On my radio - The Selecter

Two Tone was the big hype of the late Seventies and early Eighties. Fronted by bands like the Specials, Madness and The Beat. The Selecter was another band making music in this genre, which mixed elements of ska, punk rock, rocksteady, reggae and pop. The band consisted of Pauline Black, Compton Amanor, Charley Anderson, Charley 'H' Bembridge, Desmond Brown, Neol Davies and Arthur Hendrickson.

Their first track appeared on the B-side of the Specials' hit song 'Gangsters'. Then they released 'On my radio' (1979), which became a top 10 hit in various countries. It peaked at number 8 in the UK and number 10 in the Netherlands. After this, they released several more singles, of which only one made the Dutch Top 40. They continued to have some success in the UK until the end of 1980. They reformed in 1991 to minimal success.

My collection: 7" single no. 92
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1981
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'On my radio' / 'Too much pressure'

On the turning away - Pink Floyd

'On the turning away' was the second single taken from Pink Floyd's 1987 album 'A momentary lapse of reason', the first album without Roger Waters. The song lyric is about poverty and oppression, lamenting on the tendency of people to turn away from those afflicted with such conditions. The B-side was recorded live in Atlanta on November 5, 1987.

I didn't hear this single when it was released, but picked it up from my brother's collection soon after. When I played the single, I realised it was a beautiful power ballad I really wanted to have myself. By then, the disc had disappeared from the shops, and I had to wait for a couple of years to finally find my own copy.

My collection: 7" single no. 1419

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, April 7, 1991

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'On the turning away' / 'Run like hell (live)'

It's your conscience - Deniece Williams

Deniece Williams was born on June 3, 1950. She started her career with the 1976 album 'This is Niecy', containing the hit single 'Free'. Every year she released a new album, until a short break in 1980. In 1981, her album 'My melody' was released, containing this single, 'It's your conscience'. Like most of her material, it was a softpop song.

I heard this song on a compilation album I bought in the late Eighties. A decade later, I bought the single. Just for completeness sake: if you know a good single, you have to have it, right?

My collection: 7" single no. 3122
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, July 24, 1999
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'It's your conscience' / 'Sweet surrender'

I will be with you - T'pau

It could have been too much to ask for, but the fifth single from T'pau's debut album 'Bridge of spies' was, like the four previous ones, a big hit in the UK. It peaked at number 14 in the singles chart. Outside of the UK, the single did nothing - and I don't think it was even released in most countries.

'I will be with you' is a beautiful powerballad, a bit like 'Valentine' and 'China in your hand' but different. Part of the attraction was this special limited edition gatefold sleeve, in which frontwoman Carol Decker looks quite delicious.

My collection: 7" single no. 647
Found: Sister Ray, London, 1989
Cost: 2,5 pounds
Tracks: 'I will be with you' / 'Still so in love'

Walk through the fire - Peter Gabriel

Peter Gabriel contributed the track 'Walk through the fire' to the soundtrack of the 1984 movie 'Against all odds'. It's interesting to note that other Genesis members contributed to the soundtrack as well: Mike Rutherford contributed the song 'Making a big mistake' and Phil Collins recorded the well-known title track.

It's interesting how little is known about this track by Peter Gabriel: I couldn't find any background information about it on the web. I did find out that it peaked at number 69 in the UK. So not a big hit, then.

My collection: 7" single no. 2481
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, October 29, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Walk through the fire' (Peter Gabriel) / 'The race' (Larry Carlton)

Autobahn - Kraftwerk

Perhaps Kraftwerk's best known track, 'Autobahn' is an ode to the German expressways. The track is intended to capture the feeling of driving on the Autobahn: from the high-speed concentration on the fast lane, to tuning the car radio, to the monotony of a long trip. For the single version, the original 22 minute track was edited down to a mere three minutes.

Released in 1975, the single peaked at number 11 in the UK singles chart and number 12 in the Netherlands. The album of the same name was equally successful, peaking at number 4 in the UK and number 9 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 2686

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

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Autobahn' / 'Kometenmelodie 1'

Download: here

Un banc, un arbre, une rue - Severine

Severine was born as Josiane Grizeau on October 10, 1948 in Paris. She represented Monaco in the 1971 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Un banc, un arbre, une rue'. The lyric of the song focuses on the loss of childhood innocence, and people following their dreams. Severine recorded the song in French, English, German and Italian. This single features the original French version.

She won the Contest, but this did not result, as is usual, in the 1972 Contest being hosted in Monaco, as the country did not have the resources. Instead, it took place in Edinburgh, UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 3598

Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, March 14, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Un banc, un arbre, une rue' / 'Viens'

Download: here

How you gonna see me now - Alice Cooper

During his 1977 tour Alice Cooper's alcoholism was becoming an issuel. It was rumoured that he drank up to two cases of Budweiser and a bottle of whiskey every day. Following the tour, Cooper had himself hospitalized in a New York sanitarium for treatment. His experience in the sanitarium was the inspiration for his 1978 semi-autobiographical album 'From the inside', which Cooper co-wrote with Bernie Taupin.

The single 'How you gonna see me now', taken from that album, was a ballad. The lyric depicted the fear of the singer of how his wife would react to him after his spell in the sanitarium. The song was one of the first I recorded from the radio when I got a radio/taperecorder at age 10. I found the single ten years later.

My collection: 7" single no. 1420

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, April 7, 1991

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'How you gonna see me now' / 'No tricks'

Download: here

Break my stride - Matthew Wilder

Matthew Wilder was born as Matthew Weiner on January 24, 1953 in New York City. He started his music career as one half of the folk group Matthew & Peter in 1973. Five years later, he moved to Los Angeles, California, and started working as a backing vocalist for, amongst others, Rickie Lee Jones and Bette Midler.

In 1983, he recorded his debut album 'I don't speak the language'. The single 'Break my stride', which was taken from this album, became a number 5 hit in America, while it peaked at number 4 in the UK and number 3 in the Netherlands.

I had a friend who was always asking for this song when I made mixtapes for him in the early Nineties. I didn't have this single, so I could never oblige. I only bought this single in 2001, by that time I'd stopped making tapes for him. I hope he reads it now - if it gets through the Big Chinese Firewall, that is.

My collection: 7" single no. 3305
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Break my stride' / 'Break my stride (instrumental)'
Download: here

Working on it - Chris Rea

While I'm generally not impressed with guitar heroes, I have to admit that Chris Rea has me rocking away from time to time. Some people may call his work too soft, but I find it generally very enjoyable. Which is why I snap up any Chris Rea record when it's cheap.

And that was the story for this 12" single: it appeared in a London shop for less than a pound and although I didn't know the track, I was certain enough that an extended version would be worthwhile. I was not disappointed: it's one of Chris Rea's rockier tracks, with a strong melody line. 'Working on it' was released in 1989 and reached number 53 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 12" single no. 417

Found: Record Exchange, London, 2002

Cost: 50p

Tracks: 'Working on it (extended)' / 'One golden rule'

My heart lies - Barbara Dickson

The single 'My heart lies' didn't chart in the UK, but in the Netherlands it became her biggest hit in early 1982. It peaked at number 27 in the Dutch Top 40, which isn't spectacular, but it's two places higher than Barbara Dickson's 1981 hit, 'January February'.

Alan Tarney produced this single, as well as the album 'You know it's me' (1982). The title track of that album appears on the B-side of this single. I liked this single so much I bought it twice: once in 1999 and three years later I did it again. It was an honest mistake. Luckily it was a cheap single on both occasions.

My collection: 7" single no. 3131
Found: July 24, 1999
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'My heart lies' / 'You know it's me'

Mirror man - Talk Talk

'Mirror man' is Talk Talk's debut single, released in early 1982. On the many compilation albums that have been released since the band left their record label EMI, this track is always missing. This is easily explained, since it is the only single from their EMI period that didn't make the UK singles chart at all. Some of the later singles made the lower regions of the chart, but this one faded into obscurity soon after its release. Which makes it a great item for a Talk Talk collection, of course!

'Mirror man' appears on Talk Talk's debut album 'The party's over', but the B-side 'Strike up the band' was a non-album track. It appeared on cd only 16 years later, on the double cd compilation 'Asides besides'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3085

Found: Record Exchange, London, May 10, 1999

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Mirror man' / 'Strike up the band'

The heat is on - Agnetha Fältskog

In May 1983, Agnetha Fältskog released her first post-Abba solo album, 'Wrap your arms around me'. 'The heat is on' was the first single taken from that album. On the B-side the track 'Man' appeared, written by Agnetha herself.

The single proved very successful throughout Europe. It sold more copies than any of Abba's singles in the year 1982. It was a number one hit in Belgium, Norway and Sweden, while it peaked at number 2 in the Netherlands. In the UK, the single reached number 35. For a long time it was Fältskog's highest charting solo single in Britain until the release of her 2004 comeback single, 'If I thought you'd ever change your mind', which reached No.11.

My collection: 7" single no. 194

Found: Studio Echo, Den Haag, 1983

Cost: 5,5 guilders

Tracks: 'The heat is on' / 'Man'

Download: Album 'Wrap your arms around me', including both tracks

The heat is on - Agnetha Fältskog

Kiss me - Tintin

Stephen Anthony James Duffy was born on May 30, 1960. In 1982, he created the band Tintin with John Mulligan, Dik Davis, Andy Growcott and Bob Lamb. The band was signed with WEA Records in the UK and released the song, 'Kiss Me', which did not reach the UK singles chart. Two years later, Stephen 'Tintin' Duffy would re-record 'Kiss me' and have a hit with it in several countries.

But this is the original version. I didn't know it existed when I bought it, so I was suitably surprised. I never bought the later version, but if I come across it, I will. Back in 1985, the song was played too many times on the radio so I really didn't need to have it.

My collection: 7" single no. 3006

Found: June 20, 1998

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Kiss me' / 'Love's duet'

African blood - Supermax

'We are the jungle people', proclaims the song 'African blood' by Supermax. And it continues to do so for several minutes. The music of this song is obviously more important than the lyric. It's no surprise that this single did less well than its predecessor 'Love machine', that gave Supermax a big hit all over Europe.

In the Netherlands, the song failed to chart. In Germany, Supermax is still going strong, judging from his official website. But in the Netherlands, nothing was ever heard from him again.

My collection: 7" single no. 2310

Found: Rotterdam, May 27, 1995

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'African blood (part 1)' / 'African blood (part 2)'

Take my breath away - Berlin

Some time ago I wrote about the double single 'Like flames' by Berlin, which included 'Take my breath away'. I'd almost forgotten that I have the original single as well. Taken from the soundtrack of the movie 'Top Gun', the B-side is a song by Giorgio Moroder with vocals by Joe Pizzulo. It was this single that reached number one in several countries.

My collection: 7" single no. 883

Found: All that music, Leiden, June 16, 1989

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Take my breath away' (Berlin) / 'Radar radio' (Giorgio Moroder feat. Joe Pizzulo)

Cheese - Mo

Although the Dutch band Mo released a dozen singles during their career, only two of them made the Dutch Top 40. This was the second one: 'Cheese', a short upbeat synthpop song. It was the first single of Mo with new personnel. Drummer Harm Bieger was the only original member. He recruited Linda Bloemhard, Ton van der Meer and Hans Nieuwint after the original band split up after the release of just one album (and three singles).

'Cheese' peaked at number 30 in the Dutch Top 40. It was succeeded by a handful of singles that didn't make the chart at all.

My collection: 7" single no. 3328
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, March 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Cheese' / 'Human race put on display'

Docklands - Betsy Cook

'Docklands' was produced by Trevor Horn. It was the only track on Betsy Cook's album 'The girl who ate herself' that was produced by him, and that fact alone must have been enough to make this track a single.

Well, it was good enough for me anyway: I loved the whole album, and so I bought all the singles that were drawn from it. I didn't know about this single until I found it in London - fortunately by that time it had arrived in the sales bin.

My collection: 7" single no. 1736

Found: Virgin Megastore, London, October 17, 1992

Cost: 49p

Tracks: 'Docklands' / 'Nothing ventured'

Zoveel te doen - Toontje Lager

Back to the Eighties, when Dutch bands were still able to produce something listenable. Toontje Lager was a band that was founded in 1978. They released their self-titled debut album in 1980, then followed up with 'Er op of er onder' and 'Stiekem gedanst'. Those two albums were very successful in the Netherlands, peaking at number 12 and 2 in the album charts respectively.

From the third album comes this single, 'Zoveel te doen' ('So much to do'). It's about being busy all the time, being too busy to have time to leave this place. It's simple synthpop like more bands were making at that time in the Eighties - but not so much in Dutch.

My collection: 7" single no. 3604
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, March 14, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Zoveel te doen' / 'De deur staat altijd op een kier'

May this be your last sorrow - Banderas

Banderas appeared on the scene with 'This is your life', then followed up that single with 'She sells' and the debut album 'Ripe'. That was just about the extent of my knowledge circa 1994, when I suddenly found this single. 'May this be your last sorrow' was a great track from the album, so I was happy to buy this disc - especially since the B-side contained a non-album track, 'Nice to know'.

I have no idea what happened next with Sally Herbert and Caroline Buckley. They disappeared from the scene, unfortunately.
My collection: 7" single no. 2182
Found: Big Company records, London, September 27, 1994
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'May this be your last sorrow' / 'Nice to know'

Tomorrow - Communards

The Communards have released several great singles. 'Tomorrow' may not have been their biggest hits, but I think it's one that's stood the test of time very well. It was the first single from the duo's second album 'Red', which came out in 1987.

This single peaked at number 32 in the Dutch Top 40, and number 23 in the UK singles chart. The second single would be 'Never can say goodbye', one of their best known hits.

My collection: 7" single no. 636

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1988

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Tomorrow (remix)' / 'I just want to let you know'

Als jij maar wacht... - Sandra Reemer

I recently wrote about (and bought) the single 'Non ho l'eta', Gigliola Cinquetti's 1964 Eurovision winner. Not long after that, I found out that the song was actually covered by one of the Netherlands' most prominent Eurovision singers. Sandra Reemer participated in the Contest three times, but long before that she made singles as a very young girl.

'Als jij maar wacht' is a cover of 'Non ho l'eta' with alternate lyrics in Dutch. The single was released, probably in 1964, in the series 'Favorieten Expres', a series of singles on the Philips label. The sleeve only mentions Sandra's first name, but we all know it's her. I almost bought the single via a website recently, but the seller didn't come through. Now I've got the single for slightly less, because there's no postage charge!

My collection: 7" single no. 3603

Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, March 14, 2009

Cost: 4 euro

Tracks: 'Als jij maar wacht...' / 'Ben je 't heus?'

Don't say it's love - Johnny hates Jazz

'Don't say it's love' was the last single taken from Johnny hates Jazz's debut album 'Turn back the clock'. Perhaps it's no surprise, then, that the single performed worse, chart-wise, than its predecessors. It peaked at number 48 in the UK singles chart.

The cd of 'Turn back the clock' included the extended mixes of previous singles 'I don't want to be a hero', 'Turn back the clock' and 'Heart of gold'. It's the reason why I bought this 12" single, because I was really curious what the extended version of this track would be like. I wasn't disappointed: it's an extended version like they should be.

My collection: 12" single no. 492

Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, March 14, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Don't say it's love (12" extended remix)' / 'Living in the past', 'Don't say it's love (7" remix)'

Coming around again - Carly Simon

Carly Simon's thirteenth studio album was her first for the Arista record label, after her contract with CBS was cancelled following disappointing sales of her previous album, 'Spoiled girl'. 'Coming around again' was a strong comeback album and single. The album reached number 25 in America and the UK, whereas the single peaked at number 18 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, and number 10 in the UK singles chart.

The two tracks on this single were written for and featured in the 1986 film 'Heartburn', starring Meryl Streep (ugh!) and Jack Nicholson.

My collection: 7" single no. 3606
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, March 14, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Track: 'Coming around again' / 'Itsy bitsy spider'

In your room - The Bangles

The Bangles had to come up with some new hit to follow up charttoppers like 'Walk like an Egyptian' and 'Hazy shade of winter'. Expectations were high when they released their new album 'Everything' in 1988. The chart performance of the first single from that album was slightly disappointing: it only made number 35 in the UK, while it didn't even chart in the Netherlands. The girls probably didn't mind, because the single made number 5 in America.

And it wouldn't take long until follow-up single 'Eternal flame' would take over the number one spot in various countries...

My collection: 7" single no. 3596

Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, March 14, 2009

Cost: 0,66 euro

Tracks: 'In your room', 'Bell jar'

Download: Album 'Everything', including both tracks

Insieme: 1992 - Toto Cutugno

Toto Cutugno was born on July 7, 1943 in Fosdinovo, Tuscany, Italy as Salvatore Cutugno. In 1976 Cutugno participated for the first time in the San Remo Music Festival. He reached 3rd place with his band Albatros. He won the festival in 1980, 1984, 1987, 1988 and 1989. In total he participated 13 times.

He won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1990 with his own composition 'Insieme: 1992' ("Together: 1992"), a ballad which celebrated European political integration. Along with Gigliola Cinquetti, Italy's only other Eurovision winner from 1964, he presented the 1991 contest, which was staged in Rome as a result of his victory.

My collection: 7" single no. 3594

Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, March 14, 2009

Cost: 0,66 euro

Tracks: 'Insieme: 1992' / 'Insieme: 1992 (instrumental)'

Download: here

Life of surprises - Prefab Sprout

Prefab Sprout recorded 'Life of surprises' in 1985, just when 'When love breaks down' finally became a hit after its fourth re-release. The record company shelved the album with 'Life of surprises' on it. The track only resurfaced in 1993, when Prefab Sprout's greatest hits compilation was released.

The single was a success, peaking at number 24 in the UK singles chart. The B-side featured the band's only top 10 hit: 'The king of rock 'n' roll', originally released in 1988.

My collection: 7" single no. 1899
Found: Record fair, May 2, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Life of surprises' / 'The king of rock 'n' roll'

The sound of the crowd - Human League

After the loss of original members Martyn Ware and Ian Craig-Marsh, Phil Oakey recruited 'dancing girls' Susan Ann Sulley (17) and Joanne Catherall (18) in order to be able to fulfill tour obligations. In January 1981, the band was still in debt to their record company. Oakey recorded and rushed out a new single, 'Boys and girls', without the involvement of Sulley and Catherall, to reasonable success. In March, Oakey was introduced to veteran producer Martin Rushent.

The first result of their sessions was the single 'The sound of the crowd'. The single was an instant success, peaking at number 12 in the UK singles chart. It was the first song to feature female vocals from Sulley and Catherall. The twelve inch mix is an interesting affair, with a lot of extra instrumental bits.

My collection: 12" single no. 491

Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, March 14, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'The sound of the crowd (Complete)' / 'The sound of the crowd (Instrumental)'

Liian pian ilta päättyy - Eini

Eini is a Finnish singer who has recorded several covers of Eurovision songs. When I bought this one, a sticker on the sleeve suggested that it was a cover of Israel's 1979 winning song, 'Hallelujah'. This is why I bought the single. Unfortunately, the information was wrong. Instead, this is a cover of Israel's 1981 contribution to the Contest, 'Halayla' ('Tonight'), performed by Hakol over Habibi.

The original track is a dramatic ballad, with the singer describing what will happen between herself and a lover "tonight". The Finnish version is more upbeat. Now, how do you think 'Liian pian ilta päättyy' is pronounced?...

My collection: 7" single no. 3601
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, March 14, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: Liian pian ilta päättyy' / 'Rajana Taivas'

Strut - Sheena Easton

In 1984, sweet Scottish singing sensation Sheena Easton made a transition towards a sexy dance-pop siren. She collaborated with Prince on her new album 'A private heaven', which was a big success.

While the single 'Strut' was ignored in Europe, it became her fifth top 10 single in America. It was a sassy and suggestive song, with a great hook and interesting vocals. Compare, if you like, the A-side with the B-side track. Where Sheena sounds great on the former, her voice sounds shrill and uninspired on the latter. Well, at least, that's what I think. Great sleeve, by the way...

My collection: 12" single no. 494

Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, March 14, 2009

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Strut (Dance mix)' / 'Letters from the road'

Vandaag - Het Goede Doel

After the chart success of 'Met open ogen', Het Goede Doel released a second single from their album 'Souvenir' entitled 'Vandaag' ('Today'). Clocking in at six minutes, it was another lengthy single from the group. (Previous hits 'België', 'Hou van mij' and 'Alles geprobeerd' were also over six minutes long).

The single went by unnoticed by the general public: it stalled outside the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3595

Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, March 14, 2009

Cost: 0,66 euro

Tracks: 'Vandaag' / 'Vandaag (instrumental)'

We gotta get out of here - Ian Hunter

Ian Hunter was born on June 3, 1939 in Oswestry, Shropshire, England. He was lead singer of the English rock band Mott the Hoople between 1969 and 1974, and then pursued a solo career. He had one hit in the Netherlands: 'We gotta get out of here', released in the summer of 1980. The ending of the song sounds a bit like a pastiche of Meatloaf's 'Paradise by the dashboard light'. That's because of the vocals of Ellen Foley, who'd spoken on that song as well as this one.

The B-side of the single features a live version of 'All the young dudes', originally recorded by David Bowie.

My collection: 7" single no. 3597

Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, March 14, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'We gotta get out of here' / 'All the young dudes'

Cry me a river - Mari Wilson

'Cry me a river' was written by Arthur Hamilton in 1953. It was orginally meant as a song for Ella Fitzgerald in the movie 'Pete Kelly's Blues' (1955). The record producer insisted that Hamilton would remove the word 'plebeian' in the lyric since 'audiences wouldn't accept a black woman in the '20s using that word.' Hamilton refused, and the song was dropped. The song's first release and most famous recording was by actress/singer Julie London in 1955.

Mari Wilson recorded her version in 1983, to be used in the crime drama series McCallum. It was her last UK top 40 hit, peaking at number 27.

My collection: 7" single no. 3607
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, March 14, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Cry me a river' / 'Rave'

Femme dans ses rêves aussi - Roger Bens

I visited a record fair today, hunting for new old vinyl. The fair was not spectacular (mainly Dutch dealers and a few lost Germans and one Englishman), but I managed to get some nice rarities anyway. A weird one is this one: plucked from the bargain bin, the French entry for the 1985 Eurovision Song Contest.

France was represented by young Roger Bens who sang 'Femme dans ses rêves aussi'. I can honestly say that I didn't have a clue what this song was like. I have seen it a couple of times during my life (since I own the 1985 Eurovision on dvd) but it's passed me by completely. When you hear the single you will understand why: it is a very forgettable track. The main attraction is the B-side, a beautiful ballad with typical eighties romanticism.

My collection: 7" single no. 3605

Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, March 14, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Femme dans ses rêves aussi' / 'Piano souvenir'

Jeanny - Falco

'Jeanny' was released in 1986 and would become one of Falco's best known and most controversial singles. The song is about a relationship between a man and a girl named Jeanny. The song is sung in a slightly unhinged voice, but the lyrics don't actually contain any direct reference to the act of rape or abduction. It is left to the listener's imagination. Falco argued that it's about the musings of a stalker, but also said the song was inspired by serial killer Jack Unterweger.

The song was banned in East Germany. There were also demands to prohibit the song in West Germany, but this didn't happen, although some radio stations did boycot the song. Despite all this, Falco had a number one hit in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland with 'Jeanny'.

My collection: 7" single no. 412

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1986

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Jeanny' / 'Männer des Westens'

Didn't you kill my brother? - Alexei Sayla

While Alexei Sayle's debut single ''Ullo John! Gotta new motor?' was a genuinely funny take on people with strange dialects saying the oddest things, I didn't quite 'get' 'Didn't you kill my brother?'.

As I've only recently found out, the single was the theme song of an episode of the satirical Comic Strip TV comedy series in which Alexei Sayle plays both halves of a pair of gangster twins, not so loosely modelled on the Kray twins, the notorious Moss brothers Carl and Sterling. The episode also remakes Bicycle Thieves whilst lampooning British liberal values. Produced by Sayle and Chaz Jankel, the single was a flop.

My collection: 7" single no. 333

Found: LP Top 100, Den haag, 1985

Cost: 5,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Didn't you kill my brother?' / 'Dedicated'

Why me? - Linda Martin

Thousands of viewers of the 1992 Eurovision Song Contest must have struggled with the question Linda Martin raised at the end of the programme. Why did she, of all people, win that year's edition? It wasn't a remarkable song, like Cleopatra's 'Olou tou kosmou i elpida' for Greece, or slightly mysterious like Evridiki's 'Teriazoume' for Cyprus. And it certainly wasn't the jewel that Italy contributed in the form of Mia Martini's 'Rapsodia', which is still a favourite with many Eurovision fans to this day. If anything, the song was middle of the road. But then, maybe the juries were exactly that in 1992.

Written by Eurovision dinosaur Johnny Logan, 'Why me' wasn't exactly a big hit outside of Ireland, the country Linda represented. The single peaked at number 23 in the Dutch Top 40 and stalled at number 59 in the UK. Some winners are best left forgotten.

My collection: 7" single no. 1656
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, May 30, 1992
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Why me?' / 'Shades of blue'

Sex talk (live) - T'pau

T'pau's second single 'Intimate strangers' hadn't been a success, so after they'd had more luck with 'China in your hand' and 'Valentine', they tried it again with a live version of that track. Now titled 'Sex talk', it was more successful and peaked at number 23 in the UK. In Europe, the single wasn't released - and so I had to go to London to find a copy of this single.

Bizarrely, the cd-single of this live track was available in the Netherlands, so it became one of the first times that I had a cd-single before I had the vinyl version.

My collection: 7" single no. 1050
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Sex talk (live)' / 'Monkey house (live)'