The meaning of love - Depeche Mode

If a Depeche Mode single would be released these days, it's hard to imagine that the sleeve would look like this one here. 'The meaning of love' was released in 1982 as a single from their second album 'A broken frame'. It's obvious that their much was much more simple and upbeat back then.

'The meaning of love' reached number 12 in the UK singles chart, but was less successful in Germany, where it reached number 64. It did not chart in the Netherlands at all.

My collection: 7" single no. 2708
Found: House of Rhythm, London, July 3, 1996
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'The meaning of love' / 'Oberkorn (It's a small town)'

Stand by me - Ben E. King

Benjamin Earl Nelson was born on September 28, 1938. After a music career as a member of the Five Crowns and the Drifters, he went solo in 1960, taking on the stage name Ben E. King. That same year, he wrote 'Stand by me', originally intended for use by the Drifters, but they passed on the chance to record it.

King then recorded the song himself, and released it as a single in 1961. It reached number 4 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. This single is a UK re-release from 1987 on the occasion of the track featuring on the movie 'Stand by me'. On this occasion, it reached number 1 in the UK and number 7 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 1016
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 40p
Tracks: 'Stand by me' (Ben E. King) / 'Yakety yak' (The Coasters)

Moments in love - Art of Noise

'Moments in love' was a beautiful electronic track by Art of Noise, released in the spring of 1987. Although it wasn't their biggest hit in the UK, where it peaked at number 51, it did reach number 10 in the Dutch Top 40, making it their biggest hit up to that point - surpassed only when they released 'Kiss' with Tom Jones a few years later.

There are several versions of 'Moments in love', but this single version is by far the most concise.

My collection: 7" single no. 529
Found: Free Record Shop, 1987
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Moments in love' / 'Beatbox diversion 10'

What love can be - Kingdom come

Kingdom Come formed in 1987 after frontman Lenny Wolf's band Stone Fury broke up. He recruited Pittsburgh-based lead guitarist Danny Stag, Louisvillians Rick Steier and James Kottak and Northern Californian Johnny B. Frank on bass. The band's debut album, 'Kingdom Come' was their only international hit. The musical style was very close to the early blues-rock style of Led Zeppelin.

Their second single was the power ballad 'What love can be'. It was a big hit in America, but sold less well in Europe. Still, I picked it up from the radio and played it a lot for a couple of weeks during the summer of 1988.

My collection: 7" single no. 650
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, August 25, 1988
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'What love can be' / 'The shuffle'

DJ Culture - Pet Shop Boys

'DJ culture' was a new track on the Pet Shop Boys compilation album 'Discography', released in 1991. It was released as a single to promote that compilation. According to the singer Neil Tennant, the lyric of the song was about the insincerity of President George H. W. Bush's speeches at the time of the First Gulf War, utilising Winston Churchill's wartime rhetoric, in a manner similar to how artists sample music from other artists.

When the single was released, it peaked at number 13 on the UK singles chart. In the Netherlands, the single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1556
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, December 14, 1991
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'DJ Culture' / 'Music for boys'

One more little kissy - Luv'

In 1980, just like previous years, Luv's career is going well. They are successful in various countries around the world, such as Mexico where a Spanish version of 'Ooh, yes I di' ('Si que si') reaches the top of the charts. In the Netherlands, meanwhile, the single 'One more little kissy' is released, reaching number 9 in the Dutch Top 40.

It is to be their last single release with band member Patty Brard, who announces in the autumn of 1980 that she is leaving Luv'. She also demands half a million guilders from the Luv' company, a sum which she is awarded after a court case. It is not the end of Luv', however: in September 1980 Ria Thielsch takes Brard's place.

My collection: 7" single no. 54
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1980
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'One more little kissy' / 'I win it'

Bridge over troubled water - Simon and Garfunkel

Paul Simon wrote 'Bridge over troubled water' in the summer of 1969 while Art Garfunkel was filming 'Catch-22' in Europe. When the duo got together to record what was to be their last album together, Garfunkel liked Simon's falsetto voice on the demo and suggested that Simon sing. He and producer Roy Halee also thought the song needed three verses and a 'bigger' sound towards the end. Simon agreed and penned the final verse, though he felt it was less than fully cohesive with the earlier verses.

Paul Simon then insisted that Garfunkel should sing the song. He later expressed regret that he did this, as it focused attention on Garfunkel and relegated Simon to a backing position. When the song was released as a single, it became a worldwide hit, reaching the top of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and the UK singles chart and number 5 in the Dutch Top 40. My copy of the single was made in Australia.

My collection: 7" single no. 622
Found: Parkpop, June 1988
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Bridge over troubled water' / 'Keep the customer satisfied'