Lonesome loser - Little River Band

The Australian Little River Band crossed over to America after they became very successful in their homeland in 1976. When they combined the release of the single 'It's a long way there' with promotional visits, they managed a breakthrough in the USA, which in turn meant that their career took on a global scale.

From 1978 until 1981, Little River Band achieved six consecutive US Top 10 singles with 'Reminiscing', 'Lady', 'Lonesome loser', 'Cool change', 'The night owls' and 'Take it easy on me'. Two of these hits are featured on this American 'super oldies' single, released in 1981.

My collection: 7" single no. 3242
Found: London, October 19, 2000
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Lonesome loser' / 'Lady'

Discotheque - U2

The single 'Discotheque' was the start of one of a controversial period for the band U2. Critics and fans were put off by the dance-inspired album 'Pop' and the band themselves later expressed dismay at the fact that they had to finish the album too quickly because the accompanying Popmart tour was already booked.

The single was released in February 1997 after the track had been leaked on the internet. There was a fear that this leak would harm sales, but of course it didn't: the single reached number 1 in the UK singles chart as well as in Ireland and New Zealand. In the Netherlands, 'Discotheque' reached number 9.

My collection: 7" single no. 2848
Found: Record fair, 1997
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Discotheque' / 'Holy Joe'

Leningrad - Billy Joel

This single was released when the Russian town St. Petersburg was still called Leningrad. The song was written by Billy Joel about a Russian clown named Viktor, whom he met while touring the Soviet Union in 1987. Throughout the song, major items of Viktor's and Joel's lives are compared to show the cultural difference of the United States of America and the Soviet Union.

'Leningrad' was taken from Joel's eleventh studio album 'Storm front' (1989) and managed to chart in the UK, the Netherlands and Germany, peaking at number 53, 15 and 14 respectively.

My collection: 7" single no. 1140
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, January 6, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Leningrad' / 'The times they are a changin' (live)'

Best kept secret - China Crisis

Released in 1987, 'Best kept secret' was the second and last single release from the China Crisis album 'What price paradise', which was released the year before. It was their first single to also be released as a cd-single, which was a new format at the time.

The single reached number 36 in the UK singles chart and as such was the last single by China Crisis to reach the top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1025
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Best kept secret' / 'The instigator (Italian fuzzbox version)'

Long blond animal - Golden Earring

I have to be honest and say that these days I don't like Golden Earring at all. They have turned into a band that is mercilessly repeating itself with performances in theatres with unplugged concerts. The band members are these old men who should think about having an annual prostrate checkup instead of planning new tourdates.

Back in 1980, it was a different story: the album 'Prisoner of the night' was released and the single 'Long blond animal' was a rock track that was totally out of sync with the new wave sounds that were taking over the charts. Still it managed to get to number 19 in the Dutch Top 40. The band was considering to throw in the title as the album and two later singles didn't sell as well. Maybe they should have done it - it might have saved us from the misery they are going through now.

My collection: 7" single no. 849
Found: Den Haag, May 27, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Long blond animal' / 'Triple treat'

Vivo cantando - Salomé

Salomé was born as Maria Rosa Marco on June 21, 1943 in Barcelona, Spain. She found international fame in 1969 when she represented Spain during the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Vivo cantando' ('I live singing'). Two memorable aspects of the performance were Salomé's costume – a pantsuit covered in long strands of porcelain resembling beads – and the fact that the singer chose to dance on the spot during certain parts of the song.

The song ended up winning the contest in a tie with three other songs: United Kingdom's 'Boom Bang-a-Bang' performed by Lulu, 'De troubadour' by Lenny Kuhr representing the Netherlands, and 'Un jour, un enfant' sung for France by Frida Boccara. From these countries, only Spain never managed to win again after 1969.

My collection: 7" single no. 4411
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Vivo cantando' / 'Abrazame otra vez'

Round and round - Spandau Ballet

'Round and round' was the fourth and last single from Spandau Ballet's 1984 album 'Parade'. It was a hit in the UK, but it performed less well in the chart than its three predecessors, stalling at number 18.

In Europe, 'Round and round' performed even worse, failing to chart in most countries.

My collection: 7" single no. 2593
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, December 30, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Round and round' / 'True (live)'