Tu - Mecano

The Spanish pop group Mecano released their album 'Aidalai' in 1991: an eclectic mix of intimate ballads, technopop and traditional Spanish music. The album was released amidst rumours of the band splitting up because of creative differences between the band's main songwriters, Nacho Cano and José Maria Cano.

The single 'Tu' was released in the autumn of 1991 and gave them their second and last hit in the Netherlands: it reached number 36 in the Dutch Top 40. As you can hear, this is a mispressing of the single, as it warbles like a madman.

My collection: 7" single no. 3177
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 19, 2000
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Tu' / '1917'

A simple little song - Bandjo with Anne Cathrine Herdorf

Anne-Cathrine Herdorf was born on July 10, 1967. She represented Denmark during the 1987 Eurovision Song Contest with the group Bandjo, performing 'En lillle melodi'. The song finished in fifth place in a field of 22 contestants.

This single features the English version of the song, 'A simple little song', plus the instrumental version. Surprisingly, this single was made in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 4405
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'A simple little song' / 'En lille melodi (instrumental)'

Night fever - Bee Gees

'Night fever' was another song written and recorded by the Bee Gees for the soundtrack of the movie 'Saturday night fever'. Originally the movie was going to be called 'Saturday night', but Robin Gibb expressed hesitation at that title. When the song 'Night fever' was made, the two titles were combined, hence 'Saturday night fever'.

The single reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and stayed at that position for two months. The single also topped the chart in Canada, the UK, Spain, Ireland and Brazil. In the Dutch Top 40, 'Night fever' reached number 3.

My collection: 7" single no. 1478
Found: July 3, 1991
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Night fever' / 'Down the road'

They dance alone - Sting

In 1987, Sting was going through his messiah phase, thinking that his status as a rock star could give him the power to save the world. He toured around the world with an indian with a plate in his lower lip, while also trying to stop the Chilean regime of Augusto Pinochet.

He did so by composing 'They dance alone', a track on his second solo album '...Nothing like the sun' and subsequently released as a single. The song is a metaphor referring to mourning Chilean women who were dancing the Cueca, the national dance of Chile, alone with photographs of their disappeared loved ones in their hands. Sting explained his song as a symbolic gesture of protest against Pinochet, whose regime killed thousands of people between 1973 and 1990. Of course, this didn't move Pinochet to immediately stop his actions. Sting did reach number 29 in the Dutch Top 40, but the single flopped in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 1009
Found: London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'They dance alone' / 'Ellas danzan solas'

Stars - Simply Red

'Stars' was recorded as the title track from Simply Red's 1991 album. It was released as the second single from the album. The B-side of the single was a remix of the track by PM Dawn.

The single reached number 8 in the UK singles chart and number 15 in the Dutch Top 40, but did not chart in the USA.

My collection: 7" single no. 1561
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, December 21, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Stars' / 'Stars (PM-ized mix)'

Wasteland - The Mission

'Wasteland' was the second single taken from the Mission's 1986 album 'God's own medicine'. There was a limited edition box set release of this single at the time of its release. As far as single box sets go, this one was quite lavish: not only did it include five colour photographs, it also had a second single with two bonus live tracks.

Perhaps as a consequence of this, 'Wasteland' became the Mission's biggest hit up until then, reaching number 11 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3153
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, 2000
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Wasteland' / 'Shelter from the storm (live)' // 'Serpent's kiss (live)' / '1969 (live)'

Save your love (for #1) - René and Angela

René Moore and Angela Winbush got together in 1980, both professionally and romantically. They formed the duo René & Angela and released three albums between 1980 and 1985. 'Save your love (for #1)' was released as the first single from their third and last album, 'Street called desire'.

The single gave them their first international success: 'Save your love (for #1)' reached number 21 in the Dutch Top 40. A year later, their marriage fell apart, with the duo falling apart not long after.

My collection: 7" single no. 4427
Found: Den Haag, January 16, 2010
Cost: - (present)
Tracks: 'Save your love (for #1)' / 'Save your love (for #1) (instrumental)'