Prayer for the dying - Seal

'Prayer for the dying' was released as the first single from Seal's second self-titled album. Released in May 1994, the single peaked at number 14 in the UK singles chart. A year later, in November 1995, the single was re-released as a double A-side with the track 'Don't cry'. This released stalled at number 51.

The B-side is a beautiful piano version of the album track 'Dreaming in metaphors'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2123
Found: Virgin Megastore, London, July 16, 1994
Cost: pounds
Tracks: 'Prayer for the dying' / 'Dreaming in metaphors (piano version)'

Visions of China - Japan

'Visions of China' was a single released by Japan in 1981. I discovered the track a few years later, when the music video appeared on television quite regularly. It was a strange music video, which stuck in my head. Later on, the song became a happy obsession for a while.

I finally found the single in 1996, after I'd found the live version on single in 1989. This single peaked at number 32 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2685
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, July 3, 1996
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Visions of China' / 'Taking island in Africa'

De ambulance - Rubberen Robbie

Although I realise the joke is lost on foreign readers, I have committed myself to putting my record collection online and that includes a handful of Rubberen Robbie singles. 'De ambulance' is a parody of the song 'De diligence' and is all about boozing and fighting in a nearby pub.

The pub that was frequented by the members of Rubberen Robbie - and often mentioned in their songs - was 'De hut van Ome Henne' (Uncle Henne's cabin), a pub in Leiden that still exists. The B-side of this single was apparently recorded live there too.

My collection: 7" single no. 2567
Found: November 19, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'De ambulance' / 'Witte en rooie radijs (live)'

Better than this - Keane

'Better than this' was the last single release from Keane's 2008 album 'Perfect symmetry'. The single did not reach the UK singles top 100.

The 7" single came with a pair of 3d glasses, by way of promoting a concert that was shown in 3d on the internet a few months ago. That concert is still accessible via the band's official website, www.keanemusic.com.

My collection: 7" single no. 3615
Found: Keanemusic.com webshop
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Better than this' / 'Better than this (Stuart Price demo mix)'

Romeos - Alphaville

In 1989, Alphaville released their third album 'The breathtaking blue'. The album was released as a CD+G, a shortlived format including graphic representations of songs on the cd, which people could view from a CD+G-enabled cd player.

'Romeos' was the second single from the album, which reached number 45 in the German singles chart. In other territories, this single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2732
Found: Record fair, September 7, 1996
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Romeos' / 'Headlines'

The reflex - Duran Duran

Duran Duran had the biggest hit of their career in 1984 with 'The reflex'. It was the third and last single from their album 'Seven and the ragged tiger'. Originally the band wanted it to be the lead single, but the record company was afraid that the warbling singing during the 'Why don't you use it' segments would hinder its success as a single. How wrong they were! The single hit number 1 in the UK, America and the Netherlands.

The video appeared on television almost every hour at the time, until I got quite sick of it. I never bought the single as a result. Just recently I found out it was released as a limited edition with a poster sleeve in the UK. It took some time to find it for a reasonable price, but I'm glad I waited: instead of the usual 4 to 6 pounds asked for it, I paid a measly 1 pound. Plus postage, but oh well.

My collection: 7" single no. 4099
Found: eBay.co.uk, received October 6, 2009
Cost: 4 pounds
Tracks: 'The reflex' / 'Make me smile (Come up and see me) (live)'

Shipbuilding - Tasmin Archer

'Shipbuilding' was written by singer/songwriter Elvis Costello and producer Clive Langer during the Falklands War of 1982. Costello's lyrics discuss the contradiction of the war bringing back prosperity to traditional shipbuilding areas of Merseyside (Cammell Laird), Tyneside (Swan Hunter) and Belfast (Harland and Wolff) to build new ships to replace those being sunk in the war, whilst also sending off the sons of these areas to fight and, potentially, lose their lives in those same ships.

Tasmin Archer recorded the song as part of her 'Shipbuilding EP', which contains covers of four Costello songs. The EP reached number 40 in the UK singles chart in 1994.

My collection: 7" single no. 2665
Found: Leeds, June 30, 1996
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Shipbuilding', 'Deep dark truthful mirror' / 'All grown up', 'New Amsterdam'