Manhattan skyline - A-ha

A day at the record company's office

'So we're going to release a third single from A-ha's album 'Scoundrel days''.

- 'Oh? Which one?'

'I think we should take 'Manhattan skyline.'

- 'Really? You do know it's almost five minutes long, don't you?'

'I know. We should make an edit.'

- 'An edit? How in God's name would you do that?'

'Well, you start by cutting the intro'.

- 'Okay, done. Now what?'

'There's bound to be some repetitive bits in that song. Aren't there?'

- 'Well, there are. But should we really edit them all out?'

'Yeah, no problem. No-one's paying attention to that stuff, it fills up the album nicely but on the single you need to keep up the pace.'

- 'Well if you say so... it's a waste, but okay... done. Now what?'

'What's the running time now?'

- 'We're down to 4 minutes 15 seconds.'

'Okay, good enough. We don't have to spend too much time on this.'

- 'B-side? What do we stick on the B-side?'

'Oh, just take a live track or something.'

- 'A live track? I do have a few, but they all sound horrible.'

'Doesn't matter, no-one ever plays the B-side anyway. Are we done?'

- 'Well, I guess so...'

My collection: 7" single no. 510

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Manhattan skyline [edit]' / 'We're looking for the whales (live version)'

Dreamboat Annie - Heart

'Dreamboat Annie' was the title track and a recurring theme on Heart's debut album. Originally divided in three parts scattered on the album, the single version was a mixture of all three and did not appear on the album in this form.

The B-side 'Sing child' was taken from the album and foreshadowed the later singles of the band. They would be stuck in a middle of the road rock phase for a couple of years.

My collection: 7" single no. 1567

Found: All that music, Leiden, January 2, 1992

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Dreamboat Annie' / 'Sing child'

Martha's harbour - All about Eve

All about Eve's success was slowly rising, until this single was released. 'Martha's harbour', a rather uncharacteristic ballad by the band, was their first and last top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at number 10.

On its creation, Julianne Regan commented: 'This song happened by accident when we were recording the first album. It was one of those things when we had the day off and we were sat in this very idyllic setting beneath a willow tree besides a stream by this beautiful residential recording studio and it just came out so naturally. It was a miracle of a little song and its very dear to us because of that, because it was very pure, a really happy accident. Everybody went to the pub and we put it down and by the time they got back Martha's Harbour was committed to tape. Martha's Harbour is a fictitious backdrop for this happening.'

My collection: 7" single no. 649

Found: Melody Maker, August 25, 1988

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Martha's harbour' / 'Another door'

Another you, another me - Gemini

Written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, 'Another you, another me' was the second single taken from Gemini's self-titled debut album. Compared to 'Just like that', this was the weaker track. The single didn't reach the chart in as many countries, either.

The B-side of this single is the album track 'Falling', although in Scandinavia the B-side was another album track 'Slowly'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2965
Found: February 4, 1998
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Another you, another me' / 'Falling'

Can you feel the force - Real Thing

There's something strangely 'Can you feel it'-esque about 'Can you feel the force'. Unlike the Jacksons, Real Thing hails from Liverpool, UK. Members Eddie Amoo, Chris Amoo, Dave Smith and Ray Lake debuted in 1976 with 'You to me are everything'.

This single reached number 5 in the UK and number 11 in the Netherlands. It was their last hit in the Netherlands (although a remix of 'You to me are everything' did chart in 1986), but their success continued vigorously in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 3008
Found: Geest, Den Haag, 2001

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Can you feel the force' / 'Children of the ghetto'

Don't fall in love - Toyah

'Don't fall in love', released in 1985, was Toyah Wilcox's last top 40 hit in the UK, peaking at number 22. She'd had a lot of hit singles since 1977, when she started her career as part of a band named Toyah. A year later she married guitarist Robert Fripp.

I bought this single because my sister said she liked the song a lot. Myself, I was more impressed with the colourful and visually striking cover of the single.

My collection: 7" single no. 2368

Found: House of Rhythm, London, July 1, 1995

Cost: 40p

Tracks: 'Don't fall in love' / 'Snow covers the kiss'

This melody - Julien Clerc

Julien Clerc was born as Paul-Alain Clerc on October 4, 1947 in Paris, France. In 1969 he got the leading role in the musical 'Hair'. Since then, he's released a few dozen albums and even more singles. Some of them achieved international fame.

'This melody' was released in the summer of 1976 and rose to number 1 in the Netherlands. I always confuse this song with the previous single 'Venise', which I'm still searching for...

My collection: 7" single no. 2729

Found: September 7, 1996

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'This melody' / 'Prends ton coeur par la main'

Ever so lonely - Monsoon

Monsoon formed in 1981 and consisted of singer Sheila Chandra, producer Steve Coe and bass guitarist Martin Smith. They released one album, 'Third eye' in 1983. This album featured a cover of Lennon & McCartney's 'Tomorrow never knows' and their only hit, 'Ever so lonely'.

The song was a track inspired by the sounds of India, like most of the album. The single peaked at number 12 in the UK singles chart. A remix of the track appeared in 1995, but this version did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 901

Found: All that music, Leiden, June 23, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Ever so lonely' / 'Sunset over the Ganges'

A little more love - Olivia Newton-John

After Olivia Newton-John achieved world fame with the movie Grease, she picked up her own music career with the 1978 album 'Totally hot'. The single 'A little more love' shot to number 4 in the UK and number 3 in the Netherlands.

While I wasn't so impressed as a child with her Grease tracks, this track really impressed me. The song sounded modern and melodic and has remained a favourite of mine all these years.

My collection: 7" single no. 1120

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, December 1, 1989

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'A little more love' / 'Borrowed time'

True Faith - New Order

New Order wrote and recorded 'True Faith' and '1963' during a 10-day studio session with producer Stephen Hague. The two songs were written as new material for New Order's first singles compilation album, 'Substance 1987'. After the two songs were recorded, the band's US management decided that 'True Faith' was the stronger track and would be released as the new single, with '1963' as the B-side.

As is the case for many New Order songs, the words in the title do not appear anywhere in the lyrics. The song is about Ecstacy. This is more obvious in the original lyrics, which contain the line, 'They're all taking drugs with me', in place of, 'They're afraid of what they see.' The line was changed at the last minute due to pressure from label executives, but the original line is often used when the band performs the song live.

The single peaked at number 4 in the UK, but did not chart in the Netherlands. I mainly remembered it because of the bizarre music video. In it bizarrely costumed dancers leap about, fight and slap each other in time to the music; while a girl in dark green makeup emerges from an upside down boxer's speed bag and signs the lyrics.

My collection: 7" single no. 918

Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 25, 1989

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'True faith' / '1963'

Go - Scott Fitzgerald

Scott Fitzgerald was born as William McPhail in Glasgow, Scotland on April 28, 1948. He represented the UK in the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Go', written by Julie Forsyth, a former member of singing group Guys & Dolls. Scott lost the contest, by one point, to Switzerland's entry performed by Celine Dion.

'Go' is still the better song of the two: a heartfelt rendition instead of the plastic, cold and emotionless voice of Dion. The Contest juries were once again failing.

My collection: 7" single no. 796

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, April 15, 1989

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Go' / 'Love don't live here anymore'

Everybody's changing - Keane

After Keane had hit it big with 'Somewhere only we know' in 2004, they had the major task of following the single up with something equally successful. They succeeded: 'Everybody's changing' peaked at number 4 in the UK singles chart while reaching number 18 in the Netherlands.

I had actually sortof stopped buying 7" singles during that year, so when I decided to revitalise my collection last year I had to start finding those old Keane singles. I bought a whole bunch of them from an online dealer. This single was released as a limited numbered edition. This is number 28.

My collection: 7" single no. 3488
Found: eBay, received December 20, 2008
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Everybody's changing' / 'Fly to me'

Gravitate to me - The The

When it was decided that 'Gravitate to me' would be a single from The The's album 'Mind bomb', I imagine that it was a wise decision to edit the track down. The album version takes up all of eight minutes, while the 'little version' on this single is just over half that length.

Unfortunately, it didn't help matters much: the single only reached number 63 in the UK, which was a disappointment after 'The beat(en) generation' had been a top 20 hit.

My collection: 7" single no. 1007

Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Gravitate to me (little version)' / 'The violence of truth'

I need love - LL Cool J

Hip hop will always be a genre dominated by people who feel the need to use a lot of words to say... well... nothing. It doesn't happen very often - well, once every decade on average as far as I know - that I actually like a hip hop record. LL Cool J released 'I need love' in 1987 and took care of the Eighties for me.

The idea of making a rap about a troubled lovelife in a kindof ballad setting was pretty good I have to admit. He was rewarded with chart placings around the word, reaching number 8 in the UK and number 3 in the Netherlands. Just forget about all the other rubbish he's made since then. (And yes, the B-side of this single is very bad as well.)

My collection: 7" single no. 566

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'I need love' / 'My rhyme ain't done'

So lang' man träume noch leben kann - Münchener Freiheit

'So lang' man träume noch leben kann' is a fine piece of orchestral pop, performed by Münchener Freiheit with the London Symphony Orchestra and the Jackson Singers. In the English-speaking world this track is better known as 'Keeping the dream alive', but this German version was recorded for their home turf.

The single was recorded in three separate location, the back of the sleeve reveals: Münchener Freiheit were recorded in Weryton Studios in Cologne, the Jackson Singers were recorded at Far Music-Studio in Rosbach and the London Symphony Orchestra, led by Andrew Powell, were recorded at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London.

My collection: 7" single no. 3275

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 11, 2000

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'So lang' man träume noch leben kann' / 'So lang' man träume noch leben kann (instrumental version)'

New frontier - Donald Fagen

I was quick to discard Donald Fagen's single 'New frontier' as boring when it was released in 1983. Just like previous single 'I.G.Y.', I couldn't appreciate the subtle sound of this track. Chances are, I was simply to young to appreciate it.

I had to chance my point of view a decade later, when the music video (which strangely enough can not be found on YouTube) appeared regularly on MTV for some reason. I quite like the track now.

My collection: 7" single no. 2285
Found: May 6, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'New frontier (edit)' / 'Maxine'

That's love - Jim Capaldi

Jim Capaldi was born on August 2, 1944. In his teenage years he learned to play the drums. Since then, Jim made a career for himself as drummer with bands like the Hellions and Traffic.

In 1972, he released his first solo album, 'Oh how we danced'. Ten years and ten albums later, he had his first and only American top 40 hit: 'That's love', taken from the album 'Fierce heart' which was produced by Steve Winwood. The single reached number 28. The single was also released in the Netherlands, where it didn't chart.

Capaldi died of stomach cancer on January 28, 2005. He is survived by his wife and daughters.

My collection: 7" single no. 1292

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, September 1, 1990

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'That's love' / 'Runaway'

Zo gaat ons leven voorbij - Rob Meier

This is one very strange single. 'Zo gaat ons leven voorbij' ('And so our lives pass by') is a collection of short talks with several characters, including such immortal lines as 'Vreet maar uit je neus en je bent toch al zo vet' ('Eating out of your nose as if you're not fat enough').

So who's Rob Meier? Where did he come from? What did he do before and after this single? No-one really knows. There is no information about the man anywhere and the single itself did not chart in the Netherlands. All that remains is this rather strange single.


I do wonder what foreign readers make of this. Tell me your thoughts after hearing this...

My collection: 7" single no. 211
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1983
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Zo gaat ons leven voorbij' / 'Klaas is de baas'

Ich bin wie du - Marianne Rosenberg

Marianne Rosenberg was born on March 10, 1955 in Berlin, Germany. She is the fifth of seven children of Auschwitz survivor Otto Rosenberg, who was part Roma. At age fourteen, she won a talent show, after which she recorded her first single.

'Ich bin wie du' was released in late 1975, at the height of the disco craze. The single reached number 18 in Germany, but (amazingly) did better in the Netherlands, peaking at number 2 in early 1976. It has since become a disco classic.

My collection: 7" single no. 3128

Found: July 24, 1999

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Ich bin wie du' / 'Was kann ich tun'

I don't want to be a hero - Johnny hates Jazz

'I don't want to be a hero' was the second hit single for Johnny hates Jazz. The song has a strong anti-war sentiment and is written from the perspective of a soldier who is questioning their participation in what they consider an unjust war. The band's American record company were reluctant to release the single in the U.S. because of its anti-war stance.

Still, it was released in the US and peaked at number 31 in the Billboard Hot 100. Meanwhile, the single peaked at number 11 in the UK singles chart and number 25 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 1474

Found: Record exchange, London, June 30, 1991

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'I don't want to be a hero' / 'The cage'

Maybe tomorrow, maybe tonight - Earth and Fire

While Jerney Kaagman is best known in the Netherlands for the static expression on her face thanks to an overkill of botox treatments these days, she used to be the singer in a successful Dutch band called Earth & Fire. The group started out in the early Seventies as a progressive rock outfit, tending more towards pop as the Eighties came along.

'Maybe tomorrow, maybe tonight' was released in 1973 and shows a successful blend of the two genres. Slightly bombastic but very effective, this single peaked at number 3 in the Dutch Top 40 in April 1973.

My collection: 7" single no. 1138
Found: All that music, Leiden, December 28, 1989
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Maybe tomorrow, maybe tonight' / 'Theme from Atlantis'

Why do I always get it wrong - Live report

Live Report was originally called Midnight Blue and was formed by Ray Caruana, John Beeby, Brian Hodgson and Maggie Jay. Their moment of fame came in 1989 when they participated in the Eurovision Song Contest, representing the UK. Their song 'Why do I always get it wrong' finished second in the Contest, behind one of the worst winners in the history of the Contest: 'Rock me' by Riva.

I still rate this as one of the UK's best songs for Eurovision ever. Strangely enough, the citizens of the UK don't agree. The single only landed in the UK singles chart for one week, at number 73.

My collection: 7" single no. 839

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, May 27, 1989

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Why do I always get it wrong' / 'Take a chance on me'

The eve of the war - Jeff Wayne

Jeff Wayne was born on July 1, 1943. He turned to music after finishing his academic studies. In 1966, his father Jerry Wayne offered him the opportunity to score the West End musical 'Two cities'. Then Jeff produced David Essex's album 'Rock on'.

After working on his project for a long time, 1978 saw the release of the double album 'Jeff Wayne's musical version of The War of the Worlds'. 'The eve of the war' was released as its first single, achieving a lot of success in various countries. In the Netherlands, the single peaked at number 3. The version of the single is very different from the one on the album.

My collection: 7" single no. 413

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1986

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'The eve of the war' / 'The red weed'

In the name of love - Thompson Twins

Thompson Twins formed in 1977. The original line-up consisted of Tom Bailey, Pete Dodd, John Roog and Jon Podgorski. By 1981, Podgorski had left and three new members had joined: Chris Bell, former band roadie Joe Leeway and Jane Shorter. After their debut album, Shorter left, to be replaced by Alannah Currie. The band then signed to Arista Records and released their second album 'Set'.

From this album, the single 'In the name of love' was taken. Although the single did not chart in the UK, it was a top 40 hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 27. This edition, made in Germany, was pressed on red vinyl.

My collection: 7" single no. 295

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'In the name of love (edit remix)' / 'In the beginning'

Rosalyn - Vitesse

Vitesse is formed in 1975 by Herman van Boeyen, Herman Brood, Rob ten Bokum and Peter Smid. A year later, the band has already had several personnel changes and they release a debut album. When this album is not successful, Herman Brood leaves the band to go solo.

It takes several albums and singles to finally have some success in the Netherlands. In September 1982 they have their first top 10 hit with 'Rosalyn', which peaks at number 9.

My collection: 7" single no. 148

Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1982

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Rosalyn' / 'Screwed, blewed and tattooed'

Cruel summer - Bananarama

Looking out the window today, I know exactly what a 'Cruel summer' is: expecting the sun, and getting nothing but rain. Bananarama recorded a song with this title back in 1983.

'Cruel summer' was a top ten hit in Britain in 1983, but wasn't an international success until it was included in the 1984 movie 'The Karate kid'. The group didn't allow the song to be included in the film's soundtrack, but it was still their first top ten hit in the USA.

My collection: 7" single no. 1914
Found: Record fair, Leiden, May 22, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Cruel summer' / 'Summer dub'

One draw - Rita Marley

Rita Marley is the widow of legendary reggae musician Bob Marley. She was born as Alpharita Constantia Anderson on July 25, 1946. In the mid sixties Rita was introduced to Bob at Studio One. After he learned that she was a singer, she was asked to audition for the Soulettes, later known as the I Threes. The group included Rita, her cousin Constantine "Dream" Walker, and Marlene "Precious" Giffordwas. Bob became the group's mentor and manager and through working together, he and Rita fell in love.

After Marley's death, Rita recorded a few albums. This single, 'One draw', became a hit in the Netherlands, reaching number 4. The lyric contains obvious drug references, but despite this, I quite like the track.

My collection: 7" single no. 2460
Found: Record fair, September 9, 1995

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'One draw' / 'So high (One draw - dub)'

Past the mission - Tori Amos

'Past the mission' was released as the third single from Tori Amos' 1994 album 'Under the pink'. The song featured guest vocals by Trent Reznor from the band Nine Inch Nails. The single peaked at number 31 in the UK singles chart. The live version on the B-side was recorded at Vic Theatre, Chicago, March 24, 1994.

The 7" vinyl single wasn't my biggest problem to obtain: the double cd-single from the UK and the promotional cd-single featuring a spoken ad for Tori Amos' anti-rape network RAINN were a bigger problem. I'm glad to say that in the end I acquired them all.

My collection: 7" single no. 2119

Found: Record fair, June 15, 1994

Cost: 8 guilders

Tracks: 'Past the mission' / 'Past the mission (live)'

Muh - Matterhorn Project

Stella and PJ Wassermann started the Matterhorn Project in 1985 with their debut single 'Muh' (titled 'Boe' in the Netherlands as a Dutch onomatopoeia). The record shot straight to number two in the Swiss charts and stayed there for three weeks. It was also a number 5 hit in South Africa, amazingly enough.

I heard this single thanks to my sister who had bought it. I bought my copy some time later at discount price. As with many novelty singles, the joke does wear thin after many times of playing the track. But the Matterhorn Project still goes on, as is demonstrated by their own website.

My collection: 7" single no. 281

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Muh' / 'Moophonia'

Tainted love - Soft Cell

'Tainted love' was composed by Ed Cobb and originally recorded by Gloria Jones. It attained worldwide fame after this cover version by Soft Cell in 1981, reaching number one in the UK Singles Chart.

Soft Cell's record label chose to release 'Tainted love' as the band's second single (their first was 'Memorabilia', which did not chart). The label implied that this single would be Soft Cell's final release if the single did not sell. Produced by Mike Thorne, the track was recorded in a day and a half with the first vocal take being ultimately used on the record.

My collection: 7" single no. 2935

Found: January 31, 1998

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Tainted love' / 'Where did our love go'

If you had my love - Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez was born on July 24, 1969 in the South Bronx, New York. Lopez spent her entire academic career in Catholic schools, finishing at the all-girls Preston High School in the Bronx. She financed singing and dancing lessons for herself from the age of 19. In the early Nineties she got her first jobs as a dancer for New Kids on the Block.

In 1999 she started a singing career with the album 'On the 6'. Her debut single was 'If you had my love' - in my opinion her first and last good single. The single was a number one hit in America and the Netherlands, peaking at number 4 in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 3236

Found: HMV, London, 1999

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'If you had my love' / 'No me ames' (duet with Marc Anthony)

Go - Moby

From the moment the first episode of Twin Peaks was aired in the Netherlands, I became hooked. As a consequence, I made it a mission to get all the music available. And there was some: the soundtrack album by Angelo Badalamenti, the album by Julee Cruise and even a vague Dutch production on a cassette.

Unfortunately, the house scene also got their dirty little fingers on the theme of the series. The most famous example is this, 'Go' by Moby. The single made number 10 in the UK and number 6 in the Netherlands. I first bought the cd-single while on a day out in the southwest of the Netherlands, but this cd-single only contained remixes that were rid of the Twin Peaks sample. So some time later, I bought the 7" vinyl single. It's still not the kind of 'music' that I like.

My collection: 7" single no. 2075

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, February 19, 1994

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Go (radio edit)' / 'Go (Voodoo child mix)'

Refugee - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers formed in 1976 when Tom Petty, Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench left the band Mudcrutch. 'Refugee' was released in 1980 as the second single from their album 'Damn the torpedoes'. The single peaked at number 15 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 21 in the Netherlands.

I hadn't heard this song in a long time when I came across it on television in 1995. Only a week later, I found the single. I still rate this as a pretty strange coincidence.

My collection: 7" single no. 2425

Found: July 22, 1995

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Refugee' / 'It's rainin' again'

Grand hotel - Procol Harum

Procol Harum is best known for their classic single 'A whiter shade of pale', which has a notable classical influence. However, the band is also well known for incorporating blues and pop into their music. The group's members Gary Brooker and Robin Trower were always torn between these two styles, with Brooker's classical background and Trower's tendency towards blues material. When Trower left the band in 1971, Procol Harum tended more towards the classical side.

This is evidenced well in this single from 1973: 'Grand hotel' combines a stately melody with a church choir and a rather bombastic orchestral backing. The single charted in the Netherlands and peaked at number 23.

My collection: 7" single no. 2624

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 2, 1996

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Grand hotel' / 'A rum tale'

Speciale aanbieding - Het Goede Doel and VOF de Kunst

In 1988, Het Goede Doel made the album 'Iedereen is anders' ('Everyone is different'), collaborating with different Dutch artists for every track on the album. This resulted in a rather interesting album. The songs of Henk Temming and Henk Westbroek proved to be well executed by Het Goede Doel themselves, but the vocals were from various other artists such as Marco Bakker, Herman van Veen, Ramses Shaffy and Richenel. Rene Froger's career was unfortunately helped with this album too; he scored his first number 1 hit with 'Alles kan een mens gelukkig maken', after a series of flops. But hey, shit happens.

This single, 'Speciale aanbieding' ('Special discount') was performed with VOF de Kunst, which at that point was a band solely represented by singer Nol Havens. The song was not a success, because it didn't chart. But the instrumental version of the track was a nice extra goodie.

My collection: 7" single no. 810

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, May 6, 1989

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Speciale aanbieding' / 'Speciale aanbieding (instrumentale versie)'