Guitar man / Baby I'm a want you - Bread

This 'Original Oldies' single features two hit singles by Bread. 'Guitar man' was written by David Gates. It first appeared on Bread's 1972 album, which was also titled 'Guitar man'. The single peaked at number 11 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 16 in the UK singles chart and number 13 in the Dutch Top 40.

'Baby I'm a want you' was released a year earlier, reaching number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 14 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7"single no. 912
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 25, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Guitar man' / 'Baby I'm a want you'

If you can't stand the heat - Bucks Fizz

'If you can't stand the heat' was written by Andy Hill and Ian Bairnson. The lyric of the song tell of someone who is manipulative, but when faced with her own medicine, she can't handle it, hence the song's title. The faint reggae beat on the track gives it a slight variation on the group's usually straightforward pop.

The song featured on the group's third album, 'Hand cut' (1983) and was released as a single in late 1982. It reached number 10 in the UK singles chart in January 1983.

My collection: 7" single no. 179
Found: Studio Echo, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'If you can't stand the heat' / 'Stepping out'

Sweet dreams (are made of this) - Eurythmics

'Sweet dreams (are made of this)' was the title track of the Eurythmics' second album and was released as its fourth single. Although the first two singles 'This is the house' and 'The walk' flopped and the third single 'Love is a stranger' only reached minor chart positions in the UK and Europe, the record company stuck with it. Quite a difference from the state of affairs these days...

The record company - and the artist - was rewarded: 'Sweet dreams' became a number 1 hit in the USA and Canada, and also reached number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 9 in the Dutch Top 40. Part of this success was caused by the iconic music video, starring Annie Lennox with her orange hair. My copy of the UK pressing of the single was stamped on the back of the sleeve with the words 'Not for resale'.

My collection: 7" single no. 191
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1983
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Sweet dreams (are made of this)' / 'I could give you (a mirror)'

How deep is your love - Bee Gees

'How deep is your love' was recorded by the Bee Gees in 1977 and used for the soundtrack of the movie 'Saturday night fever'. The track was originally intended for Yvonne Elliman, but the band finally decided to record the song themselves - and with good results.

When it was released as a single, it reached number 3 in the UK singles chart, number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 15 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 852
Found: Den Haag, May 27, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'How deep is your love' / 'Can't keep a good man down'

Something about you - Level 42

I've always considered the members of the band Level 42 unlikely candidates for a poster, but here you go: a limited edition poster bag was included with the UK pressing of the single 'Something about you'. It was the second single taken from the band's 1985 album 'World machine'.

Upon its release, the single reached number 10 in the UK singles chart and number 32 in the Dutch Top 40. I guess the poster really helped.

My collection: 7" single no. 1473
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 30, 1991
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: "Something about you' / 'Coup d'etat (version)'

Dressed for success - Roxette

When Roxette recorded 'Dressed for success', there were some problems. Marie Fredriksson later commented: 'I was so mad when I did it. Everything about that session went wrong, we argued about the arrangement, we changed the key, I was dead tired of the song when I went in to do a guide vocal. Did it in one blast and suddenly realized, "hmm... this is it".'

When the track was released as a single in October 1989, it reached number 14 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the UK, the single was re-released in November 1990 after the success of 'It must have been love'. On that occasion, it reached number 18.

My collection: 7" single no. 2618
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, February 10, 1996
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Dressed for success' / 'The voice'

Honesty - Billy Joel

'Honesty' was released in the summer of 1979 as the third single from Billy Joel's sixth studio album '52nd Street'. This album was actually the first album to be made commercially available on cd, when the new technology was released to the market in 1982.

It reached number 24 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 28 in the Dutch Top 40. In the UK, the single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 758
Found: All that music, Leiden, February 23, 1989
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Honesty' / 'Half a mile away'