The hollow man - Marillion

After trying and failing to reach a wider audience with Holidays in Eden, Marillion figured it was time to go back to their roots and make a more progressive rock-oriented album again. The result was 'Brave', a concept album based on a news story Steve Hogarth heard on the radio about a girl who was taken into police custody after being found wandering the Severn Bridge. She did not know who she was, where she came from and refused to even speak. This inspired Hogarth to write a fictional story about this girl and what might have led to her being on Severn Bridge in this state.

'Brave' was not a hit album because of EMI's lack of promotion and the fact that it had no real single potential. However, three singles were released: 'The great escape', 'The hollow man' and 'Alone again in the lap Of luxury'. 'The hollow man' was the most successful of the three, peaking at number 30 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2083
Found: UK, received March 26, 1994
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'The hollow man' / 'Brave'

Fields of gold - Sting

Although 'Fields of gold' was covered by Eva Cassidy and reportedly brought many people to tears, it still is a bit of an overlooked Sting classic. He wrote and recorded the track on his 1993 album 'Ten summoner's tales'. It was released as the third single from the album that year.

The single reached number 23 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 16 in the UK singles chart and number 52 in Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 2392
Found: Marlyn Music, Eastbourne, July 5, 1995
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Fields of gold' / 'We work the black seam'

Come closer - Renée

'Come closer' is another single by the Dutch band Renée that didn't make the Dutch Top 40. Not that the track wasn't promoted: several television appearances have survived the three decades since its release (see here and here).

I didn't like the song when it came out, but I appreciated it more in hindsight. This is why I bought the single 20 years after its original release.

My collection: 7" single no. 3272
Found: November 10, 2000
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Come closer' / 'It's absurd'

Right by your side - Eurythmics

One of the most successful collaborations in Eighties pop is the Eurythmics. Dave Stewart and Annie Lennox were continually changing their sound, releasing one hit single after another. 'Right by your side' was lyrically and sonically different from past single releases from the band. The track is an uptempo love song featuring calypso music, synthesized steel drum and marimba sounds as well as a horn section.

The track was released as the second single from Eurythmics' third album 'Touch'. It reached number 10 in the UK singles chart and number 20 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3097
Found: House of Rhythm, London, May 13, 1999
Cost: 40p
Tracks: 'Right by your side' / 'Right by your side (Party mix)'

So natural - Lisa Stansfield

After the big success of her first two albums and the track 'In all the right places' for the soundtrack of the movie 'Indecent proposal', Lisa Stansfield released her third solo album 'So natural' in 1993. It was her very first musical work almost entirely realized by the singer herself along with her husband and collaborator Ian Devaney. Previously, the pair had worked in a trio with Andy Morris, but he only shared writing credits on three tracks on this album.

It's all speculation whether this is really the cause, of course, but without Morris, Stansfield had a hard time maintaining her commercial success. The title track was released as a single, which reached number 15 in the UK singles chart but failed to reach the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1994
Found: HMV, London, October 18, 1993
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'So natural' / 'So natural (Roger's club mix)'

Tears on the telephone - Hot Chocolate

Although their success in the Seventies was phenomenal, in the early Eighties the success of the band Hot Chocolate headed for a steady decline. Their last big success was 1982's 'It started with a kiss', but subsequent singles didn't fare as well.

'Tears on the telephone', released in September 1983, was Hot Chocolate's last hit single in the Netherlands, peaking at number 14. It sold less well in the UK, where it only reached number 37.

My collection: 7" single no. 3121
Found: July 24, 1999
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Tears on the telephone' / 'It's my birthday'

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'