Hang on to your love - Sade

The most interesting singles are those you can't find in the shops. And then there's the singles released in other countries. Combine the two, and there you have it: the foreign promo. This particular one is a promo 7" single for Sade's 'Hang on to your love', released in Spain.

Not only did it have a different sleeve, it's also a one-sided single, which means that the B-side is missing here. A lovely item, which I picked up a long time ago!

My collection: 7" single no. 1955
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 25, 1993
Cost: 10 guilders
Track: 'Hang on to your love'

She's strange - Cameo

After I found the 12" single of 'She's strange', the 7" single followed rather quickly. You know how it is: you search for something for years, then you decide to buy another version and suddenly what you're looking for appears.

Taken from the album of the same name, the single version is edited from the 7'12 album version. It reached number 37 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2475
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 16, 1995
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'She's strange' / 'Cameo megamix'

Memories - Beverley Craven

'Memories' was the last single to be released from Beverley Craven's self-titled debut album. The song already foreshadowed the sappy ballads that would appear on her later work. It also showed that the audiences weren't impressed: the single stalled at number 68 in the UK singles chart.

The single was mainly released to promote the live video that was released. Beverley Craven in concert: not the most exciting show, but (mostly) good songs nonetheless. This 7" single featured one live track on the B-side, the two cd-singles would feature three more.

My collection: 7" single no. 2745
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 21, 1996
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Memories' / 'Holding on (live)'

Dark is the night - A-ha

A-ha was going through troubled times when they released their 1993 album 'Memorial beach'. There were internal conflicts and conflicts with their record company. And on top of it all, the chart performance of the album was disappointing. The album was entirely recorded at Prince's Paisley Park studios and lacked a lot of what made previous A-ha albums so special.

'Dark is the night' was the first single taken from the album, and the only single from the album to reach the top 20 outside of Norway: it reached number 19 in the UK. It was also the last A-ha single to be released in the United States.

My collection: 7" single no. 1948
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 25, 1993
Cost: 8 guilders
Tracks: 'Dark is the night' / 'Angel in the snow (instrumental)'

Looking for clues - Robert Palmer

Robert Palmer's sixth solo album 'Clues' was released in 1980 and 'Looking for clues' was released as the second single from that album.

The single peaked at number 33 in the UK, number 7 in Canada and number 15 in the Netherlands. It was more successful than the previous single, 'Johnny and Mary', which peaked at number 44, 32 and 21 respectively.

My collection: 7" single no. 1045
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'Looking for clues' / 'Good care of you'

Crack the shutters - Snow Patrol

'Crack the shutters' was the second single from Snow Patrol's most recent album 'A hundred million suns'. Band leader Gary Lightbody has described the song as 'the purest love song I've ever written. Even more so than 'Chasing cars'. It's luxuriating in the beauty and wonder of someone you love with all your heart.'

The single reached number 43 in the UK singles chart and number 14 in the Dutch Top 40. This 7" single is a numbered limited edition; I've got number 259. I've also got number 1513 so that one's for sale if you want it.

My collection: 7" single no. 3544
Found: Recordstore.co.uk, received January 10, 2009
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Crack the shutters' / 'One day like this'

The woman in me - Donna Summer

'The woman in me' was the third and final single from Donna Summer's self-titled 1982 album. It was a ballad produced by Quincy Jones, following after the worldwide hit 'State of independence'. While on that song Michael Jackson sang backing vocals, here the background vocals are performed by James Ingram. The single stalled at number 62 in the UK singles chart but reached number 7 in the Dutch Top 40.

I've got two copies of the single: one Belgian pressing (pictured above) and one German pressing. When I bought the German one, I didn't recognise the sleeve so I thought I didn't have the song. I've no idea when I bought the German single, because when I already have a single it doesn't get into my administration...

My collection: 7" single no. 2594
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, December 30, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'The woman in me' / 'Livin' in America'