Love is - Vanessa Williams and Brian McKnight

'Love is' was recorded in 1993 as a duet of Vanessa Williams and Brian McKnight. The track originally appeared on the soundtrack of the TV drama series 'Beverly Hills, 90210'. As a result of this exposure, the song peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming McKnight's breakthrough hit and another hit for Williams. The single also charted in Australia, where it peaked at number 49. In other territories, the single flopped.

I bough this single a few years after its original release. I was quite happy to find this single because at that time, vinyl singles were becoming increasingly rare.

My collection: 7" single no. 2712
Found: House of Rhythm, London, July 3, 1996
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'Love is' (Vanessa Williams & Brian McKnight) / 'After the love' (Brian McKnight)

Glow - Rick James

Rick James scored his second and last top 10 hit in the Netherlands with the 1985 single 'Glow'. The single did not chart in the UK. It was an almost megalomaniac piece of work, with lots of solos and clocking in at 5 minutes and 40 seconds.

James' last hit was 'Loosey's Rap' in 1989. It all went downhill from there, as he descended into a drug- and crimefilled Nineties. On the morning of August 6, 2004, Rick James was found dead in his home by his caretaker. James had died as a result of his various health conditions of diabetes, stroke, a pacemaker, and a heart attack. Through his autopsy it was discovered he was under the influence of five different drugs, including marijuana and cocaine, at the time of his death.

My collection: 7" single no. 353
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Glow' / 'Glow (instrumental)'

(Just like) Starting over - John Lennon

'(Just like) Starting over' was released as the first single from John Lennon's 1980 album 'Double fantasy' and his first single in five years. It was chosen by Lennon, not because he felt it was the best track on the album, but because it was the most appropriate one, following his five year absence from the music business. The original title of the song was 'Starting over'. '(Just like)' was added at the last minute because a country song of the same title was released by Tammy Wynette just a few months before.

Released in October 1980, the single reached number one in the UK and the USA two weeks after Lennon was killed by a madman on December 8 of that year. The sound of Yoko Ono getting an orgasm on the B-side was an added bonus.

My collection: 7" single no. 2898
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 30, 1997
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: '(Just like) Starting over' (John Lennon) / 'Kiss kiss kiss' (Yoko Ono)

Forest fire (remix) - Lloyd Cole and the Commotions

After Lloyd Cole & the Commotions decided to call it quits, the record company released a compilation album with all their single releases. To accompany the album, a single was released. A remix of the track 'Forest fire' was made by Bruce Lampcov. The single did not chart.

The band broke up in 1989 amid reports of personality clashes between members, but they reformed in 2004 to perform a 20th anniversary mini-tour of the UK and Ireland.

My collection: 7" single no. 2476
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 16, 1995
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Forest fire (remix)' / 'Perfect blue (remix)'

Chiquitita - Abba

Before the song 'Chiquitita' was created, it existed in various working forms. Titles like 'Kålsupare', 'Three wise guys' and 'In the arms of Rosalita' all passed by. The song was finally recorded as 'Chiquitita' in December 1978 and released a month later, as the first single from the album 'Voulez-vous'.

Upon its release it was featured in the 1979 UNICEF charity event, the 'Music for UNICEF' concert, broadcast worldwide from the United Nations General Assembly. The single subsequently became a charttopper in Belgium, the Netherlands, Finland, Ireland, Spain, South Africa, Switzerland, Mexico and New Zealand. In the UK, the single peaked at number 2.

My collection: 7" single no. 2247
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 4, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Chiquitita' / 'Lovelight'

Freedom - Wham!

Wham! enjoyed their first UK number 1 hit with 'Wake me up before you gogo' in the summer of 1984. When the next single 'Freedom' was released, no-one could have suspected that it would become another charttopper for the duo. Not only that, but it also became the number 10 best selling single in the UK that year.

Meanwhile, the duo went on tour in China. The music video showed images from that tour. Wham were the first 'western' band to tour the Asian country.

My collection: 7" single no. 3848
Found: Zeeheldenfestival, Den Haag, July 4, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Freedom' / 'Freedom (instrumental)'

The captain of her heart - Double

There aren't that many Swiss bands that achieved international success, but Double managed it in 1985 with their single 'The captain of her heart'. It reached number 8 in the UK singles chart. Furthermore, it was a top 10 hit in the Dominican Republic, Italy, Canada, France, Norway and Germany. Interesting enough, it only reached number 11 in Switzerland.

The band consisted of Kurt Maloo and Felix Haug. The sleeve of this single pictures four members, but I couldn't find information about the additional two...

My collection: 7" single no. 368
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'The captain of her heart' / 'Your prayer takes me off part 2'