Distant love - Maywood

1981 is a very successful year for the Dutch duo Maywood. They release three hit singles, of which 'Distant love' is the first, and they win the prestigious Silver Harp awards in the Netherlands. They also receive prizes and awards in Germany, Poland, Japan and Korea. A world tour takes them to Sweden, Finland, Bulgaria, Indonesia en de Soviet Union.

'Distant love' reaches number 15 in the Dutch Top 40, a placing that is exceeded by the two subsequent single releases.

My collection: 7" single no. 80
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1981
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Distant love' / 'I'm in love for the very first time'

Loving you again - Chris Rea

Taken from the album 'Dancing with strangers', 'Loving you again' was released five years after another Chris Rea single 'Loving you'. Despite the similar title, the songs had very little in common and if nothing else it showed the progression of Chris Rea's music through these years: it had become a little harder edged.

'Loving you again' was a moderate success, peaking at number 47 in the UK singles chart, number 25 in Ireland and number 43 in Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 803
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, April 21, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Loving you again' / 'Donahue's broken wheel'

Spasticus Autisticus - Ian Dury

'Spasticus Autisticus' was written by Ian Dury and Chas Jankel in 1981 for the International Year of Disabled Persons. The lyric was deliberately provocative, as the word Spastic (a name for sufferers of cerebral palsy) was becoming taboo in Britain, due to its use as a derogatory term. Despite the fact that Dury was himself disabled (from polio, rather than cerebral palsy), the BBC deemed it offensive to polite sensibilities and denied it airplay, only confirming the validity of Dury's uncompromising lyrics.

The single did not chart in any territory, but I remember it made quite an impression on me when the single was first released and Dury performed it on television in the music programmes at the time.

My collection: 7" single no. 2939
Found: Record fair, Leiden, January 31, 1998
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Spasticus Autisticus' / 'Spasticus Autisticus (Version)'

I don't wanna go on with you like that - Elton John

'I don't wanna go on with you like that' was taken from Elton John's 1988 album 'Reg strikes back'. Written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, the song describes the breakup of a lovers' relationship.

When the single was released in the summer of 1988, it reached number 30 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was kept from the top spot by the single 'Monkey' by George Michael.

My collection: 7" single no. 660
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, October 1, 1988
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'I don't wanna go on with you like that' / 'Rope around a fool'

Breakfast in America - Supertramp

'Breakfast in America' was the title track of Supertramp's 1979 album. During the recording of this album, tensions between band members and main songwriters Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson were rising. Hodgson later commented: 'Rick didn't like the song 'Breakfast in America' and didn't want it on the album. He also didn't want the album to be titled 'Breakfast in America' either and I guess I won out on both accounts'.

When released as a single, 'Breakfast in America' became a big hit in various countries. It reached number 9 in the UK singles chart and number 16 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 851
Found: Den Haag, May 27, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Breakfast in America' / 'Gone Hollywood'

Confusion / Last train to London - Electric Light Orchestra

'Confusion' was released as a double A-side single with 'Last train to London' in the UK and Ireland, whereas the two tracks were released as separate singles in other territories. Thanks to this fact, we can conclude that 'Confusion' was actually the better selling of the two, since it was a top 10 hit in four other countries, in contrast to 'Last train to London', which only reached the top 10 in France. Meanwhile, the double A-side single reached number 8 in the UK and number 9 in Ireland.

Both tracks were taken from Electric Light Orchestra's 1979 album 'Discovery', from which three previous singles had already been released.

My collection: 7" single no. 2758
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 29, 1996
Cost: 20p
Tracks: 'Confusion' / 'Last train to London'

It's called a heart - Depeche Mode

'It's called a heart' was the second new track to be lifted from Depeche Mode's compilation album 'The Singles (81-85)'. Both Alan Wilder and Martin Gore have commented about their dislike of the track in hindsight. They actually wanted 'Fly on the windscreen' to be the A-side of this single, but the record company thought the violent nature of the song would be suitable for radio play (Imagine hearing the first line, 'Death is everywhere' on a sunny Sunday morning).

The single was released with a limited edition poster sleeve in the Netherlands. In the UK singles chart, 'It's called a heart' reached number 18.

My collection: 7" single no. 351
Found: Den Haag, 1985
Cost: unknown
Tracks: 'It's called a heart' / 'Fly on the windscreen'