All she wants is - Duran Duran

The title of the second single from Duran Duran's 1988 album 'Big Thing' is 'All she wants is'. It doesn't become obvious during the course of this track what it is exactly 'she' wants, but from the panting and high-pitched screaming, the listener does get some kind of idea.

The single was reasonably successful, reaching number 9 in the UK singles chart and number 22 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 730
Found: Free Record Shop, Den haag, February 2, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'All she wants is' / 'I believe/All I need to know'

Wishing (If I had a photograph of you) - A Flock of seagulls

'Wishing (If I had a photograph of you)' was the opening track on A Flock of Seagulls' second album 'Listen'. The synth-heavy track holds the rare distinction of having been performed almost entirely on the black keys of a keyboard. The original version of this song clocked in at nearly 14 minutes. Obviously, it was edited down to four minutes for the single release.

The single peaked at number 10 in the UK singles chart in November 1982. Six months later it charted in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it reached number 26.

My collection: 7" single no. 171
Found: Studio Echo, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Wishing (If I had a photograph of you)' / 'Committed'

Let's wait awhile - Janet Jackson

'Let's wait awhile' is a track from Janet Jackson's successful album 'Control'. It was written by Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis and Melanie Andrews. The song talks about waiting until the right moment to have sexual intercourse. The song can also be interpreted as an anthem to sexual abstinence, as it was a hit during the height of the AIDS pandemic.

When the track was released as the fifth single from the album, it reached number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 3 in the UK singles chart and number 16 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1182
Found: Oldies Unlimited, UK, February 26, 1990
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Let's wait awhile' / 'Nasty (Cool summer mix, part 1)'

Lavender - Marillion

'Lavender' was released as the second single from Marillion's most popular album 'Misplaced childhood'. The song was re-recorded for the single and sounds notably different from the album version. It features a number of verses that are reminiscent of the folk song 'Lavender blue'.

As the follow-up to the big UK number 2 hit 'Kayleigh', the song became their second Top 5 UK hit, peaking at number 5. In other countries, the single failed to reach the chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 339
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Lavender' / 'Freaks'

Jedan dan - Dubrovački Trubaduri

Forget Johnny Logan, forget Sandra Kim and forget all the noise of recent years: it's songs like this we remember the Eurovision Song Contest so fondly for. 'Jedan dan' is melodious, it includes some elements of folk music and it is instantly memorable when you hear it.

The song was performed during the 1968 Eurovision Song Contest by the Dubrovački trubaduri, representing Yugoslavia. The song reached seventh place in the Contest and was subsequently released as a single all over Europe (this single is actually a Dutch pressing). The group, in different line-ups, existed until the early Eighties when they broke up.

My collection: 7" single no. 4276
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Jedan dan' / 'Trubadurska serenada'

The lady in red - Chris de Burgh

Chris de Burgh is often seen as the epitome of uncool, but he has written a few gorgeous love songs. 'The lady in red' is one of them. The song was written in reference to (though not specifically about) his first wife Diane. The song was inspired by the memory of the first time he saw her, and how men so often cannot even remember what their wives were wearing when they first met.

When the track from his 1986 album 'Into the light' was released as a single, it reached number 1 in the UK singles chart, number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 6 in the Dutch Top 40. Few would confess they have this single in their collection now. Well, I'm coming clean anyway.

My collection: 7" single no. 475
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'The lady in red' / 'Borderline'

Brass in pocket - The Pretenders

'Brass in pocket' was released as the Pretenders' third single. It was their first success, reaching number 1 in the UK singles chart in January 1980. In the Dutch Top 40, the single reached number 7. The song takes its title from an expression Hynde heard from a member of a Yorkshire-based support band who was looking for his money.

Chrissie Hynde commented about 'Brass in pocket' two decades after its release: 'When we recorded the song I wasn't very happy with it and told my producer that he could release it over my dead body, but they eventually persuaded me. So I remember feeling a bit sheepish when it went to number one.'

My collection: 7" single no. 1011
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Brass in pocket' / 'Swinging London', 'Nervous but shy'