Lied für einen Freund - Maxi and Chris Garden

The mother and daughter duo Maxi & Chris Garden represented Germany during the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Lied für einen Freund' ('Song for a friend'). Like many of Germany's entries, the song was written and composed by Ralph Siegel and Bernd Meinunger, but this one is actually a rather baroque track musically speaking: lots of orchestral backing, piano riffs and, well, a disappointing lyric.

At the close of voting, 'Lied für einen Freund' finished 14th in a field of 21 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 4455
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received January 28, 2010
Cost: 1,5 euro
Tracks: 'Lied für einen Freund' / 'Du und ich'

State of independence - Donna Summer

Donna Summer has been around for such a long time, that many of her singles are still wellknown. From her output in the Eighties, 'State of independence' is quite probably her best known song. The track was originally written and recorded by Jon Anderson & Vangelis on their 1981 album 'The friends of Mr. Cairo'.

Donna Summer recorded her version a year later on her 1982 self-titled album, with Quincy Jones producing. Her version of the song features an all-star choir including among others Michael Jackson, Brenda Russell, James Ingram, Dionne Warwick, Kenny Loggins, Lionel Richie and Stevie Wonder. Upon its original release, it became a number 1 hit in the Dutch Top 40, peaking at number 14 in the UK singles chart and number 41 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Remixes were released in 1990 and 1996.

My collection: 7" single no. 293
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'State of independence' / 'Love is just a breath away'

The train - The Nits

'The train' was the second single taken from the 1988 album 'Hat' by the Nits. The song was written and produced by the band. The sleeve of the single featured stills from the rather strange music video. And like the music video, the song was rather strange as well.

'Strange and beautiful' was increasingly becoming the trademark of the Nits, which earned them a big fan following in the Netherlands, but also a lack of commercial success: this single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 753
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, February 17, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'The train' / 'Blue'

Beyond my control - Mylene Farmer

Mylene Farmer's song 'Beyond my control' was inspired by two characters in the 1782 French novel 'Les liaisons dangereuses'. In the song, the voice heard on the chorus of the song which repeats 'It's beyond my control' is in fact a sample of John Malkovich's voice from the film 'Les liaisons dangereuses' by Stephen Frears. The song deals with self-control, love and death. Farmer tells her own story from the sampled sentence: that of a woman who kills her unfaithful lover after a night of love.

The single reached number 8 in France and number 10 in the French-speaking part of Belgium. The single was also released in the Netherlands, but without any chart success.

My collection: 7" single no. 2220
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 17, 1994
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Beyond my control' / 'Beyond my control (Ya ya version)'

Everybody hurts - R.E.M.

The statement is quite belittling: to say to the thousands of victims of an earthquake, in this case in Haiti: 'Everybody hurts sometimes'. Yet, that's what happening right now: an array of pop stars have recorded a cover version of this sog by R.E.M. I haven't heard it yet, but when Leona Lewis and Mariah Carey are involved, it's bound to be an atrocious track.

So let's go back to the original. Much of the song was written by R.E.M. drummer Bill Berry. He said about the song: 'If you're consciously writing for someone who hasn't been to college, or is pretty young, it might be nice to be very direct. In that regard, it's tended to work for people of a lot of ages.'

My collection: 7" single no. 1916
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, May 22, 1993
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Everybody hurts' / 'Pop song 89'

Midnight man - Flash and the Pan

'Midnight man' is a track from Flash and the Pan's fifth studio album 'Early morning wake up call'. The album was produced by Harry Vanda and George Young themselves, like all their albums.

The track was edited for the single release. The single reached number 66 in Australia and number 23 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 289
Found: Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Midnight man' / 'Fat night'

Save me - Queen

'Save me' was released as a single in January 1980, six months before the album 'The game' was released, on which the track appeared. Brian May wrote the song about a friend whose relationship had ended.

The single reached number 5 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 11 in the UK singles chart, while it was also a top 10 hit in Ireland, Italy and Norway.

My collection: 7" single no. 1575
Found: Record fair, January 25, 1992
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Save me' / 'Let me entertain you'