Beat it - Michael Jackson

'Beat it' is the first Michael Jackson single I ever bought. It was a stunning piece of work, combining dance rhythms with a decidedly hardrock guitar solo. The solo was performed by Eddie van Halen, who recorded his solo free of charge. 'I did it as a favor. I was a complete fool, according to the rest of the band, our manager and everyone else. I was not used. I knew what I was doing - I don't do something unless I want to do it.'

The lyrics of 'Beat it' are about defeat and courage. The line 'don't be a macho man' is said to express Jackson's dislike of violence, whilst also referencing the childhood abuse he faced at the hands of his father Joseph.

My collection: 7" single no. 192
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1983
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Beat it' / 'Get on the floor'

One day in your life - Michael Jackson

When Michael Jackson was enjoying enormous success with 'Off the wall' on the Epic label, his previous employer Motown decided to try and cash in on the success as well. They plundered the archives and released 'One day in your life' from his 1975 album 'Forever, Michael'.

While it became a modest hit in the USA, reaching number 55, it actually reached number 1 in the UK singles chart - his first single to do so. It went on to become the 6th best-selling single of 1981 in the UK. The single also reached number 1 in Ireland and the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 820
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 13, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'One day in your life' / 'Dear Michael'

She's out of my life - Michael Jackson

'She's out of my life' was written by Tom Bahler. He wrote the song about Karen Carpenter, who broke up with him after he'd had an affair with another woman - and father a child with her. The song became famous as the fourth single from Michael Jackson's album 'Off the wall'. Unlike the album's previous singles, which were all dance/funk tracks, this was an emotional ballad, showing another side of the American superstar.

Although he had attempted to record the song's last few moments with emotional restraint, Michael Jackson kept breaking down in tears at the end. Producer Quincy Jones subsequently decided to let Jackson's tearful recording stand: 'I said 'hey - that's supposed to be, leave it on there''.

I got the single from my brother who had more than one copy of this single after Michael Jackson's death. That in itself is a rather astounding thing, as my brother is not always this generous.

My collection: 7" single no. 3826
Found: present, July 3, 2009
Cost: nothing
Track: 'She's out of my life' (Michael Jackson) / 'Push me away' (The Jacksons)

Off the wall - Michael Jackson

The title track from Michael Jackson's by then bestselling 1979 album 'Off the wall' was released as its third single. The track was composed by Rod Temperton. The lyric of the song pertains to getting out of troubles: 'leave that nine-to-five upon the shelf / and just enjoy yourself'.

The song peaked at number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and number 7 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1937
Found: Disco Market, August 11, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Off the wall' / 'Working day and night'

Don't stop 'til you get enough - Michael Jackson

'Don't stop 'til you get enough' was the first single taken from Michael Jackson's 1979 album 'Off the wall'. Jackson claimed that when the melody of the song came to him, he couldn't shake it off. He found himself humming and singing it while walking through the Jacksons' Encino home. As Michael could not play, he had his brother Randy play the melody on a piano in the family's recording studio.

When Jackson's mother, a devout Jehovah's Witness, heard the song, she was shocked by the lyrical content. She pointed out that the title could be referring to sexual activity. Jackson reassured her that the song was not a reference to sex, but could mean whatever people wanted it to. The single became a number one hit in Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Norway and the USA. In the Netherlands and Sweden it peaked at number 2, while in the UK it reached number 3.

My collection: 7" single no. 2461
Found: September 9, 1995
Cost: 1 guilders
Tracks: 'Don't stop 'til you get enough' / 'I can't help it'

Put a little love in your heart - Annie Lennox and Al Green

Jackie DeShannon, Randy Myers and Jimmy Holiday composed 'Put a little love in your heart' in 1968. DeShannon recorded the track, and had a number 4 hit with it in the USA.

Twenty years later, Annie Lennox and Al Green recorded a cover version of the track, which was used in the 1988 movie 'Scrooged', starring Bill Murray. The song reached number 9 in the USA, number 13 in the Netherlands and was a top 40 hit in several countries worldwide.

My collection: 7" single no. 1714
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 14, 1992
Cost: 4 guilders
Tracks: 'Put a little love in your heart' / 'A great big piece of love'

It's showtime - Katja Ebstein

Not content with just a German version ('Theater') and a French version ('Théàtre'), Katja Ebstein also recorded her 1980 entry for the Eurovision Song Contest in English as 'It's showtime'. Like the French version, this English version did not appeal much to the people speaking that language, as it did not chart in the UK.

What's nice about the three different singles is that the sleeves are almost identical, except for the colouring of Katja's name. While the German version has a red logo and the French version has a blue logo, the English version came with an orange logo. It's easy to distinguish the sleeves that way. Ideal for record hunters...

My collection: 7" single no. 2975
Found: Bea Records, March 1, 1998
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'It's showtime' / 'What's her bag'