Victor should have been a jazz musician - Grace Jones

After all the sonic mayhem of the Trevor Horn-produced album 'Slave to the rhythm' (1985), Grace Jones returned in 1986 with the album 'Inside story', produced by Nile Rodgers and Grace Jones herself.

The single 'Victor should have been a jazz musician' is a far cry from 'Slave to the rhythm', as it's a slow jazz track. The single was successful in the Netherlands, where it reached number 26 in the Dutch Top 40, but it failed to chart in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 2625
Found: March 2, 1996
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Victor should have been a jazz musician' / 'Crush'

De Nederlandse sterre die strale overal! - Rubberen Robbie

When Dutch producer Jaap Eggermont achieved international success with his series of 'Stars on 45' singles, the group Rubberen Robbie - also Dutch - was inspired to create a parody. They glued together bits and pieces of famous Dutch songs and wrote their own funny lyrics for these songs. It gave them their first chart hit, and quite a big one: 'De Nederlandse sterre die strale overal!' ('The Dutch stars shine everywhere!') reached number 1 in the Dutch Top 40 in the summer of 1981.

The B-side was the bluesy 'In de goot' ('In the gutter'), a story of a jobless lazy bum, who spends his days drinking and spending what little money he has on useless objects. It was a pretty accurate description of the 'no future' generation of that time.

My collection: 7" single no. 506
Found: Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'De Nederlandse sterre die strale overal!' / 'In de goot'

It's only love - Simply Red

'It's only love' was written by Jimmy and Vela Cameron and recorded by Barry White on his album 'The man' (1978).

In 1988, Simply Red recorded a cover version of the song for their third studio album 'A new flame'. It was released as the album's first single. It reached number 1 in Italy, number 7 in Ireland and number 13 in the UK. In the Dutch Top 40, 'It's only love' reached number 9.

My collection: 7" single no. 732
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, February 4, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'It's only love' / 'Turn it up'

Shoobedoo da dabba doobee - Imagination

Imagination's 'Shoobedoo da dabba doobee', released in the USA with the considerably duller title 'This means war', was released in 1984, ending a very successful run of chart hits for the band in the UK. This single failed to reach the UK singles chart and was also unsuccessful elsewhere in Europe.

Personally, I have always been fond of this track and especially its title. And it's one of those singles I've been searching for years, until I finally found it almost a decade after its release.

My collection: 7" single no. 1823
Found: Record Palace, Amsterdam, January 13, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Shoobedoo da dabba doobee' / 'Shoobedoo da dabba doobee (dub version)'

I'm gonna love you too - Blondie

Joe Mauldin, Niki Sullivan and Norman Petty wrote 'I'm gonna love you too', originally recorded by Buddy Holly in 1958. Mauldin and Sullivan were members of Holly's band The Crickets; Petty was Holly's first manager and also his recording engineer.

Blondie's version of the song was chosen as the first single from their album 'Parallel lines'. Although the band was very successful with their cover of 'Denis', which was featured on their previous albums, this single failed to chart in most territories, although it did reach number 7 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 121
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'I'm gonna love you too' / 'Fanmail'

Worlds apart - Cock Robin

Cock Robin released their third album 'First love last rites' in 1989. The music on the album was a bit darker than on previous efforts, and a little less poppy and accessible as well. Produced by Rhett Davies, the album featured some hispanic influences.

Some of these influences could be heard on the first single from the album, 'Worlds apart', released in December 1989. The single did not chart in most territories, with the exception of France, where it peaked at number 22.

My collection: 7" single no. 1116
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, November 24, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Worlds apart' / 'Don't think twice (live)'

Eyes without a face - Billy Idol

Coincidence or not? In 1960, a French horror movie called 'Les yeux sans visage' was released. Billy Idol came up with the song 'Eyes without a face' in 1984, in which Perri Lister sings exactly those French words in the background.

Although Billy Idol usually recorded more rock-oriented tracks, it was this midtempo ballad that gave him a worldwide hit. The single reached number 24 in the Dutch Top 40, number 18 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2673
Found: Record Exchange, London, June 30, 1996
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Eyes without a face' / 'The dead next door'