Stainsby girls - Chris Rea

Chris Rea wrote 'Stainsby girls' as a tribute for his wife Joan, a former student of the Stainsby Secondary Modern School. The single was taken from the album 'Shamrock diaries', released in 1985. The album was a number one hit in many European countries and Australia.

The single was Rea's first major hit in the UK, reaching number 26 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4245
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Stainsby girls' / 'And when she smiles'

Horoscope - Harpo

Although I am not familiar with most of Harpo's work, I bought three singles by him on one day. This is the third and last one.

'Horoscope' was released in 1976, as a single from his album 'Moviestar'. It reached number 1 in Denmark and was also a hit elsewhere in Scandinavia.

My collection: 7" single no. 4244
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Horoscope' / 'Jessica'

Dreaming - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

When the compilation album 'The best of OMD' was released in 1988, the new track 'Dreaming' was released as the accompanying single. Produced by OMD and mixed by Tom Lord Alge, it was an uncharacteristically uncomplicated lovesong.

While the single was not a big success in the UK (where it peaked at number 50), it was the band's second most successful single in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 16. It was also the last single by OMD in their original lineup, as Paul Humphreys left the band in 1989 to form The Listening Pool. Andy McCluskey continued OMD on his own.

My collection: 7" single no. 4246
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Dreaming' / 'Satellite'

Five miles out - Mike Oldfield

Released in February 1982, 'Five miles out' was a single from the Mike Oldfield album of the same name. The song makes numerous references to flying. It has a complex structure despite its short length. Maggie Reilly makes her first appearance on a Mike Oldfield song, but her voice is almost drowned in Mike Oldfield's voice (which is processed through a vocoder).

The single was a modest success, reaching number 43 in the UK singles chart and number 42 in the German singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4241
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Five miles out' / 'Live punkadiddle'

Oh l'amour - Erasure

'Oh l'amour' was released in April 1986 as the third single by the synthpop duo Erasure. Written by members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, the song is a lament from someone experiencing unrequited love.

Upon its release, the single reached number 85 in the UK singles chart, but reached number 2 in South Africa, number 16 in Germany and number 13 in Australia. Furthermore, it became their only hit to date in France, where it reached number 14.

My collection: 7" single no. 4242
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Oh l'amour' / 'March on down the line'

Two tribes - Frankie goes to Hollywood

People who grew up in the Eighties are usually familiar with the music video for Frankie goes to Hollywood's second single 'Two tribes', in which two actors playing Ronald Reagan and Konstantin Chernenko are in a wrestling match.

The track itself is equally famous for its hasty tempo and loud production by Trevor Horn. The single was released at the height of the cold war, when general fears about global nuclear warfare were at a peak. According to Frankie's frontman Holly Johnson: 'There's two elements in the music - an American funk line and a Russian line. It’s the most obvious demonstration of two tribes that we have today.' The single went number 1 in the UK singles chart and the Dutch Top 40 in the summer of 1984.

My collection: 7" single no. 4240
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Two tribes' / 'One February Friday'

Visage - Visage

'Visage' was the fourth single by Visage, released in June 1981. It is the title track from Visage's selftitled debut album, produced by Visage and Midge Ure. This single is the German pressing, which comes in a different sleeve from the UK edition.

'Visage' reached number 21 in the UK singles chart, but was unsuccessful in mainland Europe.

My collection: 7" single no. 4239
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Visage' / 'Second steps'