Run like hell - Pink Floyd

'Run like hell' was the second single taken from Pink Floyd's classic album 'The wall'. The song is from the point of view of anti-hero Pink during a hallucination, in which he becomes a fascist dictator and turns a concert audience into an angry mob. He sends the mob out to raid nearby neighborhoods that are full of minorities. The song was originally much longer, however it had to be cut because of the time limitations on the original vinyl record format. Although the lyrics 'Run like hell' appear several times in the liner notes, they are never actually heard in the song.

The single was a commercial disappointment after the huge success of its predecessor 'Another brick in the wall'. Still, copies of the single are wanted by collectors and change hands for anything upwards of 10 euro. I'm lucky to find a cheaper, if somewhat damaged, copy.

My collection: 7" single no. 4042
Found: Vinylfabriek, Haaksbergen, September 14, 2009
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'Run like hell' / 'Don't leave me now'

Get it on - The Power Station

'Get it on' was written by Marc Bolan and recorded by his band T-Rex in 1971. The Power Station recorded a cover version of the track in 1985. It was released as the second single from their debut album.

The track was a hit in the UK, where it reached number 22, and America, where it peaked at number 9. When Robert Palmer heard that the other Power Station members had recorded demos for the song, he asked to try out vocals for it. Before long, the band had decided to record the entire album with Palmer.

My collection: 7" single no. 4041
Found: Vinylfabriek, Haaksbergen, September 14, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Get it on' / 'Go to zero'

Total loss - Kayak

'Total loss' is a track from Kayak's 1980 album 'Periscope life'. Moving away from their rock roots after the ballad 'Ruthless queen' (1979), this single was a bit of a return to form: a straightforward rock track.

Unfortunately, the Dutch audience weren't impressed, as the single did not reach the chart. Their next single, 'Seagull', would become their last hit single.

My collection: 7" single no. 4040
Found: Vinylfabriek, Haaksbergen, September 14, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Total loss' / 'What's done is done'

Chance for a lifetime - Kayak

A few years ago, I saw a documentary on Kayak's 1975 album 'Royal bed bouncer'. I was very impressed with the music I heard. Nowadays, almost all music made in the Netherlands is substandard and pathetic, but this was rock music worthy of worldwide recognition.

I bought the cd not long after that, and I thought I would find singles from the album soon enough. I didn't actively search for them - and now I've finally found 'Chance for a lifetime'. It's one of the standout tracks from 'Royal bed bouncer', but it only reached number 31 in the Dutch Top 40.

By the way: the copy I bought was covered in dust and grease. I decided to wash it along with the dishes, and voila: the single is as good as new.

My collection: 7" single no. 4039
Found: Vinylfabriek, Haaksbergen, September 14, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Chance for a lifetime' / 'My heart never changed'

Was ist schon ein Jahr - Johnny Logan

In 1980, Johnny Logan represented Ireland during the Eurovision Song Contest, singing the song 'What's another year'. When the song, written by Shay Healy, won the Contest, Logan's career took off.

'What's another year' became an international hit. In Germany, Logan released a special version of the song, with German lyrics written by Michael Kunze. 'Was ist schon ein Jahr' sounds very familiar, and yet very strange to non-Germans. Personally, I prefer this version for its interesting lyric. To hear an Irish man sing 'Eines Tages wirst du wissen / dass diesen Abschied nur ein Irrtum war' is priceless.

My collection: 7" single no. 4038
Found: Vinylfabriek, Haaksbergen, September 14, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Was ist schon ein Jahr' / 'One night stand'

Feuer und Flamme - Nena

'Feuer und Flamme' was the title of Nena's fourth album, released in 1984. It was the first album of the band to be reproduced in English in its entirity. The English version 'It's all in the game' was released in 1985.

The title track was released as a single, with the English version of the track, 'Woman on fire', on the B-side.

My collection: 7" single no. 4037
Found: Vinylfabriek, Haaksbergen, September 14, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Feuer und Flamme' / 'Woman on fire'

Soul street - Jolley and Swain

Steve Jolley and Tony Swain produced the music of bands like Imagination, Bananarama and many others. In 1985 they decided to release a single of their own, the instrumental track 'Soul street'. It sounds a lot like the music of the aforementioned bands. The single was taken from the album 'Backtrackin', also released in 1985.

They continued to produce artists like Diana Ross, Tom Robinson and Wang Chung, until they split up in 1987. Swain went on to produce Kim Wilde's 1988 album 'Close' and became head A&R consultant for Universal Records. Jolley set up his own record label and in 2001 ended up in jail for sexually assaulting a 12 year old boy. I guess you could say 'each to their own'...

My collection: 7" single no. 4036
Found: Vinylfabriek, Haaksbergen, September 14, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Soul street' / 'Autumn leaves'