Do not disturb - Bananarama

'Do not disturb' was written and produced by Steve Jolley and Tony Swain and recorded by Bananarama as a stand-alone single, released in 1985. It reached number 31 in the UK singles chart. The track was subsequently included on Bananarama's third album 'True confessions', released in 1986.

The trio did not like the song. Group member Keren Woodward later said of the 'True confessions' album: 'It is all our ideas, it is what we wanted to sound like and sing about. Except 'Do Not Disturb' which Swain and Jolley wrote and which we don't think is very good. Thats why there's eleven songs on the LP instead of ten'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4327
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, December 1, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Do not disturb' / 'Ghost'

Katinka - De Spelbrekers

Theo Rekkers (born April 24, 1924) and Huub Kok (born February 10, 1918) formed the Spelbrekers in 1945. They met in a German arms factory where they were performing forced labour in 1943. They had their first hit in 1956 with 'Oh wat ben je mooi' ('Oh how beautiful you are').

In 1962, they represented the Netherlands during the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Katinka'. They ended up in joint last place, failing to score any points. This result was partly to blame on a bad broadcast: during their performance the image on television went almost entirely black, causing the two to look almost like criminals. Still, in their homeland they reached number 9 in the charts in May 1962.

My collection: 7" single no. 4274
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 3,5 euro
Tracks: 'Katinka' / 'Carnaval'

Dracula's tango - Toto Coelo

'Dracula's tango (Sucker for your love)' sounds a lot like songs performed by various other girl groups at the time - even Dutch ones. The single was released in November 1982 and reached number 54 in the UK singles chart. It was their last single to reach the chart, although they did release a handful of other singles after that.

My collection: 7" single no. 4338
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, December 1, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Dracula's tange (Sucker for your love)' / 'Mucho macho'

She blinded me with science - Thomas Dolby

Thomas Dolby's 'She blinded me with science' was originally released in October 1982 as a single in October 1982 and subsequently included on the second edition of his debut album 'The golden age of wireless'. The single only reached number 49 in the UK singles chart, but when it was released in the USA, it reached number 5 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The song's title 'She blinded me with science' plays upon the British expression 'to blind with science', meaning to deliberately confuse someone by giving the impression of highly complex knowledge. In the song, however, the phrase is interpreted as a straightforward reference to the natural sciences. The song features interjections from the British scientist and TV presenter Magnus Pyke, who repeatedly shouts 'Science!' and delivers other lines in a deliberately over-the-top "mad scientist" voice.

My collection: 7" single no. 4337
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, December 1, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'She blinded me with science' / 'One of our submarines'

Right next door (Because of me) - Robert Cray

Robert Cray was born on August 1, 1953. By the age of twenty, he had seen Albert Collins, Freddie King and Muddy Waters live, and decided to form his own band. After years of regional success, Robert Cray was signed to a record company in 1982. He released his breakthrough album 'Strong persuader' in 1986.

The single 'Right next door' was released in the summer of 1987, and it was his first international success, peaking at number 50 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4335
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, December 1, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Right next door (because of me)' / 'New blood'

Shame - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

'Shame' was released as the third single from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's 1987 album 'The pacific age'. The band had suggested another track, 'Stay', as a possible single from the album, but label Virgin thought 'Shame' had more potential. The band relented, although feeling the album version was a bit slow, they re-recorded the track with producer Rhett Davies.

The single, released in May 1987, was not the big success that it was hoped to be, reaching only number 52 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4334
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, December 1, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Shame (re-recorded version)' / 'Goddess of love'

Body and soul - Mai Tai

Mai Tai only made a name for themselves in their native Netherlands, when they had some success abroad. The single 'History' was released in May 1985 and became a top 10 hit in the UK, while it only reached number 22 in the Dutch Top 40.

Their next single in the UK was 'Body and soul', released in August 1985, which reached number 9 in the UK singles chart. That single had already been released in the Netherlands a year before, peaking at number 31. Like most of their early work, the single was produced by Eric van Tijn and Jochem Fluitsma, who would go on to produce some of the Netherlands' entries for the Eurovision Song Contest.

My collection: 7" single no. 4332
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, December 1, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Body and soul' / 'The rules of love'