Nothin' at all - Heart

'Nothin' at all' was the fourth single taken from Heart's self-titled 1985 album. It is a love song which describes a new relationship which falls into place without effort or conflict. The track was remixed for this single. In the remix, a vibrant alternate lead vocal take from Ann Wilson is featured with striking embellishments; Howard Leese's guitar solo is vastly different.

The single hit number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. It only managed to reach number 76 on the UK singles chart, but a reissue in 1988 managed to reach number 38. The B-side of this single is a rather curious choice: the track was taken from Heart's 1978 album 'Magazine'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2473
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 16, 1995
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Nothin' at all (remix)' / 'I've got the music in me'

Different air - Living in a box

'Different air' was the last single by Living in a box to reach the UK singles chart, albeit at number 57 only. After the ballad hit 'Room in your heart', this single was a decidedly middle of the road track, that didn't touch a lot of people.

Artistic differences, as well as changes to their record label Chrysalis, caused the band to break up in 1990 before they could record a third album.

My collection: 7" single no. 1146
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, January 19, 1990
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Different air' / 'All the difference in the world'

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'