Does your mother know - Abba

Abba's 'Does your mother know' was recorded in February 1979 and released as a single in April of that year. Written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, the song is something of a pastiche to 1950s/early 1960s-style rock & roll, incorporating some modern disco rhythms as well. The lyric of the song touches on the subject of a man responding to the flirting of a much younger girl. For the first time in a long time, the song's lead vocals were not performed by female vocalists Agnetha and/or Frida, but by Björn Ulvaeus.

The single was still a big hit for the Swedish superstars, peaking at number 4 in the Netherlands and the UK, also reaching number 19 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2044
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, October 30, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Does your mother know' / 'Kisses of fire'

I'm on fire - Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen's 'I'm on fire' is a candidate for the title of 'shortest single of the Eighties'. With the A-side lasting for 2'36 minutes and the B-side just 1'50, both tracks of the single combined were shorter than the A-side of a lot of singles around at the time.

The single reached number 1 in the Netherlands and peaked at number 5 in the UK singles chart. I didn't like the song when it came out, but learned to appreciate it years later.

My collection: 7" single no. 1897
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 2, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'I'm on fire' / 'Johnny bye bye'

7 8th Avenue - Earth and Fire

I have no idea what a 'Gate to infinity' is, but it is the title of Earth & Fire's 1977 album. Filled as usual with symphonic rock tracks and some more commercial-sounding hits, it was a reasonable success in the Netherlands.

The single '7 8th Avenue' was drawn from the album and reached number 18 in the Dutch Top 40. I can remember this song from my childhood and never understood the title until I heard about streets in America being actually named after numbers.

My collection: 7" single no. 559
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: '7 8th Avenue' / 'Dizzy raptures'

Life's what you make it (remix '91) - Talk Talk

EMI Records were so happy with the success of the compilation 'Natural history', featuring all the singles by Talk Talk, that they released a remix album, 'History revisited' in 1991. It featured the hits of Talk Talk in all new remixes by various DJ's. Bad move: the band, who had just switched record companies, sued EMI for remixing their material without permission.

I've been looking for the outcome of this lawsuit on the web, but I couldn't find it. As far as I can recall, EMI were ordered to take 'Natural history' out of the shops, making it an instant collectors item. There was, however, one single drawn from the album: a remix of 'Life's what you make it' by BBG. It was not a hit, by the way.

My collection: 7" single no. 2789
Found: Record fair, November 9, 1996
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Life's what you make it (remixed by BBG)' / 'Today (remixed by Gary Miller)'

You make me feel brand new - The Stylistics

'You make me feel brand new' was written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed. It became a hit for the Philadelphia soul groep The Stylistics in 1974. It reached number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and the UK singles chart. In the Netherlands, it reached number 12.

The track appeared on the Stylistics' 1973 album, 'Rockin' roll baby', as well as their 1974 album, 'Let's put it all together'. It has been covered in jazz and pop circles, including a soulful version by Simply Red in 2003.

My collection: 7" single no. 2895
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, October 29, 1997
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'You make me feel brand new' / 'Only for the children'

Chorus - Erasure

'Chorus' was the first single from Erasure's 1991 album of the same name. A track with an environmental theme, it was produced by Martyn Phillips and written by Vince Clarke and Andy Bell. The single reached number 3 in the UK singles chart and became a top 10 hit in Denmark and Ireland.

The B-side track 'Over the rainbow' is notable for its lyric namechecking the members of the Swedish group Abba. Erasure would record a tribute to that group the next year, in the form of the 'Abba-esque' EP.

My collection: 7" single no. 1501
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 6, 1991
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Chorus' / 'Over the rainbow'

I'm not scared - Eighth Wonder

Patsy Kensit joined the band of her brother Jamie in 1983, aged 14. Together with Geoff Beauchamp, Lawrence Lewis and Jake Walters they started performing live, trying to get the attention of record labels. In 1985 they were signed to CBS Records and began recording in London, while Patsy Kensit also managed to land a role in the movie 'Absolute beginners'.

During the recording of their second album 'Fearless' in 1987, they came in contact with the Pet Shop Boys, who co-produced and wrote 'I'm not scared'. This was released as the first single from the album. It was a number 1 hit in Italy, reaching number 7 in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 997
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 16, 1989
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'I'm not scared' / 'J'ai pas peur'