West end girls - Pet Shop Boys

In 1984, the Pet Shop Boys recorded three songs with producer Bobby Orlando, at Unique Studios in New York. 'West end girls' was one of them. Tennant and Chris Lowe devised an arrangement involving what Tennant calls 'Barry White chords' and a drum part lifted from Michael Jackson's 'Billie Jean'. Orlando was thrilled by the song's production; his idea was to make a rap record in a British accent.

In April 1984, this original version of 'West end girls' was released, becoming a club hit in Los Angeles and San Francisco, and a minor dance hit in Belgium and France, but was only available in the United Kingdom as a 12" import. The song would be a worldwide hit a year later, when the Pet Shop Boys signed to EMI records and re-recorded the track.

My collection: 7" single no. 502

Found: Den Haag, 1986

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'West end girls' / 'Pet shop boys'

Tu te reconnaitras - Anne Marie David

Anne Marie David was born on May 23, 1952 in Arles, France. She moved to Paris when she was eighteen to get involved in musical theatre. In 1972, she was cast in the role of Mary Magdalene in the French version of 'Jesus Christ superstar'. A year later, she was selected to represent the country Luxembourg with the song 'Tu te reconnaitras'.

The 1973 edition of the Contest was a threeway battle between three legendary songs: 'Power to all our friends' by Cliff Richard (representing the UK), 'Eres tu' by Mocedades (representing Spain) and Anne Marie David's song, which was the one that won the Contest in the end. Anne Marie David secured a second successive triumph for Luxembourg. The single was bought for me by Puck, helping me to complete my collection of winning Eurovision Song Contest songs.

My collection: 7" single no. 3703

Found: May 5, 2009

Cost: -

Tracks: 'Tu te reconnaitras' / 'Au bout du monde'

Mothers talk - Tears for fears

After their debut album 'The hurting' had been a reasonable success, Tears for fears had to come up with a follow-up. The new album - which would be 'Songs from the big chair', released in 1985 - was preceded by the single 'Mothers talk'. Roland Orzabal commented: 'The song stems from two ideas. One is something that mothers say to their children about pulling faces. They say the child will stay like that when the wind changes. The other idea is inspired by the anti-nuclear cartoon book 'When the wind blows' by Raymond Briggs.

The single version was different from the album version (and shorter, too) and did not appear on cd as far as I know. 'Mothers talk' reached number 14 in the UK singles chart, which was good. But more successful singles were on the way...

My collection: 7" single no. 644

Found: Brussels, August 2, 1988

Cost: 120 Belgian Francs

Tracks: 'Mothers talk' / 'Empire building'

New song (live) - Howard Jones

Howard Jones was not unlike other popular artists in the Eighties, in that he had a fanclub. The difference to many other artists was that the fanclub was run by his parents. In the pre-internet age, fans had to be informed with newsletters and fanclub magazines that were usually released a few times a year.

The fun thing about the Howard Jones fanclub was that they also released a few exclusive singles. Although I was never a fanclub member, I did get a chance to order these singles at some point. I had internet access for about two years when I ordered these three exclusive singles from the fanclub in one go. This is single number one, with live versions from 'New song' and 'Don't always look at the rain', recorded live at High Wycombe Town Hall on December 22, 1983.

My collection: 7" single no. 2791

Found: Howard Jones fanclub, received November 28, 1996

Cost: 3 pounds

Tracks: 'New song (live)' / 'Don't always look at the rain (live)'

Silent all these years - Tori Amos

The last single release in the UK from Tori Amos' debut album was a re-release of 'Silent all these years'. There was a special limited edition cd-single with added new B-side tracks such as 'Song for Eric' and 'Ode to the banana king'.

The 7" vinyl single was also different. While the original release of 'Silent all these years' featured 'Me and a gun' on the B-side, but this time around the B-side contained Tori's cover version of Nirvana's 'Smells like teen spirit'. The original track was a grunge rock type song - as you probably well know - but Tori's cover turned it into a beautiful ballad. It's a shame that her 2001 album of covers, 'Strange little girls', didn't have a similar quality to it.

My collection: 7" single no. 1725

Found: Tower Records, London, October 17, 1992

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Silent all these years' / 'Smells like teen spirit'

Poison arrow - ABC

ABC's second single 'Poison arrow' defined the glamorous, baroque sound that would make their debut album 'Lexicon of love' (1982) such a classic album. Written by the band and produced by Trevor Horn, the single peaked at number 6 in the UK and number 13 in the Netherlands.

The B-side is an alternate version of 'Poison arrow'. According to the sleeve notes by Martin Fry on the back of this sleeve, it is 'the result of a late night spent with my producer Trevor Horn and piano accompanist'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1716

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 19, 1992

Cost: 3,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Poison arrow' / 'Theme from 'Man trap''

Masked moods - Blue Rondo

Nothing can adequately describe that feeling of satisfaction, relief and happiness when you finally hold in your hand that one item you've been searching for ages. In this case, twenty five years! I got to know 'Masked moods' thanks to this video, which appeared regularly on the Music Box TV channel.

I loved this song, but I could never find the single, despite looking for it intensively ever since 1984, when it was released. I did find the album 'Bees Knees & Chicken Elbows' (1984), which contains a different version of the track. But I was obviously after the single version. Last week, I finally spotted a copy on the Vinyl Tap website. I bought it, and today I could finally hold it in my hands. A long quest has finally come to an end.

My collection: 7" single no. 3760

Found: Vinyl Tap website, received May 29, 2009

Cost: 7 euro

Tracks: 'Masked moods' / 'Samba no pé'

Samson - Emly Starr

Emly Starr was born as Marie-Christine Mareel in Laarne, Belgium on September 5, 1957. Her music career started in 1976 with the single 'Tears of gold'. After five years, she represented Belgium during the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Samson'. The song finished in 13th place, in a field of 20 participants.

The song is inspired by the Biblical story of Samson, with Starr singing that the object of her desires is like Samson in that he is not interested in love. She suggests that he should 'find yourself a Delilah'. This single features the Dutch and English version of the track.

My collection: 7" single no. 3739

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Samson (Nederlandstalige versie)' / 'Samson (English version)'

Hou van mij - Het Goede Doel

'Hou van mij' ('Love me') was the sixth single by Het Goede Doel, released in April 1983. The single was notable for lasting for almost 6 minutes, making it another lengthy track in the tradition of the band's biggest hit 'Belgie', released just months earlier.

The single reached number 29 in the Dutch Top 40, the group's lowest chart placing since their singles started charting.

My collection: 7" single no. 3751

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, May 27, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Hou van mij' / 'Iets van gevoel'

Biscaya - James Last

Despite a career spanning many decades, German orchestra leader James Last never managed to crack the Dutch Top 40. His albums sold millions all over Europe including the Netherlands, but the singles were less successful here.

Until he released 'Biscaya'. This single became his one and only hit song, reaching number 5 in the summer of 1982. I didn't know much about James Last when I bought this single - it was merely one of the few singles that were available for 3 guilders in the shop where I used to spend my last money. I can never decide if this is a beautiful track or just plain cheesy.

My collection: 7" single no. 143

Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1982

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Biscaya' / 'Verlorener Sommer'

Little Suzi's on the up - Ph.D.

The duo Ph.D. (Jim Diamond and Tony Hymas) followed up 'I won't let you down' within a few months, hoping to have similar success. They didn't: the single did not chart anywhere. The music video for this song was shown as the fifth video on MTV in America, on its first broadcasting day on August 1, 1981.

Subsequent singles were equally unsuccessful and when singer Jim Diamond contracted hepatitis, the band couldn't go on tour. This ultimately led to the group disbanding. Diamond would come back some time later as a solo artist.

My collection: 7" single no. 2139
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, August 2, 1994
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Little Suzi's on the up' / 'I'm gonna take you to the top'

Sweet bird of truth - The The

Released in 1987 as the first single from The The's second album for Epic Records, 'Sweet bird of truth' did not chart. Perhaps this was because the subject matter of the song was a bit 'heavy'. The band's key member Matt Johnson wrote the song about an airforce pilot who is apparently killing people above the Gulf of Arabia.

At the time of its release, Matt Johnson was actually the only remaining member of The The, using session musicians to create the music on the album 'Infected'. I actually have a cd-single of 'Sweet bird of truth' as well, one of those early cd-single releases.

My collection: 7" single no. 1343
Found: London, October 17, 1990
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Sweet bird of truth' / 'Sleeping juice'

Le blé en herbe / Pour un flirt - Michel Delpech

Michel Delpech was born on January 26, 1946 in the Paris suburb Courbevoie. He clocked up hit after hit in France during the Seventies. In the Netherlands, he only made the charts once. 'Pour un flirt' reached the Dutch Top 40 in the Summer of 1971 and reached number 3.

This French single contains 'Pour un flirt', but oddly enough it's on the B-side. The A-side contains the unknown - at least, unknown to me - song 'Le blé en herbe'. I got this single as a present. 'Pour un flirt' is one of those songs that belong in every collection - it's an evergreen.

My collection: 7" single no. 3759
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, May 28, 2009
Cost: -
Tracks: 'Le blé en herbe' / 'Pour un flirt'

Obcene phone caller - Rockwell

'Obscene phone caller' was Rockwell's second single and an attempt to follow up the highly successful debut 'Somebody's watching me' with an equally successful song. Where 'Somebody's watching me' could be construed as a song about voyeurs, this time around Rockwell sang about a heavy breather on the phone.

The audiences were not impressed. In the USA, where according to this sleeve the single was a 'Top hit', it peaked at number 35. In German, where this single was made, it only made number 53 and in the UK it stalled at number 79. It soon became obvious that Rockwell had gained a status as a one hit wonder.

My collection: 7" single no. 2471

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 16, 1995

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Obscene phone caller' / 'Obscene phone caller (instrumental)'

Jij bent mijn leven - Anneke Grönloh

Anneke Grönloh is celebrating her 50th year as a performing artist this year. It seems amazing, because she only ever had one big hit in the Netherlands ('Brandend zand'). But there is one more standout moment in this woman's career, and that was representing the Netherlands during the 1964 Eurovision Song Contest.

'Jij bent mijn leven' is a song about a woman accepting the lies and deceit of her man because 'you are my life'. It's obvious that there was no trace of emancipation back then. The song reached 10th place in the Contest and was only a minor hit in the Dutch chart, reaching number 30.

My collection: 7" single no. 3752

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, May 27, 2009
Cost: 5 euro

Tracks: 'Jij bent mijn leven' / 'Weer zingt de wind'

Long hot summer - The Style Council

The official title of this single is 'A Paris', a four track ep with 'Long hot summer' as the lead track. The Style Council had formed earlier on in 1983 and consisted of ex-The Jam frontman Paul Weller together with Mick Talbot, Steve White and Weller's then-wife, backing singer Dee C. Lee.

This single reached number 3 in the UK singles chart and remained the Style Council's biggest hit. In 1989 a new version of the track was released, but that one only made number 48.

My collection: 7" single no. 3756

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, May 27, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Long hot summer', 'Party chambers' / 'The Paris Match', 'Le départ'

Remember the time - Michael Jackson

Once I set out to do something, I usually succeed. Not so long ago I decided that I wanted to have all of Michael Jackson's hit singles. It's ambitious, but right now, I don't need to fill in that many blanks anymore. This was one of them.

'Remember the time' was released as the second single from Jackson's 1991 album 'Dangerous'. It was accompanied by a groundbreaking music video, clocking it at nine minutes. Featuring Eddie Murphy, Iman and Magic Johnson and set in ancient Egypt, the video was almost more memorable than the song. The single was a number 1 hit in New Zealand and made the top 10 almost everywhere else.

My collection: 7" single no. 3755
Found: Empire Records, May 27, 2009

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Remember the time' / 'Come together'

Seven into the sea - In tua nua

In tua nua (roughly translated from Irish as 'A new tribe' formed in the early Eighties. Originally they set out to make early Roxy Music-style rock, but soon started to fuse this with traditional Irish music, with uillean pipes and acoustic guitars.

Some personnel changes resulted in 1986 in the following line-up: Leslie Dowdall, Martin Clancy, Ivan O'Shea, Jack Dublin, Paul Byrne, Aingeala de Burca and Brian O'Briain. This line-up recorded the album 'Vaudeville' and their most famous recording, 'Seven into the sea'. In the Netherlands, this single peaked at number 24.

My collection: 7" single no. 3757

Found: Empire Records, May 27, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Seven into the sea' / 'Balled of Irish love'

Koud hè - The V-boys

Henk Spaan and Harry Vermeegen have both become very irritating TV personalities, obsessed with sports programmes. But two decades ago they were actually funny at times. As Verona, named after the TV programme they made at the time, they released the song 'Geluk' in 1986, and while they were still making the TV programme Verona, they released this single a year later under a new pseudonym, the V-boys.

'Koud hè' ('Cold, isn't it?') evolved from an unfortunate interview outside a building where Spaan and Vermeegen were waiting to question Dutch celebrities. Due to the weather, Vermeegen could only utter 'Koud hè?' to one of them. In the end, this was all the duo asked anyone. This single made number 17 in the Dutch Top 40 in the winter of 1987/88.

My collection: 7" single no. 3750

Found: Empire Records, May 27, 2009

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Koud hè' / 'Dat is lachen, dat is leuk'

Jij en ik - Bill van Dijk

Willem Edsger van Dijk was born in Rotterdam on December 22, 1947. He studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. After graduation he acted in various musicals in the Netherlands, where the genre was still in its infancy. Next to his acting he also made a name for himself in music: performing live with the Skymasters and the Metropole Orkest for radio and television in the Seventies and Eighties.

In 1982 he represented the Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Jij en ik' ('You and me'). It was not a successful performance: he ended up in 16th place out of 18 participants. As a result, the single did not reach the charts in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 3743

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Jij en ik' / 'Leven is'