War babies - Simple Minds

The Simple Minds have had enormous success in the Eighties, but they had some difficulties continuing that success after the decade ended. The band effectively fell apart, with Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill being the only active members. After being released from their contract with Virgin Records in 1998, Simple Minds decided to musically reinvent themselves, using techno influences in their rock music. The resulting album, 'Neapolis', got mixed reviews.

'War babies' was the second single drawn from the album. It reached number 43 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2996

Found: HMV, London, October 1998

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'War babies (Bascombe mix)' / 'I travel (Utah Saints mix - edit)'

Download: here

Invincible - Pat Benatar

After the major worldwide success of 'Love is a battlefield', the rest of Pat Benatar's career must have seemed to her and the world as a relative disappointment. Whatever she did, it wouldn't measure up to that one big hit.

'Invincible' is a convincing rock track, which is part of the soundtrack of the movie 'The legend of Billie Jean'. The movie was expected to be a big hit. However, the reviews were poor, and it flopped in the theatres. Benatar herself has often spoken disparagingly about the film before launching into 'Invincible' in concert, calling it 'The Worst Movie Ever Made' on at least one occasion.

My collection: 7"single no. 338

Found: LP top 100, Den Haag, 1985

Cost: 5,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Invincible' / 'Invincible (instrumental)'

Download: here

Geno - Dexy's Midnight Runners

Dexy's Midnight Runners released 'Geno' in March 1980. Two months later, it reached number 1 in the UK singles chart. It was their second single. The song was a tribute to soul singer Geno Washington. The song's style - with classic soul influences - was out of sync with the popular new wave sounds of the time.

I'd forgotten this song totally until I heard it again sometime in 1996. A few months later, I was able to find a copy during a lovely weekend in London.

My collection: 7" single no. 2833

Found: Record Exchange, London, February 8, 1997

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Geno' / 'Breakin' down the walls of heartache'

Download: here

Milk from the coconut - Toto Coelo

Toto Coelo were brought together by producer Barry Blue. Original members were Anita Mahadervan, Lacey Bond, Lindsey Danvers, Ros Holness and Sheen Doran. The group's name is Latin and means 'by the whole extent of the heavens' or 'heaven-wide', but is commonly translated as 'completely', 'entirely' or 'utterly'. Of the name, Sheen Doran said, 'It has a number of meanings, such as 'heart and soul', 'root and branch' and 'totally different'. It seemed to describe what we were. Plus, it's strange-sounding and hard to pronounce, so it sticks in your mind.'

'Milk from the coconut' was released in 1983, but failed to chart. Personally, I think this track is more catchy and memorable than their only hit, 'I eat cannibals'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3156

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 27, 1999

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Milk from the coconut (part 1)' / 'Milk from the coconut (part 2)'

Download: here

Different time, different place - Julia Fordham

Julia Fordham's 1994 album 'Falling forward' received some critical praise. The single 'Different time, different place', written by Julia Fordham and Simon Climie, was a minor hit, reaching number 41 in the UK singles chart.

Buying this single was a gamble for me: it caught my attention because of the beautiful sleeve and the free postcard that came with this single. And I figured, someone who had recorded 'Happy ever after' was bound to make more nice popsongs. I was right, of course.

My collection: 7" single no. 2102

Found: Record fair, May 15, 1994

Cost: 8 guilders

Tracks: 'Different time, different place' / 'Safe (alternative version)'

Download: here

Why - Carly Simon

The movie 'Soup for one' was released in 1982, and flopped. However, the soundtrack of this movie, released in the same year, met with critical acclaim and commercial success. The soundtrack was produced by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers from Chic. Carly Simon provided vocals on this track, 'Why' and was perceived at the time as a conscious attempt to move away from her guitar-based singer/songwriter material from the Seventies.

The single flopped in America, peaked at number 10 in the UK singles chart and at number 29 in the Dutch Top 40. The song resurfaced in 1989 on the 'Hacienda' scene in Ibiza.

My collection: 7" single no. 954

Found: All that music, Leiden, August 10, 1989

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Why' (Carly Simon) / 'Why (instrumental)' (Chic)

Download: here

'Ullo John! Gotta new motor? - Alexei Sayle

British comedian Alexei Sayle made quite an impression on me with this video back in 1984. Some kind of lunatic running through the streets, venting the most incoherent oneliners... it was great. Finding the accompanying single was a big problem though. It wasn't available in Holland, and when I ordered it in England all they had was the 12" single. It took me a decade to finally come across a copy - and of course I bought it right away.

My collection: 7" single no. 2534

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

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: ''Ullo John! Gotta new motor? (part 1)' / ''Ullo John! Gotta new motor? (part 2)'

Download: here

Jamie - Mistral

Mistral was a studio project by Robbie van Leeuwen (ex-Shocking Blue) and Rick van der Linden (ex-Ekseption). The duo recorded three singles, and used different singers for every one of them. Sylvia van Asten sang the vocals on 'Jamie'. When this single became a hit in the Dutch Top 40 (it would eventually peak at number 15), the group was invited to perform at the popular chart show Toppop. Two dancers were clad in ridiculous insect suits, but the whole routine looked incrediby stupid.

It was one of the reasons that led to me disliking the song. (Sometimes it happens that way.) Thankfully, I changed my mind two decades later.

My collection: 7" single no. 2851

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, June 21, 1997

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Jamie' / 'Nectar'

Download: here

Perfect - The The

'Perfect' appeared on The The's album 'Soul mining'. It was the third single drawn from that album, and it appeared in several different formats. This particular 12" single is presumably a rare one, since it isn't listed on discogs.com. It features the album version of 'Perfect' and the B-side track 'Fruit of the heart' - and nothing else. There isn't even a picture cover! As such, it's one of those releases where you wonder whether you've stumbled across a collector's item...

My collection: 12" single no. 412

Found: Record Exchange, 2001

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Perfect' / 'Fruit of the heart'

Download: here

Fade to grey (Bassheads 93 remix) - Visage

Record companies were milking their back catalogues in the late Eighties and early Nineties. It had become a proven recipe for success: take an old song, remix it and have a new chart hit. It didn't turn out so well in this case: whereas 'Fade to grey' was a top 10 hit in 1980, the 1993 remix by Bassheads only reached number 39 in the UK singles chart.

Being as interested in cover versions and remixes as I am, I always try out such releases. In this case, I was well pleased with this single. The remix updated the original music, but thankfully kept the original vocals intact. Nothing beats the original track, of course, but sometimes this is a great alternative.

My collection: 7" single no. 2037

Found: Virgin Megastore, London, October 22, 1993

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Fade to grey (Bassheads edit)' / 'Fade to grey (7" remix)', 'Fade to grey (7" Original mix)'

Download: here

Now and forever - Fra Lippo Lippi

Rune Kristoffersen and Morten Sjoberg formed the Norwegian duo Fra Lippo Lippi in 1980. Originally their music was gloomy, drum machine-driven synth music with muffled vocals, influenced heavily by Joy Division. Their debut album 'In silence' was recorded on a 4 track recorder in a basement in Oslo.

The vocals of Rune improved already on this 1982 7" single 'Now and forever', which they released in 1982. The song is more catchy and the vocals are almost audible this time around. What's more, the B-side consists of two beautiful piano-based melodies. It was a first glimpse of their later melodic pop.

My collection: 7" single no. 3187

Found: Mail order, 1999

Cost: 10 guilders

Tracks: 'Now and forever' / 'In a little room', 'An idea'

Download: here

Ik dans dus ik besta - Het Goede Doel

After disappearing from the pop scene for a year, the Dutch band Het Goede Doel returned with a new single in early 1986. Entitled 'Ik dans dus ik besta' ('I dance, therefore I am') it was a bouncy pop tune. The lyric was less ironic than earlier tracks, and this resulted in a lower placing in the Dutch Top 40: it peaked at number 29.

Five singles were released from the album 'Mooi en onverslijtbaar', of which this was the one I liked the least. I recently bought it, and was pleased to find out that the 'instrumental' B-side is actually a remix of the track. It even includes vocals.

My collection: 7" single no. 3484

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

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Ik dans dus ik besta' / 'Ik dans dus ik besta (instrumental)'
Download: here

Sad - Immaculate fools

'Sad' by the Immaculate fools was a complete flop in Europe, with the exception of Spain, where the British band had been able to get quite a following. I found out about this track because it appeared on a promotional cd-single together with a remix of Azucar Moreno's 'Bandido'. When I came across this single I bought it right away.

'Sad' was taken from the band's album of the same name, both released in 1990.

My collection: 7" single no. 1568

Found: All that music, Leiden, January 2, 1992

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Sad' / 'When we rise'

Download: here

Way of the west - Ten Sharp

After the failure of their first three singles, Ten Sharp reinvented themselves as a rock band. With screaming guitars, the band sounded louder and more aggressive than ever before - or after. 'Way of the west' (1987) was a very different single for the band.

When this single flopped the band fell apart and the musicians went their own way. Until 1990, that is, when two members Marcel Kapteijn and Niels Hermes got together again and started Ten Sharp II in 1991. Their new single 'You' would become a pan-European hit.

My collection: 7" single no. 1158

Found: All that music, Leiden, January 27, 1990

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Way of the west' / 'Way of the west (club version)'

Download: here

Daydream - Wallace Collection

Wallace Collection was founded in 1968 by Sylvain Vanholme, Freddy Nieuland, Marc Hérouet, Christian Janssens, Raymond Vincent and Jacques Namotte. The Belgian band moved to England and named themselves after the museum in Central London. Their debut album was recorded at Abbey Road studios and was released in 1969. The single 'Daydream' became a hit all over Europe, including a number one hit in Belgium and reaching number 14 in the Netherlands. They could never equal the success of this one single and subsequently they split up in 1971.

'Daydream' is an extraordinary song, reminiscent of the Beatles' 'Hey Jude' (1976). I bought this single, with a picture of the band posing before the museum, a decade after I first heard the song. It's one of those songs you will always remember after hearing it once.

My collection: 7" single no. 1711
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 14, 1992
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Daydream' / 'Baby I don't mind'
Download: here

Glad to know you - Chas Jankel

Chas Jankel's career has not been a very successful. Despite releasing various albums and singles, he never made the charts in the UK. His single 'Glad to know you' (1981) was another flop - but at least he still found some success when Kitty Grant released a cover version of this song in 1983: it reached number 19 in the Dutch Top 40.

I knew about the original when it came out, and when I heard the cover I knew immediately that the original was better. It's a mystery to me why it wasn't a hit.

My collection: 7" single no. 957

Found: All that music, Leiden, August 10, 1989

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Glad to know you' / '3,000,000 synths'

Download: Album 'Chasanova', including both tracks

Roulette - Future World Orchestra

Robert Pot (Born in Nijverdal, Netherlands, March 15, 1957) developed an interest in symphonic rock groups like Genesis and Yes at an early age. He saved up for synthesizers and a recording studio, until he met Gerto Heupink, with whom he formed Future World Orchestra. They recorded several demos and finally signed with Dureco Records in 1981.

Their debut single, 'Desire', reached number 20 in the Dutch Top 40. The follow-up, 'I'm not afraid of the future', did almost equally well, peaking at number 26. After recording a cover version of the 'Theme from E.T.' (Yes, THAT Spielberg movie), they released 'Roulette', an instrumental track reminiscent of the work by contemporaries Nova. It reached number 29, and it was in fact their only single I liked. And so I bought it.

My collection: 7" single no. 205

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1983

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Roulette' / 'Dawn'

Download: here

Si - Gigliola Cinquetti

After winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1964 with 'Non ho l'eta per amarti', Gigliola Cinquetti competed again in 1974. The live broadcast of the song was banned in her home country by the Italian national broadcaster RAI as the event partially coincided with the campaigning for the 1974 Italian referendum on divorce which was held a month later in May.
RAI censored the song due to concerns that the name and lyrics of the song (which constantly repeated the word 'Si') could be seen as being a subliminal message and a form of propaganda to influence the Italian voting public to vote 'yes' in the referendum. The song remained censored on most Italian state TV and radio stations for over a month.

Cinquetti ended as number two in the Contest, just behind the legendary 'Waterloo' by Abba.

My collection: 7" single no. 3127

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, July 24, 1999

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Si' / 'Il pappagallo verde'

Download: here

Blue flame (Melt the ice) - Rupert Hine

Rupert Hine released 'Blue flame (Melt the ice)' as a single in 1985. It was in the year that he was also involved in the soundtrack of the movie 'Better off dead'. This single was never included on any album, although the 2001 cd release of his 1983 album 'The wildest wish to fly' includes this single as a bonus track.

I found this single in my local record shop and got curious. I'd become interested in Rupert Hine's production work for Howard Jones and his solo single 'Eleven faces'. When I played this single for the first time, I knew I'd found a great song.

My collection: 7" single no. 770

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 16, 1989

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Blue flame (Melt the ice)' / 'Yellow flame'

Download: here

Voetbalknieën - Ton Lebbink

Dutch poet and former nightporter Ton Lebbink released his debut album 'Luchtkastelen' in 1982. His debut single 'Voetbalknieën' was lifted from this album. Although it never made the charts, the album and single are a bit of a cult favourite these days. With nonsensical lyrics and quite danceable music, 'Voetbalknieën' is an astonishing piece of work.

I bought the single in 1989, seven years after I first heard it thanks to my sister, who'd bought the single - and later even the album - because she thought it was a funny track. It stuck in my mind, somehow. I'm still glad it did.

My collection: 7" single no. 891

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

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Voetbalknieën' / 'Donker is de Kalverstraat'

Download: here