System addict - Five Star

'System Addict' was released in early 1986 as the seventh and last single from Five Star's debut album 'Luxury of life' (1985). It was becoming a very successful year for the band, as they won a BPI award for 'best group' and this single became their first top 10 hit, peaking at number 3. They would release four more singles in 1986, with all but one reaching the top 10.

'System addict' was remixed and re-released in 2005, but this version did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1759
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 20, 1992
Cost: 40p
Tracks: 'System addict' / 'Pure energy'

Dit is de zender van illegale Joop - Dingetje

If all the visitors of this blog would start sending me free singles, I would be a very happy man indeed. But in fact, one visitor did today: I received this single from Puck. Many thanks for that. (And to everyone else: follow his great example!)

'Dit is de zender van illegale Joop' ('This is illegal Joop broadcasting') was released in 1980, when the practice of setting up small radio stations with the aid of a so-called 27MC was very popular in the Netherlands. Most people used the 27MC to exchange inane rantings, something which is demonstrated quite skillfully on this track. The single became quite popular too: it reached number 27 in the Dutch Top 40 in the spring of 1980.

My collection: 7" single no. 4422
Found: Sassenheim / Den Haag, January 12, 2009
Cost: - (present)
Tracks: 'Dit is de zender van illegale Joop' / 'Dit is de zender van illegale Joop (part 2)'

Hold me, thrill me, kiss me, kill me - U2

'Hold me, thrill me, kiss me, kill me' was originally recorded during the sessions for U2's 1993 album 'Zooropa'. It didn't make it onto the album, but in 1995, it was contributed by the band to the soundtrack of the movie 'Batman forever'. The track was also released as a single. In the UK, a 7" single was released as a limited edition, pressed on red vinyl.

The single reached number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 9 in the Dutch Top 40. In the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, it got to number 16.

My collection: 7" single no. 2334
Found: HMV, London, June 26, 1995
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Hold me, thrill me, kiss me, kill me' / 'Themes from Batman Forever'

Lullaby - The Cure

The Cure released 'Lullaby' as the first single from their 1989 album 'Disintegration'. The lyric of the song explores the territory of nightmares.

The single reached number 5 in the UK singles chart, becoming their only top 5 hit in the UK to this day. In the Dutch Top 40, 'Lullaby' reached number 9.

My collection: 7" single no. 790
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, April 13, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Lullaby' / 'Babble'

Sympathy - Marillion

'Sympathy' was written by Mark Ashton, Steve Gould, Dave Kaffinetti and Graham Stansfield, members of the progressive rock band Rare Bird. It became one of the band's best known tracks for its haunting organ-based melody.

Marillion recorded a cover version of 'Sympathy' for their compilation album 'A singles collection'. It was also released as a single, which peaked at number 16 in the UK singles chart in May 1992. The single even charted in the Netherlands, where it reached number 25 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1673
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, June 20, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Sympathy' / 'Kayleigh (live)'

Listen to your heart / Dangerous - Roxette

After the success of 'It must have been love', which reached number 3 in the UK singles chart, EMI UK decided to re-release 'Listen to you heart' as a double A-side with 'Dangerous'. Both tracks were hit singles in Europe, but they hadn't been as successful in the UK.

The strategy proved successful: this double A-side single rose to number 6 in the UK singles chart in the summer of 1988.

My collection: 7" single no. 2177
Found: London, September 27, 1994
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Listen to your heart (Swedish single version)' / 'Dangerous (album version)'

Careless whisper - George Michael

I bought 'Careless whisper' when it came out, then went through two decades without ever playing this single. It became a number one hit in the summer of 1984, and appeared on television and radio so often, that I got very sick of this song. Nowadays, I can listen to it again, and that's quite nice, because it is actually a very good song.

'Careless whisper' reached number 1 all over Europe, including the UK and the Netherlands, and also topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Although the band Wham! still existed when this single was released, this is the single that effectively launched George Michael's solo career.

My collection: 7" single no. 240
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1984
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Careless whisper' / 'Careless whisper (instrumental)'