Major Tom (Völlig losgelöst) - Peter Schilling

Pierre Michael Schilling was born on January 28, 1956 in Stuttgart, Germany. He started a music career in the Seventies, originally as Pierre Schilling, but in 1982 he changed his stage name to Peter Schilling. His first single as Peter Schilling was 'Major Tom (Völlig losgelöst). His re-telling of David Bowie's classic 1969 single 'Space oddity' became his first and only international hit.

An English-language version was recorded, which brought him his international success, but this is the original version which became a hit in German-speaking countries and the Netherlands. The single peaked at number 2 in the Dutch Top 40 in April 1983.

My collection: 7" single no. 186

Found: Studio Echo, Den Haag, 1983

Cost: 5,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Major Tom (Völlig losgelöst)' / 'Ich hab' keine Lust'

When violets meet - Soft Parade

Soft parade was a Dutch alternative rock band, formed in 1988 by Eric Maas and Hans Bos. They recruited Dick Brouwers, Joop Pollet, Marieke Giessen, Sigrid Woudenberg and Edwin Visser to form the band. Their debut album 'Puur' was produced by David A. Stewart from the Eurythmics. In support of the album they toured across Europe with the Godfathers and Shakespear's Sister.
'When violets meet' was their debut single. They would continue to make music until 1997.

My collection: 7" single no. 1699
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, August 29, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'When violets meet' / 'Dead song (birth)'

Theme from 'The Deer Hunter' - The Shadows

The Shadows were formed in the Fifties as a backing band for Cliff Richard, named the Drifters. A very successful career followed, with the personnel of the band frequently changing. One of the Shadows' best known tracks is the 'Theme from 'The Deer Hunter''. It was composed as 'Cavatina' by Stanley Myers. The piece had been recorded by classical guitarist John Williams, long before the film that made it famous.

Following the release of the movie 'The Deer Hunter' in 1979, John Williams' instrumental version of 'Cavatina' became a UK Top 20 hit. Two other versions also made the Top 20 the same year - a vocal version by Iris Williams and another instrumental recording by The Shadows, with an electric guitar played by Hank Marvin. It peaked at number nine in the UK Singles chart.

This 12" single is one of those rare double groove discs. Depending on which groove you choose, the A-side plays either 'Theme from 'The Deer Hunter'', or the Shadows' previous single, 'Don't cry for me Argentina'. A wonderful item, which I'd seen a dozen times before - but never this cheap.

My collection: 12" single no. 489
Found: Kringloop Holland, Den Haag, March 3, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Theme from 'The Deer Hunter'', 'Don't cry for me Argentina' / 'Bermuda Triangle'

Listen to the radio - Tom Robinson

Tom Robinson was born on June 1, 1950 in Cambridge. He was the founding member of the Tom Robinson Band, a band with several hits in the Seventies, such as '2-4-6-8 Motorway', '(Sing if you're) Glad to be gay', 'Power in the darkness' and 'Don't take no for an answer".

In 1983, Robinson went solo. He had his first hit in the Netherlands in 1984 with the song 'Listen to the radio', which he wrote together with Peter Gabriel.

My collection: 7" single no. 953

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

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Listen to the radio (Atmospherics)' / '(Don't do me) Any favours', 'Out to lunch'

Ai no corrida - Chas Jankel

Until recently I didn't even know that this single was missing from my collection. When I wrote about the twelve inch single recently, I came to realise this omission. It's one of those occasions where you think: 'Oh, I'll find that one for cheap someday'. And of course, I did. I think I have all the relevant Chas Jankel singles now.

My collection: 7" single no. 3585
Found: Kringloop Holland, Den Haag, March 3, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Ai no corrida' / 'Lenta latina'

Hangin' on a string - Loose Ends

Loose Ends formed in 1980 in London, with members Carl McIntosh, Jane Eugene and Steve Nichol. They achieved their first success with 'Hangin' on a string (Contemplating)' in 1985, which reached number 13 in the UK singles chart. It was also a minor hit in the Netherlands, reaching number 32 in the Dutch Top 40.

I've had the single for years, but it was only today that I saw the 12" single for a reasonable price. It was worth buying: the extended version of the track makes it even more enjoyable than the original.

My collection: 12" single no. 490

Found: Kringloop Holland, Den Haag, March 3, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Hangin' on a string (Contemplating) (extended dance mix)' / 'A little spice'

Karma Chameleon - Culture Club

Culture Club were at the height of their popularity when they released 'Karma Chameleon'. It was a number one hit all over Europe, Canada, USA, Australia and New Zealand. According to the band's frontman Boy George, 'The song is about the terrible fear of alienation that people have, the fear of standing up for one thing. It's about trying to suck up to everybody. Basically, if you aren't true, if you don't act like you feel, then you get Karma-justice, that's nature's way of paying you back.'

I didn't buy the single at the time of its release, in 1983, because it was continually played on radio and television. It made me hate the song. Now, more than a quarter of a century later, I can hear it again. And the price was right, of course...

My collection: 7" single no. 3586

Found: Kringloop Holland, Den Haag, March 3, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Karma Chameleon' / 'That's the way'

Een beetje van dit - Vulcano

The national finals for the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest in the Netherlands were pretty exciting. There were five acts competing for the honour to represent the country during the year's Contest in Germany. While Vulcano was the audience favourite, the honour went to Bernadette in the end. She sang 'Sing me a song' and ended up being seventh.

Vulcano, who came second by only one point in the national final, subsequently had a hit in the Netherlands with their song, 'Een beetje van dit'. The single included the Dutch and English version of the song. The single peaked at number 7 in the Dutch Top 40. Bernadette, meanwhile, only made it to number 28.

My collection: 7" single no. 3584

Found: Kringloop Holland, Den Haag, March 3, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Een beetje van dit' / 'Rhythm in a heartbeat'

Baby talks dirty - The Knack

Doug Fieger, Berton Averre, Prescott Niles and Bruce Gary formed the Knack in 1978. They hit it big almost immediately with their single 'My Sharona' (1979), which became a chart hit in various countries.

'Baby talks dirty', taken from their second album '...But the little girls understand', sounded a lot like that big hit. No wonder, then, that it didn't become a hit: the audiences had heard the trick before and critics slammed the single.

My collection: 7" single no. 3589

Found: Kringloop Holland, Den Haag, March 3, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Baby talks dirty' / 'End of the game'

Face the face - Pete Townshend

'Face the face' was taken from Pete Townshend's 1985 solo album 'White City: a novel'. The title refers to a story (called a "novel" in the album title) that accompanies the album, and which takes place in a low-income housing estate in the West London area of White City, near where Townshend grew up. The story tells of cultural conflict, racial tension and youthful hopes and dreams in the Sixties.

'Face the face' did not chart in the UK, but it peaked at number 9 in the Dutch Top 40 in early 1986. It was his only solo hit in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 3587

Found: Kringloop Holland, Den Haag, March 3, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Face the face' / 'Hiding out'

Download: Album 'White City: a novel', including both tracks

Broken wings - Mr. Mister

A couple of weeks ago, when I visited my friend Puck, he showed me a 12" single he'd bought. It was Mr. Mister's 'Broken wings', which according to the sleeve contained an extended version of that track. I was interested to hear it, but alas, he didn't have a record player to let me hear it. I had no choice but to wait. I thought I might bump into this record myself anyway, and if it was cheap enough, I would buy it.

So today I had a chance to visit a newly opened Kringloop shop in Den Haag - a shop where second hand goods are sold for next to nothing. I went straight to the records corner and found... this 12" single. I was happy! Then I heard the track. Well, it's about eight seconds longer than the cd version I have of this track. And even that may be attributed to the fact that it was pressed on vinyl (cd's usually fade out a little earlier, especially in the Eighties). I don't know what the record company was thinking. Or better still, I did know: false promises always lead to sales.

My collection: 12" single no. 488
Found: Kringloop Holland, Den Haag, March 3, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Broken wings (extended version)' / 'Uniform of youth', 'Welcome to the real world'

Das Blech - Spliff

Herwig Mitteregger, Reinhold Heil, Manfred Praker, Bernhard Potschka and Alf Klimek were already playing together when Nina Hagen 'adopted' them as her band. They recorded two albums together as the Nina Hagen Band before continuing as Spliff when Hagen went solo.

'Das Blech' was the only single to have some sort of success outside of non-German speaking countries. It barely missed the Dutch Top 40, but was often played on the radio at the time.

My collection: 7" single no. 203

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1984

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Das Blech' / 'Tag für Tag'

Europeennes - Cocktail Chic

In 1986, France was represented in the Eurovision Song Contest by a group of four women who called themselves Cocktail Chic. They were Catherine Bonnevay, Francine Chanterau, Martine Latorre and Dominique Poulain. Written by George and Michel Costa, 'Europeennes' was about travelling to various European destinations, living a carefree lifestyle. The song must have been an attempt to appeal to the international juries, but ironically, most of the destinations were pronounced in French and thus couldn't be made out by most of those international juries.

With 20 countries (and acts) in the Contest, the French delegation only made it to 17th position in the Contest. Personally, I wasn't so impressed with the song either. I can recall I named them 'Cocktail Shit' at the time. But when I came across the single a decade later, I still couldn't resist buying it, if only for its rarity value. The cheap Eighties production is a bonus.

My collection: 7" single no. 3148

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, October 23, 1999

Cost: 4 guilders

Tracks: 'Europeennes' / 'Europeennes (English version)'

You spin me 'round (like a record) - Dead or Alive

'You spin me 'round (like a record)' was taken from Dead or Alive's 1985 album 'Youthquake'. When it was released, it was a slow starter in the UK: it lingered outside the singles top 40 for two months. After this long period, it still rose into the top 10 and then even made number 1. The single also was a top 3 hit in Australia and Italy, peaking at number 6 in the Netherlands.

Dead or Alive was formed around singer Peter Burns, who attracted attention with his eccentric image, which was often compared to then-popular Culture Club frontman Boy George. The single was the first UK number one hit for the Stock/Aitken/Waterman production trio. At the time of its release, one of the band members was Wayne Hussey, who would go on to work with the Sisters of Mercy, and then form The Mission.

My collection: 7" single no. 272

Found: LP top 100, Den Haag, 1985

Cost: 5,5 guilders

Tracks: 'You spin me 'round (like a record)' / 'Misty circles'

Abracadabra - Steve Miller Band

The Steve Miller Band has received some criticism for this song. True, 'Abra, abracadabra / I wanna reach out and grab ya' isn't one of those lyrics you have to praise for its eloquence, but it's still a good pop song. Selling the way it did (a number one hit in America, peaking at number 2 in the UK and number 18 in the Netherlands) the audiences in various countries certainly made up their own minds.

A quarter of a century later it still sounds pretty credible. If kids were still listening to music, they would buy this I'm sure.

My collection: 7" single no. 3038

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 1, 1998

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Abracadabra' / 'Never say no'

The second time around - Shalamar

Producer and booking agent Dick Griffey put together Shalamar after the first single 'Uptown festival' (1977), performed by session singers, was a hit in America. Vocalists Jody Watley, Jeffrey Daniel and Howard Hewett were brought together in 1978. Their first international hit in this line-up was 'Take that to the bank'. They followed this up in 1979 with 'The second time around', which peaked at number 45 in the UK singles chart and number 28 in the Dutch Top 40.

A young Jody Watley was part of Shalamar. In 1984 she left the group to pursue a successful solo career.

My collection: 7" single no. 2043

Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, October 30, 1993

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'The second time around' / 'Leave it all up to love'

Walk into the wind - Vegas

'Walk into the wind' was the third single taken from the album 'Vegas' by the duo of the same name. Terry Hall and David A. Stewart (of Eurythmics fame) worked together on this album, which failed to make any chart impact. The singles fared comparatively better, although 'Walk into the wind', the last single of the three, only made it to number 65 in the UK singles chart.

I discovered Vegas thanks to the album, which I bought on impulse. Subsequently I bought all of their 7" and cd-singles.

My collection: 7" single no. 2692

Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, July 3, 1996

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Walk into the wind' / 'Wise guy'

Download: Album 'Vegas', including both tracks

The party's over - Sandra Reemer

After Teach-In won the 1975 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Ding-a-dong', the 1976 edition was organised in Den Haag, the Netherlands. Sandra Reemer was chosen to perform that year's song, which was written in English for the first time. 'The party's over' proved to be a reasonable success, finishing on ninth place in the Contest.

It was not the first time for Sandra: in 1972 she'd already sung 'Als het om de liefde gaat' together with Dries Holten as 'Sandra & Andres'. In 1979 she would return to the Contest, singing 'Colorado'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3279

Found: February 9, 2001

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'The party's over' / 'Mrs. Lonely'

Saskatchewan - Red Box

Besides the 7" single 'Saskatchewan' there was also a 12" single. The buyer got his money's worth, because he didn't just get an extended remix, but also an alternative 7" mix.

I got this 12" single from a friend, who wanted to get rid of it and had heard about my newfound obsession for Red Box releases. I didn't have much at that time (just the LP 'Heart of the sun' and a single or two), so I was very surprised when I heard the strange versions of 'Saskatchewan' on this disc. It was one of the nicest gifts I'd had in a while.

My collection: 12" single no. 224

Found: Beverwijk, 1992 (present)

Cost: nothing

Tracks: 'Saskatchewan (Crew's testing mix)' / 'Speeches', 'Saskatchewan (Alternative 7" mix)'

Radioactivity - Kraftwerk

The original single of 'Radioactivity' was released in 1976. In 1991, Kraftwerk released the album 'The mix', which contained remixed versions of some of their most popular tracks. The album included a remix of 'Radioactivity'. For the single, 'Radioactivity' was remixed by François Kevorkian and William Orbit.

The single peaked at number 43 in the UK singles chart. The album 'The mix', Kraftwerk's first since 1986's 'Electric cafe', did even better: it peaked at number 15 in the UK albums chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2332
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 25, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Radioactivity (François Kevorkian 7" remix)' / 'Radioactivity (William Orbit 7" mix)'