Sunday Mondays - Vanessa Paradis

Vanessa Paradis released the second single from her third album in January 1993. Like its predecessor 'Be my baby', 'Sunday Mondays' was a track with a very retro feel. No wonder, since the entire album was produced by Lenny Kravitz, the king of retro. The single was a minor success, reaching number 41 in France, number 49 in the UK and number 28 in the Netherlands.

As far as I know, there were no further releases by Paradis on the 7" vinyl format.

My collection: 7" single no. 2356
Found: HMV, London, June 28, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Sunday Mondays' / 'I'm waiting for the man'

Lovely day (Sunshine mix) - Bill Withers

'Lovely day' was already a wellknown song in the Eighties in its original version, recorded by Bill Withers in 1977. For a long time, Withers held the record for the longest held note in the history of pop, for he sings one note towards the end of the song for 18 seconds. The record was only broken in 2000, when A-ha recorded 'Summer moved on', in which lead singer Morten Harkets holds a note for 20 seconds.

Anyway - when Dutch DJ and remixer Ben Liebrand made his 'Sunshine mix' of 'Lovely day', it became an even bigger hit than the original in the Netherlands. Where the song reached number 24 in 1977, in 1988 it reached number 4. In the UK, this remix reached the same position, although in 1977 the original made number 7 there.

My collection: 7" single no. 669
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, October 22, 1988
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Lovely day (Sunshine mix)' / 'Lovely day'

Every heartbeat - Amy Grant

I can't help it, but I am still suspicious when I listen to any song by Amy Grant. Since she started out as a Christian music performer, I'm always afraid she is secretly trying to brainwash the listener (in this case, me) and getting them to convert to the Christian faith. Take the lyric of 'Every heartbeat' for instance: 'No exception to this rule / I’m simple but I’m no fool / I’ve got a witness happy to say / Every hour, every day'. A witness? What witness? You don't mean God, do you? 'Every heartbeat bears your name / Loud and clear they stake my claim / My red blood runs true blue / And every heartbeat belongs to you'. There she goes again... She's talking about God, isn't she?

Well, maybe I'm paranoid and it's really just a nice little lovesong. That's what I prefer to believe anyway. The single peaked at number 25 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2179
Found: House of Rhythm, London, September 27, 1994
Cost: 20p
Tracks: 'Every heartbeat (7" Heart and soul mix)' / 'Every heartbeat (7" Body and soul mix)'

Sentinel (Single restructure) - Mike Oldfield

With 'Sentinel', Mike Oldfield introduced his album 'Tubular bells II' to the world. The single was a remixed version of a track on the album, produced by Trevor Horn, Mike Oldfield and Tom Newman. It was the most successful single from the album, peaking at number 10 in the UK singles chart.

A remix cd-single appeared at the same time as this vinyl single, featuring three spacey versions of 'Sentinel' by the Orb. I didn't know this cd-single existed until very recently - so I bought it on eBay. That's how it goes these days - for this 7" single I had to fly to London. (Well, not only for this single, but you know what I mean.)

My collection: 7" single no. 1775
Found: Virgin Megastore, London, October 21, 1992
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Sentinel (Single restructure)' / 'Early stages'

Most of all - Jody Watley

I think this song is my favourite Jody Watley track. The sad lyrics are not at all reflected in the bouncy, poppy song and the uplifting melody. It's great fun to sing along to this one, whether you're up or down.

Not many people agreed with me, it seems: the single was the least successful from Jody Watley's debut album. The single stalled at number 60 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and did not chart in Europe. This German edition of the single comes in a poster sleeve.

My collection: 7" single no. 2154
Found: Leiden, September 3, 1994
Cost: 1,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Most of all' / 'Some kind of lover (instrumental)'

Thuis ben - Hans de Booy

The English equivalent for the title 'Thuis ben', a song in Dutch by Hans de Booy, is 'Am home'. Not a very pretty title, but according to the singer at the time, it was the only good choice for the song, as these two words kept recurring in the lyric.

The single gave De Booy his second and last top 10 hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 7 in January 1984. He kept writing and recording material, but subsequent records failed to chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 223
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1983
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Thuis ben' / 'St. Mère Église'

Could it be I'm falling in love - David Grant and Jaki Graham

'Could it be I'm falling in love' was originally recorded in 1972 by the American R&B vocal group The Spinners (known as 'Detroit Spinners' in the UK).

David Grant & Jaki Graham recorded the song in 1985 and reached number 5 on the UK singles chart. This was such a big success for the two, that they decided to record another duet later that year, entitled 'Mated'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2875
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 28, 1997
Cost: 40p
Tracks: 'Could it be I'm falling in love' / 'Turn around'