Popcorn - Hot Butter

Hot Butter was an instrumental cover band consisting of Stan Free, Dave Mullaney, John Abbott, Bill Jerome, Steve Jerome and Danny Jordan. Their version of Gershon Kingsley's composition 'Popcorn' is one of the best known versions of the wave of versions that were released in 1972. Sales in the UK exceeded a quarter of a million, and worldwide Hot Butter sold two million copies of this single.

I bought my copy in London, after having searched for this version for years. Unfortunately it didn't have a picture sleeve. But sometimes you just take what you can get.

My collection: 7" single no. 2526

Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, November 1, 1995

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Popcorn' / 'At the movies'
Download: here

To the unknown man - Vangelis

Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou was born near Volos, Greece on March 29, 1943. He became a composer of electronic music under the artist name Vangelis in the Sixties. In 1968, he founded Aphrodite's Child with that other famous Greek, Demis Roussos. Their first single became their biggest hit: 'Rain and tears'.

In the Seventies Vangelis moved to London, set up his own studio and signed with RCA Records. Between 1975 and 1980 he released five albums with electronic music. One of them was 'Spiral' (1977), from which this single, 'To the unknown man' was drawn. It gave him a minor hit in the Netherlands, reaching number 32 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2940

Found: Record fair, January 31, 1998

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'To the unknown man' / 'To the unknown man (part 2)'

Download: here

Dream kitchen - Frazier Chorus

Frazier Chorus were an unconventional band, as they didn't have a drummer, guitarist and bassist. Tim Freeman, who wrote most of the songs, semi-whispered the vocals, Kate Holmes played the flute, Chris Taplin played clarinet and keyboards and Michele Allardyce played the bongos. Still, they made very danceable music, as evidenced in this single, 'Dream kitchen', released in the first week of 1989.

I don't remember it, but I must have seen the video of this song. I wouldn't know why I bought this single in October of 1989. It's a purchase I never regretted, because I bought lots of Frazier Chorus records since then.

My collection: 7" single no. 1081

Found: Record Exchange, London, October 19, 1989

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Dream kitchen' / 'Down'

Download: here

I wanna rock - Twisted Sister

'Hello students'... So begins one of the most hilarious videos of 1984 (see it here). Actor Mark Metcalf, best known as the sadistic Neidermeyer from the movie 'Animal house', portrays a teacher who attacks a student for drawing the Twisted Sister logo on his textbook. A version of this song appeared in the Spongebob Squarepants Movie in 2006. It was actually one of the less amusing part of that movie, but it was nice to recognise a familiar song nonetheless.

My collection: 7" single no. 3422

Found: Esbjerg, Denmark, June 17, 2006

Cost: 10 Danish crowns

Tracks: 'I wanna rock' / 'Burn in hell (live at Hammersmith Odeon)'

Download: here

I can't stand the rain - Eruption

Silent Eruption was formed in 1974 in Britain. The members were lead singer Leslie Johnson, Greg Perrineau, Morgan Perrineau, Gerry Williams and Eric Kingsley. In 1975 they won the RCA Soul Search contest. A year later, their debut single 'Let me take you back in time' was released. The lack of success disappointed Johnson, so she left the band and backing singer Precious Wilson stepped in to replace her. During a tour in Germany they got noticed by producer Frank Farian, who signed them to Hansa Records, and gave them a support slot during Boney M's tour. After a minor hit single with 'Party party', they released 'I can't stand the rain' in December 1977. It became a big hit, reaching number 5 in the UK and the Netherlands and even making number 18 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

My collection: 7" single no. 3470

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

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'I can't stand the rain' / 'Be yourself'

Download: Album 'Eruption', including both tracks

Amsterdamned - Lois Lane

'Amsterdamned' is the name of a thriller movie produced in the Netherlands in 1988. Two bands were asked to deliver a song for the soundtrack of the movie: the famous rock group Golden Earring and the relatively unknown group Lois Lane. Surprisingly, the latter were asked to sing the title song. 'Amsterdamned' was released in April 1988 and peaked at number 33 in the Dutch Top 40. It was the first success for Lois Lane. From then on, they would have more hit singles.

My collection: 7" single no. 3468

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

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Amsterdamned' / 'Amsterdamned (B-side mix)'

Download: here

Tenement steps - The Motors

The Motors were formed in London in 1977 by Nick Garvey, Andy McMaster, Rob Hendry (quickly replaced by Bram Tchaikovsky) and Ricky Slaughter. Their third album, 'Tenement steps' was released in 1980. The title track was released as a single, and was often played on Dutch radio at the time. It didn't become a hit.

It stuck in my mind, nevertheless, and so when the opportunity came up to buy this single cheaply, I grabbed it.

My collection: 7" single no. 267

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1984

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Tenement steps' / 'Here comes the hustler'

Download: Album 'Airport (Greatest Hits)', including both tracks (part 1 / part 2)

Troy - Sinéad O'Connor

Sinéad O'Connor's debut single 'Troy' was an intense affair. It was an unusual choice, but a successful one, in the Netherlands at least: it reached number 5 in the Dutch Top 40. The song was written by Sinéad as a deeply angry message towards her mother, whom she accused of abuse. The song uses the story of the ancient city of Troy as a metaphor. O'Connor has only sung 'Troy' live shortly after it was released. It was only performed live again in 2008 during the Night of the Proms concerts in Belgium and the Netherlands, where she was one of the starring performers.

The B-side 'Still listening' is an equally beautiful track, released only as the B-side of this single. It later appeared on the cd-single of Sinéad's next single, 'Mandinka'.

My collection: 7" single no. 576

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Troy' / 'Still listening'

Download: here

Fernando en Filippo - Milly Scott

Representing the Netherlands in 1966, Milly Scott was the first black singer to ever enter the Eurovision Song Contest. By today's standards that is remarkable, since the contest was already experiencing its eleventh edition.

'Fernando en Filippo' was composed by Kees de Bruyn and Gerrit den Braber. The lyric tells the strange tale of Fernando, a guitarist from Santiago, who is in love with a girl in San Antonio. He drives down there to see her every evening. Filippo's occupation is never made clear, however he also makes a similar trip despite the handicap of apparently not having a car. Eventually, Fernando's lover leaves him for Filippo.

Milly Scott finished 15th out of 18 contestants, receiving only one point each from Ireland and the UK. There is a suspicion that Milly's skin colour did have something to do with this, although that will never be confirmed of course.

My collection: 7" single no. 3546

Found: Private seller, January 22, 2009

Cost: 3 euro

Tracks: 'Fernando en Filippo' / 'Graag of niet'

Download: here

Just when I needed you most - Randy Vanwarmer

'You left me just when I needed you most'. It's one of those songs you need to play when you already feel a bit down. It will send you right to the brink. This song brought Randy Vanwarmer international fame at the end of the Seventies. Randy Vanwarmer was born on March 30, 1955. He grew up in Colorado in the USA. After his father died in a car accident, he moved to Cornwall, England in 1970. Randy remembered it as a depressing place, economically downtrodden, with long, dark and rainy winters. When he was still a teenager, a girlfriend from the USA came to England, spent several months with him, then returned home. Vanwarmer had been writing songs and playing in South England clubs for a while, and the experience with the American girl ultimately became 'Just when I needed you most'. In Vanwarmer's mind the song is really about the weather: 'It's not hard to write a really sad song in the winter in Cornwall'. The single became his one and only big hit: it reached number 4 in the USA, number 8 in the UK and number 6 in the Netherlands.

Vanwarmer continued to write music for others and for his own recordings, but further commercial success eluded him. On January 14, 2004 he died of leukemia.

My collection: 7" single no. 2831

Found: February 1, 1997

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Just when I needed you most' / 'Your light'

Download: Album 'Warmer', including both tracks (password: 88R+?)Lx )

Don't want to wait anymore - The Tubes

In 1989, I bought a compilation cd of rock-oriented tracks called 'Empty Rooms'. It was full of tracks I knew well and wanted to have on cd. One of these tracks was the lesser known 'Don't want to wait anymore' by the Tubes. I think I loved the track straight away.

The Tubes were based in San Francisco and primarily made rock music. In the UK, it reached the lower regions of the single schart in 1981. It was their third and final chart single in that country.

My collection: 7" single no. 2537

Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, November 1, 1995

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Don't want to wait anymore' / 'Think about me'

Download: here

Day in day out - David Bowie

'Day in day out' was the first single taken from David Bowie's 1987 album 'Never let me down'. The song lyic dealt with urban decay and deprivation in American cities at the time, concerned largely with the depths a young mother has to sink to in order to feed her child, including attempting to shoplift and become a prostitute. Many critics have accused the song of burying its message in over-produced, glossy surroundings. Others claim that this doesn't overpower the message.

The single was released in special limited edition box set, which included the single pressed on red vinyl, a 'David Bowie' logo sticker sheet and a foldout booklet with new photographs and David's biography.

My collection: 7" single no. 1345

Found: Sister Ray, London, October 18, 1990

Cost: 4 pounds

Tracks: 'Day in day out' / 'Julie'

Download: Album 'Never let me down', including both tracks

'n Beetje - Teddy Scholten

Teddy Scholten represented the Netherlands in the 1959 Eurovision Song Contest with this song, ''n Beetje' ('A little bit'). The song won the contest, and the Netherlands became the first country to win the contest, which had started in 1956, twice. The song was written by Willy van Hemert, just like 'Net als toen', the song performed by Corry Brokken, who won the 1957 contest.

''n Beetje' is sung from the perspective of a young woman being asked by her lover if she is 'true' and 'faithful', to which she answers 'A little bit'. This unusual admission is then justified by the comment that 'everyone is in love at least once', hence nobody can be said to be entirely faithful to anyone.

My collection: 7" single no. 3545

Found: Private seller, January 22, 2009

Cost: 3 euro

Tracks: ''n Beetje' / 'Li per li'

Download: here

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