Happy Birthday - Stevie Wonder

Today I'm celebrating my birthday. So I thought I'd better pick one song that would be sort of appropriate. The title certainly is. 'Happy Birthday' was released by Stevie Wonder in 1981 as part of his campaign to have the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. become a national holiday in the USA. The single bizzarrely didn't reach the US Billboard Hot 100, but reached number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 10 in the Dutch Top 40.

Wonder used the song to popularize the campaign, and continued his fight for the holiday. President Ronald Reagan approved the creation of the holiday, signing it into existence on November 2, 1983. The first official Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was held on January 20, 1986, and was commemorated with a large-scale concert, where Stevie Wonder was the headlining performer.

My collection: 7" single no. 2818
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, February 1, 1997
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Happy Birthday' / 'Happy Birthday (instrumental)'

New moon on Monday - Duran Duran

'New moon on Monday' is the tenth single by Duran Duran, released in January 1984. It was released as the second single from the band's 1983 album 'Seven and the ragged tiger'. In February 1984, the single reached number 9 on the UK singles chart; a month later the single peaked at numebr 10 in the US Billboard Hot 100. In the Netherlands, the single stalled at number 26.

I have the European pressing of the single, which has a different sleeve compared to the original UK version.

My collection: 7" single no. 2151
Found: Concerto, Amsterdam, September 1, 1994
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'New moon on Monday' / 'Tiger Tiger'

Closest thing to heaven - The Kane Gang

In 1984, the Kane Gang released 'Closest thing to heaven', arguably the most beautiful song of their career. It was certainly their most successful: it reached number 12 in the UK singles chart during an 11 week chart run.

In the Netherlands, the single didn't reach the Dutch Top 40. I waited two years and then bought the single for almost nothing.

My collection: 7" single no. 493
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Closest thing to heaven' / 'Mighty day'

Am I right? - Erasure

'Am I right?' was the third single released from Erasure's 1991 album 'Chorus'. It is a ballad in which the protagonist is wandering through the city streets after a romantic separation, while his lover contemplates whether or not (s)he is really in love and wants to return to the relationship.

The single was released as a four track EP, featuring three bonus tracks. It reached number 15 in the UK singles chart. Another EP, featuring new songs and alternate versions, also called 'Am I right', was released a month later and reached number 22. However, that EP was not released on 7" vinyl.

My collection: 7" single no. 2192
Found: Big Company Records, London, September 29, 1994
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Am I right?', 'Carry on clangers (edited)' / 'Let it flow', 'Waiting for sex (edited)'

A little peace - Nicole

So I've got 'Ein Bisschen Frieden', 'La paix sur terre', 'Een beetje vrede' and 'En smule fred'. No wonder that I've also got the English version: 'A little peace'. This is the only single released on the CBS label and with a different sleeve (although I do believe another version does exist with the same sort of sleeve as the other four).

It's rather unusual for any Eurovision winner to reach the UK singles chart, let alone reaching the top position. But that's exactly what Nicole did in May 1982. It may well have been the first time in a long time that any German captured the hearts of UK citizens.

My collection: 7" single no. 3572
Found: eBay.com, received February 2, 2009
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'A little peace' / 'Thank you, merci, danke'

So in love - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the dark

'So in love' was the last song written for OMD's album 'Crush'. It was originally dropped until band member Martin Cooper persuaded Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys to make a demo for the song. Andy McCluskey said it was about the painful end of a relationship.

Released as the first single from the album, it was a good success for the band. For years they tried to make it in the USA, and with this single, they did: it peaked at number 26 in the US Billboard Hot 100. In the UK singles chart it reached number 27, while in the Netherlands, it reached number 7. This limited edition double single features two extra tracks.

My collection: 7" single no. 2743
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 21, 1996
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'So in love' / 'Concrete hands' // 'Maria Gallante' / 'White trash (live)'

G.L.A.D. - Kim Appleby

Quite frankly, I still think that this song is a bit naff. The title 'G.L.A.D.' is an abbreviation for 'Good lovin' and devotion', as is explained in the song lyric, but why would anyone come up with such an abbreviation? It seems to me that Craig Logan and Mel and Kim Appleby were a bit short on inspiration when they came up with this song.

Still, since I'd bought every Mel & Kim single and the one Kim Appleby single that came before this one, I felt an obligation to own this one as well. I bought it after it left the Dutch Top 40, where it reached number 13 during a six week chart run. The UK audience was even less critical: they made it go to number 10.

My collection: 7" single no. 1435
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, April 26, 1991
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'G.L.A.D. (7" remix)' / 'G.L.A.D. (instrumental)'