Head up to the sky - Spargo

'Head up to the sky' was Spargo's second hit in the Netherlands after 'You and me'. That first single was a good start for the band, because it topped the Dutch Top 40. Compared to that, this single was slightly disappointing, as it only made it to number 5. And while 'You and me' was a hit all over Europe, 'Head up to the sky' only made the charts in Belgium and Germany. 

I bought the single a long time ago, but I also culled it from my collection when I grew up, because I felt the song was not good enough. In fact, I threw away a lot of Dutch productions during the mid- to late-Eighties. It's good to have this single back again.

My collection: 7" single no. 8339
Found: Gaga Music, Goch (Germany), 15 July 2026
Tracks: 'Head up to the sky' / 'Inside your heart'

Mana mana - M.O.B.

Piero Umiliani wrote and recorded 'Mah-na mah-na', but the best known version was recorded by The Muppets. That wasn't the end of the song, however: many different cover versions exist, recorded by, amongst others, Hot Butter, Cake and Carlos Perón. 

This version by M.O.B. went unnoticed by most, because the title underwent a change: this version is called 'Mana mana' and includes some rapping and a steady Nineties beat. It was their only release.

My collection: 7" single no. 8338
Found: Gaga Music, Goch (Germany), 15 July 2026
Tracks: 'Mana mana' / 'Perfect move' 

Girls just want to have fun - Cyndi Lauper

In 1983, 1984 and beyond, Cyndi Lauper's 'Girls just want to have fun' was unavoidable. It was on the radio, on Music Box and Sky Channel, and everywhere else, so it seemed. I became sick of the song.

It's taken four decades, but I can finally listen to the song again. It's odd that I have quite a bit of Cyndi Lauper singles, but not her biggest hit. I finally got the chance to rectify that, because this copy popped up and I didn't even have to pay much for it. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8337
Found: Gaga Music, Goch (Germany), 15 July 2026
Tracks: 'Girls just want to have fun' / 'Right track, wrong train' 

Amiga Quartett - Ofra Haza

Readers of this blog will be familiar with the formula of the Amiga Quartett EP's: a collection of hits from a certain artist, like A-ha, Nena or Sandra. In the case of Ofra Haza, there was only one hit that really counted: the remixed version of 'Im nin' alu'. Three other tracks were added on this disc, but they were never chart hits in most territories - although 'Galbi' actually reached number 20 in the West German singles chart. 

Amiga, of course, was the state-owned record company of East Germany, before the Berlin wall fell. These days it's not too difficult to get your hands on these EP's, but obviously before the Nineties they were strictly available in the German Democratic Republic only.

My collection: 7" single no. 8336
Found: Gaga Music, Goch (Germany), 15 July 2026
Tracks: 'Im nin' alu', 'Galbi' / 'Eshal', 'Love song'

The runner - Three Degrees

'The Runner' was taken from the album New Dimensions by the Three Degrees. The single would be their penultimate hit in the Netherlands: only 'The heaven I need' in 1985 would reach the Dutch Top 40 after this. 

 

One of the members of the trio, Sheila Ferguson, wrote 'The Runner', together with Giorgio Moroder, who also produced the track. The German single came in this colourful picture sleeve.

 

My collection: 7" single no. 8335
Found: Gaga Music, Goch (Germany), 15 July 2026
Tracks: 'The runner' / 'Woman in love' 

My number one - Luv

The trio Luv released their first album with Patty Brard in 1980 and 'My number one' was the first single to be taken from that album. The German pressing of the single had a slightly different picture sleeve, compared to the Dutch version. 

The song was a top five hit in the Netherlands and in Flanders (Belgium). It was Luv's last chart entry outside Dutch-speaking countries, ending the group's succession of export hits. It reached number 60 in Germany. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8334
Found: Gaga Music, Goch (Germany), 15 July 2026
Tracks: 'My number one' / 'The show must go on' 

A-ba-ni-bi - Izhar Cohen & the "Alpha-Beta"

It's not difficult to find a copy of 'A-ba-ni-bi' in the Netherlands. It seems that thousands of copies have been left in record shops and thrift shops all over the country, in that simple sleeve containing just the title and artist. 

The version that was made in Germany is a lot harder to find. I think I've only seen it a couple of times through the years - but never for the 1 euro that I paid for it this week. This version is, of course, attractive because of the picture sleeve, on which you can actually see Izhar Cohen's face. The song remains the same: I don't think a Hebrew version was ever released on record.

My collection: 7" single no. 8333
Found: Gaga Music, Goch (Germany), 15 July 2026
Tracks: 'A-ba-ni-bi' / 'Illusions'