Lean on you - Cliff Richard

Cliff Richard worked with producer Alan Tarney once again on his album 'Stronger' (1989). The single 'Lean on you' was taken from this album - and personally I think this is one of the best songs of his career.

Not that many people agreed with me though: it only charted in the UK, where it peaked at number 17, and Ireland, where it reached number 10.

My collection: 7" single no. 1112
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, November 17, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Lean on you' / 'Hey mister'

Manic Monday - The Bangles

With 'Manic Monday' the Bangles finally had a worldwide hit single on their hands. The song was written by Prince in 1984 and originally recorded as a duet for the Apollonia 6 album, but the song was eventually pulled. Two years later, as he was attempting to 'court' singer Susanna Hoffs of the band, Prince, using the pseudonym Christopher, offered the song to them to record their version.

The single reached number 2 in both the UK singles chart and the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, as well as reaching number 24 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2019
Found: Sounds Familiar, London, October 19, 1993
Cost: 20p
Tracks: 'Manic Monday' / 'In a different light'

Everything's coming up roses - Black

After years of struggling, Black finally signed with a major label in 1987. A&M records took on the task of lifting the band from its indie status and towards the higher regions of the charts. The first single on A&M was 'Everything's coming up roses', a rather rough track when compared to the rest of their later repertoire.

It has to be said: A&M did their best, even releasing the single as a limited edition pressed on white vinyl and with a four page booklet included in the gatefold sleeve. Nevertheless, the single did not chart. But fortunately, good things were just around the corner for Black.

My collection: 7" single no. 1770
Found: London, October 20, 1992
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Everything's coming up roses' / 'Ravel in the rain'

I wouldn't normally do this kind of thing - Pet Shop Boys

'I wouldn't normally do this kind of thing' is a track on the Pet Shop Boys' fifth studio album 'Very'. The track was remixed and released as the third single from the album in November 1993. It reached number 13 in the UK singles chart. The single was remixed for the 12" and cd-single formats by six different remixers.

In 1998, Robbie Williams recorded a cover version of this track as a bonus track on his single 'Let me entertain you'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2063
Found: Wreckastow, Rotterdam, December 24, 1993
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'I wouldn't normally do this kind of thing' / 'Too many people'

Familiar ground - Lori Spee

When I was young, I had a weekly allowance of three guilders. The record shop around the corner sold chart singles for six guilders, so I had to save up for two weeks to buy a singles. But fortunately, the shop also sold off singles that left the charts for three guilders. So usually I opted for these discount discs. Sometimes this resulted in a bad buy: a single I bought and then rarely ever played again.

These bad buys usually happened in weeks when there weren't that many good singles available at discount price. Lori Spee's 'Familiar ground' is a good example of this: throughout my life I think I played this single five times, at most. Lori was an American immigrant, based in the Netherlands, singing these kind of middle of the road songs and having moderate success with it. This particular single did not chart at all.

My collection: 7" single no. 120
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Familiar ground' / 'Problem child'

By your side - Sade

'By your side' was the first single from Sade's fifth studio album 'Lovers Rock', released in 2000. The track was nominated for the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, losing out to Nelly Furtado's 'I'm like a bird' (unbelievably). The single reached number 17 in the UK singles chart.

As far as I know, this is the only release of the single on 7": an American pressing featuring the same track on both sides. It's also, as far as I know, the last 7" single release by Sade.

My collection: 7" single no. 3270
Found: HMV, London, October 23, 2000
Cost: 4 pounds
Tracks: 'By your side' / 'By your side'

Dangerous - Roxette

'Dangerous', written by Per Gessle, is the fourth single released from Roxette's album 'Look Sharp!'. Gessle penned it just before Roxette's first tour in 1987.

Released at the end of 1989, it was the group's third top 10 showing on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 2 in February 1990. In the Dutch Top 40, the single reached number 17.

My collection: 7" single no. 1195
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, March 14, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Dangerous' / 'Surrender (live)'