Falling - D. Twins

When the television series 'Twin Peaks' hit the screens in the early Nineties, it was a sensation. Not only was I in awe of the series, but the music, composed by Angelo Badalamenti, and the songs, performed by Julee Cruise, were wonderful as well. Of course, I bought the soundtrack and the single 'Falling' as soon as I could.

Then, during a holiday in Austria, I found a cd-single by the D. twins, also entitled 'Falling'. After I bought the cd-single, it turned out to be a weird dance version of the track, performed by an anonymous group of dj's and/or producers. My friend Puck turned up a second cd-single a few months later. And then, a few months after that, I found this 12" single. Made in Italy, the label promised four remixes which incidentally all proved to be on the cd-singles anyway. But upon playing the disc, I found out that the actual playlist was a bit shorter: it contained two remixes that were not mentioned on the label at all! And these two were on the cd-singles as well. How confusing. I guess this is a collector's item of sorts.

My collection: 12" single no. 233
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 1994
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks (on label): 'Falling (Twin club mix)', 'Falling (10 dance mix)' / 'Falling (Peaks version)', 'Falling (Meditation mix)'
Tracks (actual): 'Falling (Club mix)' / 'Falling (New version remix)'

Empty rooms - Gary Moore

'Empty rooms' was re-released in 1985 after an earlier release in 1984 failed to chart. The track was slightly remixed and called the 'Summer 1985 version'.

It seemed to be a successful strategy: this time around, the single actually charted and reached number 23 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 341
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Empty rooms (Summer 1985 version)' / 'Out of my system'

Four letter word - Kim Wilde

Released in November 1988, 'Four letter word' was the first ballad released by Kim Wilde as a single. All through her career, which at the time spanned eight years, she'd released up-tempo songs, but the fourth single from her very successful sixth album 'Close' was in a sense a novelty. It was also the last single by Kim Wilde to be written by her brother Ricky and her father Marty. Kim had become increasingly involved in songwriting and Marty was stepping down.

The single was another successful release, peaking at number 8 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 6 in the UK singles chart. The B-side of this single was a new version of a track from her previous album, 'Another step' (1986).

My collection: 7" single no. 690
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, November 24, 1988
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Four letter word' / 'She hasn't got time for you '88'

Tower of strength - The Mission

After the release of their second album 'Children', the Mission released the single 'Tower of strength' from that album. The single version was edited down from the 8 minute album version to 4 minutes 30 seconds. It still retained much of the strength and character of the track, and so the band were rewarded with their biggest hit yet.

'Tower of strength' was the first single by the Mission to achieve some success abroad: it reached number 30 in the Dutch Top 40 in April 1988. Two months prior to that, the single reached number 12 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 795
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, April 15, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Tower of strength' / 'Fabienne', 'Breathe (vocal)'

Don't lose my number - Phil Collins

Phil Collins has said that 'Don't lose my number' was actually written during the recording sessions for his debut solo album 'Face value'. It turned up four years later on his third album 'No jacket required'. The lyric of the song was partly improvised, and Collins admitted that he does not fully understand what they mean.

The single was not released in the UK, but was in most of Europe and in the USA. It reached number 4 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1564
Found: All that music, Leiden, January 2, 1992
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Don't lose my number' / 'We said hello goodbye'

A better love - London Beat

This limited edition 7" single of 'A better love' was not only housed in a gatefold sleeve, it also gave the buyer two acoustic versions of London beat tracks: 'A better love' and 'I've been thinking about you'. A good deal, especially if, like me, one was able to find this single at discount price in a second hand shop.

The single was released in the UK to boost sales of 'A better love'. It didn't help much: at the time of release it only made number 52. A re-release six months later would be more successful, as it got to number 23.

My collection: 7" single no. 2372
Found: House of Rhythm, London, July 1, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'A better love (acoustic)', 'I've been thinking about you (acoustic)' / 'A better love'

Mountains - Prince

Like many Prince songs, 'Mountains' focuses on Christian motifs. The lyric most obviously references Jesus' speech on the general theological theme of God's omnipotence: 'In answer Jesus said to them: 'Truly I say to you, if only you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what I did to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and cast into the sea,' it will happen.' (Matthew 21:21)

Written by Prince with his band members Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman, it was one of Prince's relatively unsuccessful singles of the Eighties, reaching number 23 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 20 in the Dutch Top 40, but only number 48 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 443
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, August 2, 1986
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Mountains' / 'Alexa de Paris'