Something got me started - Simply Red

'Something got me started' was the first single released from what would become Simply Red's biggest selling album, 'Stars'. The single eventually made number 11 in the UK and German charts, number 23 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

In 2005, 'Something got me started' was one of the eight previously released Simply Red songs re-recorded for the album 'Simplified'. It also became the second single release from the album, as a double A-side with a new cover of the Leon Russell song 'A song for you'. This made it the only Simply Red song to date to be released as a single twice.

My collection: 7" single no. 5150
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Something got me started' / 'A new flame'

Get it - Stevie Wonder & Michael Jackson

'Get it' is one of Michael Jackson's lesser known duets. The track was taken from Stevie Wonder's album 'Characters' and released as its second single. Jackson worked with Wonder eight years earlier for the song 'I can't help it' for his album 'Off the wall', which was written by Wonder and former Supremes member Susaye Greene, while Wonder worked with Jackson on his top-selling 'Bad' album for the song 'Just good friends'.

The song features Wonder and Jackson talking about how to treat a lady, alongside what does a woman wants, needs, and respect from her lover. The single reached number 80 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 5161
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Get it' / 'Get it (instrumental)'

Gimme some kinda magic - Dollar

'The Dollar Album' was Dollar's third album and the duo's most successful one. No less than five singles were drawn from the album, of which 'Gimme some kinda magic' was the last one.

It was the least successful of the five in the UK, peaking at number 34. It did better in Ireland, where the single reached number 12, overtaking both 'Hand held in black and white' and 'Videotheque', the first and fourth single from the album.

My collection: 7" single no. 5163
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Gimme some kinda magic' / 'You made me love you'

Desire - Andy Gibb

'Desire' was released as the first single from Andy Gibb's 1980 album 'After dark'. The song was originally recorded in 1978 by the Bee Gees during sessions for their album Spirits Having Flown, and intended for release on that album. When it was rejected by the band, it was instead released expressly as an Andy Gibb song, having Andy recording a new lead vocal in 1979 replacing his brother Barry's.

The single reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 5143
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Desire' / 'Waiting for you'

Blame it on the boogie - The Jacksons

You don't hear the word 'boogie' anymore. Back in the Seventies, is was the buzzword for having a good time, dancing around and generally going out of your mind. And the Jacksons, Michael included, had one of their biggest hits with 'Blame it on the boogie' in 1978.

The first promotional music video by the Jacksons was created for 'Blame it on the boogie', thus marking Michael Jackson's video debut. The video, featuring the group's members dancing on a black background, relied heavily on vintage electronic trail effects, created at Image West, Ltd. using then-cutting edge equipment: the Scanimate analog computer system and a Quantel DFS 3000 digital framestore.

My collection: 7" single no. 5156
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Blame it on the boogie' / 'Do what you wanna'

Could it be happiness - Ann Christy

Ann Christy's 1975 entry for the Eurovision Song Contest, 'Gelukkig zijn', was released in two versions: the original Dutch (Flemish) version, and this English translation. Both singles are considered a rarity, extremely hard to find, and so I was lucky to find both on one day.

Although the original title means 'Being happy', the title 'Could it be happiness' was chosen for this English version.

My collection: 7" single no. 5182
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Could it be happiness' / 'This world is full of pain'

Wired to the moon - Chris Rea

Chris Rea released his sixth album 'Wired to the moon' in 1984, keeping up his 'one album per year' tempo without any problem, it seemed. A whopping five singles were drawn from the album, although only the first one, 'I don't know what it is but I love it', reached the UK singles chart.

The title track was the fifth single, and like the previous three, it didn't chart. All this despite the fact that it's actually a lovely sort of lullaby.

My collection: 7" single no. 5171
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Wired to the moon' / 'True love'