'In dulci jubilo' ('In sweetest rejoicing') is a traditional Christmas Carol. The original lyrics, a macaronic alternation of Medieval German and Latin, is thought to have been written by the German mystic Heinrich Seuse circa 1328.
Mike Oldfield released an instrumental arrangement of this in December 1975. It reached number 4 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 2797 Found: December 14, 1996 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'In dulci jubilo' / 'On horseback'
'Flappie' is the name of the rabbit in this Dutch Christmas classic which appears on the radio year after year. Comedian Youp van 't Hek describes the scene of a boy coming down on Christmas down, looking for his rabbit which disappeared from its pen. Mother doesn't know where the animal is, but says the boy should go looking for it, but don't disturb dad, who is busy in the shed. That evening, Flappie is presented as the main course at dinner. The next morning, mother wakes up with father gone. The boy says that she can go look for him as long as she doesn't look in the shed...
Although the song has become a Christmas classic, the single did not chart when it was released in 1985.
My collection: 7" single no. 2801 Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, December 29, 1996 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Flappie' / 'Kontzak'
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'
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'
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'
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'
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)'