The king of wishful thinking - Go West

It may not have made a big impression on you if you've seen the movie 'Pretty woman', but Go West's 'King of wishful thinking' was featured in it. The movie has become a bit of a classic amongst movie fanatics, but Go West has not profited too much from that legacy.

Still, they did get a reasonable hit out of it. The single reached number 18 in the UK singles chart and number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

My collection: 7" single no. 1337
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1990
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'The king of wishful thinking' / 'Tears too late'

Leuchtturm - Nena

While Nena was becoming a household name in all of Europe with English versions of her earlier singles '99 Luftballons' and 'Nur geträumt' ('99 red balloons' and 'Just a dream' respectively), she also released a German single from her debut album 'Nena'.

In July 1983, she reached the Dutch Top 40 with 'Leuchtturm', a beautiful pop song, which reached number 13.

My collection: 7" single no. 467
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, October 20, 1986
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Leuchtturm' / 'Kino'

Kiss of life - Sade

'Kiss of life' was the third single taken from Sade's fourth studio album 'Love deluxe' (1992). Released in May 1993, it was a minor hit in the USA, where it peaked at number 78. In the UK, the single reached number 44.

I've actually got two different copies of this single: one copy is the commercial 7" single as sold in the UK, the other is a Spanish promotional 7" single, with only one side actually containing music, i.e. the track 'Kiss of life'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1954 / no. 1999
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 25, 1993 / Virgin Megastore, London, October 18, 1993
Cost: 3 guilders / 1 pound
Tracks: 'Kiss of life' / 'Room 55' (not on no. 1954)

One two five - 10CC

'Look hear?' was the seventh studio album by 10CC, released in 1980. The album was recorded at the band's Strawberry Studios South in Dorking, Surrey.

Two singles were lifted from the album, of which 'One two five' was the first. It was not a big hit, reaching only number 85 in Australia.

My collection: 7" single no. 889
Found: All that music, Leiden, June 16, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'One two five' / 'Only child'

My special child - Sinéad O'Connor

'My special child' was a single release by Sinéad O'Connor in 1991. The track was not included on any of the albums. Besides the rather bleak lyric, the song is made beautiful by the uillean pipes solo. The single raised money for 'the simple truth', a charity campaign for Kurdish refugees. The B-side is a live version of 'Nothing compares 2 u'.

The single reached number 12 in Ireland and number 60 in the UK singles chart. In other territories, it did not chart.

My collection: 7" singl eno. 1530
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, September 28, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'My special child' / 'Nothing compares 2 u (live video version)'

Long goodbye - Thompson Twins

Joe Leeway left the Thompson Twins in 1986, leaving Tom Bailey and Alannah Currie to continue as a duo. They carried on making music for another seven years. Their first release as a duo was 1987's 'Close to the bone'.

'Long goodbye' was the second single to be taken from the album, but it was even less successful than the first single, 'Get that love', which reached number 66 in the UK singles chart. This single stalled at number 89. Although one more single was released ('Bush baby'), that one did not chart at all.

My collection: 7" single no. 2538
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, November 1, 1995
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Long goodbye' / 'Dancing in your shoes'

Don't dream it's over - Crowded house

Although many people think this is Crowded House's debut single, it is actually the fourth single taken from their self-titled debut album. 'Don't dream it's over' was released in February 1987 in Australia, but it would take months for it to become a worldwide hit.

After reaching number 8 in Australia, the single reached number 27 in the UK singles chart, number 5 in the Dutch Top 40, number 2 in the USA and number 1 in Canada. The song has been covered by acts like Sixpence none the richer, Paul Young, Paul Carrack and Happy Rhodes.

My collection: 7" single no. 1097
Found: All that music, Leiden, November 11, 1989
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Don't dream it's over' / 'That's what I call love'