You can call me Al - Paul Simon

Paul Simon's legendary album 'Graceland' was brought to prominence partly because of the first single taken from the album, 'You can call me Al'. The names in the song came from an incident at a party that Simon went to with his then-wife Peggy Harper. The host of the party mistakenly called Paul 'Al', and Peggy 'Betty', inspiring Simon to write a song.

The song was made famous by the music video, featuring Chevy Chase, who lipsynchs Paul Simon's vocal, leaving Simon to do nothing much but look bored and dragging instruments on screen. The single reached number 23 in the US, number 4 in the UK, number 2 in the Netherlands and number 1 in Australia.

My collection: 7" single no. 4215
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 0,66 euro
Tracks: 'You can call me Al' / 'Gumboots'

Runaway - Janet Jackson

Written and produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, 'Runaway' was one of two previously unreleased songs on Janet Jackson's 1995 compilation album 'Design of a decade 1986-1996'. It was released as the first single from that album, and much to my surprise, it was also released on 7" vinyl - albeit only in the USA. I found this copy 14 years after its release.

'Runaway' reached number 1 in Canada, number 6 in the UK and number 32 in the Dutch Top 40. In the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, the single reached number 3.

My collection: 7" single no. 4213
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 0,66 euro
Tracks: 'Runaway' / 'When I think of you (Morales House mix '95)'

Dschinghis Khan - Dschinghis Khan

Germany thought it was a good idea to send in a song about a cruel warrior when the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest was organised in Jerusalem. Obviously, this spelled controversy, but the band Dschinghis Khan with the song of the same name still got away with it.

The song was written by Ralph Siegel and Bernd Meinunger, in praise of the Mongol warrior, describing his military and sexual escapades. The song finished fourth during the Contest and also became a hit in German speaking countries.

My collection: 7" single no. 4211
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 0,66 euro
Tracks: 'Dschinghis Khan' / 'Sahara'

Come live with me - Heaven 17

After the big hit 'Temptation' (which reached the charts all over Europe), Heaven 17 followed through with the wordy ballad 'Come live with me'. The single was a major success in the UK, where it peaked at number 5, but elsewhere it failed to appeal to the general public.

Personally, I only got to like the song when I saw it performed live by Heaven 17 during the Here & Now Tour of 2002. I'm quite happy to have found a UK pressing of this single now.

My collection: 7" single no. 4212
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 0,66 euro
Tracks: 'Come live with me' / 'Let's all make a bomb (new version)'

Giving up on love - Rick Astley

'Giving up on love' was an US only single release, which came out just prior to Astley's tour in America. The track was taken from his second album 'Hold me in your arms' and remixed by Phil Harding and Ian Curnow to give it an even poppier sound.

The single reached number 38 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4210
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 0,66 euro
Tracks: 'Giving up on love (7" pop version)' / 'I'll be fine'

Walk like an Egyptian - The Bangles

I was a bit surprised to find this 7" single, as it is different from the 'normal' release of 'Walk like an Egyptian', which features the track 'Angels don't fall in love' on the B-side. This UK pressing features a remix of the A-side, which as far as I know has not been released on any other format since then.

The single was written by Liam Sternberg. It was originally offered to Toni Basil, who turned the track down. David Kahne, who was producing the Bangles' album 'Different light', took the song to them, and they agreed to record it. Susanna Hoffs, Vicki Peterson and Michael Steele all sing lead vocals on a verse. 'Walk like an Egyptian' went on to become a number 1 hit in the USA, Germany, Australia and the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 4214
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 0,66 euro
Tracks: 'Walk like an Egyptian' / 'Walk like an Egyptian (Ozymandias 7" remix)'

We love you - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

'We love you' was released as the second single from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's 1986 album 'The pacific age'.

Although the first single 'Forever live and die' had been a reasonable worldwide success, this single only managed to reach number 54 in the UK singles chart, while flopping in all other territories.

My collection: 7" single no. 4209
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 0,66 euro
Tracks: 'We love you' / 'We love you (dub)'