Cry - Godley and Creme

Trevor Horn must be one of the most impressive producers out there, as he's been responsible for so many great records. I am certainly not the only person to think this, since when he produced Godley & Creme's 1985 single 'Cry', it was played to death on radio and television at the time. So much so, that I became sick of the track altogether. Now, 25 years later, I finally brought myself to the point where I could buy and listen to it again.

The single reached number 8 in the Dutch Top 40, number 16 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, and number 19 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4637
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Cry' / 'Love bombs'

Lorilee - David Gates

After the breakup of his band Bread, David Gates recorded a solo album entitled 'First', which in my book is definitely a classic album. I never really knew how many singles were taken from that album, but I came across another one, and despite the state it was in, I knew I had to have it.

'Lorilee' was released in early 1974 and featured two tracks from the album: 'Lorilee' (the last track on the album) and 'Sail around the world' (The first track on the album). The single did not chart in any territory.

My collection: 7" single no. 4636
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Lorilee' / 'Sail around the world'

Mi amor - Audrey Landers and Camilo Sesto

In 1984, Audrey Landers recorded 'Mi Amor' as a duet with Camilo Sesto. He was born on September 16, 1946 as Camilo Blanes Cortés and became a prominent performer of Spanish pop music in the Seventies and Eighties.

The duo recorded the duet for Landers' album 'Holiday dreams', which was mainly a success in Germany. The production sounds a lot like German schlagers, and this went down well in Germany: the album was certified Gold within weeks of its release. The single also managed to reach number 30 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4635
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Mi amor' / 'Guantanamera'

Don't say that it's over - The Korgis

Over the past year, I have made an effort in completing some artist discographies. One of those artists was the British band the Korgis. They have released many singles in the first half of the Eighties, and most of them turn up in second hand shops for really good prices.

One of the singles I couldn't find last year was 'Don't say that it's over'. So I was glad to finally add that one to my collection last weekend. The picture sleeve is a bit boring, but the two tracks on this disc more than make up for that.

My collection: 7" single no. 4633
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1,25 euro
Tracks: 'Don't say that it's over' / 'Drawn and quartered'

Sound and vision - David Bowie

'Sound and vision' was recorded by David Bowie on his 1977 album 'Low'. The track features a lengthy introduction with guitar and synthesizer, followed by withdrawn lyrics, inspired by the cocaine-fueled paranoia the singer had lived in while residing in Los Angeles. In keeping with the minimalist approach of Low, Visconti and Bowie originally recorded the track as an instrumental, bar the backing vocal (performed by Visconti’s wife, Mary Hopkin). Bowie then recorded his vocal after the rest of the band had left the studio, before trimming verses off the lyric.

Released as a first single from the album, the song was used by the BBC on trailers at the time. This provided considerable exposure, which was much needed as Bowie opted to do nothing to promote the single himself, and helped the song to number 3. In the Dutch Top 40, it even made number 2.

My collection: 7" single no. 1412
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, April 3, 1991
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Sound and vision' / 'A new career in a new town'

Dancing in the dark - Tony Sherman

Tony Sherman's version of 'Dancing in the dark' was released in 1983, shortly after Kim Wilde's version. The song was unsuccessful in both versions, but Tony Sherman's version was only released in the Netherlands.

Last year I found the 12" single, but I've had the 7" single for a few years already.

My collection: 7" single no. 4632
Found: Record fair, Utrecht
Cost: unknown
Tracks: 'Dancing in the dark' / 'Another fool, another love'

Pa - Doe Maar

In February 1983, Doe Maar released the single 'Pa' from their new album '4us', the first album in Dutch language that was recorded entirely digitally.

It became the groups' second consecutive number one hit in the Netherlands. By this time, they had become so popular that anything they released could count on mass attention. This was, by the way, also the reason why they called it quits one year later.

My collection: 7" single no. 1363
Found: Disco Market, Den haag, December 28, 1990
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Pa' / 'Lajeninaja'