Don't stop it now - Hot Chocolate

Ever since I decided to complete my Hot Chocolate singles collection, I keep finding titles I never knew existed. Granted, I only have a basic knowledge of this band's output, but there also seems no end to their singles discography.

'Don't stop it now' was released in March 1976 as the follow-up to one of their biggest hits, 'You sexy thing'. In the UK, the single reached number 11, but in the Netherlands this single failed to chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4772
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Don't stop it now' / 'Beautiful lady'

Hilda - Clouseau

Released as the follow-up to 'Geef het op', 'Hilda' was one of the other songs Clouseau performed during the national final in Belgium for the 1991 Eurovision Song Contest. The band actually performed three songs, from which one was picked to represent Belgium in 1991. The other two songs landed on this single.

Released in July 1991, 'Hilda' was a hit in Belgium but failed to chart in the Netherlands. At the time, I thought this was the best song of the three, but in hindsight I think 'Geef het op' was the right choice for the international final.

My collection: 7" single no. 1485
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, July 3, 1991
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Hilda' / 'Ik kan zonder jou'

Spring affair - Donna Summer

'Spring affair' is a song by Donna Summer from her 1976 album 'Four seasons of love'. The song (which represents the 'spring' phase of the concept album) tells of the beginning of a new relationship. At the time of its release, Summer had already started to make her name as the leading female disco singer by releasing frankly sexual songs that were considerable in length. The album version of 'Spring affair' lasted over eight minutes.

For the single release, the track was edited down to less than four minutes. It earned her a minor hit in the USA and Canada, peaking at number 58 and number 62 respectively.

My collection: 7" single no. 4774
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Spring affair' / 'Winter melody'

Typical male - Tina Turner

Tina Turner was quickly becoming a bit of a caricature in 1986, sporting a red miniskirt in the music video for 'Typical male'. One could discuss whether it's appropriate for someone in their fourties to wear miniskirts, but the fact is, by dressing up like that almost continually, it started to look a bit laughable to me.

Anyway, back to the song: 'Typical male' was recorded with Phil Collins on drums and released as the first single from Tina's 1986 album 'Break every rule'. The single reached number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 33 in the UK singles chart and number 8 in the Dutch Top 40. The B-side, 'Don't turn around', was covered by Aswad and Ace of Base some years later.

My collection: 7" single no. 482
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Typical male' / 'Don't turn around'

Le chant de Mallory - Rachel

'Le chant de Mallory' ('Mallory's song') was performed by French singer Rachel at the 1964 Eurovision Song Contest, representing France. The lyric of the song deals with the story of Michael Mallory, a soldier. The singer asks him to sing the song he used to sing once more, as it was a song of love.

The song finished fourth in a field of 16 competitors. This EP brings together the Eurovision song along with three more chansons by Rachel.

My collection: 7" single no. 4767
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Le chant de Mallory', 'Feu de bois' / 'Mon coeur', 'L'eau sous les ponts'

Bring out the rain - Maarten Peters

'Bring out the rain' was the third and last single taken from Maarten Peters' third and most successful album 'White horses in the snow'. The single included a special version of the album track 'Who's dreaming (on your pillow)'; the album version of that track had been the B-side of the first single from the album, 'White horses in the snow' (yes, the title track).

This single was the least successful of the three, as it failed to chart even in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 1170
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, February 9, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Bring out the rain' / 'Who's dreaming (on your pillow) (special version)'

Wilde and exciting - Earth and Fire

In August 1970, Earth & Fire had their third top 5 hit in the Netherlands with 'Wild and exciting'. It earned them a performance in the first ever screening of the Dutch television show Toppop, the chart show that started in September 1970 and remained a prime time hit until well into the Eighties.

'Wild and exciting' delivered exactly what the title promised - at least in those days, when rock was still something relatively new. The track sounded a lot like Earth & Fire did in those days, a far cry from the much tamer pop hits they would produce a decade later.

My collection: 7" single no. 4766
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Wild and exciting' / 'Vivid shady land'