No more lonely nights - Paul McCartney

'No more lonely nights' was recorded by Paul McCartney for the soundtrack of the movie 'Give my regards to Broad Street', which was produced by McCartney and featured him in the lead role. The movie was a financial disaster, but the soundtrack actually sold quite well. Judging from this song, rightfully so: this is one of McCartney's most accomplished songs in my opinion. It features a beautiful guitar solo by David Gilmour and backing vocals by 10cc's Eric Stewart.

The single reached number 6 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 37 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1761
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 20, 1992
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'No more lonely nights (ballad)' / 'No more lonely nights (playout version)'

You take me up - Thompson Twins

In 1984, the Thompson Twins scored the biggest hit of their career in the UK: 'You take me up' reached number 2 in the UK singles chart and earned the band a silver disc. The album from which the single was taken, 'Into the gap', was one of the biggest sellers of the year, topping the British album charts and selling over five million copies worldwide.

In the Netherlands, the single did not chart. I think the Dutch were right: this wasn't the best single the Thompson Twins ever released, however entertaining it was. The music video was amusing, but forgettable as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 1629
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, April 18, 1992
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'You take me up' / 'Passion planet'

Voices in my head - Naked eyes

'Voices in my head' is a single taken from Naked Eyes' 1983 album 'Burning bridges'. Like most of their singles, this one wasn't successful: it did not chart in the UK, nor anywhere else.

It was the first single by Naked Eyes that I bought, although I was looking for other releases such as '(What) In the name of love', the music video of which was shown regularly on television.

My collection: 7" single no. 1289
Found: All that music, Leiden, August 31, 1990
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Voices in my head' / 'Sweet poison'

Burning heart - Vandenberg

Ad van den Berg formed the Dutch band Vandenberg in 1982 with Bert Heerink, Dick Kemper and Jos Zoomer. They recorded a demo that fell into the hands of pop journalist Kees Baars. He offered to manage the band and managed to get them a contract with Atlantic Records in the USA.

Their debut single was the power ballad 'Burning heart', which reached number 39 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the Netherlands, the track only did slightly better, peaking at number 19 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 682
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, November 12, 1988
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Burning heart' / 'Out in the streets'

Got to be certain - Kylie Minogue

'Got to be certain' was another single by Kylie Minogue, written and produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman. It was taken from Kylie's debut album 'Kylie' (1988). The production sounded decidedly thin this time around, with clunky keyboards and a rather simple melody.

Still, the single was a number 1 hit in Australia, Belgium, Finland and Israel and reached number 2 in the UK. The bubbly music video might have helped. However, in the Netherlands, the single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3334
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, March 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Got to be certain' / 'Got to be certain (instrumental)'

Somewhere down the crazy river - Robbie Robertson

When asked about the inspiration for the song 'Somewhere down the crazy river', producer Daniel Lanois commented: 'Robbie Robertson was describing what it was like to hang out in Arkansas with Levon Helm in his old neighbourhood. He was telling me about the hot nights and fishing with dynamite, and was asking someone for directions for someplace somewhere down the crazy river... I had presented him with this toy instrument that Eno introduced me to called the Suzuki Omnichord, like an electric autoharp. He found a little chord sequence with it that was sweet and wonderful. As he was developing his chord sequence I recorded him and superimposed his storytelling, which I was secretly recording, on top. That was the birth of 'Somewhere down the crazy river.' It's kind of like a guy with a deep voice telling you about steaming nights in Arkansas.'

The song was released as a single and became notable as Robertson's only solo hit in the UK, reaching number 15 on the UK singles chart. In the Dutch Top 40, it did even better, peaking at number 9.

My collection: 7" single no. 1540
Found: Record fair, October 27, 1991
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Somewhere down the crazy river' / 'American roulette'

Mandy / Copacabana - Barry Manilow

I hate it when artists are labelled 'dodgy' or 'cheesy' when really there's no reason too. But that's exactly what happened to Barry Manilow during the Eighties. His hits in the Seventies were described as cliched and oldfashioned. When you listen to his two biggest hits now, you'll have to admit there's some nifty songwriting in there. And the performance is immaculate.

'Mandy' was originally a hit for Scott English in 1971. When Barry Manilow released his version three years later, it shot to number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100, whereas it reached number 11 in the UK singles chart. In 1977 he released 'Copacabana' (a number 8 hit in the USA, peaking at number 6 in the Dutch Top 40), a song so memorable it was later turned into a fullblown musical.

I'd been searching for the original single of 'Mandy' for years, and finally settled for this 'old gold' re-release.

My collection: 7" single no. 2325
Found: Record fair, June 3, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Mandy' / 'Copacabana'