Gravitate to me - The The

When it was decided that 'Gravitate to me' would be a single from The The's album 'Mind bomb', I imagine that it was a wise decision to edit the track down. The album version takes up all of eight minutes, while the 'little version' on this single is just over half that length.

Unfortunately, it didn't help matters much: the single only reached number 63 in the UK, which was a disappointment after 'The beat(en) generation' had been a top 20 hit.

My collection: 7" single no. 1007

Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Gravitate to me (little version)' / 'The violence of truth'

I need love - LL Cool J

Hip hop will always be a genre dominated by people who feel the need to use a lot of words to say... well... nothing. It doesn't happen very often - well, once every decade on average as far as I know - that I actually like a hip hop record. LL Cool J released 'I need love' in 1987 and took care of the Eighties for me.

The idea of making a rap about a troubled lovelife in a kindof ballad setting was pretty good I have to admit. He was rewarded with chart placings around the word, reaching number 8 in the UK and number 3 in the Netherlands. Just forget about all the other rubbish he's made since then. (And yes, the B-side of this single is very bad as well.)

My collection: 7" single no. 566

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'I need love' / 'My rhyme ain't done'

So lang' man träume noch leben kann - Münchener Freiheit

'So lang' man träume noch leben kann' is a fine piece of orchestral pop, performed by Münchener Freiheit with the London Symphony Orchestra and the Jackson Singers. In the English-speaking world this track is better known as 'Keeping the dream alive', but this German version was recorded for their home turf.

The single was recorded in three separate location, the back of the sleeve reveals: Münchener Freiheit were recorded in Weryton Studios in Cologne, the Jackson Singers were recorded at Far Music-Studio in Rosbach and the London Symphony Orchestra, led by Andrew Powell, were recorded at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London.

My collection: 7" single no. 3275

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 11, 2000

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'So lang' man träume noch leben kann' / 'So lang' man träume noch leben kann (instrumental version)'

New frontier - Donald Fagen

I was quick to discard Donald Fagen's single 'New frontier' as boring when it was released in 1983. Just like previous single 'I.G.Y.', I couldn't appreciate the subtle sound of this track. Chances are, I was simply to young to appreciate it.

I had to chance my point of view a decade later, when the music video (which strangely enough can not be found on YouTube) appeared regularly on MTV for some reason. I quite like the track now.

My collection: 7" single no. 2285
Found: May 6, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'New frontier (edit)' / 'Maxine'

That's love - Jim Capaldi

Jim Capaldi was born on August 2, 1944. In his teenage years he learned to play the drums. Since then, Jim made a career for himself as drummer with bands like the Hellions and Traffic.

In 1972, he released his first solo album, 'Oh how we danced'. Ten years and ten albums later, he had his first and only American top 40 hit: 'That's love', taken from the album 'Fierce heart' which was produced by Steve Winwood. The single reached number 28. The single was also released in the Netherlands, where it didn't chart.

Capaldi died of stomach cancer on January 28, 2005. He is survived by his wife and daughters.

My collection: 7" single no. 1292

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, September 1, 1990

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'That's love' / 'Runaway'

Zo gaat ons leven voorbij - Rob Meier

This is one very strange single. 'Zo gaat ons leven voorbij' ('And so our lives pass by') is a collection of short talks with several characters, including such immortal lines as 'Vreet maar uit je neus en je bent toch al zo vet' ('Eating out of your nose as if you're not fat enough').

So who's Rob Meier? Where did he come from? What did he do before and after this single? No-one really knows. There is no information about the man anywhere and the single itself did not chart in the Netherlands. All that remains is this rather strange single.


I do wonder what foreign readers make of this. Tell me your thoughts after hearing this...

My collection: 7" single no. 211
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1983
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Zo gaat ons leven voorbij' / 'Klaas is de baas'

Ich bin wie du - Marianne Rosenberg

Marianne Rosenberg was born on March 10, 1955 in Berlin, Germany. She is the fifth of seven children of Auschwitz survivor Otto Rosenberg, who was part Roma. At age fourteen, she won a talent show, after which she recorded her first single.

'Ich bin wie du' was released in late 1975, at the height of the disco craze. The single reached number 18 in Germany, but (amazingly) did better in the Netherlands, peaking at number 2 in early 1976. It has since become a disco classic.

My collection: 7" single no. 3128

Found: July 24, 1999

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Ich bin wie du' / 'Was kann ich tun'

I don't want to be a hero - Johnny hates Jazz

'I don't want to be a hero' was the second hit single for Johnny hates Jazz. The song has a strong anti-war sentiment and is written from the perspective of a soldier who is questioning their participation in what they consider an unjust war. The band's American record company were reluctant to release the single in the U.S. because of its anti-war stance.

Still, it was released in the US and peaked at number 31 in the Billboard Hot 100. Meanwhile, the single peaked at number 11 in the UK singles chart and number 25 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 1474

Found: Record exchange, London, June 30, 1991

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'I don't want to be a hero' / 'The cage'

Maybe tomorrow, maybe tonight - Earth and Fire

While Jerney Kaagman is best known in the Netherlands for the static expression on her face thanks to an overkill of botox treatments these days, she used to be the singer in a successful Dutch band called Earth & Fire. The group started out in the early Seventies as a progressive rock outfit, tending more towards pop as the Eighties came along.

'Maybe tomorrow, maybe tonight' was released in 1973 and shows a successful blend of the two genres. Slightly bombastic but very effective, this single peaked at number 3 in the Dutch Top 40 in April 1973.

My collection: 7" single no. 1138
Found: All that music, Leiden, December 28, 1989
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Maybe tomorrow, maybe tonight' / 'Theme from Atlantis'

Why do I always get it wrong - Live report

Live Report was originally called Midnight Blue and was formed by Ray Caruana, John Beeby, Brian Hodgson and Maggie Jay. Their moment of fame came in 1989 when they participated in the Eurovision Song Contest, representing the UK. Their song 'Why do I always get it wrong' finished second in the Contest, behind one of the worst winners in the history of the Contest: 'Rock me' by Riva.

I still rate this as one of the UK's best songs for Eurovision ever. Strangely enough, the citizens of the UK don't agree. The single only landed in the UK singles chart for one week, at number 73.

My collection: 7" single no. 839

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, May 27, 1989

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Why do I always get it wrong' / 'Take a chance on me'

The eve of the war - Jeff Wayne

Jeff Wayne was born on July 1, 1943. He turned to music after finishing his academic studies. In 1966, his father Jerry Wayne offered him the opportunity to score the West End musical 'Two cities'. Then Jeff produced David Essex's album 'Rock on'.

After working on his project for a long time, 1978 saw the release of the double album 'Jeff Wayne's musical version of The War of the Worlds'. 'The eve of the war' was released as its first single, achieving a lot of success in various countries. In the Netherlands, the single peaked at number 3. The version of the single is very different from the one on the album.

My collection: 7" single no. 413

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1986

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'The eve of the war' / 'The red weed'

In the name of love - Thompson Twins

Thompson Twins formed in 1977. The original line-up consisted of Tom Bailey, Pete Dodd, John Roog and Jon Podgorski. By 1981, Podgorski had left and three new members had joined: Chris Bell, former band roadie Joe Leeway and Jane Shorter. After their debut album, Shorter left, to be replaced by Alannah Currie. The band then signed to Arista Records and released their second album 'Set'.

From this album, the single 'In the name of love' was taken. Although the single did not chart in the UK, it was a top 40 hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 27. This edition, made in Germany, was pressed on red vinyl.

My collection: 7" single no. 295

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'In the name of love (edit remix)' / 'In the beginning'

Rosalyn - Vitesse

Vitesse is formed in 1975 by Herman van Boeyen, Herman Brood, Rob ten Bokum and Peter Smid. A year later, the band has already had several personnel changes and they release a debut album. When this album is not successful, Herman Brood leaves the band to go solo.

It takes several albums and singles to finally have some success in the Netherlands. In September 1982 they have their first top 10 hit with 'Rosalyn', which peaks at number 9.

My collection: 7" single no. 148

Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1982

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Rosalyn' / 'Screwed, blewed and tattooed'

Cruel summer - Bananarama

Looking out the window today, I know exactly what a 'Cruel summer' is: expecting the sun, and getting nothing but rain. Bananarama recorded a song with this title back in 1983.

'Cruel summer' was a top ten hit in Britain in 1983, but wasn't an international success until it was included in the 1984 movie 'The Karate kid'. The group didn't allow the song to be included in the film's soundtrack, but it was still their first top ten hit in the USA.

My collection: 7" single no. 1914
Found: Record fair, Leiden, May 22, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Cruel summer' / 'Summer dub'

One draw - Rita Marley

Rita Marley is the widow of legendary reggae musician Bob Marley. She was born as Alpharita Constantia Anderson on July 25, 1946. In the mid sixties Rita was introduced to Bob at Studio One. After he learned that she was a singer, she was asked to audition for the Soulettes, later known as the I Threes. The group included Rita, her cousin Constantine "Dream" Walker, and Marlene "Precious" Giffordwas. Bob became the group's mentor and manager and through working together, he and Rita fell in love.

After Marley's death, Rita recorded a few albums. This single, 'One draw', became a hit in the Netherlands, reaching number 4. The lyric contains obvious drug references, but despite this, I quite like the track.

My collection: 7" single no. 2460
Found: Record fair, September 9, 1995

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'One draw' / 'So high (One draw - dub)'

Past the mission - Tori Amos

'Past the mission' was released as the third single from Tori Amos' 1994 album 'Under the pink'. The song featured guest vocals by Trent Reznor from the band Nine Inch Nails. The single peaked at number 31 in the UK singles chart. The live version on the B-side was recorded at Vic Theatre, Chicago, March 24, 1994.

The 7" vinyl single wasn't my biggest problem to obtain: the double cd-single from the UK and the promotional cd-single featuring a spoken ad for Tori Amos' anti-rape network RAINN were a bigger problem. I'm glad to say that in the end I acquired them all.

My collection: 7" single no. 2119

Found: Record fair, June 15, 1994

Cost: 8 guilders

Tracks: 'Past the mission' / 'Past the mission (live)'

Muh - Matterhorn Project

Stella and PJ Wassermann started the Matterhorn Project in 1985 with their debut single 'Muh' (titled 'Boe' in the Netherlands as a Dutch onomatopoeia). The record shot straight to number two in the Swiss charts and stayed there for three weeks. It was also a number 5 hit in South Africa, amazingly enough.

I heard this single thanks to my sister who had bought it. I bought my copy some time later at discount price. As with many novelty singles, the joke does wear thin after many times of playing the track. But the Matterhorn Project still goes on, as is demonstrated by their own website.

My collection: 7" single no. 281

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Muh' / 'Moophonia'

Tainted love - Soft Cell

'Tainted love' was composed by Ed Cobb and originally recorded by Gloria Jones. It attained worldwide fame after this cover version by Soft Cell in 1981, reaching number one in the UK Singles Chart.

Soft Cell's record label chose to release 'Tainted love' as the band's second single (their first was 'Memorabilia', which did not chart). The label implied that this single would be Soft Cell's final release if the single did not sell. Produced by Mike Thorne, the track was recorded in a day and a half with the first vocal take being ultimately used on the record.

My collection: 7" single no. 2935

Found: January 31, 1998

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Tainted love' / 'Where did our love go'

If you had my love - Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez was born on July 24, 1969 in the South Bronx, New York. Lopez spent her entire academic career in Catholic schools, finishing at the all-girls Preston High School in the Bronx. She financed singing and dancing lessons for herself from the age of 19. In the early Nineties she got her first jobs as a dancer for New Kids on the Block.

In 1999 she started a singing career with the album 'On the 6'. Her debut single was 'If you had my love' - in my opinion her first and last good single. The single was a number one hit in America and the Netherlands, peaking at number 4 in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 3236

Found: HMV, London, 1999

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'If you had my love' / 'No me ames' (duet with Marc Anthony)

Go - Moby

From the moment the first episode of Twin Peaks was aired in the Netherlands, I became hooked. As a consequence, I made it a mission to get all the music available. And there was some: the soundtrack album by Angelo Badalamenti, the album by Julee Cruise and even a vague Dutch production on a cassette.

Unfortunately, the house scene also got their dirty little fingers on the theme of the series. The most famous example is this, 'Go' by Moby. The single made number 10 in the UK and number 6 in the Netherlands. I first bought the cd-single while on a day out in the southwest of the Netherlands, but this cd-single only contained remixes that were rid of the Twin Peaks sample. So some time later, I bought the 7" vinyl single. It's still not the kind of 'music' that I like.

My collection: 7" single no. 2075

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, February 19, 1994

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Go (radio edit)' / 'Go (Voodoo child mix)'