For your babies - Simply Red

In 1991, Simply Red released the album 'Stars'. It was arguably one of their best selling albums, also yielding five singles. The third single was 'For your babies', a midtempo track written and composed by Mick Hucknall.

The single reached number 9 in the UK singles chart and number 11 in Ireland. It did not chart in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 1582
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, February 10, 1992
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'For your babies' / 'For your babies (Edition Français)'

The good times - José

José had two solo hits under her belt (with 'I will follow him' and 'Secret love') when she released her fourth solo single 'The good times'. It was a new track, composed by Piet Souer, with a lot of the trademarks of the two previous singles: a bright production, an upbeat sound and a recognisable melody.

However, it was not a cover version and it seemed like José could only have a hit with cover versions: 'The good times' did not chart in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 168
Found: Studio Echo, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'The good times' / 'Say no more'

Wrapped around your finger - The Police

The Police created an impressive music video for 'Wrapped around your finger'. They performed the song in a candle-lit room, interspersed with scenes of Sting running among several tall candlesticks carefully arranged in a sort of maze. The video suited the song very well.

'Wrapped around your finger' is a tale of an apprentice who seeks esoteric wisdom under the tutelage of an erotic teacher, eventually superseding the mentor to become the master. Like other Police songs from this period, it features mythological and literary references, notably to the Scylla and Charybdis monsters of Greek mythology, and the German legend of Faust. The single reached number 7 in the UK singles chart, number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 17 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 495
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Wrapped around your finger' / 'Someone to talk to'

Anything for you - Gloria Estefan

'Anything for you' was recorded by Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine. Such was the success of this single, that the album 'Let it loose' whence it came from was repackaged and renamed 'Anything for you' at the time of its release.

The single reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 2 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 744
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, February 11, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Anything for you' / 'Anything for you (English/Spanish version)'

Butterfly on a wheel - The Mission

The history of the bands All about Eve and The Mission has been intertwined from the very beginning. Mission frontman Wayne Hussey sang backing vocals on some tracks on All about Eve's debut album, whereas Julianne Regan from All about Eve sang backing vocals on the Mission's 'Severina'.

Also, Regan was in a relationship with Mission guitarist Simon Hinkler for some time. When the couple broke up, it inspired Hussey to write 'Butterfly on a wheel'. The track was featured on the Mission's album 'Carved in sand' and was released as a single just before the end of 1989. It reached number 12 in the UK singles chart in January 1990.

My collection: 7" single no. 1165
Found: Free Record Shop, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Butterfly on a wheel' / 'The grip of disease'

Kinder dieser Welt - Gary Lux

Gary Lux was born in Ontario, Canada, but returned to live in Austria with his parents during his childhood. He represented Austria during the Eurovision Song Contest on six occasions, first as a member of the group Westend in 1983 and as a backing singer in 1984, 1993 and 1995. Only in 1985 and 1987 he was the starring performer.

His 1985 entry was 'Kinder dieser Welt' ('Children of the world'). The song finished eighth in a field of 19 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 4469
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received January 28, 2010
Cost: 1,8 euro
Tracks: 'Kinder dieser Welt' / 'Kino'

Linda - Frank Boeijen Groep

Frank Boeijen has often expressed that he regretted recording 'Linda'. There was some pressure from the record company to finally come up with a hit single, and this repetitive piece of Dutch pop did the trick. The line 'Linda / Ik wil alles voor je doen' ('Linda / I'd do anything for you') is repeated more than a dozen times, and the verses are not very imaginative either.

'Linda', released in May 1983, reached number 28 in the Dutch Top 40 and gave the Frank Boeijen Groep their first hit single.

My collection: 7" single no. 348
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Linda' / 'Nachtportier'