Don Quichotte - Magazine 60

'No señor, Don Quichotte y Sancho Panza no están aqui' is the most important message in this song. When you enjoy thoughtful lyrics, this song will not exactly oblige you. But this message is one I used quite frequently, together with a friend, while we were following Spanish classes almost 20 years ago. A few years ago I decided I wanted to have the track.

Magazine 60 is a French synthpop trio consisting of Jean-Luc Drion, Dominique Régiacorte and Véronique Oliver. Although this single did not chart in most European countries, it was a modest hit in America.

My collection: 7" single no. 3297
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Don Quichotte' / 'Circonvolution'

The riddle - Nik Kershaw

'Near a tree by a river there's a hole in the ground / Where an old man of Aran goes around and around / and his mind is a beacon in the veil of the night / For a strange kind of fashion there's a wrong and a right'. What does it mean? These lyrics caused so much confusion that the record company MCA decided to run a competition to work out the meaning. However, according to Nik Kershaw himself, the lyic had no meaning at all: '[it was] nonsense, rubbish, bollocks, the confused ramblings of an 80s popstar'.

Despite all this, it gave Kershaw a considerable hit. It reached number 3 in the UK singles chart in December 1984, his biggest hit up to that point. In the Netherlands, the single reached a more modest number 19.

My collection: 7" single no. 2767
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 29, 1996
Cost: 40p
Tracks: 'The riddle' / 'Progress'

Some kind of lover - Jody Watley

A sticker on the sleeve of this single announces that Jody Watley was a Grammy Award winner in the category Best New Artist in 1987. Which in fact is a bit strange, since Watley had been active in the music business all through the decade, first as a member of Shalamar, and then solo.

'Some kind of lover' was released as the fourth single from her self-titled debut album. The single only reached number 81 on the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2189
Found: Record Exchange, London, September 29, 1994
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Some kind of lover' / 'Some kind of lover (dub)'

Can I get a witness - Sam Brown

Released as the fourth and last single from Sam Brown's debut album 'Stop', 'Can I get a witness' was a cover version of Marvin Gaye's 1963 hit song written by Holland, Dozier, Holland. Other cover versions were recorded previously by Dusty Springfield, the Rolling Stones and Steampacket (with Rod Stewart).

Sam Brown's version was a hit in the UK only, peaking at number 15. The single was available in a limited edition poster sleeve, which of course I own.

My collection: 7" single no. 839
Found: unknown, 1989
Cost: unknown
Tracks: 'Can I get a witness' / 'Walking after midnight'

Take me to your heart - Rick Astley

'Take me to your heart' was released as the second single from Rick Astley's second album 'Hold me in your heart'. The single reached number 8 in the UK singles chart and number 13 in the Dutch Top 40. It was also a top ten hit in Germany and Ireland.

When the American band Inner City released 'Big fun', it met with some controversy, as the music was very similar to 'Take me to your heart'. Stock Aitken & Waterman alleged that the band stole their music, but it is not known whether this led to any lawsuits.

My collection: 7" single no. 749
Found: V&D, Den Haag, February 17, 1989
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Take me to your heart' / 'I'll be fine'

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'