Be my baby - Vanessa Paradis

In 1992 Vanessa Paradis moved to the United States, aged just 20. For some time, she was romantically linked with Lenny Kravitz, who also produced her first English language album, also released in 1992.

The album topped the French album chart and even reached number 45 in the UK albums chart. The first single taken from the album was the retro-sounding 'Be my baby', which made number 5 in France, number 6 in the UK singles chart and number 7 in the Dutch Top 40 - her only top 10 hit in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 1746
Found: HMV, London, October 19, 1992
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Be my baby' / 'The future song'

Wild horses - Gino Vannelli

Gino Vannelli sounds a lot like a crooner on this song, although 'Wild horses' is very much an eighties production. The single was taken from his 1987 album 'Big dreamers never sleep'. It was his last hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 7 in May 1987.

I'd all but forgotten this single when I suddenly heard it again sometime in 1991. I thought it was really very good and started hunting. Within a couple of weeks, I'd found my copy.

My collection: 7" single no. 1409
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, April 3, 1991
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Wild horses' / 'Shape me like a man'

Is dit nou later - Stef Bos

Stef Bos was born in Veenendaal, the Netherlands on July 12, 1961. He moved to Antwerp, Belgium in 1984 and has been living there ever since. After working with Ingeborg on her 1989 Eurovision Song Contest entry 'Door de wind', he released his debut solo album 'Is dit nu later' ('So is this later') in 1990. The title track was his debut single.

The lyric of the song is based on the idea that children are promised that the world is at their feet later, when they're all grown up. The singer states that his diploma is full of lies, stating that he's an adult who knows the truth, when in reality he doesn't understand life at all. There's an anger in this song that I've always been able to relate to very well.

My collection: 7" single no. 1908
Found: Groningen, May 15, 1993
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Is dit nou later' / 'M'n hart gevolgd'

While you see a chance - Steve Winwood

If Steve Winwood has a signature song, this is probably it. One of the song's most iconic features, its keyboard introduction, was not originally intended to be part of the song. The track was thrown together fairly quickly after Winwood discovered that he had accidentally deleted his intended drum track introduction while preparing for vocals. He wrote a new introduction on the spot as a replacement.

The single was taken from Winwood's album 'Arc of a diver' (1980) and peaked at number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100, number 45 in the UK singles chart and number 10 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2728
Found: September 7, 1996
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'While you see a chance' / 'Vacant chair'

The boy in the bubble - Paul Simon

In 1985, Paul Simon heard a recording of the Boyoyo Boys, which inspired him to make the album 'Graceland', an unusual sounding record incorporating pop, acapella, rock and African music. In fact it might be the first so-called 'World music' mainstream album. In 1986, the album was released to critical and commercial acclaim.

The most successful single from the album was 'You can call me Al', a top 10 hit in several countries. This single, 'The boy in the bubble' was lesser known. Personally I like the odd sound of this track, and the video for it was also interesting eye candy.

My collection: 7" single no. 2798
Found: December 14, 1996
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'The boy in the bubble' / 'Hearts and bones'

Soul passing through soul - Toyah

Released in June 1985, 'Soul passing through soul' was the second solo single by Toyah Willcox. Although Toyah was originally the name of her band (1979-1983), she continued with that name even when she went solo. Well, it was her own first name after all.

While 'Don't fall in love', her first solo single, had been a success, peaking at number 27 in the UK singles chart, this one only reached number 57. Personally I think this is the stronger of the two - even the B-side is very good.

My collection: 7" single no. 3108
Found: Big Company Records, London, May 13, 1999
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Soul passing through soul' / 'All in a rage'

Waterfalls - Paul McCartney

I don't know why, but I've always thought that this sleeve is a very beautiful one. It's one of those illustrations that keep impressing me, even after all these years. The song itself is equally beautiful. It was taken from McCartney's first solo album after Wings disbanded, 'McCartney II'.

The single reached number 9 in the UK singles chart in 1980. But when he was asked which of his single he wished were more successful, McCartney answered, 'There's quite a few, actually... 'Waterfalls', I think is nice.'

My collection: 7" single no. 624
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 26, 1988
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Waterfalls' / 'Check my machine'