Magic man - Heart

'Magic man' was released as the second single from Heart's debut album 'Dreamboat Annie' (1976). With lengthy guitar solos, the song featured notable Minimoog synthesizer usage. Written by Ann and Nancy Wilson, the song is sung from the viewpoint of a young girl who is being seduced by an older man (referred to as a Magic Man), much to the chagrin of her mother, who begs the girl to come home.

In interview, Ann Wilson revealed the 'Magic Man' was her then-boyfriend, band manager Michael Fisher, and part of the song was an autobiographical tale of the beginnings of their relationship. The single became Heart's first Top 10 hit in the United States, peaking at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. In the Netherlands, the single peaked at number 7, while it didn't chart in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 554

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1987

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Magic man' / 'How deep it goes'

Hi - Ofra Haza

Without a doubt, the most famous track by Israeli singer Ofra Haza is 'Im nin' alu', released in 1988. But before she conquered the world with this track, she participated in the 1983 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, representing Israel. Haza reached second place in the competition.

The lyric of the song, written by Avi Toledano (who represented Israel himself in 1982 with 'Hora') states that the singer is still alive despite the 'thorns' she has endured. Later on in the song, this is revealed to be a metaphor for 'the nation of Israel' surviving various attempts at destroying it. The song had further profound meanings since it was performed on German soil with the Holocaust background and in the city of Munich, the site of the Munich massacre during the Olympic Games in 1972.

My collection: 7" single no. 3179
Found: Bea Records, April 16, 2000
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Hi' / 'High'

F.L.M. - Mel and Kim

At the time of release of Mel & Kim's third single, during a promotional visit to Japan in June 1987, Mel Appleby became ill with a suspected spinal disc herniation, after complaining of a back problem for several months. Upon returning to the UK, Mel was diagnosed with secondary cancer of the spine, after previously being treated for liver cancer when she was 18, prior to the duo's rise to fame.

The sisters withdrew from publicity while Mel underwent treatment, and footage from their Montreux Festival performance was used to compile the music video for 'F.L.M.'. While the media speculated that Mel was terminally ill, both sisters categorically denied this, stating that Mel had suffered a debilitating back injury. 'F.L.M.', meanwhile, rose to number 7 in the UK singles chart, and peaked at number 10 in the Netherlands.

The single was released in two different sleeves: the European sleeve (pictured above) being different from the one released in the UK (pictured below).

My collection: 7" single no. 533 (1 & 2)

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987 & HMV, London, October 1987

Cost: 6 guilders & 2 pounds

Tracks: 'F.L.M.' / 'F.L.M. (Instrumental)'

The border - America

America was formed in 1971 by Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peek. They recorded seven albums together until Peek left the band in 1977. Beckley and Bunnell went on together and recorded three albums without Peek. Their fourth album was 1983's 'Your move'. It was a collaboration with former Argent star Russ Ballard, who had been responsible for their 1982 hit 'You can do magic'.

In the end, Ballard wound up writing most of the songs and performing most of the instruments in addition to his production duties. Beckley and Bunnell were basically singers on an album that Ballard had made for them, although they did contribute some material of their own. On one track, Bunnell decided to rewrite Ballard's lyrics, and the hit song 'The border' was the result. Set to the backing of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the saxophone work of Raphael Ravenscroft, the single reached number 33 on the US charts in August 1983. The single also made number 24 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 979

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 29, 1989

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'The border' / 'Sometimes lovers'

In the heat of the night - Sandra

Released in November 1985, 'In the heat of the night' was Sandra's second solo single taken from the debut album 'The Long Play'. On the album this song lasted for over five minutes, the single version was edited to 3'48. It was a number one hit in Israel and peaked at number 2 in Germany, Sweden and Switzerland. In the Netherlands, it peaked at number 15.

I didn't like Sandra's music at first, but got turned on by a friend who lived in Utrecht. I felt a strange sense of appropriateness when I bought this single in that city.

My collection: 7" single no. 1859

Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, January 30, 1993

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'In the heat of the night' / 'Heatwave (instrumental)'

That's love, that it is - Blancmange

'That's love, that it is' was released in November 1983 and peaked at number 33 in the UK singles chart. It was the second single taken from Blancmange's second album 'Mange tout (Dancing around our handbags)', which was released in January 1984.

The single was released as a limited edition picture disc, and even though it's not very beautiful, I couldn't resist buying this one.

My collection: 7" single no. 3182

Found: Record fair, 2001

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'That's love, that it is' / 'Vishnu'

Don't talk to me about love - Altered Images

For twenty years, this was the only song by Altered Images I knew. It landed in the Dutch 'bubbling under' chart in June 1983, but failed to make the Top 40. I thought it was an interesting track, with Clare Grogan's peculiar voice as one of its standout traits.

In the UK, 'Don't talk to me about love' peaked at number 7, making it one of their best known tracks.

My collection: 7" single no. 1092

Found: All that music, Leiden, November 11, 1989

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Don't talk to me about love' / 'Last goodbye'

Things can only get better - Howard Jones

Pictured here is the pink version of the sleeve. I actually own three versions of this single: in pink, in white and in yellow. There's supposed to be an orange version as well, but I haven't been able to find that one yet.

'Things can only get better' was the first single taken from Howard Jones's second album 'Dream into action'. A typically upbeat Jones composition, it was one of two songs from the album to feature all-female singing group Afrodiziak on backing vocals. The single peaked at number 6 in the UK singles chart, making this his penultimate top 10 hit.

My collection: 7" single no. 3226

Found: London, December 2003

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Things can only get better' / 'Why look for the key'

Hurricane - Athlete

Released as the first single from their 2007 album 'Beyond the neighbourhood', 'Hurricane' did not receive as much success as previous singles 'Wires' and 'Half light', only reaching number 31 in the UK singles chart.

The single was released on two 7" singles, this one being the first. Pressed on blue vinyl, it came in a gatefold sleeve to house this disc and the second one, which was released separately. In the eighties at least one would be able to buy a double single for the price of one...

My collection: 7" single no. 3618

Found: eBay, received April 16, 2009

Cost: 3 euro

Tracks: 'Hurricane' / 'Hurricaned (dub remix)'

Vanity kills - ABC

ABC reinvented themselves as cartoon characters for their 1984 album 'How to be a zillionaire'. At the time of release, the band consisted of core members Martin Fry and Mark White, plus Eden (the British journalist Fiona Russell-Powell) and David Yarritu. Eden and David Yarritu were hired for their unconventional look on stage and in videos.

'Vanity kills' appeared in the UK singles chart for one week in June 1985 on number 70. The B-side 'Judy's jewels' is a rarity: it was never released on cd.

My collection: 7" single no. 2419

Found: All that music, Leiden, July 22, 1995

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Vanity kills' / 'Judy's jewels'

De mallemolen - Heddy Lester

Heddy Lester was born in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands on June 18, 1950 as Heddy Affolter. Her biggest claim to fame is her appearance in the 1977 Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'De mallemolen', written by her younger brother Frank Affolter. She finished 12th in a field of 18 competitors.

The lyric of the song uses a merry-go-round as a metaphore for life. For some reason, the quote 'The merry-go-round goes along without you / your horse doesn't stay empty for long' always seems mighty depressing to me. But the B-side makes matters even worse: it's about a man who doesn't hear a bird sing, kills a bug under his feet and hates children. Such negativity!

My collection: 7" single no. 3695

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, May 5, 2009

Cost: 2,5 euro

Tracks: 'De mallemolen' / 'De man die voorbij kwam'

Slow train to dawn - The The

'Slow train to dawn' was released as the fourth single from The The's 1986 album 'Infected'. The single stalled at number 64 in the UK singles chart, which was a disappointment since previous singles had done better, especially 'Heartland' which had peaked at number 29.

This track featured guest vocals by Neneh Cherry, who was unknown at that point but would go on to make a name for herself in 1989 with her debut album 'Raw like sushi'. Drums were performed by David Palmer, who had previously been in the band ABC.

My collection: 7" single no. 2459

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 9, 1995

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Slow train to dawn' / 'Harbour lights'

Mickey - Toni Basil

Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn wrote the song 'Kitty' for the UK pop group Racey. They recorded the track in 1979. In 1982, Toni Basil, born as Antonia Christina Basilotta on September 22, 1943, recorded the track as 'Mickey'.

Basil had a crush on actor and Monkee Micky Dolenz during her work as a choreographer and dancer on the set of the Monkees 1968 movie 'Head'. It prompted her to change the lyrics to 'Mickey' to better suit her real-life experience, and the gender from female to male. The single reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number two in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3217

Found: Record fair, October 12, 2000

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Mickey' / 'Thief on the loose'

Alphabet st. - Prince

'Alphabet st.' was the first single from Prince's 1988 album 'Lovesexy'. It peaked at number 9 in the UK and number 5 in the Netherlands. The packaging for this single was quite unique: there was no real sleeve, just a transparent sleeve with a sticker displaying the artist's and track name on it. The next single 'Glam slam' would be packaged in the same way.

The B-side is essentially an instrumental version of 'Alphabet st.' with an added rap by Cat Glover, who choreographed and appeared in several of Prince's videos and his concert film 'Sign 'O' the times', traveled with him as a backing vocalist and dancer on the Sign 'O' the Times Tour and Lovesexy World Tour. Following her work with Prince, she released the EP 'Catwoman' in 1989.

My collection: 7" single no. 2281

Found: May 6, 1995

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Alphabet st.' / 'Alphabet st.'

Paranoimia - The Art of Noise with Max Headroom

'Paranoimia' was released as a single by the group Art of Noise in 1986. The track featured the computer generated television personality Max Headroom on vocals. The original version of the track (without Max Headroom) features on the album 'In visible silence'.

The single reached number 12 in the UK Singles Chart, and peaked at number 11 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 470

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1986

Cost: 4 guilders

Tracks: 'Paranoimia' / 'Why me?'

Labelled with love - Squeeze

Released as the third single from Squeeze's 1981 album 'East Side Story', 'Labelled with love' was the third and last single by Squeeze to reach the UK top 10, peaking at number 4 (the other two being 'Cool for cats' and 'Up the junction', both peaking at number 2 in 1979).

Although 'Labelled with love' itself was a popular song, the single's high chart placing was also partly due to the unexpected popularity of the flip-side 'Squabs on forty fab', a tongue-in-cheek disco medley of Squeeze's greatest hits (in the vein of 'Stars on 45').

My collection: 7" single no. 3701
Found: Empire Records, May 5, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Labelled with love' / 'Squabs on forty fab'

Lenny - Buggles

'Lenny' was another single that did not chart in the UK, but... lo and behold... it did in the Netherlands. It entered the Dutch Top 40 in April 1982 and peaked at number 23 during its five week chart run.

It was an excellent song to play air drums and air keyboards on, I remember playing the cassette on which I recorded this song from the radio over and over again, enjoying it endlessly. Whoever said that hometaping was killing the music? In 1989 I still remembered this song and bought the single.

My collection: 7" single no. 830

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 20, 1989

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Lenny' / 'Blue nylon'

House of fun - Madness

Released in May 1982, 'House of fun' is to date the only number one hit in the UK for Madness. It was released by Madness in between albums. The track did not appear on any previous or subsequent studio album - although it was obviously included in compilation albums, the first one being 'Complete Madness', released in 1982.

Madness guitarist Chris Foreman commented on the song in 1982: 'I'm not sure about this one... I think it's about coming of age, I cant remember much about because when it happened to me it was a long time ago. You could buy a packet of fags, a pint of beer and a three piece suit for half a crown and still have enough left to go and see Rudolf Valentino at the Gaumont! I can't afford to go to the pictures these days but I hear they talk in them now.'

My collection: 7" single no. 3699

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, May 5, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'House of fun' / 'Don't look back'

This is mine - Heaven 17

'This is mine' was released as the second single from Heaven 17's 1984 album 'How men are', which was their third. The video to this single was a hilarious piece in which the members of the band (Glenn Gregory, Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh) played bankrobbers.

Peaking at number 23, this single was the last single to get into the UK top 40 for a while: the next single 'And that's no lie' stalled at number 52.

My collection: 7" single no. 3689

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, May 5, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'This is mine' / 'Mine'

A million in 1, 2, 3 - Dream Express

Everyone always thinks that Madonna was very original when she bared her navel in 1984. But on this sleeve, there's the ultimate proof that it was not so original: the girls from the Belgian group Dream Express did it already in 1977. It brought them less fame and fortune than the American hag.

Dream Express represented Belgium during the 1977 Eurovision Song Contest. The sisters Bianca, Stella and Patricia Maessen sang 'A million in 1, 2, 3' in English under the relaxed language rules that lasted for a few years in the late Seventies. They were 7th in a field of 18 participants. It was not the first time that the sisters participated: in 1970 they represented the Netherlands as Hearts of Soul, singing 'Waterman'. More about that when I find the single (still looking for that one)...

My collection: 7" single no. 3706

Found: Bought for me by Puck in Oegstgeest, May 5, 2009

Cost: nothing, it was a present!

Tracks: 'A million in 1, 2, 3' / 'Spinning top'

Shine - Frida

'Shine' is the title track from Frida's 1984 album which was produced by Steve Lillywhite. He'd already worked with bands like U2, Rolling Stones and Peter Gabriel despite being only 25 years old at the time. 'Shine' was a deliberate move away from Abba's pop sound that Frida feared to be always connected to. In a recent comment, Frida said that 'maybe this album became a bit too modern for its time'.

'Shine' peaked at number 6 in Sweden, but didn't do so well elsewhere. In the Netherlands, it only made number 23.

My collection: 7" single no. 3703

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, May 5, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Shine' / 'That's tough'

Chariots of fire - Vangelis

In 1981, Vangelis wrote the score for the film 'Chariots of Fire', set at the 1924 Summer Olympics. The choice of music was unorthodox as most period films featured traditional orchestral scores, whereas Vangelis' music was modern and synthesizer-heavy. The movie won the Academy Award for Best Picture and Vangelis won the Academy Award for Original Music Score.

The opening theme of the film was released as a single in 1982, topping the American Billboard chart for one week after climbing steadily for five months.

My collection: 7" single no. 3691

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, May 5, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Chariots of fire' / 'Eric's theme'

Summer rain - Alphaville

Alphaville were best known for their hits 'Big in Japan' and 'Forever young', when they released this single in 1989. It was a beautiful song, very different from that early material, and so it was 'rewarded' with a total lack of commercial success.

The album from which this single was taken, 'The breathtaking blue', was an experimental sounding album, accompanied by an ambitious video project. Not surprisingly, this also went completely over the heads of the record buying public.

My collection: 7" single no. 969

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 29, 1989

Cost: 3,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Summer rain' / 'Sister sun'

You win again - Bee Gees

The Bee Gees had not been in the charts for four years - an eternity in that time - when they returned in October 1987 with 'You win again'. In the UK it was a number one hit, and in the Netherlands the single peaked at number 5. In America the sales were disappointing: it only reached number 75.

Barry Gibb wrote the melody of the song, while Maurice Gibb created the drum sounds that open the track in his garage.

My collection: 7" single no. 1284

Found: All that music, Leiden, August 31, 1990

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'You win again' / 'Backtafunk'

Dors mon amour - André Claveau

André Claveau represented France during the 1958 Eurovision Song Contest. Mind you, that was only the third edition of this annual event. He was born on December 17, 1915 and died on July 4, 2003. 'Dors, mon amour' ('Sleep, my love') was the first entry sung by a male soloist to win the contest.

I bought this single online and received it in the mail today. I had to wonder how this single came out in such good shape after 51 years. It's really great to be able to play this beautiful song after half a century.

My collection: 7" single no. 3707

Found: Marktplaats.nl, received May 6, 2009

Cost: 6,76 euro

Tracks: 'Dors mon amour' / 'Le coeur en plâtre'

Juliana - Kinderen van Nederland

A guest single today, from my friend Puck. Although, when you listen to this you would start to wonder why I have such strange friends. 'Juliana' was an ode to the queen of the Netherlands in 1979, on the occasion of her 70th birthday. I wonder at the lack of taste of people in this country every day, but I'm still amazed that this actually peaked at number 10 in the Dutch Top 40 during its five week run.

The lyric of this song is full of interesting statements. Apparently, queen Juliana singlehandedly took care of prosperity in Holland's post-war years, and 'wakes day and night'. The children hope she will continue to take care of her people for many years to come. Well, the queen listened to this and decided to abdicate in January 1980.

Tracks: 'Juliana' / 'Wilhelmus van Nassauwe'

Food for thought - UB40

'Food for thought' was originally the debut single of UB40 in 1980. It was an attempt to publicize and condemn the Ethiopian famine in Africa, comparing it with the Western over-indulgent celebration of Christmas, a full five years before Band Aid brought the subject to widespread attention.

This live version was released in early 1983 and taken from the album 'UB40 live'. It was a big hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 4. It was their first top 5 hit in the Netherlands. A few months later, their next single 'Red red wine' would become a charttopper.

My collection: 7" single no. 3690

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, May 5, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Food for thought (live)' / 'The piper calls the tune (live)'

Popcorn - M and H band

The M&H Band's version of 'Popcorn' was not just released as a 7" single (see it here), but also as a 12" single. This disc adds an extended remix which lasts for over six minutes. It may be one of the first extended remixes of a cover version of 'Popcorn' ever - later cover versions would be remixed as a matter of course.

My collection: 12" single no. 496

Found: Mail order, 2000

Cost: 8 guilders

Tracks: 'Popcorn (Remix version)' / 'Popcorn (Radio version)', 'Ordinopaso'

My bag - Lloyd Cole and the Commotions

'My bag' was the first single taken from the 1987 album by Lloyd Cole & the Commotions, 'Mainstream'. Though not a very accessible song, it reached number 46 in the UK singles chart. 'Mainstream' was the last album by Lloyd Cole & the Commotions, produced by the group and Ian Stanley, keyboard-player of Tears for Fears.

My collection: 7" single no. 3700

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, May 5, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'My bag' / 'Jesus said'

Club Tropicana - Wham!

Wham! had made a name for themselves with socially conscious singles like 'Wham rap' and 'Young guns'. When they released 'Club Tropicana' it seemed like a deliberate move away from that. But in reality, the song was a satire of the boom for cheap package holidays for young, single people.

The B-side is what interests me the most on this single. It's the track 'Blue (Armed with love)', which is a bit of a rarity in Wham!'s catalogue. I've known this track for a long time, but I didn't know it was the B-side of 'Club Tropicana'. I'm glad to finally have it on 7" vinyl.

My collection: 7" single no. 3702

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, May 5, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Club Tropicana' / 'Blue (Armed with love)'

Talk it over - Frizzle Sizzle

After representing the Netherlands during the 1986 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Alles heeft ritme', Frizzle Sizzle continued their pop career with songs in English. Their first attempt 'Never give up' was not successful, but the next single 'Talk it over', released in January 1987 was an immediate success. It peaked at number 14 in the Dutch Top 40, which made it a bigger hit than their Eurovision song.

Unfortunately it went downhill from there: the next single stalled at number 38 and further singles did not chart. In 1990, Frizzle Sizzle broke up.

My collection: 7" single no. 3698

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, May 5, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Talk it over' / 'Talk it over (instrumental)'

Après toi - Vicky Leandros

Vicky Leandros was born as Vassiliki Papathanasiou on August 23, 1949. In 1958 her parents took her to Germany where she stayed with her father permanently after her parents' divorce. She revealed her talent at a young age while taking guitar, music, dance, ballet and singing lessons. In 1967 she received an offer to sing for Luxembourg at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'L'amour est bleu'. She finished in fourth place but the song became one of the biggest worldwide hits of the year and was covered by many artists.

In 1972 she represented Luxembourg at Eurovision for the second time and won the contest with the song 'Après toi'. It became a number one hit in the Netherlands. Translated into English as 'Come what may' it was also a big hit in the UK reaching number 2 on the charts. Leandros recorded the song in seven languages.

My collection: 7" single no. 3401

Found: Geest, Den Haag, 2001

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Après toi' / 'La poupée, le prince et la maison'

Little bird / Love song for a vampire - Annie Lennox

While the fourth single from Annie Lennox's album 'Diva' (1992), 'Cold' was not released on 7" vinyl, it was a surprise that the fifth single was. It was a double A-side single, featuring 'Little bird' in a remixed version from the album, plus a new track: 'Love song for a vampire', recorded for the soundtrack of the movie 'Bram Stoker's Dracula'.

The single reached number 3 in the UK singles chart, but did not chart in other territories.

My collection: 7" single no. 2548

Found: Record Exchange, London, November 1, 1995

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Little bird' / 'Love song for a vampire'

All of my heart - ABC

Released as the fourth single from their debut album 'The lexicon of love', ABC hit number 5 in the UK and number 19 in the Netherlands with 'All of my heart', a beautiful ballad with orchestral backing. It was one of the standout tracks from the album.

The orchestral theme was visible on the whole of the release: the four members of the band posed as classical musicians on the sleeve and the B-side was 'Overture', essentially a medley of tracks from 'The lexicon of love' played by a full orchestra.

My collection: 7" single no. 1188

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 3, 1990

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'All of my heart' / 'Overture'

My foolish friend - Talk Talk

Released in 1983, 'My foolish friend' was the first Talk Talk single of that year, in between singles taken from their debut album 'The party's over' (1982) and 'It's my life' (1984). 'My foolish friend' did not appear on any of their albums, but the B-side 'Call in the night boys' would appear on 'It's my life'.

The single was not very successful, stalling at number 57 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2167

Found: Record Exchange, London, September 26, 1994

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'My foolish friend' / 'Call in the night boys'