Classical gas - Mason Williams

Mason Williams was born on August 24, 1938. He is best known for his instrumental piece 'Classical gas', released as a single in 1968, taken from the album 'The Mason Williams Phonograph Record'. Williams was the head writer for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour at the time of the piece's release and premiered the composition on the show. Williams performed it several times over several episodes.

There is a common misconception that "Classical Gas" was composed and performed by Eric Clapton. Clapton has never recorded a cover of the song. This misconception may possibly be attributed to the fact that Clapton was musical director of, and played much of the guitar music for, the feature film 'The story of us.' The version of the song on the film's soundtrack is actually Williams's own solo-guitar re-recording of it, from his 1970 album Handmade.

My collection: 7" single no. 5104
Found: Vrijmarkt, Den Haag, April 30, 2011
Cost: 0,2 euro
Tracks: 'Classical gas' / 'Long time blues'

New York mining disaster 1941 - Bee Gees

'New York mining disaster 1941' recounts the story of a miner trapped in a cave-in. He is sharing a photo of his wife with a colleague ('Mr. Jones') while they hopelessly wait to be rescued. In the second and third verses, the lyrical lines get slower and slower, as to indicate that life is about to expire for the miners. According to the liner notes for the Bee Gees box-set 'Tales from the Brothers Gibb' (1990), this song was inspired by the 1966 Aberfan mining disaster in Wales.

Maurice Gibb recalled in an interview with Mojo magazine: 'The opening chord doesn't sound like a conventional A minor. Barry was using the open D tuning he'd been taught when he was nine, and I was playing it in conventional tuning. It gives an unusual blend. People went crazy trying to figure out why they couldn't copy it.'

My collection: 7" single no. 5102
Found: Vrijmarkt, Den Haag, April 30, 2011
Cost: 0,2 euro
Tracks: 'New York mining disaster 1941' / 'I can't see nobody'

If you ever come to Amsterdam - Pussycat

Released in November 1977, 'If you ever come to Amsterdam' was the follow-up to Pussycat's successful single 'I'll be your woman' which reached number 11 in the Dutch Top 40. By comparison, this single did worse, as it stalled at number 20. Both singles stayed in the chart for seven weeks.

Like all of the band's hits, the song was written by the band's guitarist Werner Theunissen.

My collection: 7" single no. 5101
Found: Vrijmarkt, Den Haag, April 30, 2011
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'If you ever come to Amsterdam' / 'You must have been a beautiful baby'

Tired of toein' the line - Rocky Burnette

Rocky Burnette (born Jonathan Burnette, 12 June 1953) is an American rock and roll singer/musician and the son of rock and roll pioneer, Johnny Burnette. He is best known for his 1980 hit single 'Tired of toein' the line'. The song's lyrics detail an imminent breakup.

The single reached number 8in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 1 in Australia. In the Dutch Top 40, the single reached number 12.

My collection: 7" single no. 5099
Found: Vrijmarkt, Den Haag, April 30, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Tired of toein' the line' / 'Clowns from outer space'

Only yesterday - The Carpenters

"Only Yesterday" is a song recorded by The Carpenters in 1975. It was released on March 14, 1975, and was the Carpenters' last top 10 single in the United States. Composed by Richard Carpenter and John Bettis, it peaked at number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

The music video features some footage of Karen and Richard at work in the studio. After Karen sang the line, "the promise of morning light", it faded from the studio to a fountain in Huntington Library Gardens in San Marino, California. It then featured some footage of a Japanese bridge.

My collection: 7" single no. 5098
Found: Vrijmarkt, Den Haag, April 30, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Only yesterday' / 'Happy'

All night long - Lionel Richie

Lionel Richie was very hot in 1983. He released the album 'Can't slow down' and before he knew it, he had a row of hits on his hands. The first of them was 'All night long', a festive, danceable tune that went to number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, Australia and the Netherlands. In the UK, it reached number 2.

The video was played on television ad nauseam, and I grew rather tired of this track. Fast forward 27 years and I finally bought the single... Because after all, the tune is not bad.

My collection: 7" single no. 5097
Found: Vrijmarkt, Den Haag, April 30, 2011
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'All night long' / 'Wandering stranger'

First of May - Bee Gees

'First of May' was released as the only single from the Bee Gees' 1969 album 'Odessa'. The song was partially responsible for the departure of Robin Gibb from the group. He wanted his song 'Lamplight' to be the album's first single, while Barry preferred 'First of May'. When Robert Stigwood, their manager, sided with Barry, Robin quit the band.

The single reached number 2 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 6 in the UK singles chart. In the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, it reached number 37. Robin Gibb eventually returned to the Bee Gees, after Barry and Maurice released one album as a duo.

My collection: 7" single no. 5100
Found: Vrijmarkt, Den Haag, April 30, 2011
Cost: 0,2 euro
Tracks: 'First of May' / 'Lamplight'