You keep me hangin' on - Kim Wilde

Although I was always a Kim Wilde fan during my teens, this single caused a bit of a controversy back in 1986, when it was released. My brother swore it was the worst cover version of any song he'd ever heard, while I wrote in to the fanclub saying that any track from the album 'Another step' would have been a better choice than this track.

Of course, we were both wrong. The single reached number 2 in the UK singles chart - equalling the success of her debut single 'Kids in America' five years before - and reached the top of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in the summer of 1987. Kim commented about the song: 'I remembered the song from a long time back on the radio. It wasn't a song I had in my collection, it wasn't a song I would play a lot. So when I went into the studio to record it, it was really fresh in my mind. That's why I think it's such a fresh version of that song.'

My collection: 7" single no. 457
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, September 20, 1986
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'You keep me hangin' on' / 'Loving you'

If I had you - The Korgis

'If I had you' was the Korgis' second single, released in June 1979. It reached number 13 in the UK singles chart, giving them their first hit single. Their self-titled debut album was released a month later, in July 1979.

The song was later covered by various artists, amongst which Tracey Ullman and Rod Stewart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2960
Found: Record fair, February 9, 1998
Cost: 2,5 guilders
Tracks: 'If I had you' / 'Chinese girl', 'Art school annexe'

Stranded - Heart

'Stranded' was released as the third single from Heart's tenth studio album 'Brigade'. The song was written by J. Harrington and Jamie Kylie and produced by Richie Zito. It features Nancy Wilson on lead vocals.

The track peaked at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in the autumn of 1990, but stalled at number 60 in the UK singles chart. The B-side is a highly melodic piece of work that could be considered a blueprint for many Heart tracks from around that time.

My collection: 7" single no. 2366
Found: House of Rhythm, London, July 1, 1995
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'Stranded' / 'Under the sky'

Heart of mine - Boz Scaggs

Boz Scaggs was born as William Royce Scaggs in Canton, Ohio. He recorded his debut solo album in 1965. The biggest hit of his career was 'What can I say' in 1977.

His 1986 album 'Other roads' spawned the single 'Heart of mine', his last top 40 hit in the USA, peaking at number 35. In Europe, this single did not chart. I heard this song on a cd-single my sister had bought in order to get 'What can I say' on cd. I preferred the B-side of this single - and I still do.

My collection: 7" single no. 693
Found: Rotterdam, December 1, 1988
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Heart of mine' / 'You'll never know'

My name is Prince - Prince

'My name is Prince / And I am funky' has to be one of the immortal lines from the Nineties. It's a quote from the indispensable Prince song, 'My name is Prince'. Some might say that this single was the turning point for Prince. He'd recorded so many albums that he apparently suffered from a lack of inspiration, writing a song about himself and his musical abilities. It reeks of selfgratification.

It's interesting to note that he changed his stage name to an unpronounceable symbol not long after the release of this single - taking his career into a nosedive in the process. This single, however, reached number 7 in the UK singles chart and the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1745
Found: Virgin Megastore, London, October 19, 1992
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'My name is Prince' / '2 whom it may concern'

Wild is the wind - David Bowie

'Wild is the wind' was written by Dimitri Tiomkin and Ned Washington and originally recorded by Johnny Mathis for the 1957 film of the same name. The song was covered by Nina Simone on her album 'Wild is the wind' (1966).

David Bowie recorded a version of 'Wild is the wind' in 1976 for his album 'Station to station'. Bowie was an admirer of Simone’s style, and after meeting her in Los Angeles was inspired to record the song for his album. The song was released as a single in 1981, to promoted the compilation album 'ChangesTwoBowie'. It reached number 24 in the UK singles chart and number 15 in Ireland.

My collection: 7" single no. 2012
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 18, 1993
Cost: 1,5 pounds
Tracks: 'Wild is the wind' / 'Golden years'

Original sin - INXS

The Australian rock band INXS recorded 'Original sin' on their fourth album 'The swing' in 1984. The song was written by Michael Hutchence and Andrew Farriss, and produced by Nile Rodgers. Singer Daryl Hall sings the chorus along with Hutchence. Nile Rodgers called him up and asked him to sing on the song. Rodgers had produced 'Adult education' by Hall & Oates the previous year.

When the song was released as a single, it reached number 58 in the US Billboard Hot 100, number 29 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 1 in Australia.

My collection: 7" single no. 2322
Found: June 3, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Original sin' / 'Jan's song (live)', 'To look at you (live)'