Half a minute - Matt Bianco

Basia was the lead singer on this single by Matt Bianco, released in the autumn of 1984. While it only reached number 23 in the UK singles chart, it spent 10 weeks in the chart, which was quite a feat.

The summery video was a regular on television, even in the Netherlands, where it did not chart. I found the single years later. I think I must have seen it many times before I bought it, but the sleeve is a bit inconspicuous.

My collection: 7" single no. 1764
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 20, 1992
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Half a minute' / 'Matts Mood II'

The sign - Ace of base

'The sign' was the first single taken from Ace of Base's second album 'Happy nation'. The single continued the success story of the Swedish band, as it reached number 1 in America, Australia, Canada, Argentina, Spain and Austria. In the Netherlands, it reached number 3 and in the UK singles chart, it peaked at number 2.

After this single, Ace of base continued to release albums and singles, but this was their last big hit worldwide.

My collection: 7" single no. 2490
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 30, 1995
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'The sign' / 'The sign (long version)'

You'll never be so wrong - Hot Chocolate

'You'll never be so wrong' was written by Ricky and Marty Wilde, who had just been successful launching Kim Wilde, their sister and daughter respectively, as an artist with the singles 'Kids in America'. Producer Mickie Most had just accepted 'Chequered love' as her second single, but they still needed a B-side. They recorded 'You'll never be so wrong', but Most responded that the track was too good to be a B-side. He wanted to give Hot Chocolate a shot with the track.

And so Hot Chocolate released this single in May 1981. It reached number 51 in the UK singles chart, but did considerably better in Europe. In the Netherlands, for instance, it reached number 23. Kim Wilde's version of the track subsequently appeared as a track on her debut album.

My collection: 7" single no. 581
Found: 1987
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'You'll never be so wrong' / 'Robot love'

Till you come back to me - Leo Sayer

'Till you come back to me' is a cover of a song originally performed by Stevie Wonder. Leo Sayer recorded it on his tenth album, 'Have you ever been in love', which was released in 1983. When it was released as a single, it effectively ended a run of chart hits Sayer had since the early Seventies. The single reached number 51 in the UK singles chart.

I heard the track on the radio very frequently back in 1983 and 1984. When I found this single a decade later, I was pretty happy as I'd never seen a copy!

My collection: 7" single no. 1943
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 11, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Till you come back to me' / 'Train'

You keep me hangin' on - The Supremes

'You keep me hangin' on' was written by the famous Holland-Dozier-Holland writing team. It was recorded by The Supremes in 1966. Many elements of the recording, including the guitars, the drums, and Diana Ross's lead vocal, were multitracked (the parts were recorded multiple times and the takes layered over one another). This was done to create a fuller sound than the previous Supremes records. The song was recorded nine different times with the Supremes and session band The Funk Brothers before the producers got the version they were finally satisfied with.

'You keep me hangin' on' was the first single from the Supremes' 1967 album 'The Supremes sing Holland-Dozier-Holland'. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks in November 1966. In the Netherlands, it reached number 26.

My collection: 7" single no. 2979
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, April 4, 1998
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'You keep me hangin' on' / 'Hang on Sloopy'

Waltz darling - Malcolm McLaren

In 1989, Malcolm McLaren released the album 'Waltz darling', with tracks inspired by funk, disco and the new dance craze 'vogueing'. While for once McLaren's instincts failed him (there was no sudden interest in waltz music) it still helped to spread the news about the previously underground practice of vogueing. The most famous track coming forth from this craze is of course Madonna's 'Vogue', but Malcolm McLaren's track is more interesting than that one.

The single reached number 19 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 31 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1040
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Waltz darling' / 'Deep in vogue'

Wisdom chain - Jon and Vangelis

Most people know the songs 'I'll find my way home' and 'I hear you now', recorded by Jon and Vangelis in the Eighties. The fact that they released another album together in 1991 is less wellknown. The album was called 'Page of life' and 'Wisdom chain' was the first single released from that album. The single flopped, and there were no further albums by the duo.

The album 'Page of life' was re-released in 1998, but it included different tracks of which Vangelis did not approve.

My collection: 7" single no. 1605
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, March 28, 1992
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Wisdom chain' / 'Page of life'