Friends - Jody Watley

'Friends' was the second single from Jody Watley's second album, 'Larger Than Life'. Unfortunately, she decided to collaborate on this track with rappers Eric B & Rakim, who detracted from what could have been an excellent pop track. Their vague mumblings are thrown into the middle of the song, like a garbage truck in a flowerbed.

Still, in the USA, the single peaked at number 9 in the Billboard Hot 100. In the UK, the single reached number 21 and in the Dutch Top 40, it stalled at number 25.

My collection: 7" single no. 4046
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, September 19, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Friends' / 'Private life'

Peter Gunn - Art of Noise

The theme from 'Peter Gunn' (an American television series from the late Fifties) was originally played by Henry Mancini and his orchestra. Several cover versions of the track exist, including ones by Elvis Presley, Quincy Jones and Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

This 1986 version by Art of Noise featuring Duane Eddy on guitar was awarded with a Grammy in 1987. The single reached number 8 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4045
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, September 19, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Peter Gunn' / 'Something always happens'

Ti-na-na - Huang Chung

Huang Chung consisted of Jeremy Ryder, Nick Feldman, Darren Costin and Dave Burnand in 1982, when their debut album 'Huang Chung' was released. The second single from the album was 'Ti-na-na', a lightweight poppy track. Like their earlier efforts, the single didn't chart in any territory.

I didn't know this track when I bought the single, but it was still a good buy: both the A-side and the B-side are very good tracks.

My collection: 7" single no. 4044
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, September 19, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Ti-na-na' / 'I can't sleep'

You're gonna like it - The President

After the Dutch rock band Diesel folded, band member Pim Koopmans formed The President in 1984 together with Okkie Huysdens. Their debut single 'You're gonna like it' was released in April 1984, and was taken from the album 'By appointment of'. It narrowly missed the Dutch Top 40.

When I bought my new record player last Monday, a vintage Technics, it was demonstrated in the shop with an old compilation LP. 'You're gonna like it' was playing and I liked the sound of it - although I never did back in 1984. Seeing this single in a shop yesterday was such a strange coincidence that I bought it right away.

My collection: 7" single no. 4043
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, September 19, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'You're gonna like it' / 'Don't put me on hold'

Messages - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

'Messages' is the third single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. The single provided OMD with their first top 40 hit in the UK, reaching number 13. In the Netherlands, the single narrowly missed the Dutch Top 40.

A rerecorded version of 'Messages' appears on OMD's debut album. The B-side 'Taking sides again' is an instrumental dub version of 'Messages'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2761
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 29, 1996
Cost: 20p
Tracks: 'Messages' / 'Taking sides again'

Diary - Bread

Bread became famous with their guitar-based romantic ballads, of which 'Diary' was one. Released in 1972, the single went top 20 in the USA, but did not chart in Europe. Only a few singles by Bread made the charts in Europe.

Despite the band's success, tensions existed between band members David Gates and Jimmy Griffin. All eleven of Bread's charting singles between 1970 and 1973 had been written and sung by Gates. Elektra Records had invariably selected Gates' songs for the A-sides of the singles, while Griffin felt that the singles should have been split between the two of them. It eventually led to the disbanding of Bread in 1974.

My collection: 7" single no. 1562
Found: All that music, Leiden, January 2, 1992
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Diary' / 'Down on my knees'

Matador - Garland Jeffreys

Garland Jeffreys was born in 1943 in Brooklyn, New York. In 1980 he had the biggest hit of his career in the Netherlands with 'Matador', a track featuring a mariachi band and quite funky music. The track was taken from his 1979 album 'American boy & girl'. Both the single and the album had been rejected by his American record company.

The single reached number 6 in the Dutch Top 40. After this, the American record company was suddenly interested in Jeffreys' work again...

My collection: 7" single no. 1815
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 4, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Matador' / 'American boy & girl'