One step out of time - Michael Ball

Michael Ball was picked by the BBC to represent the United Kingdom during the 1992 Eurovision Song Contest. He sang a few songs during a national final, two of which are featured on this single. The A-side features 'One step out of time', the song with which Ball was sent to Malmö.

Michael Ball managed to get to number 2 in the Contest, behind winner Linda Martin with her dreadful ballad 'Why me?'. In the UK singles chart, 'One step out of time' peaked at number 20.

My collection: 7" single no. 1654
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, May 16, 1992
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'One step out of time' / 'No more steps to climb'

Always on my mind - Pet Shop Boys

'Always on my mind' was written by Johnny Christopher, Mark James and Wayne Carson Thompson and originally recorded by Brenda Lee in 1972. That same year, Elvis Presley also recorded the song, and this is the version that became the most famous one through the years.

In 1987, Pet Shop Boys performed a version of 'Always on my mind' on 'Love me tender', an ITV network television special commemorating the tenth anniversary of Presley's death, in which various popular contemporary acts performed cover versions of his hits. Their performance was so well-received that the group decided to record the song and release it as a single. This version became that year's UK Christmas number one.

My collection: 7" single no. 1963
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 25, 1993
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Always on my mind' / 'Do I have to?'

She's a mystery to me - Roy Orbison

Roy Orbison recorded 'She's a mystery to me' in 1988 with The Edge and Bono from U2. Bono commented later: 'I stood beside him and sang with him. He didn't seem to be singing. So I thought, 'He'll sing it the next take. He's just reading the words.' And then we went in to listen to the take, and there was this voice, which was the loudest whisper I've ever heard. He had been singing it. But he hardly moved his lips. And the voice was louder than the band in its own way. I don't know how he did that. It was like sleight of hand.'

The song was released as the second single from his last album 'Mystery girl', completed just before his death. It was another hit for Orbison, peaking at number 27 in the UK singles chart and number 18 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 837
Found: May 27, 1989
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'She's a mystery to me' / 'Crying' (duet with KD Lang)

Gypsy woman - Crystal Waters

Crystal Waters was born on October 10, 1964 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is the great-niece of legendary singer Ethel Waters. She broke through in 1991 with the smash hit 'Gypsy woman'. Waters has been quoted saying that the song was an accident, and she'd rather been known for 'serious' music instead of this house track.

Still, the song became a number one hit in the Netherlands, peaked at number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 2 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1854
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, January 30, 1993
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Gypsy woman' / 'Gypsy woman (Hump instrumental mix)'

Diamante - Zucchero Sugar Fornaciari

'It's better than nothing', I must have thought when I bought this single. It features an edited version of Zucchero's most accomplished song, 'Diamante'. The album version is a few minutes longer and contains lots of atmosphere which is missing from this edited version.

The single went by unnoticed in most territories, but when Zucchero broke through internationally, I heard this song and was immediately hooked. Music like this is rare and precious.

My collection: 7" single no. 1785
Found: November 7, 1992
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Diamante (edited version)' / 'Il mare impetuoso al tramonto sali sulla luna e dietro una tendina di stelle...'

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'