House of fun - Madness

Released in May 1982, 'House of fun' is to date the only number one hit in the UK for Madness. It was released by Madness in between albums. The track did not appear on any previous or subsequent studio album - although it was obviously included in compilation albums, the first one being 'Complete Madness', released in 1982.

Madness guitarist Chris Foreman commented on the song in 1982: 'I'm not sure about this one... I think it's about coming of age, I cant remember much about because when it happened to me it was a long time ago. You could buy a packet of fags, a pint of beer and a three piece suit for half a crown and still have enough left to go and see Rudolf Valentino at the Gaumont! I can't afford to go to the pictures these days but I hear they talk in them now.'

My collection: 7" single no. 3699

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, May 5, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'House of fun' / 'Don't look back'

This is mine - Heaven 17

'This is mine' was released as the second single from Heaven 17's 1984 album 'How men are', which was their third. The video to this single was a hilarious piece in which the members of the band (Glenn Gregory, Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh) played bankrobbers.

Peaking at number 23, this single was the last single to get into the UK top 40 for a while: the next single 'And that's no lie' stalled at number 52.

My collection: 7" single no. 3689

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, May 5, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'This is mine' / 'Mine'

A million in 1, 2, 3 - Dream Express

Everyone always thinks that Madonna was very original when she bared her navel in 1984. But on this sleeve, there's the ultimate proof that it was not so original: the girls from the Belgian group Dream Express did it already in 1977. It brought them less fame and fortune than the American hag.

Dream Express represented Belgium during the 1977 Eurovision Song Contest. The sisters Bianca, Stella and Patricia Maessen sang 'A million in 1, 2, 3' in English under the relaxed language rules that lasted for a few years in the late Seventies. They were 7th in a field of 18 participants. It was not the first time that the sisters participated: in 1970 they represented the Netherlands as Hearts of Soul, singing 'Waterman'. More about that when I find the single (still looking for that one)...

My collection: 7" single no. 3706

Found: Bought for me by Puck in Oegstgeest, May 5, 2009

Cost: nothing, it was a present!

Tracks: 'A million in 1, 2, 3' / 'Spinning top'

Shine - Frida

'Shine' is the title track from Frida's 1984 album which was produced by Steve Lillywhite. He'd already worked with bands like U2, Rolling Stones and Peter Gabriel despite being only 25 years old at the time. 'Shine' was a deliberate move away from Abba's pop sound that Frida feared to be always connected to. In a recent comment, Frida said that 'maybe this album became a bit too modern for its time'.

'Shine' peaked at number 6 in Sweden, but didn't do so well elsewhere. In the Netherlands, it only made number 23.

My collection: 7" single no. 3703

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, May 5, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Shine' / 'That's tough'

Chariots of fire - Vangelis

In 1981, Vangelis wrote the score for the film 'Chariots of Fire', set at the 1924 Summer Olympics. The choice of music was unorthodox as most period films featured traditional orchestral scores, whereas Vangelis' music was modern and synthesizer-heavy. The movie won the Academy Award for Best Picture and Vangelis won the Academy Award for Original Music Score.

The opening theme of the film was released as a single in 1982, topping the American Billboard chart for one week after climbing steadily for five months.

My collection: 7" single no. 3691

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, May 5, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Chariots of fire' / 'Eric's theme'

Summer rain - Alphaville

Alphaville were best known for their hits 'Big in Japan' and 'Forever young', when they released this single in 1989. It was a beautiful song, very different from that early material, and so it was 'rewarded' with a total lack of commercial success.

The album from which this single was taken, 'The breathtaking blue', was an experimental sounding album, accompanied by an ambitious video project. Not surprisingly, this also went completely over the heads of the record buying public.

My collection: 7" single no. 969

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 29, 1989

Cost: 3,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Summer rain' / 'Sister sun'

You win again - Bee Gees

The Bee Gees had not been in the charts for four years - an eternity in that time - when they returned in October 1987 with 'You win again'. In the UK it was a number one hit, and in the Netherlands the single peaked at number 5. In America the sales were disappointing: it only reached number 75.

Barry Gibb wrote the melody of the song, while Maurice Gibb created the drum sounds that open the track in his garage.

My collection: 7" single no. 1284

Found: All that music, Leiden, August 31, 1990

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'You win again' / 'Backtafunk'

Dors mon amour - André Claveau

André Claveau represented France during the 1958 Eurovision Song Contest. Mind you, that was only the third edition of this annual event. He was born on December 17, 1915 and died on July 4, 2003. 'Dors, mon amour' ('Sleep, my love') was the first entry sung by a male soloist to win the contest.

I bought this single online and received it in the mail today. I had to wonder how this single came out in such good shape after 51 years. It's really great to be able to play this beautiful song after half a century.

My collection: 7" single no. 3707

Found: Marktplaats.nl, received May 6, 2009

Cost: 6,76 euro

Tracks: 'Dors mon amour' / 'Le coeur en plâtre'

Juliana - Kinderen van Nederland

A guest single today, from my friend Puck. Although, when you listen to this you would start to wonder why I have such strange friends. 'Juliana' was an ode to the queen of the Netherlands in 1979, on the occasion of her 70th birthday. I wonder at the lack of taste of people in this country every day, but I'm still amazed that this actually peaked at number 10 in the Dutch Top 40 during its five week run.

The lyric of this song is full of interesting statements. Apparently, queen Juliana singlehandedly took care of prosperity in Holland's post-war years, and 'wakes day and night'. The children hope she will continue to take care of her people for many years to come. Well, the queen listened to this and decided to abdicate in January 1980.

Tracks: 'Juliana' / 'Wilhelmus van Nassauwe'

Food for thought - UB40

'Food for thought' was originally the debut single of UB40 in 1980. It was an attempt to publicize and condemn the Ethiopian famine in Africa, comparing it with the Western over-indulgent celebration of Christmas, a full five years before Band Aid brought the subject to widespread attention.

This live version was released in early 1983 and taken from the album 'UB40 live'. It was a big hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 4. It was their first top 5 hit in the Netherlands. A few months later, their next single 'Red red wine' would become a charttopper.

My collection: 7" single no. 3690

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, May 5, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Food for thought (live)' / 'The piper calls the tune (live)'

Popcorn - M and H band

The M&H Band's version of 'Popcorn' was not just released as a 7" single (see it here), but also as a 12" single. This disc adds an extended remix which lasts for over six minutes. It may be one of the first extended remixes of a cover version of 'Popcorn' ever - later cover versions would be remixed as a matter of course.

My collection: 12" single no. 496

Found: Mail order, 2000

Cost: 8 guilders

Tracks: 'Popcorn (Remix version)' / 'Popcorn (Radio version)', 'Ordinopaso'

My bag - Lloyd Cole and the Commotions

'My bag' was the first single taken from the 1987 album by Lloyd Cole & the Commotions, 'Mainstream'. Though not a very accessible song, it reached number 46 in the UK singles chart. 'Mainstream' was the last album by Lloyd Cole & the Commotions, produced by the group and Ian Stanley, keyboard-player of Tears for Fears.

My collection: 7" single no. 3700

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, May 5, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'My bag' / 'Jesus said'

Club Tropicana - Wham!

Wham! had made a name for themselves with socially conscious singles like 'Wham rap' and 'Young guns'. When they released 'Club Tropicana' it seemed like a deliberate move away from that. But in reality, the song was a satire of the boom for cheap package holidays for young, single people.

The B-side is what interests me the most on this single. It's the track 'Blue (Armed with love)', which is a bit of a rarity in Wham!'s catalogue. I've known this track for a long time, but I didn't know it was the B-side of 'Club Tropicana'. I'm glad to finally have it on 7" vinyl.

My collection: 7" single no. 3702

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, May 5, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Club Tropicana' / 'Blue (Armed with love)'

Talk it over - Frizzle Sizzle

After representing the Netherlands during the 1986 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Alles heeft ritme', Frizzle Sizzle continued their pop career with songs in English. Their first attempt 'Never give up' was not successful, but the next single 'Talk it over', released in January 1987 was an immediate success. It peaked at number 14 in the Dutch Top 40, which made it a bigger hit than their Eurovision song.

Unfortunately it went downhill from there: the next single stalled at number 38 and further singles did not chart. In 1990, Frizzle Sizzle broke up.

My collection: 7" single no. 3698

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, May 5, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Talk it over' / 'Talk it over (instrumental)'

Après toi - Vicky Leandros

Vicky Leandros was born as Vassiliki Papathanasiou on August 23, 1949. In 1958 her parents took her to Germany where she stayed with her father permanently after her parents' divorce. She revealed her talent at a young age while taking guitar, music, dance, ballet and singing lessons. In 1967 she received an offer to sing for Luxembourg at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'L'amour est bleu'. She finished in fourth place but the song became one of the biggest worldwide hits of the year and was covered by many artists.

In 1972 she represented Luxembourg at Eurovision for the second time and won the contest with the song 'Après toi'. It became a number one hit in the Netherlands. Translated into English as 'Come what may' it was also a big hit in the UK reaching number 2 on the charts. Leandros recorded the song in seven languages.

My collection: 7" single no. 3401

Found: Geest, Den Haag, 2001

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Après toi' / 'La poupée, le prince et la maison'

Little bird / Love song for a vampire - Annie Lennox

While the fourth single from Annie Lennox's album 'Diva' (1992), 'Cold' was not released on 7" vinyl, it was a surprise that the fifth single was. It was a double A-side single, featuring 'Little bird' in a remixed version from the album, plus a new track: 'Love song for a vampire', recorded for the soundtrack of the movie 'Bram Stoker's Dracula'.

The single reached number 3 in the UK singles chart, but did not chart in other territories.

My collection: 7" single no. 2548

Found: Record Exchange, London, November 1, 1995

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Little bird' / 'Love song for a vampire'

All of my heart - ABC

Released as the fourth single from their debut album 'The lexicon of love', ABC hit number 5 in the UK and number 19 in the Netherlands with 'All of my heart', a beautiful ballad with orchestral backing. It was one of the standout tracks from the album.

The orchestral theme was visible on the whole of the release: the four members of the band posed as classical musicians on the sleeve and the B-side was 'Overture', essentially a medley of tracks from 'The lexicon of love' played by a full orchestra.

My collection: 7" single no. 1188

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 3, 1990

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'All of my heart' / 'Overture'

My foolish friend - Talk Talk

Released in 1983, 'My foolish friend' was the first Talk Talk single of that year, in between singles taken from their debut album 'The party's over' (1982) and 'It's my life' (1984). 'My foolish friend' did not appear on any of their albums, but the B-side 'Call in the night boys' would appear on 'It's my life'.

The single was not very successful, stalling at number 57 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2167

Found: Record Exchange, London, September 26, 1994

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'My foolish friend' / 'Call in the night boys'

Your love takes me higher - The Beloved

'Your love takes me higher' was a hit for the Beloved in March 1990, as a single drawn from their debut album 'Happiness'. However, this is not that single: this single was released a year before and features both band members on the sleeve instead of a drawing which featured on the sleeve of the 1990 release.

Jon Marsh and Steve Waddington released this single ten months before 'The sun rising', which would become their first real UK hit. 'Your love takes me higher' was re-released after 'Hello' was their second hit in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 2277

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, May 6, 1995

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Your love takes me higher' / 'Paradise (My darling, my angel)'

I'm falling - The Bluebells

The Scottish band the Bluebells was formed in the first half of the Eighties by Bobby Bluebell, David McCluskey, Ken McCluskey, Lawrence Donegan, Craig Gannon, Russell Irvine and Neal Baldwin. 'I'm falling' was their first big hit, peaking at number 11 in the UK singles chart.

I discovered the song after 'Young at heart' made it into the charts later on in 1984. I hated that song and preferred this one. Unfortunately, it was 'Young at heart' that made a revival in 1993, eight years after the band had fallen apart. I still think this song is a lot better.

My collection: 7" single no. 373

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'I'm falling' / 'H.O.L.L.A.N.D.'