Het antwoord (live) - Frank Boeijen Groep

While in the Netherlands a live version of 'Verjaardagsfeest' was released as the first single from the Frank Boeijen Groep's 1990 live album 'Hier komt de storm', the Belgian record company opted for 'Het antwoord' ('The answer'), the studio version of which was released as a single in 1983.

The live version from the album was edited by fading out at the end. The single did not chart, but it did become quite a rare item, as it wasn't released in the band's home country.

My collection: 7" single no. 4169
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 7, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Het antwoord (live)' / 'De prijs (van Jan Arends) (live)'

Who do you think you are? - Kim Wilde

'Who do you think you are?' was released as the second single from Kim Wilde's 1992 album 'Love is' in Europe and as the third single in the UK. The lyric of the song was written by Kim and were an observation of stardom and what it can do to people - and it was as much a comment on herself as it was on others.

The single reached number 49 in the UK singles chart and number 58 in Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 1687
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, July 17, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Who do you think you are?' / 'I've found a reason'

Verjaardagsfeest (live) - Frank Boeijen Groep

In 1989, the Frank Boeijen Groep released a live double cd, featuring 150 minutes of music. It was a recording of several concerts, during which many songs from their ten year career were played in often great arrangements. As an added bonus, the set also contained a handful of new tracks.

The first single from the album was a live version of 'Verjaardagsfeest', the track that put them in the spotlights back in 1981. The single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1293
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, September 21, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Verjaardagsfeest (live)' / 'De prijs (van Jan Arends) (live)'

Megamix:ninety! - Mel and Kim

Mel & Kim was one of the most popular acts in the Stock/Aitken/Waterman stable of artists. While they only released one album and four singles, they were remembered by many as one of the acts to shape the sound of 1987. After the tragic death of Mel Appleby in 1988, Kim Appleby went solo, and Mel & Kim ceased to exist, understandably.

Still, in 1990, Alan Coulthard created a megamix of Mel & Kim's biggest hits. It was released as 'Megamix:ninety!' in Germany. This 12" single offers the full length megamix and an Italo House mix of 'Showing out', the duo's debut hit.

My collection: 12" single no. 364
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 1998
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Megamix:ninety!' / 'Showing out (Italo House mix)'

Zeg me dat het niet zo is - Frank Boeijen Groep

Songs about death are usually controversial: either people love them, or they loathe them. 'Zeg me dat het niet zo is' ('Say it isn't so') is one of those songs: the lyrics are quite vague, but the ending leaves nothing to the imagination: 'We doen alsof ze gewoon verder leeft / Zelfs als dat niet zo is' ('We pretend she still lives on / Even if it isn't so').

It gave the Frank Boeijen Groep their first hit in two years, even if it was a minor one: the single reached number 34 in the Dutch Top 40. Since then, it has become one of those Dutch language classics you will always hear on the radio - or during funeral services.

My collection: 7" single no. 1126
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, December 8, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Zeg me dat het niet zo is' / 'De grote kilte'

Heart over mind - Kim Wilde

Although 'Heart over mind' still sounded a lot like a Rick Nowels & Ellen Shipley composition, 'Heart over mind' was written by four other people. It was the final track to be recorded for Kim Wilde's 1992 album 'Love is', in fact the album had been completed and this song was sent over by Rick Nowels (who had written other tracks on the album) and Wilde decided to record it.

The original album version was edited for the 7" single release. It reached number 34 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1772
Found: London, October 21, 1992
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Heart over mind' / 'I've found a reason'

Love is holy - Kim Wilde

After a brief pause, Kim Wilde started working on her eighth studio album 'Love is' in 1991. Some of the work was done in America, with Belinda Carlisle's main songwriter and producer Rick Nowels. He and Ellen Shipley wrote 'Love is holy', a song he had lying around for a while until Kim heard it and wanted to record it.

Backed with the beautiful 'Birthday song', which Kim wrote for her niece Scarlett, the single was released in April 1992. It met with considerably more success than the singles Kim released in 1990, reaching number 18 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 16 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1637
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, April 27, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Love is holy' / 'Birthday song'