These dreams - Heart

My photographic memory does not really help when a song is released in two different sleeves. But in this case, I ended up buying two different singles from two different countries with two different B-sides. The European edition (pictured above) features 'All eyes', whereas the UK edition (pictured below) features 'Shell shock'. Both tracks are taken, like the A-side, from Heart's 1985 self-titled album.

'These dreams' was dedicated (on the album) to Nancy Wilson's good friend Sharon Hess, who died of leukemia shortly before the song was made. The lyrics of the song describe the fantasy world a person enters when faced with a difficult situation in real life. The final verse seemingly suggests that, moments before awakening, what one desires the most is exactly that which is out of reach in a dream: 'In a wood full of princes, freedom is a kiss / But the prince hides his face from dreams in the mist'.

The song was written by Martin Page and Bernie Taupin. It was first offered to Stevie Nicks, but she had no interest in recording the track. Heart were more impressed, and decided to record it. When it came time for Nancy Wilson to record her vocal, she was suffering from a cold and her voice sounded somewhat raspy and gravelly. After the song reached its peak of success, producers reportedly wanted Nancy to recreate the gravelly sound on future recordings, asking her, 'Can't you just get sick again?'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2302
Found: May 27, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'These dreams' / 'All eyes'

My collection: 7" single no. 2696
Found: House of Rhythm, London, July 3, 1996
Cost: 1,6 pounds
Tracks: 'These dreams' / 'Shell shock'

For you only - Alison Moyet

'For you only' was re-recorded for a single release that only took place in some European countries. It was the fourth single from Alison Moyet's debut album 'Alf', released after the non-album single 'That ole devil called love'.

It's hard to find any more information about this single, all I know is that it didn't chart in the UK and the Netherlands. Perhaps it did in some other countries, but it wasn't the biggest hit in Moyet's career at any rate.

My collection: 7" single no. 3482
Found: Geest, Den Haag, 2003
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'For you only (new version)' / 'Twisting the knife'

Kissing a fool - George Michael

'Kissing a fool' was written by George Michael about his insecurities as a soulmate and partner because of the baggage and reputation with which he came. The song was released as the sixth and final single from his debut album 'Faith'.

It was also the least successful, reaching number 18 in the UK singles chart and becoming the first single in five not to make number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, but number 5. In the Netherlands, the single went to number 13.

My collection: 7" single no. 728
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, January 28, 1989
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Kissing a fool' / 'Kissing a fool (instrumental)'

Tired of sleeping - Suzanne Vega

Although I was not impressed with Suzanne Vega's initial material ('Marlene on the wall' bored me to tears) her later work was quite great. Her third album 'Days of open hand' (1990) contained the first single by her I ever bought: 'Tired of sleeping'. With slow, slightly seductive vocals and a beautiful melody, this song landed right in my list of favourites of the year.

My opinion went in against the general opinion at the time: the single did not chart in most territories.

My collection: 7" single no. 1351
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, October 28, 1990
Cost: 7 guilders
Tracks: 'Tired of sleeping' / 'These whole girls (Run in grace)'

Rent - Pet Shop Boys

The lyric of 'Rent' concerns a financialy one-sided relationship, i.e. that of a kept man. It was the third single from the Pet Shop Boys' album 'Actually'. The B-side 'I want a dog' was inspired by their friend Peter Andreas who said one day 'I want a dog, a chihuahua. I've only got a small flat'. This inspired Neil Tennant, who wrote the lyric for the song.

The single peaked at number 8 in the UK singles chart and number 28 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" snigle no. 1042
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Rent' / 'I want a dog'

Don't you (forget about me) - Simple Minds

'Don't you (forget about me)' was released in April 1985 and made a big impression on me right away. I loved the song, and the fact that my record shop was selling it cheaply for one week only meant that I had it even before it charted. It's a purchase I regretted for a long time, because the song was played so often and became such a big hit that I didn't play the single for years on end.

The song was written by Keith Forsey and Steve Schiff for the soundtrack of the movie 'The breakfast club'. Forsey asked both Bryan Ferry and Billy Idol to record the song, but both declined, although Idol would later perform a cover of it on his 2001 greatest hits compilation. Schiff then suggested the Simple Minds, who initially refused as well, but then were persuaded by their record company to do it. The band reportedly rearranged and recorded 'Don’t you (forget about me)' in three hours in a north London studio and promptly forgot about it'.

The single reached number 1 in the USA, Canada and the Netherlands, while in the UK it reached number 7. Despite its success, the band continued to dismiss the song; the most obvious slight being its absence from their subsequent album 'Once upon a time'. It finally appeared on their 1992 compilation album 'Glittering prize 81/92'.

My collection: 7" single no. 282
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, April 1985
Cost: 4,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Don't you (forget about me)' / 'A brass band in Africa'

Drowned world/Substitute for love - Madonna

Since the second single from the album 'Ray of light', the title track, was released with a delay of a month in the USA, the record company decided to release 'Drowned world/Substitute for love' as a single in Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia and South Africa to close the gap between the next single release, 'The power of goodbye'. Still, this 7" single is an American pressing.

The single reached number 27 in the Netherlands and number 10 in the UK and Japan. The single was a top 40 hit in most other countries, but didn't make the top 10 in other territories.

My collection: 7" single no. 3017
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 5, 1998
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Drowned world/Substitute for love' / 'Sky fits heaven (Sasha remix edit)'