Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond

'Sweet Caroline' was written and performed by Neil Diamond and released in September 1969. In a 2007 interview, Diamond revealed the inspiration for "Sweet Caroline" was President John F. Kennedy's daughter, Caroline Kennedy, who was eleven years old at the time.

The song reached number 4 on the Billboard chart and eventually went platinum for sales of one million singles. In the UK singles chart, the single reached number 8 in 1971.

My collection: 7" single no. 5250
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 0,8 euro
Tracks: 'Sweet Caroline' / 'I am the lion'

Instant replay - Dan Hartman

'Instant Replay' is a disco song performed by Dan Hartman from the album of the same name. The single reached number 29 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1978. In the UK, the song peaked at number 8.

The single was successfully covered in 1990 by the UK pop duo, Yell!, who reached number 10 in the UK Singles Chart with it.

My collection: 7" single no. 5249
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 0,8 euro
Tracks: 'Instant replay' / 'Instant replay (replayed)'

Disco queen - Hot Chocolate

Released in early 1975, 'Disco queen' was Hot Chocolate's first big hit since 'Emma', released a year earlier. Three singles were released in the mean time, of which only 'Cheri babe' managed to reach the UK and Dutch top 40.

'Disco queen', written about the most popular music genre of those days, reached number 11 in the UK singles chart and number 28 in the US Billboard Hot 100 - their second American hit since 'Emma'. Later in the year Hot Chocolate would immortalise themselves with the single 'You sexy thing'.

My collection: 7" single no. 5248
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 0,8 euro
Tracks: 'Disco queen' / 'Bump and dilly down'

Say you do - Janet Jackson

'Say you do' was the third single from Janet Jackson's self-titled debut album 'Janet Jackson' (1982). There are three versions of the song: an edit of 3'48, an album version of 5'20 and the 12" remix version, which clocks in at 6'49.

Janet performed this song live for the first time during her 2008 'Rock Witchu tour'.

My collection: 12" single no. 606
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Say you do [extended version]' / 'You'll never find (a love like mine)'

For America - Red Box

When Red Box released 'The circle and the square' as their debut album on WEA records, it was critically acclaimed. The record company worried about the lack of mainstream appeal of the band's material and was further provoked by the song 'For America', written by Simon Toulson-Clarke after WEA's request for something to appeal to American radio.

The lyric lambasted what he saw as the style-over-content approach of the American media. The song also alluded to the American military involvement in Grenada and Nicaragua. The song was not a hit in the USA, though it did worldwide outsell the previous single 'Lean On Me', reaching number one in six countries and the top ten in several others including the UK, where it spent twelve weeks in the chart including two at number nine.

My collection: 7" single no. 5253
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'For America' / 'R 'n A'

One more chance - Diana Ross

'To love again' is a 1981 compilation album by Diana Ross, produced by Michael Masser. Following the success of 1980's 'Diana', produced by Chic, the set was released in early 1981 and consisted of old and newly recorded love songs by the Motown diva. Two of the three new recordings were issued as singles.

The first of them, 'One more chance' was the only one of the two to reach the charts, although it wasn't a very big hit. It reached number 79 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 49 in the UK singles chart. 'To love again' was to be Ross' last album of new material for Motown (before her return in 1989) after signing a $20 million contract with RCA.

My collection: 7" single no. 5246
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 0,8 euro
Tracks: 'One more chance' / 'After you'

Trouble - Heaven 17

Heaven 17 had their biggest success with their first three albums, 'Penthouse and pavement' (1981), 'The luxury gap' (1983) and 'How men are' (1984). When they released 'Pleasure One' in 1986, their popularity seemed to have vanished. The first single, 'Contenders' only reached number 80 in the UK singles chart and 'Trouble', the second and last single from the album, peaked at number 51.

A promotional video was created for the single, becoming one of the band's last music videos to date.

My collection: 7" single no. 5245
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 0,8 euro
Tracks: 'Trouble' / 'Move out'