Over de muur - Klein orkest

'Over de muur' ('Over the wall') can be considered an Eighties classic in Dutch pop music. It was recorded by Klein orkest in 1984, at the height of the cold war. The song bemoaned the existance of the wall in Berlin and the strange differences between the two sides of the city: the stern greyness of communism on one side, exorbitant behaviour of capitalism on the other side. 'Only the bird flying from west to east Berlin are not called back and not shot down'.

The single reached number 10 in the Dutch Top 40 in the summer of 1984. When the record company released a greatest hits compilation of the band in 1989, the single was re-released. Even now the wall had come down, the single was again a hit, peaking at number 25 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1129
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, December 8, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Over de muur' / 'Achter elke deur'

Laat mij maar alleen - Klein orkest

Here's another nice track from the Netherlands for your listening pleasure. 'Laat mij maar alleen' ('Just leave me alone') by the Klein orkest ('Little orchestra') is a charming piece of pop from the summer of 1982. Stating 'Even if loneliness is hard, sometimes it's worse when you're together', it's one of those 'Can't live with you, can't live without you' statements, set to upbeat music.

The single reached number 27 in the Dutch Top 40 and was the first of only three hit singles for the group that existed for seven years, between 1978 and 1985.

My collection: 7" single no. 161
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Laat mij maar alleen' / 'Het leed versierd'