Love song / Alive and kicking - Simple Minds

'Love song' is a track from the Simple Minds' 1981 album 'Sons and fascination'. It was originally released as a single in the same year, peaking at number 47 in the UK singles chart. Not only was it their biggest success in the UK up to that point, it was also their first single to chart outside the UK: in Australia and Canada, peaking at number 17 and 38 respectively.

The track was re-released as a double A-side single, coupled with their 1985 hit 'Alive and kicking', in 1992 to promote the compilation album 'Glittering Prize 81/92'. This single reached number 6 in the UK singles chart and number 24 in Ireland.

My collection: 7" single no. 1800
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, December 11, 1992
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Love song' / 'Alive and kicking'

Love is the groove - Betsy Cook

'Love is the groove' is the first single taken from Betsy Cook's first and only album, 'The girl who ate herself' (1992). The album was released a few years after she had some success as a songwriter with Paul Young's 1986 hit 'Wonderland'.

Although Betsy Cook's version of 'Love is the groove' did not chart, the song was covered by Cher in 1998 on her Grammy-winning album 'Believe'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1614
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, April 4, 1992
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Love is the groove' / 'Diving'

Ballade pour Adeline - Richard Clayderman

I first heard 'Ballade pour Adeline' on one of those cheap compilation LP's that is half filled with great hits and half with a sort of throwaway track. Except this instrumental piece on piano was not really a throwaway track, albeit slightly cheesy.

Richard Clayderman was born as Philippe Pagés on December 28, 1953 in Paris, France. He started playing the piano from a very young age. At 23 years old, he was auditioned by Paul de Senneville and Olivier Toussaint to record the gentle piano ballad. Toussaint commented on him winning the auditions: 'He was an interesting musician with a soft touch and good technique. And he looked good, too'. The single was the start of a successful career that lasts until today. It reached number 32 in the Dutch Top 40 and charted all over Europe.

My collection: 7" single no. 3058
Found: Record Exchange, London, May 9, 1999
Cost: 10p
Tracks: 'Ballade pour Adeline' / 'Ballade pour Adeline', 'Promenade dans les bois'

Fastlove - George Michael

'Fastlove' was the second single from George Michael's 1996 album 'Older'. The track contained a re-sung but otherwise identical chorus of the Patrice Rushen hit 'Forget me nots'. The track was an energetic tune about the need for gratification and fulfillment without concern for commitment.

The single reached number 14 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 1 on the UK singles chart. This 7" single was made in the USA, the only country where a 7" single was even released. 'Fastlove' reached number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

My collection: 7" single no. 3994
Found: eBay.com, received August 6, 2009
Cost: $4
Tracks: 'Fastlove' / 'I'm your man '96'

I'm with stupid - Pet Shop Boys

The Pet Shop Boys released 'I'm with stupid' in May 2006 as the first single from their Trevor Horn-produced album 'Fundamental'. Though it could be considered a lovesong about a man perceived by the public as a 'moron', the song has been acknowledged as being, on another level, about Tony Blair's relationship with George W. Bush.

The single was released on cd, dvd, various download formats and this 7" single. Although it was released in a 'normal' picture sleeve, it actually contains a picture disc. The single peaked at number 8 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3446
Found: Record fair, 2006
Cost: 6 euro
Tracks: 'I'm with stupid' / 'Girls don't cry'

L'amour ça fait chanter la vie - Jean Vallée

Jean Vallée was born as Paul Goeders in Verviers, Belgium in 1941. He represented Belgium twice for the Eurovision Song Contest. He first appeared in the 1970 edition with the song 'Viens l'oublier', finishing eighth.

He was more successful when he returned in 1978 with the song 'L'amour ça fait chanter la vie', a bombastic typically Eurovision-sounding ballad, which finished second behind the winning song 'A-ba-ni-bi' by Izhar Cohen for Israel.

My collection: 7" single no. 4342
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, December 1, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'L'amour ça fait chanter la vie' / 'Nonobstant'

When the wind blows - David Bowie

'When the wind blows' is an animated movie from the UK, released in 1986 and based on Raymond Briggs' graphic novel of the same name. It depicts a nuclear attack on the UK by the Soviet Union from the viewpoint of a retired couple, Jim and Hilda Bloggs. They live in rural Sussex and are confused regarding the nature and seriousness of their situation, which is sometimes used to generate gentle comedy as well as darker elements. As the film progresses their situation becomes steadily more hopeless as they suffer from the effects of radiation sickness. The film ends on an extremely bleak note, with both of them dying as they pray.

David Bowie sang the theme song of the movie, which was released as a single in the autumn of 1986. The single peaked at number 44 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1519
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 21, 1991
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'When the wind blows' / 'When the wind blows (instrumental)'