It's my party - Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin

'It's my party' was originally recorded in 1963 by Lesley Gore. She recorded the song at the age of sixteen. It peaked at number 9 in the UK Singles chart.

After the success of 'What becomes of the broken hearted', which Dave Stewart recorded with Colin Blunstone, he recruited Barbara Gaskin to sing in his cover version of 'It's my party'. The single became a number one hit in the UK and Germany. Stewart and Gaskin continued to work together, but they never equalled this level of success.

My collection: 7" single no. 1137

Found: All that music, Leiden, December 28, 1989

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'It's my party' / 'Waiting in the wings'

Download: here

Heroes (French version) - David Bowie

David Bowie recorded 'Heroes' in 1977. It appeared on the album of the same name, and as a single. Although it wasn't a very big hit at the time for Bowie, it has become one of his better known tracks. It was also included on the soundtrack to the movie 'Christiane F. - Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo', which portrayed the drug scene in Berlin in the Seventies.

I knew that Bowie recorded a German version of the song, but I was a bit surprised when I saw a French version of the song as well. This happened today, actually, and the single was so (relatively) cheap that I decided to buy it on the spot. It's funny to hear this track: it's not the best French I've ever heard...

My collection: 7" single no. 3590

Found: Plaatboef, Den Haag, March 5, 2009

Cost: 3,5 euro

Tracks: 'Heroes (French version)' / 'V2 Schneider'

Secret garden - Bruce Springsteen

In 1995, Bruce Springsteen released a 'Greatest hits' album. I was never much of a fan of Bruce Springsteen, but this album contained one new track, 'Secret garden', which was quite intriguing. So I was happy when that song was released as a single. And just like previous single 'Streets of Philadelphia' before it, I went searching for a vinyl release of this track.

I was quite stunned when I actually found one. Some time had passed and I had bought the cd-single in the mean time, but there it was: an American 7" single. I bought it, of course.

My collection: 7" single no. 2300

Found: Record fair, May 27, 1995

Cost: 8 guilders

Tracks: 'Secret garden' / 'Thunder road (live)'

Isn't it time - The Babys

'Isn't it time' was taken from the Babys 1977 album 'Broken heart'. The lyrics are motivated by band member Ray Kennedy's love for a French woman that he knew during the writing of the song.

The song enjoyed a peak position number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was the only single of the band to make it into the UK singles chart, peaking at number 45. And in the Netherlands it peaked at number 4.

My collection: 7" single no. 536
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 28, 1987
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Isn't it time' / 'Give me your love'

Rock me Amadeus - Falco

Falco released 'Rock me Amadeus' in 1985. The song was produced by the Dutch brothers Bolland, who co-wrote the song with Falco. The lyric was inspired by the movie 'Amadeus' (1984) and talks about Mozart's poverty and his debts.

For the U.S. release, the song was remixed with an English background overlay by L.A. DJ Chris Modig. This is also the version included on this single, which is a Dutch pressing. Interestingly enough, the song only became a hit in the Netherlands when this version was released.

My collection: 7" single no. 2286
Found: Record fair, May 6, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Rock me Amadeus' / 'Tango the night'

Wrap your arms around me - Agnetha Fältskog

'Wrap your arms around me' was Agnetha Fältskog's second solo single since the breakup of Abba. It was the title track of her solo album, which was released shortly before the release of this single. The single featured an edit of the longer album track, which featured some extra groaning and erotically charged sounds.

Strangely enough, Agnetha never really sounded very erotic. She just didn't have the trashy quality singers like Donna Summer and Madonna had. The single, nonetheless, was a success. It was a number one hit in Belgium and peaked at number 5 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 2045

Found: Record fair, October 30, 1993

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Wrap your arms around me' / 'Take good care of your children'

Saving forever for you - Shanice

Shanice Lorraine Wilson was born on May 14, 1973 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. When she was only eight years old, she appeared in a commercial for Kentucky Fried Chicken with Ella Fitzgerald. In 1984, she performed on 'Star search', an American talent show on TV. Shortly after her appearance, she was signed to A&M Records.

'Saving forever for you' was Shanice's second top 5 hit in America. It is a pretty straightforward soul song, written by Diane Warren, which explains its slightly formulaic character. The song appeared on the soundtrack cd of the popular television series 'Beverley Hills 90210', which was recently brought back to life in the form of the spin-off series '90210'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1867

Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, February 13, 1993

Cost: 6,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Saving forever for you (radio edit)' / 'Saving forever for you (instrumental)'

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)'