In 1992 Vanessa Paradis moved to the United States, aged just 20. For some time, she was romantically linked with Lenny Kravitz, who also produced her first English language album, also released in 1992.
The album topped the French album chart and even reached number 45 in the UK albums chart. The first single taken from the album was the retro-sounding 'Be my baby', which made number 5 in France, number 6 in the UK singles chart and number 7 in the Dutch Top 40 - her only top 10 hit in the Netherlands.
My collection: 7" single no. 1746 Found: HMV, London, October 19, 1992 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Be my baby' / 'The future song'
Gino Vannelli sounds a lot like a crooner on this song, although 'Wild horses' is very much an eighties production. The single was taken from his 1987 album 'Big dreamers never sleep'. It was his last hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 7 in May 1987.
I'd all but forgotten this single when I suddenly heard it again sometime in 1991. I thought it was really very good and started hunting. Within a couple of weeks, I'd found my copy.
My collection: 7" single no. 1409 Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, April 3, 1991 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'Wild horses' / 'Shape me like a man'
Stef Bos was born in Veenendaal, the Netherlands on July 12, 1961. He moved to Antwerp, Belgium in 1984 and has been living there ever since. After working with Ingeborg on her 1989 Eurovision Song Contest entry 'Door de wind', he released his debut solo album 'Is dit nu later' ('So is this later') in 1990. The title track was his debut single.
The lyric of the song is based on the idea that children are promised that the world is at their feet later, when they're all grown up. The singer states that his diploma is full of lies, stating that he's an adult who knows the truth, when in reality he doesn't understand life at all. There's an anger in this song that I've always been able to relate to very well.
My collection: 7" single no. 1908 Found: Groningen, May 15, 1993 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'Is dit nou later' / 'M'n hart gevolgd'
If Steve Winwood has a signature song, this is probably it. One of the song's most iconic features, its keyboard introduction, was not originally intended to be part of the song. The track was thrown together fairly quickly after Winwood discovered that he had accidentally deleted his intended drum track introduction while preparing for vocals. He wrote a new introduction on the spot as a replacement.
The single was taken from Winwood's album 'Arc of a diver' (1980) and peaked at number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100, number 45 in the UK singles chart and number 10 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 2728 Found: September 7, 1996 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'While you see a chance' / 'Vacant chair'
In 1985, Paul Simon heard a recording of the Boyoyo Boys, which inspired him to make the album 'Graceland', an unusual sounding record incorporating pop, acapella, rock and African music. In fact it might be the first so-called 'World music' mainstream album. In 1986, the album was released to critical and commercial acclaim.
The most successful single from the album was 'You can call me Al', a top 10 hit in several countries. This single, 'The boy in the bubble' was lesser known. Personally I like the odd sound of this track, and the video for it was also interesting eye candy.
My collection: 7" single no. 2798 Found: December 14, 1996 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'The boy in the bubble' / 'Hearts and bones'
Released in June 1985, 'Soul passing through soul' was the second solo single by Toyah Willcox. Although Toyah was originally the name of her band (1979-1983), she continued with that name even when she went solo. Well, it was her own first name after all.
While 'Don't fall in love', her first solo single, had been a success, peaking at number 27 in the UK singles chart, this one only reached number 57. Personally I think this is the stronger of the two - even the B-side is very good.
My collection: 7" single no. 3108 Found: Big Company Records, London, May 13, 1999 Cost: 1 pound Tracks: 'Soul passing through soul' / 'All in a rage'
I don't know why, but I've always thought that this sleeve is a very beautiful one. It's one of those illustrations that keep impressing me, even after all these years. The song itself is equally beautiful. It was taken from McCartney's first solo album after Wings disbanded, 'McCartney II'.
The single reached number 9 in the UK singles chart in 1980. But when he was asked which of his single he wished were more successful, McCartney answered, 'There's quite a few, actually... 'Waterfalls', I think is nice.'
My collection: 7" single no. 624 Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 26, 1988 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Waterfalls' / 'Check my machine'
I don't buy many Kim Wilde singles anymore, since my collection is fairly complete. But sometimes a rare item pops up, and I have to have it. I was lucky to find this one for a fairly reasonable price - and that's including the price I had to pay for flying it over from the country where it was made!
'Young heroes' is a track from Kim Wilde's 1981 debut album. That album was released in America in 1982, so I guess it's logical that this single, made in Peru, came out in 1983. 'Young heroes' was not a single in any other country, although a flexi disc from Russia also exists. But that one is without a B-side, and this one is.
My collection: 7" single no. 4010 Found: eBay.com, received August 25, 2009 Cost: 13 euro Tracks: 'Young heroes' / 'Our town'
Released in July 1983, this single became the only (minor) hit for Naked Eyes in the UK. It peaked at number 59 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 3075 Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, May 10, 1999 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Always something there to remind me' / 'Pit stop'
In 1982, a relatively new band called U2 performed live in the Netherlands. The performance was recorded by Veronica, a Dutch broadcaster. When their recording of 'I will follow' was played a few times on the radio, the demand was so big that it was released as a single.
This live recording became U2's first hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 12 in the Dutch Top 40 in September 1982. And all the rest is history...
My collection: 7" single no. 2973 Found: March 1, 1998 Cost: 10 guilders Tracks: 'I will follow (live)' / 'Gloria (live)'
Today is the 90th birthday of Heinz Polzer, better known as drs. P. in the Netherlands. (Foreign readers are probably looking away now.) He became best known for his songs 'Veerpont' and 'Dodenrit'. Released more recently, in 1987, 'Knolraap en lof, schorseneren en prei' ('Turnips and chicory, salsify and leeks') narrowly missed the Dutch Top 40, but it also rather wellknown these days.
Drs. P. has always sought his challenge in writing poetic lyrics about unpoetic subjects. The 'Tuindersliedboek' ('Songbook for gardeners') contains loads more poems about fruit and vegetables. See the dossier about drs. P. from the National library of the Netherlands for more information about drs. P.
My collection: 7" single no. 1153 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, January 19, 1990 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'Knolraap en lof, schorseneren en prei' / 'Olijf', 'Het land is moe'
Although this song sounds innocent and playful, rumour has it that Prince wrote this song for Martika with something else than cooking on his mind. When you see 'kitchen' and 'oven' as a metaphor for something, this track takes on an entirely different meaning.
In America this suggestive song failed to become a hit. In the UK, it reached number 17 whereas in the Netherlands it only managed a number 38 placing in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 2503 Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 30, 1995 Cost: 60p Tracks: 'Martika's kitchen' / 'Broken heart'
Green Jelly band members Marc Levinthal and Bill Manspeaker wrote 'Three little pigs' after a 'late-night drinkfest' at Zatar's in Hollywood. It is a re-telling of the classic fairy tale Three Little Pigs, with modern twists such as pot-smoking pigs, an appearance by Rambo and a Harley-Davidson-riding wolf.
The song's claymation music video received regular rotation on MTV. As a result, it became a hit in various countries, reaching number 5 in the UK singles chart and number 15 in the Dutch Top 40. This single, released in the UK, was pressed on pink vinyl.
My collection: 7" single no. 2891 Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, October 29, 1997 Cost: 2,5 pounds Tracks: 'Three little pigs' / 'Obey the cowgod'
Duran Duran worte and recorded 'Hungry like the wolf' on a Saturday in the spring of 1982 at the basement studios of EMI's London headquarters. Rhodes started the song's demo in the morning with a sequencer; the song was built throughout the day as each band member arrived, and by the evening it was essentially complete. The laugh at the beginning of the song and the screams during the song's fade-out were performed by Nick Rhodes’ girlfriend at the time.
The single was another top 10 hit for the band, peaking at number 5 in the UK singles chart. It also reached number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100.
My collection: 7" single no. 3246 Found: London, October 20, 2000 Cost: 1 pound Tracks: 'Hungry like the wolf' / 'Careless memories (live)'
After All about Eve disbanded, Julianne Regan went on to work with Tim McTighe (ex-Powder) to work on new songs. Levitation guitarist Christian Hayes and ex-All about Eve drummer Mark Price were also involved in the band, which was to be called The Innocent. Just before the release of their first single, the name changed to Mice.
'Mat's Prozac' was the first single taken from their album. Since I was such a big fan of All about Eve's music, I bought it right away - but I did have some doubts whether this was the kind of music I really liked. The single did not chart in the UK, let alone anywhere else. This single was pressed on yellow vinyl.
My collection: 7" single no. 2850 Found: Record fair, 1995 Cost: 10 guilders Tracks: 'Mat's Prozac' / 'Bang bang'
'Cities in dust' was released as the first single from the seventh studio album by Siouxie and the Banshees: 'Tinderbox' (1985). The lyric of the song obliquely describes the city of Pompeii, destroyed in a volcanic eruption in the year 79. Imagery describing the volcano and its magma chamber, the condition of the victims of the eruption, and the subsequent discovery and excavation of the city comprises the bulk of the lyrics.
Although the subject matter was still dark, the band seemed to be headed in a more poppy area of music, leaving their goth roots. The single made number 21 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 2017 Found: Record Exchange, London, October 19, 1993 Cost: 60p Tracks: 'Cities in dust' / 'An execution'
After being away from the music business for five years, Ten Sharp returned in the form of a duo. Michiel Hoogenboezem and Niels Hermes picked up where their three band members had thrown in the towel - and their reward was big. Where chart success eluded Ten Sharp in the Eighties, they had a European hit on their hands with 'You', released in 1991.
Not only did the band reach number 3 in the Netherlands (a position they'd never achieved in the Eighties), it also went number 1 in France, Norway and Sweden. In the UK, the single peaked at number 10. All of a sudden, Ten Sharp had become popular.
My collection: 7" single no. 1430 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, April 13, 1991 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'You' / 'You (instrumental)'
The 1991 single 'Thank you world' by World Party was released in between albums. 1990's 'Goodbye Jumbo' had been relatively successful, but the next album would only appear in 1993.
The chart performance of this single was disappointing, reaching number 68 in the UK singles chart during a one week chart run. Even the cover of the Beatles' 'Happiness is a warm gun' on the cd-single didn't help matters. This 7" single features two versions of 'Thank you world'. To be honest: I don't play it much myself.
My collection: 7" single no. 1488 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, July 4, 1991 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Thank you world' / 'Thank you world (Peter Lorimer remix)'
Time for some intellectual music again. Back in 1990, I simply couldn't resist a track that had the great lyric 'Get up, get up, get busy do it / I wanna see you party'. It was the second single by Technotronic from their debut album 'Pump up the jam'. Somehow this single managed to hit the top 10 all over the world. It has to be because of the fact that people simply cannot resist a song with such beauty and depth.
The sheer vacuousness of it all is what drove me to buy this - and to use it as an example of what I simply cannot understand about other people's taste in music of course.
My collection: 7" single no. 1172 Found: Melody Maker, February 17, 1990 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Get up! (Before the night is over)' / 'Get up (Before the night is over) (instrumental)'
The most interesting singles are those you can't find in the shops. And then there's the singles released in other countries. Combine the two, and there you have it: the foreign promo. This particular one is a promo 7" single for Sade's 'Hang on to your love', released in Spain.
Not only did it have a different sleeve, it's also a one-sided single, which means that the B-side is missing here. A lovely item, which I picked up a long time ago!
My collection: 7" single no. 1955 Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 25, 1993 Cost: 10 guilders Track: 'Hang on to your love'
After I found the 12" single of 'She's strange', the 7" single followed rather quickly. You know how it is: you search for something for years, then you decide to buy another version and suddenly what you're looking for appears.
Taken from the album of the same name, the single version is edited from the 7'12 album version. It reached number 37 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 2475 Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 16, 1995 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'She's strange' / 'Cameo megamix'
'Memories' was the last single to be released from Beverley Craven's self-titled debut album. The song already foreshadowed the sappy ballads that would appear on her later work. It also showed that the audiences weren't impressed: the single stalled at number 68 in the UK singles chart.
The single was mainly released to promote the live video that was released. Beverley Craven in concert: not the most exciting show, but (mostly) good songs nonetheless. This 7" single featured one live track on the B-side, the two cd-singles would feature three more.
My collection: 7" single no. 2745 Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 21, 1996 Cost: 5 guilders Tracks: 'Memories' / 'Holding on (live)'
A-ha was going through troubled times when they released their 1993 album 'Memorial beach'. There were internal conflicts and conflicts with their record company. And on top of it all, the chart performance of the album was disappointing. The album was entirely recorded at Prince's Paisley Park studios and lacked a lot of what made previous A-ha albums so special.
'Dark is the night' was the first single taken from the album, and the only single from the album to reach the top 20 outside of Norway: it reached number 19 in the UK. It was also the last A-ha single to be released in the United States.
My collection: 7" single no. 1948 Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 25, 1993 Cost: 8 guilders Tracks: 'Dark is the night' / 'Angel in the snow (instrumental)'
Robert Palmer's sixth solo album 'Clues' was released in 1980 and 'Looking for clues' was released as the second single from that album.
The single peaked at number 33 in the UK, number 7 in Canada and number 15 in the Netherlands. It was more successful than the previous single, 'Johnny and Mary', which peaked at number 44, 32 and 21 respectively.
My collection: 7" single no. 1045 Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989 Cost: 30p Tracks: 'Looking for clues' / 'Good care of you'
'Crack the shutters' was the second single from Snow Patrol's most recent album 'A hundred million suns'. Band leader Gary Lightbody has described the song as 'the purest love song I've ever written. Even more so than 'Chasing cars'. It's luxuriating in the beauty and wonder of someone you love with all your heart.'
The single reached number 43 in the UK singles chart and number 14 in the Dutch Top 40. This 7" single is a numbered limited edition; I've got number 259. I've also got number 1513 so that one's for sale if you want it.
My collection: 7" single no. 3544 Found: Recordstore.co.uk, received January 10, 2009 Cost: 3 pounds Tracks: 'Crack the shutters' / 'One day like this'
'The woman in me' was the third and final single from Donna Summer's self-titled 1982 album. It was a ballad produced by Quincy Jones, following after the worldwide hit 'State of independence'. While on that song Michael Jackson sang backing vocals, here the background vocals are performed by James Ingram. The single stalled at number 62 in the UK singles chart but reached number 7 in the Dutch Top 40.
I've got two copies of the single: one Belgian pressing (pictured above) and one German pressing. When I bought the German one, I didn't recognise the sleeve so I thought I didn't have the song. I've no idea when I bought the German single, because when I already have a single it doesn't get into my administration...
My collection: 7" single no. 2594 Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, December 30, 1995 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'The woman in me' / 'Livin' in America'
'Loverboy' was the second single taken from Billy Ocean's 1984 album 'Suddenly'. It was produced by Robert John 'Mutt' Lange. The single peaked at number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 15 on the UK singles chart.
This 12" single features an extended version of the track, adding a lot of instrumental passages and synth riffs that makes the song so delicious in the first place. After buying this 12" single I found out that a limited edition was pressed on coloured vinyl. Oh well, you can't win them all...
My collection: 12" single no. 335 Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 1995 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Loverboy (extended)' / 'Loverboy (dub mix)'
While Righeira became famous with two summer hits with Spanish titles, 'Vamos a la playa' and 'No tengo dinero', Stefano Rota and Stefano Righi were actually from Italy. Indeed, the sound of their singles is very 'Italo disco'.
'No tengo dinero' was released in 1984 and reached number 10 in the Dutch Top 40. It was also a hit in the rest of Europe, although it didn't chart in the UK (where 'Vamos a la playa' had reached number 53).
My collection: 7" single no. 2951 Found: Record fair, Leiden, February 7, 1998 Cost: 1 guilder Track: 'No tengo dinero' / 'Dinero scratch'
In the summer of 1987, MTV Europe started broadcasting. I was there when it happened and I think I saw about 70% of everything they broadcasted during the first few weeks. I quickly concluded that MTV wasn't going to make me happy: they had a very limited stock of music videos and they kept playing the same titles over and over again. I think I saw the video for 'It's a sin' eight times every single day.
Which is why to this day I'm a bit bored by this song. It is a good track, I simply heard it too damn much. The single was a massive hit, topping the charts in Austria, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. In the UK, the single peaked at number 3.
My collection: 7" single no. 551 Found: Tower Records, London, 1987 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'It's a sin' / 'You know where you went wrong'
'Shocked' was written and produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman for Kylie Minogue’s third album 'Rhythm of love' (1990). The song was never intended for single release but when remixed by DNA and featured a rap penned and performed by Pauline Bennett a.k.a Jazzi P the commercial potential was big enough to warrant a release. (Obviously I prefer the B-side version which isn't tainted by the inane rantings of a madwoman.)
The single peaked at number 6 in the UK singles chart and at number 2 in Ireland.
My collection: 7" single no. 3323 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, March 24, 2001 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Shocked (DNA mix)' / 'Shocked (Harding/Curnow mix)'
Suzanne Vega had a few hits under her belt when she released '99.9F°' in 1992. Personally, I think it's her best work, because it mixes the sometimes rather dull folk influences she was working with up to that point with industrial music and dance beats.
'In Liverpool', the first single taken from the album, was a beautiful ballad with a strong melody. The single only charted in the UK, but stalled at number 52.
My collection: 7" single no. 2693 Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, July 3, 1996 Cost: 1,5 pounds Tracks: 'In Liverpool' / 'Some journey (live)'
'Hold me now' can be considered the Thompson Twins biggest hit. It reached number 4 in the UK singles chart and was a top 10 hit in Europe and America. Alannah Currie from the band later commented: 'The biggest trouble that we've had basically is that the song was a huge hit, it was really bigall over the world. Which is great, but it was just an accidental thing. It was just a song that we wrote. But after that then, we got everybody—managers, the record company—on our back to write 'Hold me now, part 2' and harrassing you to try and find a formula. But we can't really. We'll never find a formula for what we did. And that upsets some of them.'
I was quite shocked to find that I had to pay 5 guilders for this picture disc six years after its release, while the song was never a hit in the Netherlands. But oh well, it was still worth it.
My collection: 7" single no. 1105 Found: All that music, Leiden, November 11, 1989 Cost: 5 guilders Tracks: 'Hold me now' / 'Let loving start'
La Roux is a synthpop duo consisting of Eleanor Jackson and Ben Langmaid. 'Bulletproof' is their third single, released in June 2009. Jackson commented about the lyric of the song: 'Bulletproof is just about looking at a situation that's usually a reoccurring one. It could be to do with anything in your life - whatever you want it to be about.'
The 7" single release is a square picture disc with two playable sides, although the B-side basically consists of an empty groove. The single topped the UK singles chart, but so far it hasn't charted in the Netherlands.
My collection: 7" single no. 4009 Found: eBay.co.uk, received August 22, 2009 Cost: 2 pounds Track: 'Bulletproof'
Recently a luxury box set of Mike Oldfield's 'Tubular bells' was released. The so-called 'Ultimate edition' features a new stereo mix of the original album, demos, a surround sound mix, a book and a vinyl LP. When I was listening to all this, I also heard 'Mike Oldfield's single', a single released in 1974 to promote the album. It was a beautiful outtake from part 2 of 'Tubular bells'. (Part 1 is universally acclaimed for its 'Exorcist' theme, but part 2 is actually lesser known by most people).
I decided to try and get my hands on a copy - which is a lot harder than it sounds. I found a copy but unfortunately it does not have a picture sleeve. Well, anyway, it contains the music and that's the most important thing. The single reached number 31 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 4008 Found: 45rpm.co.uk, received August 22, 2009 Cost: 4 pounds Tracks: 'Theme from 'Tubular bells'' / 'Froggy went a-courting'
Before Linda Martin won the 1992 Eurovision Song Contest, representing Ireland with 'Why me', she participated once before in 1984. Her song, 'Terminal 3' was written by Johnny Logan, who won the 1980 edition of the Contest for Ireland. She almost won the 1984 Eurovision Song Contest, but received 8 points less than the winning song ('Diggi loo diggy ley'), and thus came second.
While I was not impressed with the winning song, I was glad that Ireland didn't win. The song sounded quite boring at the time. It's not so bad now, when you hear it.
My collection: 7" single no. 4007 Found: Record fair, Den Haag, August 22, 2009 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'Terminal 3' / 'Feels like I'm walking in my sleep'
'Honey honey' was originally written by Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Stig Anderson and released as a single by Abba in April 1974. The single was not released in the UK.
British disco singer Polly Brown, formerly fronting the band Pickettywitch, recorded a cover of the song together with singer Tony Jackson. They called themselves Sweet Dreams. This cover version reached number 10 on the UK singles chart. In the USA, Abba's original song had to compete with Sweet Dreams' cover version. Although the Sweet Dreams single only reached number 68 in the US Billboard Hot 100, while Abba's version reached number 27, it may have somewhat hindered its success.
My collection: 7" single no. 4006 Found: Record fair, Den Haag, August 22, 2009 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'Honey honey' / 'I surrender'
The song 'Waterloo' really needs no introduction. It was a massive hit for Abba after they won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with it. Since then, numerous cover versions have been recorded and released. Some of them were very imaginative and original, other were carbon copies of the original. This one is more like the latter, but in a rock arrangement.
Dr. and the Medics previously had a big hit in the UK with their cover version of 'Spirit in the sky'. This song was less successful: released in November 1986, it reached number 45 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 4005 Found: Record fair, Den Haag, August 22, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Waterloo' / 'Damaged brains'
I've only recently started to collect singles by Risqué. It's not necessarily because I'm so impressed by their music, because it's all very lightweight pop. But lightweight pop can be entertaining as well - and that's why I collect it.
'Starlight' was the second hit single for the four Dutch ladies. It wasn't a big hit though: it only reached number 35 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 4004 Found: Record fair, Den Haag, August 22, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Starlight' / 'Starlight (instrumental)'
If my collection would be all about chart hits, I would be very satisfied with the fact that I completed the list of chart hits by Future World Orchestra today. They were in the Dutch Top 40 four times, and since I already had two hit singles by them, the two hit singles I bought today complete the set.
'I'm not afraid of the future' was released in April 1982 and reached number 26 in the Dutch Top 40. As good as the A-side is, the B-side sounds very much like a Dutchman trying to sing in English.
My collection: 7" single no. 4003 Found: Record fair, Den Haag, August 22, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'I'm not afraid of the future' / 'Just for you'
Time has been kind to the debut single of the Future World Orchestra. The duo called themselves this in 1981 because of their use of synthesizers, which were a relatively new phenomenon back then.
'Desire' was relased in November 1981 and reached number 20 in the Dutch Top 40. It was a promising start for the Dutch duo, although they would never reach a higher position in the chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 4002 Found: Record fair, Den Haag, August 22, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Desire' / 'Casablanca nights'
When Abba broke up in 1982, the world still expected to hear more from the band. They never officially announced that they would never record together again, so the hope was still there when this single was released.
'Thank you for the music' was originally released in 1977, but in 1984 it was re-released to promote a new compilation album entitled 'From Abba with love', which contained a curious collection of tracks: eight hit singles, one solo track by Frida, one solo track by Agnetha, two B-sides and two album tracks. Both the album and the single were only released in the Netherlands. The single was not a big success: while the album topped the Dutch albums chart, this single only reached number 38 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 4001 Found: Record fair, Den Haag, August 22, 2009 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'Thank you for the music' / 'Medley: Pick a bale of cotton-On top of old Smokey-Midnight special'
Today is a big day in the history of my record collection: I've bought my 4000th single! Having almost reached the age of 39, this means that on average I've bought 102 singles per year. Although I ordered a few singles abroad a week ago, none of them appeared in my mailbox, so I still bought my 4000th single during a small record fair today. And it's not just any single!
'I love it loud' was a track from Kiss's 1982 album 'Creatures of the night'. This single first came to my attention back in 1982, when my sister bought a copy in our local record shop. The movable tongue is a very distinctive feature in the sleeve for this single (see the video below). And the track itself is remarkable as well, with a 'false fade' at the end. Ever since that day, I've been searching for this single. I only saw it a couple of times during record fairs for (much) more than 20 euros. The strange thing is, it never appears on eBay as well (although right now a copy with a different sleeve is listed).
My copy of the single carries a sticker on the back, with the text: 'Sample record - not for sale'. I have to assume that this version of the single was a promotional item, and not too many of them exist. It's not bad to have a collectors item like this as my number 4000.
My collection: 7" single no. 4000 Found: Record fair, Den Haag, August 22, 2009 Cost: 5 euro Tracks: 'I love it loud' / 'Killer'
I recently found out that Puck's brother is also a follower of this blog. All you other readers will not know him, so here's a short introduction: he likes early eighties music as long as it's not 'commercial'. That notion is in itself a curious one, since every artist is in the music business to sell records after all. When they don't succeed, it's usually not by design and a cause for a lot of frustration.
Anyway, since I appreciate all of my readers, I like to oblige. So here's an obscure Split Enz single. Released in 1981, it was a top 10 hit in Australia and New Zealand, but it didn't chart in other territories. This copy was pressed in America and is one of those 'laser etched' singles. I only have two of those, the other one being Split Enz's 'History never repeats'!
My collection: 7" single no. 2616 Found: Record fair, Den Haag, February 10, 1996 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'One step ahead' / 'In the wars'
'After the love has gone' was a 1979 hit single for Earth Wind & Fire, taken from their 1979 album 'I am'. In America, the song was nominated for a Grammy for Record of the Year and won for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.
The single sold over a million copies in the USA alone, peaking at number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100, number 4 in the UK singles chart and a relatively low number 20 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 3288 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 24, 2001 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'After the love has gone' / 'Rock that!'
The song 'Rio' was inspired when Duran Duran toured Brazil and decided to write a song about their experiences there; however, the song references the Rio Grande which forms the border between Texas and Mexico. Nick Rhodes created the unusual sound at the beginning of the song by throwing several small metal rods onto the strings of a grand piano in the studio. The recorded sound was then reversed to create the intro. The laughter on the track was that of Rhodes' girlfriend at the time.
'Rio' was Duran Duran's fourth top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at number 9. The single performed even better in Canada, reaching number 3.
My collection: 7" single no. 1002 Found: HMV, London, October 16, 1989 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Rio' / 'The chauffeur (Blue silver)'
For some reason, I always associated Paul McCartney's 'Coming up' with mice. It must be because of all the high notes in the track. Although the single was released as a solo release by McCartney, the B-side was credited to Paul McCartney & Wings. The live version was recorded in Glasgow, Scotland on December 17, 1979 and 'Lunchbox/Odd sox' was recorded during the sessions for the 1975 Wings album 'Venus & Mars'.
My copy of the single has the A-side label on both sides, which could make this a collectors item. The single peaked at number 22 in the Dutch Top 40, number 2 in the UK singles chart and it topped the US Billboard Hot 100.
My collection: 7" single no. 2468 Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 16, 1995 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Coming up' / 'Coming up (live version)', 'Lunchbox/Odd sox'
'Ain't no sunshine' was originally released in 1971 by Bill Withers on his album 'Just as I am'. He was still working at a factory that made toilet seats for Boeing 747s when he recorded the song. It was originally released as the B-side of the single 'Harlem', but when DJ's played the B-side instead, it became a huge hit.
Ben Liebrand made the 'Eclipse mix' of 'Ain't no sunshine' in 1989, after his remix of 'Lovely day' (another Bill Withers track) was a hit in 1988. This single was less successful, reaching number 26 in the Dutch Top 40 only.
My collection: 7" single no. 715 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, January 6, 1989 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Ain't no sunshnie (Eclipse mix)' / 'Ain't no sunshine'
In 1992 Vanessa Paradis moved to the United States, aged just 20. For some time, she was romantically linked with Lenny Kravitz, who also produced her first English language album, also released in 1992.
