Big apple - Kajagoogoo

'Big apple' was the first single release by Kajagoogoo after lead singer Limahl had left the band. The remaining four members recorded this song with bassist Nick Beggs taking over vocal duties. The song features a harder, somewhat rockier sound when compared to the more 'polished' sound of their debut album.

The single peaked at number 8 in the UK singles chart and number 10 in the Dutch Top 40. Things seemed to turn out alright for the band.

My collection: 7" single no. 738
Found: All that music, Leiden, February 9, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Big apple' / 'Monochromatic (live)'

Don't drive drunk - Stevie Wonder

'Don't drive drunk' contains all the hallmarks of dodgy Eighties production. Repetitive samples, funny sounds and, frankly, a rather sub-par sound overall. And still it's a catchy song, the kind that Stevie Wonder has a knack of.

The song was recorded for the soundtrack of the movie 'The woman in red' and released as a single in December 1984. It reached number 62 in the UK singles chart and number 30 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3349
Found: Record fair, 2002
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Don't drive drunk' / 'Don't drive drunk (instrumental)'

Je ne sais pas pourquoi - Kylie Minogue

'Je ne sais pas pourquoi' was supposed to be released as a double A-side with 'Made in heaven', but it performed so well on its own that the plans to release it as a double A-side single were changed (Although this particular single does list it as the AA-side).

The song was released as Kylie's fourth single in the winter of 1988 and reached number 2 in the UK singles chart. In the Netherlands, the single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3329
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, March 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Je ne sais pas pourquoi' / 'Made in heaven'

If it happens again - UB40

'If it happens again' was the seventh top 10 hit in the UK for UB40. It peaked at number 9 in the UK singles chart, but did even better in the Netherlands, where it peaked at number 7 in the Dutch Top 40.

The song may be one of the most catchy ones in the whole UB40 catalogue. The brass section excels while the refrain is instantly recognisable. Not so the sleeve: I wanted to have this song fo a few years until finally one day I turned over the sleeve (the title of the song is listed on the back only) and finally realised that this was it.

My collection: 7" single no. 952
Found: All that music, Leiden, August 18, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'If it happens again' / 'Nkomo a gogo'

Love hurts - Nazareth

'Love hurts' was written by Boudleaux Bryant and Felice Bryant and first recorded by the Everly Brothers in July 1960. The song was covered by Roy Orbison in 1961 and issued as the B-side of his single 'Running scared'.

Nazareth recorded their version of 'Love hurts' in 1974. They changed one line in the lyric, from 'Love is like a stove / It burns you when it's hot' to 'Love is like a flame / It burns you when it's hot'. Their version reached number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100, number 15 in the UK singles chart and number 1 in Canada, Norway and the Netherlands. It remains the best-known recording of the song.

My collection: 7" single no. 881
Found: June 16, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Love hurts' / 'Down'

Save the best for last - Vanessa Williams

'Save the best for last' was written by Phil Galdston, Wendy Waldman and Jon Lind. It was recorded by Vanessa Williams on her 1992 album 'The comfort zone'. The song is about a person who stands by and watches as the object of her desires dates all of these different women, and then he finally decides to consummate a relationship with the singer.

This single became the biggest hit of Williams' career, topping the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for five weeks, peaking at number 3 in the UK singles chart as well as the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1618
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, April 4, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Save the best for last' / '2 of a kind'

Train - Red Box

I was very familiar with Red Box's debut album 'The circle and the square' and its singles by the time I saw this single in a shop somewhere in London. I didn't now about this single, I'd never heard of it, so my curiosity kicked in and I bought it.

I was so glad I did - this track was in many ways quirkier and more original than the earlier singles - and those were pretty inventive anyway. 'Train' was the only single from Red Box's second album 'Motive'. It took me another 13 years to find that one on cd.

My collection: 7" single no. 2026
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 19, 1993
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'Train' / 'Hello, he lied'