Jeopardy - Greg Kihn Band

Greg Kihn and Steve Wright formed the Greg Kihn Band in 1979. Together with Robbie Dunbar, Larry Lynch and Gary Phillips they enjoyed their biggest success in 1983 with the single 'Jeopardy'.

The single reached number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 63 in the UK singles chart and number 15 in the Netherlands. They never had a hit outside of America before or after this one single. 'Weird Al' Yankovic made a parody of this song, entitled 'I lost on Jeopardy'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2583
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 23, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Jeopardy' / 'Fascination'

Irresistible - Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel

In the history of the English band 'Cockney Rebel', the single 'Irresistible' is merely a footnote. Released in 1985, it was basically a solo effort by band leader and by then sole member Steve Harley. The single was produced by music legend Mickie Most.

The single failed to have any impact in the charts anywhere. Harley was touring clubs around England with his old Cockney Rebel songs, still earning money - but his old songs could count on more interest than his new ones.

My collection: 7" single no. 834
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 20, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Irresistible' / 'Such is life'

Echo beach - Toyah

Toyah's cover version of 'Echo beach' reached number 54 in the UK singles chart. Before I found the 12" single of this track, I found this limited edition picture disc 7" single, released in April 1987.

One further single, 'Moonlight dancing', was released in 1987 without any chart success, before Toyah turned her attention to television and theatre.

My collection: 7" single no. 2676
Found: House of Rhythm, London, July 2, 1996
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Echo beach' / 'Plenty'

The great song of indifference - Bob Geldof

The first single from Bob Geldof's second solo album 'Vegetarians of love' was the track 'The great song of indifference', in which the lyric 'I don't mind at all' was the recurring theme. It became his biggest hit, not only reaching number 15 in the UK singles chart, but also number 20 in Germany and number 14 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 1303
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 15, 1990
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'The great song of indifference' / 'Hotel 75'

Send my heart - Adventures

When the Adventures released their second single 'Send my heart', it was promoted with a limited edition double single, featuring the first single 'Another silent day' as disc two. For the longest time I searched for this double single; my sister bought it when it came out, but I couldn't find it and had to wait until 1990 to find my copy.

'Another silent day' had reached number 71 in the UK singles chart, and 'Send my heart' reached number 62. But for the first time, the band also scored a (minor) hit in other territories as well: the single reached number 24 in Germany and number 44 in Italy.

My collection: 7" single no. 1318
Found: London, October 16, 1990
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Send my heart' / 'These children (live)' // 'Another silent day' / 'Happy depression'

Obsession - Army of lovers

The Swedish trio Army of lovers formed in 1987. The three members, Alexander Bard, Jean-Pierre Barda and Camilla Henemark (a.k.a. La Camilla) had worked together previously in the band Barbie. Bard was the 'brain' behind the band, and La Camilla was the flamboyant frontwoman.

1991 was their most succesful year, with the release of 'Crucified', which became a worldwide hit, and its follow-up 'Obsession', the only single by the band that I wanted to own. The single reached number 1 in Finland, number 9 in the Netherlands and number 67 in the UK singles chart, but was also a hit in America and several other European countries.

My collection: 7" single no. 2135
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, August 2, 1994
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Obsession' / 'Obsession (dub mix)'

Some like it hot - The Power Station

After Duran Duran's third album 'Seven and the ragged tiger', the members of the band split into two bands. One was Arcadia, which maintained the melodic and atmospheric aspects of the Duran Duran's previous recordings. The other was the Power Station, in which John and Andy Taylor worked with Robert Palmer, Tony Thompson, and Bernrd Edwards to create a rhythmic harder rock sound. Roger Taylor was mainly the drummer for Arcadia, but also contributed percussion to the Power Station.

The Power Station's debut single was 'Some like it hot', an aggressive-sounding single with soulful vocals by Robert Palmer. The single peaked at number 6 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 13 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 14 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 290
Found: LP Top 100, 1985
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Some like it hot' / 'The heat is on'