Dolce vita - Ryan Paris

Ryan Paris was born as Fabio Roscioli in Rome, Italy on 12 March 12, 1953. He gained international popularity in the summer of 1983 for the worldwide hit single, 'Dolce vita'. It was written and produced by Pierluigi Giombini. The single reached number 5 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the Dutch Top 40.

Paris continued to release records in the second half of the Eighties and in the Nineties, but was never able to duplicate the success of his one big hit.

My collection: 7" single no. 4548
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, February 4, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Dolce vita (part 1, vocal)' / 'Dolce vita (part 2, instrumental)'

Shout to the top - Style Council

'No! To abolition of the GLC & the local councils. Yes! To a nuclear free world. Yes! To the Bengali Workers Association. Yes! To the thrill of the romp. Yes! To all involved in animal rights. Yes! To fanzines. Yes! To belief'. This statement can be read on the back of the sleeve of this single, released by the Style Council in 1984. It was at the height of the Conservative Party's reign of terror in the UK, and the Style Council were offering some hope to all the people who had become jobless and hopeless in the country. It's quite ironic that the song was heavily featured at the 2009 Conservative Party UK Annual Conference in Manchester last year.

'Shout to the top!' reached number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 24 in the Dutch Top 40 back in 1984.

My collection: 7" single no. 4547
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, February 4, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Shout to the top!' / 'Ghosts of Dachau'

Hold me - Teddy Pendergrass

On January 13 this year, Teddy Pendergrass died as a result of colon cancer. He had a successful career in music throughout the Seventies and Eighties. He was originally a drummer for the Cadillacs, which soon merged with Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. His first solo album was released in 1977.

His biggest hit internationally was 1986's 'Hold me', a duet with Whitney Houston. The track featured on her debut album as well as Pendergrass's 1986 album 'Love language'. It reached number 22 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 44 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4546
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'Hold me' / 'Love'

Wonderful world - Sam Cooke

In 1986, old soul tracks had become a familiar sound on television, thanks to ad campaigns shamelessly using nostalgic feelings of the consumer. Levi's jeans advertised with a series of old songs, which in turn were re-released as a single and stormed up the charts. Sam Cooke's 'Wonderful world' was (mis)used for the Levi's 501, and subsequently reached number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 1 in the Dutch Top 40.

The song was originally written by Sam Cooke, Lou Adler and Herb Alpert and performed by Cooke with backing vocals by Lou Rawls. When the song was first released as a single in the spring of 1960, it reached number 12 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 27 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4545
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'Wonderful world' / 'Chain gang'

Gentlemen callers not allowed - Gilla

Gilla was discovered by German producer Frank Farian who got her signed to Hansa Records in 1974. At first he tried to launch her as a German artist, singing songs in her native language only. Although she had some hits in Germany, her career started to fail pretty quickly.

Farian and Gilla decided to try and conquer the international market, releasing an international album in the summer of 1977. Entitled 'Help help', the album contained some original English material as well as English version of songs from her only German-language album, 'Zieh mich aus'. 'Gentlemen callers not allowed' (an English version of 'Herrn-Besuche nicht erlaubt') was released as a single and promoted with Boney M.'s charismatic male dancer Bobby Farrell on a few TV shows. It reached number 14 in the Dutch Top 40 but was a minor success in most other European countries.

My collection: 7" single no. 4544
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'Gentlemen callers not allowed' / 'Say yes'

Enigma (Give a bit of mmh to me) - Amanda Lear

Amanda Lear released her second studio album 'Sweet revenge' in 1978. She proclaimed in the liner notes: 'This album is the story of a girl who sold her soul to the Devil and won. A lonely child, disenchanted by the society she lives in, she has no friends until the day she listens to the tempting offer of the Devil who promises her anything she wants ('Follow Me'). Her first wish is for riches ('Gold'), and then for fame. After turning to her mother for help ('Mother look what they've done to me'), she runs away ('Run baby run') and retires into solitude and memories. Renouncing her selfish need, she offers her love to a man who really needs her, her sweet revenge over the Devil's offer...'

'Enigma (Give a bit of mmh to me)' was the follow-up single to the hugely successful 'Follow me'. It did not match that success, but still reached number 17 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4543
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'Enigma (Give a bit of mmh to me)' / 'Run baby run'

I remember yesterday - Donna Summer

'I remember yesterday' is the title track from Donna Summer's 1977 album. The song uses a 1940s-influenced sound (with both melody and instruments) and combines this with the disco sound that Summer had become associated with.

When the track was released as a single, it became a hit in Europe. Upon its release as a single it became a hit in Europe. It would be one of Summer's first singles in a long time that did not feature the trademark sensual moans and groans that had become associated with her. It reached number 24 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 14 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4542
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'I remember yesterday (part 1)' / 'I remember yesterday (part 2)'