Lost again - Yello

The Swiss group Yello consisted of Dieter Meier, Boris Blank and Carlos Perón when they released their first few singles. 'Bostich', released in 1980 was their debut. In 1983 they received lots of media attention on the back of their hit singles 'I love you' and 'Lost again'.

Their electronica-influenced music didn't appeal to me at all, but the strange atmosphere in 'Lost again' caught my attention nonetheless. I grew to like this track, and sure enough, I ended up buying the 12" single years after it was released. The B-side, which includes the two earlier singles was less appealing, but the extended version of 'Lost again' is certainly worth a spin.

My collection: 12" single no. 472

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, 2005

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Lost again [extended]' / 'I love you [extended]', 'Bostich'

En smule fred - Nicole

German singer Nicole won the 1982 Eurovision Song Contest with her song 'Ein Bisschen Frieden'. After winning the contest, she recorded her song in several different languages: French, Dutch, English, Spanish and... Danish.

When I was in Esbjerg, Denmark in 2006 and visiting a local record shop, I just couldn't resist buying this single when I saw it. This is the weird thing about a Eurovision collection: even if you decide to only buy the songs you really like, there are always items that you know are rare and collectable. It's just too good to leave such an item standing there when the price is low and the opportunity knocks. And so now I own a Danish Nicole single...

My collection: 7" single no. 3427

Found: Esbjerg (Denmark), June 17, 2006

Cost: 10 Danish crowns

Tracks: 'En smule fred' / 'Thank you, merci, danke'

Download: here

Stay - The Blue Nile

Two years after their debut single 'I love this life', The Blue Nile had found a new record company and were ready to release their debut album. Linn Records released 'Stay' shortly before the album 'A walk across the rooftops'. The album reached the UK album charts, even though it was only for two weeks, but 'Stay' sunk without a trace.

Still, it is a very bouncy pop song. It is backed with 'Saddle the horses' (an instrumental version of the album track 'Automobile noise'). I bought the single, as always, after years of searching.

My collection: 7" single no. 2865

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, September 20, 1997

Cost: 4 guilders

Tracks: 'Stay' / 'Saddle the horses'

Download: here

Candy love - Lili and Sussie

Lili and Susie Päivärinta started recording music together in the early eighties. They scored numerous hits in their homeland Sweden. Their biggest hit in Sweden was the track 'Oh Mama'. 'Candy love' was the only single that achieved some success abroad. It reached the Dutch Top 40 on January 31, 1987 and reached no. 28.

They stopped their career in the early nineties. According to various sources, Lili & Sussie will reunite for the 2009 Swedish national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, the Melodifestivalen.

My collection: 12" single no. 232

Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 1994

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Candy love (extended version)' / 'Candy love (instrumental)', 'Candy love (bonus beats)'

Download: here

Hand held in black and white - Dollar

The phenomenon Dollar had completely passed me by. It was only when I saw the 2002 Here & Now Tour that I found out what the duo David van Day and Thereza Bazar had done in the eighties. By 2002, it all looked very dodgy, but there were some great pop tunes hidden in there.

Take for instance 'Hand held in black and white'. It was produced by Trevor Horn, of Buggles fame. Although the vocal qualities of Thereza and David left a bit to be desired, the music on this track is very good and that helps lift the track up to above average. Still, if it hadn't been so cheap I wouldn't have bought this single.

My collection: 7" single no. 3428

Found: Esbjerg (Denmark), June 17, 2006

Cost: 10 Danish crowns

Tracks: 'Hand held in black and white' / 'Heartbeat (Love me slowly)'

Download: here

I'll fly for you - Spandau Ballet

One of the hottest bands around in the eighties, along with Duran Duran, was Spandau Ballet. Their album 'Gold' was a huge success and the follow-up 'Parade' did just as well. 'I'll fly for you' was the second single from that album and it reached no. 9 in the UK singles chart. The 12" single featured not one, but two remixes of the track: a 'long version' and a 'glide mix'. Creative listeners could even cut and paste the two after another, and listen to a 12 minute version of the song.

I didn't like the song at first, especially considering the boring video for it, but in the end I still appreciated its worth. When I bought the 12" I played it endlessly.

My collection: 12" single no. 29

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1986

Cost: 6,95 guilders

Tracks: 'I'll fly for you (long version)', 'To cut a long story short (live)' / 'I'll fly for you (glide mix)'

Download: here

This is the day - The The

Matt Johnson are an English band that have been active in various forms since 1979, with singer/songwriter Matt Johnson as the only constant band member. In 1982, The The recorded their debut album 'The Pornography of Despair', which was not released. A year later, the album 'Soul mining' did see the light of day, to much critical acclaim'. This single, 'This is the day' was taken from 'Soul mining' and released in a limited edition double single format. The second single featured two tracks from the unreleased debut album.

I found out about this double single in the eighties, but had to wait until 1997 when I finally found my own copy. As a fan of The The and a sucker for limited edition releases, I didn't even mind the inflated price for this one.

My collection: 7" single no. 2839

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 5, 1997

Cost: 20 guilders

Tracks: 'This is the day' / 'Mental healing process' // 'Leap into the wind' / 'Absolute liberation'

Download: here

God only knows - Judie Tzuke

'God only knows' was written by Tony Asher and Brian Wilson and originally performed by the Beach Boys on their famous album 'Pet Sounds'. The song was one of the first pop songs to use the word 'God' in the title. Tony Asher once noted the irony that this, one of the all-time greatest love songs, starts with the line 'I may not always love you'.

The song was covered by many artists, including Andy Williams, Neil Diamond and David Bowie. Judie Tzuke's version was released in 1990, but, like all her other singles with the exception of 'Stay with me 'till dawn', it didn't reach the charts. It is still a great version.

My collection: 7" single no. 2812

Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, February 1, 1997

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'God only knows' / 'Safe house'

Download: here

Quit playing games (with my heart) - Backstreet Boys

It is extremely uncool to confess that one owns a Backstreet Boys single. But I have to. And I'm not even ashamed about it. 'Quit playing games (with my heart)' is simply a well-produced, well executed pop song. No more, no less.

This single is a picture disc 7". When this song was released in 1995, the 7" format was becoming extinct. Few singles were released on vinyl, so whenever there was a song I liked, I always bought it. Obviously this was meant for young girls, so they could hang the record on their walls. My goal was to keep buying 7" singles for as long as I could. And I'm happy to say, I am still doing that.

My collection: 7" single no. 2807

Found: January 25, 1997

Cost: 10 guilders

Tracks: 'Quit playing games (with my heart)' / 'Give me your heart'

Download: Album 'Backstreet Boys', including both tracks

Quién maneja mi barca - Remedios Amaya

Like many Europeans, I first saw Remedios Amaya on television during the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest with this performance. But unlike many Europeans, I became rather interested. The Spanish singer received zero points from the international juries, but the story that she was an analphabetic - according to the Dutch commentator; I couldn't verify this - who performed on bare feet made me laugh and I continued to watch this performance with big eyes.

Nothing happened for many years: I had no recording of the event, just my memory. When the internet started to become popular, I had a new chance to hear the song. And so I finally got to buy the single in 1999. Quite a rare find, in the Netherlands. Thank God for record fairs.

My collection: 7" single no. 3152

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 19, 1999

Cost: 7 guilders

Tracks: 'Quién maneja mi barca' / 'Noche, luna y olivo'

Download: here

It's all in the game - Nena

After her international success with '99 red balloons', German singer Nena tried to equal that success with later work. Her attempts were sympathetic, but not successful. Her first album 'Nena' was slightly successful in the UK, but the second English-language album 'It's all in the game' sunk without a trace.

For European fans the album was somewhat of a rarity. Until its recent re-release on cd, copies were changing hands for as much as 300 dollars on eBay. When I bought this 12" single, it was considerably cheaper. I stumbled upon it during a record fair and fancied owning an early version of 'Anyplace anywhere anytime', the song that Nena would re-record in 2002 as a duet with Kim Wilde. And that version reached number one in several European countries...

My collection: 12" single no. 471

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, 2004

Cost: 5 euro

Tracks: 'It's all in the game (remix)' / 'Anyplace, anywhere, anytime (remix)', 'Let's humanize'

Download: here

Talk to me - Kiss

The second single to be taken from Kiss's album 'Unmasked' (at least, in the Netherlands), 'Talk to me' was written by Ace Frehley, who also performed lead vocals on this track. It performed even worse than 'Shandi' in the charts, because it didn't make the Dutch Top 40.

Band member Peter Criss didn't play drums on the album 'Unmasked', although he was credited for this. It was the beginning of the end: Peter Criss left the band in 1980. He was replaced by Eric Carr, who debuted during a lip-synched performance of 'Talk to me' and 'She's so European' on German television. Carr would be drumming in Kiss until his death in 1991.

My collection: 7" single no. 62

Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1980

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Talk to me' / 'Naked city'

Download: Album 'Unmasked', including both tracks

I didn't mean to turn you on - Robert Palmer

There was also a 12" version of 'I didn't mean to turn you on'. It appeared one day at discount price and with a totally different sleeve and three versions of the track, I simply had to have it. I was sortof disappointed when I played the record, though: Robert Palmer's voice sounded a bit weaker in this mix and it seemed to be an early version of the track. Later I would find out that remixer Bruce Forrest has done more bad remixes in his career. I'm not a fan of this guy.

'I didn't mean to turn you on' went to number 9 in the UK charts in the summer of 1986. Mariah Carey covered the track in 2001 for her ill-fated movie 'Glitter'. That version was produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, like the original version by Cherrelle. Robert's version was produced by Bernard Edwards (from Chic).

My collection: 12" single no. 43

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1986

Cost: 7,95 guilders

Tracks: 'I didn't mean to turn you on (extended dance mix)', 'I didn't mean to turn you on (A cappella beats)' / 'I didn't mean to turn you on (dub version)', 'Addicted to love (LP version)'

Download: here

I didn't mean to turn you on - Robert Palmer

I first heard 'I didn't mean to turn you on' on television, as performed by Cherrelle. I wasn't impressed, although I have to admit now that I've seen that video again (it's here) I have to say I do like the very eighties funk.

Robert Palmer's version appeared not much later. His video was certainly more interesting (as you can see here), with all those dancing girls. (It was a variation on the 'Addicted to love' video (here it is!), where models were handling instruments as well.) His version of the song was better too. No wonder then, that I bought it as soon as I could.

My collection: 7" single no. 442
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, July 31, 1986
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'I didn't mean to turn you on' / 'Get it through your heart'
Download: here

Tell Michelle - White fire

Writing about singles isn't always easy. Take, for instance, the group White Fire: they released on single, 'Tell Michelle', in 1980. The sleeve portrais two people: a man and a woman. There's no clue who they were. The record is produced by Jeremy Paul, another person who has left no trace on the web. The single didn't make the charts in the UK and didn't make the Dutch Top 40 either. What else is there...

I bought this single because I remembered it from the radio. It was the summer holiday before I started my library school study. And, well, that's it. Great song.

My collection: 7" single no. 896

Found: All that music, Leiden, June 23, 1989

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Tell Michelle' / 'Don't lock away your love'

Download: Album 'Disco '81', including 'Tell Michelle'

The living daylights - A-ha

When you hear this year's James Bond track by Alicia Keys and Jack White, you would almost forget that there was a time when James Bond tracks were actually really good. 'The living daylights' by A-ha is a good example. Not that co-writer John Barry was actually happy to work with A-ha: he would say afterwards that he found working with the band 'exhausting'. According to keyboardist Magne Furuholmen, 'Apparently he compared us to Hitlerjugend in a newspaper interview'.

'The living daylights' was John Barry's last score for the James Bond series. Maybe he should take back the reins now that things are getting so out of hand.

My collection: 12" single no. 281

Found: Record Exchange, London, 1995

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'The living daylights (extended version)' / 'The living daylights (7" version)', 'The living daylights (instrumental)'

Download: here

Don't you want me baby - Mandy Smith

Mandy Smith was born on July 17, 1970 and forged a career as a model from an early age. In 1987, she signed to PWL and released a handful of singles produced by Stock Aitken and Waterman. Her first single, 'I just can't wait' generated a lot of press attention, just like her relationship with Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman, who was more than 30 years older than her. They married in 1989 and divorced only two years later.

'Don't you want me baby' was released just weeks before her marriage. According to the press release that was included with the single I bought, Mandy covered the Human League track because it is 'one of her all time favorites'. Personally, I prefer the B-side, which is a bit more bouncy and poppy.

My collection: 7" single no. 3063

Found: London, May 9, 1999

Cost: 50p

Tracks: 'Don't you want me baby' / 'If it makes you feel good'

Download: here

Epic - Faith no more

Faith no more's 'Epic' is in many ways just another hard rock song. It's actually because of the last few seconds of this track that I ended up buying the single. After all the aggression and tension comes a beautiful piano intermezzo, and then the track fades out. There's something very poetic in that.

The music video for 'Epic' received extensive airplay from MTV in 1990, despite provoking protests from animal rights activists for slow motion footage of a fish flopping out of water.

My collection: 7" single no. 1525

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 21, 1997

Cost: 10 guilders

Tracks: 'Epic' / 'War pigs (live)'

Download: Epic

Hanna Hanna - China Crisis

Having just had a top 10 hit with 'Wishful thinking' in 1984, China Crisis followed it up with another track from their album 'Working with fire and steel': 'Hanna Hanna'. The 12" single contained an extended mix plus two live tracks: 'Here come a raincloud' and their debut single 'African and white'.

'Hanna Hanna' didn't repeat the success of 'Wishful thinking': it only reached no. 44 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 12" single no. 407

Found: Record Exchange, London, 2002

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Hanna Hanna (extended mix)' / 'Here come a raincloud (live)', 'African and white (live)'

Download: here

He is sailing - Jon and Vangelis

Jon Anderson, best known from his work with Yes, and the Greek synth wizard Vangelis worked together on a number of albums. 'He is sailing' is taken from their album 'Private collection', which contains eight lengthy tracks. It was nowhere near as successful as their 1981 singles 'I'll find my way home' and 'I hear you now', which is surprising as this track stands up well next to those two. This is probably also why no further singles were released: their next single was a re-release of 'State of independence', the song that was successfully covered by Donna Summer in 1982.

My collection: 7" single no. 3471

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, December 11, 2008

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'He is sailing [edit]' / 'Polonaise'

Download: here