Matrimony - Gilbert O'Sullivan

After a few hit singles with 'Nothing rhymed' and 'Alone again (Naturally)', Gilbert O'Sullivan released 'Matrimony' in May 1972. The single was not released in the UK, but it was a big hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 4.

O'Sullivan's self-created eye-catching visual image comprised a pudding basin haircut, cloth cap and short trousers. His manager reportedly hated the image, but O'Sullivan insisted on using it initially, until he assumed a more modern 'college-like' look in which he often wore a sweater bearing a large letter 'G' - as pictured here on the sleeve.

My collection: 7" single no. 4743
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, April 5, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Matrimony' / 'January git'

Grey day - Madness

Mike Barson wrote 'Grey day', which was performed for the first time by Madness in 1978 at Acklam Hall, while the band were still known as 'The North London Invaders'. The song was finally recorded in 1981, when it was released as a single in April, the first single from Madness's third album '7'.

The single reached number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 25 in the Dutch Top 40. The track was always my favourite Madness track, but back in 1981 I didn't buy the single due to lack of money.

My collection: 7" single no. 4745
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, April 5, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Grey day' / 'Memories'

Periscope life - Kayak

'Periscope life' was the title track from Kayak's 1980 album. The album yielded one hit single, 'Anne', but other singles taken from the album failed to reach the Dutch Top 40. This single is one of them.

The song was written by Ton Scherpenzeel, one of the main composers of the band. The single, like the album, sounded a lot poppier than Kayak's earlier work, which was more rock-oriented.

My collection: 7" single no. 4740
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, April 5, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Periscope life' / 'Astral aliens'

Only you - Yazoo

I always regretted the fact that I discovered Yazoo too late to buy their debut single, 'Only you'. After their second single 'Don't go' became a hit, that debut was re-released, but with flipped sides: the B-side 'Situation' reached number 16 in the Dutch Top 40 in November 1982.

It took me 28 years to find the original single. 'Only you' reached number 2 in the UK singles chart but flopped in the Netherlands. Despite that fact, the single was impossible to find for all this time.

My collection: 7" single no. 4763
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, April 5, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Only you' / 'Situation'

Thunder in my heart - Leo Sayer

'Thunder in my heart' was the title track of Leo Sayer's 1977 album. It was released as a single in the autumn of 1977 and reached number 22 in the UK singles chart and number 11 in the Dutch Top 40.

The song found fame once more when it was remixed by Meck in 2006. Entitled 'Thunder in my heart again', the track reached number 1 in the UK and number 7 in the Dutch Top 40. According to Leo Sayer: 'It wasn't just because it was a hot tune, it was all because [people thought] 'Oh my God, it's Leo Sayer!''. Still, nothing beats the original.

My collection: 7" single no. 4761
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, April 5, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Thunder in my heart' / 'Get the girl'

Steamhammer Sam - Intaferon

Intaferon was a short-lived Eighties band, consisting of Simon Fellowes and Simon Gillham. Their only claim to fame was this 1983 single, 'Steamhammer Sam', which failed to reach the UK singles chart but did reach number 36 in the Dutch Top 40 that year.

Their song 'Get out of London' was featured in the 2001 Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen movie 'Winning London'. Their singles were often featured on the Channel Four television show 'Max Headroom'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4760
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, April 5, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Steamhammer Sam' / 'The continuing story of Steamhammer Sam'

Fashion - David Bowie

According to co-producer Tony Visconti, 'Fashion' was the last song completed in the sessions for David Bowie's 1979 album 'Scary monsters'. The song borrowed some elements from the past: the bassline and some of the melody were inspired by Bowie's 1975 hit 'Golden years'. A phrase in the lyric that Bowie borrowed from his past was 'People from bad homes', the title track of a 1973 album he recorded with his proteges The Astronettes, which went unreleased until 1995.

The song was released as the second single from 'Scary monsters'. The single version was an edit of the album version. The single reached number 5 in the UK singles chart and number 70 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4750
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, April 5, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Fashion' / 'Scream like a baby'