Theater - Katja Ebstein

Katja Ebstein was born on March 9, 1945 in Girlachsdorf, Germany (now Gniewków, Poland). She released her debut album 'Katja - die Stimme' in 1970. That same year she represented Germany during the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Wunder gibt es immer wieder', reaching third place. This encourages her to try again in 1971. But the song 'Diese Welt' again reached third place in the Contest.

Nine years and several albums later, Katja participated in the 1980 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Theater'. Written by Ralph Siegel and Bernd Meinunger, this reached second place. If Ebstein would have participated once more, who knows... she might have won. We'll never know.

I actually bought this single in 1980 for 1 guilder. One or two years later, after barely playing the single, I exchanged it with my sister for Visage's 'Fade to grey'. In my current administration, this would have been single no. 61. Now it has become number 3744.

My collection: 7" single no. 3744
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Theater' / 'Getrennt von Tisch und Bett'

Give it up - Talk Talk

'Give it up' was released as the third single from Talk Talk's 'Colour of spring' album. I appreciated this single a lot more than 'Life's what you make it' and 'Living in another world', because it wasn't played on radio and television on a daily basis. Which also meant that it didn't become a hit. It only charted in the UK, reaching number 59.

In fact, 'Give it up' started a trend. Talk Talk would never chart in most countries except the UK, Ireland and (once) Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 446
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, August 9, 1986
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Give it up' / 'Pictures of Bernadette'

I could fall in love with you - Erasure

'I could fall in love with you' was released in April 2007 as the first single from Erasure's 13th studio album 'Light at the end of the world'. It was the first 7" single release by Erasure since 'Run to the sun' (1994). The single peaked at number 21 in the UK singles chart.

Vince Clarke explained about the song: 'Before we started this album, I was really keen for it not to be mid-tempo - I'm having a mid-tempo crisis! Our albums seem to have got slower and slower, so I started searching for classic funk or disco bass lines, put some ideas together with chord changes and bass lines underneath, and emailed them to Andy for him to sing over the top. The song, like this album, is quite 'up' and uptempo because we're both in good spaces right now.'

My collection: 7" single no. 3498

Found: eBay, received December 23, 2008

Cost: 3 pounds

Tracks: 'I could fall in love with you (Jeremy Wheatley radio mix)' / 'I like it'

Vibeology - Paula Abdul

I had high hopes for 'Vibeology' when it was released as the fourth single from Paula Abdul's 1991 album 'Spellbound'. Unfortunately the release was marred by bad remixes in a house style. I had a lot of doubts whether I would even buy this single, but since I had the other singles I couldn't let this one go. I did wait a couple of years, though.

It was still a reasonable success in various countries: in America it peaked at number 16, it went to number 19 in the UK and in the Netherlands the single got to number 13. The biggest success of this track was in Canada, where it made number 3.

My collection: 7" single no. 2351
Found: Record Exchange, London, June 26, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Vibeology' / 'Vibeology (Hurley's House 7")'
Download: here (password: http://popgems.blogspot.com)

Cornflake girl - Tori Amos

The first single from Tori Amos' second album 'Under the pink' was 'Cornflake girl'. The title was inspired by Alice Walker's novel 'Possessing the secret of joy', about a young African woman going through the ritual of female genital mutilation. Amos was angered by the idea that a mother could subject her daughter to such a brutal act, and the song arose as an exploration of the idea of betrayal between women.

Accompanied by a weird music video, the song still managed to peak at number 4 in the UK singles chart and even broke the Dutch Top 40, where Amos had never had a chart placing before. In the Netherlands it rose to number 26.

My collection: 7" single no. 2082

Found: Record fair, March 8, 1994

Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Cornflake girl' / 'Sister Janet'

Rosie - Joan Armatrading

Joan Armatrading was born in Basseterre, Saint Kitts in the West Indies on December 9, 1950. She moved with her family to Birmingham, England in 1957. She moved to London in the early Seventies to perform in a production of the musical 'Hair'. This led to her meeting lyricist Pam Nestor and recording her debut album 'Whatever's for us' (1972).

'Rosie' was released after five albums in 1980. It became her first European hit, reaching number 15 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 2422
Found: July 22, 1995
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Rosie' / 'How cruel'

Tausendmal du - Münchener Freiheit

Taken from their debut album 'Von Anfang an', 'Tausendmal du' became Münchener Freiheit's first hit outside of Germany. The single entered the Dutch Top 40 in June 1986 and peaked at number 28 during its five week chart run.

The song would be re-recorded in English as 'Baby it's you' two years later, aiming for more international success.

My collection: 7" single no. 2952

Found: February 7, 1998

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Tausendmal du' / 'Kalt oder heiss'

A walk in the park - Nick Straker Band

The Nick Straker Band formed in the late Seventies. Its members were Nick Straker, Tony Mansfield, David McShera, Pete Hammond and Phil Towner. In 1979 they released 'A walk in the park', a rather innovative disco song. It did not reach the Dutch Top 40, but it did peak at number 20 in the UK singles chart.

Tony Mansfield and Nick Straker were also members of New Musik, but while Straker didn't return to his old group, Mansfield did. Both the Nick Straker Band and New Musik did not meet a lot of commercial success after 'A walk in the park'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2147

Found: August 25, 1994

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'A walk in the park' / 'Something in the music'

Rock bottom - Lynsey de Paul and Mike Moran

Mike Moran (born March 4, 1948) and Lynsey De Paul (born June 11, 1960) wrote the song 'Rock bottom' together and also got to perform it together on the 1977 Eurovision Song Contest, representing the United Kingdom. Although the song was in the lead when the juries started giving their points, the song finally came second, behind the winning song 'L'oiseau et l'enfant'.

De Paul and Moran went on to write a number of songs such as 'Let your body go downtown', a UK top 40 hit for the Martyn Ford Orchestra and the follow up 'Going to a disco' as well as the songs 'Without you' and 'Now and then'. Moran was also a wellknown songwriter in his own right, co-writing Freddie Mercury's 'Barcelona'.

My collection: 7"single no. 3746

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009
Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Rock bottom' / 'You shouldn't say that'

Bad girls - Donna Summer

'Bad girls' was taken from Donna Summer's 1979 album of the same name. Donna Summer wrote the song herself, after being inspired by an incident: a police officier mistook one of her assistants for a street prostitute.

The song was a chart success in many countries. In America it was a number 1 hit, in the UK it peaked at number 14 while in the Netherlands it went to number 7. The 'toot-toot, beep-beep' chant would be sampled by various hip hop artists.

My collection: 7" single no. 2959

Found: Record fair, February 9, 1998

Cost: 2,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Bad girls' / 'On my honor'

Marliese - Fischer Z

Fischer Z released their third album 'Red skies over paradise' in 1981. This was the last album released under the classic line-up, despite the departure of keyboardist, Steve Skolnik. The album featured many songs about politics and several references to the Cold War. After this album, band leader John Watts pursued a solo career.

'Marliese' was taken from the album and became the band's last hit. In the Netherlands, it reached number 31.

My collection: 7" single no. 922

Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 25, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Marliese' / 'Right hand men'

When love rules the world - Simone Angel

In the late Eighties and early Nineties I was a regular viewer of MTV, back when they were still broadcasting music videos. I was not the only one: I had a fellow student and friend who was just as addicted to the channel as I was. We both loved Rebecca de Ruvo, and hated Simone Angel (We had so much in common).

The difference between the two became more obvious when they recorded music. Rebecca released 'I caught you out' in 1994, Simone released 'When love rules the world' in 1991. While the former is an interesting funky dance track, the latter is just a throwaway house clone with bad vocals. It's these vocals my friend and me had loads of fun with. Whenever I grunted 'When love rules the world' he would reply with a falsetto 'When love rules the world!' and vice versa. This single is a souvenir of those times. It's actually one of few songs in my singles collection that I don't like.

What happened to Simone Angel? She moved to the other side of the world - thankfully - and is - unfortunately - still presenting a radio show there. She has a blog which you can read here.

My collection: 7" single no. 1766
Found: Sounds Familiar, London, October 20, 1992

Cost: 20p

Tracks: 'When love rules the world (Let love rule edit)' / 'When love rules the world (original mix)'

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'