Hijo de la luna - Mecano

The fairytale-like 'Hijo de la luna', recorded in 1990 by the Spanish band Mecano, was a major European hit. It reached number 3 in the Dutch Top 40, despite the fact that even most of the Dutch can't understand Spanish.

The lyric of the song depicts a 'gypsy' woman, who prays an entire night to the Moon goddess for a husband. In the end, the moon says that she shall have her man, but in return she wants her first-born child to be turned over to her. When the child is born, it turns out that its skin color does not resemble the father's, but instead is white 'like the back of an ermine' (the white fur of a stoat originating from Armenia), and has grey eyes. The gypsy man automatically assumes that his wife committed adultery, and kills her with a knife. Afterwards, he carries the infant onto the top of a mountain, where he abandons it. The child is taken up into the sky by the moon, and on nights when the moon is full, it is because the child is happy, and when the child cries, the moon will wane to make him a cradle. The chorus throughout the song says that the moon wants to be a mother, yet cannot find a lover who will make her a woman (and therefore, impregnate her), and questions her as to what she would do with a child of flesh.

My collection: 7" single no. 1242
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, June 9, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Hijo de la luna' / 'Mujer contra mujer'

Burning the ground - Duran Duran

When Duran Duran's compilation album 'Decade: Greatest hits' was released in 1989, 'Burning the ground' was released as the accompanying single (although the track did not appear on the album). It is essentially a megamix of Duran Duran hits, created by producer John Jones.

'Burning the ground' contains elements from 'Save a prayer', 'Hungry like the wolf', 'Rio', 'The reflex', 'The wild boys', 'Skin trade', 'A view to a kill', 'Notorious', 'I don't want your love', 'Planet earth' and 'Girls on film'. The song also uses several samples from the 1968 erotic science fiction movie 'Barbarella', from which the band took their name.

My collection: 7" single no. 2319
Found: Record fair, June 3, 1995
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Burning the ground' / 'Decadance'

Souvenir - Orchestral manoeuvres in the Dark

I bought a European pressing of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's 1981 single 'Souvenir' just last month, but when I saw this UK pressing, I just couldn't resist buying this one too. And for good reason, too: the picture label is so beautiful that the sleeve was made to fit the label.

What's more, where the European single only contains the B-side track 'Sacred heart', this one also contains a second B-side track. All in all, quite a good package here.

My collection: 7" single no. 4267
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Souvenir' / 'Motion & heart (Amazon version)', 'Sacred heart'

Preacher man - Bananarama

Bananarama's fifth studio album 'Pop life' was the only one to feature member Jacquie O'Sullivan, who replaced Siobhan Fahey when she left the trio in 1988. The album was made without the involvement of Stock Aitken & Waterman, who produced and co-wrote most of their two previous albums.

'Preacher man' was produced by Youth and was the most successful single from the album, although it peaked at number 20 in the UK singles chart only. It's obvious Bananarama were struggling a bit by 1991.

My collection: 7" single no. 4325
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, December 1, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Preacher man' / 'Megalomaniac'

Say you really want me - Kim Wilde

Although 'Say you really want me' was released as a single in the USA in late 1986, in conjunction with the movie 'Running scared' in which the song was featured, the single was only released in the UK and Australia in July 1987. The single featured a newly remixed version, made by Kim's brother Ricky Wilde.

Two videos were made for this release - one to accompany the 7" version, and a second extended one to promote the song in clubs. This video remix was also released in the UK on a second 12" single. The video was considered 'too raunchy' for children's television, and so it was banned by presenter Timmy Mallett. The single, meanwhile, reached number 29 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 555
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 7 guilders
Tracks: 'Say you really want me' / 'Don't say nothing's changed'

On Stage EP - Kate Bush

Back in 1979, Kate Bush went on tour. I was only eight years old when she came to Amsterdam, otherwise I would certainly have gone. In hindsight, I probably should have gone anyway, since the woman has never toured since. What a shame!

Although a full video was released in 1979 as well, featuring most of the show as recorded live on May 13, 1979, this single was the only official release on record of that tour. It features four live songs, which were tweaked and redubbed in the studio and, in the case of 'James and the cold gun', edited as well. The single reached number 10 in the UK singles chart, number 15 in Ireland and number 21 in the Dutch Top 40. There are rumours that the video will be released on dvd soon as well. Here's hoping...

My collection: 7" single no. 34
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1979
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Them heavy people', 'Don't push your foot on the heartbrake' / 'James and the cold gun', 'L'amour looks something like you'

The war song - Culture Club

Culture Club released their third album 'Waking up with the house on fire' in 1984. In an attempt to profit from their fame, the record company pushed them to come up with new material as soon as their world tour had ended. The band was a bit tired, and it can be heard in the songs on the album.

The lead single 'The war song' was not very inspired, but ended up being the one hit single from the album. It reached number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 5 in the Dutch Top 40. Subsequent singles were far less successful.

My collection: 7" single no. 2962
Found: February 9, 1998
Cost: 2,5 guilders
Tracks: 'The war song' / 'La cancion de guerra'