Wanna be startin' somethin' - Michael Jackson

Late last year, I started trying to complete my Michael Jackson singles collection. It started when I found the red vinyl collectors set of 'Thriller' singles. It's gone on from there, until I had almost every Michael Jackson single from 1978 onwards (The early years are much harder, as Motown singles are always expensive). The only single still missing was 'Wanna be startin' somethin'', a single I left standing in the racks numerous times back in the Eighties and Nineties. That omission has now finally been rectified.

The song was released as the fourth single from 'Thriller', and another smash hit. The song includes references to the sometimes unhealthy nature of fandom: 'Still they hate you, you're a vegetable / They eat off of you, you're a vegetable'. The song ends with a chorus repeatedly singing 'Mama-se, mama-sa, ma-ma-coo-sa'. The chant is a riff on one first used by Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango, who broke into the American market in 1973 with his classic 'Soul Makossa'. That track was a big hit in Africa, Europe and America. Dibango named his song after the makossa, a Cameroonian dance, but he stretched the word out and played with it: 'Ma-mako, ma-ma-ssa, mako-makossa'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4014
Found: Vinylfabriek, Haaksbergen, September 14, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Wanna be startin' somethin'' / 'Rock with you (live)'

Belle - Balavoine et Frida

As advertised on the sleeve of this single, 'Belle' is an extract from the musical Abbacadabra, as performed in France. The song adds French lyrics, written by Alain and Daniel Boublil, to the instrumental track 'Arrival', which originally appeared on Abba's 1977 album 'Arrival'.

Daniel Balavoine (February 5, 1952 - January 14, 1986) recorded the track together with Frida from Abba, making this a nice collectors item for Abba fans. I bought it out of curiousity more than anything - and once again, I was rewarded.

My collection: 7" single no. 4013
Found: Vinylfabriek, Haaksbergen, September 14, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Belle' / 'C'est fini'

Reasons to be cheerful (remixed by Paul Hardcastle) - Ian Dury and the Blockheads

In 1985, the popularity of Paul Hardcastle in the UK was taking on serious shape. He had a big hit with the track '19' and was subsequently commissioned to make remixes. One of them was this single, 'Reasons to be cheerful' by Ian Dury and the Blockheads. Originally it was a hit for them 1979, reaching number 3 in the UK singles chart.

This single reached number 55 in the UK singles chart, but the A-side was the remix of 'Hit me with your rhythm stick', which appears as a B-side on this single. Why the sides were swapped in Europe, I do not know. It did not work anyway: the single flopped. But still, these remixes are interesting to hear, even if they sound a bit dated.

My collection: 7" single no. 4012
Found: Vinylfabriek, Haaksbergen, September 14, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Reasons to be cheerful (remix)' / 'Hit me with your rhythm stick (remix)'

"Heroes" - David Bowie

The title of the song "Heroes" is a reference to the 1975 track "Hero" by the German band Neu!, whom Bowie and Eno admired. It was one of the first tracks to be recorded for Bowie's album of the same name, but it was instrumental until the last sessions for the album. Producer Tony Visconti inspired the image in the lyric of the lovers kissing 'by the wall', when he and backing vocalist Antonia Maaß embraced in front of Bowie as he looked out of the Hansa Studio window. Bowie's habit in the period following the song's release was to say that the song was based on an anonymous young couple but Visconti, who was married to Mary Hopkin at the time, contends that Bowie was protecting him and his affair with Maaß. Bowie confirmed this in 2003.

The music, co-written by Bowie and Eno, has been likened to a Wall of Sound production. Eno has said that musically the piece always 'sounded grand and heroic' and that he had 'that very word - heroes - in my mind' even before Bowie composed the lyric.

My collection: 7" single no. 4011
Found: Vinylfabriek, Haaksbergen, September 14, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: '"Heroes"' / 'V-2 Schneider'

The night sky - Keane

'The night sky' was written and performed by Keane and released as a non-album single in aid of War Child in October 2007. The song is written from a child's point of view on war. Originally the song was meant to be included on Kean's 2006 album 'Under the iron sea', but it was dropped from the track listing on the last minute.

The single did not chart in the UK due to controversial chart rules. The 7" single was not eligible for chart placing because of the free poster included with it.

My collection: 7" single no. 3492
Found: eBay.co.uk, received December 20, 2008
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'The night sky' / 'Put it behind you (Ffrisco mix)'

You've got me thinking - The Beloved

'You've got me thinking' was the second single from the Beloved's second album 'Conscience'. The single was not as big a success as its predecessor 'Sweet harmony' which peaked at number 8, whereas this single peaked at number 23 in the UK singles chart.

Personally, I think this single is the strongest of the four singles that were taken from the album. Of course, due to the apparent nudity in the music video for 'Sweet hoarmony', that single attracted more attention. Sometimes scandal is overrated.

My collection: 7" single no. 1950
Found: HMV, London, September 25, 1993
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'You've got me thinking' / 'Celebrate your life (Fit for life mix)'

Arienne - Tasmin Archer

'Arienne' was the fourth and last single taken from Tasmin Archer's debut album 'Great expectations'. The name Arienne came up when Tasmin had a melody in her head and the name just seemed to fit. The name is not that common, but it is an old French family name. Tasmin says the lyrics of 'Arienne' are about 'finding your way in the world and having to cope with growing up in a world that's not so friendly.'

The single peaked at number 30 in the UK singles chart, but only spent four weeks in the chart before dropping off.

My collection: 7" single no. 2376
Found: London, July 1, 1995
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Arienne' / 'In your care (live)'