We'll be together - Sandra

Released in November 1988, 'We'll be together' was the third single taken from Sandra's third album 'Into a secret land'. For the first time ever, this song was co-written by Sandra herself. The single reached number 9 in the German singles chart.

When I bought this single, it came with a Spanish promotional sheet. Printed in colour, the front of the A4 paper features the album cover and the back features a biography, written in Spanish.

My collection: 7" single no. 1777
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, October 25, 1992
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'We'll be together' / 'It means forever'

Sign your name - Terence Trent d'Arby

Although I hated the first few singles by Terence Trent d'Arby, I had to admit that 'Sign your name' was actually a very good ballad. It was taken from his debut album 'Introducing the hardline according to Terence Trent d'Arby', released in 1987.

It was a big hit in countries around the world, peaking at number 2 in the UK singles chart and the Dutch Top 40, and number 4 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

My collection: 7" single no. 1331
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1990
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Sign your name' / 'Greasy chicken'

To turn the stone - Frida

'To turn the stone' was the second single taken from Frida's 1982 album 'Something's going on'. It was considerably less successful than the previous one, 'I know there's something going on', which reached the charts all over Europe.

'To turn the stone' only managed to reach number 39 in the German singles chart and flopped everywhere else. As a result, no further singles were taken from the album.

My collection: 7" single no. 160
Found: Studio Echo, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'To turn the stone' / 'I got something'

The Skye Boat song - Willy Finlayson

Tori Amos' debut album 'Y Kant Tori Read', released before she hit the big time with 'Little earthquakes', contained an instrumental excerpt of 'The Skye Boat song', a Scottish traditional from the 19th century. Since I liked the melody, I was quite curious when I found this single, on which the traditional is performed by Willy Finlayson. Remember him? He also recorded 'On the air tonight' in 1985.

Finlayson's solo career has been short: none of his singles reached the UK singles chart and no other singles of his are known.

My collection: 7" single no. 2173
Found: House of Rhythm, London, September 27, 1994
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'The Skye Boat Song' / 'Cash'

Holding out for a hero - Bonnie Tyler

When you hear this song you will probably recognise the production values of Jim Steinman immediately: with its backing vocals and high speed music, it's an almost hysteric piece of music. 'Holding out for a hero' was originally released in 1984 and included on the soundtrack of the movie 'Footloose'. It later appeared on Tyler's 'Secret dreams and forbidden fire' album.

The single peaked at number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 34 in the US Billboard Hot 100. In the Netherlands, the single flopped mercilessly.

My collection: 7" single no. 3291
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Holding out for a hero' / 'Faster than the speed of night'

Crystal ball - Keane

Tim Rice-Oxley from Keane commented about 'Crystal ball': 'That was a really scary for me, because I've always had lots to say, and lots of opinions whether right or wrong. We then ended up having a massive row about something a couple of days later and it came out of that that we were all feeling this sense of numbness, this feeling of kinda fading away as people. I struggled to find one last song to complete the album, and found I could not write. I was left looking around song directories written by the sheer desperates of London, thus explaining how I discovered Crystal Ball...'

The track was released as the second single of Keane's second album 'Under the iron sea'. It reached number 20 in the Dutch Top 40 and the UK singles chart. This 7" single is a numbered limited edition; this is number 30.

My collection: 7" single no. 3490
Found: eBay.co.uk, received December 20, 2008
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Crystal ball' / 'Maybe I can change'

Love house - Samantha Fox

Honestly, I have no idea why I bought this single. It's a long time ago when I did. Even then, I was not impressed with the output of Page 3 girl Samantha Fox and house music in general. This track was produced by the Dutch brothers Bolland, but that in itself is no reason for me to buy a single - quite the contrary.

Mysteries have a right to survive, and so I won't guess any more. The only thing I do know that this single reached number 10 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 32 on the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2410
Found: Leiden, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Love house' / 'Don't cheat on me'