So you win again - Hot Chocolate

'So you win again' was written by Russ Ballard, the English singer-songwriter who also wrote tracks like 'You can do magic' and 'I know there's something going on'.

Hot Chocolate recorded the song in 1977, with Mickie Most producing. It became the band's only UK number one single that summer. In the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, it reached number 31, wheras in the Dutch Top 40, it reached number 7.

My collection: 7" single no. 509
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'So you win again' / 'A part of being with you'

Love will conquer all - Lionel Richie

The man who gave us lyrics like 'What a feeling / when we're dancing on the ceiling' also gave us this sloppy love song. 'Love will conquer all' was a single taken from Lionel Richie's 1986 album 'Dancing on the ceiling'.

The single reached number 9 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 45 in the UK singles chart and number 18 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1150
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, January 19, 1990
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Love will conquer all' / 'The only one'

Those simple things / (What a day for a) Daydream - Right said Fred

Right said Fred found fame with songs like 'I'm too sexy' and 'Deeply dippy', that were considered humorous but no serious attempts at making music. In a way, the double A-sided single 'Those simple things/Daydream' changed matters a bit. These were two beautiful and serious pop songs.

'Daydream' is a cover version of a song by the Lovin' Spoonful, whereas the beautifully orchestrated 'Those simple things' was an original track. Both were taken from Right said Fred's debut album 'Up'. The single reached number 29 in the UK singles chart and number 20 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1698
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag,
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Those simple things' / '(What a day for a) daydream'

Everything counts - Depeche Mode

Martin Gore attended a concert by the industrial band Einstürzende Neubauten in January 1983 and got inspired to experiment with industrial sounds in his own music. Depeche Mode had just started to use the Synclavier, a synthesizer that allowed to record an re-use sounds. They started recording hammering anvils, clanging pipes, running water, pingpong balls, etcetera.

Their third album 'Construction time again' not only contained these new sounds, but also a more political stance in their lyrics. 'Everything counts' specifically addresses corporate greed and corruption in the music industry, as the chorus sings of 'grabbing hands' that 'grab all they can'. The single reached number 6 in the UK singles chart and remains one of the band's best known songs.

My collection: 7" single no. 1075
Found: HMV, London, October 19, 1989
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Everything counts' / 'Work hard'

I feel love - Donna Summer

After Donna Summer left Casablance Records and signed with Geffen Records, her old record company released a series of singles from her 1979 double album 'Bad girls' as well as the compilation album 'Walk away - The best of 1977-1980'. After this, disco and high energy producer Patrick Cowley was asked to remix one of Summer's best known tracks, 'I feel love'. This remix was released as a single in 1982, around the same time when Donna Summer scored a big hit with her new record company, 'State of independence'.

The full length 12" version clocked in at over 15 minutes and became a club favourite. The edit version on 7" single reached number 21 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3093
Found: House of Rhythm, London, May 13, 1999
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'I feel love (part 1)' / 'I feel love (part 2)'

More than the sun - Black

After Black signed to WEA Records in 1984, they released only two singles for the label until they were dropped. The second single was a re-recording of their 1982 single, 'More than the sun'. Although the previous single 'Hey presto' gave the band some exposure, this single didn't fare as well.

'More than the sun' is a beautifully orchestrated ballad in this re-recorded version. The B-side is the peculiar and very interesting 'Butterfly man'. Both tracks would be included in a mini-album released by WEA after they had their Europe-wide success with that one classic song, 'Wonderful life'. Cashing in!

My collection: 7" single no. 2271
Found: Record fair, April 8, 1995
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'More than the sun' / 'Butterfly man'

Cheek to cheek (Heaven) - Taco

The second single taken from Taco's 1983 album 'After eight' was another old song set to synthpop music. Irving Berlin wrote 'Cheek to cheek', performed by Fred Astaire in the 1935 movie 'Top hat'.

Unlike the previous single, this one didn't become a hit. Taco continued to record and release albums throughout the Eighties, focusing mainly on the German market.

My collection: 7" single no. 198
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1983
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Cheek to cheek (heaven)' / 'Encore (Sweet gypsy rose)'