Say hello wave goodbye - Soft Cell

Soft Cell released 'Say hello wave goodbye' as their fifth single in early 1982. It was the last track on their 1981 album 'Non-stop erotic cabaret'. The 12" single included a nine minute version with an extended clarinet solo and instrumental parts.

The song is famous for Marc Almond's vocals, which are at times off-key. Still, in my opinion this is their best track. Emotional stuff...

My collection: 12" single
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 1992
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Say hello wave goodbye (extended version)' / 'Fun city'
Download: here

Der Kommissar - After the fire

'Der Kommissar' was originally a hit for Austrian singer Falco. Written by producer Robert Ponger for Reinhold Bilgeri, Bilgeri turned down the song, and Falco reworked the track and recorded it. The single reached number 1 in German-speaking countries in January 1982.

This version by After the fire was recorded in English in the Summer of 1982. The single didn't do well in the charts, and the band split up at the end of the year. Then, in 1983, Laura Branigan recorded another cover version, called 'Deep in the dark', which was prepared for release, when the After The Fire version finally hit the U.S. charts on February 22, 1983, and started rising. It ultimately rose to number 5. After The Fire's record company, CBS, pleaded with the band to regroup, but to no avail.

At the time of buying, I only knew the original version by Falco, and I was curious about this one. It's weird to hear an English version when the German lyrics are so ingrained in one's memory. But it's a nice version nonetheless.

My collection: 7" single no. 3424
Found: Esbjerg, Denmark, June 17, 2006
Cost: 10 Danish crowns
Tracks: 'Der Kommissar' / 'Nobody else but you'
Download: here

Good thing - Fine Young Cannibals

The Fine Young Cannibals released their single 'Good thing' on various formats. There was a 7" single, a 12" single, a cd-single, a limited edition 7" single in a tin can and this double groove 10" single. The A-side played two different versions of 'Good thing': the regular version and a rare different version which replaces the piano solo midway through the song with a saxophone solo.

As far as I know, this alternative version wasn't released anywhere else, so the 10" single is really a rare item. And of course, records with double grooves are always funny items to have.

My collection: 10" single [unnumbered]

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1989

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Good thing', 'Good thing [alternative version]' / 'Social security'

Download: 'Good thing [alternative version]', cd-single 'Good thing', including the two other tracks

1, 2, 3 - Catherine Ferry

Catherine Ferry was born on July 1, 1953. She represented France at the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest with '1, 2, 3' and finished second, behind Brotherhood of Man with 'Save your kisses for me'. The song received a total of 147 points, which is still the highest number France has ever achieved in the contest.

My collection: 7" single no. 3003

Found: June 20, 1998

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: '1, 2, 3' / 'Petit Jean'
Download: here

Come back - The Mighty Wah

Back in 1984, this video was on television on a daily basis. At first it looked rather interesting, but soon after that it started to irritate me a lot. There's something about seeing the same shots every day that gets on ones nerves. Nevertheless, the song stuck in my head, and so four years later I decided to buy the single after all.

'Come back' flopped in the Netherlands, but it reached number 20 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 632

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1988

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Come back' / 'The devil in Miss Jones'

Download: here

Severina - The Mission

When I became a fan of All about Eve in the late eighties, I quickly found out that Julianne Regan, lead singer of the band, had done some backing vocals on some tracks by The Mission. Most notably the single 'Severina', which is one of the best tracks in the Mission's catalogue. Naturally I wanted to have it, but I wasn't consciously searching for it all the time.

Then, of course, I stumbled into a special edition of that very single. It included a 21" x 14" colour poster of the band. Being a sucker for special editions, I bought this copy straight away. It was a great find during a sunny day during a holiday in the South of England. It didn't matter that in fact this item was slightly overpriced...

My collection: 7" single no. 2387

Found: Grammar School Records, Rye, July 3, 1995

Cost: 6 pounds

Tracks: 'Severina' / 'Tomorrow never knows'

Download: here

Don't try to tell me - Wendy and Lisa

By the end of the eighties, I'd started buying cd's. I was never much of an lp buyer, so this was actually a big change. Suddenly, I started discovering albums by artists instead of just the single releases. It affected the way I bought my singles as well: more often than not, when I liked an album, I would buy the singles drawn from these albums whenever I could.

'Don't try to tell me' was one of the strongest tracks of Wendy & Lisa's 1990 album 'Eroica', so I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that it was also released as a single in the UK. The way I found out about this was pleasant as well: I saw the single in a shop where I was browsing the stock. It was a quick purchase.

My collection: 7" single no. 1750.

Found: Record Exchange, London, October 19, 1992

Cost: 50p

Tracks: 'Don't try to tell me (edit)' / 'Balance'

Download: here

Promises (as the years go by) - IQ

IQ was one of a few British bands formed during the early eighties that continued with the progressive rock style that had been abandoned by seventies bands like Genesis and Yes. Although - or perhaps because - the music they made required complex musicianship and included intricate arrangements, commercial success always eluded the band.

When they released their 1987 album 'Nomzamo', the single 'Promises (as the years go by)' actually got some airplay in the Netherlands. This is how I found out about the single.

My collection: 7" single no. 680

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, November 12, 1988

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Promises (as the years go by)' / 'Nomzamo'

Download: Album 'Nomzamo', including both tracks

Love really hurts without you - Billy Ocean

'State alternatives wherever possible'. This line was famous in the eighties, when I was ordering records in the UK via mail order. Back then, you just sent your order form with some money and hoped you would receive the singles you ordered two weeks later. I was usually lucky, and so my alternative was never used. I always wrote down 'Love really hurts without you' by Billy Ocean, because I knew the song and in time I knew I wanted to have it, but I wasn't that hot for it. Well, that's a fact: I finally bought the single in a shop in 2003 and only played it this year for the first time.

Leslie Sebastian Charles was born in Trinidad on January 21, 1950 (exactly 59 years ago today) and moved to England with his parents at the age of eight. In 1975 he took on the stage name Billy Ocean, taking the surname from the 'Ocean Estate' where he lived in East London. His debut single, 'Love really hurts without you', reached number 2 in the UK singles chart, number 11 in the Netherlands and number 22 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

My collection: 7" single no. 3390

Found: Geest, Den Haag, 2003

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Love really hurts without you' / 'You're running outa fools'

Download: here

Johnny Panic and the bible of dreams - Tears for Fears

Not actually credited to Tears for Fears, this 12" single is simply called 'Johnny Panic and the bible of dreams'. However, since the track is produced by 'Tears for Fears and Dave Bascombe', I decide to present this as a Tears for Fears track nonetheless.

The track, which is an alternative version of Tears for Fears's 1989 hit single 'Sowing the seeds of love', originally appeared as the B-side to their 1990 single 'Advice for the young at heart'. The song was later remixed by producer/DJ Fluke and released as a single in 1991. The title of the song is taken from a short story by the American writer Sylvia Plath, which was the title story in a collection of her short stories posthumously published in 1977.

My collection: 12" single no. 484

Found: London, 2002

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Johnny Panic and the bible of dreams (mix 1)' / 'Johnny Panic and the bible of dreams (mix 2)'

Download: here

For your eyes only - Sheena Easton

'For your eyes only' was the theme tune of the twelfth James Bond movie, released in 1981. Easton, who had only had one previous hit with 'Morning Train' (or '9 to 5' as it was alternatively known), had a big hit with this track, peaking at number 8 in the UK and number 1 in the Netherlands. Easton was also the only artist to be seen singing the theme song of a Bond movie during its opening titles.

Originally, the producers wanted Blondie to perform this song, but she declined. Blondie's version of the song 'For your eyes only', which is actually a different composition, appears on their 1982 album, 'The Hunter'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3402

Found: Geest, Den Haag, 2003

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'For your eyes only' / 'For your eyes only (instrumental)'

Download: here

Will you? - Hazel O'Connor

One of the ugliest sleeves ever is the one for Hazel O'Connor's 'Will you?' and the accompanying album 'Breaking glass'. It's such an unflattering photograph! And it's a shame, because 'Will you?' has to be one of the most beautiful songs of the year 1981. Hazel O'Connor started her career as an actress in the soft porn film 'Girls come first' (1975), but her big breakthrough followed five years later with 'Breaking glass', a movie in which she acted and also provided the music for. When this single and 'Eighth day' both became top 10 hits in the UK, she went on tour. Her opening act was an unknown local group from Birmingham called Duran Duran. It was the band's first opportunity to play to large audiences throughout the UK and gave them the exposure they needed to secure a recording contract...

My collection: 7" single no. 494

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1986

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Will you?' / 'Big brother'

Download: here

Met open ogen - Het Goede Doel

The Dutch band Het Goede Doel released 'Met open ogen' ('With eyes opened') in 1989. Much was made of the length of the track: it lasted for almost 15 minutes. At least, on the cd-single. The 7" vinyl version, which was made after the cd-single started selling well, only contained the 'mini-mix', which was only two and a half minutes long. This edited version didn't contain the fascinating solos and experimental segments of the full version. The track was taken from the album 'Souvenir'. Both this track and the album got criticised because they were deemed 'too pretentious'.

The song became the last hit for Het Goede Doel, reaching number 27 in the Dutch Top 40. Further singles didn't reach the chart anymore.

My collection: 7" single no. 3477

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, December 11, 2008

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Met open ogen (mini-mix)' / 'Met open ogen (mini-mix - instrumental)'

Download: cd-single 'Met open ogen', including both tracks

Dr. Sex - Pleasure and the Beast

Robert Pereno and Lowri-Ann Richards formed Pleasure and the Beast. They only recorded two singles during their short career. Their debut single was released in 1983. It was 'Dr. Sex', an upbeat new wave track with sinister edges. The video for this song appeared on music television regularly, and that's how I found about it circa 1984.

It took me fifteen years to see a copy of the single - and of course I bought it when I did. It turned up during a record fair. I never saw the single before or after. It can be considered quite a rarity, then.

My collection: 7" single no. 3158

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 27, 1999

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Dr. Sex' / 'Snake'

Download: here

Summertime - Fun Boy Three

Terry Hall, Neville Staple and Lynval Golding formed Fun Boy Three in 1981 after they left the Specials. They decided to make happier music than the often gloomy sound of their old band. 'Summertime' was released in the summer of 1982 and was a cover of an aria composed by George Gerschwin for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess. The song became a popular jazz standard, and in the version of Fun Boy Three it even became a pop song, which reached number 18 in the UK singles chart.

I bought the picture disc single during a holiday in London. The disc is partly clear vinyl, which makes the design very attractive.

My collection: 7" single no. 2784

Found: London, November 1, 1996

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Summertime' / 'Summer of '82'

Download: here

Say it say it - E.G. Daily

When this video appeared on television, lots of heads turned. E.G. Daily, born as Elisabeth Ann Guttman on September 11, 1961, performed music a lot like Madonna's, her voice was childlike and in the video she re-enacted the movie 'Lolita'. It was a lot to take in.

When faced with the choice to buy the 7" single or the 12" single, I chose the latter, because it featured three versions of 'Say it say it'. Besides, it was at discount price!

My collection: 7" single no. 30

Found: V&D, Den Haag, 1987

Cost: 8 guilders

Tracks: 'Say it say it (extended version)' / 'Say it say it (single version)', 'Say it say it (dub version)'

Download: here

Suddenly last summer - The Motels

'Suddenly last summer' was a number one hit for the Motels in the US. In the Netherlands, it reached number 11 in the Dutch Top 40 in the winter (!) of 1983/84.

Lead singer Martha Davis has said in various radio interviews that the song was written while reflecting on her life and how you know summer is ending when you hear the ice cream truck go by for the last time and you know he won't be back for a while. She also has stated the song is about losing one's virginity.

My collection: 7" single no. 630

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1988

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Suddenly last summer' / 'Some things never change'

Download: here

Stay the night - Chicago

I suppose I wasn't the only one who was amused by this video back in 1984. But I do wonder if everyone who saw this bought the single. It didn't chart in the UK, and only reached number 27 in the Dutch Top 40. It did reach number 16 in the US Billboard Hot 100, so I guess the video did enough for the group.

According to the information on Wikipedia, singer Peter Cetera supposedly performed most of his stunts in the video himself. Hard to believe when you hear the sappy ballads he recorded in the years after this.

My collection: 7" single no. 884

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

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Stay the night' / 'Only you'

Download: Album 'The Chicago Story, Greatest hits' (CD2), including both tracks

Last words - Ten Sharp

In the first half of the eighties, Marcel Kapteijn, Niels Hermes, Ton Groen, Wil Bouwes and Martin Boers founded Ten Sharp. After competing in a band contest, they were able to sign a contract with CBS Records. They released four singles on the label, of which this one was the third. Since none of these singles charted in the Netherlands, the record company gave up and the band fell apart. That is, until 1991, but that's a different story entirely...

'Last words' was released in 1986 on 7" and 12" single. The 12" single featured a great extended remix. Since I didn't buy the 12" immediately after it came out, I had to hunt for it years later. Fortunately, I found it after some years.

My collection: 12" single no. 151
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, 1992
Cost: 7 guilders
Tracks: 'Last words (extended re-mix)' / 'White gold'
Download: here

Take a bow - Madonna

Madonna's 1994 album 'Bedtime stories' is the first one where she shows signs of actually wanting to make music. The follow-up 'Ray of light' would be her first serious album, but this single, 'Take a bow' is actually a beautiful piece of work too. Her limited vocal range is supported by beautiful string backing, a simple arrangement and effective backing vocals. And this is remarkable, because Babyface, who produced this track, is not known for his craftmanship: he's usually making hip hop and R'n'B drivel.

I bought this single despite my desire not to ever own any Madonna record, but I could never resist owning tracks I liked. Even if they come from her.

My collection: 7" single no. 2301

Found: Record fair, May 27, 1995

Cost: 10 guilders

Tracks: 'Take a bow (edit)' / 'Take a bow (instrumental)'

Download: cd-single 'Take a bow', including both tracks