Sounds like a melody - Alphaville

'Sounds like a melody' was the second single taken from Alphaville's debut album 'Forever young'. Released in May 1984, the single reached the top 10 all over Europe, including a number 6 position in the Dutch Top 40 and number 3 in Germany and Austria.

Besides this 7" single I also own the 12" single, which fortunately contains an extended version of this great song.

My collection: 7" single no. 608
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 7, 1988
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Sounds like a melody' / 'The Nelson highrise (Sector one: the elevator)'

Just a dream - Nena

Not content with having a European hit with 'Nur geträumt', the German band Nena recorded the track in an English version entitled 'Just a dream'. This English version was the follow-up to '99 red balloons', the English version of her hit '99 Luftballons' which reached number 1 in the UK.

'Just a dream' did much worse in May 1984, reaching number 70 during a two week chart run. It was also the last Nena single to chart in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 3074
Found: Record Exchange, London, May 10, 1999
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Just a dream' / 'Indianer'

Just a shadow - Big Country

'Just a shadow' was the third and last single released from Big Country's third album 'Steeltown'. Like the two before, the single was only a significant success in the UK. The single peaked at number 26 in the UK singles chart in January 1985.

Back then, Big Country singles really didn't excite me much. I took in most of my music through television and all of their music videos were very boring. It's only a few years later that I started to appreciate this song. Eventually, I bought the single.

My collection: 7" single no. 1305
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 15, 1990
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'Just a shadow' / 'Winter sky'

One more try - Timmy T

Time for some dodgy Nineties music now. Timmy T was born as Timmy Torres in Fresno, California on September 21, 1967. He released his biggest hit 'One more try' in 1991. The song was written and performed by Timmy himself. The inspiration for the lyric was the breakup with a girlfriend.

Nothing really shocking there. But here is comes: when you listen to this, you will hear the cheap, tinny sounds and the low production standards of the track. You would think this would have been a minor hit, but instead this track topped the charts in America and the Netherlands. Only the people in the UK were sensible: there, the single did not chart. And why did I buy it? Dunno. Must have been a blackout.

My collection: 7" single no. 1436
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, April 26, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'One more try' / 'What will I do'

Neverending love - Roxette

Contrary to public belief, Roxette did not debut with the single 'The look', which gave them worldwide fame. Instead, this single, 'Neverending love' was the start of their career together. Per Gessle had been a member of Gyllene Tider, a Swedish pop group, and Marie Fredriksson had a successful solo career in Sweden.

This song was originally called 'Svarta glas' and was written for another Swedish artist, Pernilla Wahlgren. She turned it down and gave it to her brother, Niclas Wahlgren, who decided to record it. This release was cancelled when Roxette's record company found out that writer Per Gessle had recorded an English version of the song with Fredriksson. 'Neverending love' was released all over Europe, but only charted in Sweden, where it reached number 3.

My collection: 7" single no. 2963
Found: Record fair, February 9, 1998
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Neverending love' / 'Neverending love (Love mix)'

Don't drop bombs - Liza Minelli

'Don't drop bombs' was released as the second single from Liza Minelli's 1989 album 'Results'. Like the album, the single was produced by the Pet Shop Boys and Julian Mendelssohn. The track was written by the Pet Shop Boys and featured background vocals by Tessa Niles.

The single was a club favourite, but stalled at number 46 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1944
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 11, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Don't drop bombs' / 'Don't drop bombs (instrumental)'

The lovers are losing - Keane

'The lovers are losing' was the second single taken from Keane's 2008 album 'Perfect symmetry'. It was released in October 2008.

Despite being the first physical release taken from the album ('Spiralling' was released as a digital download only in the UK), the single only reached number 52 in the UK singles chart. It had a three week chart run.

My collection: 7" single no. 3517
Found: eBay.com, received December 30, 2008
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'The lovers are losing' / 'Time to go'