Too much love will kill you - Queen

Brian May wrote 'Too much love will kill you' with Frank Musker and Elizabeth Lamers. The song was recorded in the Eighties and intended to be included on Queen's 1989 album 'The miracle'. In 1992, Brian May performed the song during the Freddy Mercury tribute concert, after Mercury's death the year before. It was released as a single by May, which reached number 5 in the UK and number 1 in the Netherlands.

The Queen version finally saw the light on the 1995 album 'Made in heaven'. It was released as a single, with the 7" vinyl pressed on pink vinyl. This single reached number 15 in the UK singles chart - but it didn't reach the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2633
Found: HMV mailorder, received April 13, 1996
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Too much love will kill you' / 'We will rock you (digital remaster)', 'We are the champions (digital remaster)'

Do I have to say the words? - Bryan Adams

In 1991, Bryan Adams released his seventh album 'Waking up the neighbours'. The album's best known track is of course '(Everything I do) I do it for you', which was used in the soundtrack of the movie Robin Hood. 'Do I have to say the words' was released as the album's fifth single in the autumn of 1992.

It peaked at number 4 in Canada, number 11 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 30 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1728
Found: HMV, London, October 17, 1992
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Do I have to say the words' / 'Summer of '69 (live)'

EDIT: I received a notice from Blogger that this post was complained about. I trust it's from the same people who posted a reaction on this post. They are obviously terrified that anyone should hear any Bryan Adams music, even if it's any good. The message these people are sending is: don't listen to music, you might get inspired to buy it yourself. And they wonder why the music industry is in such terrible shape...

Where did I go wrong - UB40

'Where did I go wrong' was another single by UB40 from their 1988 self-titled album. The track was written and produced by the band.

While it reached number 26 in the UK singles chart, it was a bigger hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 4.

My collection: 7" single no. 688
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1988
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Where did I go wrong' / 'Where did I go wrong (instrumental)'

Notorious - Duran Duran

After a break for a year during which one half of Duran Duran formed Arcadia and the other half formed the Power Station, the group came back together. However, Roger and Andy Taylor left the band by the time the new album 'Notorious' and the lead single of the same name were released.

As a trio, the band had enlisted the help of Nile Rodgers to take over production duties. Rodgers also plays guitar on the single. It was a good return for the band: the single reached number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 6 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2297
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 199X
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Notorious' / 'Winter marches on'

Life in technicolor II - Coldplay

'Life in technicolor' appears as an instrumental track on Coldplay's album 'Viva la vida', but this vocal version was actually already recorded at the time as well. It was finally released on the mini album 'Prospekt's March'.

The single 'Life in Technicolor II' was released as digital download and 7" vinyl only in February 2009. It reached number 28 in the UK singles chart and number 15 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3582
Found: eBay.co.uk, received February 11, 2009
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Life in technicolor II' / 'The goldrush'

Ghosts - Japan

'Ghosts' was a single taken from Japan's 1981 album 'Tin drum'. Bereft of drums, the minimalist track would not be described as a 'commercially viable' single in most circumstances. However, Japan's popularity at the time allowed the single to become unexpectedly popular. It reached number 5 in the UK singles chart.

Although it was their biggest hit, Japan split up just months after this single. In 2000 David Sylvian re-recorded 'Ghosts' using the original Japan backing track and included it on his compilation 'Everything and nothing'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2847
Found: Record fair, February 1997
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Ghosts' / 'The art of parties (version)'

King's call - Philip Lynott

If you think 'King's call' sounds suspiciously like a Dire Straits track, you're not far off: one of the guest performers on this track is Mark Knopfler. The song is an ode to Elvis Presley, taken from Lynott's first solo album 'Solo in Soho'.

The single was originally a hit for Lynott in the UK in June 1980, reaching number 35 in the UK singles chart. It was re-released after his death in January 1987, but on this occasion it only reached number 68. Things went the other way around in the Netherlands: the single did not chart in 1980 but reached number 20 in 1987.

My collection: 7" single no. 598
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 21, 1988
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'King's call' / 'Ode to a black man'