The logical song - Supertramp

'The logical song' by Supertramp is a 'story of innocence and idealism lost' with Hodgson condemning an education system not focused on knowledge and sensitivity. It was recorded as a track on Supertramp's 1979 album 'Breakfast in America'.

When the song was released as a single it reached number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 6 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the Dutch Top 40, 'The logical song' reached number 20.

My collection: 7" single no. 401
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'The logical song' / 'Just another nervous wreck'

D'you know what I mean? - Oasis

Noel Gallagher commented about 'D'you know what I mean?': 'I was going to make up some profound statement in the chorus but I couldn't come up with anything that fitted. Then I just thought "All my people right here, right now. D'You know what I mean? Yeah, yeah" Very vague, very ambiguous, that'll do. Look in the mirror and wink while you're singing it and it's quite saucy. And I fucking love that line, "Coming in a mess, going out in style". We were a bunch of scruffs from Manchester and we're going out in a Rolls Royce'.

The song was released as the first single from Oasis' third album 'Be here now'. Although the track clocks in at a lengthy six minutes, it was never edited for radio. The single reached number 1 in the UK singles chart - as had become tradition with Oasis singles - but also topped the charts in Finland, Ireland and Spain. In the Dutch Top 40, 'D'you know what I mean?' reached number 25. The 7" single was released in a gatefold sleeve.

My collection: 7" single no. 2861
Found: Record fair, 1997
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'D'you know what I mean?' / 'Stay young'

History - Mai Tai

'History' was the fourth hit single for Mai Tai in the Netherlands, peaking at number 22 in the Dutch Top 40 in May 1985. The single was released in the UK at the same time and became their first international hit. It peaked at number 8 in the UK singles chart.

The trio became a regular guest at the satellite music tv stations at the time, such as Sky Channel and Music Box. In a way, this UK pressing of Mai Tai's 'History' was the beginning of a success story that would last for three hit singles in the UK...

My collection: 7" single no. 3059
Found: Record Exchange, London, May 9, 1999
Cost: 10p
Tracks: 'History' / 'History (instrumental)'

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)'