Abba-esque EP - Erasure

Vince Clarke and Andy Bell have always been big fans of Abba, and so they decided in 1992 to record the 'Abba-esque' EP. It was originally intended to become a full album, but that plan was finally aborted. The EP features four covers of Abba songs, of which 'Lay all your love on me' and 'Take a chance on me' received the most airplay.

The EP became Erasure's first UK number 1, while it also reached number 2 in Germany and number 7 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1670
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, June 20, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Lay all your love on me', 'SOS' / 'Take a chance on me', 'Voulez-vous'

Hold me in your arms - Rick Astley

Rick Astley himself wrote 'Hold me in your arms' as well as the B-side of ths single. Although he made a name for himself with dance songs, this single was a ballad. It was released as the second single from Astley's second album of the same name. Contrary to previous singles, which were all produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman, this one was produced by SAW-associates Phil Harding and Ian Curnow.

The single managed to reach number 10 in the UK singles chart and number 27 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 754
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, February 17, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Hold me in your arms' / 'I don't want to be your lover'

Reach out I'll be there - Four Tops

The 88 remix of 'Reach out I'll be there' was on this blog earlier, but I almost forgot that I have the original version of the song as well. I bought it somewhere in London, although it didn't come in any original sleeve.

The single topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1966, when it was originally released. It was equally successful in the UK singles chart, but only reached number 8 in the Dutch Top 40. It has since become one of those indestructible Motown classics.

My collection: 7" single no. 1066
Found: London, October 18, 1989
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Reach out, I'll be there' / 'Standing in the shadows of love'

Love pains - Yvonne Elliman

The disco song 'Love pains' was written by Michael Price, Dan Walsh and Steve Barri and was recorded by Yvonne Elliman in 1979. It gave her a hit in the USA, peaking at number 34 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and the Netherlands, where it peaked at number 19.

The single featured both a 4'15 edit and an extended version, clocking in at 5'45. The song was covered by Liza Minelli in 1989.

My collection: 7" single no. 1982
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, October 17, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Love pains' / 'Love pains [extended]'

No myth - Michael Penn

Michael Penn was born on August 1, 1958. His brother is the actor Sean Penn, who was married to Madonna for some time. 'No myth' was his debut single, released in late 1989. It became his first and only top 40 hit in the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 13. The single did not chart in Europe.

After only a few solo albums, Penn moved into movie scores, recording music for movies like 'Boogie nights' (1997) and 'The last kiss' (2006).

My collection: 7" single no. 1453
Found: All that music, Leiden, June 18, 1991
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'No myth' / 'Big house'

The living years - Mike and the Mechanics

Mike & the Mechanics released 'The living years' as the second single from their album of the same name. According to Mike Rutherford, 'The lyrics were written by B.A. Robertson and the song is about something he went through. He lost his Dad and it's about the lack of communication between him and his father before he died. There's also the irony of him having a baby just after losing his father. I had exactly the same thing happen to me at the same time, so it meant a lot to me too.'

The single reached number 1 in Canada and the USA and peaked at number 2 in the UK singles chart. In the Netherlands, it reached number 20.

My collection: 7" single no. 725
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, January 28, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'The living years' / 'Too many friends'

More than I can say - Leo Sayer

'More than I can say' was written by Sonny Curtis and Jerry Allison, who recorded it with their bad The Crickets in 1959 soon after Buddy Holly, whose backing band they were originally, died. The single was released in 1960 and became a hit for them.

Leo Sayer recorded his cover version of the song in 1980. Sayer commented later that while he was looking for an 'oldie' to record for his album 'Living in a fantasy', he saw a TV commercial for a greatest hits collection by Bobby Vee (who recorded a cover version of the song in 1961) and chose the song on the spot: 'We went into a record store that afternoon, bought the record and had the song recorded that night'. It turned out to be a good choice: the single reached number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and the UK singles chart, and also peaked at number 6 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1151
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, January 19, 1990
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'More than I can say' / 'Only fooling'