Hanna Hanna - China Crisis

China Crisis released 'Hanna Hanna' in March 1984, after their first top 10 hit, 'Wishful thinking'. The single did not match that success, as it only reached number 44 in the UK singles chart and failed to chart in much of Europe - contrary to its predecessor.

The B-side is a live version of their debut single 'African and white', recorded at Reading University in January 1984.

My collection: 7" single no. 2113
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, June 11, 1994
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Hanna Hanna' / 'African and white (live)'

Dreamlover - Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey is one of those vocalists that people love or loathe. And of course, I'm in the latter category - and rightfully so. People who think that the woman can sing clearly have their ears clogged up. But the strange thing is, she did occasionally record a decent song. 'Dreamlover', taken from her fourth album 'Music box' was the one track that stood out amidst a pile of drivel.

The single reached number 1 in Canada and the USA, peaking at number 9 in the UK singles chart and number 8 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1995
Found: HMV, London, October 18, 1993
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Dreamlover' / 'Do you think of me'

Never gonna cry again - Eurythmics

The Eurythmics were one of the most successful bands of the Eighties, but their debut single went by almost unnoticed - except by me. My sister bought 'Never gonna cry again' when it was released and for a long time it was a favourite of ours. The spooky sleeve and the sad, melancholic song appealed enormously to us.

The song was produced by Conny Plank and featured Holger Czukay from the band Can on French horn. Annie Lennox performed a flute solo, one of the few times that she actually used the instrument during her pop career, despite having studied it at the prestigious Royal College of Music in London. The single reached number 63 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 215
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1983
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Never gonna cry again' / 'Le sinistre'

Driver's seat - Sniff 'n' the tears

The genesis of 'Driver's seat' dates back to 1973 and a demo tape recorded for a French record label by singer/guitarist Paul Roberts for the band Ashes of Moon. However, that band broke up and, at the suggestion of drummer Luigi Salvoni, Roberts reformed it as Sniff 'n' the Tears with guitarists Laurence 'Loz' Netto and Nick Dyche and bassist Nick South. They shopped the demo tape and signed with the small Chiswick label in 1977. They recorded 'Driver's seat' in 1978 on their debut album 'Fickle heart'.

According to Paul Roberts, 'Driver's seat' isn't about driving, but rather 'fragmented, conflicting thoughts and emotions that might follow the break-up of a relationship'. The single peaked at number 4 in the Dutch Top 40 in 1980, but resurfaced in 1992 when it was used in a Pioneer commercial, reaching number 1 on that occasion.

My collection: 7" single no. 924
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 25, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Driver's seat' / 'Slide away'

Humanahum - Jean Gabilou

Jean Gabilou was born in Tahiti and became the first singer from French overseas territory to represent France at the Eurovision Song Contest. He did so in 1981, with the song 'Humanahum'. The title may seem nonsensical, but the message is quite serious: the lyric is about an old man teaching a group of children about life on Earth. Gabilou sings that because humanity 'invented the war', the Earth eventually could not support life. The song, therefore, is a plea for global peace.

The song finished third in the contest, out of 20 competitors. France famously opted out of the Contest the next year, with the national broadcaster calling Eurovision 'a monument to inanity'. France returned in 1983 with a different broadcaster sending the artists.

My collection: 7" single no. 4345
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, December 1, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Humanahum (Version Française)' / 'Humanahum (English version)'

All for Leyna - Billy Joel

Taken from Billy Joel's 1980 album 'Glass houses', 'All for Leyna' is the tale of someone who meets a girl names Leyna, and after a one night stand, becomes obsessed with her. At the time, Billy Joel sang his songs with a biting aggressiveness that made this track that much more attractive.

'All for Leyna' reached number 40 in the UK singles chart, but failed to chart in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 1840
Found: Record fair, January 23, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'All for Leyna' / 'Close to the borderline'

You could have been with me - Sheena Easton

'You could have been with me' was the title track from Sheena Easton's second album, released in 1981. The song was composed by Lea Maalfrid who had had considerable success in her native New Zealand as frontwoman for glam rock band Ragnarok. Maalfrid had little awareness of Sheena Easton and 'wasn't too bothered [i.e. interested]' about Easton recording her song. When the song turned out to be successful, Maalfrid abandoned her own singing career in favour of songwriting.

The single reached number 14 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 15 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the UK, the single only reached number 54, showing the first signs of Easton's career being more successful in America than in her native Great Britain.

My collection: 7" single no. 103
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'You could have been with me' / 'Family of one'