Who's that girl - Eurythmics

Not to be confused with the Madonna track that was released four years later, 'Who's that girl' was released by the Eurythmics in 1983. The music video featured Annie Lennox appearing in a male and female version. She appeared as a nightclub singer performing the song and also as a man who is a member of the audience. The video features cameo appearances by Bananarama, Cheryl Baker and Jay Aston of Bucks Fizz, Kiki Dee, Hazel O'Connor, Kate Garner of Haysi Fantayzee, Thereza Bazar of Dollar and Marilyn. In the end of the clip, the female-Lennox is shown kissing the male-Lennox.

The single reached number 3 in the UK singles chart, number 21 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 28 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 208
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1983
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Who's that girl?' / 'You take some lentils... and you take some rice'

How am I supposed to live without you - Michael Bolton

'How am I supposed to live without you' was originally recorded in 1983 by Laura Branigan. The song was written by Michael Bolton. He wrote several songs for various artists, during a gap of seven years in which he didn't release records of his own. His first two albums, 'Michael Bolton' (1975) and 'Everyday of my life' (1976) had failed to chart, but after he wrote some hit singles for others, his own career started once more from 1983 onwards.

In 1989, he released the album 'Soul provider', on which he recorded 'How am I supposed to live without you' himself. It turned out to be a good choice: it was his first international hit, peaking at number 3 in the Dutch Top 40 and the UK singles chart. From then on, he remained popular in various countries for inexplicable reasons: these days I find his voice particularly grating.

My collection: 7" single no. 1262
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, July 14, 1990
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'How am I supposed to live without you' / 'Forever eyes'

Geef niet op - Frank Boeijen Groep

In 1986 Frank Boeijen and his group left his old record company Telstar to sign with BMG. Around that time, the old label decided to released the fourth and final single from the fifth album 'Foto van een mooie dag'.

As a result, 'Geef niet op' ('Don't give up') was not promoted by the band and sunk without a trace.

My collection: 7" single no. 397
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Geef niet op' / 'Nachtportier'

The big one - Black

Black faced the 'difficult second album' syndrome in 1988. After a very successful 1987, it was time to come up with a second album that would match the success of his debut 'Wonderful life'. 'Comedy' certainly met all the artistic demands, but commercially it was less fortunate.

The first single from the album was 'The big one', in comparison the weakest track from the album. As such it may not have been the best choice. The single was released in a limited edition poster sleeve in the UK, but this didn't help much: it only reached number 54 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 678
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1988
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'The big one' / 'You are the one'

The dreaming - Kate Bush

'The dreaming' was released in July 1982 as the second single from Kate Bush's fourth album of the same name. The first single, 'Sat in your lap', had been released thirteen months earlier, but was still included on the album as well. The song is about the destruction of Aboriginal homelands by white Australians in their quest for weapons-grade uranium. Musical guest Rolf Harris plays the didgeridoo on the recording. Bird impersonator Percy Edwards provided sheep noises.

The single reached number 48 in the UK singles chart, which was quite disappointing in a way, as all of Kate's single up to that point had reached the UK top 40 (with the exception of 'Hammer horror', which peaked at number 44). The single was not released in Europe, where the track 'Suspended in gaffa' was preferred.

My collection: 7" single no. 548
Found: HMV, London, October 1987
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'The dreaming' / 'Dreamtime'

Daar gaat ze - Clouseau

Clouseau were already big in their native Belgium, but their international career took off in early 1990 when they released 'Daar gaat ze' ('There she goes') as a single from their debut album 'Hoezo'. It rocketed up the charts in the Netherlands, peaking at number 2 in the Dutch Top 40 in March. From then on, they became almost as popular in the Netherlands as they already were in Belgium.

The track was later recorded in English as 'Close encounters'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1282
Found: August 23, 1990
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Daar gaat ze' / 'Fiets'

One vision - Queen

'One vision' was released as the first single from Queen's 1986 album 'A kind of magic', released in 1985. Queen were inspired to write and record this song because of the euphoric feeling that came from their performance at Live Aid. The track contains mysterious and distorted beginning vocals, most prominently the vocals retained in the single version. The reversed vocals at the start of the song relay new lyrics when played forwards—they say, 'God works in mysterious ways... mysterious ways...'.

The final line of the song is 'fried chicken', although the printed lyrics say 'one vision'. This was a result of a prank that Freddie Mercury played in the studio, as the band had fried chicken for dinner that day. Jim Hutton, Freddie Mercury's lover, says in his book, that the singer was not sure whether to include it in the final cut or not. Hutton encouraged him, saying 'You are big enough' (to get away with this).

My collection: 7" single no. 1573
Found: Record fair, January 25, 1992
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'One vision' / 'Blurred vision'