Runaway boys - The Stray Cats

The Stray Cats formed in 1980 in New York. Brian Setzer, Lee Rocker and Slim Jim Phantom based their style upon the sounds of Sun Records artists and other artists from the Fifties. When they heard rumor that there was a revival of the Fifties Teddy Boy youth subculture in England, the band moved to the UK.

In the summer of 1980 the cats found themselves being courted by the elite of the music world including Virgin Records, Stiff Records and Arista records. Word quickly spread and soon members of the Rolling Stones, The Who and Led Zeppelin were at their shows. Dave Edmunds offered to work with the group, and they recorded their debut album, which was released in early 1981. Ahead of the album, their first hit single 'Runaway boys' was released. It reached number 3 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 9 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4594
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, February 26, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Runaway boys' / 'My one desire'

La Luna - Belinda Carlisle

Released in 1989, 'La luna' ('The moon') was the second single from Belinda Carlisle's album 'Runaway horses'. The track was written by Rick Nowels and Ellen Shipley and produced by Nowels - as most of her output up until then.

The single reached number 10 in Switzerland, but ended up outside the top 10 in other territories. In the UK singles chart, 'La luna' stalled at number 38.

My collection: 7" single no. 4584
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, February 26, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'La luna' / 'Whatever it takes'

Never wanna dance (when I'm blue) - Audrey Landers

Although most people remember Audrey Landers as the pouting blonde that played Afton Cooper in the American series 'Dallas', she also has a lengthy musical career under her belt. Starting out as early as 1978, she had her biggest hit in Europe with 1983's 'Manuel goodbye'. After this, she released ten albums and a few dozen singles.

One of those singles is this one, from 1988. 'Never wanna dance (when I'm blue)' was co-written by herself, but failed to make an impression in the charts.

My collection: 7" single no. 4577
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, February 26, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Never wanna dance (when I'm blue)' / 'It takes 2 to fly'

The way old friends do - Shirley

'The way old friends do' was originally a live recording by Abba, included as the last track on their 1980 album 'Super trouper'. The song was written by Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Anderson.

In 1983, the Dutch singer Shirley recorded a cover version of this song, which in contrast to the original was released as a single. The single did not chart in any territory and as such is one of many obscure Abba covers out there.

My collection: 7" single no. 4597
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, February 26, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'The way old friends do' / 'One and only'

The next time I fall - Peter Cetera and Amy Grant

'The next time I fall' was written by Bobby Caldwell and Paul Gordon, recorded as a duet by Peter Cetera and Amy Grant for Cetera's 1986 album 'Solitude/Solitaire'.

When the track was released as a single, it reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in December 1986. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. In Europe, the single was released, but achieved no commercial success.

My collection: 7" single no. 4583
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, February 26, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'The next time I fall' / 'Holy moly'

Shelley - Marty Wilde

Although Marty Wilde was very successful in the UK between 1958 and 1962, he never managed to regain that early popularity. In 1968 he had a hit in Europe with 'Abergavenny', and that allowed him to record an album 'Diversions' in 1969.

This single, 'Shelley', was also released in 1969, but the track does not appear on that album. It is a good example of the versatility of Marty Wilde, as it doesn't sound at all like the rock and roll tracks he recorded in his heydays.

My collection: 7" single no. 4607
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received February 27, 2010
Cost: 4 euro
Tracks: 'Shelley' / 'Jump on the train'

Before - Pet Shop Boys

Although the single 'Before' by the Pet Shop Boys was not released on 7" vinyl, the record company had not abandoned the vinyl format altogether: 12" singles by the Pet Shop Boys continued to be released all through their career. And 'Before' was released in a plethora of different 12" singles. The promotional 12" singles with penises on the front cover were perhaps the most notorious ones, but this box set was the best item overall.

Comprising nine remixes on three discs, it is an hour's worth of music. And I'm using the term 'music' loosely here: only the last remix actually features verses and chorus of the song - other remixes are just collections of sounds and beats that sometimes seem to have nothing in common with the track itself. Still, it is a great collector's item for Pet Shop Boys fans, and finding this box set for so little money was a great bargain.

My collection: 12" single no. 533
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, February 26, 2010
Cost: 2,5 euro
Tracks: 'Before (Underground mix)', 'Before (Bonus dub)' / 'Before (Underground instrumental)', 'Before (Bonus beats)' // 'Before (Classic Paradise mix)' / 'Before (Aphrodisiac mix)' // 'Before (Hed Boys mix)', 'Before (Hed Boys dub)' / 'Before (Joey Negro extended mix)'