Last dance - Donna Summer

Paul Jabara wrote 'Last dance' in the mid-Seventies. It was recorded by Donna Summer for the soundtrack of the movie 'Thank God it's Friday', in which she also had a small part, singing the song. It was one of the first disco songs to also feature slow tempo parts. It starts off slow and the full-length version found on the film soundtrack also has a slow part in the middle.

The song has sold over 5 million copies in the U.S. alone, peaking at number 5 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the Dutch Top 40, 'Last dance' reached number 8, while it stalled at number 51 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3116
Found: Record fair, 1999
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Last dance' / 'With your love'

Io senza te - Peter, Sue and Marc

Peter, Sue & Marc were a Swiss music group from Berne. The members were Peter Reber (born 1949), Sue Schell (born 1950) and Marc Dietrich (born 1948). They represented Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest four times and in four different languages.

Their last performance in Eurovision took place in 1981 with the Italian song 'Io senza te'. The song was written by Peter Reber and Nella Martinetti. It finished fourth in a field of 20 competitors, their best result.

My collection: 7" single no. 4402
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Io senza te' / 'Me without you'

Regrets - Mylene Farmer and Jean-Louis Murat

Already in 1989, Mylene Farmer said that she liked Jean-Louis Murat's songwriting. They corresponded for two years until they finally recorded the duet 'Regrets' in 1991. It is a love song in which two lovers are answering tenderly and with melancholy, while they are separated by the death of one of them. Only memories allows the one that is left behind to savour the well-being of the past relationship.

The song was released as the third single from Farmer's third album 'Ainsi soit je...', reaching number 3 in France and number 2 in the French-speaking part of Belgium.

My collection: 7" single no. 2221
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 17, 1994
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Regrets' / 'Regrets (Classic bonus beats)'

Lessons in love - Level 42

'Lessons in love' was released in April 1986 as the first single from Level 42's seventh studio album 'Running in the family'. It was the first of five singles from that album, and paved the way for international success for the band.

For the first time they reached the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it peaked at number 12 in 1987. In the UK, the single reached number 3, while in the Dutch Top 40 it got to number 2. Level 42 scored their first hit with this in Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Indonesia and other countries.

My collection: 7" single no. 1333
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1990
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Lessons in love' / 'Hot water (live)'

Sexcrime (1984) - Eurythmics

When the British film '1984' was made in the UK, the Eurythmics were contacted to make the soundtrack. They agreed, and so the album of the same name came to be. 'Sexcrime (1984)' was the first single lifted from the album, released in October 1984.

The single peaked at number 4 in the UK singles chart, becoming Eurythmics' sixth song in a row to enter the Top 10. It was also a big hit throughout Europe and became one of the duo's biggest selling singles in Australia.

My collection: 7" single no. 2024
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 19, 1993
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Sexcrime (1984)' / 'I did it just the same'

Arizona sky - China Crisis

'Arizona sky' was released in 1986 as the first single from China Crisis' fourth album 'What price paradise'. The single was a minor success in the UK, reaching number 47 in the singles chart.

I bought the 12" single quite recently, but I've had the 7" single for almost two decades now.

My collection: 7" single no. 1456
Found: Record fair, June 27, 1991
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Arizona sky' / 'Trading in gold'

Aloha-oe, until we meet again - Goombay Dance Band

Germany has been responsible for quite a few dodgy acts through the years, and Goombay Dance Band can be considered as one of them. They formed in the late Seventies, and styled their music to combine Caribbean soca and calypso with western pop.

'Aloha-oe, until we meet again' was released in 1980 as the follow-up to their debut hit 'Sun of Jamaica'. The track was inspired by a traditional Hawaiian song. This single reached number 6 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 60
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1980
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Aloha-oe, until we meet again' / 'Conga man'