Grease - Frankie Valli

Frankie Valli was born as Francesco Stephen Castelluccio on May 3, 1934 in First Ward, Newark, New Jersey. He became famous as the frontman of the Four Seasons, who reached their peak of fame in the Sixties.

In 1978, Valli was asked to sing the theme song for the movie Grease. Along with the movie, this song became famous and when it was released as a single, it reached number one all over the world.

My collection: 7" single no. 2543
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, November 1, 1995
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Grease' / 'Grease (instrumental)'

Good for me - Amy Grant

I happen to have both the cd-single and this 7" single of Amy Grant's 'Good for me'. The B-side of this 7" single is not included on the cd-single, which makes it a nice item. 'Good for me' was released as the sixth single from Grant's 1991 album 'Heart in motion'. It reached number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 60 in the UK singles chart.

There exist two music videos for this single. In the original music video, Amy Grant frolicks and dances with another female, who was meant to be portrayed as a childhood friend of Grant's. However, once the video was completed, Grant felt that her intended message was lost and that the video looked as though she and her friend were lovers. And so a new version was shot with a male model. Good old Christian values... (!)

My collection: 7" single no. 2787
Found: November 2, 1996
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Good for me (7" Good for you mix)' / 'Good for me (7" You like to dance mix)'

Passing stranges - Ultravox

'Passing strangers' was released in October 1980 as the second single from Ultravox's milestone album 'Vienna'. The song is a fast-paced affair, with all the signature sounds of the band around that time. The single wasn't a big hit, stalling at number 57 in the UK singles chart.

The B-side 'Face to face' was recorded live in St. Albans on August 16, 1980 and was never recorded in studio by the band.

My collection: 7" single no. 2542
Found: Record Exchange, November 1, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Passing strangers' / 'Face to face (recorded live)'

Twenty four hours - Athlete

Released as the fourth and final single from Athlete's 2005 album 'Tourist', 'Twenty four hours' was a real treat for fans. The cd-single featured two new tracks, whereas the 7" single, released as a picture disc, featured one of those new tracks plus another new track exclusive to the 7" format.

The single peaked at number 42 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3418
Found: HMV mail order, received November 2005
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Twenty four hours' / 'Stand in the sun', 'Before tomorrow'

Saturday night - The Blue Nile

Although the Blue Nile released their second album 'Hats' in the autumn of 1989, the sticker on the back of this single states that 'Saturday night', the third single from that album, was released on January 7, 1991. But then, the Blue Niles were always a bit slower than the average pop band.

Two weeks later, the single entered the UK singles chart and reached number 50 during a 2 week chart run. It was the last anyone heard from the band, until they returned with 'Peace at last', their third album. When? Well, in 1996.

My collection: 7" single no. 2191
Found: Record Exchange, London, September 29, 1994
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Saturday night (edit)' / 'Saturday night (album version)'

The river - Bruce Springsteen

'The river' was written by Bruce Springsteen right after he'd completed an album that was to be titled 'The ties that bind'. The imagery of the chorus and the end of the song were inspired by lines from Hank Williams' 1950 hit, 'Long gone lonesome blues'. When this song came up, Springsteen decided to write several others with a similarly darker feel, and eventually released a double album entitled 'The river' in 1980.

Released as a single, it reached number 12 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 35 in the UK singles chart. It remains one of Springsteen's signature songs.

My collection: 7" single no. 2691
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, July 3, 1996
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'The river' / 'Independence day'

Nooduitgang (live) - Het Goede Doel

Het Goede Doel released a live version of their song 'Nooduitgang' ('Emergency exit') in 1987. Their album 'Mooi en onverslijtbaar' and its associated singles sold rather well, but the release of a live album was imminent, and so this single was released to promote it. Band member Sander van Herk wrote a piece on the history of the band in 2001 in a booklet for a 4cd box set and confessed that the track on the single was played live, but the audience participation was mixed in.

The record buying public was unaware of this, and the single reached number 25 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3769
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received June 3, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Nooduitgang (live)' / 'The sonic ranger rides again'