Sweet sixteen - Billy Idol

Billy Idol's third studio album 'Whiplash smile', released in 1986, contained the midtempo ballad 'Sweet sixteen', which was subsequently released as a single in 1987. At the time of its release, I bought a cassette single in London, and only got around to buying the 7" single two years later.

The single reached number 7 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 17 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1086
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, October 27, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Sweet sixteen' / 'Beyond belief'

Reasons to be cheerful, part 3 - Ian Dury and the Blockheads

'Reasons to be cheerful, part 3' can be described as a 'shopping list song'. It is a simple list of a number of reasons to be cheerful. The list of reasons to be cheerful includes Buddy Holly, equal voting rights for men and women, Piccadilly Circus in London, porridge oats, wine, Elvis Presley, a cure for smallpox, going to the toilet, National Health Service's free glasses, Woody Allen, the song 'Volare', Smokey Robinson and nudity.

The single was released in July 1979 and reached number 3 in the UK singles chart. How apt.

My collection: 7" single no. 1601
Found: Record fair, March 28, 1992
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Reasons to be cheerful, part 3' / 'Common as muck'

Ole, ole! - Izhar Cohen

Izhar Cohen returned to the Eurovision Song Contest for Israel in 1985 after winning the 1978 edition with 'A-ba-ni-bi'. He performed the song 'Ole, ole!' together with four unnamed band mates. At the close of voting, the song finished 5th in a field of 19 competitors.

I already have the English release of 'Olé olé' for a few months now, but it was a great relief to find this version, as it contains the original Hebrew version of the song as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 4389
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Ole, ole! (English version)' / 'Ole, ole! (Hebrew version)'

Escapade - Janet Jackson

'Escapade' was inspired by the Martha & the Vandellas 1965 single 'Nowhere to run', which Jackson originally intended to remake, but instead choose to record a new song with a similar feel after a suggestion from producer Jimmy Jam.

When released as the third single from her 1989 album 'Rhythm Nation 1814', the song peaked at number 1 in the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks in March 1990. The single also reached number 17 in the UK singles chart and number 13 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1191
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, March 2, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Escapade' / 'Escapade (instrumental)'

Can't stay away from you - Gloria Estefan

When 'Can't stay away from you' was released in the autumn of 1988, it was credited to Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine, effectively phasing out the band name. The album 'Let it loose', from which the single was taken, was re-released as 'Anything for you', also reflecting this change of name.

Meanwhile, the ballad 'Can't stay away from you' became a big hit for Estefan, reaching number 6 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 1 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 743
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, February 11, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Can't stay away from you' / 'Let it loose'

In dreams - Marty Wilde

After his daughter Kim had some success with her first two albums, father Marty decided to get back into the game as well. He signed with Kaleidoscope Records, a small subsidiary of Epic Records, and released this cover of the Roy Orbison track 'In dreams'.

The single did not become the success he may have hoped for. The problem is, while this is a good version of the song, it was a bit out of time. It mystifies me why he didn't try out a song of his own - after all, Marty Wilde was one of the best songwriters in the UK at the time, with many hit singles under his belt.

My collection: 7" single no. 3434
Found: Esbjerg, June 17, 2006
Cost: 10 Danish crowns
Tracks: 'In dreams' / 'Hard to find, easy to lose'

Vrijdagavond - Frank Boeijen Groep

It's interesting how record companies sometimes think they know better than the artist. For the second single of the Dutch Frank Boeijen Groep, the record company re-edited the track 'Vrijdagavond' ('Friday night'), including the chorus not two, but four times. The cuts are audible and frankly only make the song repetitive.

No wonder, then, that 'Vrijdagavond' did not chart in the Netherlands. It subsequently became a very rare single, which many fans are searching for even now. I found my copy almost 20 years after its release in 1981.

My collection: 7" single no. 3188
Found: eBay.nl, received September 12, 2000
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Vrijdagavond' / ''s Nachts wanneer ik waak'