That girl - Stevie Wonder

I depend on my photographic memory when it comes to buying records for my collection. This doesn't always work, as is demonstrated with this single. I bought the German pressing of 'That girl' (pictured above) back in 1989. A decade later, I found the UK version of that same title (pictured below), but because the sleeve was so different, I didn't recognise it and bought it again (I didn't register where and when, so that data is missing below). The French version has a different sleeve, so I'll have to watch out that I won't buy that one too in the future.

The 1982 release 'That girl' was the lead single from Stevie Wonder's Greatest Hits compilation, 'Original Musiquarium' as one of four new songs from the collection. The single reached number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 39 on the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 797
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, April 15, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'That girl' / 'All I do'

Frozen - Madonna

While recording the movie 'Evita', Madonna had finally had some much-needed vocal coaching. After more than a decade in music, she finally learned how to handle her voice during singing. The effects didn't wear off immediately, as shown on her 1998 album 'Ray of light'. The first single from that album was 'Frozen', showing a remarkable change in direction: from superficial pop to melodic trance. Producer William Orbit had a lot to do with this, of course.

Seemingly recorded with Animal from the Muppets on drums, 'Frozen' reached number 1 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the Dutch Top 40. This American 7" single is probably the only 7" single that exists as the format had been abondoned in almost every territory by 1998.

My collection: 7" single no. 3021
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 8, 1998
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Frozen' / 'Shanti/Ashtangi'

Is it any wonder? - Keane

Since this single is also included in the box set for 'Atlantic', I've got two copies of it. But originally I bought this single soon after it came out in 2006. The song was written about the war in Iraq. Tim Rice-Oxley explained: 'It's probably the one song that most expresses our dismay and confusion about what it means to be a British citizen, in terms of what our society's contributing to the world at large. It's very hard to make sense of why Britain feels it needs to sign up with George Bush's attacks on Iraq and the whole Afghanistan thing. It feels like there's a whole lot of trouble brewing up over Iran, and you just don't know where it's going to end. On a personal level, for people of our age, it's really unsettling...'

The single peaked at number 3 in the UK singles chart. It reached number 7 in the Dutch Top 40 during an amazing 17 week chart run.

My collection: 7" single no. 3438
Found: HMV, London, June 19, 2006
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Is it any wonder?' / 'Let it slide'

A different corner - George Michael

George Michael released his second solo single 'A different corner' in April 1986, while still a member of Wham!, although their farewell concert had already been announced. This song was written, arranged and produced by George Michael himself and the sleeve proclaimed that the song was 'dedicated to a memory'. It is rumoured that the song was written about his brief relationship with Pat Fernandez. Fernandez appeared in the Wham! videos 'Wake me up before you go-go' (as one of the dancers with Pepsi and Shirlie) and 'Last Christmas'.

The single was another number one hit for George Michael, in the Netherlands, the UK and Norway. It also reached number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100. I recently bought the 12" single but found out that the tracks on it are exactly the same as the ones on the 7" single I've had for 20 years.

My collection: 7" single no. 880 / 12" single no. 507
Found: All that music, Leiden, June 16, 1989 / Songs for sale, Rotterdam, July 31, 2009
Cost: 3 guilders / 2 euro
Tracks: 'A different corner' / 'A different corner (instrumental)'

Reputation - Dusty Springfield

After her success with the Pet Shop Boys in 1987 and 1989, Dusty Springfield finally returned to recording music after an absence from the music business for almost 20 years. The resulting album, 'Reputation' was released in June 1990. The album included the previous two hits 'Nothing has been proved' and 'In private'. This single, 'Reputation' was the title track and the first single by Springfield circa 1990 that was not produced by the Pet Shop Boys.

Perhaps that was why the single only managed to reach number 38 in the UK singles chart. Meanwhile, the album reached number 18 in the UK albums chart, finally resurrecting Springfield's career once and for all.

My collection: 7" single no. 2436
Found: Concerto, Amsterdam, August 19, 1985
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Reputation' / 'Rep u dub 1'

Move to Memphis - A-ha

'Move to Memphis' was a new track by A-ha, released in 1991 to coincide with the release of 'Headlines and deadlines', their first ever compilation album. The single showed a more mature-sounding A-ha than ever before, already foreshadowing what their next album would sound like. A a new version of 'Move to Memphis' would actually appear on that next album.

The single became A-ha's least successful release up until then, only managing to reach number 47 in the UK singles chart during a two week chart run. The single didn't chart in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 1559
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, December 14, 1991
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Move to Memphis' / 'Crying in the rain (live)'

Goodbye girl - David Gates

'Goodbye girl' was the title track from David Gates' third solo album, released in 1978. The former Bread lead singer recorded only six new tracks for the album, the other six tracks were taken from his two previous solo albums.

The single was an unsuccessful one, as it didn't chart in Europe. Gates did continue recording music, although he took a break between 1981 and 1994.

My collection: 7" single no. 2249
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 4 ,1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Goodbye girl' / 'Sunday rider'