Private dancer - Tina Turner

The song 'Private dancer' was written by Mark Knopfler and was originally going to be included on the Dire Straits album 'Love over gold'. After the song was recorded, however, the vocals were not added. Mark Knopfler considered that they were not suitable for a male to sing, so the track was cut from the final mix.

Legal restrictions prevented the original recording from being used when Tina Turner wanted to record the song, so two years later, the track was remade by Dire Straits for Tina Turner. The guitar parts originally played by Knopfler were re-done by Jeff Beck. The song was one of Tina Turner's most successful singles, reaching number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100, number 26 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 248
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1984
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Private dancer' / 'Keep your hands off my baby'

Everything your heart desires - Daryl Hall and John Oates

Daryl Hall & John Oates had been away from the pop scene for three years when they released 'Everything your heart desires' in April 1988. It was the first single from their imaginatively titled 1988 album 'Ooh Yeah'.

The single reached number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 81 in he UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 717
Found: January 6, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Everything your heart desires' / 'Realove'

I could never take the place of your man - Prince

'I could never take the place of your man' was the fourth and final single from Prince's 1987 double album, 'Sign 'o' the times'. The track was originally recorded in Prince's home studio in 1982. It was brought out of the vault and updated for Prince's 1987 album.

Released in the autumn of 1987, the single reached number 22 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 29 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 577
Found: Free Record Shop, 1987
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'I could never take the place of your man' / 'Hot thing'

Why do I - Golden Earring

Released as the second single from their 1986 album 'The hole', 'Why do I' was a slightly formulaic rock ballad by the Golden Earring. The band were not known for their ballads, but through the years they'd recorded quite a few.

Releasing one as a single was not a good idea, though: 'Why do I' failed to chart when it was released in August 1986. The third single from the album, 'They dance', also failed to chart, and the band disappeared from view for two years after that.

My collection: 7" single no. 433
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Why do I' / 'Gimme a break (Rock version)'

Stay out of my life - Five Star

'Stay out of my life' was released as the fifth single from Five Star's second album 'Silk & steel' in February 1987. The song was coupled with an alternative version of the track, '(How dare you) Stay out of my life', which was used as the theme tune to the Eighties children's television series entiled 'How dare you', presented by Carrie Grant.

The single reached number 9 in the UK singles chart, but failed to chart in other territories. The group performed 'Stay out of my life" at the 1987 BPI awards ceremony, where they had won the award for 'Best British Group'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3105
Found: House of Rhythm, London, May 13, 1999
Cost: 40p
Tracks: 'Stay out of my life' / '(How dare you) Stay out of my life'

Rock 'n' Roll cowboy - Maggie Mae

In 1981, Bucks Fizz won the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Making your mind up'. German singer Maggie Mae recorded this German cover version with alternative lyrics written by Werner Schüler and Bernd Meinunger. Entitled 'Rock 'n' Roll cowboy', it's a tale of a woman who is seduced by a Marlboro-man type of figure, but on a motorbike instead of a horse.

Maggie Mae was born as Cosima Andrea Carle on May 13, 1960 and made a name for herself as singer and actress. Soon after the release of this single she met Robert Trammel, with whom she married and moved to the USA. She ended her singing career and started working as a nurse.

My collection: 7" single no. 3355
Found: Record fair, 2000
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Rock 'n' Roll cowboy' / 'Jet set'

Free as a bird - Supertramp

Sometimes the reactions I get on this blog really amuse me. A recent entry on 'Cannonball' by Supertramp was reason enough for someone to start promoting Roger Hodgson, writing, 'If you want to see a REAL Supertramp concert, see Roger's show. (...) See the original voice of Supertramp and not an imitation.' True enough, Roger Hodgson co-founded Supertramp, but he also left the group prematurely. Rick Davies was there when the group was founded as well. So when he sings 'Free as a bird' in 1988, after Hodgson's leaving the group, is that an imitation? I would think not.

This is one of my favourite Supertramp tracks because of its widescreen sound and optimistic lyric. The single was not a commercial success, unfortunately.

My collection: 7" single no. 853
Found: Den Haag, May 27, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Free as a bird' / 'Thing for you'