The emperor's new clothes - Sinéad O'Connor

'The emperor's new clothes' was the second single from Sinéad O'Connor's 1990 album 'I do not want what I haven't got'. It was released in a limited edition numbered box set featuring a giant fold out poster and three postcards. This is number 4915.

The single reached number 23 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 31 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1291
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, September 1, 1990
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'The emperor's new clothes' / 'What do you want'

In your eyes - Niamh Kavanagh

Niamh Kavanagh was born in 1968 in Dublin. Her first big break came when she performed as a lead and backing vocalist on the soundtrack of 'The commitments', the 1991 movie starring Robert Arkins.

Two years later, she represented Ireland during the Eurovision Song Contest with 'In your eyes', a horrifyingly ugly ballad which for some strange reason won the hearts of the European juries, causing Ireland to win for the second time in a row that year. As if none of the other 24 songs were better. The single managed to reach number 24 in the UK singles chart, while, more appropriately, it didn't chart in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 1975
Found: HMV, London, October 17, 1993
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'In your eyes' / 'In your eyes (instrumental)'

Sideshow - Wendy and Lisa

When Britney Spears managed to have a pretty successful comeback recently, it was suggested that this was partly because she used the 'commercial' imagery of a circus. Apparently songs about circuses and clowns are always successful. Although I have to add, I know a few songs about this subject that didn't have any commercial success whatsoever. But this isn't one of them.

'Sideshow' was released as the second single by Wendy & Lisa, taken from their self-titled debut album. It did better in the UK singles chart than their debut single 'Waterfall', peaking at number 49. In the Dutch Top 40, this single reached number 30.

My collection: 7" single no. 2328
Found: June 3, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Sideshow' / 'Chance to grow'

Rover's return - The Korgis

I don't have an enormous amount of instrumental hit singles, and certainly the only instrumental song that became the signature track for an artist I can think of was Mike Oldfield's 'Tubular bells'. But 'Rover's return' by the Korgis is another good example.

It may have been the funny barking noises and the upbeat character of the track that caused it to be played so often on the radio in 1980. This in turn helped it become a big hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 6 in the Dutch Top 40. The track was obviously less popular with UK DJ's, as it didn't chart there.

My collection: 7" single no. 2466
Found: September 9, 1995
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Rover's return' / 'Dumb waiters'

Him - Rupert Holmes

Rupert Holmes fifth album 'Partners in crime' was released in 1979. It contained his biggest hit 'Escape', but also 'Him', which was released as the follow-up. The single reached number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 18 in the Dutch Top 40. In the UK, the single reached number 31.

My collection: 7" single no. 2411
Found: Record fair, 1994
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Him' / 'Get outta yourself'

Kiss this thing goodbye - Del Amitri

After the chart success of 'Nothing ever happens', Del Amitri's debut single 'Kiss this thing goodbye' was re-released in 1990. A numbered limited edition 7" with a gatefold sleeve was also released; this is number 15500.

The single reached number 43 in the UK singles chart, but also managed to break the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 35. I wonder if it's the banjo in this track that did the trick...

My collection: 7" single no. 1339
Found: London, October 17, 1990
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Kiss this thing goodbye' / 'No holding on'

The ballad of Lucy Jordan - Marianne Faithfull

'The ballad of Lucy Jordan' was originally written by American poet and songwriter Shel Silverstein and recorded by Dr. Hook.

Faithfull recorded her cover version of the song on her 1979 album 'Broken English'. It was released as a single in November 1979. Faithfull later commented that the story she intended to put across in the song was that Lucy climbs to the roof top but gets taken away by 'the man who reached and offered her his hand' in an ambulance to a mental hospital, and that the final lines ('At the age of thirty-seven she knew she'd found forever / As she rode along through Paris with the warm wind in her hair...') are actually in her imagination at the hospital. Funny, I always thought the line meant she was dead.

My collection: 7" single no. 1338
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1991
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'The ballad of Lucy Jordan' / 'Brain drain'