I'm only shooting love - Time bandits

In October 1983, the Dutch band Time Bandits had their fourth top 10 hit in the Netherlands with 'I'm only shooting love'. It peaked at number 6 as a result of almost continuous airplay. So much so, that for a long while I couldn't stand hearing the song.

I finally relented in 1989 when I saw this limited poster sleeve edition of the single. As a collector of rare items, I couldn't pass this one up. Nowadays it's sheer nostalgia to hear the falsetto voice of lead singer Alides Hidding on this track.

My collection: 7" single no. 888
Found: All that music, Leiden, June 16, 1989
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'I'm only shooting love' / 'Only lovers will survive'

Survive - David Bowie

'Survive' is a track from David Bowie's 1999 album 'Hours'. It was written by Bowie and Reeves Gabrels and released as the second single from the album. While the album version is a beautiful track, the Marius de Vries mix featured on this single ruins the track somewhat.

Much to my surprise I found out that this single was actually released on the 7" format, and as a picture disc, no less, in 2000. I'm always glad to find 7" singles from around that time, because the format had been almost completely abandoned by then.

My collection: 7" single no. 4055
Found: eBay.nl, received September 22, 2009
Cost: 8 euro
Tracks: 'Survive (Marius de Vries mix)' / 'Seven (live)'

Love comes - Bananarama

Disc two features Keren Woodward on the picture disc and the B-side 'Voyage voyage', originally performed by Desireless. The tracks were all produced by Ian Masterson, who previously had success as part of the remix team Trouser Enthusiasts, producer of Dannii Minogue and also producing Kim Wilde's surprise hit 'Loved' in 2001.

'Love comes' is a track from Bananarama's latest album 'Viva', released last week.

My collection: 7" single no. 4054
Found: Townsend Records, UK, received September 22, 2009
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Love comes (radio edit)' / 'Voyage voyage'

Love comes - Bananarama

'Love comes' is the brand new single by Bananarama, released on September 6 - just two weeks ago. Much to my delight, the single was released as two separate 7" picture discs. Since they are a duo these days (and have been since 1993), each disc portrays a member of Bananarama.

Picture disc number one features Sara Dallin and the B-side is a cover of Bryan Ferry's song 'Tokyo Joe'. 'Love comes' peaked at number 44 in the UK singles chart earlier this month.

My collection: 7" single no. 4053
Found: Townsend Records, UK, received September 22, 2009
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Love comes (radio edit)' / 'Tokyo Joe'

Never too late - Kylie Minogue

'Never too late' was the third single taken from Kylie Minogue's second album 'Enjoy yourself'. Kylie herself wanted the title track to be released as the third single, but she was overruled by producer Pete Waterman - illustrating once more who had creative control over her career at that point.

The B-side, called 'Kylie's Smiley Mix', was a megamix of Kylie's biggest hits up until then, including the tracks 'Je ne sais pas pourquoi', 'Turn it into love', 'I should be so lucky' and 'Got to be certain'. 'Never too late' was apparently the favourite Kylie song of the late INXS lead singer and Kylie's ex-boyfriend Michael Hutchence.

My collection: 7" single no. 3330
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, March 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Never too late' / 'Kylie's Smiley mix'

Breakaway - Kim Appleby

'Breakaway' was the second and last single from Kim Appleby's second album of the same name, both released in 1993. The single reached number 56 in the UK singles chart, the lowest charting single of her entire career.

This single was the last 7" release by Appleby. The 1994 single 'Free spirit' was only released on cd-single and 12" single.

My collection: 7" single no. 2681
Found: Record fair, July 3, 1996
Cost: ?
Tracks: 'Breakaway' / 'Mama (acoustic)'

Old town - Phil Lynnott

Ex-Thin Lizzy frontman Philip Lynnott recorded the song 'Old town' on his 1982 self-titled solo album. The song was written about the breakup of two lovers. It features a great piano solo by Darren Wharton. Unbelievably, this single did not chart in any territory.

In 1999 the Corrs performed this song during their Unplugged session for MTV. a studio recording featured six years later on their album 'Home'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2426
Found: July 22, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Old town' / 'Beat of the drum'