Dressed for success - Roxette

'Dressed for success' was released on June 28, 1988 as the third single from the Swedish pop duo Roxette's 1988 album 'Look Sharp!'. Originally, 'Dressed for success' was their first Swedish single to promote that album in 1988. It was re-released after 'The look' had become a worldwide hit.

The recording of the song was marked by a dispute between the band members but this apparently contributed to the strength of Marie's performance. According to her: "I was so mad when I did it. Everything about that session went wrong, we argued about the arrangement, we changed the key, I was dead tired of the song when I went in to do a guide vocal. Did it in one blast and suddenly realized, "hmm... this is it"."

My collection: 7" single no. 5465
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'Dressed for success' / 'The voice'

Vulnerable - Roxette

The last single from Roxette's album 'Crash! Boom! Bang' was also the last of their singles to be released on the 7" vinyl format. Unfortunately, it wasn't their best single. 'Vulnerable' is a syrupy ballad with lyrics that are not very imaginative. The inspired lead vocals by Marie Fredriksson are also missing, as she is relegated to backing vocals, making way for Per Gessle's less interesting lead vocals.

As a result, 'Vulnerable' was the first Roxette single to miss the UK top 40 since 1989's 'Listen to your heart', peaking at number 44 in April 1995.

My collection: 7" single no. 2259
Found: April 8, 1995
Cost: 8 guilders
Tracks: 'Vulnerable (edit)' / 'The sweet hello, the sad goodbye'

Run to you - Roxette

'Run to you' was released as the fourth single from Roxette's 1994 album 'Crash! Boom! Bang!'. The single reached number 27 in the UK singles chart and also reached the charts in Switzerland and Australia.

The melody at the opening of the song is sampled in Tommy Henriksen's hit song, 'I see the sun'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2226
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 17, 1994
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Run to you' / 'Love is all (Shine your light on me)'

Fireworks - Roxette

'Fireworks' was released as the third single from Roxette's 1994 album 'Crash! Boom! Bang!'. The song was written by Per Gessle and used all the now familiar trademark Roxette sounds.

The single achieved moderate success in various European countries, and made number 30 in the UK Singles Chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2162
Found: HMV, London, September 26, 1994
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Fireworks' / 'Dangerous (from MTV Unplugged)'

Crash! Boom! Bang! - Roxette

The ballad 'Crash! Boom! Bang!' was the title track of Roxette's 1994 album. It was released as the second single from that album in the summer of 1994.

The single peaked at number 26 on the UK Singles Chart and number 23 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2120
Found: Record fair, July 2, 1994
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Crash! Boom! Bang!' / 'Joyride (Unplugged)'

Sleeping in my car - Roxette

'Sleeping in my car' was written by Per Gessle and recording by Roxette on their 1994 album 'Crash! Boom! Bang!'. It was also released as the first single from that album. It reached number 1 in Sweden, number 14 on the UK singles chart and number 50 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the Dutch Top 40, the single reached number 15.

When Roxette did a concert in Beijing, China in 1995, they were asked to change the suggestive lyrics of the song. 'We agreed, but didn't change them in the end', says Per Gessle.

My collection: 7" single no. 2098
Found: Record fair, April 6, 1994
Cost: 8 guilders
Tracks: 'Sleeping in my car' / 'The look (MTV Unplugged live version)'

Almost unreal - Roxette

Per Gessle wrote 'Almost unreal' for the soundtrack of the Bette Midler movie 'Hocus pocus' (1993), but it was not used. Instead, the song appeared in another movie soundtrack, from 'Super Mario Brothers'.

The track was also released as a single, peaking at number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 27 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1998
Found: HMV, London, October 18, 1993
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Almost unreal' / 'The heart shaped sea'

Fingertips '93 - Roxette

Roxette recorded the song 'Fingertips' on their 1992 album 'Tourism'. When the track was chosen to be the third single from the album, it was re-recorded with a new arrangement.

The single was not released in all territories, but it did reach the top 50 singles chart in Sweden and Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 1868
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, February 13, 1993
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Fingertips '93' / 'Dressed for success (live)'

Queen of rain - Roxette

'Queen of rain' was originally written and recorded for Roxette's highly successful album 'Joyride' and considered as the closing track. When it was replaced by another ballad called 'Perfect day', the song reappeared on Roxette's next album, 'Tourism'.

It was released as the second single from that album in the autumn of 1992. It reached number 12 in Sweden, number 19 in Germany, number 28 in the UK singles chart and number 26 in the Dutch Top 40. The B-side was recorded live at the Entertainment Centre in Sydney, Australia in December 1991.

My collection: 7" single no. 1781
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, October 31, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Queen of rain' / 'It must have been love (live)'

How do you do! - Roxette

With a hit album ('Joyride') under their belt, Roxette toured extensively in 1991 and 1992. During that tour, they decided to record songs on the road, in hotel rooms, studios and throwing in some live recordings as well. The album 'Tourism' (1992) was born, and the first single from that album was 'How do you do!', a typically upbeat Roxette track.

The single reached number 58 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 2 in Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands and number 13 in the UK singles chart. The B-side is a live version of 'Fading like a flower' which was not included on the album.

My collection: 7" single no. 1686
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, July 11, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'How do you do!' / 'Fading like a flower (live)'

Church of your heart - Roxette

'Church of your heart' was the last single release from Roxette's 1991 album 'Joyride' in February 1992. It was the last top 40 hit for Roxette in the USA, peaking at number 36. In the UK, the single reached number 21.

More important to me than the 7" single at the time was the double cd-single release from the UK. I spent ages trying to find it, until I finally did during a record fair in the summer of 1992. This single was much easier to get: I bought it as soon as it came out.

My collection: 7" single no. 1648
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, April 1992
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Church of your heart' / 'I call your name'

Spending my time - Roxette

Although for some this song may be a bit too melodramatic, this was my favourite single of the year 1991. 'Spending my time' was one of the best tracks on Roxette's 1991 album 'Joyride', and when it was released as a single, it was coupled with a very strong non-album track, 'The sweet hello the sad goodbye'. The cd-single also added a great extended remix of the track.

The single reached number 29 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 22 in the UK singles chart. In 1996, a Spanish version, 'Un dia sin ti' was recorded on the album 'Baladas en Español'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1548
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, November 2, 1991
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Spending my time' / 'The sweet hello, the sad goodbye'

The big L. - Roxette

Britney Spears used the imagery and themes from the circus to revive her ailing career recently. The Swedish band Roxette did a similar thing for their single 'The big L.', although their career was thriving and would continue to do so. It would give them a colourful music video and a rather glam single sleeve nonetheless.

'The big L.' was the third single from their 1991 album 'Joyride'. It was a top 10 hit in Japan, while reaching number 14 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 21 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1513
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, August 29, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'The big L.' / 'One is such a lonely number (demo, September '87)

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'

Joyride - Roxette

'Hello, you fool, I love you'. It was the message Per Gessle's girlfriend left on his piano - and a chorus was born. 'Joyride' was the first single release from Roxette's 1991 album 'Joyride'. The single topped the charts across Europe (including the Netherlands), Australia, Canada and the United States. In the UK, 'Joyride' peaked at number 4.

The B-side, 'Come back (before you leave)', reappeared on Roxette's next album, 'Tourism'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1437
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, April 26, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Joyride' / 'Come back (before you leave)'

Listen to your heart / Dangerous - Roxette

After the success of 'It must have been love', which reached number 3 in the UK singles chart, EMI UK decided to re-release 'Listen to you heart' as a double A-side with 'Dangerous'. Both tracks were hit singles in Europe, but they hadn't been as successful in the UK.

The strategy proved successful: this double A-side single rose to number 6 in the UK singles chart in the summer of 1988.

My collection: 7" single no. 2177
Found: London, September 27, 1994
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Listen to your heart (Swedish single version)' / 'Dangerous (album version)'

Dressed for success - Roxette

When Roxette recorded 'Dressed for success', there were some problems. Marie Fredriksson later commented: 'I was so mad when I did it. Everything about that session went wrong, we argued about the arrangement, we changed the key, I was dead tired of the song when I went in to do a guide vocal. Did it in one blast and suddenly realized, "hmm... this is it".'

When the track was released as a single in October 1989, it reached number 14 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the UK, the single was re-released in November 1990 after the success of 'It must have been love'. On that occasion, it reached number 18.

My collection: 7" single no. 2618
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, February 10, 1996
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Dressed for success' / 'The voice'

It must have been love - Roxette

'It must have been love' was written by Per Gessle and performed by Roxette. It became their third number 1 hit in the USA in 1990, peaking at number 3 in the Dutch Top 40 and the UK singles chart. The song started its life in 1987 as 'Christmas for the broken hearted', a top 10 hit in Sweden but unreleased in other territories.

In 1990, the song was included in the movie soundtrack for 'Pretty woman'. Gessle has claimed that the two-year-old recording was chosen because Roxette did not have time to compose and record a new song while touring. 'Christmas for the broken hearted' was re-recorded with Marie Fredriksson replacing a single Christmas-referenced line in the song and adding some instrumentation and background vocal overlays to enhance the sound. The producers initially turned down 'It must have been love' but changed their minds after re-editing the film.

My collection: 7" single no. 1247
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, June 16, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'It must have been love' / 'Paint'

Dangerous - Roxette

'Dangerous', written by Per Gessle, is the fourth single released from Roxette's album 'Look Sharp!'. Gessle penned it just before Roxette's first tour in 1987.

Released at the end of 1989, it was the group's third top 10 showing on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 2 in February 1990. In the Dutch Top 40, the single reached number 17.

My collection: 7" single no. 1195
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, March 14, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Dangerous' / 'Surrender (live)'

Listen to your heart - Roxette

According to Per Gessle, 'Listen to your heart' was conceived as 'The Big Bad Ballad. This is us trying to recreate that overblown American FM-rock sound to the point where it almost becomes absurd. We really wanted to see how far we could take it.'

They took it very far, all the way to number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart to be exact. When released in the UK in October 1989 it only reached number 62, but a re-release took it to number 6. In the Dutch Top 40, the single reached number 3.

My collection: 7" single no. 1072
Found: HMV, London, October 19, 1989
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Listen to your heart' / '(I could never) give you up'