House of Salome - Kim Wilde

I knew nothing about this single when I bought it. I had the album 'Catch as catch can', which it was taken from, but I didn't know it was released, and for some time I wondered why. As it turns out, 'House of Salome' was released as a single by RAK Records shortly before Kim's contract with them expired. Hence, she did not do any promotion for it, there was no music video, and the single sunk without a trace.

I found my copy in early 1985, a year after its release. It's one of the standout tracks from Kim's 1983 album, and the sleeve is a gem too; a stunning photograph that has never been used before or since.

My collection: 7" single no. 284
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'House of Salome' / 'Sing it out for love'

Strange way - All about Eve

The release of 'Strange way', the second single from All about Eve's 1991 album 'Touched by Jesus' was promoted by the record company with a special promotional 7" single, featuring the full lengh track and a radio edit of the track.

It wasn't a very high profile promotional disc, in a custom black sleeve and a small info sticker at the front. But since these promotional items are collectable anyway and the radio edit never surfaced on any other disc, I'm glad I got hold of this item.

My collection: 7" single no. 1882
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, April 24, 1993
Cost: 7 guilders
Tracks: 'Strange way (radio edit)' / 'Strange way (full version)'

How can I fall - Breathe

Released as the second single from Breathe's debut album 'All that jazz', 'How can I fall' was a beautiful ballad, which peaked at number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 48 in the UK singles chart. In the Netherlands, the single reached number 23.

It was released in a limited edition containing a 1989 calendar. The gatefold sleeve could be made to stand up in a triangle, to be used as a desk calendar all year.

My collection: 7" single no. 3189
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 16, 2000
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'How can I fall' / 'All this I should have known'

Pas pour moi - Daniela Simons

Daniela Simons represented Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest 1986 in Bergen with the song 'Pas pour moi'. The song finished second behind Belgium's entry. Simons had made previous attempts to represent Switzerland. In 1983 she came last in the national selection with 'Dis moi tout'. She took second place in 1985 with 'Repars a zero'.

On this single, the B-side is an English version of 'Pas pour moi'. I liked the song, but only bought it because I found it in a discount bin years later.

My collection: 7" single no. 1909
Found: Plaatboef, Leiden, May 19, 1993
Cost: 0,5 guilder
Tracks: 'pas pour moi' / 'Candlelight'

Controversy - Prince

'Controversy' was originally released in 1981 as a single from Prince's album of the same name. The song addresses certain rumours about him, particularly rumours about his sexual preference, and how he couldn't understand why people were even interested in such facts. On its original release, the single charted in the US and Australia only.

When the record company released a compilation album in 1993, 'Controversy' was re-released in the UK. Besides a double cd-single release, this picture disc was also available. This time around, the single peaked at number 5 in the UK, Prince's first top 10 hit in that country since 'My name is Prince' a year before.

My collection: 7" single no. 2653
Found: June 29, 1996
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Controversy' / 'The future (remix)'

Heaven can wait - Sandra

After Sandra and Michael Cretu married on January 7, 1988, they went right back into it and released Sandra's third album 'Into a secret land'. Four singles were taken from the album, of which 'Heaven can wait' was the first.

Sales for the single were very good in Israel, where it reached number 2, and Austria, where the single reached number 4. In her native Germany, the single peaked at number 12.

My collection: 7" single no. 1923
Found: Record fair, June 5, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Heaven can wait' / 'Heaven's theme'

A whiter shade of pale - Procol Harum

'A whiter shade of pale' is one of those songs that have been universally accepted as a true classic. The Hammond organ line was inspired by Johann Sebastian Bach's 'Sleepers awake' and 'Air on a G String', but contrary to popular belief, the song is not a direct copy or paraphrase of any music by Bach, although it makes clear references to both pieces.

The song reached number 1 in several countries, including the UK and the Netherlands, when released in 1967. Written by Gary Brooker, Matthew Fisher and Keith Reid, the latter commented that he got the idea for the title when it came to him at a party, which gave him a starting point for the song.

My collection: 7" single no. 330
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'A whiter shade of pale' / 'Conquistador'