Saint Saviour Square - China crisis

The fifth studio album by China Crisis was called 'Diary of a hollow horse', which earned critical acclaim, but little commercial success.

The first single from the album was 'Saint Saviour Square', which failed to chart. The B-side was a non-album track (although it was included on the cd version of the album as a bonus track). Walter Becker produced this track, as well as some tracks on the album. He is of course best known for his work with Steely Dan.

My collection: 7" single no. 2518
Found: Record Exchange, London, November 1, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Saint Saviour Square' / 'Back home'

All I want - Howard Jones

On his third album 'One to one', Howard Jones made a more or less deliberate move towards a more 'American' sound. The result was an album that lacked the glossy production of 'Dream into action' (his second album) and the beauty of 'Human's lib' (his debut album).

The first single, 'All I want' was still a rather catchy song. It was released in a limited edition 'booklet' sleeve, featuring various photographs of Howard Jones by Simon Fowler. The single reached number 35 in the UK singles chart and number 76 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1036
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'All I want' / 'Roll right up'

Strut - Sheena Easton

In 1984, Sheena Easton released the album 'A private heaven'. The song 'Strut' was released as the third single from the album, after the tracks 'Back in the city' and 'Hungry eyes' failed to chart in most territories. The music video and the sleeve signalled the first steps of Easton towards a more sexually suggestive image.

The single reached number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 8 in Canada, but in Europe it wasn't successful.

My collection: 7" single no. 1911
Found: Leiden, May 19, 1993
Cost: 0,5 guilder
Tracks: 'Strut' / 'Hungry eyes'

Ashes to ashes - David Bowie

David Bowie revived his old character Major Tom for the 1980 single 'Ashes to ashes'. According to David Bowie, he was 'wrapping up the seventies really for myself, and that seemed a good enough epitaph for it'.

'Ashes to ashes' was released as the first single from Bowie's 'Scary monsters (and super creeps)' album (1980). It reached number 1 in the UK singles chart and number 21 in the Dutch Top 40. Major Tom, meanwhile, popped up once again in 1996 on the single 'Hallo Spaceboy'.

My collection: 7" single no. 69
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1980
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Ashes to ashes' / 'Move on'

Shake the disease - Depeche Mode

'Shake the disease' was the first of many Depeche Mode singles that disappointed me upon first listening. As their music became more complex, it was less easy to like, although I still think their best work was made circa 'Ultra', one of their most difficult to grasp albums.

Released in April 1985, 'Shake the disease' was the band's 13th single in the UK, and one of two new tracks on their compilation album 'The singles (81-85)'. While not a hit in the Netherlands, it reached number 18 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 291
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Shake the disease' / 'Flexible'

Dansen - Clouseau

The Belgian band Clouseau were the best thing since sliced bread in Belgium almost right from their early beginnings. The single 'Dansen' ('Dancing') is one of their very first releases, a powerpop track that wouldn't look too bad compared to English releases from around that time.

The lyric of the song is a simple affair about a boy who is looking forward to Saturday night, when he'll be dancing with some sultry girl in a discotheque. The single did not chart anywhere else, but it was a hit in Belgium of course.

My collection: 7" single no. 1277
Found: August 16, 1990
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Dansen' / 'Dansen (instrumental)'

The big L. - Roxette

Britney Spears used the imagery and themes from the circus to revive her ailing career recently. The Swedish band Roxette did a similar thing for their single 'The big L.', although their career was thriving and would continue to do so. It would give them a colourful music video and a rather glam single sleeve nonetheless.

'The big L.' was the third single from their 1991 album 'Joyride'. It was a top 10 hit in Japan, while reaching number 14 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 21 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1513
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, August 29, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'The big L.' / 'One is such a lonely number (demo, September '87)