Black Betty - Ram Jam

'Black Betty' is a 20th century African-American work song often credited to Huddie 'Lead Belly' Ledbetter as the author, though the earliest recordings are not by him. Some sources claim it is one of Lead Belly's many adaptations of earlier folk material; in this case an 18th century marching cadence about a flint-lock rifle.

In 1977 the rock band Ram Jam recorded a heavy version of the song. The single reached number 18 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, despite a boycott by civil rights groups who claimed the track insulted black women. In the Netherlands, the single reached number 4 and in the UK singles chart it reached number 7.

My collection: 7" single no. 1861
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, January 30, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Black Betty' / 'I should have known'

The dead heart - Midnight Oil

The Australian band Midnight Oil specialises in songs with lots of socially conscious and political comments. 'The dead heart' refers to early white settlement in Australia, from the perspective of the Aborigines who had laid claim to the land prior to the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788. The song also gives a mention to the industrialisation of Australia with the words 'Mining companies, pastoral companies, uranium companies, collected companies / Got more right than people / Got more say than people'.

Although originally released in 1986 in Australia, the single was only released in Europe in 1988 after the single 'Beds are burning' had become a worldwide hit. The less accessible 'The dead heart' only managed to reach number 62 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 769
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 16, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'The dead heart' / 'Kosciusko'

Endless road - Time Bandits

The Time Bandits scored another hit in the Netherlands with the single 'Endless road' in the summer of 1985. Having had a successful run of hits since the early Eighties, it was not much of a surprise that this one reached number 16 in the Dutch Top 40.

It was a surprise, however, that I found a UK pressing of this single nine years ago. The international career of the Time Bandits never took off, despite some interesting collaborations with American producer Dan Hartman.

My collection: 7" single no. 3195
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 16, 2000
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Endless road' / 'Fiction'

Mindworks - Sam Brown

'Mindworks' was released as the fourth single from Sam Brown's 1990 album 'April moon'. In the UK, a strictly limited edition featured a pop-up gatefold sleeve, with part of the lyric of the song and Sam Brown's head popping out.

Still, the single did not chart in any territory. Remarkably, the record company did not give up after this and released one more single from the album: 'As one'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1309
Found: HMV, London, October 15, 1990
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Mindworks' / 'No man is an island'

When doves cry - Prince

I've never actually seen a dove cry, but I guess that's a poetic license the Purple Majesty took on himself in this song. Prince wrote and composed the tracks after all the other tracks on the album 'Purple rain' (which was also the soundtrack to the movie of the same name) were complete. In addition to vocals, he also played all instruments on the track. Remarkably, there is no bass line in the track. Prince has said that there originally was a bass line, but decided that the song was too conventional with it.

The song was released as the first single from the album, peaking at number 10 in the UK singles chart and number 5 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 237
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1984
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'When doves cry' / '17 days (the rain will come down, then U will have 2 choose. If U believe, look 2 the dawn and U shall never lose)'

Walking down your street - The Bangles

Following up the massive hit 'Walk like an Egyptian' was quite a chore for the Bangles, as they didn't have a lot of these unusual tracks on their album 'Different light'. In the end, the record company opted for 'Walking down your street', in a slightly remixed version when compared to the album version. In the UK, they released the single in a limited edition double pack with 'Walk like an Egyptian' as the free second single.

Of course, this single scored less well. It peaked at number 16 in the UK singles chart and number 33 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 504
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Walking down your street' / 'Return post' // 'Walk like an Egyptian' / 'Not like you'

Just an illusion - Imagination

'Just an illusion' was written by Leee John and Ashley Ingram from the band Imagination, together with their producers Steve Jolley and Tony Swain. The smooth soul sound of the track appealed to a lot of listeners.

When the track was released as a single in March 1982, it became the band's biggest hit, peaking at number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 8 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2054
Found: November 20, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Just an illusion' / 'Just an illusion (instrumental)'