The way to your heart - Soulsister

The single 'The way to your heart' from the Belgian duo Soulsister was initially released as a one-sided 7" single. Subsequent copies did have a B-side, the track 'Bye bye'. Initially I searched for the one-sided version, but when that search proved to be unsuccessful, I settled for the 'normal' single.

Fortunately, I still found the one-sided single last year (it is described here), and so my collection of Soulsister singles is as complete as it ever will be.

My collection: 7" single no. 705
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, December 17, 1988
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'The way to your heart' / 'Bye bye'

Mag het licht uit - De Dijk

The Dutch band De Dijk has had a career of almost thirty years up until now, with only a dozen hit singles to show for it. One of them was this single, 'Mag het licht uit' ('Turn off the lights), which reached number 23 in the Dutch Top 40 in the summer of 1983.

Even if you can't understand the lyric, you can appreciate the musical buildup of this track: a slow, tense ballad which turns into a rock song midway. The fact that the lyric isn't that interesting doesn't even matter if you don't understand Dutch anyway.

My collection: 7" single no. 542
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Mag het licht uit' / 'Wat een vrouw (niet kan doen)'

Don't wanna lose you - Gloria Estefan

'Don't wanna lose you' was written and recorded by Gloria Estefan. It was released in 1989 as the first single from the album 'Cuts both ways'. The single reached number 1 in the USA, where it became her second number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also reached number 3 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 6 in the UK singles chart.

Estefan also recorded 'Si voy a perderte', which is the Spanish version of this song. It is included on the B-side of this single. A Portuguese version, 'Se tenho que perder' was released as a single in Brazil.

My collection: 7" single no. 927
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, July 1, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Don't wanna lose you' / 'Si voy a perderte'

I guess that's why they call it the blues - Elton John

'I guess that's why they call it the blues' was released in 1983 as a single from Elton John's album 'Too low for zero'. The track features Stevie Wonder on harmonica and received favourable reviews from the moment it was released. It has gone on to be one of Elton John's most-played songs on radio stations from the Eighties portion of his career.

The single reached number 5 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, but failed to reach the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1037
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'I guess that's why they call it the blues' / 'Choc ice goes mental' (Lord Choc Ice)

Don't ask me why - Eurythmics

'Don't ask me why' was written by Annie Lennox and David Stewart. The lyric of the song describes the ending of a relationship. The lyric can also be interpreted as a personal message from Lennox to her ex-husband, from whom she split acrimoniously in 1985, although some think the lyric is directed towards ex-lover and band partner Stewart.

The song was released as the second single from the Eurythmics' album 'We too are one'. It reached number 25 in the UK singles chart and number 40 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1125
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Don't ask me why' / 'Rich girl'

Born to be my baby - Bon Jovi

These days I don't play Bon Jovi anymore, but I can see why I bought 'Born to be my baby' back in 1988: it's a loud and proud rock track, slightly overstating the point that the couple depicted in this song's lyric may have been made for one another.

The song was released as the second single from Bon Jovi's 1989 album New Jersey in 1989. It peaked at number 3 in the Billboard Hot 100 and number 22 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 814
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 13, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Born to be my baby' / 'Love for sale'

Enjoy the silence - Depeche Mode

When 'Enjoy the silence' was written by Martin Gore, he intended it to be a slow-paced ballad in C minor; the demo featured a harmonium with Gore singing. Fellow band member Alan Wilder saw hit potential in the track, and composed an upbeat tempo and structure for the song. Despite initial resistance from songwriter Gore, who felt the spirit of the song was not suited to an upbeat track, the rest of the group liked it. After some self-described 'sulking', Gore came around and added more to the embryonic fast version together with producer Mark 'Flood' Ellis, notably the guitar riff heard throughout. Within hours of recording the track, the band was convinced they had a hit single on their hands.

When released as a single, 'Enjoy the silence' became Depeche Mode's most successful song. It reached number 8 in the Dutch Top 40, number 6 in the UK singles chart and went top ten in dozens of other countries. The song was released with several remixes on several formats, most notably the 'Quad:Final mix', clocking in at 15 minutes.

My collection: 7" single no. 1168
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Enjoy the silence' / 'Memphisto'