Into the blue - The Mission

'Into the blue' was released in 1990 as the third single from the Mission's fourth album 'Carved in sand'. I never bought the single because of the similarity between the sleeve of this single and the one of 'Hands across the ocean' (at least, in my mind), which made me think I already had it.

The single reached number 32 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4714
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Into the blue' / 'Bird of passage'

Sexual healing - Marvin Gaye

'Sexual healing' was composed by Marvin Gaye, Odell Brown and David Ritz. The song discusses a man's aching for finding sexual salvation with his woman - hence the title 'Sexual healing'. Some saw the song as Gaye's harmonious plea to sex in the form of him preaching the word of gospel, marrying his divided soul.

Released in 1982, it was Marvin Gaye's first single since his exit from his long-term record label Motown earlier in the year, following the release of the album 'In our lifetime' the previous year. The single reached number 1 in Canada and New Zealand, peaking at number 3 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 4 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4699
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Sexual healing' / 'Sexual healing (instrumental)'

Tonight - Tina Turner with David Bowie

While Tina Turner live sounds a lot like a cat being strangled, this single is still of interest because of the appearance of David Bowie on the title track. The song 'Tonight' was written by David Bowie and Iggy Pop for Iggy's 1977 album 'Lust for life'. It subsequently appeared as the title track of Bowie's 1984 album.

Bowie recorded the track on his own album as a duet with Tina Turner. When Turner was on tour, he performed the song together with her on March 23, 1985 at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. This version was included on the album 'Tina Live in Europe' in 1988, and released as a single. It was a number 1 hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 53 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4693
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Tonight (live)' / 'River deep mountain high (live)'

Samba d'amour - Middle of the Road

After having had eight hit singles in several countries between 1971 and 1973, 'Samba d'amour' was the first of four singles that was only successful in Germany.

'Samba d'amour' was released in the summer of 1973 as the only single from Middle of the Road's 1973 album 'Music music'. It was the group's first album on the Ariola label. Ariola did not have the rights to release material in the UK and so an arrangement was made with a local Scottish record company to distribute 'Music music'. It failed to attract national attention in the UK and was relegated to obscurity there.

My collection: 7" single no. 4691
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Samba d'amour' / 'Winter's sun'

Have you ever had it blue - The Style Council

The Style Council recorded 'Have you ever had it blue' for the soundtrack of the movie 'Absolute beginners'. After David Bowie's song of the same name was released as a single, the Style Council's track was the next single to be taken from the soundtrack album.

Although this single couldn't match the success of Bowie's track, it still managed to climb to number 14 in the UK singles chart and number 20 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4713
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Have you ever had it blue' / 'Mr. Cool's dream'

Surrender - Swing out sister

'Surrender' is a 1987 single released by British pop act Swing Out Sister from their debut album, 'It's better to travel'. The song features a trumpet solo performed by John Thirkell. It was released as the follow-up to the successful single, 'Breakout'.

The song peaked at number 7 in the UK Singles Chart in January 1987 and reached the same position in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4717
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Surrender' / 'Who's to blame?'

Stray cat strut - Stray Cats

'Stray cat strut' is a track on the Stray Cats' debut album, released in 1981 in the UK. Released as the third single from that album, it reached number 13 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 11 in the UK singles chart.

In 1982, the song became a hit in the US, peaking at number 3 in the Billboard Hot 100. Brian Setzer later played this song with his new band, The Brian Setzer Orchestra.

My collection: 7" single no. 4696
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Stray cat strut' / 'Drink that bottle down'