'Don't go' was the second single taken from Yazoo's debut album 'Upstairs at Eric's'. Alison Moyet and Vince Clarke achieved their breakthrough with this single, which became an instant Eighties classic after its release.
The single peaked at number 3 in the UK singles chart and reached number 2 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 153 Found: Studio Echo, 1982 Cost: 5,5 guilders Tracks: 'Don't go' / 'Winter kills'
After the success of their debut album 'Happiness', the Beloved pressed on with a remix album entitled 'Blissed out'. This remix album featured almost all the tracks from 'Happiness' in remixed form, with the addition of some previously unreleased instrumental tunes, and a remix of 'It's alright now'.
The 'regular' version of 'It's alright now' was released as a single to promote the album. The single failed to make the UK top 40, stalling at number 46 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 2270 Found: Record fair, April 8, 1995 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'It's alright now' / 'Scarlet beautiful (Naked & foxy)'
'I hope I never' was taken from Split Enz's 1980 album 'True colours'. The single version is 40 seconds shorter than the album version. Like many of their records at the time, this single was released as a laser etched disc, although it was a limited edition; I've got a later, non-etched copy.
The single reached number 30 in the Dutch Top 40. Australian singer and songwriter Tina Arena recorded the song in 2008 with the London Studio Orchestra for her album 'Songs of love & loss 2' and changed the lyrics to reflect her gender.
My collection: 7" single no. 1523 Found: Record fair, September 21, 1991 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'I hope I never' / 'The choral sea'
When I listened to 'Under the iron sea', Keane's second album, for the first time, 'Nothing in my way' was one of the first songs to jump out of this new batch of songs. It was only right when this song was released as a single. Tim Rice-Oxley, who wrote the song, explains: 'The song's actually written about some people I know who are married, and their marriage was essentially just bringing a lot of misery to both of them, but for some reason they just refused to acknowledge it. I hate the idea of people being so much in denial that they're prepared to almost let their lives fall apart rather than acknowledge what's going on.'
The single became a modest hit, peaking at number 19 in the UK singles chart and number 20 in the Dutch Top 40. This 7" single is a numbered limited edition; this is number 2278.
My collection: 7" single no. 3575 Found: eBay.co.uk, received February 2, 2009 Cost: 3 pounds Tracks: 'Nothing in my way' / 'Thin air'
Terence Charles White was born on March 3, 1948. He played guitar with the likes of Thin Lizzy (of which he was a member from 1979 to 1981) and Pink Floyd (in 1977 and 1980.
In 1983 he released his first solo album, 'White flames'. The album featured his biggest hit, 'Bird of paradise', the only single to be released from the album. It reached number 6 in both the UK singles chart and the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 424 Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 29, 1986 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Bird of paradise' / 'The answer'
One of the classics from the year 1978. 'Love is in the air' was performed by John Paul Young. It became his only worldwide hit in January 1978, peaking at number 2 in Australia, bumber 5 in the UK singles chart and number 11 in the Dutch Top 40.
It's a strange thing: whenever this song is played, people get a certain look in their eyes and they can't help dancing. Reportedly, the song was covered by Cher, to be included in her album 'Believe' (which spawned the hit single of the same name). It was, however, removed from the album before it was released.
My collection: 7" single no. 1064 Found: London, October 18, 1989 Cost: 50p Tracks: 'Love is in the air' / 'Love you so bad it hurts'
Martika released 'More than you know' as a single from her debut album 'Martika' in 1988. The single reached number 15 in the UK singles chart.
This is a delicious EP. Released as a limited edition, it features three of Martika's hits performed in Spanish. 'More than you know' is performed as 'Quiero entregarte mi amor', 'Toy soldiers' becomes 'Como un juguete' and 'I feel the earth move' is 'Siento tembla la tierra' here. To top it all off, the EP is housed in a poster sleeve. Those lucky UK record buyers, they get all the nice extras.
My collection: 7" single no. 3055 Found: May 8, 1999 Cost: unknown Tracks: 'More than you know', 'Quiero entregarte mi amor' / 'Como un juguete', 'Siento tembla la tierra'