Don Quixote - Nik Kershaw

Nik Kershaw didn't waste any time to move away from the squeaky clean pop he was making on his debut album. His second album 'The riddle' was full of quirky tunes, and 'Don Quixote' was an example of that.

It was still pop, but much harder to swallow for the teenage audience he'd attracted. While this single still reached number 10 in the UK singles chart and number 9 in Ireland, in other countries the single failed to reach the top 20 - or even chart at all. After this, commercial success mostly eluded Nik, but artistic satisfaction must have been way bigger.

My collection: 7" single no. 2304
Found: May 27, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Don Quixote' / 'Don't lie'

Over you - Roxy Music

I discovered this single while I was wallowing in selfpity after once again I was not successful in conquering a young girl's heart. It was the dreary spring of 1989, and 'Over you' instantly became one of my favourite songs. I guess I was overdramatizing a tad.

'Over you' was the first single released from Roxy Music's 1980 album 'Flesh + Blood'. It reached number 5 in the UK singles chart and number 17 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 865
Found: All that music, Leiden, June 2, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Over you' / 'Manifesto'

Save a prayer - Duran Duran

So this single contains the only official version of 'Save a prayer' by Duran Duran. It clocks in at 5'30 minutes, unlike an edited version that keeps popping up on compilation albums and even official Duran Duran cd's. That edited version is about 10 seconds or so shorter, and omits a few 'Save a prayer for the morning after's from the last minute of the recording. That has always irked me.

The track was taken from their second album 'Rio'. It reached number 2 in the UK singles chart in the summer of 1982. In the Netherlands, the single did not chart, but was re-released in January 1985 after the band had so much success with 'The reflex' and 'The wild boys'. On that occasion, the single reached number 19.

My collection: 7" single no 263
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Save a prayer' / 'Hold back the rain (remix)'

Broken land - The Adventures

Between 1986 and 1988, things went quiet around the Adventures. During this time, main songwriter Pat Gribben composed some songs, the band left Chrysalis Records and signed to Elektra Records.

'Broken land', released in early 1988, was promoted heavily by their new record company. The sound of the band was warmer, and included some traditional instruments such as uillean pipes. The single became the band's first significant hit, peaking at number 20 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 722
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, January 21, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Broken land' / 'Don't stand on me'

Waar ze loopt te wandelen - Henk Westbroek

Henk Westbroek started a solo career after the band Het Goede Doel folded. His first solo single was 1992's 'Waar ze loopt te wandelen' ('Wherever she's walking'), which became a hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 24 in the Dutch Top 40.

Subsequent singles didn't get a release on 7" vinyl anymore, as the format was on its way out in 1992. Westbroek continued to make interesting tracks, so a few cd-singles of his have actually made it into my collection as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 1651
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, May 9, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Waar ze loopt te wandelen' / 'Positief'

If you cared - Kim Appleby

I didn't know 'If you cared' had been released as a single until I found it a year after its release. The upside was: I found it during a record fair and the single included a German bio. Another item from DJ-land, then!

'If you cared' was remixed for the single release, making it sound a little more powerful than the album version. The single reached number 44 in the UK singles chart. This was the fourth and last single drawn from Kim Appleby's debut album and another track co-written by her by then deceased sister Mel.

My collection: 7" single no. 1598
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, March 28, 1992
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'If you cared (7" remix)' / 'If you cared (Ben Chapman mix)

Dance little sister - Terence Trent d'Arby

From the sleeve of this single I can trace its travels. After it was made it ended up in the music library of Capital radio in the UK. One day, it was taken to a Music & Video Exchange in London, where it sat in the racks for some time. It was bought by a Dutch record dealer, who sold it on the Parkpop festival in Den Haag - and that's where I got it.

'Dance little sister' was the second single from Terence Trent d'Arby's debut album, released the autumn of 1987. The single peaked at number 30 in the US Billboard Hot 100, number 20 in the UK singles chart and number 3 in the Dutch Top 40. For me, the song was an acquired taste - initially I didn't like it at all.

My collection: 7" single no. 1252
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 24, 1990
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Dance little sister' / 'Dance little sister part 2'