I missed again - Phil Collins

Everybody remembers Phil Collins' debut single 'In the air tonight' of course, but can you also name the single that followed it up? Released just two months after that classic single, 'I missed again' was the second single taken from Collins' debut album 'Face value'. The song, like many on that album, is about Collins' anger and frustration about his first wife leaving him.

The single reached number 14 in the UK singles chart. In the USA, where 'I missed again' was actually released as Phil Collins' debut single, it peaked at number 19 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4701
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I missed again' / 'I'm not moving'

Chances - Hot Chocolate

Released in September 1982,'Chances' was a single taken from Hot Chocolate's album 'Mystery'. As usual, the tracks on this single were produced by Mickie Most and written by frontman Errol Brown.

The single reached number 32 in the UK singles chart, but failed to chart in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 4652
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Chances' / 'A night to remember'

The height of the fighting - Heaven 17

In 1982, 'The height of the fighting' was released as the fourth and final single from Heaven 17's debut album 'Penthouse and pavement', and their only single of that year. The song that featured a repetitive chorus and not much in the way of a verse, turned out to be a commercial disaster: it failed to reach the UK singles chart.

I first found out about this track in 1985 as part of a Heaven 17 megamix that was released that year. I never actively searched for this single, but since I was on the take, I figured I might as well buy this one too.

My collection: 7" single no. 4650
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'The height of the fighting' / 'Honeymoon in New York'

My girl - Madness

'My girl' first made its way into the Madness's set when they were performing as The Invaders. The first performance of the song came in July 1978, when it was still titled 'New song'. Mike Barson, who wrote the song about his girlfriend at the time, originally performed lead vocals and even sang on the demo for the song. However, Suggs took over the vocal duties before long, and sang the album version of the song.

The single reached number 3 in the UK singles chart in 1980. Last year, the Pet Shop Boys released a cover version of the song on their latest EP 'Christmas'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4724
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'My girl' / 'Stepping into line'

Old friends - Everything but the girl

In October 1991, Everything but the girl released their sixth album 'Worldwide'. 'Old friends' was released as a single from that album, featuring a live recording of the 1988 track 'Apron strings', recorded live in Minneapolis/St. Paul in June 1990.

'Old friends' was one of many Everything but the girl singles that didn't reach the charts - not even in their native UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 4723
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Old friends' / 'Apron strings (live)'

To cut a long story short - Spandau Ballet

Spandau Ballet debuted in 1980 with the single 'To cut a long story short'. According to the blurb on the back of the sleeve of the Spanish pressing: ''To cut a long story short' es un tema de fuerte ritmo en el que destaca especialmente la voz de su solista y el trabajo de la guitarra y la percusión. Pero es realmente toto el equipo de Spandau Ballet el que consigue que su nombre se haya catapultado hacia el estrellato en solamente unas cuantas semanas.' Which probably means the song is quite good.

I bought both the UK and Spanish pressings in one go, mainly because the Spanish version had such an interesting sleeve. Since I bought quite a few singles, I got a discount, which basically means I got it for free.

'To cut a long story short' reached number 5 in the UK singles chart and number 15 in Australia. The song reportedly inspired Vince Clarke while writing Depeche Mode's 'Just can't get enough'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4720 / no. 4721
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'To cut a long story short' / 'To cut a long story short (version)'

Ik lig op m'n kussen stil te dromen '89 - Hepie en Hepie

The 1960 Harry Locklin song 'Send me the pillow that you dream on' has been covered by many artists, Such as Johnny Tillotson and Marty Wilde. A Dutch version was recorded by the sisters Hepie & Hepie in the Netherlands. In 1980, their 'Ik lig op m'n kussen stil te dromen' reached number 13 in the Dutch Top 40.

In 1989, some people decided to have a bit of fun and remix this song according to contemporary rules. A James Brown sample here, a rhythm track that was popular at the time, and voila: the '89 version of 'Ik lig op m'n kussen stil te dromen' was there. It reached number 9 in the Dutch Top 40 in the summer of 1989.

My collection: 7" single no. 986
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, September 30, 1989
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Ik lig op m'n kussen stil te dromen ('89 versie)' / 'Turn up the pillow'

Ever since you said goodbye - Marty Wilde

Released in October 1962, 'Ever since you said goodbye' would turn out to be Marty Wilde's last chart hit in the UK. It reached number 31 during a 7 week chart run.

The B-side of this single features a cover version of the 1960 Harry Locklin song 'Send me the pillow that you dream on'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4718
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Ever since you said goodbye' / 'Send me the pillow you dream on'

Jerusalem - Alphaville

In 1992, Alphaville member Ricky Echollette commented about 'Jerusalem': 'One day we were given the sketch for a theatre play, for which we were supposed to write the soundtrack. It's the story of a man, who at night convinces lonely passers-by on Brooklyn Bridge to commit suicide. He offers them as human sacrifices for his lover, who, years ago - because of him - committed suicide at the same location. In his frenzy he turns her into Eris, the Goddess of Revenge. Due to time problems, we were unable to pursue this project. But it was in that time, that 'Jerusalem' came to life.'

The song was included on Alphaville's second album 'Afternoons in Utopia', which was released in 1986. 'Jerusalem' was released as a single in Germany only, reaching number 57 in the charts.

My collection: 7" single no. 4715
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Jerusalem' / 'Vingt mille lieues sous les mers'

Als er iemand is, die op je wacht - Annie

Those who read my previous entry on Annie's 'Mishandeld, vernederd, verkracht' already know that one could expect only the very worst in the lyrics of this Dutch artist. Which is why at some point I actually started collecting her singles. Several titles will follow on this blog, but this single is a strange one, as it seems particularly innocent.

The A-side, 'Als er iemand is, die op je wacht' ('If there's someone waiting for you') describes the joy of having a relationship - and sharing all the good and bad things in life. The B-side, 'Oma is jarig' ('Grandma's birthday') describes a birthday party of a woman whose children and grandchildren will come to visit. Especially on the B-side, there's still an air of impending doom. You half expect Grandma to die at the end of the song - but strangely, it doesn't happen. Maybe it was an effort to make something more commercially appealing. Of course, it didn't work: like all of Annie's other singles, this one didn't chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2871
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 16, 1995
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Als er iemand is, die op je wacht' / 'Oma is jarig'

If you can't give me love - Suzi Quatro

After having had several successes in the early Seventies with her particular brand of glam rock tracks, Suzi Quatro had a hard time finding any success after 1974. She still released records, but they all failed to chart. In the mean time, she worked as a session musician.

'If you can't give me love' was the single that changed her fortunes. It reached number 4 both in the UK singles chart and in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4711
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'If you can't give me love' / 'Cream dream'

All this time - Sting

Sting commented about 'All this time': 'It's about the death of my father, so its pretty dark as a record but on this song the words are foiled by this fairly jolly tune. That's something I like to do quite a lot, combine dark subject matter with upbeat music. No, its not based on a dream. The lyrics seem surreal, but they are all images I remembered from my home town: ferries, priests, shire horses. I grew up by the shipyards. I just wanted to escape. I suppose it was quite a surreal place, though. It is the landscape of my dreams.'

The song was released as the first single from Sting's 1991 album 'The soul cages'. It was most successful in Canada, where it reached number 1. In the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, 'All this time' peaked at number 5, whereas it reached number 13 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 22 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4707
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'All this time' / 'I miss you Kate (instrumental)'

Tied up - Olivia Newton-John

'Tied up' was one of two new songs recorded for the 1982 compilation album called 'Olivia's Greatest Hits Volume 2'. The song was the second single released from the album, following 'Heart attack', the other new track recorded for the package.

The song features Tom Scott on horns. He was also the opening act for Olivia's 1982 'Physical' world tour.The single reached number 38 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4697
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Tied up' / 'Physical (live)'

Don't be foolish - Peter Marsh and Vangelis

Peter Marsh started out in the British music scene together with his brother-in-law, Ken Nicol. First as Nicol and Marsh, but later changing names to Easy Street, they released three albums together. After that Peter mainly played with short-lived bands and projects such as Twist (1979) and Mannfred Mann's band Chance (1980).

In 1980 Peter Marsh hung around Nemo Studios for a while, contributing several songs on Vangelis' album 'See you later'. They also recorded this single together: 'Don't be foolish'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4685
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Don't be foolish' / 'Doesn't matter'

I wanna dance - Take it easy

The Dutch band Take it easy thought it was a good idea to record and release two Dutch translations of Eurovision songs in 1987. Why they picked two songs that didn't win, but the numbers 4 and 12 is beyond me.

'I wanna dance' (also known as 'Ja sam za ples') was the Yugoslavian entry by Novi Fosili, which finished fourth in the contest. 'Boogaloo' was originally performed in Swedish by Lotta Engberg, finishing twelfth. The Dutch translations are amusing versions, but nothing very spectacular. Obviously, the single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4397
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I wanna dance' / 'Boogaloo'

Chemistry - The Nolans

The Nolans released the album 'Portrait' in 1982. The album, like its predecessor, was produced by Ben Findon and Nicky Graham separately. Both producers were now giving the songs a heavy disco sound such as 'Don't let it go by' (by Findon) and 'Chemistry' (by Graham).

'Chemistry' was released as a single, which peaked at number 15 in the UK singles chart. Meanwhile, 'Portrait' finished as one of the top 100 selling albums of 1982 in the UK and was certified gold by the BPI.

My collection: 7" single no. 4642
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Chemistry' / 'Are you thinking of me'

A little tenderness - Sheena Easton

'A little tenderness' was released in 1981 as the third single from Sheena Easton's second album 'You could have been with me'. By that time, several singles had been released with almost the same sleeve: compare the one picture here with the ones of 'You could have been with me' and 'Ice out in the rain' and you'll be amazed.

This single did not reach the Dutch Top 40 or the UK singles chart. No further singles were released from the album.

My collection: 7" single no. 4688
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'A little tenderness' / 'Family of one'

Mississippi - Pussycat

With the song 'Mississippi', the band Pussycat reached the Dutch Top 40 for the very first time. And it was a big success, as it peaked at number 1 for four weeks in the Dutch chart in December 1975. The single also spent four weeks at the top of the UK singles chart a year later.

Written by Werner Theunissen and produced by Eddy Hilberts, the lyric of the song is about the history of music, how rock music became more popular than country music.

My collection: 7" single no. 4734
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, March 20, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Mississippi' / 'Do it'

The William Tell Overture - Mike Oldfield

The 'William Tell Overture' is the instrumental introduction to the opera 'William Tell' by Gioachino Rossini. There has been repeated use (and sometimes parody) of this overture in popular media and it is quoted by Dmitri Shostakovich in his Symphony No. 15. William Tell was composed in 1829 and was the last of Rossini's 39 operas.

Mike Oldfield recorded a guitar-based version of the William Tell Overture in 1976. When released as a single, it failed to chart in all territories. It remains one of his lesser known singles.

My collection: 7" single no. 4733
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, March 20, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'William Tell Overture' / 'First excursion'

Sugar - Ruud Bos

The Dutch broadcaster TROS showed the weekly television drama 'De Fabriek' ('The factory') in 1981 and 1982. The sugar factory of the Dutch company CSM was one of the locations where the series was filmed. It became a television hit, with several million viewers every week.

One of the assets of the series was the theme tune, composed by Ruud Bos. Entitled 'Sugar' on this single, it is familiar even to some people who never even saw the series. Still, the single was never a hit in the Netherlands. I still consider this single a rare find.

My collection: 7" single no. 4732
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, March 20, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Sugar' / 'Action'