Three little pigs - Green Jelly

Green Jelly band members Marc Levinthal and Bill Manspeaker wrote 'Three little pigs' after a 'late-night drinkfest' at Zatar's in Hollywood. It is a re-telling of the classic fairy tale Three Little Pigs, with modern twists such as pot-smoking pigs, an appearance by Rambo and a Harley-Davidson-riding wolf.

The song's claymation music video received regular rotation on MTV. As a result, it became a hit in various countries, reaching number 5 in the UK singles chart and number 15 in the Dutch Top 40. This single, released in the UK, was pressed on pink vinyl.

My collection: 7" single no. 2891
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, October 29, 1997
Cost: 2,5 pounds
Tracks: 'Three little pigs' / 'Obey the cowgod'

Hungry like the wolf - Duran Duran

Duran Duran worte and recorded 'Hungry like the wolf' on a Saturday in the spring of 1982 at the basement studios of EMI's London headquarters. Rhodes started the song's demo in the morning with a sequencer; the song was built throughout the day as each band member arrived, and by the evening it was essentially complete. The laugh at the beginning of the song and the screams during the song's fade-out were performed by Nick Rhodes’ girlfriend at the time.

The single was another top 10 hit for the band, peaking at number 5 in the UK singles chart. It also reached number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

My collection: 7" single no. 3246
Found: London, October 20, 2000
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Hungry like the wolf' / 'Careless memories (live)'

Mat's Prozac - Mice

After All about Eve disbanded, Julianne Regan went on to work with Tim McTighe (ex-Powder) to work on new songs. Levitation guitarist Christian Hayes and ex-All about Eve drummer Mark Price were also involved in the band, which was to be called The Innocent. Just before the release of their first single, the name changed to Mice.

'Mat's Prozac' was the first single taken from their album. Since I was such a big fan of All about Eve's music, I bought it right away - but I did have some doubts whether this was the kind of music I really liked. The single did not chart in the UK, let alone anywhere else. This single was pressed on yellow vinyl.

My collection: 7" single no. 2850
Found: Record fair, 1995
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Mat's Prozac' / 'Bang bang'

Cities in dust - Siouxie and the Banshees

'Cities in dust' was released as the first single from the seventh studio album by Siouxie and the Banshees: 'Tinderbox' (1985). The lyric of the song obliquely describes the city of Pompeii, destroyed in a volcanic eruption in the year 79. Imagery describing the volcano and its magma chamber, the condition of the victims of the eruption, and the subsequent discovery and excavation of the city comprises the bulk of the lyrics.

Although the subject matter was still dark, the band seemed to be headed in a more poppy area of music, leaving their goth roots. The single made number 21 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2017
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 19, 1993
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'Cities in dust' / 'An execution'

You - Ten Sharp

After being away from the music business for five years, Ten Sharp returned in the form of a duo. Michiel Hoogenboezem and Niels Hermes picked up where their three band members had thrown in the towel - and their reward was big. Where chart success eluded Ten Sharp in the Eighties, they had a European hit on their hands with 'You', released in 1991.

Not only did the band reach number 3 in the Netherlands (a position they'd never achieved in the Eighties), it also went number 1 in France, Norway and Sweden. In the UK, the single peaked at number 10. All of a sudden, Ten Sharp had become popular.

My collection: 7" single no. 1430
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, April 13, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'You' / 'You (instrumental)'

Thank you world - World Party

The 1991 single 'Thank you world' by World Party was released in between albums. 1990's 'Goodbye Jumbo' had been relatively successful, but the next album would only appear in 1993.

The chart performance of this single was disappointing, reaching number 68 in the UK singles chart during a one week chart run. Even the cover of the Beatles' 'Happiness is a warm gun' on the cd-single didn't help matters. This 7" single features two versions of 'Thank you world'. To be honest: I don't play it much myself.

My collection: 7" single no. 1488
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, July 4, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Thank you world' / 'Thank you world (Peter Lorimer remix)'

Get up! (Before the night is over) - Technotronic

Time for some intellectual music again. Back in 1990, I simply couldn't resist a track that had the great lyric 'Get up, get up, get busy do it / I wanna see you party'. It was the second single by Technotronic from their debut album 'Pump up the jam'. Somehow this single managed to hit the top 10 all over the world. It has to be because of the fact that people simply cannot resist a song with such beauty and depth.

The sheer vacuousness of it all is what drove me to buy this - and to use it as an example of what I simply cannot understand about other people's taste in music of course.

My collection: 7" single no. 1172
Found: Melody Maker, February 17, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Get up! (Before the night is over)' / 'Get up (Before the night is over) (instrumental)'