Schaduw - Frank Boeijen Groep

The third and last single from the album 'Foto van een mooie dag' by the Frank Boeijen Groep was the ballad 'Schaduw' ('Shadow') . The record company probably thought they would build on the success of the previous single 'Kronenburg park' - also a ballad - with this single, but unfortunately, 'Schaduw' failed to chart.

The B-side was announced as a 'special version' of 'Kronenburg park', but it is in fact just an instrumental version.

My collection: 7" single no. 326
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Schaduw' / 'Kronenburg park (special version)'

Heaven in my hands - Level 42

The intro of 'Heaven in my hands' was used a lot on Dutch radio during programmes. I was more familiar with the intro than I was with the song: only years later I found out it was this Level 42 track.

The track was taken from the album 'Staring at the sun'. It was the first single not to feature the Gould brothers, Boon and Phil, following their departure the previous year. The single reached number 12 in the UK singles chart and number 7 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3101
Found: Record fair, May 13, 1999
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Heaven in my hands' / 'Gresham blues'

Crash! Boom! Bang! - Roxette

The ballad 'Crash! Boom! Bang!' was the title track of Roxette's 1994 album. It was released as the second single from that album in the summer of 1994.

The single peaked at number 26 on the UK Singles Chart and number 23 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2120
Found: Record fair, July 2, 1994
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Crash! Boom! Bang!' / 'Joyride (Unplugged)'

Two souls - Howard Jones

'Two souls' was released in 1992 as the second single from Howard Jones' fifth album 'In the running'. By this time, it was becoming increasingly hard to find his singles in the Netherlands. I guess the record company gave up on distributing his singles, because they flopped anyway. And this one, unfortunately, was no exception.

In fact, 'Two souls' only charted in Germany, peaking at number 53. It's strange, because Howard Jones is one of very few artists who has consistently put out great music ever since his career started in 1983.

My collection: 7" single no. 1663
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, June 13, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Two souls' / 'Takin' the time'

Song for Guy - Elton John

Elton John wrote 'Song for Guy' himself, without his usual writing partner Bernie Taupin. The track is mainly instrumental but contains one line near the end of the track, which is repeated several times: 'Life isn't everything'. Elton later commented: 'As I was writing this song one Sunday, I imagined myself floating into space and looking down at my own body. I was imagining myself dying. Morbidly obsessed with these thoughts, I wrote this song about death. The next day I was told that Guy (Burchett), our 17 year-old messenger boy, had been tragically killed on his motorcycle the day before. Guy died on the day I wrote this song.'

The single version of 'Song for Guy' is one and a half minutes shorter than the album version. The single reached number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 6 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1768
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 20, 1992
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'Song for Guy' / 'Lovesick'

Personal Jesus - Depeche Mode

Besides the regular version of the single of 'Personal Jesus' by Depeche Mode, this limited edition was also released in the autumn of 1989. It features a gatefold sleeve with a booklet featuring four photographs (each of the band members with a naked woman) and two tracks on the B-side. The acoustic version of 'Personal Jesus' is of particular interest.

Whilst not the first Depeche Mode song to feature guitar parts ('Behind the wheel' and their cover of 'Route 66' featured a guitar; 'Love in itself' featured an acoustic guitar), it was the first time a guitar was used as a dominant instrument in a Depeche Mode song.

My collection: 7" single no. 1197
Found: Ter Meulen, Rotterdam, March 23, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Personal Jesus' / 'Dangerous (Hazchemix edit)', 'Personal Jesus (Acoustic)'

Strong as steel - Five Star

'Strong as steel' was released in 1987 as the second single of Five Star's third album 'Between the lines'. The song was written by acclaimed songwriter Diane Warren, who has also written hit songs for Cher, Tina Arena and Michael Bolton amongst others.

The single peaked at number 16 in the UK singles chart. In 1990, the track was covered by Tina Arena.

My collection: 7" single no. 2365
Found: House of Rhythm, London, July 1, 1995
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'Strong as steel' / 'The man'