We're like starlight - Gry

Gry Johansen was born August 28, 1964. She represented Denmark during the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Kloden drejer' ('The planet's spinning'). The song finished 17th out of 20 competitors. She made two further bids for Eurovision in Denmarkt in 1989 and 2000, but both times she was unsuccessful.

This single features an English version of 'Kloden drejer', entitled 'We're like starlight'. It was released in several European countries, but without commercial success.

My collection: 7" single no. 4407
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'We're like starlight' / 'For one more night'

A question of time - Depeche Mode

Following Depeche Mode's single 'A question of lust', 'A question of time' was released as Depeche Mode's 17th single in August 1986. The track was remixed for the single, running at a slightly faster temp and pitch than the album version on 'Black celebration'. The accompanying music video was the first to be directed by Anton Corbijn and brought forth a big relationship with him and the band which still lasts to this day.

The single reached number 17 in the UK singles chart, but was unsuccessful in many other territories.

My collection: 7" single no. 474
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'A question of time (remix)' / 'Black celebration (live)'

Modern love - David Bowie

David Bowie has claimed that 'Modern love' was inspired by Little Richard, and it maintains the album's theme of a struggle between God and man. It was the first track on his 1983 album 'Let's dance' and released as its third single.

By the time 'Modern love' was issued and edited as a single, Bowie's Serious Moonlight Tour was underway. The track had become a popular encore on the tour. A live version, recorded in Montreal on July 13, was on the B-side. It reached number 2 in the UK singles chart, number 9 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 14 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1253
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 24, 1990
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Modern love' / 'Modern love (live)'

Spark - Tori Amos

This promotional 12" single was released in the USA in support of 'Spark', the first single from Tori Amos's 1998 album 'From the choirgirl hotel'. It is a very interesting item, because of the B-side: the instrumental version of 'Spark' was not released on any other format, either commercially or on any other promotional item. This is why this 12" single is still sought after among Tori Amos fans.

I was lucky enough to find a copy during a record fair in the Netherlands, and I've treasured the item ever since.

My collection: 12" single no. 365
Found: Record fair, 1998
Cost: 25 guilders
Tracks: 'Spark' / 'Spark (instrumental)'

The diary of Horace Wimp - Electric Light Orchestra

According to Jeff Lynne, 'The diary of Horace Wimp' is 'a song about a lucky lad who somehow defies the odds and gets the girl. Really wild use of the vocoder.' Originally released on the album 'Discovery' (1979) by the Electric Light Orchestra, it was subsequently released as a single.

The single reached number 8 in the UK singles chart, number 10 in Ireland and number 48 in Australia.

My collection: 7" single no. 1023
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 10p
Tracks: 'The diary of Horace Wimp' / 'Down home town'

De bom - Doe Maar

During the first half of the Eighties, the Dutch band Doe Maar achieved the status of superband within the boundaries of the Netherlands with their Dutch language songs. They were going in against the trend of bands singing in English, during a period when Dutch language music was anything but cool. With a mixture of ska and funk (simply named 'Skunk' by the band) they created music that had an inexplicable appeal to young girls.

The single 'De bom' ('The bomb') was all about the threat of nuclear weapons that ran rampant during this cold war period. The lyric underlined the meaninglessness of life when a bomb was hanging over our heads. It gave the band their first number 1 hit in November 1982 - and in the two years that followed, Doe Maar's fanbase was often compared to the one of the Beatles during their heydays.

My collection: 7" single no. 2250
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 4, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'De bom' / 'Skunk', 'Man o man'

It's alright (Baby's coming back) - Eurythmics

'It's alright (Baby's coming back)' was a slight return by Eurythmics to the electronic-based sounds of their earlier albums. Driven by a subtle drum machine track, Lennox sings a straightforward ode to a lover returning to her after a long absence. The instrumental passages feature some elaborate multitracked harmony guitar parts from Stewart.

The track was released as the fourth and final single from their album 'Be yourself tonight'. It peaked at number 12 in the UK singles chart and number 20 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2027
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 19, 1993
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'It's alright (Baby's coming back)' / 'Conditioned soul'