Released in October 1993, 'Goodnight song' was the third single from Tears for fears' 1993 album 'Elemental'. Although the cd-single in Europe was backed by a remix of the album's title track, in the US the B-side 'New star' was used (released as the B-side of 'Cold' in the UK).
The single was not very successful, as it didn't chart in any territory. Until recently, I didn't even know a 7" single of this release existed.
My collection: 7" single no. 4118 Found: eBay.com, received October 19, 2009 Cost: $3 Tracks: 'Goodnight song' / 'New star'
'Hey Jude' was originally written by Paul McCartney as 'Hey Jules' as a song for Julian Lennon, after the divorce of his parents, John and Cynthia Lennon. Paul commented: 'I started with the idea 'Hey Jules', which was Julian, don't make it bad, take a sad song and make it better. Hey, try and deal with this terrible thing. I knew it was not going to be easy for him. I always feel sorry for kids in divorces... I changed it to 'Jude' because I thought that sounded a bit better.'
The song became a massive hit for the Beatles, reaching number 1 in charts around the world. The single was the debut release of the Beatles' record label Apple Records.
My collection: 7" single no. 425 Found: Den Haag, June 29, 1986 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Hey Jude' / 'Revolution'
My copy of 'Love changes (everything)' features a free poster. This is also the reason why I bought it, as part of a batch of the four last singles I bought during a holiday in London. I figured that limited editions like this were much harder to find again than the usual second hand singles.
'Love changes (everything)' is arguably Climie Fisher's best known single, and their biggest hit in the UK, peaking at number 2 in the summer of 1987. In the Dutch Top 40, the single landed at number 20.
My collection: 7" single no. 1082 Found: Record Exchange, London, October 19, 1989 Cost: 1 pound Tracks: 'Love changes (everything)' / 'Never close the show'
Nils Lofgren was born on June 21, 1951 in Chicago, Illinois (USA). He joined Neil Young's band, following this up with a brief stint with Crazy Horse in 1971. His own band Grin then landed a record deal and had some success for three years. Lofgren then launched a solo career.
His fifth album 'Nils' was released in 1979, featuring the single 'Shine silently'. This single reached number 21 in the Dutch Top 40 in the autumn of 1979 and is still a firm radio favourite these days.
My collection: 7" single no. 1422 Found: Record fair, Den Haagt, April 7, 1991 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Shine silently' / 'Kool skool'
'Stop loving you' was the first single taken from Toto's 1988 album 'The seventh one'. The song was written by David Paich and Steve Lukather and featured backing vocals by Jon Anderson.
The single peaked at number 2 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 1812 Found: All that music, Leiden, January 9, 1993 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Stop loving you' / 'The seventh one'
Go west released 'Call me' as their second single. It was taken from their self-titled debut album, released in 1985. Although the single couldn't match the success of their debut single 'We close our eyes' in any territory. it still did rather well.
In the UK, 'Call me' reached number 12, whereas in the US Billboard Hot 100 the single reached number 54. In New Zealand, 'Call me' reached number 2.
My collection: 7" single no. 312 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1985 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'Call me' / 'The man in my mirror'
'Why can't it wait 'til morning' was the fifth single taken from Phil Collins' second solo album 'Hello, I must be going!'. It was only released in the UK, but it was not successful: the single did not chart, despite the fact that it is actually quite a great ballad.
The B-side was also taken from the album. The lyric of 'Like china' is about an infatuated teenager attempting to convince his girlfriend to sleep with him by saying he will treat her as gently like china. I wonder if she fell for it...
My collection: 7" single no. 3202 Found: Record fair, September 30, 2000 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Why can't it wait 'til morning' / 'Like china'
There were some problems when Prince delivered his song 'Sexy motherfucker' in 1992. Puritan people were very distraught by this expression, whereas in that day and age it shouldn't really shock anyone much more than violence on TV and in movies. But apparently saying 'motherfucker' is worse than that. Channels like MTV hastily censored the offending word 'fucker' with an exclamation by Prince, which made the song sound very strange indeed.
The single did benefit somewhat from all the upheaval, as it reached number 4 in the UK singles chart and the Dutch Top 40. In the USA, the single stalled at number 66.
My collection: 7" single no. 1744 Found: Virgin Megastore, London, October 19, 1992 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Sexy MF' / 'Strollin''
Sam Brown's second album 'April moon' spawned five singles, of which 'Kissing gate' was the second. It was the biggest hit from the album, peaking at number 23 in the UK singles chart and also reaching number 45 in Canada.
The single was released in a limited edition pop-up sleeve. The popup revealed an image of Sam Brown with the lyric of 'Kissing gate' behind her. The quirky B-side 'Is it mustard or mango?' is a nice treat as well.
My collection: 7" single no. 1258 Found: Tower Records, London, July 5, 1990 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Kissing gate' / 'Is it mustard or mango?'
I've been buying some Nineties singles recently, and it's interesting how the 7" format continued in America as it was slowly abolished in Europe already.
'Don't cry' was released as the fifth and final single from Seal's fourth album in 1995. It featured a radio edit of the track (which was not that much shorter than the album version). The single reached number 51 in the UK singles chart and number 33 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 4117 Found: eBay.com, received October 19, 2009 Cost: $3 Tracks: 'Don't cry (radio edit)' / 'Fast changes'
'Hallo spaceboy' was a track on David Bowie's 1995 album '1. Outside', a loud rock track that would surprise a lot of listeners if they would hear it. The lyric of the song featured a return of Major Tom, a character wellknown from Bowie's songs 'Space oddity' and 'Ashes to ashes'.
The single version was remixed by the Pet Shop Boys and was far more dance oriented. The introduction was sampled from 'Outside's opening track, 'Leon take us outside'. Bowie initially expressed reservation about the additions, which referenced and 'chopped up' the lyrics to 'Space oddity', but later agreed that they worked well so long as Tennant sung them. The single became a hit for Bowie, peaking at number 12 in the UK singles chart and number 24 in the Dutch Top 40. The 7" single was pressed on pink vinyl. On my copy, the label of the B-side is missing.
My collection: 7" single no. 2632 Found: March 16, 1996 Cost: 10 guilders Tracks: 'Hallo spaceboy' / 'The hearts filthy lesson (radio edit)'
I bought the Clannad compilation album 'Pastpresent' somewhere around 1990 and it was through that cd that I discovered the interesting back catalogue of this Irish band. I went through a phase of buying their singles whenever I came across them - and I still will, I think.
'Robin (the hooded man)' was the only single to be lifted off Clannad's 1984 album 'Legend'. The music of that album was composed for the ITV drama series 'Robin of Sherwood', starring Michael Praed, who appears on the cover of this single. It reached number 42 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 2901 Found: Record Exchange, London, October 30, 1997 Cost: 1 pound Tracks: 'Robin (the hooded man)' / 'Lady Marian'
Kylie Minogue was changing her image from 'girl next door' to 'sex siren', and the music video for 'What do I have to do' was one of the means to do this. The video showed Kylie in a swimming pool, a fairground, doing the ironing in a French maid's costume, and dancing with a female friend in a club. The sexual undertones in the video directed by Dave Hogan proved too much for Saturday morning TV shows, and so they showed a censored version of the video.
The music video was exploited in the single release as well: this limited edition features two free postcards with stills from the video. 'What do I have to do' reached number 6 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 2701 Found: House of Rhythm, London, July 3, 1996 Cost: 1 pound Tracks: 'What do I have to do' / 'What do I have to do (instrumental)'
'Hide and seek' was the third single from Howard Jones' debut album 'Human's lib'. The ballad had an almost biblical lyric and intriguing synthesizer sounds. It reached number 12 in the UK singles chart and number 28 in the Dutch Top 40.
This 10" single features both the A- and B-sides of the 7" single, but also an exclusive 'concert version', recorded live in concert at High Wycombe Concert Hall in 1984.
My collection: 10" single [unnubered] Found: Record Exchange, London, 1990 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Hide & seek (Concert version)' / 'Hide & seek', 'Tao te Ching'
'Circle of one' was the second single released by Oleta Adams, taken from her debut album of the same name. Capitalizing on the success she found with Tears for fears wasn't easy at first, because after her debut single 'Rhythm of life' only reached number 52 in the UK singles chart, this one only managed to peak at number 95.
'Circle of one' was written by Adams herself and produced by Roland Orzabal and Dave Bascombe. It would take another single to finally find breakthrough success: the ballad 'Get here'.
My collection: 7" single no. 1302 Found: Record Exchange, London, October 15, 1990 Cost: 1 pound Tracks: 'Circle of one' / 'Think again'
'With or without you' is the song that took U2 to superstardom for good. They scored their first American number 1 hit, launching the album 'The Joshua tree' with a bang. At the same time, band leader Bono became involved in way too many charities, taking on some kind of Jesus image - something he would never shake off since then.
The single also reached number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the Dutch Top 40. The song recently re-entered the UK singles chart in May 2009 at number 43, based on download sales alone.
My collection: 7" single no. 914 Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 25, 1989 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'With or without you' / 'Luminous times (Hold on to love)', 'Walk to the water'
'Heal the pain' was the fourth single taken from George Michael's 1991 album 'Listen without prejudice vol. 1'. The guitar-based love song was a moderate success, reaching number 31 in the UK singles chart and number 16 in the Dutch Top 40.
In the USA, the sides were flipped and 'Soul free' was released as the A-side. That single did not chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 2569 Found: Record fair, December 2, 1995 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Heal the pain' / 'Soul free'
As Rick Astley left Stock, Aitken & Waterman behind, his singles became better artistically and less appreciated commercially. 'Move right out' was written by Rick Astley and Rob Fisher and was the second single release from Astley's third album 'Free' (1991).
The single reached number 58 in the UK singles chart and number 81 in the US Billboard Hot 100. In the Neherlands, the single failed to reach the Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 1484 Found: July 3, 1991 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Move right out' / 'Move right out (vox, piano, strings mix)'
I don't remember how I got to hear 'Why can't I have you' by the Cars. As it didn't reach the charts in the Netherlands and I can't imagine it being played on the radio much, I really can't figure it out. But I'm glad I did: it's one of my favourite songs from the Eighties.
'Why can't I have you' is a track from the Cars' very successful 1984 album 'Heartbeat city'. The single only charted in the USA, peaking at number 33 in the US Billboard Hot 100.
My collection: 7" single no. 917 Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 25, 1989 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Why can't I have you' / 'Heartbeat city'
'No ordinary love' was released as the first single from Sade's fourth studio album 'Love deluxe'. The band had been away from the scene for three years and their comeback was highly anticipated. Some may have thought it was time for the band to explore new territories musically, but the song fit perfectly into the formula that had been so successful the three previous albums.
The single reached number 14 in the UK singles chart and number 19 in the Dutch Top 40. In the US Billboard Hot 100, the single was slightly less successful, peaking at number 28. It was impossible to find this 7" single in the Netherlands, but fortunately a holiday in London helped me get the single after all.
My collection: 7" single no. 1727 Found: HMV, London, October 17, 1992 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'No ordinary love' / 'Paradise (remix)'
Ofra Haza scored her biggest international hit in 1988 with 'Im nin' alu'. A sample of the track, which was originally recorded in 1984, appeared in Eric B & Rakim's hiphop track 'Paid in full' in 1987. Izhar Ashdot then remixed Ofra Haza's song, and this remix was released within months of the chart success for 'Paid in full'.
As a result, Ofra Haza reached number 15 in the UK singles chart and number 27 in the Dutch Top 40. Reportedly the song sold three million copies worldwide, making it one of the first so-called 'world music' recordings to cross over to mainstream pop chart success.
My collection: 7" single no. 2115 Found: Record fair, June 11, 1994 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Im nin' alu (Played in full mix - English vocal)' / 'Im nin' alu (Yemenite vocal)'
This is one of those rare occasions where I bought a 7" single because of the B-side. Puck played me 'Sunday morning' back in 1995, and only weeks later I found this single which featured that particular album track on the B-side. Playing the single now, I still think that the A-side is very uninteresting, while the B-side is simply beautiful.
'You're the one' was released as the second single from Julian Lennon's 1989 album 'Mr. Jordan', but it didn't chart at all. Perhaps more people should have heard the B-side.
My collection: 7" single no. 2532 Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, November 1, 1995 Cost: 1 pound Tracks: 'You're the one' / 'Sunday morning'
The Dutch band Dr. Pop is formed in Velp in 1978 by Ans Dijkstra, Bert Meijer, Chris Meurs, Jan de Wit and Ton van Tent. Their self-titled debut album is released in 1980 and is produced by Jaap Eggermont (who would go on to have international success with his 'Stars on 45' project).
The single 'World at war' is released in May 1980 and reaches number 21 in the Dutch Top 40. It's the band's only hit. In 1981 they split up.
My collection: 7" single no. 2407 Found: Record fair, 1994 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'World at war' / 'Titanic'
According to Tears for fears' Curt Smith: ''Suffer the children' was the first song we did together when we left The Graduate. It was our very first experimentation with sequencers and drum machines, with a guy called David Lord, who worked with Peter Gabriel and different people down in Bath. So that was actually the first song we did as Tears For Fears.'
The original 7" version of "Suffer The Children" is distinct from the version found on their debut album 'The hurting' by the inclusion of an extra Curt Smith-sung lyric at the beginning of the song.
There are two versions of the single: the original release featured a white sleeve (pictured above). In 1985, following up on the massive success of the band's second album 'Songs from the big chair', the single was reissued in a black sleeve. All this didn't help matters: both releases did not chart anywhere.
My collection: 7" single no. 1319 Found: London, October 16, 1990 Cost: 1 pound Tracks: 'Suffer the children' / 'Wino'
Back in the Eighties, commercials with old Motown hits were all the rage. Everybody remembers Nick Kamen stripping off in the launderette to the sound of Marvin Gaye's 'I heard it through the grapevine'. A Dutch commercial about milk was made to the sound of this song, 'My girl' by the Temptations. When it was re-released as a single, it promptly reached number 19 in the Dutch Top 40.
It has to be said, though, that this single is a re-release in the UK as a result of a compilation album by the Temptations because of their 25th anniversary. And in the UK, this re-release did not chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 1053 Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989 Cost: 50p Tracks: 'My girl' / 'Wherever I lay my hat (that's my home)'
'Being boring' was the second single taken from the Pet Shop Boys' 1990 album 'Behaviour'. The song is concerned with the idea of growing up and how people's perceptions and values change as they grow older. The title apparently materialised after someone in Japan accused the duo of being boring. The title is also derived from a Zelda Fitzgerald quotation, 'she refused to be bored chiefly because she wasn't boring'.
The track was originally pieced together in a studio in West Glasgow, where the music for 'My October symphony', 'The end of the world' and the unreleased track 'Love and war' were also done. 'Being boring' was not the duo's biggest chart success: it didn't chart in the Netherlands and only reached number 20 in the UK singles chart (whereas previous singles made the top 10 with ease).
My collection: 7" single no. 1503 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 6, 1991 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Being boring' / 'We all feel better in the dark'
Taken from their Heart's tenth album 'Brigade' (1990), 'All I wanna do is make love to you' was the first single from the album, composed by producer Robert John 'Mutt' Lange. In the track, the protagonist speaks of a one-night stand with a man, only to reveal later in the song that her intent all along was to use the encounter as a way to become pregnant, because the man she really loves is not able to give her children. It was not the best lyric Heart ever performed.
In the liner notes of Heart's album 'The road home', Ann Wilson commented on the band's dislike for the song, stating, 'Actually we had sworn off it because it kind of stood for everything we wanted to get away from. It was a song by 'Mutt' Lange, whom we liked, and it was originally written for Don Henley, but there was a lot of pressure on us to do the song at the time.' The single was a hit for the band, peaking at number 5 in the Dutch Top 40, number 8 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100.
My collection: 7" single no. 1206 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, April 13, 1990 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'All I wanna do is make love to you' / 'Call of the wild'
'Suspended in gaffa' was the third single release from Kate Bush's fourth studio album 'The dreaming', at least in Europe. In the UK, 'There was a tenner' was released instead. The song lyrics are about seeing something one really wants (God in this case), then not being able to see or experience it ever again. The 'gaffa' of the title and chorus refers to gaffer tape, the tough black tape used by technicians in the film and concert industries.
The B-side is the original mix of 'Ne t'enfuis pas'. 'Ne t'enfuis pas', which is misspelled on the original sleeve as 'Ne t'en fui pas', means 'don't go' in French.
My collection: 7" single no. 4116 Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, October 17, 2009 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'Suspended in gaffa' / 'Ne t'en fui pas'
Liam Reilly represented Ireland during the 1990 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Somewhere in Europe', a slightly contrived song in which the singer describes his desire to meet a former lover once again. As he is 'back in Ireland', he wants to meet his lover somewhere in Europe. All the cliches about European capitals are subsequently described.
Still, this array of cliches pleased the European juries, as the song finished second behind that year's winner, the appalling 'Insieme 1992' by Toto Cotugno.
My collection: 7" single no. 4115 Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, October 17, 2009 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'Somewhere in Europe' / 'Walking on the brighter side'
'Down under' was the song that launched the international career of the Australian band Men at work. The lyrics are about an Australian traveler circling the globe, proud of his nationality and about his interactions with people he meets on his travels who are interested in his home country, Australia.
Originally, 'Down under' was released as the B-side to the single 'Keypunch operator', a rare custom-pressed single by Men at Work. When the track was released as an A-side, it reached number 1 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 4114 Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, October 17, 2009 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Down under' / 'Helpless automaton'
'Talking loud and clear' was released as the second single from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's 1984 album 'Junk culture'. The single reached number 11 in the UK singles chart and number 5 in the Dutch Top 40.
I remember not being very impressed with OMD's 1984 singles. They sounded too lush compared to the stark synth sound of their earlier singles. Fortunately time has been friendly to their music and it's a very pleasant listen now.
My collection: 7" single no. 4113 Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, October 17, 2009 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Talking loud and clear' / 'Julia's song'
'Overkill' was released as a single from the 1983 Men at work album 'Cargo'. It was written by lead singer Colin Hay, reaching number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 21 in the UK singles chart and number 16 in the Dutch Top 40.
The song found a second life nineteen years later when it was used in the US sitcom 'Scrubs' in the episode 'My overkill'. Colin Hay performed a cameo in which he performed the song acoustically.
My collection: 7" single no. 4112 Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, October 17, 2009 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Overkill' / 'Till the money runs out'
'Living eyes' is the second single taken from the 1981 Bee Gees album of the same name. They completely broke away from their disco sound with the release of this album, however this didn't help the album become a commercial success. It only sold 750,000 copies worldwide, which was not much compared to its predecessor 'Spirits having flown' which sold 16 million copies.
The title track was released as the album's second single, but it was equally unsuccessful. It only reached number 45 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and didn't chart in the UK and the Netherlands.
My collection: 7" single no. 4111 Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, October 17, 2009 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Living eyes' / 'I still love you'
'Red red wine' was originally written and recorded by Neil Diamond in 1968. Tony Tribe, a Jamaican singer, recorded a reggae version in 1969. It was this version, apparently, that inspired UB40 to record a cover version of the song for their 1983 album 'Labour of love'. Their version featured a lighter, reggae-style flavor compared to Diamond's somber, acoustic ballad.
UB40's version of 'Red red wine' reached number 1 in the UK singles chart and the Dutch Top 40 in the summer of 1983.
My collection: 7" single no. 4110 Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, October 17, 2009 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Red red wine' / 'Sufferin''
In 1989, Bananarama recorded an acceptable cover version of the Beatles' 1965 song 'Help'. In an effort to raise money for the Comic Relief charity, they enlisted the help of French & Saunders and Kathy Burke to appear as Lananeeneenoonoo and do funny things with the track. As everyone knows, women comedians are rarely funny, and so this comedy version was in dire need of, er, help.
Still, the single reached number 3 in the UK singles chart and even managed to reach number 25 in the Dutch Top 40. Personally, I think the Comic Relief singles 'Living doll' (with Cliff Richard) and 'Rockin' around the Christmas tree' (with Kim Wilde) were much better.
My collection: 7" single no. 4109 Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, October 17, 2009 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Help' (Bananarama) / 'Help' (Bananarama & Lananeeneenoonoo)
'Look away' was the first single from Big Country's third studio album 'The seer'. Released in April 1986, it was the fourth UK top 10 hit for the band, peaking at number 7. The single was an even bigger success in Ireland, topping the charts for one week, and becoming the band's only number one hit.
I didn't like the song much when it was released, but now, two decades on, I think it's a great rock track. These days a lot of Eighties music sounds a lot better than it did back then. Must be because a lot of music from today is so crap.
My collection: 7" single no. 4108 Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, October 17, 2009 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Look away' / 'Restless natives'
'This must be love' was released as the third single from Lois Lane's 1990 album 'Fortune Fairytales'. The single did not chart and thus became the final single release from the album.
The song does sound a bit different from the rest of the band's repertoire, which may have turned off the audience. Personally I think it's a nice track, although it's not the best they've ever made.
My collection: 7" single no. 4107 Found: Empire Records, October 17, 2009 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'This must be love' / 'Say I love you'
'What I did for love' was written by Edward Kleban and Marvin Hamlisch and originally appeared in the 1975 musical 'A chorus line', that won 9 Tony Awards in 1976.
This Three Degrees version appeared in 1976, but it was not very successful: it did not chart in any territory.
My collection: 7" single no. 4106 Found: Empire Records, October 17, 2009 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'What I did for love' / 'Macaroni man'
With 'Dreamin'', Vanessa Williams delivers a perfect piece of Eighties elevator music. Amazingly, it became the biggest hit from her debut album 'The right stuff' in the USA: it reached number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
In Europe, the song was much less popular: it stalled at number 74 in the UK singles chart and it didn't chart in the Netherlands at all.
My collection: 7" single no. 4105 Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, October 17, 2009 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Dreamin'' / 'The right stuff (instrumental)'
'Twenty four hours' was the last top 20 hit for Earth & Fire in the Netherlands. It was the first single taken from their 1982 album 'In a state of flux', released in November 1982.
The single reached number 13 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 4104 Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, October 17, 2009 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Twenty four hours' / 'Strange town'
In 1989 the Jeff Wayne epic 'War of the worlds' was re-released, including for the first time on the cd format. To promote this, two singles were re-released as well: 'The eve of the war' (a re-release I'm still looking for) and 'Forever autumn'.
It's almost needless to say that these re-releases were not a commercial success. 'Forever autumn' did not reprise its 1978 chart success at all. But at least it's a pretty new sleeve and a nice collector's item for fans of 'The war of the worlds'.
My collection: 7" single no. 935 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, July 7, 1989 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Forever autumn' / 'Thunder child'
Christopher Cross released his debut album in 1980. 'Sailing' was released as the second single from that album, and was a great success: it reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Meanwhile, it reached number 48 in the UK singles chart and number 18 in the Dutch Top 40.
The song won a Grammy Award in the US for 'Song of the year' and 'Arrangement of the year', while Cross won the 'Best new artist' award.
My collection: 7" single no. 2479 Found: Flea market, Den Haag, October 14, 1995 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Sailing' / 'Say you'll be mine'
Brian May wrote 'Too much love will kill you' with Frank Musker and Elizabeth Lamers. The song was recorded in the Eighties and intended to be included on Queen's 1989 album 'The miracle'. In 1992, Brian May performed the song during the Freddy Mercury tribute concert, after Mercury's death the year before. It was released as a single by May, which reached number 5 in the UK and number 1 in the Netherlands.
The Queen version finally saw the light on the 1995 album 'Made in heaven'. It was released as a single, with the 7" vinyl pressed on pink vinyl. This single reached number 15 in the UK singles chart - but it didn't reach the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 2633 Found: HMV mailorder, received April 13, 1996 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Too much love will kill you' / 'We will rock you (digital remaster)', 'We are the champions (digital remaster)'
In 1991, Bryan Adams released his seventh album 'Waking up the neighbours'. The album's best known track is of course '(Everything I do) I do it for you', which was used in the soundtrack of the movie Robin Hood. 'Do I have to say the words' was released as the album's fifth single in the autumn of 1992.
It peaked at number 4 in Canada, number 11 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 30 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 1728 Found: HMV, London, October 17, 1992 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Do I have to say the words' / 'Summer of '69 (live)'
EDIT: I received a notice from Blogger that this post was complained about. I trust it's from the same people who posted a reaction on this post. They are obviously terrified that anyone should hear any Bryan Adams music, even if it's any good. The message these people are sending is: don't listen to music, you might get inspired to buy it yourself. And they wonder why the music industry is in such terrible shape...
'Where did I go wrong' was another single by UB40 from their 1988 self-titled album. The track was written and produced by the band.
While it reached number 26 in the UK singles chart, it was a bigger hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 4.
My collection: 7" single no. 688 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1988 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Where did I go wrong' / 'Where did I go wrong (instrumental)'
After a break for a year during which one half of Duran Duran formed Arcadia and the other half formed the Power Station, the group came back together. However, Roger and Andy Taylor left the band by the time the new album 'Notorious' and the lead single of the same name were released.
As a trio, the band had enlisted the help of Nile Rodgers to take over production duties. Rodgers also plays guitar on the single. It was a good return for the band: the single reached number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 6 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 2297 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 199X Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Notorious' / 'Winter marches on'
'Life in technicolor' appears as an instrumental track on Coldplay's album 'Viva la vida', but this vocal version was actually already recorded at the time as well. It was finally released on the mini album 'Prospekt's March'.
The single 'Life in Technicolor II' was released as digital download and 7" vinyl only in February 2009. It reached number 28 in the UK singles chart and number 15 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 3582 Found: eBay.co.uk, received February 11, 2009 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Life in technicolor II' / 'The goldrush'
'Ghosts' was a single taken from Japan's 1981 album 'Tin drum'. Bereft of drums, the minimalist track would not be described as a 'commercially viable' single in most circumstances. However, Japan's popularity at the time allowed the single to become unexpectedly popular. It reached number 5 in the UK singles chart.
Although it was their biggest hit, Japan split up just months after this single. In 2000 David Sylvian re-recorded 'Ghosts' using the original Japan backing track and included it on his compilation 'Everything and nothing'.
My collection: 7" single no. 2847 Found: Record fair, February 1997 Cost: 5 guilders Tracks: 'Ghosts' / 'The art of parties (version)'
Released in October 1993, 'Goodnight song' was the third single from Tears for fears' 1993 album 'Elemental'. Although the cd-single in Europe was backed by a remix of the album's title track, in the US the B-side 'New star' was used (released as the B-side of 'Cold' in the UK).
