Rücksicht - Hoffmann und Hoffmann

During the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest, Germany was represented by the brothers Michael & Günter Hoffmann, who performed the song 'Rücksicht' ('Regard' or 'Respect'). The song is sung from the perspective of a man attempting to understand where his relationship went wrong. He says that he is not the only one to blame, as neither he nor his lover gave any real consideration to the other.

The song classified as 5th in a field of 20 participants, which was one of Germany's better achievements during the Eighties. Günter Hoffmann's died a year after the Contest, after hurling himself out of a hotel window in Rio de Janeiro on March 15, 1984.

My collection: 7" single no. 4077
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Rücksicht' / 'Entflogen'

Temptation (Brothers in Rhythm remix) - Heaven 17

After a very successful decade for Heaven 17 in the Eighties, the band went quiet in the early Nineties. The first sign of life was a remix of 'Temptation', released in November 1992. It reached number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 16 in the Dutch Top 40.

The single was followed by the compilation album 'Higher and Higher - The Best of Heaven 17' in 1993.

My collection: 7" single no. 4076
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Temptation (Brothers in Rhythm remix edit)' / 'Temptation (Brothers in Rhythm instrumental)'

The shuttered palace - Ellen Foley

Some time ago, I had a reaction on one of my posts by Karla Devito. It really surprised me in a way that even the most logical things can surprise a person. Of course, celebrities are mere mortals too, but it is kindof weird that they log in to your blog and read it. Since she mentioned she loved Ellen Foley, this one's for her. And for me too, since I've searched for this single for some time.

'The shuttered palace' is a track from Foley's 1981 album 'Spirit of St. Louis'. It was written by Mick Jones and Joe Strummer from the Clash. It did not chart in Europe as far as I know, and in the UK only the album managed to reach number 57 in the UK albums chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4075
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'The shuttered palace' / 'Beautiful waste of time'

Hup daar is Willem - Ed en Willem Bever

Almost two months ago I bought 'Het stoomlied', the first hit single from the Dutch television programme 'De fabeltjeskrant'. Driven by nostalgia, I went looking for that other hit: 'Hup daar is Willem'. And I'm glad to say that I found a copy - although the picture sleeve is unfortunately missing. This will do for now.

'Hup daar is Willem' reached number 4 in the Dutch Top 40 and was the last top 10 hit from the children's programme. One other single reached the Dutch Top 40, but that was an ill-advised song about the Dutch football club Ajax. Since I have no interest in sports whatsoever, I will pass on that one.

My collection: 7" single no. 4072
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Hup daar is Willem' / 'M'n bloementuin is m'n wondertuin'

Mockingbird - Belle Stars

'Mockingbird' was originally a hit for Inez and Charlie Foxx in 1969. The song was covered by James Taylor and Carly Simon in 1974.

The Belle Stars released their version of the song in October 1982. It was only a modest success, peaking at number 51 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4073
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Mockingbird' / 'Turn back the clock'

Megamix - Boney M

When Abba had a comeback of sorts with the 'Abba Gold' compilations in the early Nineties, other acts followed suit. 'Boney M Gold' was released in 1992, and this single was released to promote the compilation. It was a megamix of five big Boney M hits: 'Rivers of Babylon', 'Sunny', 'Ma Baker', 'Daddy Cool' and 'Rasputin'.

At a time when Seventies acts were anything but cool, this Megamix was a surprise hit, peaking at number 13 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4074
Found: Marktplaats.nl, September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Megamix' / 'Bang Bang Lulu'

Lovegame - Lady Gaga

'Let's have some fun / This beat is sick / I wanna take a ride / on your disco stick'. Well, if you don't know what a 'disco stick' is, Lady Gaga is all too happy to explain: 'It's another of my very thoughtful metaphors for a cock. [...] I don't think disco stick is subtle. It's very clear what that lyric is all about. If anything, I happen to think people are frivolously hard on me. A lot of youth-oriented pop music is much racier than mine. 'Throw me on the floor, take off my clothes, give it to me, baby, let's dirty dance'. All these records are so provocative, but it's the context of what I'm doing that makes people concerned. [...] But if I wanted to make music to make people sing 'la di da' that would be very boring."

Otherwise, there was no need to complain for Lady Gaga: the single reached the top 10 in ten different countries. In the UK singles chart, it stalled at number 25, whereas in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart it reached number 5.

My collection: 7" single no. 4065
Found: eBay.co.uk, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Lovegame' / 'Lovegame (Space Cowboy remix)'