Heaven and hell (3rd movement) - Vangelis

Vangelis released his fifth solo album 'Heaven and hell' in 1975. The album became his first commercial success, as it landed in the UK albums chart in 1976, peaking at number 31. It featured his first collaboration with Jon Anderson, with whom he would collaborate more in the early Eighties as Jon & Vangelis.

The track 'Movement 3' came to prominence when it was used in the BBC TV series 'The cosmos' in 1981. The track was released on BBC records and reached the UK singles chart, peaking at number 48.

My collection: 7" single no. 4490
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Heaven & hell (3rd movement)' / 'Alpha'

I want to be straight - Ian Dury and the Blockheads

Ian Dury and the Blockheads released their last album for Stiff Records in 1980, entitled 'Laughter'. At the time, Dury was an alcoholic, and also addicted to Mogadon, a brand of sedative. Coupled with his bad reaction to celebrity, and his bouts of depression, these addictions caused him to be confrontational, argumentative, and controlling. This caused the recording sessions for that album to be quite difficult.

Ahead of the album, however, the single 'I want to be straight' was released. This was the first recording by Ian Dury with the new line-up of the Blockheads, as Chas Jankel had left the band after a particularly stressful tour. This single reached number 22 in the UK singles chart in the summer of 1980.

My collection: 7" single no. 4489
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I want to be straight' / 'That's not all'

Blue Jean - David Bowie

David Bowie may have been inspired by Michael Jackson's epic music video for 'Thriller' when he decided to make 'Jazzin' for Blue Jean', a 21 minute music video directed by Julien Temple. For some reason, Jackson's video became legendary and Bowie's video has been largely forgotten.

Bowie later commented on the song: ''Blue Jean' is a piece of sexist rock 'n roll (laughs). It's about picking up birds. It's not very cerebral, that piece'. The single reached number 10 in the Dutch Top 40, number 6 in the UK singles chart and number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4487
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Blue Jean' / 'Dancing with the big boys'

Call me - Blondie

'Call me' was the main theme of the movie 'American gigolo'. Producer Giorgio Moroder originally asked Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac to help compose and perform a song for the soundtrack, but she declined. It was at this time that Moroder turned to Debbie Harry and Blondie. Moroder presented Harry with a rough instrumental track called 'Man machine'. Harry was asked to write the lyrics and melody. The completed song was then recorded by the band, with Moroder producing.

When the single was released in early 1980, it reached number 1 in the USA, Canada and the UK. In the Dutch Top 40, 'Call me' peaked at number 9.

My collection: 7" single no. 4486
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Call me' / 'Call me (instrumental)'

Words - Bee Gees

These days, most people think that the Bee Gees have always been the trio Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb. But when you look at the sleeve of this 1968 single, 'Words', you can see that the band consisted of five members. The additional two members are Vince Melouney and Colin Peterson. They left the Bee Gees in 1968 and 1970 respectively.

'Words' was written by the three brothers Gibb for their manager Robert Stigwood. It was originally intended for Cliff Richard, but he never got round to recording the track as he wasn't making an album at the time. Rather than wasting the song, The Bee Gees decided to record it themselves. It's good that they did: it gave them a number 1 hit in Germany and the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 4485
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Words' / 'Sinking ships'

Jung wie du - Nena

'Jung wie du' ('Young like you') was released in 1985 as the fourth and final single from Nena's 1984 album 'Feuer und Flamme' ('Fire and flames').

The single reached number 47 in the German singles chart, but failed to chart elsewhere in Europe.

My collection: 7" single no. 4484
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Jung wie du' / 'Das alte Lied'

It's a miracle - Culture Club

'It's a Miracle' was released as the fifth and final single from Culture Club's 1983 album 'Colour by numbers'. The song was first called 'It's America', relating to Culture Club's first trip to the United States. It was later changed.

It became the group's sixth top 5 hit on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 4. In the Dutch Top 40, the single reached number 20.

My collection: 7" single no. 4483
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'It's a miracle' / 'Love twist (live)'