If I ever lose my faith in you - Sting

'If I ever lose my faith in you' was released as the second single from Sting's 1993 album 'Ten summoner's tales' in January 1993.

The single reached number 17 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, also winning a Grammy award in 1994 for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. In the Dutch top 40, the single reached number 15 and in the UK singles chart it reached number 14.

My collection: 7" single no. 2345
Found: Record Exchange, London, June 26, 1995
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'If I ever lose my faith in you' / 'Every breath you take (live)'

Little bit of snow - Howard Jones

Although Howard Jones's current album 'Ordinary heroes' is full of ballads, none of them can come close to this epic ballad, 'Little bit of snow'. It's a very intimate work, but this is what makes it so special. A track on his third album 'One to one', it was an unlikely single release.

Hence, the UK single release was the only one: the song was not released as a single in other territories. The success wasn't overwhelming either: during a one week chart run, it reached number 70 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2529
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, November 1, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Little bit of snow' / 'Let it flow'

I don't want to live without you - Foreigner

Recorded as a track on Foreigner's 1987 album 'Inside information', 'I don't want to live without you' was released as the second single from that album.

The single became the band's sixteenth and - to this day - final entry in the Billboard top 40, peaking at number 5 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The single did not chart in the UK, but reached number 19 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1978
Found: London, October 17, 1993
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'I don't want to live without you' / 'Face to face'

Talking in your sleep - Bucks Fizz

'Talking in your sleep' was written and recorded by the Romantics in 1983. It was a hit in the USA, but failed to chart in the UK.

The song was picked up in 1984 by Bucks Fizz. Their version was recorded on their fourth album 'I hear talk' and released as a single. Their version reached number 15 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3143
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 18, 1999
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Talking in your sleep' / 'Don't think you're fooling me'

Away - Maarten Peters

After having been a member of the Frank Boeijen Groep for a year, Maarten Peters embarked on a solo career that gave him some success in the second half of the Eighties. His first taste of chart success came when he released the single 'Away', a song written by himself and produced by Jos Haagmans, not coincidentally a member of the Frank Boeijen Groep.

The single reached number 36 in the Dutch Top 40 during a 4 week chart run. Not a high placing, but then better things were on their way in the years to come.

My collection: 7" single no. 514
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Away' / 'Away (instrumental)'

I gave you my heart (didn't I) - Hot Chocolate

Although this single was released in 1983, I didn't hear it until 1988. When I did hear it, it was hard to believe that this was a Hot Chocolate track: it was a poppy track, but lacked the funky feel of most of their material. Still, I liked it a lot and after some time hunting for this single, I found it.

'I gave you my heart (didn't I)' was the last original hit single for Hot Chocolate in the UK, peaking at number 13 in early 1984. Although the band never formally broke up, they stopped releasing original material in 1984. Remixes and reissues did manage to get into the UK singles chart subsequently, but this single represents the end of Hot Chocolate as an active band.

My collection: 7" single no. 841
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 27, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'I gave you my heart (Didn't I)' / 'Jeannie'

Hey now, whatcha gonna do - José

Released in 1983, 'Hey now, whatcha gonna do' was another single by José that failed to chart in the Dutch Top 40. The song was written and produced by Pim Koopman and stayed faithful to the uptempo, major key popsongs that José was known for even when she was still a member of the girl trio Luv'. Still, the single failed to become a success.

I bought the single when it came out, and always wondered about the photograph on the sleeve: for a woman, the upper body looks decidedly, er, flat.

My collection: 7" single no. 219
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1983
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Hey now whatcha gonna do' / 'Hey now whatcha gonna do (instrumental)'