Le freak - Chic

Chic's Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers created 'Le freak' on New Year's Eve 1977. They were invited at the famous Studio 54 discotheque but they weren't let in by the doorman after their contact forgot to leave their name at the door. They went back to Rogers' apartment and started jamming. The song was originally entitled 'Fuck off', but during the night they decided to change that into 'Freak out', and subsequently named the song 'Le freak'.

The track with the now-famous Chic riff reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and was the highest-selling single on Warner Bros. records until it was replaced in 1990 by Madonna's 'Vogue'. The single also reached number 7 in the UK and number 2 in the Netherlands.

I bought the single in 1992, years after its original release, because for a decade I didn't actually like the song. The second time I bought the single was in 1998 when I thought that I didn't have it - but of course I did. Fortunately I now have two different versions of the single, with the second one I bought having the most beautiful sleeve of the two (pictured below).

My collection: 7" single no. 1792 / no. 3043
Found: All that music, Leiden, November 25, 1992 / Disco Market, Den Haag, December 11, 1998
Cost: 3,5 guilders / 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Le freak' / 'Savoir faire'

Live for loving you - Gloria Estefan

'Live for loving you' was the final single from Gloria Estefan's 1991 album 'Into the light'. Written as a collaboration with Diane Warren, Gloria expressed her love for her husband Emilio Estefan Jr. with this song.

The single was not a big success in Europe, but did peak at number 33 in the UK singles chart and number 22 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Personally I preferred the album version to the single remix, but since both were found on this single, I bought it anyway.

My collection: 7" single no. 1557
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, December 14, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Live for loving you (single remix)' / 'Live for loving you'

Don't look any further - Dennis Edwards

Dennis Edwards was born February 3, 1943 in Birmingham, Alabama (USA). He made a career in music in the early Sixties. He is most noted for being one of The Temptations' lead singers replacing David Ruffin after the band's heyday.

The 1984 hit single 'Don't look any further' featured Siedah Garrett, who would go on to duet with Michael Jackson three years later on the song 'I just can't stop loving you'. 'Don't look any further' reached number 72 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 45 on the UK singles chart and number 12 on the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1385
Found: All that music, Leiden, February 22, 1991
Cost: 2,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Don't look any further' / 'I thought I could handle it'

Crying in the rain - A-ha

'Crying in the rain' was written by Howard Greenfield and Carole King and originally recorded by The Everly Brothers. Their version peaked at number 6 in the UK singles chart and number 30 in the Netherlands.

Almost three decades later, in 1990, A-ha recorded their version of the song, making this the only cover version in their career so far. The single reached number 13 in the UK but rose to number 11 in the Netherlands, outperforming the Everly Brothers. The single was their first release from the album 'East of the sun west of the moon', released in November 1990.

My collection: 7" single no. 1314
Found: HMV, London, October 15, 1990
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Crying in the rain' / '(Seemingly) Non-stop July'

Promise me - Beverley Craven

'Promise me' was the debut single from Beverley Craven. It was released in the summer of 1990. While her debut album reached number 3 in the UK albums chart, this single did not reach the UK singles chart. Meanwhile, it was a big hit in Europe, reaching number 8 in the Dutch Top 40 for instance.

The song was recorded in a Chinese version performed by Sandy Lam a year later. The song was also covered by Bulgaria-born French singer, songwriter and harpist Rossitza Milevska on her debut cd 'Pop harp' in 2006.

My collection: 7" single no. 1332
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1990
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'Promise me' / 'I listen to the rain'

Don't take away the music - Tavares

Five Cape Verdean-American brothers from New Bedford, Massachusetts formed Tavares in 1973. They were Ralph, Arthur, Antone, Feliciano and Perry Lee Tavares. In 1976/1977 they had three memorable disco hits, 'Heaven must be missing an angel', 'Don't take away the music' and 'Whodunit'.

'Don't take away the music' peaked at number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 3 in the Dutch Top 40. In 1984, Ralph Tavares stepped down from the group, and Tiny left in the mid 1990s, but the other three brothers continue to tour.

My collection: 7" single no. 2859

Found: August 9, 1997
Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Don't take away the music (part 1)' / 'Don't take away the music (part 2)'

7 teen - Regents

The Regents were a new wave band formed in London in the late 70's by Martin Sheller, Rupy Johnson, Fast Eddie, Damian Pew and Bic Brak. They had a brief UK chart career with just two singles.

Their debut single '7 teen' peaked at number 11 in the UK singles chart. Their second single 'See you later' only made it to number 55. They also released on album, the self-titled 'Regents'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3304

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 24, 2001

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: '7 teen' / 'Hole in the heart'