How are you - The Kinks

'How are you' was released as the first single from the Kinks' 1986 album 'Think visual'. The title track from that album was an attack on the very MTV video culture the band seemed to be enjoying so much during the earlier part of the decade.

The song 'How are you' was a more innocent song. The single did not chart in any territory. I noticed the song during a showing of the music video on Dutch television. It stuck in my head, so I bought it a few years later.

My collection: 7" single no. 1185
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 3, 1990
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'How are you' / 'Killing time'

The king is dead - Go west

After their debut album was very successful, with four hit singles lifted off it, Go West's second album 'Dancing on the couch' paled in comparison. The first two singles 'True colours' and 'I want to hear it from you' landed just outside the UK top 40, and the singles 'Don't look down - The sequel' and 'From Baltimore to Paris' didn't chart at all.

In an attempt to reverse the band's fortunes, a fifth and final single was taken from the album. It was 'The king is dead', a track notable for the backing vocals by Kate Bush. The single did reach the UK singles chart, but stalled at number 67. Go West would return to the UK top 40 with their next singles. Perhaps their second album just wasn't very appealing to most...

My collection: 7" single no. 1926
Found: June 5, 1993
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'The king is dead' / 'Little Caesar (live)'

Dream on - Aerosmith

Long before Aerosmith became The Most Irritating Band On Earth, they debuted in 1973 with 'Dream on'. The power ballad written by band leader Steven Tyler became their first major hit, reaching number 59 in the US chart. It was re-released in 1976 when it reached number 6.

I bought this single after hearing the track on a compilation cd my sister had bought. Soon after, the band would continue to haunt the charts with worse songs every time. Their 1987 reunion should never have taken place.

My collection: 7" single no. 1135
Found: Leiden, December 28, 1989
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Dream on' / 'Sweet emotion'

Don't look back - Peter Tosh

Peter Tosh was born as Winston Hubert McIntosh on October 18, 1944. He became a core member of The Wailers, Bob Marley's backing band. In 1976 he launched a solo career with the debut solo album 'Legalize it'.

His big international breakthrough came in 1979, when he recorded the Temptations song 'Don't look back' together with Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger. The single only reached number 43 in the UK singles chart, but topped the Dutch Top 40 in early 1979. Tosh died in 1987 when a three man gang raided his house.

My collection: 7" single no. 2430
Found: August 19, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Don't look back' / 'Soon come'

James Cagney - Nik Kershaw

'James Cagney', a song named after the actor of the same name, was taken from Nik Kershaw's 1986 album 'Radio Musicola', and released as a single in Germany only in early 1987. The single did not chart.

I bought the single a year later, although I didn't know the song. I was pleasantly surprised when I got home and played it. It would take me more than 20 years to find the 12" single with an extended mix of this great track.

My collection: 7" single no. 681
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, November 12, 1988
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'James Cagney' / 'Radio Musicola'

Don't let the sun go down on me - George Michael and Elton John

'Don't let the sun go down on me' was originally a hit for Elton John in 1974. The single peaked at number 16 in the UK singles chart. However, it was this live version, performed together with George Michael, that made the song even more popular.

The track was recorded live at a concert in Wembley Arena on March 25, 1991, where Elton appeared as a surprise guest star of George Michael, the duet became a massive hit. It reached number 1 in the USA, the UK and the Netherlands. The proceeds from the single were divided among 10 different charities for children, AIDS and education.

The B-side of this single is a live performance of the Stevie Wonder song 'I believe (when I fall in love it will be forever)'. The first verse sounds a lot like Mel & Kim's 'Who's gonna catch you'. Or rather, I think it's the other way around...

My collection: 7" single no. 3256
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 20, 2000
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'Don't let the sun go down on me' / 'I believe (when I fall in love it will be forever)'

Something's jumpin' in your shirt - Lisa Marie with Malcolm McLaren and the Bootzilla Orchestra

'Something's jumpin' in your shirt' was the second single taken from Malcolm McLaren's 1989 album 'Waltz darling'. The song comes with a peculiar lyric, which I'm sure is about tits. And I'm not sure there are that many hit singles about that particular subject (Well, excluding the whole hiphop genre, of course - I'm talking about music here).

The single reached number 29 in the UK singles chart and number 8 in the Dutch Top 40. I remember buying the cd-single for a guilder during an open air market in Hoorn almost a decade later from a little kid who was just about 10 years old. I was wondering what that little boy was doing with this particular song...

My collection: 7" single no. 967
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, August 19, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Something's jumpin' in your shirt' / 'All night long'