Picture this - Blondie

'Picture this' was a track on Blondie's 1978 album 'Parallel lines', written by Chris Stein, Debbie Harry and Jimmy Destri. Although all three were the main song writers for the band's albums, this is the only time when Harry and Stein would collaborate with Destri, who has written several later hit singles for Blondie on his own.

The track was released as the first single from 'Parallel lines' in the UK, reaching number 12 in the autumn of 1978. This copy of the single was pressed on yellow vinyl.

My collection: 7" single no. 1732
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1992
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Picture this' / 'Fade away and radiate'

Spirits in the material world - The Police

'Spirits in the material world' was the first track on the Police's 1981 album 'Ghost in the machine'. It has a Jamaican Ska beat which changes to a swaggering rock beat in the chorus.

It was released in November 1981 as the third single from the album. It reached number 12 in the UK singles chart and number 6 in the Dutch Top 40. In the UK, a limited edition of the single was released with a poster sleeve. The poster features a new photograph of the band taken from their official 1982 calendar.

My collection: 7" single no. 3092
Found: London, 1999
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Spirits in the material world' / 'Low life'

Mishandeld, vernederd, verkracht - Annie

I've always had a penchant for the inane and the ridiculous. And this is what drove me to buy this single: 'Mishandeld, vernederd, verkracht' ('Abused, humiliated, raped') by the Dutch singer Annie. Although the single never reached the Dutch Top 40, it has still become some sort of classic, as it reached number 22 in the Flop 100 of all times in 1994, 14 years after its release.

To foreign ears, this song may sound very innocent, but it is the story of a girl who goes out at night and is abused, humiliated and raped - and as a result, scarred for life. Not the most pleasant subject for a popular song. The B-side is downright bizarre: a boy asks his grandfather whether he can have his silver clock, and in the end he gets it. It used to belong to the boy's father, but he is dead now. In the last verse, the boy is buried and the grandfather takes the hourglass home. The lyric is rather mysterious, in that it doesn't explain what is the reason for this sudden death among the clock's owners.

My collection: 7" single no. 3214
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, October 2000
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Mishandeld, vernederd, verkracht' / 'Het zilveren uurwerk'

Then you turn away - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

'Then you turn away' was the third single taken from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's 1991 album 'Sugar tax'. It peaked at number 50 in the UK singles chart.

The B-side is 'Sugar tax', but interestingly it is not included on the album of the same name. The track was not finished in time for the album, and so it was only released as a B-side on this single.

My collection: 7" single no. 2355
Found: Marlyn Music, Eastbourne, June 28, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Then you turn away' / 'Sugar tax'

Slave to love - Bryan Ferry

'Slave to love' was the first single taken from Bryan Ferry's 1985 album 'Boys and girls'. Released in April 1985, the single reached number 9 in the UK singles chart and number 36 in the Dutch Top 40. The guitar solo in the middle section features Keith Scott from Bryan Adams's band and the closing guitar solo is by Neil Hubbard.

The song was featured prominently in themovies '9½ Weeks' and 'Bitter Moon', although in the latter it is performed by Danny Wuyts.

My collection: 7" single no. 1807
Found: January 9, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Slave to love' / 'Valentine (instrumental)'

The word girl - Scritti Politti

'The word girl' was released as the fourth single from Scritti Politti's 1985 album 'Cupid & Psyche 85'. It turned out to be the band's biggest hit, peaking at number 6 in the UK singles chart. It also charted in the Netherlands, where it reached number 16 in the Dutch Top 40.

The song has a similar sound to many of the other group's songs, with a reggae rhythm, a smooth R&B-inspired sound with Green Gartside's soulful vocals on top.

My collection: 7" single no. 462
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'The word girl' / 'Flesh & blood'

Give me a break - Renée

Released as a single in 1982, Renée had no success with 'Give me a break', a track from the compilation album 'Sometimes you cry'. The song sounded a lot like previous singles from the band, and presumably the listeners had had enough of the band. Although they continued to perform live for years, they would have no further chart success.

My collection: 7" single no. 1835
Found: Record Palace, Amsterdam, January 13, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Give me a break' / 'She's a star'