Ein Bisschen Frieden - Nicole

'Ein Bisschen Frieden' was written by Eurovision Song Contest veterans Ralph Siegel and Bernd Meinunger. It was performed at the 1982 edition of the Contest by 17 year old high school student Nicole. With her innocent looks and white guitar, she managed to secure Germany's first (and last) ever win.

I hated the song with a passion. The tacky lyrics and the corny melody did nothing for me. But all these years later, there is one convincing reason to own this single: I have nearly all of the Eurovision winners.

My collection: 7" single no. 3376

Found: Geest, Den Haag, 2003

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Ein Bisschen Frieden' / 'Thank you, merci, danke'

Human features - Black

Originally a three-piece pop outfit from Roby, near Liverpool, England, Black featured Colin Vearncombe (born June 25, 1962, West Derby, Liverpool), Dave Dickie and Jimmy Sangster. Vearncombe was previously in the Epileptic Tits at the age of 16, playing punk cover versions. He then moved on to producing his own tapes until Dickie (ex-Last Chant) and Sangster formed a unit together.

Black's first single was 'Human features', released in 1981 on the independent Rox label. The single did not chart and was probably released in a very small quantity. Finding this single is next to impossible. I searched for it for years on end, and finally only got it because an old Black fan was selling off his items. I spent a small fortune, but was extremely happy to get my hands on this rare recording.

My collection: 7" single no. 2983
Found: Private seller, received April 9, 1998
Cost: 20 pounds (or more)
Tracks: 'Human features' / 'Electric church'

I don't want to talk about it - Everything but the girl

'Everything but the grl are Tracey Thorn on vocals and Ben Watt on guitar and vocals. 'I don't want to talk about it' was released to coincide with their fourth LP, 'Idlewild' (February 1988) from which the B-side 'Oxford Street' is taken. The string arrangement was written by Ben Watt and Nick Ingman.'

The back of the sleeve tells a rather complete story. However, the single only became a hit in July 1988, but when it did, it reached number 3 in the UK singles chart, making it the duo's biggest hit up to that point.

My collection: 7" single no. 1566

Found: All that music, Leiden, January 2, 1992

Cost: 2,5 guilders

Tracks: 'I don't want to talk about it' / 'Oxford Street'

I don't want to talk about it - Rod Stewart

'I don't want to talk about it' was written by Danny Whitten. His band Crazy Horse released it on their self-titled album in 1971. In 1975, Rod Stewart recorded his version for his album 'Atlantic Crossing'.

The single topped the singles chart in the UK, although it has been claimed afterwards that this was rigged and that the Sex Pistols' 'God save the queen' was the actual best selling single at the time. In Germany the single reached number 4, and in the Netherlands it went to number 3.

My collection: 7" single no. 1162

Found: All that music, Leiden, January 27, 1990

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'I don't want to talk about it' / 'The first cut is the deepest'

Run silent - Shakespear's sister

The debut album by Shakespear's sister, 'Sacred heart', featured a track 'Run silent, run deep'. It was released as a single with the shorter title 'Run silent'. The single was released in a limited edition gatefold sleeve, with a booklet in the middle.

It did not help the chart placing of the single: it only made number 54 in the UK singles chart. To me, it's still one of the better tracks from the album.

My collection: 7" single no. 991

Found: Tower Records, London, October 16, 1989

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Run silent' / 'Mr. Wrong'

Wicked game - Chris Isaak

Chris Isaak recorded 'Wicked Game' for his third studio album 'Heart shaped world'. Despite being released as a single in 1989, it didn't become a hit until it was later featured in the David Lynch film 'Wild at heart'. This single is the latter release, with an instrumental track by Angelo Badalamenti - also from the film - on the B-side. Part of the success can also be attributed to the music video, directed by Herb Ritts, featuring a topless Helena Christensen.

The single went to number 10 in the UK and number 5 in the Netherlands. It also become Chris Isaak's only American hit single, peaking at number 6 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

My collection: 7" single no. 1380
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, February 9, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Wicked game' (Chris Isaak) / 'Cool cat walk' (Angelo Badalamenti)

Love of my life - Queen

The studio version of 'Love of my life' appeared on Queen's 1975 album 'A night at the Opera'. Freddie Mercury wrote it on the piano and guitarist Brian May rearranged the song for acoustic 12-string guitar to facilitate live performances. The song was written for Mary Austin, Mercury's girlfriend at the time.

This live version, taken from the double album 'Live killers' was released as a single in 1979. It was a number one hit in Brazil and Argentina, but stalled at number 63 in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 1574

Found: January 25, 1992

Cost: 7,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Love of my life (live)' / 'Now I'm here (live)'

This affair - Maisonettes

Lol Mason formed the Maisonettes in the early Eighties with Mark Tibenham and Nick Parry. They recorded a demo of the song 'Heartache Avenue', which was discovered by David Virr in a pile of demo tapes in his office. He decided to release it on his own label, entitled Ready, steady, go!. To fill out the band, two teenage models, Denise Ward and Elaine Williams were recruited as backing vocalists.

'Heartache Avenue' became a big hit in several countries, but irritated the hell out of me. I was more impressed by the later single release, 'This affair'. A beautiful ballad, which appeared regularly on a local radio station. It was not a hit, the band would never even have a hit again.

My collection: 7" single no. 869

Found: All that music, Leiden, June 2, 1989

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'This affair' / 'Say it again'

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'