A kind of magic - Queen

'A kind of magic' was originally written by Roger Taylor before Freddie Mercury took it over, added the bassline, some connectors and re-arranged the structure. Regardless, it was still credited to Taylor. The new version was featured on the album of the same name and released as its first single. An alternate version plays during the credits of the movie 'Highlander'.

The phrase 'A kind of magic' is actually used by Christopher Lambert in the film and impressed Taylor so much that he made it into a full song. There are references to the film in the lyrics – 'one prize, one goal'; 'no mortal man' and 'here can be only one'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4709
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'A kind of magic' / 'A dozen red roses for my darling'

I'm sorry - Hot Chocolate

'I'm sorry' is one of the lesser known Hot Chocolate singles, released in November 1983. It was a commercial disappointment. After 'Tears on the telephone' reached number 37 in the UK singles chart, this single stalled at number 89.

The single was taken from Hot Chocolate's 1983 album 'Love shot', which was produced by Mickie Most.

My collection: 7" single no. 4654
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I'm sorry' / 'Love is a good thing'

I hang on to my vertigo - Rupert Hine

'I hang on to my vertigo' was released as a single in 1981. Like all of his solo work, it failed to reach the singles chart in any territory.

Both sides of this single were taken from Rupert Hine's 1981 album 'Immunity'. The album also failed to have any impact on the album charts.

My collection: 7" single no. 4710
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'I hang on to my vertigo' / 'Samsara'

You to me are everything - The Real Thing

'You to me are everything' was released in 1976 as the debut single by The Real Thing. Written by Ken Gold and Michael Denne and produced by Ken Gold, it became the band's only number 1 single in the UK, spending three weeks at the top in July 1976.

The song was a minor hit in the USA, where it peaked at number 64 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Part of the reason for its lack of success was the flood of cover versions of the song released at the same time. American groups Broadway and Revelation both released versions of the song the same week, and at one point all three versions of the song appeared on Billboard Hot 100 chart. The three singles effectively prevented each other from becoming a hit.

My collection: 7" single no. 4684
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'You to me are everything' / 'Keep an eye'

Throwing it all away - Genesis

'Throwing it all away' was released as the last single from the Genesis album 'Invisible touch' in the summer of 1987. It reached number 22 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The sleeve uses an adaptation of the Tidyman logo from the Keep Britain Tidy Group.

My collection: 7" single no. 4702
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Throwing it all away' / 'I'd rather be you'

Found my girl - Imagination

Released in 1985, 'Found my girl' was dedicated to Charlotte. The song was written by Leee John and Ashley Ingram, so without any additional information I can only assume that the girl meant something to one of them - or both. However passionate the message in the song, it left the audiences cold, as the single didn't chart in any territory.

The B-side of this single is a reggae-fuelled version of 'In and out of love', a far cry from the smooth soul track they recorded in the studio.

My collection: 7" single no. 4656
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Found my girl' / 'In and out of love (live)'

Promised you a miracle (live) - Simple Minds

In 1987, the Simple Minds released the album 'Live in the city of light', which as the name vaguely describes, was a recording of their concerts at Le Zenith in Paris on August 12 and 13, 1986.

The live recording of 'Promised you a miracle' was released as the first and only single from this album in order to promote the album. One has to wonder at this: the live version doesn't add to the studio version but rather detracts from it because it's sung so flatly. The single still managed to reach number 19 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4669
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Promised you a miracle (live)' / 'Book of brilliant things'