Too shy - Kajagoogoo

The English band Kajagoogoo was formed in 1979 by Nick Beggs, Steve Askew, Stuart Croxford Neale and Jez Strode. Originally named Art Nouveau, they struggled to find a record company but were unsuccessful. In 1981 they auditioned for a lead singer to add to their band and found Christopher Hamill. He made his profile catchier by using a stage name, 'Limahl', an anagram of his surname. His hairdo, blond on top and black on the sides, also helped, of course.

With this new addition, they attracted interest from record companies and got Nick Rhodes from Duran Duran to produce their debut album 'White feathers'. The debut single 'Too shy' was released in January 1983 and became a number 1 hit in the UK and Germany. In the Netherlands, the single peaked at number 4. The B-side is not a straightforward instrumental version as you might expect, but a rather interesting dub version.

My collection: 7" single no. 1941
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 11, 1993
Cost: 1 guilders
Tracks: 'Too shy' / 'Too shy (instrumental)'

When am I going to make a living - Sade

I might never have become a fan of Sade's music if it wasn't for this single. I thought her debut 'Your love is king' was pretty boring, and initially I didn't like this song either when it showed up on music video TV channels. But the chorus grabbed me one day, and I found myself buying the single not long after that. It went on from there: 'Smooth operator' was kindof interesting (although I very much preferred the 12" and extended video version) and by the time 'Hang on to your love' was released, I was looking for the album.

This single reached number 12 in the Netherlands and number 36 in the UK singles chart. I'm relieved to hear that Sade is about to release a new album later this year. Well, knowing how quickly the band works, it could also be 2010.

My collection: 7" single no. 243
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1984
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'When am I going to make a living' / 'Should I love you'

Reach out I'll be there 88 remix - Four Tops

I'm not a purist by any means, but I do think that remixing Motown classics like this should be a capital offence. At the height of the Stock/Aitken/Waterman mania in the UK, Phil Harding and Ian Curnow, who worked with the trio rather often, were commissioned to make a remix of the Four Tops classic 'Reach out I'll be there'.

The remix reached number 11 in the UK singles chart. I bought the single out of curiosity during a holiday in London. The next day I found myself hurrying to a Central London hospital because of a kidney stone. I'm not sure if this is a cause and effect thing...

My collection: 7" single no. 3166
Found: House of Rhythm, London, January 18, 2000
Cost: 40p
Tracks: 'Reach out I'll be there 88 remix' / 'Standing in the shadows of love'

I won't let me down - Dominic

While still a member of the British group Guys & Dolls, Dominic Grant recorded a solo album in 1982, of which 'I won't let me down' was the lead single. The single was mainly a success in the Netherlands, peaking at number 17 in the Dutch Top 40.

The Guys & Dolls would continue as a group until 1985, after which Dominic Grant and Julie Forsyth went on as a duo - being again mostly successful in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 154
Found: Studio Echo, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'I won't let me down' / 'Just a little in love'

It ain't necessarily so - Bronski Beat

'It ain't necessarily so' was written by George and Ira Gershwin (pictured here on the sleeve) in 1935 for the opera Porgy and Bess. In the opera, the track is sung by a drug dealer who expresses his doubt about several statements in the bible.

Covered by Bronski Beat in 1984, the song took on a whole new meaning. The gay trio used the song to make a statement about homosexuality, as some religious groups kept using the bible to attack gay people. Like the song says, 'Things that you're liable to read in the Bible, ain't necessarily so'. The single reached number 16 in the UK singles chart and number 32 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1095
Found: All that music, Leiden, November 11, 1989
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'It ain't necessarily so' / 'Close to the edge'

Have I told you lately - Van Morrison

I'd like to start off this Sunday morning with some typical Sunday morning music. This romantic ballad by Van Morrison was originally written as a prayer, and it certainly contains a few religious lines. Popularly it is interpreted as a love song, often played at weddings and the like.

Released in 1989, Van Morrison reached the UK singles chart with this single for the first time in 10 years, although it only made the chart for one week at number 74. In the Netherlands, it was his biggest hit overall, peaking at number 11.

My collection: 7" single no. 951
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, August 5, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Have I told you lately' / 'Contacting my angel'

The dreamer - All about Eve

Since All about Eve was pretty much famous in the UK only, their singles became increasingly hard to find in the Netherlands. Some shops were still selling import records in 1991, but I was unlucky with this single: the shop in Rotterdam where I got my imports only got the 12" single, cd-single and picture disc 12" (which of course I bought too).

Thankfully, my friend Puck was taking an apprenticeship in Newcastle between September 1991 and January 1992, so I had the chance to ask him to pick up this single. He did, and when he returned, I finally had that single to complete my collection. Of course, the single did turn up at record fairs in the Netherlands - but that was a couple of years later!

My collection: 7" single no. 1581
Found: Newcastle, January 1992
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'The dreamer (remix)' / 'Frida of blood and gold'