Sisters are doin' it for themselves - Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin

'Sisters are doin' it for themselves' was written by Eurythmics members Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart. It was intended as a feminist anthem. They recorded the track together with American soul/R&B musician Aretha Franklin and released as a single by RCA Records in October 1985. It was featured on both Eurythmics' 'Be yourself tonight' and Franklin's 'Who's zoomin' who?' albums.

The single reached number 18 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and number 9 in the UK Singles Chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 5076
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Sisters are doin' it for themselves' / 'I love you like a ball and chain'

All that she wants - Ace of base

Back in 1992, they were presented as a modern day Abba, the Swedish quartet Ace of base. And they certainly started out promising: 'All that she wants' quickly became a number one hit in Denmark, the UK and Australia. The single was certified Platinum in the United States, where it peaked at number 2. It is one of the highest-selling #2 songs of all time in the States: it stayed in the top three songs on Billboard Hot 100 list for three months, but never actually reached the peak position.

Although the band still exists, both female members have left the group a few years ago and have been replaced. Their albums were all less successful than its predecessor: debut album 'Happy nation' selling 21 million copies worldwide, while the 2002 album 'Da capo' only sold half a million copies.

My collection: 7" single no. 5075
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'All that she wants (radio edit)' / 'All that she wants (Banghra version)'

Love so right - Bee Gees

'Love so right' is a R&B/pop ballad released by the Bee Gees in 1976. The single hit number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It peaked at number 2 in Canada, but was less successful in Europe: in the UK the single only reached number 41, and in Germany it reached number 38.

It was the second single from their 1976 album 'Children of the world'. A year later they would be much more successful with the original soundtrack of the movie 'Saturday night fever'.

My collection: 7" single no. 5074
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Love so right' / 'You stepped into my life'

It's my life - Talk Talk

'It's my life' was the first collaboration between Mark Hollis and Tim Friese-Greene, members of Talk Talk. It was released as the band's first single from the album of the same name in January 1984. It reached number 46 in the UK charts, but did better in other countries: number 31 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 30 in Canada and Netherlands, number 33 in Germany, number 32 in New Zealand, number 25 in France and number 7 in Italy.

I didn't have this original single before, so it was interesting to finally buy it. This version features the album track 'Does Caroline know?' on the B-side, whereas the Brazilian single I bought in 1990 features the extended version of 'It's my life'.

My collection: 7" single no. 5073
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'It's my life' / 'Does Caroline know?'

Iko iko - The belle stars

I've seen the Belle Stars, or at least, three of them, during those Here & Now tours at the beginning of this century in the UK, and one of the staples in their set was their version of 'Iko iko'. I never found the single of that track, but here it is... a reissue of the song because, apparently, it was used in the movie 'Rain man'.

Originally, the track was released six years earlier, in 1982. It reached number 35 in the UK singles chart. This re-release gave them a number 14 peak position in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and a number 7 peak position in Australia. The single also re-charted in the UK... peaking at number 98.

My collection: 7" single no. 5072
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Iko iko' (Belle Stars) / 'Leaving Wallbrook / On the road' (Hans Zimmer)

Sweet, sweet smile - Carpenters

Puck recently informed me that all Carpenters tracks are in fact very depressing. Given this knowledge, it's hard to reconcile that with an upbeat track like 'Sweet, sweet smile', in which the protagonist says that she wants to always see someone's sweet smile.

The track was composed by Otha Young and Juice Newton. The track features drummer Ronnie Tutt who regularly backed Elvis Presley. Released as the third single from the album 'Passage', the single reached number 44 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 40 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 5071
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Sweet sweet smile' / 'I have you'

All systems go - Donna Summer

Donna Summer's 1987 album 'All systems go' spawned the hit single 'Dinner with Gershwin', but the other singles from the album were less successful. 'Only the fool survives', a duet with Mickey Thomas, only reached number 40 in Canada, and this single, the title track from the album, only charted in the UK, peaking at number 54.

'All systems go' - the song - is a repetitive affair, particularly at the end where it seems the lyricist simply ran out of ideas. Donna Summer repeats the title of the track ad nauseum.

My collection: 7" single no. 5070
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'All systems go' / 'Bad reputation'