is. This has led to the interpretation by some that the song was intended as an anti-abortion or a pro-environmentalist statement. Lyrical imagery elsewhere in the song may also give support to these impressions. Jeff Lynne has stated that the song was intended to be about love and the loss of love.

My collection: 7" single no. 3819
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, July 2, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Livin' thing' / 'Fire on high'

You're the greatest lover - Luv'

'You're the greatest lover' is Luv's signature song. Originally released in July 1978, it reached number 1 a month later. The trio was at the height of their popularity in the second half of 1978, when also their next single 'Trojan horse' became a number 1 hit.

So is it alright to buy singles by Luv' when you're a grown man? I guess not. I've got the perfect excuse, though: I've got nearly all their singles because I bought them as a kid. Now all I want to do is complete the set, like I'm doing with a lot of other artists. Just label this as a guilty pleasure...

My collection: 7" single no. 3823
Found: La La Land, July 2, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'You're the greatest lover' / 'Everybody's shakin' hands on Broadway'

Wow (Eddy TM Losers remix) - Snow Patrol

The album 'DanceRocks' was released in April 2007 and features remixes by Eddie Temple Morris. It's a collection of rock tracks by bands such as the Doors, the Who and the Infadels, remixed to fit the taste of the dancefloor crowd.

One of the tracks on the album is the Eddy TM Losers remix of 'Wow' by Snow Patrol. Being one of the hot bands around, that remix was also released on a promotional 7" single, backed with a remix of a track by Stone Lions. I didn't know this promo existed, but when I saw it I bought it immediately.

My collection: 7" single no. 3814
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, July 2, 2009
Cost: 4,5 euro
Tracks: 'Wow (Eddie TM Losers remix)' (Snow Patrol) / 'Transitions' (Stone Lions)

New dimension - Imagination

Imagination released the single 'New dimension' in 1983. It met with a muted response from the record-buying audience: the single only charted in the UK (where it peaked at number 56) and Germany (where it peaked at number 61). In the Netherlands, it was the biggest success, reaching number 12. It was also their last hit in the Netherlands.

When I bought this single I didn't know whether I had it already. Maybe this is because many of Imagination's singles sound the same. It's hard to distinguish the one from the other. That's not to say that the songs are bad: this is another great, dynamic dance track.

My collection: 7" single no. 3821
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, July 2, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'New dimension' / 'I'll always love you'

Schoolgirl - Steve Forbert

Steve Forbert was born on December 13, 1955 in Meridian, Mississippi. In America he is best known for his song 'Romeo's tune', which reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1980. However, in the Netherlands he had only one hit, 'Schoolgirl', which reached the Dutch Top 40 in March 1981 and peaked at number 19.

I only bought the single for the striking resemblance between the sleeve of this single and Kim Wilde's single 'Schoolgirl', which was released in 1986. Both were wearing jeans, both were photographed in black and white and both had a song entitled 'Schoolgirl'. However, hers is a lot better than his...

My collection: 7" single no. 3818
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, July 2, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Schoolgirl' / 'Rain'

The way to your heart - Soulsister

The Belgian duo Soulsister, consisting of Jan Leyers and Paul Michiels, released their fourth single 'The way to your heart' in 1988. What was interesting about this release, was the fact that initially the single was released at half price with only one track - the B-side being totally blank. The track owed a lot to the Sixties Motown sound.

The single reached number 7 in the Netherlands and also charted in many other European countries. After its European success, the single was released in the US in 1989 were it went to number 41 in the Billboard Hot 100.

My collection: 7" single no. 3822
Found: La La Land, July 2, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Track: 'The way to your heart'