School's out - Cretu and Thiers

Michael Cretu was born on May 18, 1957 in Bucharest, Romania. In the Seventies he started his music career playing keyboards and producing for German producer Frank Farian. In the Eighties, he played keyboards during Arabesque's live shows. This is how he met Sandra, whose albums he started to produce once she went solo in 1985. The couple got married in 1988.

A year before that, he teamed up with producer Manfred Thiers to form 'Cretu & Thiers'. Their debut single was a poppy cover of Alice Cooper's 'School's out'. Although this single didn't become a hit, the B-side 'Collage' was a first peek at what was to come: in 1990 Cretu started his Enigma project, which sounds a lot like this track.

My collection: 7" single no. 2803

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 4, 1997

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'School's out' / 'Collage'

Song to the siren - This mortal coil

Ivo Watts-Russell had founded the record label 4AD in 1980, and it quickly established itself as one of the key labels in the British post-punk movement. One of the label's earliest signings was Modern English. In 1983, Watts-Russell suggested that the band re-record two of their earliest songs, 'Sixteen days' and 'Gathering dust', as a medley. At the time, the band was closing their sets with this medley, and Watts-Russell felt it was strong enough to warrant a re-recording. When the band rebuffed the idea, Watts-Russell decided to assemble a group of musicians to record the medley: Elizabeth Fraser and Robin Guthrie of Cocteau Twins; Gordon Sharp of Cindytalk; and a few members of Modern English. An EP, Sixteen Days/Gathering Dust, resulted from these sessions.
Recorded as a b-side for the EP was a cover of Tim Buckley's 'Song to the siren', performed by Fraser and Guthrie alone. Pleased with the result, Watts-Russell decided to make this the A-side of the 7" single version of the EP, and the song quickly became a hit, peaking at number 66 in the UK and number 29 in the Netherlnads. The band subsequently recorded three albums, until the name was retired in 1991.

My collection: 7" single no. 666

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1988

Cost: 3,5 guilders

Track: 'Song to the siren' / 'Sixteen days (reprise)'

The Beatles and the Stones - The house of love

Guy Chadwick, Terry Bickers, Andrea Heukamp, Chris Groothuizen and Pete Evans formed The House of Love in 1986 in Camberwell, London. They released three singles and a debut album while signed to Creation records. After this, they switched to Fontana records and released their second album, which was, like the first, untitled. Three singles were released from this album, of which 'The Beatles and the Stones' was the third. It reached number 36 in the UK singles chart.

This limited edition release included a poster and a foldout sleeve. I bought it mainly because of this, since I wasn't that impressed with the track at the time. Now, almost two decades later, I actually think it's a great track.

My collection: 7" single no. 2512

Found: October 30, 1995

Cost: 1,2 pounds

Tracks: 'The Beatles and the Stones' / 'Love IV'

Trapped - Colonel Abrams

'Trapped' was Colonel Abrams' biggest hit in 1985, just after he signed a contract with MCA Records. So much so, that it was re-released in remixed form in 1997 and 2005. This is the original single, which peaked at number 3 in the UK. Colonel Abrams (his real name, incidentally!) never matched this success in later years.

Producers Stock Aitken and Waterman, who had created Rick Astley's 'Never gonna give you up' in 1987, were accused of lifting key elements of Abrams' single for their own music, however there was no successful lawsuit regarding this claim.

My collection: 7" single no. 3251

Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 20, 2000

Cost: 20p

Tracks: 'Trapped' / 'Trapped (acapella)'

Dinge-dong - Teach-In

It's not so strange that the Netherlands didn't get through to the final of this year's Eurovision Song Contest with the so-called Toppers. The song was too wordy, the lyric was full of platitudes, the three fat men looked ridiculous in their suits and the whole thing was just too bad for words.

I do wonder how I would have felt about Teach-In back in 1975 if I'd been older. The lyric of this song isn't exactly highbrow and the music was pretty much the same as any popsong at the time. These days, we only know it as the last song that won Eurovision for the Netherlands. The fact that it's 34 years ago makes it rather painful. We hear this song every damn year! But still, it's essential to have in my Eurovision collection, which is why I bought it. And I'm very glad this copy is in excellent condition.

My collection: 7" single no. 3709

Found: Marktplaats.nl, received May 13, 2009

Cost: 3,5 euro

Tracks: 'Dinge-dong' / 'Ik heb geen geld voor de trein'

Fine time - Yazz

Yazz was born as Yasmina Evans on 19 May 1960 in Shepherd's Bush, London. Her first commercial success came in early 1988, when she supplied the vocals on Coldcut's 'Doctorin' the house'. This led to a solo career on Big Life records, a label set up by her future husband Jazz Summers. Her debut single 'The only way is up' was one of the big summer hits in 1988. I thought the song was atrocious, and lost all interest in Yazz.

Only a few years later I picked up on the song 'Fine time', a laid back reggae track that reached number 9 in the UK, but did not chart in the Netherlands. I bought the single seven years after its original release.

My collection: 7" single no. 2710

Found: House of Rhythm, London, July 3, 1996

Cost: 80p

Tracks: 'Fine time' / 'Dream'

Lay your hands on me (US remix) - Thompson Twins

After the release of the original version of 'Lay your hands on me', a US remix version followed pretty quickly. Remixed by one John Potoker, the track had become different, but not necessarily better or worse.

While the original version was released in a limited edition posterbag, this US remix appeared in a gatefold sleeve. I got very confused: did I have this already or not? In the end, I took the gamble. I'm glad I did, now I've got both versions.

My collection: 7" single no. 3465

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 22, 2008

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Lay your hands on me (US remix)' / 'The Lewis Carol'

Pale shelter - Tears for fears

There are two different versions of Tears for Fears' track 'Pale shelter': the original version, produced by Mike Howlett, released as 'Pale shelter (You don't give me love)', and this version, produced by Chris Hughes and Ross Collum, released just after Tears for Fears' debut album 'The hurting' in 1983. To provide a chart push this second time around, Mercury took full advantage of the picture disc and coloured vinyl gimmicks that were popular at the time. In all, eleven different variations of the reissued single were available for purchase. It helped get the single to peak at number 5 in the UK singles chart in April 1983.

I got the green vinyl version of 'Pale shelter' during one of the first record fairs I ever visited. My sister bought the single in three other colours. I've never seen those singles since, so I'm still looking for them to this day.

My collection: 7" single no. 274
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, April 22, 1990
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Pale shelter' / 'We are broken'

Paris latino - Bandolero

'Paris Latino' was released by Bandolero in 1983. The single, featuring raps in French, was written by brothers Carlos and José Perez. It reached number 2 in Switzerland and number 12 in the Netherlands.

In 2002, the track was covered by contestants of the French TV programme 'Star Academy'. Their version topped the charts in Belgium (Wallonia) and France.

My collection: 7" single no. 2853

Found: June 21, 1997

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Paris Latino' / 'El bandido caballero'

Now those days are gone - Bucks Fizz

Released as the second single from Bucks Fizz's second album 'Are you ready' (1982), 'Now those days are gone' was the first ballad released as a single by the group. The B-Side was a first, in that it was written and produced by the group themselves. The style of the song was slightly more hard-hitting than the group's usual output, with a lengthy intro, overlapping vocals and a full, but somewhat cluttered production.

Although unreleased in many other countries, it was a success in the UK, peaking at number 8, and Ireland, peaking at number 5. This limited edition picture disc caught my eye and I decided to buy it, without actually remembering the song.

My collection: 7" single no. 3229

Found: October 17, 2000

Cost: 4 guilders

Tracks: 'Now those days are gone' / 'Takin' me higher'

Radio gaga - Queen

Queen released 'Radio gaga' as the first single from their new album 'The works' in February 1984. After having been absent from the music scene for almost two years, it was perceived as a 'comeback' single. It performed better than any single they'd released in the Eighties up until that point and went number 1 in Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden. In the UK the single peaked at number 2.

The song was a commentary of the invention of television overtaking radio's popularity, and how one would listen to radio for their favorite comedy, drama, sci-fi programs and so on as well as the advent of the music video and MTV. The 12" single featured an extended version of the track, as well as an instrumental version. (The instrumental version actually contains some vocals.) Both were longer than the original album version.

My collection: 12" single no. 497

Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, 2003

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Radio gaga (extended version)' / 'Radio gaga (instrumental)', 'I go crazy'

Whenever you need me - T'pau

After an absence from the pop scene for three years, T'pau returned in 1991 with a new album, 'The Promise' and a new single, 'Whenever you need me'. The single was a bigger success than any of the three singles drawn from the previous album 'Rage', peaking at number 16 in the UK. However, the band had lost its European appeal, because the single did not chart on the continent.

Personally I felt that T'pau had regained the power of their debut album, and I bought 'The Promise' very soon after it came out. It was one of my favourite albums of the year.

My collection: 7" single no. 1440

Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, May 18, 1991

Cost: 6,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Whenever you need me' / 'All the love'

Little girl - Sandra

Released as the third and final single from Sandra's debut album 'The Long Play', 'Little girl' rose to number 2 in Israel and number 3 in Italy. In other countries, the chart performance was disappointing, peaking at number 12 in Germany and not charting in the Netherlands at all.

Perhaps it's not surprising: 'Little girl' wasn't the big surprise 'Maria Magdalena' and 'In the heat of the night' were. Sandra and her husband Michael Cretu were smart enough to realise that new material was needed; later on in 1986 they would release Sandra's second album with new singles to accompany it.

My collection: 7" single no. 2110

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, June 4, 1994

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Little girl' / 'Sisters and brothers'

Sit down - James

James performed an acoustic session on Dutch radio in the early Nineties. The track 'Sit down' was included on a cd compilation, and greatly impressed me. I started getting curious what the original track sounded like, so I started searching for the original single. Well, it was a more powerful version but somehow I didn't get into it. Now that I heard it again recently, I was convinced that this was actually a great track.

The single spent three weeks at number 2 in the UK singles chart, being held off the top spot by 'The one and only' by Chesney Hawkes. Later on the band had to sell the rights to the song to Mercury Records to help pay off debts to the record company.

My collection: 7" single no. 2331

Found: Record fair, June 25, 1995

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Sit down' / 'Sit down (Live at G-mex)'

Wrong - Depeche Mode

The Netherlands have never been very friendly towards Depeche Mode. Having released over 40 singles, they only managed about a dozen hits in the low countries. It is no surprise that their most recent single, 'Wrong' did not chart in the Netherlands as well. Still, it was a number 1 hit in Italy, Latvia and Spain, and peaked at number 2 in Germany.

And Germany, that's where this single was made. The text 'platte in mehrfarbigem vinyl' on the sleeve pictured here simply means that the disc was pressed on vinyl of multiple colours. Basically it's a darkred disc with some splatters of black for good measure.

My collection: 7" single no. 3616

Found: recordstore.co.uk, received April 2009

Cost: 5 euro

Tracks: 'Wrong' / 'Oh well (edit)'

Close (to the edit) - Art of Noise

'Close (to the edit)' is one of the weirdest tracks I heard back in 1984. It took me some time to get used to this seemingly random array of noises. It takes its title from 'Close to the edge' by Yes, and also samples 'Owner of a lonely heart' by the same group. The single heavily features the recorded sample of a car, a VW Golf, belonging to band member J. J. Jeczalik's neighbour, stalling and restarting.

'Close (to the edit)' did not chart initially. It still reached number 8 in the UK singles chart when it was re-released in November 1984.

My collection: 7" single no. 2009

Found: October 18, 1993

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Close (to the edit)' / 'A time to hear (who's listening)'

Down, deep inside - Donna Summer

'Down deep inside' is the theme song from the 1977 film 'The Deep'. The film's score was written by British composer John Barry and the lyric to the main theme were written and performed by disco singer Donna Summer. The single peaked at number 6 in the Netherlands and number 5 in the UK.

The film soundtrack LP also contained a slower tempo version of the song, and an extended version of the original later appeared on a cd version of Summer's 1978 'Live and More' album.

My collection: 7" single no. 2106

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, June 4, 1994

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Down, deep inside' (Donna Summer) / 'Theme from The Deep' (John Barry)

Getting away with it - Electronic

Electronic debuted in 1989 with this single, 'Getting away with it', written by Bernard Sumner from New Order, Johnny Marr, ex-Smiths guitarist, and Pet Shop Boy Neil Tennant. The lyric is a parody of Marr's Smiths partner Morrissey and his public stereotyping as morose and masochistic. Vocals were performed by Sumner and Tennant on this track.

The sleeve of the single was designed by Peter Saville, who used an elegant stock photo of a glass of whisky. The single peaked at number 12 in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 2198

Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, October 8, 1994

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Getting away with it' / 'Lucky bag (edit)'

Life's what you make it - Talk Talk

Released as the first single from Talk Talk's third album 'The colour of spring' (1986), 'Life's what you make it' caught my attention because of the strong piano hook. At the time, it was said that the only bass sound of the track came from the piano, and I guess that's a good call.

The chart performance of this single was good, peaking at number 16 in the UK and number 13 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 356

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1986

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Life's what you make it' / 'It's getting late in the evening'

Perfect symmetry - Keane

The title track of Keane's most recent album, 'Perfect symmetry' was released as a single in December 2008. The song was written by the band and was released as a digital download, a cd-single and this 7" vinyl single. Its limited availability made it difficult for me to get hold of it (and, by the way, partly explains the fact that this single did not chart in the UK).

At first I ordered it from the band's official website, but this proved to be a mistake. The online shop went bankrupt or something, and although they did send me all the other (older) singles I ordered, this 7" vinyl and cd-single never showed up. To this day I don't know whether I actually paid for it or not. Itried finding the singles somewhere else, but they were unavailable in most of the online stores I knew. So in the end, I ordered it last month from the new online shop on Keane's official website. With success, this time! It's a miracle.

My collection: 7" single no. 3710

Found: keane.com, received May 13, 2009

Cost: 5 pounds

Tracks: 'Perfect symmetry' / 'Staring at the ceiling'