L'amour de ma vie - Sherisse Laurence

Sherisse Stevens was born as Sherisse Laurence in Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada. From 1978 to 1983 she hosted the show 'Circus' on CTV in Canada.

In 1986 she was chosen to represent Luxembourg at the Eurovision Song Contest. Her song 'L'amour de ma vie' ('The love of my life'), performed first on the night, was written by Frank Dostal and Alain Garcia and composed by Rolf Soja. The song finished third with 117 points.

My collection: 7" single no. 4391
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'L'amour de ma vie' / 'The love of my life'

Hold me - Fleetwood Mac

In 1989, the record company shied away from releasing 'No questions asked', one of two new tracks on Fleetwood Mac's 1988 'Greatest Hits' album. Instead, they put it on the B-side of a re-release of the song 'Hold me', which was originally a hit in 1982. Written by Christine McVie and Robbie Patton, it became one of Fleetwood Mac's biggest hits in the USA. Released in July 1982, it peaked at number 4 for seven weeks.

The 1989 re-release was not quite as successful. It reached number 94 in the UK singles chart and number 29 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 806
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, April 28, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Hold me' / 'No questions asked'

Nous on veut des violons - Morgane

Morgane was born as Ingrid Simonis in Blegny, Belgium on August 23, 1975. In 1992, she was selected to represent Belgium during the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Nous on veut des violons' ('We want violins'). It proved to be an unsuccessful entry, finishing 20th in a field of 23 competitors.

Morgane released several more records after the contest, but after a few years he gave up her own career to become the mother of three children. In 2009, she relaunched her career, now performing rock/gothic-influenced music.

My collection: 7" single no. 4393
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Nous on veut des violons' / 'Nous on veut des violons (instrumental)'

I'll set you free - The Bangles

'I'll set you free' was released as the fourth and final single from the Bangles' 1988 album 'Everything'. The track was remixed by Bernard Edwards, making it 24 seconds longer than the album version and featuring a vocal introduction by Susanna Hoffs.

Although the three previous singles were a big success, this single stalled at number 74 in the UK singles chart. It was also a minor hit in Australia, reaching number 81. No promotional film was made for the single, as the band had all but broken up.

My collection: 7" single no. 993
Found: HMV, London, October 16, 1989
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'I'll set you free (remix)' / 'Watching the sky'

I'm not satisfied - Fine Young Cannibals

Although I have the limited edition singles in a tin can from all four previous single releases from Fine Young Cannibals' 1989 album 'The raw and the cooked' (1989) - 'She drives me crazy', 'Good thing', 'Don't look back' and 'I'm not the man I used to be' - I have not been able to locate the fifth one. It's not even offered on eBay or similar websites these days. It's a frustration, but I do have the 'normal' single.

Written by lead vocalist Roland Gift and bassist David Steele, 'I'm Not Satisfied' depicts a man who criticizes the weekends for being too short, his girlfriend for being too possessive, and the city for being too depressing. This fifth single release from 'The raw and the cooked' (1989) reached number 46 in the UK singles chart, number 83 in Canada and number 90 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1193
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, March 9, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'I'm not satisfied' / 'I'm not satisfied (The Nicci edit)'

Looking at midnight - Imagination

'Looking at midnight' was released in May 1983, while Imagination were very much a part of the chart scene. Produced and co-written by Steve Jolley and Tony Swain, the single followed a formula that had become familiar for the band: falsetto vocals and swirling synth sounds.

The single reached number 29 in the UK singles chart, but was the first after a long line of single releases to not chart in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 3176
Found: February 19, 2000
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Looking at midnight' / 'Follow me'

No son of mine - Genesis

'No son of mine' was released as the first single from Genesis' 1991 album 'We can't dance'. The lyric tells the story of a boy who runs away from his abusive home, and - after some reconsideration - attempts to return, only to be rebuked by his father. In interviews, Phil Collins has said that the lyrics are deliberately vague as to whether the narrator or his mother is the victim of the abuse.

The track is notable for a distinctive sound heard during the intro and before the second verse. Referred to by the band as 'elephantus', the sound was created by Tony Banks recording Mike Rutherford's guitar with a sampler and then playing three notes on the bottom register of the keyboard, greatly lowering the pitch. The single relaunched Genesis' career after four years absence from the charts, peaking at number 6 in the UK singles chart and number 8 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1547
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, November 2, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'No son of mine' / 'Living forever'