Live like kings - Clouseau

The Belgian band Clouseau released two albums in English. Whereas their first, 'Close encounters' (1991), mainly consisted of translations of their songs in Dutch, the second one, 'In every small town' (1993) featured only original material, and was recorded in Los Angeles.

'Live like kings' was the first single lifted from the album. I bought the cd-single immediately after the release, because I thought it was a very pretty rock song. A year later, I found a 7" single - these things hardly ever turned up in record shops anymore. The single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2069
Found: Record fair, February 19, 1994
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Live like kings' / 'Every single time'

And the band played on (Down among the dead men) - Flash and the Pan

'And the band played on (Down among the dead men)' was the follow-up to Flash and the Pan's debut single 'Hey St. Peter' and it sounds very similar to that track. In fact, I still have trouble distinguishing the two when I play them sometimes. Both tracks were taken from Flash and the Pan's self-titled debut album, released in 1979.

The lyric of the song was about the sinking of the Titanic. The single reached number 4 in Australia and number 54 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1387
Found: February 22, 1991
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'And the band played on (Down among the dead men)' / 'The man who knew the answer'

Crazy little thing called love - Queen

Freddie Mercury composed 'Crazy little thing called love' on the guitar in just five to ten minutes. Other accounts say that he wrote it while lounging in a bubble bath in the Bayerischer Hof Hotel in Munich during one of Queen's extensive Munich recording sessions. He took it to the studio shortly after writing it and presented it to bandmates Roger Taylor and John Deacon. The three of them, with their new producer Mack, recorded it at Musicland Studios in Munich. The entire song was reportedly recorded in less than half an hour (although Mack says it was six hours).

The single was released in October 1979 and reached number 1 in Australia, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the USA. In the UK singles chart, the single reached number 2.

My collection: 7" single no. 1579
Found: Record fair, January 25, 1992
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Crazy little thing called love' / 'We will rock you (live)'

De do do do de da da da - The Police

According to Sting, The Police's 'De do do do de da da da' is about the attraction people have towards simple songs: 'I was trying to make an intellectual point about how the simple can be so powerful. Why are our favourite songs 'Da doo ron ron' and 'Do wah diddy diddy'? In the song, I tried to address that issue. But everyone said, 'This is bullshit, child's play.' No one listened to the lyrics. Listen to the lyrics. I'm going to remake it again and put more emphasis on what I was talking about.'

The song was actually re-recorded in 1986, when the Police also made a re-recording of 'Don't stand so close to me'. It was dropped from the album 'Every breath you take: the singles', but finally saw a release in 1995 on a re-release of this album.

My collection: 7" single no. 3091
Found: Record Exchange, London, May 12, 1999
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'De do do do de da da da' / 'A sermon'

Judy et Cie - Pierre Rapsat

Pierre Rapsat was born as Pierre Raepsaet on May 28, 1948 in Brussels, Belgium. In 1973, he launched his career in music and became a very successful singer/songwriter in Belgium and other French-speaking countries.

In 1976, Rapsat composed 'Judy et Cie' ('Judy and Co.)'. It was chosen as Belgium's entry for the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest. It was an unusual and atypical song for Eurovision at that time. It finished eighth in a field fo 18 competitors. The single reached number 31 in the Dutch Top 40. Rapsat died on April 20, 2002 in Verviers, Belgium.

My collection: 7" single no. 4428
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, January 22, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Judy et Cie' / 'Djumbo l'Averick'

Out in the fields - Gary Moore and Phil Lynott

Gary Moore and Phil Lynott were childhood friends before they both became band members with Thin Lizzy. After the band broke up, they both pursued solo careers, but in 1985, they recorded 'Out in the fields' together, a song about the religious turmoil in their native Ireland.

The song is reminiscent of the sound of their band and draws many influences from both artists' wide musical palettes. It performed well critically as well as commercially, reaching number 3 in the Irish Singles Chart and number 5 in the UK Singles Chart. It was also to be the last known recording made by Phil Lynott before his untimely death on 4 January 1986.

My collection: 7" single no. 3076
Found: London, May 10, 1999
Cost: 40p
Tracks: 'Out in the fields' / 'Military man'

Goodnight Saigon - Billy Joel

'Goodnight Saigon' is perhaps Billy Joel's best known song, and if nothing else his most epic track. Starting out with chopper sounds and ending with the sound of crickets, a lot is happening in the track that lasts for almost seven minutes.

The lyric of the song depicts the situation and attitude of United States Marines beginning with their military training on Parris Island and in different aspects of Vietnam combat. The track appearing on Joel's 1982 album 'The nylon curtain' and was released as a single in spring 1982. It reached number 1 in the Dutch Top 40, number 29 in the UK singles chart and number 56 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 423
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 29, 1986
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Goodnight Saigon' / 'Where's the orchestra?'

Verjaardagsfeest - Frank Boeijen Groep

Frank Boeijen formed the Frank Boeijen Groep in 1979 with Henk Wanders, Nels Busch and Wil Theunissen. Their debut single 'Transport uit Bangkok' ('Transport from Bangkok') was released in January 1981. The Dutch DJ Frits Spits played an important role in launching the band in the Netherlands: he preferred the B-side 'Verjaardagsfeest' ('Birthday party') and started playing it daily during his radio show.

Although 'Verjaardagsfeest' did not reach the Dutch Top 40, it gave the band some exposure, and somehow it has become one of those songs that most people in the Netherlands remember if they have any pop knowledge at all.

My collection: 7" single no. 668
Found: Den Haag, 1989
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Verjaardagsfeest' / 'Transport uit Bangkok'

I'm so sorry - José

'I'm so sorry' is the debut solo single from José Hoebee, one third of the girl trio Luv', that broke up earlier in 1981. Released in December 1981, this single was an unsuccessful start of a solo career that would be more successful the next year with the hit singles 'I will follow him' and 'Secret love'.

This copy of 'I'm so sorry' was made in Germany and features a different sleeve when compared to the Dutch release.

My collection: 7" single no. 144
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'I'm so sorry' / 'A reason for fallin' in love'

Popmuzik - M

I have the double groove 12" single of 'Popmuzik', but of course I have the 7" single as well. Although it has to be said, for a long time I only had the 12" single, because I didn't think I would ever play that 7" single very often. It had been a big hit in 1979, peaking at number 3 in the Dutch Top 40, and for a long time I was very sick of this song.

Robin Scott commented about this song: 'I was looking to make a fusion of various styles which somehow would summarize the last 25 years of pop music. It was a deliberate point I was trying to make. Whereas rock and roll had created a generation gap, disco was bringing people together on an enormous scale. That's why I really wanted to make a simple, bland statement, which was, 'All we're talking about basically (is) pop music'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2852
Found: June 21, 1997
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Popmuzik' / 'M Factor'

Slow hand - Pointer Sisters

'Slow hand' is a pop ballad by the Pointer Sisters, released in the spring of 1981. It was also released on their album 'Black & White', released a few months later in 1981.

The single reached number 10 in the UK singles chart - their first top 10 hit in the UK - and number 15 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3073
Found: London, May 10, 1999
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Slow hand' / 'Holdin' out for love'

Fading like a flower (Every time you leave) - Roxette

'Fading like a flower (Every time you leave)' was written in 1989 in Canada by Per Gessle and recorded by Roxette on their 1991 album 'Joyride'. It was released as the second single from the album, and promoted with a music video that was filmed in Gamla Stan, Stockholm, Sweden.

The single reached number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 8 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 12 in the UK singles chart. My copy of the single was made in Italy and used for promotion, hence the punched holes in the lower left corner.

My collection: 7" single no. 1879
Found: Record fair, March 27, 1993
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Fading like a flower (Every time you leave)' / 'I remember you'

Early in the morning - Robert Palmer

A track from Robert Palmer's 1988 album 'Heavy nova', 'Early in the morning' was only released as a single in America, Canada and Australia as far as I know. I knew the album and so when I spotted this single as an import, I bought it immediately.

The single reached number 26 in Canada, number 19 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 81 in Australia.

My collection: 7" single no. 733
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, February 7, 1989
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Early in the morning' / 'Disturbing behaviour'

Dream of me (Based on Love's Theme) - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

'Love's Theme' is an instrumental piece recorded by Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra and released in 1973. The recording, with a large string orchestra and wah-wah guitar, is considered to be an influence to the disco sound, which would explode in popularity the following year.

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark used the tune to create the track 'Dream of me', released as the second single from their 1993 album 'Liberator'. Promoted with a colourful and digitally enhanced music video, it reached number 24 in the UK singles chart and number 17 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2006
Found: HMV, London, October 18, 1993
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Dream of me (Based on Love's Theme)' / 'Strange sensations'

Babooshka - Kate Bush

Kate Bush released 'Babooshka' in June 1980 as a single from her third album 'Never for ever'. The lyric of the song describes a wife's desire to test her husband's loyalty. She takes on the nom de plume of Babooshka and sends notes to her husband in the guise of a younger woman. The trap is set when, in her bitterness and paranoia, she arranges to meet her husband, who is attracted to the character that reminds him of his wife in earlier times.

When Bush wrote the song, she didn't know that 'Babooshka' actually means 'grandmother' in Russian. The single reached number 15 in the Dutch Top 40, number 5 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in Australia.

My collection: 7" single no. 63
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1980
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Babooshka' / 'Ran tan waltz'

Life in one day - Howard Jones

'Life in one day' was released as the third single from Howard Jones' 1985 album 'Dream into action'. The lyric warned against wishing one's life away. The single reached number 14 in the UK Singles chart, and number 19 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the Dutch Top 40, it reached number 27.

I have two different versions of this single: one with a poster sleeve, and one special double single, which features a second disc with two live tracks, recorded at the Manchester Apollo on March 15, 1985.

My collection: 7" single no. 354
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Life in one day' / 'Boom bap respite' // 'Always asking questions (live)' / 'New song (live)'

Last dance - Donna Summer

Paul Jabara wrote 'Last dance' in the mid-Seventies. It was recorded by Donna Summer for the soundtrack of the movie 'Thank God it's Friday', in which she also had a small part, singing the song. It was one of the first disco songs to also feature slow tempo parts. It starts off slow and the full-length version found on the film soundtrack also has a slow part in the middle.

The song has sold over 5 million copies in the U.S. alone, peaking at number 5 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the Dutch Top 40, 'Last dance' reached number 8, while it stalled at number 51 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3116
Found: Record fair, 1999
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Last dance' / 'With your love'

Io senza te - Peter, Sue and Marc

Peter, Sue & Marc were a Swiss music group from Berne. The members were Peter Reber (born 1949), Sue Schell (born 1950) and Marc Dietrich (born 1948). They represented Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest four times and in four different languages.

Their last performance in Eurovision took place in 1981 with the Italian song 'Io senza te'. The song was written by Peter Reber and Nella Martinetti. It finished fourth in a field of 20 competitors, their best result.

My collection: 7" single no. 4402
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Io senza te' / 'Me without you'

Regrets - Mylene Farmer and Jean-Louis Murat

Already in 1989, Mylene Farmer said that she liked Jean-Louis Murat's songwriting. They corresponded for two years until they finally recorded the duet 'Regrets' in 1991. It is a love song in which two lovers are answering tenderly and with melancholy, while they are separated by the death of one of them. Only memories allows the one that is left behind to savour the well-being of the past relationship.

The song was released as the third single from Farmer's third album 'Ainsi soit je...', reaching number 3 in France and number 2 in the French-speaking part of Belgium.

My collection: 7" single no. 2221
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 17, 1994
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Regrets' / 'Regrets (Classic bonus beats)'

Lessons in love - Level 42

'Lessons in love' was released in April 1986 as the first single from Level 42's seventh studio album 'Running in the family'. It was the first of five singles from that album, and paved the way for international success for the band.

For the first time they reached the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it peaked at number 12 in 1987. In the UK, the single reached number 3, while in the Dutch Top 40 it got to number 2. Level 42 scored their first hit with this in Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Indonesia and other countries.

My collection: 7" single no. 1333
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1990
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Lessons in love' / 'Hot water (live)'