Ha Ha the sound of laughing - Mo

Mo released the title track of their second album 'Ha Ha the sound of laughing as the second single from that album. It met with muted response from audiences and critics alike. While the previous single 'Cheese' managed a low position in the Dutch Top 40, this single flopped entirely. 'Cheese' would prove to be their last chart success by the way: all the singles that followed didn't chart either.

You would almost think that Mo didn't make interesting music, but they did. Just listen to this track and the energetic B-side 'Stress' and you will hear that the band made glorious synthpop before the term had become popular.

My collection: 7" single no. 3004

Found: Geest, Den Haag, 2000

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Ha Ha the sound of laughing' / 'Stress'

Under the milky way - The Church

The Church formed in Canberra, Australia in 1980. Eight years and six albums later, the band released 'Starfish', which spawned their most successful single, 'Under the milky way'. It was written by the band's bassist Steve Kilbey and his then-girlfriend Karin Jansson. The single peaked at number 22 in Australia, and stayed in the US top 40 for several weeks.

According to a press release issued with 'Starfish', the song was written about the Amsterdam music and cultural venue called De Melkweg (Dutch for 'Milky Way'), which Kilbey used to frequent. In the Dutch radio programme '2 meter sessies' the band performed an acoustic version which equalled this studio version, despite being totally different in instrumentation.

My collection: 7" single no. 905

Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 25, 1989

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Under the milky way' / 'Musk'

Disenchanted - The Communards

'Disenchanted' is one of the forgotten singles by the Communards. Known for their high energy dance tracks like 'Never can say goodbye' and 'Don't leave me this way', 'Disenchanted was a bit too intricate for most audiences. In the Netherlands, it didn't chart and in the UK it peaked at number 30 in the singles chart.

To be honest, I'd forgotten about this track when I bought it too. But I had most of the other Communards singles, so this one shouldn't be left out. I'm glad I have it now.

My collection: 7" single no. 2683

Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, July 3, 1996

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Disenchanted' / 'Johnny Verso'

I'll always love you - Taylor Dayne

After scoring two big hits with the dance anthems 'Tell it to my heart' and 'Prove your love', Taylor Dayne tried her luck with a ballad. Titled 'I'll always love you', it showed a softer side of the American singer, something that was appreciated a lot in America (it peaked at number 3 in the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart), but not so much in Europe, where it stalled outside the top 40 in the Netherlands and only managed a lowly position at number 41 in the UK singles chart.

Personally, I thought this was one of Dayne's better tracks, and it was the first single of her which I bought.

My collection: 7" single no. 638

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1988

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'I'll always love you' / 'Where does that boy hang out'

Download: Album 'Tell it to my heart', including both tracks

Lonely symphony (We will be free) - Frances Ruffelle

Frances Ruffelle was born on August 29, 1965. She is the daughter of Sylvia Young OBE, founder of the famous theatre school where Frances trained and started to perform at the age of seven. She worked in various West End musicals in London, before entering in the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, performing 'Lonely symphony'. When asked about her motivations for joining the competition, she jokingly replied that since none of the four constituent nations of the UK (Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland) had qualified for that year's football World Cup finals, it was her responsibility to try to restore some national pride.

She finished tenth in that year's contest, and went on to record a few solo cd's. 'Lonely symphony' peaked at number 25 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2894

Found:Beanos, East Croydon, London, October 24, 1997

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Lonely symphony (We will be free)' / 'Is this a broken heart?'

Substitute - Clout

Clout formed in 1977 in South Africa. Original members were Glenda Hyam, Lee Tomlinson, Ingrid Herbst, Cindy Alter and Jenni Garson. Their first hit was 'Substitute', a cover version of a song originally recorded by the Righteous Brothers in 1975.

When Clout made number 2 with this single in the Netherlands in 1978, my knowledge of English was only rudimentary. I understood a few lines of the songs, but the conclusion I made was - in hindsight - quite funny: I thought the chorus meant 'I'll be your prostitute'. These days there are websites about misheard lyrics, but misinterpreted lyrics, now that's a whole different ballgame...

My collection: 7" single no. 3479

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, December 11, 2008

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Substitute' / 'When will you be mine'

Shut up - Madness

'Shut up' was another single drawn from Madness' 1981 album '7'. The lyric of the song tells a story of a criminal who, despite obvious evidence, tries to convince people he is not guilty. Even though the song is called 'Shut up', the two words do not appear in the lyric. However, they were the final words of an additional verse which was part of an early version of the song.

In the UK, 'Shut up' peaked at number 7 in the singles chart. The single was only a minor hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 31 in the Dutch Top 40. I remembered it vividly from the tense atmosphere and the great piano backing in the last few seconds of the track.

My collection: 7" single no. 429
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 29, 1986
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Shut up' / 'A town with no name'

You rock my world - Michael jackson

Now that Michael Jackson has announced his final concerts in London for July this year, I thought it would be appropriate to look back on the most recent single I have from him. It's a vinyl single of 'You rock my world', the first single from his last studio album 'Invincible'. And if that album proved anything, it's that the man wasn't invincible at all. The album sold worse than all the previous ones, and the record company only released two singles from the album. While the next one, 'Cry', didn't perform too well in the charts, this one made the top 10 in almost every country imaginable.

Michael Jackson and Rodney Jerkins played all the instruments in the song, which was recorded at Record One studios in Los Angeles. Recorded between July and September 2000, the track sounds a bit like a less exciting reprise of Jackson's previous hits 'The way you make me feel' and 'Remember the time'. This vinyl single features the same track on both sides, and is made in the USA.

My collection: 7" single no. 3350
Found: HMV, London, 2001
Cost: 4 pounds
Tracks: 'You rock my world' / 'You rock my world'

Only love - Susanna Hoffs

The third and last single from Susanna Hoffs' solo album 'When you're a boy' was so unsuccessful that I didn't even know it existed until I saw it two years after it was released. It didn't chart anywhere. The B-side of the single features a non-album track, 'You were on my mind', which is slightly different from the very polished material on the album.

There was no picture disc edition of this single, unlike the two previous ones. If it existed, I would have bought it.

My collection: 7" single no. 2048
Found: Record fair, November 13, 1993
Cost: 4 guilders
Tracks: 'Only love' / 'You were on my mind'

Digging in the dirt - Peter Gabriel

Peter Gabriel released his sixth studio album 'Us' in 1992, six years after his previous album 'So' . The first single was 'Digging in the dirt', an intricate song but a slightly understated affair after all the bombast of 'Sledgehammer' and 'Big time'. The song was an exploration of the issues in his personal life at the time - the end of his relationship with Rosanna Arquette, his desire to reconnect with his daughter and even the self healing he was looking for in therapy. On the B-side there was a beautiful silent version of the album's next single, 'Steam'.

'Digging in the dirt' peaked at number 24 in the UK and number 30 in the Netherlands. I bought this single on discount and found a nice boxed edition of the cd-single years later.

My collection: 7" single no. 1787
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, November 14, 1992
Cost: 4 guilders
Tracks: 'Digging in the dirt' / 'Quiet steam'

All you need is love - New Musik

Taken from New Musik's third and last album 'Warp', 'All you need is love' is a daring cover of a Beatles classic. On the album, it appeared as track six, just after track five which was also named 'All you need is love', but in that case was a new composition by New Musik.

Their version of the Beatles song was a very mechanic synthesized track, which removed a lot of the spirit and soul of the original track and replaced it with a kindof technological efficiency which would appeal, well, basically to New Musik fans alone. It's no wonder that this single failed to make any chart impact. Personally I think it's one of 'Warp's more interesting tracks, and what's more... the single includes a new track not on the album!

My collection: 7" single no. 2918

Found: Record fair, November 9, 1997

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'All you need is love' / 'Twelfth house'

Everybody's laughing - Phil Fearon and Galaxy

Phil Fearon was born in London on July 30, 1956. He was lead singer, songwriter, keyboardist and producer of the band Galaxy. Galaxy was not a 'band' in the true sense: Fearon made all the music himself and hired backing singers to supplement the sound.

Galaxy's singles were all upbeat commercial pop songs, some of which made it into the UK top 10. Outside of the UK, some of those singles also scored well. 'Everybody's laughing' peaked at number 10 in the UK and at number 21 in the Netherlands. It's one of those singles which I must have played no more than three times since I bought it.

My collection: 7" single no. 1388

Found: All that music, Leiden, February 22, 1991

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Everybody's laughing' / 'Everybody's laughing (instrumental)'

Musique non stop - Kraftwerk

In 1986, Kraftwerk released the album 'Electric cafe', an album that took the band almost half a decade to produce. Work is said to have begun on the album as early as 1982. 'Musique non stop' was one of three tracks that took up the 'A' side of the album. 'Boing Boom Tschak', 'Techno pop' and 'Musique Non Stop' were all similar in atmosphere and instrumentation. 'Musique non stop' was remixed and edited for the single version, and two different edits appear on the single.

Although the single didn't chart in any country, a version of 'Musique Non Stop' – slower and more melodic – was used extensively as a jingle on the MTV Europe channel. 'Musique Non Stop' has been the closing track of Kraftwerk's concerts since its release.

My collection: 7" single no. 2790

Found: November 9, 1996

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Musique non stop' / 'Musique non stop'

Download: here

It's my party - Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin

'It's my party' was originally recorded in 1963 by Lesley Gore. She recorded the song at the age of sixteen. It peaked at number 9 in the UK Singles chart.

After the success of 'What becomes of the broken hearted', which Dave Stewart recorded with Colin Blunstone, he recruited Barbara Gaskin to sing in his cover version of 'It's my party'. The single became a number one hit in the UK and Germany. Stewart and Gaskin continued to work together, but they never equalled this level of success.

My collection: 7" single no. 1137

Found: All that music, Leiden, December 28, 1989

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'It's my party' / 'Waiting in the wings'

Download: here

Heroes (French version) - David Bowie

David Bowie recorded 'Heroes' in 1977. It appeared on the album of the same name, and as a single. Although it wasn't a very big hit at the time for Bowie, it has become one of his better known tracks. It was also included on the soundtrack to the movie 'Christiane F. - Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo', which portrayed the drug scene in Berlin in the Seventies.

I knew that Bowie recorded a German version of the song, but I was a bit surprised when I saw a French version of the song as well. This happened today, actually, and the single was so (relatively) cheap that I decided to buy it on the spot. It's funny to hear this track: it's not the best French I've ever heard...

My collection: 7" single no. 3590

Found: Plaatboef, Den Haag, March 5, 2009

Cost: 3,5 euro

Tracks: 'Heroes (French version)' / 'V2 Schneider'

Secret garden - Bruce Springsteen

In 1995, Bruce Springsteen released a 'Greatest hits' album. I was never much of a fan of Bruce Springsteen, but this album contained one new track, 'Secret garden', which was quite intriguing. So I was happy when that song was released as a single. And just like previous single 'Streets of Philadelphia' before it, I went searching for a vinyl release of this track.

I was quite stunned when I actually found one. Some time had passed and I had bought the cd-single in the mean time, but there it was: an American 7" single. I bought it, of course.

My collection: 7" single no. 2300

Found: Record fair, May 27, 1995

Cost: 8 guilders

Tracks: 'Secret garden' / 'Thunder road (live)'

Isn't it time - The Babys

'Isn't it time' was taken from the Babys 1977 album 'Broken heart'. The lyrics are motivated by band member Ray Kennedy's love for a French woman that he knew during the writing of the song.

The song enjoyed a peak position number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was the only single of the band to make it into the UK singles chart, peaking at number 45. And in the Netherlands it peaked at number 4.

My collection: 7" single no. 536
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 28, 1987
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Isn't it time' / 'Give me your love'

Rock me Amadeus - Falco

Falco released 'Rock me Amadeus' in 1985. The song was produced by the Dutch brothers Bolland, who co-wrote the song with Falco. The lyric was inspired by the movie 'Amadeus' (1984) and talks about Mozart's poverty and his debts.

For the U.S. release, the song was remixed with an English background overlay by L.A. DJ Chris Modig. This is also the version included on this single, which is a Dutch pressing. Interestingly enough, the song only became a hit in the Netherlands when this version was released.

My collection: 7" single no. 2286
Found: Record fair, May 6, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Rock me Amadeus' / 'Tango the night'

Wrap your arms around me - Agnetha Fältskog

'Wrap your arms around me' was Agnetha Fältskog's second solo single since the breakup of Abba. It was the title track of her solo album, which was released shortly before the release of this single. The single featured an edit of the longer album track, which featured some extra groaning and erotically charged sounds.

Strangely enough, Agnetha never really sounded very erotic. She just didn't have the trashy quality singers like Donna Summer and Madonna had. The single, nonetheless, was a success. It was a number one hit in Belgium and peaked at number 5 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 2045

Found: Record fair, October 30, 1993

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Wrap your arms around me' / 'Take good care of your children'

Saving forever for you - Shanice

Shanice Lorraine Wilson was born on May 14, 1973 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. When she was only eight years old, she appeared in a commercial for Kentucky Fried Chicken with Ella Fitzgerald. In 1984, she performed on 'Star search', an American talent show on TV. Shortly after her appearance, she was signed to A&M Records.

'Saving forever for you' was Shanice's second top 5 hit in America. It is a pretty straightforward soul song, written by Diane Warren, which explains its slightly formulaic character. The song appeared on the soundtrack cd of the popular television series 'Beverley Hills 90210', which was recently brought back to life in the form of the spin-off series '90210'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1867

Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, February 13, 1993

Cost: 6,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Saving forever for you (radio edit)' / 'Saving forever for you (instrumental)'

Major Tom (Völlig losgelöst) - Peter Schilling

Pierre Michael Schilling was born on January 28, 1956 in Stuttgart, Germany. He started a music career in the Seventies, originally as Pierre Schilling, but in 1982 he changed his stage name to Peter Schilling. His first single as Peter Schilling was 'Major Tom (Völlig losgelöst). His re-telling of David Bowie's classic 1969 single 'Space oddity' became his first and only international hit.

An English-language version was recorded, which brought him his international success, but this is the original version which became a hit in German-speaking countries and the Netherlands. The single peaked at number 2 in the Dutch Top 40 in April 1983.

My collection: 7" single no. 186

Found: Studio Echo, Den Haag, 1983

Cost: 5,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Major Tom (Völlig losgelöst)' / 'Ich hab' keine Lust'

When violets meet - Soft Parade

Soft parade was a Dutch alternative rock band, formed in 1988 by Eric Maas and Hans Bos. They recruited Dick Brouwers, Joop Pollet, Marieke Giessen, Sigrid Woudenberg and Edwin Visser to form the band. Their debut album 'Puur' was produced by David A. Stewart from the Eurythmics. In support of the album they toured across Europe with the Godfathers and Shakespear's Sister.
'When violets meet' was their debut single. They would continue to make music until 1997.

My collection: 7" single no. 1699
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, August 29, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'When violets meet' / 'Dead song (birth)'

Theme from 'The Deer Hunter' - The Shadows

The Shadows were formed in the Fifties as a backing band for Cliff Richard, named the Drifters. A very successful career followed, with the personnel of the band frequently changing. One of the Shadows' best known tracks is the 'Theme from 'The Deer Hunter''. It was composed as 'Cavatina' by Stanley Myers. The piece had been recorded by classical guitarist John Williams, long before the film that made it famous.

Following the release of the movie 'The Deer Hunter' in 1979, John Williams' instrumental version of 'Cavatina' became a UK Top 20 hit. Two other versions also made the Top 20 the same year - a vocal version by Iris Williams and another instrumental recording by The Shadows, with an electric guitar played by Hank Marvin. It peaked at number nine in the UK Singles chart.

This 12" single is one of those rare double groove discs. Depending on which groove you choose, the A-side plays either 'Theme from 'The Deer Hunter'', or the Shadows' previous single, 'Don't cry for me Argentina'. A wonderful item, which I'd seen a dozen times before - but never this cheap.

My collection: 12" single no. 489
Found: Kringloop Holland, Den Haag, March 3, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Theme from 'The Deer Hunter'', 'Don't cry for me Argentina' / 'Bermuda Triangle'

Listen to the radio - Tom Robinson

Tom Robinson was born on June 1, 1950 in Cambridge. He was the founding member of the Tom Robinson Band, a band with several hits in the Seventies, such as '2-4-6-8 Motorway', '(Sing if you're) Glad to be gay', 'Power in the darkness' and 'Don't take no for an answer".

In 1983, Robinson went solo. He had his first hit in the Netherlands in 1984 with the song 'Listen to the radio', which he wrote together with Peter Gabriel.

My collection: 7" single no. 953

Found: All that music, Leiden, August 10, 1989

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Listen to the radio (Atmospherics)' / '(Don't do me) Any favours', 'Out to lunch'

Ai no corrida - Chas Jankel

Until recently I didn't even know that this single was missing from my collection. When I wrote about the twelve inch single recently, I came to realise this omission. It's one of those occasions where you think: 'Oh, I'll find that one for cheap someday'. And of course, I did. I think I have all the relevant Chas Jankel singles now.

My collection: 7" single no. 3585
Found: Kringloop Holland, Den Haag, March 3, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Ai no corrida' / 'Lenta latina'

Hangin' on a string - Loose Ends

Loose Ends formed in 1980 in London, with members Carl McIntosh, Jane Eugene and Steve Nichol. They achieved their first success with 'Hangin' on a string (Contemplating)' in 1985, which reached number 13 in the UK singles chart. It was also a minor hit in the Netherlands, reaching number 32 in the Dutch Top 40.

I've had the single for years, but it was only today that I saw the 12" single for a reasonable price. It was worth buying: the extended version of the track makes it even more enjoyable than the original.

My collection: 12" single no. 490

Found: Kringloop Holland, Den Haag, March 3, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Hangin' on a string (Contemplating) (extended dance mix)' / 'A little spice'

Karma Chameleon - Culture Club

Culture Club were at the height of their popularity when they released 'Karma Chameleon'. It was a number one hit all over Europe, Canada, USA, Australia and New Zealand. According to the band's frontman Boy George, 'The song is about the terrible fear of alienation that people have, the fear of standing up for one thing. It's about trying to suck up to everybody. Basically, if you aren't true, if you don't act like you feel, then you get Karma-justice, that's nature's way of paying you back.'

I didn't buy the single at the time of its release, in 1983, because it was continually played on radio and television. It made me hate the song. Now, more than a quarter of a century later, I can hear it again. And the price was right, of course...

My collection: 7" single no. 3586

Found: Kringloop Holland, Den Haag, March 3, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Karma Chameleon' / 'That's the way'

Een beetje van dit - Vulcano

The national finals for the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest in the Netherlands were pretty exciting. There were five acts competing for the honour to represent the country during the year's Contest in Germany. While Vulcano was the audience favourite, the honour went to Bernadette in the end. She sang 'Sing me a song' and ended up being seventh.

Vulcano, who came second by only one point in the national final, subsequently had a hit in the Netherlands with their song, 'Een beetje van dit'. The single included the Dutch and English version of the song. The single peaked at number 7 in the Dutch Top 40. Bernadette, meanwhile, only made it to number 28.

My collection: 7" single no. 3584

Found: Kringloop Holland, Den Haag, March 3, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Een beetje van dit' / 'Rhythm in a heartbeat'

Baby talks dirty - The Knack

Doug Fieger, Berton Averre, Prescott Niles and Bruce Gary formed the Knack in 1978. They hit it big almost immediately with their single 'My Sharona' (1979), which became a chart hit in various countries.

'Baby talks dirty', taken from their second album '...But the little girls understand', sounded a lot like that big hit. No wonder, then, that it didn't become a hit: the audiences had heard the trick before and critics slammed the single.

My collection: 7" single no. 3589

Found: Kringloop Holland, Den Haag, March 3, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Baby talks dirty' / 'End of the game'

Face the face - Pete Townshend

'Face the face' was taken from Pete Townshend's 1985 solo album 'White City: a novel'. The title refers to a story (called a "novel" in the album title) that accompanies the album, and which takes place in a low-income housing estate in the West London area of White City, near where Townshend grew up. The story tells of cultural conflict, racial tension and youthful hopes and dreams in the Sixties.

'Face the face' did not chart in the UK, but it peaked at number 9 in the Dutch Top 40 in early 1986. It was his only solo hit in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 3587

Found: Kringloop Holland, Den Haag, March 3, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Face the face' / 'Hiding out'

Download: Album 'White City: a novel', including both tracks

Broken wings - Mr. Mister

A couple of weeks ago, when I visited my friend Puck, he showed me a 12" single he'd bought. It was Mr. Mister's 'Broken wings', which according to the sleeve contained an extended version of that track. I was interested to hear it, but alas, he didn't have a record player to let me hear it. I had no choice but to wait. I thought I might bump into this record myself anyway, and if it was cheap enough, I would buy it.

So today I had a chance to visit a newly opened Kringloop shop in Den Haag - a shop where second hand goods are sold for next to nothing. I went straight to the records corner and found... this 12" single. I was happy! Then I heard the track. Well, it's about eight seconds longer than the cd version I have of this track. And even that may be attributed to the fact that it was pressed on vinyl (cd's usually fade out a little earlier, especially in the Eighties). I don't know what the record company was thinking. Or better still, I did know: false promises always lead to sales.

My collection: 12" single no. 488
Found: Kringloop Holland, Den Haag, March 3, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Broken wings (extended version)' / 'Uniform of youth', 'Welcome to the real world'

Das Blech - Spliff

Herwig Mitteregger, Reinhold Heil, Manfred Praker, Bernhard Potschka and Alf Klimek were already playing together when Nina Hagen 'adopted' them as her band. They recorded two albums together as the Nina Hagen Band before continuing as Spliff when Hagen went solo.

'Das Blech' was the only single to have some sort of success outside of non-German speaking countries. It barely missed the Dutch Top 40, but was often played on the radio at the time.

My collection: 7" single no. 203

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1984

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Das Blech' / 'Tag für Tag'

Europeennes - Cocktail Chic

In 1986, France was represented in the Eurovision Song Contest by a group of four women who called themselves Cocktail Chic. They were Catherine Bonnevay, Francine Chanterau, Martine Latorre and Dominique Poulain. Written by George and Michel Costa, 'Europeennes' was about travelling to various European destinations, living a carefree lifestyle. The song must have been an attempt to appeal to the international juries, but ironically, most of the destinations were pronounced in French and thus couldn't be made out by most of those international juries.

With 20 countries (and acts) in the Contest, the French delegation only made it to 17th position in the Contest. Personally, I wasn't so impressed with the song either. I can recall I named them 'Cocktail Shit' at the time. But when I came across the single a decade later, I still couldn't resist buying it, if only for its rarity value. The cheap Eighties production is a bonus.

My collection: 7" single no. 3148

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, October 23, 1999

Cost: 4 guilders

Tracks: 'Europeennes' / 'Europeennes (English version)'

You spin me 'round (like a record) - Dead or Alive

'You spin me 'round (like a record)' was taken from Dead or Alive's 1985 album 'Youthquake'. When it was released, it was a slow starter in the UK: it lingered outside the singles top 40 for two months. After this long period, it still rose into the top 10 and then even made number 1. The single also was a top 3 hit in Australia and Italy, peaking at number 6 in the Netherlands.

Dead or Alive was formed around singer Peter Burns, who attracted attention with his eccentric image, which was often compared to then-popular Culture Club frontman Boy George. The single was the first UK number one hit for the Stock/Aitken/Waterman production trio. At the time of its release, one of the band members was Wayne Hussey, who would go on to work with the Sisters of Mercy, and then form The Mission.

My collection: 7" single no. 272

Found: LP top 100, Den Haag, 1985

Cost: 5,5 guilders

Tracks: 'You spin me 'round (like a record)' / 'Misty circles'

Abracadabra - Steve Miller Band

The Steve Miller Band has received some criticism for this song. True, 'Abra, abracadabra / I wanna reach out and grab ya' isn't one of those lyrics you have to praise for its eloquence, but it's still a good pop song. Selling the way it did (a number one hit in America, peaking at number 2 in the UK and number 18 in the Netherlands) the audiences in various countries certainly made up their own minds.

A quarter of a century later it still sounds pretty credible. If kids were still listening to music, they would buy this I'm sure.

My collection: 7" single no. 3038

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 1, 1998

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Abracadabra' / 'Never say no'

The second time around - Shalamar

Producer and booking agent Dick Griffey put together Shalamar after the first single 'Uptown festival' (1977), performed by session singers, was a hit in America. Vocalists Jody Watley, Jeffrey Daniel and Howard Hewett were brought together in 1978. Their first international hit in this line-up was 'Take that to the bank'. They followed this up in 1979 with 'The second time around', which peaked at number 45 in the UK singles chart and number 28 in the Dutch Top 40.

A young Jody Watley was part of Shalamar. In 1984 she left the group to pursue a successful solo career.

My collection: 7" single no. 2043

Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, October 30, 1993

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'The second time around' / 'Leave it all up to love'