Take the long way home (live) - Supertramp

Roger Hodgson commented in 1990: ''Take The Long Way Home' has a quality about it that just makes me feel warm inside. I don't know if it's the harmonies or the melodies, or whatever, but I never get sick of it. I always saw the song a little ambiguous. It's on two levels. I see 'home' as being internal and external. It's kind of a play on words. Definitely part of the song is about the shallowness of success and getting caught up in a world and success and chasing, being popular, or whatever, is taking 'the long way home'. Because I think 'home' in its deepest sense is inside, is being at peace with oneself.'

Originally released on the album 'Breakfast in America' in 1979, a live version was recorded on the album 'Paris' a year later and released as a single. This single was not a commercial success, but it's a good version nonetheless.

My collection: 7" single no. 2794
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 14, 1996
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Take the long way home (live)' / 'From now on (live)'

You know I love you... don't you? - Howard Jones

This limited edition double single is a bit of a weird one, as the second disc only has one side. And so this whole double single edition is made for just one track extra. To make things even stranger: another orchestral track, a version of 'Hungry for the flesh' was recorded at the same time as 'Hide and seek', but both tracks would only be released on the 12" single of the next single, 'A little bit of snow'.

'You know I love you... don't you?' was released as the second single from Howard Jones's third album 'One to one' in November 1986. It was his first single not to reach the UK top 40, stalling at number 43. In the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, however, the single reached number 17.

My collection: 7" single no. 490
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 15 guilders
Tracks: 'You know I love you... don't you?' / 'Dig this well deep' // 'Hide and seek (Orchestral version)'

London town - Bucks Fizz

Written by Andy Hill, the lyric of 'London town' tells of someone who is finding it difficult to adjust to life in a big city but is determined to stay. Lead vocals on the track were performed by member Bobby G, although he was unhappy with the way his vocals were mixed, giving them a distorted quality, claiming that he 'sounded like a munchkin'.

Released in September 1983, this was the Bucks Fizz's tenth single. It was the first of their singles not to reach the top 20 in the UK. It peaked at number 34 during a six week chart run.

My collection: 7" single no. 1667
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, June 20, 1992
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'London town' / 'Identity'

Stripped - Depeche Mode

'Stripped' was the first single from Depeche Mode's 1986 album 'Black celebration'. It was the first time that the band presented their gloomier side, a side they would explore more on later albums. The track was laden with samples: the underlying beat is a distorted and slowed-down sound of a motorcycle engine running, while the main melody begins with a car's ignition starting, and the end uses sounds of fireworks. The single peaked at number 15 in the UK singles chart.

In the USA, the B-side 'But not tonight' was preferred. The single was flipped, which did not please the band, because they saw the track as a useless poppy track they recorded in less than a day. To make matters worse, 'But not tonight' did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1328
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1990
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Stripped' / 'But not tonight'

Time to say goodbye - Arabesque

Although Arabesque broke up in 1984 when Sandra wanted to pursue a solo career, Jasmin and Michaela continued as Rouge, soldiering on for the remainder of the Eighties.

Meanwhile, the song 'Time to say goodbye' was released as a single and a 12" single by Arabeque in 1985. It was not a commercial success, but fans of the group may have been very happy to get this 'posthumous' release.

My collection: 12" single no. 331
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 1999
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Time to say goodbye (extended)' / 'Time to say goodbye', 'Stop crying for the moon'

Cradle of love - Billy Idol

'Cradle of love' is a good example of how a rather unremarkable song is brought to attention by an imaginative music video. The video was played often on MTV at the time, and since the video makes you want to watch things go wrong again and again, the song sticks in your mind. Not a surprise, then, that I ended up buying the single.

Billy Idol released 'Cradle of love' in April 1990. The single reached number 34 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1340
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1990
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Cradle of love' / '311 man'

Bailar pegados - Sergio Dalma

Sergio Dalma was born as Josep Sergi Capdevila Querol on September 28, 1964 in Sabadell, Spain. He started his career singing in bands and as backing vocalist, until he won the talent show 'Gent d'aqui'. His debut album 'Esa chica es mia' in 1989. Although the album was not very successful, Dalma was chosen to represent Spain during the 1991 Eurovision Song Contest.

'Bailar pegados' was a dramatic ballad that was tipped to win before the Contest took place. In the end, his song finished fourth out of 22 competitors. Dalma continues to be a successful artist in Spain, having had a number 1 album in 2008.

My collection: 7" single no. 4566
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received February 16, 2010
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Bailar pegados' / 'Amor descafeinado'