The laughing gnome - David Bowie

A full ten years before Dutch singer Father Abraham made his claim to fame with the Smurf song, David Bowie recorded and released 'The laughing gnome', a novelty song which failed to give him the chart recognition he so desperately desired.

The song still became a hit in the UK when it was re-released after Bowie's commercial breakthrough with 'The rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars' in 1973. Despite the song being totally different from Bowie's material at that time, the single still made number 6 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3170

Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, January 18, 2000

Cost: 3 pounds

Tracks: 'The laughing gnome' / 'The gospel according to Tony Day'

Colorado - Xandra

Dutch singer Sandra Reemer (born October 17, 1950 in Bandung, Indonesia) participated three times in the Eurovision Song Contest. Her third and last attempt took place in 1979 as Xandra with the song 'Colorado'. While she made fourth place in 1972 together with Andres and ninth place in 1976 singing 'The party's over', this time she only made twelfth place.

Written by Rob and Ferdi Bolland together with Gerard Cox, 'Colorado' was only a minor hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 37 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3347

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 2002

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Colorado' / 'Intercity'

Shake your body (down to the ground) - The Jacksons

When people ask me what music I would like to have played on my funeral, I usually cite titles like 'Down down deeper and down' (Status Quo) and this one by the Jacksons. Released as a single in December 1978, this track became a hit for the group in 1979, reaching number 4 in the UK and number 3 in the Netherlands.

The 12" single contains an 8'37 extended remix, which is half a minute longer than the album version on 'Destiny' (1978).

My collection: 12" single no. 333

Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 1995

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Shake your body (down to the ground)' / 'That's what you get (for being polite)'

Can't stop - Maarten Peters

'Can't stop' was the debut single of Maarten Peters, released in the Netherlands in 1985. The single was produced by Jos Haagmans, with whom Maarten had just worked for a year in the Frank Boeijen Groep, which they were both members of.

The single is a stunning debut, not so much for the A-side, which is a pretty middle of the road affair, but the B-side. Unreleased on any album, 'Don't interfere with a ghost' is a simple, yet effective ballad that deals with a slightly creepy theme, but doesn't exploit this musically. It's a ghost story in a very friendly atmosphere. The single did not chart, but Maarten Peters would get some chart recognition later on in his career.

My collection: 7" single no. 573

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1986

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Can't stop' / 'Don't interfere with a ghost'

Heart full of soul - Chris Isaak

Chris Isaak was born on June 26, 1956. In 1984, he signed a recording contract and released his debut album 'Silvertone'. His second album, 'Chris Isaak' was released in 1986 and contained the single 'Heart full of soul'. This track was written by Graham Gouldman and originally recorded by the Yardbirds.

I bought my copy of the single while visiting a record shop together with two friends. They thought my choice was excellent, since the single was so unknown - it had not been a hit in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 1692

Found: Groningen, August 7, 1992

Cost: 4 guilders

Tracks: 'Heart full of soul' / 'You took my heart'

I feel for you - Chaka Khan

Prince wrote and recorded 'I feel for you' on his 1979 album 'Prince'. When Chaka Khan recorded it for her 1984 album 'I feel for you' and released it as a single, it became a massive hit. In the autumn of 1984, the single reached number 7 in the Dutch Top 40.

Khan's version featured an all-star supporting cast, with rapping from Melle Mel, keyboard and guitar by The System, and harmonica playing and sampled vocals by Stevie Wonder. Also, samples from Wonder's 'Fingertips Part 2' are used.

My collection: 12" single no. 167

Found: Record fair, 1993

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'I feel for you (remix)' / 'Chinatown (LP version)'

Download: here (password: discotrax80s.blogspot.com)

Going down to Liverpool - The Bangles

Kimberley Rew wrote 'Going down to Liverpool' for her band Katrina and the Waves. The Bangles recorded a cover version on their 1984 album 'All over the place', which was released as a single. The video to accompany the single featured Star Trek actor Leonard Nimoy, which helped a lot in the publicity department.

Still, the single only managed a number 56 placing in the UK singles chart, and didn't chart in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 2585

Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 23, 1995

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Going down to Liverpool' / 'Dover beach'

Radio ga ga - Elaine Paige

Elaine Paige released 'The Queen album' in 1989. It was an album with ten covers of tracks originally performed by Queen, performed with full orchestral backing. I didn't know the album until I found this single, containing great versions of 'Radio ga ga' and 'Love of my life'.

The orchestral arrangements are beautiful, Elaine Paige's voice is pretty good as well, but still I have difficulty deciding whether I find this simply great or just a tad tacky. There is a certain camp element to Queen's work, and it may only get worse by treating it this way. Well anyway: listen for yourself; you decide!

My collection: 7" single no. 3106
Found: Big Company records, London, May 13, 1999
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Radio ga ga' / 'Love of my life'

Child in time - Deep Purple

I got to know 'Child in time' as the number 1 of the Top 100 of all times, which was played annually on Radio Veronica. It was an extremely interesting track to me, mainly because of the tension and build-up in the first half of the song and the extreme noise at the end.

Deep Purple wrote and recorded 'Child in time' in 1969 for their album 'In rock' (1970). The original album version is 10 minutes and 18 seconds long. For this single release, the track was slightly edited. Vocalist Ian Gillan utilizes his entire vocal range for this song, starting out low and almost whispering, to high-pitched screaming at the end of the song. Since 1993, when Gillan returned to Deep Purple, the band has not played this song live anymore. They only played it once in 2002, and on this occasion high-pitched guitar covered up Gillan's now-limited vocal range.

'Child in time' charted twice in the Netherlands: in 1972 it peaked at number 10 during its 12 week chart run, and in 1975, it reached number 9 during a 10 week chart run. My copy of the single is a re-release from the mid-Eighties.

My collection: 7" single no. 509

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1985

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Child in time' / 'Woman from Tokyo'

If you can't stand the heat - Bucks Fizz

Released as the first single from their third album 'Hand cut', 'If you can't stand the heat' was a deliberate attempt by Bucks Fizz to display a tougher image. Having been known for their sweet pop tunes ever since they won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1981, this single showed the band members wearing leather and singing a tune that sounded a lot less 'friendly'. The lyrics of the song tell of someone who is manipulative, but when faced wth her own medicine, can't handle it, hence the song's title. In the UK, the single peaked at number 10. This 12" single features a longer version of the track.

My collection: 12" single no. 393

Found: Record fair, 2000

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'If you can't stand the heat (12" version)' / 'Stepping out'

We almost got it together - Tanita Tikaram

The 'difficult second album syndrome' hit Tanita Tikaram hard. The first single taken from her second album 'The sweet keeper' (1990) was the upbeat, but slightly contrived 'We almost got it together'. The single peaked at number 52 in the UK and number 34 in the Netherlands.

The single was released in a gatefold sleeve, featuring a photograph of Tanita Tikaram and the lyric of the song on the inside. It was the sleeve that convinced me to buy this one...

My collection: 7" single no. 1145

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, January 13, 1990

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'We almost got it together' / 'Love story'

So many men, so little time - Miquel Brown

Miquel Brown was born circa 1945 and is the step sister of disco singer Amii Stewart. She made a name for herself as an actress and disco/soul singer from the Seventies and Eighties. Perhaps her best known song is 'so many men, so little time'.

Billed on the sleeve as 'a biography of a modern girl, a 'classic in its own time'', the song has become a popular gay anthem among males because of the lyrical content. The single peaked at number 11 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3149

Found: Record fair, October 23, 1999

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'So many men, so little time' / 'So many men, so little time (instrumental mix)'

The gold bug - The Alan Parsons Project

Taken from their 1980 album 'The turn of a friendly card' and released after the single of the same title, 'The gold bug' is an instrumental track, which was edited for the single release. As such, it has become a bit of a rarity, because compilation albums habitually use the album version - if they use it at all.

The single didn't reach the chart in any territory, which I think is a strange thing, because it's such a beautiful piece of music. Perhaps the record company shouldn't have edited it...

My collection: 7" single no. 3146

Found: Record fair, October 23, 1999

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'The gold bug' / 'Snake eyes'

Ain't gonna bump no more (with no big fat woman) - Joe Tex

Joe Tex was born as Joseph Arrington jr on August 8, 1933. He was the first artist to record a Southern soul record that also hit the pop charts in America ('Hold what you've got' in 1965). Between 1965 and 1972 he had several hits in America, but in 1972 he decided to retire from the music business.

He returned to music in 1975, and two years later enjoyed a massive comeback hit with 'Ain't gonna bump no more (with no big fat woman)', which reached number 12 in America. It was also his first big hit in the Neherlands, peaking at number 6.

My collection: 7" single no. 3123
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, July 24, 1999

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Ain't gonna bump no more (with no big fat woman)' / 'I mess up everything I get my hands on'

Video killed the radio star - The Buggles

'Video killed the radio star' was the debut single by the Buggles. Group member Trevor Horn has said that his lyrics were inspired by the J.G. Ballard short story 'The Sound-Sweep'. The theme of the song is nostalgia, and refers to a period of technological change in the Sixties, the desire to remember the past and the disappointment that children of the current generation would not appreciate the past.

The first version of this song was recorded by Bruce Woolley & the Camera Club (with Thomas Dolby on keyboards) for his album 'English Garden'. The Buggles later recorded the song. It was a number one hit in the UK, peaked at number 40 in America and number 17 in the Netherlands. The music video for the song was famously the first to be shown on MTV America, when the music channel debuted on August 1, 1981. On February 27, 2000 it also became the millionth video to be aired on that channel.

My collection: 7" single no. 508

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1986

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Video killed the radio star' / 'Kid Dynamo'

Falling in love (uh-oh) - Miami Sound Machine

It's easy to discard the entire output of Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine as typical Eighties drivel, but you would overlook some genuinely good pop in the process. This single, for instance, is an unknown but very radiofriendly classic.

'Falling in love (uh-oh)' was taken from Miami Sound Machine's second English language album 'Primitive love' and released after their international breakthrough with 'Dr. Beat' and 'Conga'. Still, the single only managed a number 25 placing in America and number 27 in the Netherlands. It's always the less commercial singles that get to me...

My collection: 7" single no. 450

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, September 4, 1986

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Falling in love (uh-oh)' / 'Surrender paradise'

Shopping around - Sylvia and the Sapphires

Although released in 1982, this single sounds like it was recorded in the sixties. It sounds like the Supremes produced by Phil Spector, but it isn't. It's the British trio Sylvia and the Sapphires, a girlgroup that recorded a few singles before fading back into obscurity.

'Shopping around' did not chart in the UK and narrowly missed the Dutch Top 40. This limited edition picture disc was a real find.

My collection: 7" single no. 3265

Found: Record fair, 2001

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Shopping around' / 'Street of love'

Only the lonely - T'pau

After a few disappointing singles, T'pau returned to form with 'Only the lonely', one of the standout tracks on their second album 'Rage'. For the single release, the track was remixed, which gave it a more powerful sound.The work was rewarded, since it peaked at number 28 in the UK singles chart in early 1989.

I bought a limited edition version of the single, which featured a gatefold sleeve and a booklet, which featured photographs of the band and individual members.

My collection: 7" single no. 992

Found: Record Exchange, October 16, 1989

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Only the lonely (Guitar remix)' / 'Between the lines'

(I'll never be) Maria Magdalena - Sandra

Sandra Ann Lauer was born on May 18, 1962. In 1975 she visited a talent show. She was not actually taking part in it, but sitting in the audience. While the jury was counting the votes for the performers of that night, Sandra walked onto the stage, persuaded the DJ to put on the German cover version of a song from Olivia Newton-John, grabbed the microphone and started singing. Aided by newfound recognition, she released a debut single 'Andy Mein Freund'. This single flopped.

In 1979 Sandra joined the girl group Arabesque, which was successful for a couple of years. After nine albums and the end of the disco era the group broke up. In the mean time, Sandra had met musician Michael Cretu. They became romantically involved and started living together and working together in Cretu's self-built studio. Their first single together was 'Japan ist weit' (1984), a German cover of the Alphaville song 'Big in Japan', which flopped. Their second single was more successful: '(I'll never be) Maria Magdalena' was a hit in 21 countries, including a number one hit in the Netherlands, Germany and several other European countries. It launched Sandra's career, which is still going today.

My collection: 7" single no. 1858
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, January 30, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: '(I'll never be) Maria Magdalena' / 'Party games (instrumental)'

The bed's too big without you - The Police

Sold separately in a second hand shop in London, this single is actually part of a six disc collection called 'Six Pack'. This pack, which came in a pvc folder containing the first five hit singles by the Police ('Roxanne', 'Can't stand losing you', 'So lonely', 'Message in a bottle' and 'Walking on the moon') plus this single.

'The bed's too big without you' appeared on the second album by the Police, 'Reggatta de Blanc' (1979). This single included a previously unreleased mono version and a live track, pressed on blue vinyl.

My collection: 7" single no. 2188

Found: Record Exchange, London, September 29, 1994

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'The bed's too big without you (mono version)' / 'Truth hits everybody (live in Boston)'