Sweet harmony - The Beloved

'Sweet harmony' was the Beloved's biggest hit. It peaked at number 8 in the UK and even landed in the charts in Europe, peaking at number 22 in the Netherlands.

The song gained notoriety for its music video, which some considered to be controversial. It consisted of a naked Jon Marsh and a bevy of other equally naked females - including Tess Daly - lipsynching the lyrics. In an interview, Marsh pointed out that the video was 'not intended to be sexual' and was 'as A-sexual as you can get'. The video is supposed to represent unity between humans.

My collection: 7" single no. 1927
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, June 8, 1993
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Sweet harmony' / 'Motivation (Energised)'

Real love - Jody Watley

In the spring of 1989, Jody Watley released her second album, 'Larger than life'. She co-wrote 11 of the album's 12 songs. The first single release, 'Real love", sold over 500,000 copies in the USA alone and was certified gold. It reached number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

In the UK, people were less impressed, as it only made number 31 there. In the Netherlands, the single peaked at number 19.

My collection: 7" single no. 949
Found: V&D, Den Haag, July 21, 1989
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Real love' / 'Real love (instrumental)'

Woman in chains - Tears for Fears featuring Oleta Adams

After the release of Tears for Fears' compilation album 'Tears roll down: Greatest hits 82-92' in 1992, their 1989 single 'Woman in chains' was re-released in the UK. By that time, Oleta Adams, who was virtually unknown at the time of the original release, had become a famous singer in her own right, so this single was actually credited to 'Tears for Fears featuring Oleta Adams'. The record company even went so far to include the other album track from 'The seeds of love' (1989) featuring Adams on the B-side.

While the original release reached number 26 in the UK singles chart, this re-release only managed to scrape in at number 57, and then dropped of the chart again the next week.

My collection: 7" single no. 2843
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 5, 1997
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Woman in chains' / 'Badman's song'

Sunny - Boney M

'Sunny' was originally written and performed by Bobby Hebb in 1966. It was covered by Boney M in 1976, and released as a single from their debut album 'Take the heat off me', following their breakthrough single 'Daddy cool'. Hebb himself released a disco version of the song, also in 1976, and had minor success on Billboard's R&B chart.

Boney M's version topped the charts in Germany and the Netherlands and reached number 3 in the UK. The track was remixed in 1988 and 1999, but when released as singles they didn't have the same amount of success. While Liz Mitchell sang the original lead vocals on Boney M.'s version, original member Maizie Williams recorded a solo version in 2006.

My collection: 7" single no. 183
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Sunny' / 'New York City'

Happy ending - Joe Jackson

A track from Joe Jackson's 1984 album 'Body & Soul', 'Happy ending' is a duet with Elaine Caswell. She was his backing vocalist during his world tour at the time, when they recorded this song together. It was released as the second single from the album.

The single was only a modest hit, reaching number 34 in the Netherlands, number 47 in Australia, number 57 in the USA and number 58 in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 2448
Found: Record fair, September 2, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Happy ending' / 'Loisaida'

Never as good as the first time - Sade

Sade recorded a new version of 'Never as good as the first time' for the third single release from their second album 'Promise'. This new version featured new backing vocalist Leroy Osborne prominently, giving the track a whole new lease of life.

Still, it didn't become the band's biggest hit. The single reached number 20 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, but in Europe the single landed outside the top 30. As a result, this was the last single release from 'Promise' and Sade went back to the studio to record their third album.

My collection: 7" single no. 416
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, June 21, 1986
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Never as good as the first time' / 'Keep hanging on'

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'