Vienna / The voice - Ultravox

Ultravox became famous in 1980 when their single 'Vienna' became a Europe-wide hit. The Conny Plank-produced album of the same name became a classic album as well, and the band continued to churn out wonderful hits all through the Eighties.

This 'Old gold' single brings together two of their biggest hits: 'Vienna' and 'The voice'. The band has reformed two years ago, did two very successful tours in 2009 and 2010 and this year they are planning to release a whole new album. There is a God.

My collection: 7" single no. 5012
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 29, 2011
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Vienna' / 'The voice'

More than a woman - Tavares

Quite possibly one of the best tracks from the soundtrack of 'Saturday night fever', the Tavares brothers recorded 'More than a woman', a track written by the Bee Gees and did some wonderful harmonies in it, especially near the end of the song. It was an era in which black artists were actually able to record something worth listening to.

'More than a woman' was actually recorded by the Bee Gees themselves too - and both versions appeared on the soundtrack of the movie.

My collection: 7" single no. 5011
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 29, 2011
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'More than a woman' / 'Keep in touch'

Right on - Veronica Unlimited

The Dutch producer and composer Hans van Hemert wanted to record a medley of wellknown hits. He needed a group, found three models, Iris Wolkenstein, Gaby and Angie Kreutz with their friend Manfred Köhler and called them Veronica Unlimited, after the popular Dutch broadcasting organisation. Their first single 'What kind of dance is this' was a big hit in several countries.

This single, 'Right on', was its follow-up. Although less successful, it still managed to reach number 30 in the Dutch Top 40 in January 1978. The B-side is particularly amusing if you want to hear four Germans sing a medley of Dutch children's songs. The pronunciation of 'papier' ('paper'), which is a word both in German and Dutch is unmistakably German.

My collection: 7" single no. 5010
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 29, 2011
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Right on' / 'Childrens opera'

Back and forth - Cameo

Although the sleeve says that this single contains a remix of 'Back and forth', it is actually no different from the one I already had on this single. You could say that therefore this is not a good buy, but oh well, at least the sleeve is beautifully designed.

Back and forth' was released in April 1987 as the last single from the album 'Word up' and reached number 11 in the UK singles chart. In the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, the single peaked at number 50.

My collection: 7" single no. 5005
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 29, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Back and forth (remix)' / 'You can have the world'

Video killed the radio star - Didi Zill

Whenever you see 'Deutsche Originalaufnahme' on a sleeve, you should be forewarned that there is some dodgyness afoot. In this case, it's German photographer and singer Didi Zill (born 1938), who takes on 'Video killed the radio star' - in German.

Although the title of the song stays intact, the rest of the track is sung in German and although I don't understand everything, it's not a literal translation of the original Buggles track. It's a collector's item of sorts. I guess....

My collection: 7" single no. 5009
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 29, 2011
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Video killed the radio star' / 'Ich bin nicht der Stoff... (aus dem deinr Träume sind)'

The highest high - China Crisis

Here's another one of those singles I thought I already had, and so I left it in the racks for many years. Finally I had some presence of mind, and bought this disc, one of the many lovely songs by the UK band China Crisis.

'The highest high' was released in 1985 as a single from their third album 'Flaunt the imperfection'. It reached number 82 in the UK singles chart. Please listen to the B-side of this single, it's the nicest bouncy instrumental track you will hear for some time.

My collection: 7" single no. 5004
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 29, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'The highest high' / '96.8'

Thorn in my side - Eurythmics

'Thorn in my side' was released as a single from the Eurythmics' album 'Revenge' in the summer of 1986. Written by band members Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart, the song is a cast-off to an unfaithful lover.

The single became Eurythmics' ninth Top 10 single, reaching number five in the UK singles chart. In the United States, the track stalled at number 68 on the Billboard Hot 100.

My collection: 7" single no. 5003
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 29, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Thorn in my side' / 'In this town'