Late in the evening - Paul Simon

'Late in the evening' was the lead single from Paul Simon's fifth studio album One Trick Pony, released in 1980. The song was praised for Simon's lyrics, the horn interlude, and the distinctive drum part, a New York City-style Cuban Mozambique drum groove by Steve Gadd. Gadd performed the part using two pairs of drumsticks – one in each hand – in order to give the impression of two drummers playing together.  

The single reached number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100. In the UK singles chart it only reached number 58, but in the Dutch Top 40 it got to number 9. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8445
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 September 2026
Tracks: 'Late in the evening' / 'One trick pony' 

Dancing the night away - The Motors

'Dancing the night away' was the debut single by English garage rock pub rock band the Motors, which was released in 1977 as the lead single from their debut studio album 1. On the album the song was a full six and a half minutes; for the single it was edited down to just three. The song was written by band members Andy McMaster and Nick Garvey, and produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange. 

The single peaked at number 42 on the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 50 for four weeks. In 1983 the American rock band Cheap Trick recorded a cover version of the song for their seventh album Next position please. They also released the song as a single, but it only reached number 111 in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 8444
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 September 2026
Tracks: 'Dancing the night away' / 'Whisky and wine' 

Don't drive drunk - Stevie Wonder

Right now Stevie Wonder is planning a celebration of his seminal album Songs in the key of life with live performances, even in Europe. It's quite weird to hear this single knowing that he recorded a fair share of timeless classics, because 'Don't drive drunk' was certainly of its time, with the cheap samples and all.

The song was recorded for the soundtrack of the movie The Woman in Red, a romantic comedy written and directed by Gene Wilder with Kelly LeBrock and himself in the starring roles. The movie soundtrack also included Wonder's 'I just called to say I love you', which is regarded as an overload of cheese these days. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8443
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 September 2026
Tracks: 'Don't drive drunk' / 'Don't drive drunk (instrumental)' 

Car wash - Rose Royce

'Car Wash' is a song by the American soul and R&B band Rose Royce. Written and arranged by the ex-Motown producer Norman Whitfield, the song was the group's first single and one of the most notable successes of the 1970s disco era. The theme of the 1976 film Car Wash was Rose Royce's most successful single and the lead single from their first studio album, the Car Wash soundtrack. 

I have vague memories of when this single was released in september 1976. Despite being just six years old I already watched the pop shows on television religiously every week, and this song bored me to death. But when I heard it on the radio recently, I quite liked it. So it only took me half a century to appreciate this song.

My collection: 7" single no. 8442
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 September 2026
Tracks: 'Car wash' / 'Water'