Alejandro - Lady Gaga

If nothing else, the songs by Lady Gaga are infectuous. I don't think they will really stand the test of time, as this kind of overproduced pop rarely sounds fresh a decade later. In the case of 'Alejandro', it sounds a bit like a rejected Ace of Base track from circa 1990, which is quite remarkable in itself.

That's not to say it's a bad track per se: after just one listen you find yourself humming the simple (and thus memorable) chorus. The fact that all of Lady Gaga's singles so far have been released as a 7" picture disc adds to the appeal.

My collection: 7" single no. 4967
Found: HMV, London, October 31, 2010
Cost: 3,5 pounds
Tracks: 'Alejandro' / 'Alejandro (Bimbo Jones remix)'

Bittersweet - Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Sophie Ellis-Bextor is best known for her 2001 hit 'Murder on the dancefloor'. But she's still going strong, as is evidenced by this picture disc 7", released earlier this year. Produced by the Freemasons, this track sounds a lot like the Eighties classic 'Blue Monday' by New Order, yet sounds very contemporary.

'Bittersweet' was released on May 2, 2010 and reached number 25 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4963
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 31, 2010
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Bittersweet' / 'Bittersweet (Freemasons 7" mix)

Oxygene IV - Jean Michel Jarre

'When 'Oxygene IV' was first released in 1977, it was an instant chart success around the world. Such much, created entirely on synthesizers, had never been heard before and Jean-Michel Jarre acquired a reputation as being a master of technology.' The press info sheet included with this single stretches historical facts a bit: long before 'Oxygene' was released, the German masters of technology Kraftwerk were already at it. But we go on...

'Time has passed and, as the 1990's approach, Jarre shares the same concerns of us all for our environment and the ways in which it is being endangered by the very technology we created.' How interesting... The truth, of course, is that there was some money to be earned by re-releasing this classic. On environment-damaging vinyl, no less.

My collection: 7" single no. 4960
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 31, 2010
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Oxygene IV (remix)' / 'Industrial revolution (overture)'

Me myself I - Joan Armatrading

'Me myself I' was a single taken from Joan Armatrading's 1980 album of the same name. She had made a name for herself with the hit single 'Rosie', but subsequent singles weren't as successful as that one. It's undeniable, however, that the lady packed a lot of power in this song.

Still, it's one of those singles I only buy when it's very, very cheap. And it was.

My collection: 7" single no. 4952
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 31, 2010
Cost: 10p
Tracks: 'Me myself I' / 'When you kissed me'

Farewell mr. Sorrow - All about Eve

This 12" single was released as a numbered limited edition, this being number 3608. The edition must have been 5000 or 10,000 copies. Besides the free colour poster included in the package, this 12" was notable for its cover version of 'Silver song', a track originally recorded by the folk group Mellow Candle. As you can hear in the video below, the original is also a beautiful recording, but it can't hold a candle (sorry for that pun) to All about Eve's beautiful cover.

Much of the appeal of the cover version has to be attributed to Julianne Regan's beautiful and passionate voice. I hear she is recording an album with The Mission's Wayne Hussey, so finally there's something to look forward to.



My collection: 12" single no. 112
Found: Wreckastow, Rotterdam, 1991
Cost: 20 guilders
Tracks: 'Farewell mr. Sorrow', 'Silver song' / 'Elizabeth of glass', 'All the rings round Saturn'

Whenever you're ready - Five Star

Five Star were an essential pop group in the middle of the Eighties. The Pearson siblings were able to score hit after hit under the guidance of their father Buster, and their newfound fame came with loads of money, which was invested in a mansion somewhere in England.

Part of their success must have been the attractive 12" single packages. Almost without exception, the discs contained four tracks, three of which were remixes. This 12" of 'Whenever you're ready' packs two remixes of the title track, a Shep Pettibone remix of an album track and the obligatory instrumental B-side track.

My collection: 12" single no. 553
Found: Record fair, 200X
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Whenever you're ready (New York mix)', 'Whenever you're ready (Crazy dub jammy)' / 'Are you man enough (Shep Pettibone remix)', 'Forever yours'

The man I love - Kate Bush and Larry Adler

The 80th birthday of harmonica player Larry Adler was celebrated with an album called 'The glory of Gershwin'. It was released in 1994 and produced by George Martin. Several guest musicians made an appearance on the album, including Kate Bush, who sang the Gershwin song 'The man I love'. Released as a single on July 18, 1994 it climbed to number 22 in the UK Singles Chart.

The B-Side of the 7" single was an edited version of Adler and Martin's rendition of 'Rhapsody in Blue'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2155
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 3, 1994
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'The man I love' / 'Rhapsody in blue'