Cannonball - Supertramp

The lyric of the song 'Cannonball' by Supertramp may have been seen as a veiled message to former member Roger Hodgson - who left Supertramp a year before - but writer Rick Davies revealed in a French radio interview that the lyric to 'Cannonball' was inspired by a less than perfect concert promoter whom he refused to name but added that the guy knew who he was.

The track was written and sung by keyboardist Rick Davies all in the chord of G. Davies stated in an interview 'I did it simply to see if it could be done'. The single reached number 28 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in the spring of 1985. In the Dutch Top 40, the single only got as far as number 35.

My collection: 7" single no. 468
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, October 20, 1986
Cost: 2 guilders
Track: 'Cannonball' / 'Ever open door'

Here comes the rain again - Eurythmics

'Here comes the rain again' was performed by the Eurythmics on their 1983 album 'Touch' and written by its members, Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart. Dave Stewart commented: 'The whole song was about that undecided thing, like here comes depression, or here comes that downward spiral. But then it goes, 'so talk to me like lovers do.' It's the wandering in and out of melancholy, a dark beauty that sort of is like the rose that's when it's darkest unfolding and bloodred just before the garden, dies. And capturing that in kind of oblique statements and sentiments.' He also revealed that the lyric to the song came into being after an argument between himself and Lennox while they were doing some songwriting in New York City's Columbus Hotel. The basic melody had already been written and Lennox looked out the window after their fight and noticed it was starting to rain. She announced, 'Here comes the rain again'.

The string arrangements by Michael Kamen were performed by members of the British Philharmonic Orchestra. The track actually lasted for five minutes, but was edited when it was released on the 'Touch' album to four and a half minutes. The track was edited even further for the single release. The full length version only appeared in 1991 on the US edition of 'Greatest hits'.

My collection: 7" single no. 981
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 29, 1989
Cost: 2 guilder
Tracks: 'Here comes the rain again' / 'Paint a rumour'

Personal Jesus - Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode released 'Personal Jesus' in the autumn of 1989 as the first single from their album 'Violator'. According to Martin Gore, the song was inspired by the book 'Elvis and me' by Priscilla Presley: 'It's a song about being a Jesus for somebody else, someone to give you hope and care. It's about how Elvis was her man and her mentor and how often that happens in love relationships; how everybody's heart is like a god in some way, and that's not a very balanced view of someone, is it?'

My collection: 7" single no. 1067
Found: HMV, London, October 18, 1989
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Personal Jesus' / 'Dangerous'

With every heartbeat - Five Star

Five Star's single 'With every heartbeat' was released in 1989. It was their last single for RCA, the label they signed with in 1983. It proved a failure for the group, stalling at number 49 in the UK singles chart. The song never appeared on a studio album, but was included on the group's 'Greatest hits' album, released later in 1989.

The single was released in a limited edition with a gatefold sleeve including a booklet with pictures of the group members and the lyric of the song.

My collection: 7" single no. 2753
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 29, 1996
Cost: 1,5 pounds
Tracks: 'With every heartbeat' / 'Sound sweet'

This time I know it's for real - Donna Summer

With 'This time I know it's for real', Donna Summer presented herself as a Stock Aitken & Waterman protege for the first time. It was the first single to be taken from her 1989 album 'Another place and time', which was entirely written and produced by the infamous trio.

The single became Donna Summer's biggest hit since the Seventies, peaking at number 3 and number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the Dutch Top 40, the single managed to get to number 5.

My collection: 7" single no. 788
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, April 1, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'This time I know it's for real' / 'Whatever your heart desires'

Noi - Matia Bazar

Although it is not the band's biggest hit, my favourite song of Matia Bazar is 'Noi', released in 1987 from the band's album 'Melo'. Unfortunately, the track was edited for the single release, leaving out an interesting guitar solo. Even more unfortunate is the fact that I could only find this single without a picture sleeve at the time.

'Noi' did not chart, but it is still a very great piece of music.

My collection: 7" single no. 768
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 16, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Noi' / 'Da qui a'

Factory man - Maarten Peters and the Dream

It wasn't easy for Maarten Peters to get some commercial success. All of his single releases between 1985 and 1987 failed to reach the Dutch Top 40, with one exception. It must have been a relief that his eighth single 'Factory man' managed to get to number 35 in May 1987.

'Factory man' was the first single from his second album 'Burn your boats', released around the same time as this single. The B-side, 'May 29th', was taken from his debut album and was written after an incident at the Heizel stadium in Belgium on May 29, 1985. Hooligans from Liverpool and Turin started fighting, which eventually caused a wall to collapse. 39 people were killed and 400 were injured.

My collection: 7" single no. 518
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Factory man' / 'May 29th'