Silver springs (live) - Fleetwood Mac

Written by Stevie Nicks, 'Silver springs' was originally intended for the Fleetwood Mac album 'Rumours'. Years after the fact, Nicks commented that in a way, its lack of inclusion on the effort marked a growing tension in the band. The group has three great writers, and only so many slots. The track's inherent longing reportedly came from the ending of the romantic relationship between Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham.

Years later, the band went on a world tour to promote the Fleetwood Mac album 'Behind the mask'. After the tour concluded, Nicks left the group over a dispute with Mick Fleetwood, who would not allow her to release the track 'Silver springs' on her album 'Timespace – The Best of Stevie Nicks', because of his plans to release it on a forthcoming Fleetwood Mac box set. The song eventually appeared on the 1992 box set '25 Years: The Chain'.

In 1997, the song got a second life on the reunion album 'The Dance'. During the filming of the reunion concert that brought Nicks and Buckingham back to the fold, 'Silver springs' was on the set list. This track was released as a single from the album, but was not commercially successful.

My collection: 7" single no. 2949
Found: Record fair, Leiden, January 31, 1998
Cost: 8 guilders
Tracks: 'Silver springs (live)' / 'Go your own way (live)'

Let it swing - Bobbysocks

Norway won the Eurovision Song Contest for the very first time in 1985 with a very tired old song, 'La det swinge' was performed by the Bobbysocks. This duo, consisting of Hanne Krogh and Elisabeth Andreasson, sang a tribute to dancing to old rock 'n' roll heard on the radio. The melody arrangement is in retro style, containing elements of contemporary Eighties music and throwbacks to the Fifties.

The single reached number 1 in Norway and Belgium and peaked at number 13 in the Dutch Top 40. I have always disliked this song for its repetitiveness and its unimaginative lyrics. Still, it's a Eurovision winner and since I have almost all of them, I had to have this one as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 3562
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, January 31, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Let it swing' / 'La det swinge'

Turn to stone - Electric Light Orchestra

Jeff Lynne spent two weeks writing songs in Switzerland in 1977 for Electric Light Orchestra's double album 'Out of the blue'. One of the results was this song, 'Turn to stone', which became the opening track for the album. It was also released as the first single from the album.

The single reached number 18 in the UK singles chart and number 11 in the Dutch Top 40. In 2008, Jeff Lynne was awarded a BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc) Million-Air certificate for having one million airplays of this song.

My collection: 7" single no. 2869
Found: Record fair
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Turn to stone' / 'Mister Kingdom'

You have placed a chill in my heart - Eurythmics

'You have placed a chill in my heart' was written by Eurythmics members Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart, and appears on the duo's album 'Savage'. It was released as the fourth single from the album.

The track is driven by a drum machine and is a mostly synth-based pop song. Lyrically, Lennox sings of mustering the power to leave a destructive relationship with a lover who does not return the affection she deserves. The single reached number 16 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 687
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1988
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'You have placed a chill in my heart' / 'You have placed a chill in my heart (acoustic version)'

Whisky in the jar - Thin Lizzy

'Whiskey in the jar' is a famous Irish traditional song, set in the southern mountains of Ireland, with specific mention of Cork and Kerry counties, as well as Fenit, a village in Kerry county. It is about a highwayman, or perhaps a footpad, who is betrayed by his wife or lover, and is one of the most widely performed traditional Irish songs. It has been recorded by numerous professional artists since the Fifties.

The song was given a rock veneer by Thin Lizzy. Their version was released as a single in 1972 and stayed at the top of the Irish charts for 17 weeks. In 1973, the single reached the UK singles chart and Dutch Top 40, peaking at num,ber 6 and number 20 respectively.

My collection: 7" single no. 855
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 27, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Whisky in the jar' / 'Black boys on the corner'

Burn your boats - Maarten Peters

The single 'Burn your boats' was the second single taken from Maarten Peters' second album of the same name. The single featured a live version of the song 'Get out of here' (a track on his debut album 'Hunting the queenbee') on the B-side.

The single failed to reach the Dutch Top 40. Some would argue that the sleeve photography by one Jan van Teeffelen had something to do with this.

My collection: 7" single no. 564
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Burn your boats' / 'Get out of here (live)'

Please forgive me - Bryan Adams

When I bought this single, I hadn't actually heard it. I might have thought twice before buying it if I had, I think. 'Please forgive me' was written by Bryan Adams and Robert John 'Mutt' Lange and treads a much too often trodden path. According to an article in Wikipedia: 'the passion Adams sings the song with is breathtaking'. I would say instead that the lack of originality in this song is breathtaking, but there you go.

The single reached number 2 in the UK, number 7 in the USA and number 1 in Australia. The single reached number 3 in the Dutch Top 40.

EDIT:: As you can read in the reactions below, I've had a request to remove the divshare box with this post. I guess even Bryan Adams himself thinks these two tracks shouldn't be listened to. In this case, he's certainly right, so I'm happy to oblige.

My collection: 7" single no. 2038
Found: Virgin Megastore, London, October 22, 1993
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Please forgive me' / 'Can't stop this thing we started (live)'