Truly - Lionel Richie

'Truly' is the title of the debut solo single by Lionel Richie, released in 1982. Richie wrote the song and co-produced it with James Anthony Carmichael.

Released as the first single from his self-titled debut album in 1982, 'Truly' went to number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks near the end of 1982. In the UK singles chart the single peaked at number 6, while it didn't chart in the Netherlands. The song won a Grammy Award for Richie in the category Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.

My collection: 7" single no. 5122
Found: Backtrack, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Truly' / 'Just put some love in your heart'

Blue night - Hot Chocolate

Many people, including myself, are unaware that one of Hot Chocolate's biggest hits, 'You sexy thing', started life as the B-side of another single. And this is it: 'Blue night', released in 1975.

Producer Mickie Most put 'You sexy thing' on the flip-side of this single as he was not convinced that it could be a hit. The song was remixed at a later date by Most, who re-released it as an A-side some months later on his RAK label. The song was a hit and ultimately became the group's most well-known song. Oh, and by the way: 'Blue night' never charted...

My collection: 7" single no. 5127
Found: Backtrack, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Blue night' / 'You sexy thing'

Your greatest shade of blue - The Adventures

The Adventures combined pop/rock with a folk music sound for their third album, 'Trading secrets with the moon'. Released in early 1990, the album failed to capitalise on their earlier success and only appeared briefly on the UK albums chart, stalling at number 64.

The first single from the album was 'Washington Deceased', which failed to chart. This second single, 'Your greatest shade of blue', met the same fate. Strange, because it's quite a beautiful pop song.

My collection: 7" single no. 5126
Found: Backtrack, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Your greatest shade of blue' / 'Put me together again'

All I have to do is dream - Andy Gibb and Victoria Principal

The Gibb family had their share of misery, but the tale of Andy Gibb is perhaps the most miserable of all. Throughout the Eighties he was battling an addiction to cocaine, and it ended up destroying everything he had achieved. According to a co-star in the musical 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat' (in which Andy starred in 1981): 'I hear he spent most of his time in his hotel room in front of the TV. I guess he was frightened and insecure. That's what happens when you're the baby brother of the Bee Gees.'

His romance with Principal ended shortly after an ultimatum from her to decide between her or the drugs; but not before they recorded and released a duet of the Everly Brothers' 'All I have to do is dream', in the summer of 1981. This would be Gibb's last official single, and his last US chart entry, peaking at number 51.

My collection: 7" single no. 5142
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'All I have to do is dream' / 'Good feeling'

Amsterdam - Maggie MacNeal

I already own two copies of Maggie MacNeal's 'Amsterdam': the German version and the Dutch version. So I was pleasantly surprised to find yet another version: this time, the French version. Like the other two singles, this one has the English version on the B-side.

It looks like this one completes the set, as no other language versions of this song are known. At least, I don't see them listed on authorative websites. But who knows... a Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Icelandic or Arabian version might be lurking somewhere!

My collection: 7" single no. 5168
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Amsterdam (French version)' / 'Amsterdam (English version)'

My world - Bee Gees

'My world' was recorded and released while the Bee Gees were recording their new album 'To whom it may concern' during the winter of 1972. The single reached number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and number 16 and number 41 in the UK and Germany charts, respectively.

As Robin Gibb states in the liner notes of Tales from the Brothers Gibb, 'One rollicking little jaunt that me and the lads came up with in downtown Birmingham, England, whilst doing a television show called Golden Shot, the ensuing results being that it went on to be a huge top 20 hit in the UK and the US that left the three of us 'drooling' with pleasure.'

My collection: 7" single no. 5128
Found: Backtrack, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'My world' / 'On time'

Can't get enough of your love - Taylor Dayne

With a big voice and big hair, Taylor Dayne managed to stay on the good side of grating, but only just. The first single from her third album was a cover of an old Barry White classic, 'Can't get enough of your love' and ever since its release I have been iffy about this track. Still, I had the cd-single, I had the album so the 7" single was missing from my collection.

I was never sure that a 7" single actually existed so it was a good surprise to find one. And in such good condition too! If nothing else, the sleeve is a thing of beauty.

My collection: 7" single no. 5121
Found: Backtrack, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Can't get enough of your love' / 'Let's spend the night together'