African and white (remixed version) - China Crisis

China Crisis signed to Virgin records in 1982, releasing their debut album 'Difficult shapes & passive rhythms, some people think it's fun to entertain' in December of that year.

Their first hit in the UK was a re-release of 'African & White'. This song was originally released in 1981 on an independent label, but this Virgin release was a remix of the track. The single reached number 45 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4283
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'African and white (remixed version)' / 'Red sails'

Secret separation - The Fixx

'Walkabout' was the fourth album by the Fixx, released in 1986. From this album, the single 'Secret separation' was taken. Like most singles by the band, it did not chart, although it was played often on the radio.

Personally I didn't know this single existed until I saw it and bought it recently. I did know the album very well, as my sister bought it in the late Eighties, and I recorded it and played it rather often at the time. So this was a really nice find.

My collection: 7" single no. 4282
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Secret separation' / 'Sense the adventure'

Manolo Manolete - Vanessa Paradis

Vanessa Paradis debuted in 1987 with 'Joe le taxi', and then followed it up with 'Manolo Manolete', a song about a Spanish bullfighter. The single only managed to reach number 10 in the French singles chart, but flopped everywhere else.

As a result, the track did not appear on her debut album 'M&J', released in 1988.

My collection: 7" single no. 4281
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Manolo Manolete' / 'You you'

The Summer Megamix - Boney M

The height of Boney M's success was gone, vanished by the end of the Eighties. Still, someone thought it would be a good idea to release a 'Summer Megamix', consisting of their biggest summer hits: 'Sunny', 'Ma baker', 'Hooray! Hooray! It's a holi-holiday', 'Gotta go home' and 'Kalimba de luna'. The megamix was made by Michael Newman and Charles Key B, together with Pete Hammond from Pete Waterman Limited.

The single was, as far as I know, only released in France, peaking at number 11 in the French singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4280
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'The summer megamix' / 'The calendar song'

Ella elle l'a - France Gall

Written by Michel Berger, 'Ella elle l'a' is a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald. France Gall, who was married to Berger, recorded the song for her 1987 album 'Babacar'.

The single reached number 2 in France. In Germany, it became a number 1 hit (which is rather rare for a French song), while in the Dutch Top 40, the single reached number 30.

My collection: 7" single no. 4279
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Ella elle l'a' / 'Dancing brave'

Touch - Colin Blunstone

It's not always a bad life, being a pop star. Colin Blunstone not only has one of the best male voices in the industry, but for the sleeve of his single 'Touch' he also had to pose with a nude woman in his arms. That's not so bad, is it?

Released in February 1983, 'Touch' sounds a lot like an Imagination single. You would expect that this track was produced by Tony Swain and Steve Jolley as well, but it isn't - it was produced by one Peter Bardens, who also wrote the song. The single did not chart in any territory, which really is a shame.

My collection: 7" single no. 4278
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Touch' / 'Touch (instrumental)'

Are you sure? - The Allisons

The Allisons were an English pop duo consisting of Bob Day (born Bernard Colin Day, 2 February 1941, Trowbridge, Wiltshire) and John Alford (born Brian Henry John Alford, 31 December 1939, London). They were marketed as being brothers, using the same surname of Allison.

They represented the United Kingdom during the 1961 Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Are you sure'. They came in second place with 24 points. The song was released as a single on the Fontana Records label, and climbed to number 1 on the UK NME pop chart. However, the official UK singles chart states that the song peaked at number 2. Despite a couple of minor follow-up hits, the duo disbanded in 1963. It doesn't happen so often that I pay a large amount for a single without a picture sleeve, but this old rarity - in a perfect state! - did warrant it.

My collection: 7" single no. 4272
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 3,5 euro
Tracks: 'Are you sure?' / 'There's one thing more'