Words - Bee Gees

In November 1990 Universal Music released 'The very best of Bee Gees', a compilation album featuring the band's most popular tracks in chronological order from 'New York mining disaster 1941' (1967) to 'Ordinary lives' (1989).

To further promote the album, a single was released in early 1991, featuring two tracks from that album: 'Words', a hit for the Bee Gees in 1968, and 'Run to me', a hit from 1972. Dutch readers will know that 'Run to me' was also a big hit for Lee Towers & Anita Meyer in 1986.

My collection: 7" single no. 5138
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Words' / 'Run to me'

One way love - Agnetha Faltskog

Agnetha's second solo album after Abba effectively ended in 1982 was the Eric Stewart-produced 'Eyes of a woman', released in March 1985. The album sold well in parts of Europe, reaching number 2 in Sweden and the Top 20 in Norway and Belgium, but failed to match the success of the previous album, 'Wrap your arms around me'.

Lead single 'I won't let you go' enjoyed considerable chart success in both Continental Europe and Scandinavia, but its follow-up 'One way love' was less of a success: it only reached number 12 in Sweden and number 37 in Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 5133
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'One way love' / 'Turn the world around'

Ship of fools - Erasure

'Ship of fools' was released in February 1988 as Erasure's first single from their third album 'The innocents' and their eighth single overall.

'Ship of fools' marked Erasure's first release without record producer Flood. Known for creating slick, pop-oriented production style, Stephen Hague took over producing duties for The Innocents album. 'Ship of fools' also marks Erasure's first ballad single-release. Its B-side, 'When I needed you', is also a ballad. Both tracks were written by Vince Clarke and Andy Bell. The single reached number 6 in the UK Singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 5131
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Ship of fools' / 'When I needed you'

Oh mama - Lili and Sussie

The Swedish duo Lili and Sussie released several singles, but none of them were more bubbly and danceable than their biggest hit, 'Candy love'. This single, released in 1987, was another attempt at having a hit.

Produced by Tim Norell, Ola Hakansson and Anders Hansson, the single wasn't a hit outside Sweden - but I don't know if it was a hit in Sweden.

My collection: 7" single no. 5146
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Oh mama' / 'One more night'

Lyrics - Kayak

The Dutch rock band Kayak started in 1972, consisting of Ton Scherpenzeel, Pim Koopman, Max Werner, Jean Michel Marion and Johan Slager.

A year later they had their first chart hit: the single 'Lyrics', taken from their debut album 'See see the sun'. It reached number 20 in the Dutch Top 40. Kayak singles are pretty much impossible to find these days, so this one was a real catch.

My collection: 7" single no. 5129
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Lyrics' / 'Try to write a book'

Hang on in there baby - Curiosity

After the lacklustre performance of Curiosity killed the cat's second album 'Getahead', the band was dropped from Mercury Records. However, three years after the release of that single they returned to the UK singles chart as a three piece band on RCA Records, with a cover of Johnny Bristol's 'Hang On In There Baby'.

This single peaked at number 3 in the UK singles chart, and it seemed like they were back for good. Unfortunately, subsequent singles, covers of 'I Need Your Lovin'' and 'Gimme the Sunshine', flopped, which resulted in the album Back to Front only being released in Japan and selected overseas markets.

My collection: 7" single no. 5125
Found: Backtrack, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Hang on in there baby' / 'Meaning of dreaming'

Angel of the morning - Guys 'n' Dolls

Back in 1979, I got a double LP of the biggest hits of 1978. I was only eight years old and this was a huge addition to my collection of records. I played the album a lot and those tracks of 1978 have all become engrained in my memory. In recent years I have become less interested in LP's and more interested in singles, so it's only logical that I should buy the singles from that LP.

'Angel of the morning' was originally a hit in 1968 for Merrilee Rush. Later versions were recorded by Nina Simone, Juice Newton, P.P. Arnold, Olivia Newton-John, The Pretenders/Chrissie Hynde, Dusty Springfield, Mary Mason, Melba Montgomery, and Billie Davis. Guys 'n' Dolls released their version in November 1977, and had a hit with it at the turn of the year.

My collection: 7" single no. 5124
Found: Backtrack, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Angel of the morning' / 'I must go home alone'