Johnny wanna live - Sandra

'Johnny wanna live' originally appeared on Sandra's fourth album 'Paintings in yellow' (1990). When it was decided in the summer of 1992 that a compilation album, '18 greatest hits' was to be released, Sandra re-recorded the track to be included as a new single.

The song's lyric protests against cruelty to animals. In an interview in Sweden. Sandra explained the origins of the song citing her disapproval of people wearing fur coats. The single reached number 9 in Israel and number 37 in Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 1790
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, November 14, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Johnny wanna live' / 'Mirrored in your eyes'

Big yellow taxi - Amy Grant

Joni Mitchell originally wrote 'Big yellow taxi'. She commented about the song: 'I wrote 'Big yellow taxi' on my first trip to Hawaii. I took a taxi to the hotel and when I woke up the next morning, I threw back the curtains and saw these beautiful green mountains in the distance. Then, I looked down and there was a parking lot as far as the eye could see, and it broke my heart... this blight on paradise. That's when I sat down and wrote the song'.

Amy Grant recorded her version of this song in 1994 for her album 'House of love'. In my opinion, it's the best version of the song. It reached number 20 in the UK singles chart and number 67 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

My collection: 7" single no. 2335
Found: HMV, Lonodn, June 26, 1995
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Big yellow taxi' / 'House of love'

I can make you feel good - Shalamar

'I can make you feel good' was the biggest hit for Shalamar in the Netherlands, where it reached number 8 in the Dutch Top 40. It also did well in the UK, where the single peaked at number 7.

The single was taken from Shalamar's 1982 album 'Friends'. In the UK, that album is apparently regarded as one of the defining albums of that year.

My collection: 7" single no. 2582
Found: December 12, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: ' I can make you feel good' / 'Help me'

More than love - Wet Wet Wet

'More than love' was the fourth single from Wet Wet Wet's fourth studio album, 'High on the happy side'. The single was released in March 1992 and reached number 19 in the UK singles chart and number 9 in the Dutch Top 40. The single's B-side was 'Goodnight girl', which was actually the previous single that reached number 1 in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 1968
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, September 25, 1993
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'More than love' / 'Goodnight girl'

Take on me - A-ha

Earlier today I read the news that A-ha is disbanding. It's a sad thing: for a quarter of a century they have made some of the most incredible pop songs, and their craft became better with every album. Their latest, 'Foot of the mountain' (2009) is a great piece of retro synthpop, with some of the best melodies they've ever composed.

So by way of a tribute, here is their earliest release, bar the original version of 'Take on me', which featured on the blog before. This is the second release of that song from 1985, with a new recording and a different B-side. It was still not successful. It was re-released in the same year with this sleeve and it was a case of 'third time lucky': that time it became a worldwide hit.

My collection: 7" single no. 3207
Found: Record fair, September 30, 2000
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Take on me' / 'Love is reason'

Where did our love go - The Supremes

Holland–Dozier–Holland originally composed 'Where did our love go' and prepared the instrumental track for The Marvelettes to record it. They rejected the song, after which the songw as offered to the Supremes. They had only had one top 40 hit and eight flops to their name. Although they were hesitant to record the song, they finally felt they didn't really have a choice other than to do it.

When the song was released, it shot to number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 3 in the UK singles chart. In the Netherlands, where the Dutch Top 40 did not exist yet, it did reach some magazine charts, peaking at number 8 in October 1964.

My collection: 7" single no. 1060
Found: London, October 18, 1989
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Where did our love go' / 'He means the world to me'

Wonderful life - Black

'Wonderful life' is the song they can play at my funeral. It's the perfect combination of beautiful music and a raher cynical lyric - although it can also be perceived as being a rather upbeat lyric as well. Add to this the perfect voice of Colin Vearncombe, and you have one of the best pop songs of all time.

When it was originally released in 1985 on the independent Ugly Man label, a limited edition double single was made, featuring not two, but four great tracks. Re-recordings of all of these traks would appear on Black's debut album in 1987 on A&M records, except 'Birthday night', a song that never resurfaced. And for that, this double single is a true collectors item for Black fans. This original version reached number 72 in the UK singles chart. It was the first single by Black to reach the chart, if only for one week.

My collection: 7" single no. 2627
Found: March 9, 1996
Cost: 5 pounds
Tracks: 'Wonderful life' / 'Birthday night' // 'Sometimes for the asking' / 'Everything's coming up roses'