The unforgettable fire - U2

This month sees the release of the deluxe edition of U2's classic 1984 album 'The unforgettable fire'. It is a milestone in the history of music, and best of all: the deluxe edition will contain a bonus disc with two previously unreleased tracks from the album sessions, plus the B-sides and remixes that have been so hard to find until now.

This is the double single edition of the title track, released in 1985. I was truly in love with this track at the time, and would have killed to get the double single my sister came home with in May of that year. Fortunately, these double singles weren't so hard to find in the Netherlands (unlike many other double singles at the time). Five tracks of pure genius. U2 were never again as good as they were back then.

My collection: 7" single no. 286
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 12 guilders
Tracks: 'The unforgettable fire' / 'A sort of homecoming' // 'Love comes tumbling', 'Sixty seconds in kingdom come' / 'The three sunrises'

Escape (The Pina Colada song) - Rupert Holmes

Contrary to the belief of some, Rupert Holmes did not wrote 'Escape' after a similar event as told in the song happened to himself. Instead, the lyrics were inspired by a want-ad he read while idly perusing the personals. As Holmes commented, 'I thought, what would happen to me if I answered this ad? I'd go and see if it was my own wife who was bored with me.'

The chorus originally started with 'If you like Humphrey Bogart', which Holmes changed at the last minute, replacing the actor with the name of the first exotic cocktail he could think of. The song landed at number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 in December 1979 and number 23 in the UK singles chart in January 1980. In the Netherlands, the single reached number 13 in February 1980.

My collection: 7" single no. 299
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Escape (The Pina Colada song)' / 'Drop it'

Poing - Rotterdam Termination Source

Rotterdam Termination Source is a Dutch house act, formed by producers Maurice Steenbergen and Danny Scholte. The duo joined Paul Elstak's hardcore label Rotterdam Records in 1992 and released their debut single 'Poing'. It was nothing but a novelty record, combining the sound of a computerized bouncing ball to a hard beat, the kind of mindless noise that was becoming popular around that time with xtc-filled brainless mongrels.

The single became a number 2 hit in the Netherlands, shamelessly exposing the lack of taste at the time. Although it has to be assumed there were also people who were, like me, just buying this for the ridiculousness of it all. The track was voted 'worst song of all times' on a Dutch radio station in 2000.

My collection: 7" single no. 1691
Found: Melody Maker, August 1, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Poing' / 'Bonus poing'

Nineteen forever - Joe Jackson

In the Nineties, Joe Jackson moved away from pop music, but not before he released one of his best albums, 'Blaze of glory'. The first single from the album was 'Nineteen forever', a great energetic song. The single reached number 27 in the Dutch Top 40, but did not chart in the UK.

Jackson felt the album was one of his best efforts and toured to support it with an eleven piece band in the USA and Europe from June to November 1989. He was disappointed with both the commercial reaction and his record label's lack of support. He parted ways with A&M, who then released the 1990 compilation 'Steppin' out: the very best of Joe Jackson'.

My collection: 7" single no. 840
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, May 27, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Nineteen forever' / 'Acropolis now'

Let me live - Queen

Queen's record company had a taste for the bizarre when they released 'Let me live' as a single, given the fact that lead singer Freddie Mercury was already dead for almost five years. Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor and Brian May shared lead vocal duties on this song. Rebecca Leigh-White, Gary Martin, Catherine Porter and Miriam Stockley provided the backing vocals on this track.

The fourth single from the album 'Made in heaven' reached number 9 in the UK singles chart, but only number 36 in the Netherlnads. But then, this limited edition 7" picture disc was only released in the UK of course. Cd-singles are just not that appealing, whatever anyone says.

My collection: 7" single no. 2650
Found: HMV, London, June 28, 1996
Cost: 2,3 pounds
Tracks: 'Let me live' / 'Fat bottomed girls (digital remaster)', 'Bicycle race (digital remaster)'

Halt mich - Herbert Grönemeyer

Back in 1988, it was a strange thing to get my head around: a German singing a lovesong. At the time, all the history lessons were telling us that Germans were cruel people who were responsible for atrocious crimes just short of a half century ago. And here came Herbert Grönemeyer with one of the most beautiful lovesongs ever written.

I was only 18 when this song was released, young enough to think in black and white, good and bad. These days we know that you can't hold everyone responsible for decades on end. Fortunately, the single was rewarded with a decent placing in the Dutch chart: it reached number 23.

My collection: 7" single no. 677
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, November 12, 1988
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Halt mich' / 'Lesmona'

Because of love - Janet Jackson

'Because of love' was released as the fourth single from Janet Jackson's 1993 album 'Janet' in January 1994. The track is a rather traditional love song and was produced, like the album, by Jackson, James Harris III and Terry lewis.

The single peaked at number 10 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 19 in the UK singles chart, but it didn't chart in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 2080
Found: March 8, 1994
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Because of love' / 'Because of love (Frankie & David 7")'

Really saying something - Bananarama

'He was really sayin' somethin'' was written by Motown songwriters Norman Whitfield, William "Mickey" Stevenson and Edward Holland, Jr. in 1964. The song was originally recorded by the Velvelettes in 1964.

Bananarama recorded their version of the song as the first single from their debut album 'Deep sea skiving'. Fun Boy Three provided backing vocals, after they had a hit with Bananarama earlier in the year with 'It ain't what you do (It's the way that you do it'. With this single they had another hit together, peaking at number 5 in the UK singles chart and number 11 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1976
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, October 17, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Really saying something' / 'Give us back our cheap fares'

Paperback writer - The Beatles

This single is part of a boxed set of all of Beatles 7" singles, reissued some time in the Seventies. I wish I could find that box set for a relatively cheap price, but so do many others. Every time it pops up on eBay, you can spend a fortune on it. So for now, I'll have to be satisfied with the three separate singles I bought in 1986. This is the first of them.

'Paperback writer' was originally released in 1966. Written in the form of a letter from an aspiring author to a publisher, 'Paperback writer' was the first Beatles single that was not a love song. The single reached number 1, well, everywhere.

My collection: 7" single no. 455
Found: Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Paperback writer' / 'Rain'

We close our eyes - Go west

'We close our eyes' was the debut single by Go West, composed by both members Peter Cox and Richard Drummie. The accompanying music video was directed by Godley & Creme. The single spent fourteen weeks on the UK singles chart, peaking at number 5. In the Netherlands, it reached number 22.

I bought the 12" single quite quickly after the release of this single, but the 7" single followed almost a decade after its original release.

My collection: 7" single no. 2289
Found: May 6, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'We close our eyes' / 'Missing persons'

Jump in the river - Sinéad O'Connor

After three singles from her debut album 'The lion and the cobra' were released, Sinéad O'Connor released a stand-alone single in the autumn of 1988. 'Jump in the river' was only a minor success, stalling at number 81 in the UK singles chart, although it did reach number 29 in Ireland.

The B-side is a live recording of the track 'Never get old' from the aforementioned debut album. It was recorded at Dominion theatre in London on June 3, 1988.

My collection: 7" single no. 2549
Found: November 2, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Jump in the river' / 'Never get old (live)'

I've seen that face before - Grace Jones

'I've seen that face before' was the third single taken from Grace Jones' 1981 album 'Nightclubbing'. The song combines 'Libertango', an Argentine tango classic written by bandoneonist Ástor Piazzolla, with a reggae arrangement en new lyrics by Grace Joes and Barrey Reynolds.

This version of the single, which I've only seen once (when I bought it), features not only a beautiful sleeve, but also a Spanish version on the B-side. It replaces the French spoken verse 'Tu cherches quoi ? À rencontrer la mort ? Tu te prends pour qui ? Toi aussi tu détestes la vie...' with a literal translation in Spanish. The single reached number 2 in the Dutch Top 40. Bizarrely, it did not chart in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 2995
Found: London, May 27, 1998
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'I've seen that face before' / 'I've seen that face before (Spanish version)'

Waiting in vain - Bob Marley and the Wailers

Musicians always live forever. After the death of Bob Marley, there was no shortage of new albums and singles. 'Waiting in vain' was released as a single when the compilation album 'Legend' appeared in 1984. It was originally recorded in 1977 for Marley's album 'Exodus'. This single was mixed by Julian Mendelsohn.

The original release of 'Waiting in vain' reached number27 in the UK singles chart. This new release reached number 31 in the summer of 1984. In the Netherlands, the song only charted once in 1984, reaching number 32.

My collection: 7" single no. 1890
Found: Record fair, May 2, 1993
Cost: 4 guilders
Tracks: 'Waiting in vain' / 'Blackman redemption'

Half a minute - Matt Bianco

Basia was the lead singer on this single by Matt Bianco, released in the autumn of 1984. While it only reached number 23 in the UK singles chart, it spent 10 weeks in the chart, which was quite a feat.

The summery video was a regular on television, even in the Netherlands, where it did not chart. I found the single years later. I think I must have seen it many times before I bought it, but the sleeve is a bit inconspicuous.

My collection: 7" single no. 1764
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 20, 1992
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Half a minute' / 'Matts Mood II'

The sign - Ace of base

'The sign' was the first single taken from Ace of Base's second album 'Happy nation'. The single continued the success story of the Swedish band, as it reached number 1 in America, Australia, Canada, Argentina, Spain and Austria. In the Netherlands, it reached number 3 and in the UK singles chart, it peaked at number 2.

After this single, Ace of base continued to release albums and singles, but this was their last big hit worldwide.

My collection: 7" single no. 2490
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 30, 1995
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'The sign' / 'The sign (long version)'

You'll never be so wrong - Hot Chocolate

'You'll never be so wrong' was written by Ricky and Marty Wilde, who had just been successful launching Kim Wilde, their sister and daughter respectively, as an artist with the singles 'Kids in America'. Producer Mickie Most had just accepted 'Chequered love' as her second single, but they still needed a B-side. They recorded 'You'll never be so wrong', but Most responded that the track was too good to be a B-side. He wanted to give Hot Chocolate a shot with the track.

And so Hot Chocolate released this single in May 1981. It reached number 51 in the UK singles chart, but did considerably better in Europe. In the Netherlands, for instance, it reached number 23. Kim Wilde's version of the track subsequently appeared as a track on her debut album.

My collection: 7" single no. 581
Found: 1987
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'You'll never be so wrong' / 'Robot love'

Till you come back to me - Leo Sayer

'Till you come back to me' is a cover of a song originally performed by Stevie Wonder. Leo Sayer recorded it on his tenth album, 'Have you ever been in love', which was released in 1983. When it was released as a single, it effectively ended a run of chart hits Sayer had since the early Seventies. The single reached number 51 in the UK singles chart.

I heard the track on the radio very frequently back in 1983 and 1984. When I found this single a decade later, I was pretty happy as I'd never seen a copy!

My collection: 7" single no. 1943
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 11, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Till you come back to me' / 'Train'

You keep me hangin' on - The Supremes

'You keep me hangin' on' was written by the famous Holland-Dozier-Holland writing team. It was recorded by The Supremes in 1966. Many elements of the recording, including the guitars, the drums, and Diana Ross's lead vocal, were multitracked (the parts were recorded multiple times and the takes layered over one another). This was done to create a fuller sound than the previous Supremes records. The song was recorded nine different times with the Supremes and session band The Funk Brothers before the producers got the version they were finally satisfied with.

'You keep me hangin' on' was the first single from the Supremes' 1967 album 'The Supremes sing Holland-Dozier-Holland'. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks in November 1966. In the Netherlands, it reached number 26.

My collection: 7" single no. 2979
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, April 4, 1998
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'You keep me hangin' on' / 'Hang on Sloopy'

Waltz darling - Malcolm McLaren

In 1989, Malcolm McLaren released the album 'Waltz darling', with tracks inspired by funk, disco and the new dance craze 'vogueing'. While for once McLaren's instincts failed him (there was no sudden interest in waltz music) it still helped to spread the news about the previously underground practice of vogueing. The most famous track coming forth from this craze is of course Madonna's 'Vogue', but Malcolm McLaren's track is more interesting than that one.

The single reached number 19 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 31 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1040
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Waltz darling' / 'Deep in vogue'

Wisdom chain - Jon and Vangelis

Most people know the songs 'I'll find my way home' and 'I hear you now', recorded by Jon and Vangelis in the Eighties. The fact that they released another album together in 1991 is less wellknown. The album was called 'Page of life' and 'Wisdom chain' was the first single released from that album. The single flopped, and there were no further albums by the duo.

The album 'Page of life' was re-released in 1998, but it included different tracks of which Vangelis did not approve.

My collection: 7" single no. 1605
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, March 28, 1992
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Wisdom chain' / 'Page of life'

Refuse/Resist - Sepultura

The music of Sepultura is loud, very loud. And for a while in the early Nineties, I was into loud sounds. The albums 'Blessed are the sick' by Morbid Angel and 'Arise' by Sepultura were on my favourites list and it was logical for me to start searching for singles by these bands. As far as I know, no 7" singles were released from these albums.

In 1994, Sepultura released the album 'Chaos A.D.' and the EP 'Refuse/Resist'. The intro to the song is the heartbeat of Max Cavalera's then-unborn first son Zyon. Needless to say, this music never became mainstream, but it did reach number 51 in the UK singles chart. Perhaps the poster sleeve of this release was an explanation?

My collection: 7" single no. 2079
Found: Amsterdam, March 8, 1994
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Refuse/Resist' / 'Inhuman nature', 'Propaganda'

One of us - Abba

'One of us' was one of the last songs Abba recorded for their final album 'The visitors'. Like more songs around that time, Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson were writing about their personal lives, which involved the divorce of their female band members, Agnetha and Frida respecrtively. Despite the somewhat depressing context and reservations by manager Stig Anderson, 'One of us' was released as the first single from 'The Visitors'. It reached number 1 in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Ireland. In the UK, it peaked at number 3.

The song was parodied in the UK television programme 'Not the nine o'clock news', in which the chorus was sung as 'One of us is ugly, 1 of us is cute / One of us you'd like to see in her birthday suit / Two of us write music, two have way a song /Sorry, in translation, that line come out wrong'.

My collection: 7" single no. 109
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1981
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'One of us' / 'Should I laugh or cry'

Freedom - George Michael

A long time before I bought the UK edition of the single 'Freedom' by George Michael, I bought the European one. It had a different B-side, the one that was used as the B-side of 'Waiting for that day' in the UK. The front sleeve was the same, however, which may have been confusing to some.

This single reached number 8 in the Dutch Top 40, which was 20 places higher than the UK. I wonder if the B-side helped it do so well?

My collection: 7" single no. 1347
Found: Melody Maker, October 27, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Freedom' / 'Fantasy'

Paradise - Sade

'Paradise' was the second single from Sade's 1988 album 'Stronger than pride'. It was released in the summer of 1988 and reached number 16 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the UK, it reached number 29 and in the Netherlands it peaked at number 26.

My copy of the single is an American pressing. For some reason, a European pressing was hard to come by at the time.

My collection: 7" single no. 641
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, July 23, 1988
Cost: 4 guilders
Tracks: 'Paradise' / 'Super bien total'

Lucky one - Amy Grant

'Lucky one' was released as the first single from the album 'House of love' by Amy Grant in 1994 in the UK. In the USA, it was the second single, following the title track, which was a duet with Vince Gill. The single performed slightly better on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 18.

In the UK, this single reached number 60 in August 1994.

My collection: 7" single no. 2196
Found: HMV, London, September 29, 1994
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Lucky one' / 'Baby baby'

Rainbow lake - Wendy and Lisa

'Rainbow lake' was released as the second single from Wendy & Lisa's third album 'Eroica'. Released in November 1990, it was their last chart hit in the UK, although it only reached number 70 during the one week it charted.

After this single, only 'Don't try to tell me' was released, after which the duo stopped recording for a long time.

My collection: 7" single no. 2402
Found: July 8, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Rainbow lake (Album remix)' / 'Rainbow lake (12 into 7 remix)'

Violet - Seal

Seal released 'Violet' as the fifth and last single from his self-titled debut album. It featured acoustic versions of tracks from the album, with all the royalties from the single donated to charity. Unfortunately, the single was not the biggest success from the album: it reached number 39 in the UK singles chart.

Nevertheless, the versions of 'Violet' and 'Wild' on this single are in their own way just as good as the Trevor Horn-produced album versions.

My collection: 7" single no. 2263
Found: Record fair, April 8, 1995
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Violet' / 'Wild'

Sister of mercy - Thompson Twins

'Sister of mercy' was the fourth single taken from the Thompson Twins' hugely successful 1984 album 'Into the gap'. The single version was different from the album version, in that it started out as a ballad. The B-side was a megamix of wellknown Thompson Twins tracks, such as 'We are detective', 'Into the gap' and 'Hold me now'.

The single reached number 11 in the UK singles chart, but did not chart in other territories.

My collection: 7" single no. 238
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1984
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Sister of mercy' / 'Out of the gap'

When the snow falls - Ten Sharp

'When the snow falls' was originally Ten Sharp's debut single back in 1985. The single did not chart, and since subsequent singles were not a big success either, the band broke up in 1987. When they returned in 1991 with the single 'You', they had a European hit on their hands. The album 'Under the water-line' consisted of nine new tracks, but also a version of 'When the snow falls'.

This version was edited and released as the fourth single from the album. This version is slightly different from the original single and it also contains a different B-side. It didn't bring the band the success they might have hoped for: again, it failed to reach the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1967
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 25, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'When the snow falls' / 'Some sails'

Don't be aggressive - Sandra

I cited the words 'I could be your friend, I could be your slave, I could be anything you want me to / But please, don't be aggressive' to a friend back in 1992, when she wanted to hit me because I was pulling her hair again. The words stuck in my mind, and subsequently I bought the single just after it had failed to reach the Dutch Top 40.

Written by Michael Cretu and Klaus Hirschburger, 'Don't be aggressive' sounded a lot like a track by Enigma, the newly created project by Cretu. The single reached number 17 in Germany and was only a top 10 hit in Norway, where it peaked at number 7.

My collection: 7" single no. 1592
Found: Free Record Shop, March 21, 1992
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Don't be aggressive' / 'Seal it forever'

To know someone deeply is to know someone softly - Terence Trent d'Arby

Whenever I play this song, I'm very curious what drove the record company to release this as a single. The quirky song with its strange title was not exactly chart material and anyone with one ear could easily admit that. After the commercial failure of 'This side of love', this single was sure not to improve matters much.

Still, the single did manage to reach number 55 in the UK singles chart. It is a success of sorts, since 'This side of love' only managed number 83. I didn't think this single was released on 7" single, until I found it five years after its release.

My collection: 7" single no. 2520
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, November 1, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'To know someone deeply is to know someone softly' / 'Loose variations on a dead mans vibe in C# M'

Rockin' over the beat - Technotronic

Technotronic finally managed to create one track which did not include rapping. The singing on this track was still pretty substandard, but at least it was a kindof decent tune. The lyric is another poetic masterpiece: 'Rockin' over the beat / Rollin' over the melody'.

The single reached number 9 in the UK singles chart and went top 20 all over Europe. In the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, the single managed to get to number 95. And this single concluded by Technotronic collection. Yes, it got out of hand a little.

My collection: 7" single no. 1280
Found: August 23, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Rockin' over the beat' / 'Raw'

Break it down again - Tears for Fears

Roland Orzabal surprised many when he returned in 1993 on his own under the Tears for Fears band name. Curt Smith had left the group and the album 'Elemental' was created without him. The song 'Fish out of water' on the album was apparently about Curt Smith. Roland has often referred to this song as his 'How Do You Sleep', in reference to the scathing song John Lennon wrote about former bandmate Paul McCartney. Curt released a formal response to this tune four years later, in the song 'Sun King' from his album 'Mayfield'.

'Break it down again' is a less explosive song. It was released as the first single from 'Elemental' in May 1993 and reached number 20 in the UK singles chart and number 16 in the Dutch Top 40. In the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, it reached number 25.

My collection: 7" single no. 1918
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, June 5, 1993
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Break it down again' / 'Bloodletting go'

Radio Musicola - Nik Kershaw

'Radio Musicola' is the title track from Nik Kershaw's third album. Both the album and the single were released in 1986 by MCA Records. The album deals with subjects of integrity, media skepticism (particularly towards tabloid journalism), privacy, insecurity and mass produced run-of-the-mill pop.

All this intelligence was probably too much for the audience to handle: the single only reached number 43 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3065
Found: House of Rhythm, London, May 9, 1999
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'Radio Musicola' / 'L.A.B.A.T.Y.D.'

Belfast child - Simple Minds

I still remember vividly the first time I heard 'Belfast child' by the Simple Minds. It was a Saturday evening and I had a splitting headache. I'd taken a few pills to combat this, and started playing some music. As always, I'd borrowed the new cd-singles my sister had bought, and this was one of them. I was listening to this new track with a lot of attention and was very impressed with the buildup and climax near the end of the track. When the song was over, my headache was gone.

The song uses the music from the Irish folk song 'She moved through the fair', but has completely different words. Jim Kerr commented: 'I first heard the melody a few days after the Enniskillen bombing, and like everybody when you see the images I was sick. In the second part of the song, I'm trying to relate to people in Northern Ireland who lost loved ones. I'm trying to talk about the madness, the sadness and the emptiness. I'm not saying I have any pearls of wisdom, but I have a few questions to ask.' The single, released in early 1989, reached number 1 in the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 735
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, February 7, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Belfast child' / 'Mandela Day'

Newgrange - Clannad

Newgrange (Irish: Sí an Bhrú) is a passage tomb of the Brú na Bóinne complex in County Louth. It was originally built between c. 5500 and 2900 BC. It is one of the most famous prehistoric sites in the world, and indeed the most famous of all Irish prehistoric sites.

It is also the title of this Clannad song, released as the third single from their 1982 album 'Magical ring'. It reached number 65 in the UK singles chart during a one week chart run.

My collection: 7" single no. 2682
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, July 3, 1996
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Newgrange' / 'Seachràn Charn tSiail'

Adolescent sex - Japan

Taken from their debut album of the same name, 'Adolescent sex' was the first hit for Japan, reaching number 27 in the Netherlands and number 20 in Japan. The single did not chart in the UK, where it was not played on the radio because of the title.

The song sounds very different from Japan's later material, and these days many people find it hard to believe that this is actually a track sung by David Sylvian.

My collection: 7" single no. 2942
Found: Record fair, Leiden, January 31, 1998
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Adolescent sex' / 'Sometimes I feel so low'

Fight fire with fire - Mai Tai

Released in October 1987, 'Fight fire with fire' was the last single by Mai Tai to reach the Dutch Top 40. It reached number 31 during a four week chart run. The single was taken from their 1987 album 'Cool is the rule'.

In 1988, a compilation album was released, after which the members of Mai Tai went their separate ways.

My collection: 7" single no. 4091
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Fight fire with fire' / 'If it don't turn you on'

Celebration - Kylie Minogue

The new single by Madonna notwithstanding, the most famous song called 'Celebration' was originally released in 1980 by Kool & the Gang, a number 1 hit in America for the band. Kylie Minogue, who cited the song as one of her alltime favourite songs, recorded for her fourth studio album 'Let's get to it' in 1991, but it was not included.

The track appeared a year later as a new song on her Greatest Hits album. Released as a single, it reached number 20 in the UK singles chart. This song was the last single Kylie made with PWL and Stock Aitken Waterman.

My collection: 7" single no. 3331
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, March 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Celebration' / 'Let's get to it'

Sounds like a melody - Alphaville

'Sounds like a melody' was the second single taken from Alphaville's debut album 'Forever young'. Released in May 1984, the single reached the top 10 all over Europe, including a number 6 position in the Dutch Top 40 and number 3 in Germany and Austria.

Besides this 7" single I also own the 12" single, which fortunately contains an extended version of this great song.

My collection: 7" single no. 608
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 7, 1988
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Sounds like a melody' / 'The Nelson highrise (Sector one: the elevator)'

Just a dream - Nena

Not content with having a European hit with 'Nur geträumt', the German band Nena recorded the track in an English version entitled 'Just a dream'. This English version was the follow-up to '99 red balloons', the English version of her hit '99 Luftballons' which reached number 1 in the UK.

'Just a dream' did much worse in May 1984, reaching number 70 during a two week chart run. It was also the last Nena single to chart in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 3074
Found: Record Exchange, London, May 10, 1999
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Just a dream' / 'Indianer'

Just a shadow - Big Country

'Just a shadow' was the third and last single released from Big Country's third album 'Steeltown'. Like the two before, the single was only a significant success in the UK. The single peaked at number 26 in the UK singles chart in January 1985.

Back then, Big Country singles really didn't excite me much. I took in most of my music through television and all of their music videos were very boring. It's only a few years later that I started to appreciate this song. Eventually, I bought the single.

My collection: 7" single no. 1305
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 15, 1990
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'Just a shadow' / 'Winter sky'

One more try - Timmy T

Time for some dodgy Nineties music now. Timmy T was born as Timmy Torres in Fresno, California on September 21, 1967. He released his biggest hit 'One more try' in 1991. The song was written and performed by Timmy himself. The inspiration for the lyric was the breakup with a girlfriend.

Nothing really shocking there. But here is comes: when you listen to this, you will hear the cheap, tinny sounds and the low production standards of the track. You would think this would have been a minor hit, but instead this track topped the charts in America and the Netherlands. Only the people in the UK were sensible: there, the single did not chart. And why did I buy it? Dunno. Must have been a blackout.

My collection: 7" single no. 1436
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, April 26, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'One more try' / 'What will I do'

Neverending love - Roxette

Contrary to public belief, Roxette did not debut with the single 'The look', which gave them worldwide fame. Instead, this single, 'Neverending love' was the start of their career together. Per Gessle had been a member of Gyllene Tider, a Swedish pop group, and Marie Fredriksson had a successful solo career in Sweden.

This song was originally called 'Svarta glas' and was written for another Swedish artist, Pernilla Wahlgren. She turned it down and gave it to her brother, Niclas Wahlgren, who decided to record it. This release was cancelled when Roxette's record company found out that writer Per Gessle had recorded an English version of the song with Fredriksson. 'Neverending love' was released all over Europe, but only charted in Sweden, where it reached number 3.

My collection: 7" single no. 2963
Found: Record fair, February 9, 1998
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Neverending love' / 'Neverending love (Love mix)'

Don't drop bombs - Liza Minelli

'Don't drop bombs' was released as the second single from Liza Minelli's 1989 album 'Results'. Like the album, the single was produced by the Pet Shop Boys and Julian Mendelssohn. The track was written by the Pet Shop Boys and featured background vocals by Tessa Niles.

The single was a club favourite, but stalled at number 46 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1944
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 11, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Don't drop bombs' / 'Don't drop bombs (instrumental)'

The lovers are losing - Keane

'The lovers are losing' was the second single taken from Keane's 2008 album 'Perfect symmetry'. It was released in October 2008.

Despite being the first physical release taken from the album ('Spiralling' was released as a digital download only in the UK), the single only reached number 52 in the UK singles chart. It had a three week chart run.

My collection: 7" single no. 3517
Found: eBay.com, received December 30, 2008
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'The lovers are losing' / 'Time to go'

Jack is back - Earth and Fire

The second single from Earth & Fire's 1982 album 'In a state of flux' was the radiofriendly 'Jack is back', an unpretentious pop song from the band that had slowly moved away from their progressive rock roots.

The single reached number 29 in the Dutch Top 40. Although all three singles from 'In a state of flux' reached the Dutch Top 40, it was also the last album by the band - until a reunion album in 1989, that is.

My collection: 7" single no. 430
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 29, 1986
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Jack is back' / 'Hide away'

I just can't help it - The Korgis

Released in 1980, 'I just can't help it' was the Korgis' fourth single release. Their debut single 'Young 'n Russian' was released twice without chart success, whereas their second single 'If I had you' gave them their first chart success.

'I just can't help it' was remixed for the single release, but it didn't help matters much: the single didn't reach the UK singles chart. Their next single would be the biggest hit of their career: 'Everybody's gotta learn sometimes'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2899
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 30, 1997
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'I just can't help it' / 'O Maxine'