Highland - One more time

One More Time formed in the early Nineties. The band consisted of Peter Grönvall (son of Abba's Benny Andersson) and his wife Nanne, with Maria Rådsten and Therese Löf. In 1992 they began their international career with the release of the single and album 'Highland'. The single became an international success, hitting number 1 in ten countries, peaking at number 18 in the Dutch Top 40.

'Highland' was released on 7" vinyl at a time when most record companies were abandoning the format. As such, you could almost consider it a collectors item.

My collection: 7" single no. 4028
Found: Vinylfabriek, Haaksbergen, September 14, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Highland' / 'Vitality'

Raspberry beret - Prince and the Revolution

'Raspberry beret' was released as the second single from Prince & the Revolution's 1985 album 'Around the world in a day'. Back then, Prince was a Big Thing, and after the phenomenal success of 'Purple rain', this new album was highly anticipated. Although the song was originally recorded in 1982, Prince drastically reworked it with The Revolution to give it more of an international sound.

The lyric of the song tells of a teenage romance and first sexual experience with a girl who wears the titular hat. The single peaked at number 25 in the UK singles chart and number 19 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4027
Found: Vinylfabriek, Haaksbergen, September 14, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Raspberry beret' / 'She's always in my hair'

The set up - Rupert Hine

Since Rupert Hine has never had a hit, it isn't easy to be aware of the singles he's released. Every time I see one, I am pleasantly surprised. 'The set up' is the second single from his 1982 album 'Waving not drowning'. It includes a non-album track on the B-side, 'Kwok's quease', a quirky song in the best of Hine's traditions.

For some reason, the record buying audience has never given Hine a hit, although his production work has been appreciated by millions, as evidenced by the millionselling albums by Howard Jones, Noa and the Fixx, to name but a few.

My collection: 7" single no. 4026
Found: Vinylfabriek, Haaksbergen, September 14, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'The set up' / 'Kwok's quease'

Second chance - Frizzle Sizzle

The Dutch girl group Frizzle Sizzle had their last hit with this single, 'Second chance'. It was only a minor hit, reaching number 38 in the Dutch Top 40. Subsequent singles 'Treat me good' and 'Around and around' did not reach the chart at all.

My collection: 7" single no. 4025
Found: Vinylfabriek, Haaksbergen, September 14, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Second chance' / 'Top of my list'

I'll tumble 4 ya - Culture Club

'I'll tumble 4 ya' appeared on Culture Club's debut album 'Kissing to be clever'. It was released as a single in North America only, peaking at number 9 in both the USA and Canada.

The B-side, 'Mystery boy', was originally Culture Club's third single, released before they had their international breakthrough with 'Do you really want to hurt me'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4024
Found: Vinylfabriek, Haaksbergen, September 14, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I'll tumble 4 ya' / 'Mystery boy'

(We want) The same thing - Belinda Carlisle

I first noticed the track '(We want) The same thing' when I saw Belinda Carlisle perform the song live in Bournemouth with Kim's brother Rick Wilde on guitar in 2004. The song rocked! I don't think I heard the song before.

The song was written by Rick Nowels and Ellen Shipley and appeared on Belinda Carlisle's third album 'Runaway horses' (1989). It was released as its fifth single in October 1990. It peaked at number 6 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4023
Found: Vinylfabriek, Haaksbergen, September 14, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: '(We want) The same thing' / 'Shades of Michaelangelo'

We kill the world - Boney M

The word 'ill-advised' comes to mind whenever I hear this song. Several ill-advised things happened with this single. First of all, Boney M sang a song about nuclear weapons, which is a very serious subject and not necessarily compatible with their variety of carefree dance music. Then there's the last two minutes of this song, performed with a children's choir. Much too saccharine. And then there was the unfortunate dismissal of Bobby Farrell, rendering the band unable to promote the single.

The single was taken from Boney M's 1981 album 'Boonoonoonoos' and reached number 25 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 39 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4022
Found: Vinylfabriek, Haaksbergen, September 14, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'We kill the world' / 'Boonoonoonoos'