Sweet freedom - Michael McDonald

The soundtrack of the 1986 American movie 'Running scared' featured several wellknown artists. Kim Wilde delivered 'Say you really want me', Patti Labelle sang 'I know what I want' and Michael McDonald performed 'Sweet freedom'.

The former Doobie Brothers member also managed to have a worldwide hit with his song, because it was released as a single. 'Sweet freedom' reached number 12 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4729
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, March 20, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Sweet freedom' / 'The freedom eights'

No commitments - PS and the Footnotes

I bought 'Final love song' a long time ago, but I was aware of another single by PS & the Footnotes, the Dutch band that never found fame despite a short-lived record deal with EMI.

'No commitments' was also released in 1984 and was equally unsuccessful in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4677
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'No commitments' / 'Straight through the heart'

Eve of destruction - Geff Harrison

'Eve of destruction' was written by P.F. Sloan in 1965 as a grave warning of imminent apocalypse, and considered by some to be the epitome of a protest song. It expressed the frustrations and fears of young people in the age of the Cold War, Vietnam, the nuclear arms race, and the civil rights movement. The most famous version of this song was recorded that same year by Barry McGuire. It earned him a worldwide hit.

This version was recorded and released in 1984 by the German singer Geff Harrison. It updates the Sixties track a bit, although it can hardly be considered a very Eighties version.

My collection: 7" single no. 4648
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Eve of destruction' / 'How can you sleep'

Cantara Pepe - The Press

In 1980, the Dutch band The Walkers changes its name into The Press. Consisting of Rene Innemee, Michel and Walter Nita, John Coenen, Floor Minnaert and Willy Bronzwaer, they release their debut single 'I'm gonna shoot the D.J.' a few months later.

In July 1981, they release the follow-up, 'Cantara Pepe'. This single, taken from their album 'Press here', reaches number 11 in Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4675
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Cantara Pepe' / 'In the quiet of the night'

Kick it in - Simple Minds

'Kick it in' was released as the third single from the 1989 Simple Minds album 'Street fighting years'. Although I wasn't that convinced that this song was actually any good, I was curious about the 89 remix of 'Waterfront', which is included on the B-side of this single. And so it still ended up in my collection.

The single reached number 15 in the UK singles chart, while also making number 29 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4670
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Kick it in' / 'Waterfront (89 remix)'

Day after day - The Pretenders

The Pretenders released their second album 'Pretenders II' in August 1981. Most critics at the time called it disappointing, although it is now generally considered a great album.

The track 'Day after day' was released as a single. The accompanying music video was played a lot on MTV in the USA, but that didn't lead to any chart success. In the UK, meanwhile, the single peaked at number 45.

My collection: 7" single no. 4676
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Day after day' / 'In the sticks'

Shock the monkey - Peter Gabriel

I first heard Peter Gabriel's 'Shock the monkey' as part of a compilation album for Greenpeace, released in the mid-Eighties. That compilation was remarkable for its inclusion of Kate Bush's 'Breathing' - the single version no less.

I never actually knew 'Shock the monkey' was released as a single, but that's mostly because it was not a hit in the Netherlands. Released in September 1982, it reached number 58 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4728
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Shock the monkey' / 'Soft dog (instrumental)'