Via Satellit - Rheingold

Bodo Staiger, Brigitte Kunz and Lothar Manteuffel formed Rheingold in the early Eighties. Their biggest hit was 'Dreiklangs dimensionen', released in 1982. They continued making music, and this single from 1983 is proof of that.

'Via Satellit' is another synthpop track, slightly reminiscent of material by Kraftwerk, but with the lush production values of Conny Plank, who became famous for his work with Ultravox.

My collection: 7" single no. 4232
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Via Satellit' / 'Digital'

Que sera - Chris Rea

In 1988, Chris Rea released the album 'New light through old windows', an album of re-recordings of his own songs. Reportedly, Rea was dissatisfied with some of his earliest recordings, produced by Gus Dudgeon. There are rumours, however, that Rea wanted to dispense with royalties or contractual payments on the original recordings that would have been due under an agreement with his first manager John McCoy, with whom Rea had parted ways in the early Eighties.

'Que sera' predates this album by a couple of months. It is actually a re-recording of a track on his 1987 album 'Dancing with strangers'. Perhaps this re-recording was also a source of inspiration for 'New light through old windows'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4231
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Que sera' / 'Se sequi'

With a girl like you - Harpo

'With a girl like you' was written by Reg Presley and a hit single for the Troggs in 1966. Swedish singer Harpo released his version of the song in 1978. Although the single was released all over Europe, it was not a hit.

The B-side of the single features 'Ballad of Los Angeles', written by Harpo himself. He actually travelled to Los Angeles in 1977, and this song was one of the creative results from that trip.

My collection: 7" single no. 4230
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'With a girl like you' / 'Ballad of Los Angeles'

Walking on sunshine - Katrina and the Waves

'Walking on sunshine' is a song on Katrina and the Waves' second album of the same name. The song was released as a single from the album in a re-recorded version. This single, released in 1985, reached number 4 in Australia, number 9 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 8 in the UK singles chart.

The B-side of the single features a version of 'Going down to Liverpool', a track that was a modest hit for the Bangles in 1984.

My collection: 7" single no. 4229
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Walking on sunshine' / 'Going down to Liverpool'

How old are you? - Robin Gibb

While a member of the Bee Gees, Robin Gibb still had a solo career. During the Eighties he released three solo albums: 'How old are you', 'Secret agent' and 'Walls have eyes'. From the first of these comes this single, the title track of that album.

'How old are you' reached number 37 in Germany and number 92 in the UK singles chart. Although I do remember the song from 1983, it was not a hit in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 4228
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'How old are you?' / 'I believe in miracles'

On the radio - Donna Summer

Donna Summer's 1979 single 'On the radio' was written for the soundtrack of the movie 'Foxes' and also included as a new track on her first international compilation album 'On the radio: greatest hits volumes 1 & 2'.

When the track was released as a single, it peaked at number 5 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 32 in the UK singles chart and number 20 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4227
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'On the radio' / 'There will always be a you'

Dance, dance, dance - Chic

'Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)' is a 1977 disco song recorded by Chic. Luther Vandross, who was a session vocalist at the time, provided backing vocals on the track. The 'yowsah, yowsah, yowsah' of the title, which appears as a spoken interjection in the middle of the song, originated with the American jazz violinist and radio personality Ben Bernie, who popularized it in the Twenties.

It was the group's first hit, reaching number 6 in the UK singles chart and a more modest number 37 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4226
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Dance, dance, dance' / 'Sao Paulo'