The wanderer - Donna Summer

'The wanderer' was written by Donna Summer together with her producer Giorgio Moroder. She'd worked with Moroder while she was signed to Casablanca Records. When she left that label in 1980 after a dispute, she signed to the new Geffen label and continued to work with Moroder.

By 1980, disco had experienced a backlash. Rock music was becoming popular and Donna Summer's 1980 album reflected this: the songs were very new wave and rock-flavoured. This first single from the album became a big hit for Summer in the United States - peaking at number 3 in the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, while reaching number number 48 in the UK singles chart and number 26 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4416
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, January 9, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'The wanderer' / 'Stop me'

Take five - The Dave Brubeck Quartet

I was never really looking for this single, but I think this is the first time I actually saw it, and I bought it right away. This is the track my wife and I talked about when I showed her my record collection for the first time. I didn't have it, and she instructed me to download it so we could dance to it. And so I did, of course. It's good to have a physical representative of this track now.

'Take five' was written by Paul Desmond and recorded by the Dave Brubeck Quartet on their 1959 album 'Time out'. This piece became one of the group's best-known tracks, famous for its distinctive, catchy saxophone melody and use of the unusual quintuple (5/4) time, from which its title is derived. This single was made in Holland in 1969, but in the Dutch chart, it reached number 9 in 1962.

My collection: 7" single no. 4415
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, January 9, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Take five' / 'Unsquare dance'

Jimmy - Renée

'Jimmy' was the fifth single release from the Dutch band Renée, released in June 1980. It was the first single taken from the band's 1980 album 'Reaching for the sky' and it was received positively by critics and DJ's.

The single did not break the Dutch Top 40, which was disappointing after two hit singles.

My collection: 7" single no. 4414
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, January 9, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Jimmy' / 'Change your style'

Now that we found love - Third World

'Now that we found love' was written by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff and originally recorded by The O'Jays.

In 1978, the reggae band Third World recorded a cover version of this song. When it was released as a single, it reached number 47 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 10 in the UK singles chart and number 3 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4413
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, January 9, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Now that we found love' / 'Night heat'

People are people - Depeche Mode

'People are people' was written by Martin Gore, with Alan Wilder creating much of the sound of the track. It was released as Depeche Mode's tenth single in March 1984, reaching number 1 in Germany, number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 10 in the Dutch Top 40.

Despite its success, Martin Gore considers 'People are people' one of his least favourite songs. He prefers his songs to have subtle meanings so that people can find their own meanings to it, and this lyric does not fit that description. It was never performed live again after 1988.

My collection: 7" single no. 591
Found: All that music, Leiden, February 16, 1988
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'People are people' / 'In your memory'

Don't dream it's over - Crowded House

The band Crowded House broke up in 1996. The record company quickly released a compilation album featuring all of the band's hits during the decade they existed. One of those hits was 'Don't dream it's over', and it was this track that was re-released as a single in the UK.

Released on blue vinyl, this single features a live version of 'Weather with you', recorded during their last ever UK performance at the Phil Jupitus show at BBC GLR, June 21, 1996. As far as re-releases go, it did quite well: upon its original release in June 1987, 'Don't dream it's over' reached number 27 in the UK singles chart; the November 1996 re-release peaked at number 25.

My collection: 7" single no. 2750
Found: Virgin Megastore, London, October 28, 1996
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Don't dream it's over' / 'Weather with you (live)'

There is life on earth - Sonja Lumme

Studio versions of Eurovision songs don't always do justice to the songs. They can sound quite meagre compared to the version that was performed on stage - especially before 1999, when the orchestra was abandoned in the show.

Sonja Lumme represented Finland during the 1985 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Eläköön elämä' - and yes, I have no idea what that means either. She finished ninth in a field of 19 competitors. She recorded it in English for this single. 'There is life on earth' was probably only a hit in Scandinavia.

My collection: 7" single no. 4410
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'There is life on earth' / 'Give me a call'