Neverending story - Limahl

'Neverending story' was composed by Giorgio and Keith Forsey for the German movie of the same name. Limahl, formerly from the popular band Kajagoogoo, was asked to sing the song. In the end, it didn't feature in the movie at all, but it did appear on the soundtrack album. As a reference to the film and its title, the song has no distinctive beginning, nor an end. While many songs fade out, this track not only fades out, but also fades in, thus making it 'never ending'.

The single peaked at number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 34 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1979
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, October 17, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Neverending story' / 'The ivory tower'

Unfinished sympathy - Massive

The group Massive Attack was only just becoming better known with their first hit single 'Unfinished sympathy', when the Gulf War started and anything slightly offensive was censored by the powers that be. So 'Attack' was dropped from the band's name for a while. (After all, as long as we're waging wars, we shouldn't really talk about it, should we?)

'Unfinished sympathy' featured vocals by Shara Nelson and is usually named as one of the first tracks to bring the 'triphop' genre to the mainstream. The single reached number 13 in the UK singles chart and number 1 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1428
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, April 13, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Unfinished sympathy' / 'Unfinished sympathy (Nellee Hooper 7" mix)'

Losing my religion - R.E.M.

'Losing my religion' was essentially the breakthrough single for the American alternative rock band R.E.M. The song was originally composed by guitarist Peter Buck on a mandolin which he had just bought. The title of the song refers to an expression from the southern region of the USA that means losing one's temper or civility, or 'being at the end of one's rope'.

The single was released in early 1991 as the first single from R.E.M.'s 1991 album 'Out of time'. It reached number 4 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 19 in the UK singles chart and number 1 in the Dutch Top 40, the only country where the single topped the chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1401
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, March 16, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Losing my religion' / 'Rotary eleven'

Ain't no sunshine - Joe McGann and Rebecca de Ruvo

'Ain't no sunshine' was originally a hit for Bill Withers in 1971. It was re-recorded by Joe McGann and MTV hot babe Rebecca de Ruvo with a studio group called Bi Virtue. This 12" single was released in 1992.

This is one of those releases that sinks without a trace, fails to chart anywhere, and ends up in the sales bin all over Europe. I didn't know this version, but was curious enough about Rebecca de Ruvo's singing qualities to try it out. Hearing this now, it really sounds like an early Nineties production.

My collection: 12" single no. 522
Found: Plaatboef, Den Haag, 2000
Cost: 2,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Ain't no sunshine (radio mix)', 'Ain't no sunshine (Phill Chill mix)' / 'Why can't we just be friends (radio mix)', 'Ain't no sunshine (Up front mix)'

Sailing on the seven seas - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

Paul Humphreys left Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark in 1989 when the band's success in America forced them to make creative compromises. Other members of the band soon left as well, leaving founder member Andy McCluskey to go on solo under the OMD banner.

His first 'solo' OMD album was 1991's 'Sugar tax', preceded by the single 'Sailing on the seven seas'. The track featured a rather sparse synth sound, although it didn't sound very much like previous OMD tracks. The single peaked at number 3 in the UK singles chart, making this a very successful comeback.

My collection: 7" single no. 1486
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, July 3, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Sailing on the seven seas' / 'Burning'

Simply irresistible - Robert Palmer

'Simply irresistible' was released as the first single from Robert Palmer's 1988 album 'Heavy Nova'. The single was accompanied by a music video that has since become one of the iconic images of the Eighties: Robert palmer backed by an all female band of mannequins.

The single reached number 2 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 44 in the UK singles chart. In the Netherlands, the single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2557
Found: November 19, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Simply irresistible' / 'Nova'

Ice out in the rain - Sheena Easton

While 'You could have been with me' was taken from Sheena Easton's second album of the same name and 'Ice out in the rain' was taken from her third album, the two singles' sleeves still share the same photograph and artwork.

'Ice out in the rain' is one of Sheena Easton's lesser known single releases. When it was released as the follow-up to 'Machinery', it didn't chart in any territory.

My collection: 7" single no. 1472
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 30, 1991
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Ice out in the rain' / 'Loner'