Dreadlock holiday - 10CC

10CC were huge in the autumn of 1978, because of this single. 'Dreadlock holiday' became a classic almost at the time of its release as a single. It was played a lot on radio and television and eventually became a number 1 hit in several European countries, including the UK and the Netherlands.

I bought this USA pressing of 'Dreadlock holiday' during a pop festival, but it wasn't a happy purchase: the single turned out to be a horrible mispressing. You can hear it here: the single warbles like a maniac. I hear mispressings can be worth a lot, so maybe a 10CC fan is interested in this one...

My collection: 7" single no. 432
Found: Parkpop, Den haag, June 29, 1986
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Dreadlock holiday' / 'Nothing can move me'

For your eyes only - Sheena Easton

Sometimes when you have a big singles collection, you erroneously buy a single twice. I recently discovered I have two copies of 'For your eyes only' by Sheena Easton: this one and this one. The other single was a European pressing, whereas this one was made in the UK. And lo and behold: they have different B-sides! What a nice surprise.

The B-side of this single is nothing much to write home about: it's an instrumental piece from the soundtrack of the James Bond movie 'For your eyes only'. As I always say: 'It's just a soundtrack, isn't it?'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3299
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'For your eyes only' / 'Runaway'

Ordinary world - Duran Duran

'Ordinary world' was written by Simon Le Bon as the second of a trilogy of songs for his late friend David Miles; the others being 'Do you believe in shame?' (1988) and 'Out of my mind' (1997). The song can be credited for bringing back Duran Duran into the public eye after the commercial failure of their 1991 album 'Liberty' and associated singles.

When Capitol leaked 'Ordinary world' to a radio station in Florida, the track proved so popular that the release date had to be brought forward in the USA. The single reached number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the UK, the single was almost equally popular, peaking at number 6. In the Netherlands, it would prove to be the band's last hit single, reaching number 14 in the Dutch Top 40.

In 1993, the 7" vinyl format had become so rare that it was impossible for me to find this single on vinyl. In 1995, I suddenly found a jukebox promo copy, which I bought immediately. Two years after that, I finally saw a commercial copy (with picture sleeve) of the 7" single. It had been sold in the UK all along, I just didn't know about it.

My collection: 7" single no. 2241 / no. 2882
Found: Record fair, February 18, 1995 / House of Rhythm, London, October 28, 1997
Cost: 10 guilders / 60p
Tracks: 'Ordinary world' / 'My Antarctica'

Autant d'amoureux que d'etoiles - Annick Thoumazeau

Annick Thoumazeau represented France during the 1984 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Autant d'amoureux que d'étoiles' ('As many lovers as stars'). The lyric speaks of unending devotion of the singer to a lover and stating that they are not the only lovers in the world, as there are 'as many lovers as stars in the sky'.

The song ended up in eighth place in a field of 19 contestants. The song was not a big hit, even in French speaking countries.

My collection: 7" single no. 4390
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Autant d'amoureux que d'etoiles' / 'Stars (instrumental)'

The message - Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

'Yo, motherfucker, yo uh-huh, gonna get your bitch, put your hands in the air, say yeah, uh-huh, yeah, fuck that bitch motherfucker, jigga with me, I'm a bad nigga, motherfucker, yo, yo, yo, uh-huh'. About 90% of all rap lyrics go like this.

What a difference, then, is 'The message'. This lyric does tell a story and it's quite critical of American society. I remember being quite impressed with this song, although I have to say these days I would never buy it anymore. I'm not impressed with any hiphop 'music' (and I'm using that last word loosely here) and gave up on it entirely. This single reached number 6 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 8 in the UK singles chart. In a time when the charts were still filled with great songs, that was quite an impressive feat.

My collection: 7" single no. 217
Found: Studio Echo, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'The message' / 'The message (instrumental)'

Stand or fall - The Fixx

Back in 1982, 'Stand or fall' was the first track by the Fixx I ever heard. The song was produced by Rupert Hine, whose 'Eleven faces' had just made a big impression on me too. Like that single, this one sounded mysterious and dark.

There weren't that many people who agreed with me: the single reached number 54 in the UK singles chart and flopped almost everywhere else.

My collection: 7" single no. 268
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1984
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Stand or fall' / 'The strain'

Body language - Queen

When Queen had a big hit with 'Another one bites the dust', Queen were inspired to abandon their rock roots and experiment with disco, funk and soul music. 'Body language', one of the singles from their album 'Hot space' was perhaps the most obvious result of this. The song featured 'suggestive' lyrics, almost no guitras and a lot of Freddie Mercury's moans and groans.

The drastic change caused the single to stall at number 25 in the UK singles chart. It peaked at number 11 in the US Billboard Hot 100 however, and number 6 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2108
Found: Record fair, June 4, 1994
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Body language' / 'Life is real'