One voice - John Watts

John Watts was founder member of the band Fischer Z. The band was active from 1978 to 1981. When they split up, John Watts started a solo career. This single, 'One voice', was his debut single. According to the sleeve of this single, he also went on tour: the dates in Belgium and Luxembourg in April 1982 are printed on the back.

'One voice' was not a hit and John Watts would have no further solo success either. In 1987, he founded another band, also called Fischer Z.

My collection: 7" single no. 4350
Found: Discostars Recordstore, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'One voice' / 'Holiday in France'

Right between the eyes - Wax

After the 1983 split of 10CC, Graham Gouldman and Andrew Gold started working together in England. During a period of seven months they wrote enough songs for an album. They chose World In Action as the band name and released a single called 'Don't break my heart'. Soon afterwards they changed their name to Common Knowledge. A second single 'Victoria' was released, but both singles failed to get any attention and the album was shelved.

When they had written a new batch of songs and changed labels, they took on the name Wax. Their first album, released in 1986 was called 'Magnetic heaven' and contained their first hit single: 'Right between the eyes', whcih reached number 60 in the UK singles chart and number 25 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4349
Found: Discostars Recordstore, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Right between the eyes' / 'Only a visitor'

Come on Eileen - Dexys Midnight Runners

The chorus of 'Come on Eileen' by Dexys Midnight Runners was loosely inspired by the song 'A man like me' by the Sixties British soul group Jimmy James and the Vagabonds. When the song was released as a single in the summer of 1982, it reached number 1 in the UK singles charts, staying there for four weeks. The single also reached number 1 in Australia and the USA, while peaking at number 4 in the Dutch Top 40.

Two decades later, frontman Kevin Rowland would create some controversy releasing a solo album wearing a 'men's dress' on the cover.

My collection: 7" single no. 4348
Found: Discostars Recordstore, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Come on Eileen' / 'Dubious'

Don't tell me - Blancmange

1984 was a successful year for the duo Blancmange. Their album 'Mange tout' reached the top 10 in the UK albums chart, while the singles 'Waves', 'Blind vision' and 'That's love that it is' all reached the UK top 40.

The biggest hit that year, however, was the dynamic 'Don't tell me'. It reached number 8 in the UK singles chart and also reached number 25 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 583
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Don't tell me' / 'Get out of that'

Pandora's box - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

'Pandora's box' was the second single taken from OMD's 1991 album 'Sugar tax'. The song was inspired by silent film actress Louise Brooks and is named after one of the films she starred in. The phrase 'Pandora's box' does not appear in the lyric of the song.

Released in June 1991, the single reached number 7 in the UK singles chart, as well as the charts in Sweden and Austria. In France, the single peaked at number 49.

My collection: 7" single no. 1509
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, August 17, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Pandora's box' / 'All she wants is everything'

Boys in the street - Eddy Grant

In 1984, Eddy Grant released his seventh album 'Going for broke'. After the success of its predecessor 'Killer on the rampage', the album took a similar approach but was less successful chart-wise. The single 'Boys in the street' reached number 78 in the UK singles chart but flopped in most other territories.

This copy of the single was pressed in Germany and released as a limited edition on red vinyl.

My collection: 7" single no. 3274
Found: Record fair, November 11, 2000
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Boys in the street' / 'Time to let go'

Changes - Imagination

It's like the old saying: 'The more things change, the more they stay the same'. In 2010, as in 2009 and 2008, I will continue to publish information about my 7" singles and 12" singles. I expect to have put up my whole collection in a few months from now, after which I will always put up new acquisitions.

And so, this year should start with 'Changes', a 1983 hit single for the British soul trio Imagination, taken from their second album 'In the heat of the night'. The single reached number 31 in the UK singles chart and number 23 in the Dutch Top 40. As always, the single was produced by Steve Jolley and Tony Swain.

My collection: 7" single no. 2146
Found: Record Palace, Amsterdam, August 25, 1994
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Changes' / 'So good, so right'