Julia - Eurythmics

'Julia' was a track on the soundtrack of the movie '1984', which was composed and recorded entirely by the Eurythmics. It was subsequently released as the second and final single from the album. The song is a ballad with very sparse electronic instrumentation and an almost a cappella performance by Lennox. Her vocals are accentuated by vocoder effects in the background. The title and lyrics of the song are based upon the novel's heroine and love interest, Julia.

The single was released as a limited edition in the UK, featuring a pop-up sleeve and a picture disc with a still image from the film, featuring English actress Suzanna Hamilton as Julia. The single reached number 44 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1346
Found: Sister Ray, London, October 18, 1990
Cost: 4 pounds
Tracks: 'Julia' / 'Ministry of love'

Spending my time - Roxette

Although for some this song may be a bit too melodramatic, this was my favourite single of the year 1991. 'Spending my time' was one of the best tracks on Roxette's 1991 album 'Joyride', and when it was released as a single, it was coupled with a very strong non-album track, 'The sweet hello the sad goodbye'. The cd-single also added a great extended remix of the track.

The single reached number 29 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 22 in the UK singles chart. In 1996, a Spanish version, 'Un dia sin ti' was recorded on the album 'Baladas en Español'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1548
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, November 2, 1991
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Spending my time' / 'The sweet hello, the sad goodbye'

Dance this night away - Maarten Peters

In 1988, Maarten Peters left his record company Dureco after releasing two albums with them, and signed a new contract with EMI. His first release for EMI was the standalone single 'Dance this night away'.

Despite the danceable music and the straightforward lyric, the single was not a chart success. It almost seemed like his career was heading for a nosedive, but in 1989 Peters came back with a new album, that would give him his biggest successes.

My collection: 7" single no. 634
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1988
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Dance this night away' / 'Dance this night away (instrumental)'

China girl - David Bowie

A nice romp on the beach with an Asian woman: David Bowie knew how to have a good time in the early Eighties. The video for 'China girl' caused some controversy, as back then, artists were not generally showing their naked bodies too often. (These days you would long for even one of them to put on some clothes...) It was a visual reference to the movie 'From here to eternity', but still some TV channels censored the music video.

'China girl' was written by Bowie and Iggy Pop and originally recorded by Iggy Pop on his 1977 album 'The idiot'. David Bowie recorded the song in 1983 on his album 'Let's dance'. He decided to put the song on his album when Pop was in dire straits and was close to facing bankruptcy. The inclusion of the song on the album and the subsequent release as a single helped him to get back on his feet financially, as he collected half the royalties. The single reached number 2 in the UK and the Netherlands, while also reaching number 10 in the USA.

My collection: 7" single no. 1602
Found: Record fair, March 28, 1992
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'China girl' / 'Shake it'

Army dreamers - Kate Bush

Released in September 1980, Kate Bush's 'Army dreamers' can actually be described as an EP, as it contained not one, but two B-side tracks: an old demo recording from 1973 called 'Passing through air' and the album version of 'Delius', though without the outro of Babooshka through the first few seconds of the tracks as on the album 'Never for ever'.

The lyric of 'Army dreamers' was about the effects of war and about a mother who grieves for her young son, who was killed on military maneuvers. Saddened by his unnecessary death, she wrestles with her guilt over what she could have done to prevent it. The single reached number 16 in the UK singles chart and number 36 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 76
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1980
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Army dreamers' / 'Delius', 'Passing through air'

We don't need another hero - Tina Turner

'We don't need another hero' by Tina Turner doesn't sound too far removed from an earlier hit, 'What's love got to do with it'. That's not a surprise, given that the track was written and produced by the same people behind Turner's album 'Private dancer'. It was recorded for the soundtrack of the movie 'Mad Max: beyond Thunderdome', in which Turner had a starring role.

On the track, Turner was backed by a choral group from King's House School in Richmond, London. The song's lyrical content and theme is mostly a statement of anti-war and anti-violence. It reached number 1 in several European countries, number 7 in the Dutch Top 40, number 3 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 315
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'We don't need another hero' / 'We don't need another hero (instrumental)'

He's a liar - Bee Gees

The 12" single of 'He's a liar' was featured on this blog some time ago already, but mostly when I've got a 12" single, I also have the 7" single. And this one is no exception.

'He's a liar' was the first single from the Bee Gees album 'Living eyes', released in 1981. It had been approximately 2 years since the last Bee Gees single had been released - which was an eternity at that time - and although this song sounded nothing like the Bee Gees disco era singles, this single was ignored in most territories because the band had become so heavily associated with disco - and disco was no longer in fashion.

My collection: 7" single no. 882
Found: All that music, Leiden, June 16, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'He's a liar' / 'He's a liar (instrumental)'