Nellie the elephant - Toy dolls

Toy Dolls are an English punk rock band formed in 1979. While much punk rock is political or angry, Toy Dolls expressed themselves mostly in a funny way, with songs such as 'Yul Brynner Was A Skinhead' and 'James Bond lives down our street'.

'Nellie the elephant' was originally written in 1956 by Ralph Butler and Peter Hart. It became a children's favourite thanks to the original rendition by child actress Mandy Miller, which was never a hit single but was played countless times on BBC national radio in the UK in the Fifties and Sixties. The Toy Dolls recorded their version just in time for Christmas 1984. The single peaked at number 4 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3619
Found: eBay, received April 16, 2009
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Nellie the elephant' / 'Fisticuffs in Frederick street'

The Lebanon - Human League

Taken from their 1984 album 'Hysteria' and released as its first single, 'The Lebanon' was a radical departure from what was accepted as the soft synthpop sound of the Human League. The lyrics were an attempt to make a political statement on the Lebanese civil war which had been exacerbated by Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon of 1982. The song tells the story of a man who joins a militia to help his community and ends up fighting in the civil war.

The single peaked at number 11 in the UK, which was considered to be a relative failure. Because the track is a very 'concert friendly' track it has been played by the band live frequently ever since its release and is nearly always on their set list to this day.

My collection: 7" single no. 3231

Found: Record Exchange, London, 2000

Cost: 50p

Tracks: 'The Lebanon' / 'Thirteen'

Train - Red Box

After the success of 'The circle and the square' and its singles in 1985, things went rather quiet for some time. Due to increasingly strained working relations between the band and the record company, Julian Close left to work in A&R and Simon Toulson-Clarke took time out from writing and recording in order to travel. In the late Eighties Toulson-Clarke was persuaded to record a second album. Together with new partner Alastair Gavin and producer David Motion he made the album 'Motive'.

'Train' was released as the first (and only) single from that album. The 12" single features four versions of the track, some even more eccentric than the original track.

My collection: 12" single no. 263
Found: Record Exchange, London, 1995
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Train (Fantasy Island)', 'Train (Traveller fare)' / 'Train (Mr. Chandra is upstairs)', 'Train (7" version)'

Get the message - Electronic

'Get the message' was the first single taken from Electronic's self-titled debut album, but not their debut single: that was 'Getting away with it', released a year before. Electronic consisted of Bernard Sumner from New Order and ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr. During recording, Primal Scream backing singer Denise Johnson added a vocal at the end of the song. The single featured a non-album track as its B-side: 'Free Will', a sample-heavy dance track.

'Get the message' peaked at number 8 in the UK singles chart. I didn't know the song when I bought this single, however I did know a few of Electronic's singles and hoped that this one would be equally good. And it was.

My collection: 7" single no. 2987

Found: House of Rhythm, London, May 23, 1998

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Get the message' / 'Free will'

Golden hits volume 2 - Prefab Sprout

I bought this 'golden' single during the first record fair I ever went to. I thought it was a great find, because it featured 'Goodbye Lucille', which I thought was an earlier version of the single 'Johnny Johnny', which I'd bought a couple of years before. As it turned out, it was pretty much the same as that single, only the title was different.

Still, this is an interesting little EP, because of the colour of course, but also because of the great selection of hit singles. Although 'hit singles' might be stretching that term a bit: none of these tracks made the UK top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1220

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, April 22, 1990

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Golden calf (edit)', 'Faron Young' / 'Goodbye Lucille no. 1', 'Hey Manhattan'

Go west - Village People

Another track I've featured on this blog before, but now in the shorter single version, as opposed to the long 12" version. 'Go west' peaked at number 31 in the Netherlands in the summer of 1979. At the same time, it made number 15 in the UK.

At the time, I was spending my weekly allowance of 3 guilders in the local record shop. While chart singles cost 6 guilders, the shop discounted them once they left the Top 40. I went round that shop almost every week, hoping for something good to be available. I seem to recall that this catch was a relative disappointment, since more singles had left the chart, but they were already sold out. So I made do with this one. I'm glad I have it now, because of course it is the original version of the Pet Shop Boys' 1992 cover version. But how was I to know?

My collection: 7" single no. 23

Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1979

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Go west' / 'I wanna shake your hand'

Doot doot - Freur

As written before, 'Doot doot' was Freur's debut single and only hit. The 7" single was a revelation for me, I bought almost as soon as it hit the Dutch 'bubbling under' chart. The single didn't make the Dutch Top 40, which at the time I saw as a big injustice.

Earlier editions of the single didn't have the explanatory '(Freur)' in the upper left corner. I've always searched for a copy of that, but so far, without luck.

My collection: 7" single no. 196

Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1983

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Doot doot' / 'Hold me mother'

Honey - Mariah Carey

Buried under too much breathy vocals and hiphop influences, here's a nice tune. Mariah Carey's 'Honey' was released in 1997, as the first single from her album 'Butterfly', the last album before the disastrous 'Glitter' project. This single made number one in America, number 3 in the UK and number 15 in the Netherlands.

The track uses two samples: 'Hey DJ', originally performed by the World Famous Supreme Team, and 'The Body Rock' by the Treacherous Three.

My collection: 7" single no. 2933

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 17, 1998

Cost: 8 guilders

Tracks: 'Honey' / 'Honey (Bad Boy remix)'

The robots - Kraftwerk

Released as the first single from their 1991 remix album 'The Mix', Kraftwerk's 'The Robots' was a big success in the UK, peaking at number 20. 'The robots', remixed by the band, was originally released in 1978 as a single from their seventh album 'Man machine'.

The lyrics reference the revolutionary technique of robotics, and how humans can use them as they wish. The Russian lines "Я твой слуга" (Ya tvoi sluga, I'm your servant) and "Я твой работник" (Ya tvoi rabotnik, I'm your worker) appear repeatedly both in the original version and in this remix.

My collection: 7" single no. 2354

Found: Marlyn Music, Eastbourne, June 28, 1995

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'The robots (single edit)' / 'Robotronik (single version)'

Nightmares - Flip

After the release of 'That's what they say about love', the band Flip tried once more with the remixed single 'Nightmares'. It was even less of a success than the debut single. It must have eventually led to the end of the band in 1987.

The additional single 'Plague of hearts' does exist, but until now I haven't been able to locate a copy. I'm especially looking for the 12" single. Well, here's hoping they will turn up someday...

My collection: 7" single no. 655

Found: V&D, Leiden, September 23, 1988

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Nightmares (Big Drum 7")' / 'Dark on the water'

Cold cold heart - Midge Ure

Midge Ure released his third solo album 'Pure' in 1991. It was a collection of traditionally influenced songs. 'Cold cold heart' was the first single released from the album, which managed to get to number 17 in the UK singles chart. It was also the last single by Ure to make the top 40 in the UK.

Personally I lost track of Midge Ure after his excellent 1989 album 'Answers to nothing'. I picked up this single in 1995 on the strength of his name, but I didn't think it was one of his better songs. Hearing it again, I have to say I like it better now.

My collection: 7" single no. 2434

Found: Concerto, Amsterdam, August 19, 1995

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Cold cold heart' / 'Flowers'

Bomb out - Kojo

Timo Kojo was born in Helsinki, Finland on May 9, 1953. He started his recording career in 1977 when his band, Madame George, released their only album: 'Madame George: what's happening?'. He then proceeded to release three solo albums. The last of these three albums was not a commercial success. He then decided to represent Finland with the song 'Nuku pommiin' ('Bomb out'). The rock song was a protest against nuclear bombs and the potential danger of a nuclear war in Europe during the cold war, which was in its heyday at the time.

Despite its pacifist message the song received no points. However it revived Kojo's career in Finland. He remains not so well known in that country, but his performance in Eurovision is a landmark in Finnish Eurovision Song Contest history. I was eleven years old when Kojo performed his song, and I remembered it vividly as well. I was very glad when I finally found the single 'Bomb out' in 1998.

My collection: 7" single no. 2970

Found: Bea Records, February 21, 1998

Cost: 10 guilders

Tracks: 'Bomb out' / 'Video Venus'

Duel - Propaganda

For a little while in 1985, I thought Propaganda was the best thing since sliced bread. After the success of Dr. Mabuse, the band fell silent for a while before releasing 'Duel'. I vaguely recalled 'Dr. Mabuse', but this new single was total genius in my book. Especially the frantic piano solo was something I really marvelled at.

The single peaked at number 5 in the Dutch Top 40, while it only managed number 21 in the UK. When this single was followed up by the less remarkable 'Machinery', my interest faded pretty quickly, although I did like that song as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 294

Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1985

Cost: 5,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Duel' / 'Jewel'

Fly too high - Janis Ian

Janis Ian's biggest international hit must be 'Fly too high', released as a single in the autumn of 1979. Ian contributed the song to the soundtrack of the Jodie Foster movie 'Foxes', and also included it on her own album 'Night rains'. The track was produced and co-written by famous producer Giorgio Moroder and as such is a bit of a strange entity in Janis Ian's body of work.

The single peaked at number 44 in the UK, but was a top 5 hit in the Netherlands. At the time I felt the song was 'too dull', but a decade later I still bought it.

My collection: 7" single no. 894
Found: All that music, Leiden, June 23, 1989
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Fly too high' / 'Night rains'

Days like this - Sheena Easton

You might assume from seeing the picture of this sleeve that I bought this single for the package alone. And you would be almost right. See, the free poster was also a good incentive. But of course, Sheena Easton is an interesting artist anyway so I would be lying if I said I didn't like the song.

'Days like this' is another single from Sheena's 1988 album 'The lover in me'. The single peaked at number 43 in the UK singles chart, but failed to chart in other territories.

My collection: 7" single no. 2180

Found: House of Rhythm, London, September 27, 1994

Cost: 1,5 pounds

Tracks: 'Days like this' / 'Days like this (instrumental)'

Jack and Diane - John Cougar

Before he became John Mellencamp and, before that, John Cougar Mellencamp, he made a name for himself as John Cougar. The single 'Jack & Diane' was released in 1982 and became his first international breakthrough.

According to John, 'Jack & Diane' was written after watching 'Splendor in the Grass', a 1961 movie starring Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty. The song's tone and lyrics are evocative of a nostalgia for the novelty of youth, influenced in part by Mellencamp's own life experiences.

John also stated that the clapping wasn't supposed to be included in the finished song. It was recorded with the clapping in order to help keep tempo and then it was to be removed. However, he realized the song didn't work without it.

My collection: 7" single no. 858

Found: Den Haag, May 27, 1989

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Jack & Diane' / 'Can you take it'

It will come in time - Billy Preston

After the success of the beautiful ballad 'With you I'm born again', Billy Preston enlisted Syreeta Wright's help once again for the next single, 'It will come in time'. This time, they performed a very upbeat, up-tempo track. They had another top 10 success in the Netherlands, peaking at number 8 (where 'With you I'm born again' made it to number 4). The single didn't do as well in the UK, peaking at number 47.

My collection: 7" single no. 3282

Found: February 9, 2001

Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'It will come in time' / 'Sock-it, rocket'

Violently - Hue and Cry

Brother Pat and Greg Kane formed Hue & Cry in 1983. Their biggest hit was the 1987 single 'Labour of love', which peaked at number 6 in the UK. The single 'Violently' was released a year later and peaked at number 21.

It wasn't the title track of this EP that piqued my attention: it was their cover version of Kate Bush's 'The man with the child in his eyes' on the B-side. As an avid Kate Bush collector, I couldn't let this cover version pass me by. It is a reasonable effort, although the version by Velvet Belly, released a decade later, is much better.

My collection: 7" single no. 2527

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

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Violently' / 'The man with the child in his eyes', 'Calamity John'

Shame - Evelyn 'Champagne' King

Evelyn 'Champagne' King was born on July 1, 1960. She released 'Shame', her only top 10 hit in America, in 1978. After a long struggle in the UK singles chart, 'Shame' eventually made the top 40, peaking at number 39. In the Netherlands, it did considerably better: peaking at number 18.

The song was covered by Kim Wilde in 1996. This is how I became interested in the original version. I bought the single in 2000 after a long hunt.

My collection: 7" single no. 3212

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 30, 2000

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Shame' / 'Dancin', dancin', dancin''

Sweet love - Anita Baker

Anita Baker was born on January 26, 1958 in Toledo, Ohio (USA). She released her debut album 'The Songstress' in 1983. Three years later, the album 'Rapture' spawned her first mainstream hit, 'Sweet love'. It peaked at number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 13 in the UK.

This double single edition was released in the UK, featuring two live tracks on the second disc, originally broadcast by BBC Radio 1. I bought this single because I liked the title track ánd because I'm a sucker for limited editions. But I have to admit, I don't really like the other three tracks in this package.

My collection: 7" single no. 2204

Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, October 8, 1994

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Sweet love' / 'No one in the world' // 'Same ole love (live)' / 'You bring me joy (live)'