Smokers outside the hospital doors - Editors

'Smokers outside the hospital doors' was released on two different 7" vinyl singles, of which this second one was a limited edition. The cover was shiny metallic and the record was pressed on clear vinyl. The edition was limited to 10,000 numbered copies - this is number 3663. The B-side was different to the other single as well.

I bought this single after I had become hooked to the Editors album 'An end has a start', which I'd bought in the summer of 2008. I still rate it as one of the best albums of the year.

My collection: 7" single no. 3512

Found: Concerto, Amsterdam, December 27, 2008

Cost: 3 euro

Tracks: 'Smokers outside the hospital doors' / 'The picture'

Smokers outside the hospital doors - Editors

Editors recorded their second album 'An end has a start' in Grouse Lodge, Ireland over a two month period beginning in late November 2006. It was released in June 2007 and went straight to number 1 in the UK album charts. The album was preceded by the single 'Smokers outside the hospital doors'. The song was Editors' highest-charting single at number 7.

The single was released on two different 7" vinyl singles. This single contained the track 'Some kind of spark' on the B-side.

My collection: 7" single no. 3511

Found: Concerto, Amsterdam, December 27, 2008

Cost: 3 euro

Tracks: 'Smokers outside the hospital doors' / 'Some kind of spark'

God - Tori Amos

While in the US 'God' was released as the first single from Tori Amos' second album 'Under the pink', in the UK it was the fourth and last single. The single was released as a picture disc 7", plus there was also a 12" single and a cd-single available. All formats came with exclusive remixes, which on the 7" format was the 'acapella vocal & rain mix'.

The song was Amos' response to patriarchy and the repression of women through religion. Lyrically it was heavily confrontational of male-deity headed religions. The single only made number 44 in the UK singles chart, which made it the least successful single from the album.

My collection: 7" single no. 2200

Found: Record fair, 1994

Cost: 10 guilders

Tracks: 'God' / 'God (Acapella vocal & rain mix)'

Human - Human League

In 1985 the recording sessions for the Human League's fifth album were not going well. The band did not like the results, which was causing internal conflict. Virgin Records executives, who worried about the lack of progress from their most-profitable signing, suggested the band to work with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. They had recently emerged as in-demand talent due to their success with Janet Jackson and her album 'Control'.

Jam and Lewis wrote three of the ten tracks on the album 'Crash', the lead single 'Human' was one of them. 'Human' became the second number one single for The Human League on the US Billboard Hot 100 after 'Don't you want me'. In the UK, 'Human' peaked at number eight in the UK singles chart and in the Netherlands the single reached number 13.

My collection: 7" single no. 476

Found: V&D, Den Haag, 1986

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Human' / 'Human (instrumental)'

Bicycle race - Queen

Okay, I'll admit it: I only started collecting Queen singles after Freddie Mercury's death. I saw a lot of documentaries about Queen when he died, and thought that those songs were really quite good.

To promote the release of this single, Queen staged a bicycle race with 65 naked women. A clip from this race was used on the single cover and the video. The video was originally banned, and the video had to be re-edited with colour added to censor out any offensive imagery. The song is famed for its 'bicycle bell solo'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1898

Found: Record fair, May 2, 1993

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Bicycle race' / 'Fat bottomed girls'

Against the wind - Máire Brennan

Máire Brennan was born as Máire Philomena Ní Bhraonáin on August 4, 1952 in Gweedore, Ireland. In 1970 joined her two brothers Pól and Ciarán and their mother's two twin brothers Noel and Pádraig Ó Dúgáin to form Clannad. With this Irish band they enjoyed a lot of success - and, in the Eighties, even international success - and recorded 17 albums.

In 1992, Máire decided to go solo. She released her debut solo album 'Máire', from which her debut single 'Against the wind' was taken. It was the only single by her to reach the UK singles chart, although it only peaked at number 64.

My collection: 7" single no. 1734

Found: Record exchange, London, October 17, 1992

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Against the wind' / 'She moved through the fair'

I need you - Paul Carrack

'I need you like a shot needs to shoot' is probably one of the least romantic lines in pop. It comes from this single by Paul Carrack, 'I need you'. The single peaked at number 37 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 15 in the Netherlands. In the UK, where Carrack was born, the single did not chart.

The single was produced by Nick Lowe, a successful artist in his own right. Like many singles from 1983, I got to know this one because of a local illegal radio station.

My collection: 7" single no. 2253

Found: March 22, 1995

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'I need you' / 'Call me tonight'

Without you - Nilsson

Anyone who has heard Mariah Carey's dreadful cover version of 'Without you' in 1994 may have a hard time to ever listen to this song again without that traumatic experience on their minds. She released her version just a week after Harry Nilsson, who had a hit with it back in 1972, had died. I just pray that the poor man has never had to hear her version.

Nilsson himself covered the track, because it was originally written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans of the rock group Badfinger. It appeared on their 1970 album 'No dice', but it wasn't released as a single. In parallel to the song lyrics, both Ham and Evans later committed suicide.

Nilsson recorded his version in 1972 on the album 'Nilsson Schmilsson'. It was a number 1 hit in the UK and peaked at number 10. Personally, I can't hear this song without getting goosebumps. Even after that horrible Carey version!

My collection: 7" single no. 2502

Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 30, 1995

Cost: 80p

Tracks: 'Without you' / 'Everybody's talkin'', 'Kojak Columbo'

American generation - The Ritchie Family

The four original members of the Ritchie Family were not related; the group was created by Jacques Morali who also created Village People soon after. The group took its name from record producer Ritchie Rome, and originally consisted of four Jean Davis, Cassandra Wooten,Gwen Oliver, and Nadine Felder. Later they were reformed as a trio with Cheryl Jacks, Cassandra Wooten, and Gwen Oliver as the new line-up.

It was this line-up that released the 1979 album 'American generation' and the single of the title track. An infectious disco track, it reached the charts all over the world. In the Netherlands the single peaked at number 13.

My collection: 7" single no. 2795
Found: Record fair, Roterdam, December 14, 1996
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'American generation' / 'Music man'

Merci, Chérie - Udo Jürgens

Udo Jürgens and Thomas Hörbiger composed the song 'Merci, Chérie', with which Jürgens represented Austria in the 1966 Eurovision Song Contest. Despite the French title, the song is performed in German. It is an earnest ballad, in which the singer thanks his lover (hence the title, 'Thank you darling') for good times and positive memories.

Jürgens won the Contest with this song, and scored a hit in several European countries as well. To date, he is still the only artist to bring victory in Eurovision to Austria.

My collection: 7" single no. 3754

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, May 23, 2009

Cost: 4 euro

Tracks: 'Merci, Chérie', 'Das ist nicht gut für mich' / 'Siebzehn Jahr, blondes Haar', 'So wie eine Rose'

Soul destruction - T'pau

The third and last single drawn from T'pau's third album 'The promise' was a remixed version of 'Soul destruction'. The remix was made by Phil Harding and Ian Curnow, who were famous for their work with producers Stock, Aitken & Waterman.

The single did not chart, and I only found out about its release about a year after the fact. The band released a fourth single, 'Only a heartbeat', in Japan and the USA only. Shortly after this, the band broke up. Such a shame!

My collection: 7" single no. 2194

Found: Big Company records, London, September 29, 1994

Cost: 2 pounds

Track: 'Soul destruction (remix)' / 'Dirty town'

Something's gotten hold of my heart - Marc Almond and Gene Pitney

'Something's gotten hold of my heart' was written by Roger Greenaway and Roger Cook. It was originally recorded by David and Jonathan. Gene Pitney recorded a more successful version in 1967, peaking at number 5 in the UK singles chart.

The song achieved its greatest success in 1988 when it was covered by Marc Almond. Originally recorded by Almond solo on his 1988 album 'The stars we are', the single version reunited it with its original singer Gene Pitney, their version became a number one single in the UK for four weeks in January 1989. Sales were helped by this limited edition box set which included two postcards, a discography and a badge.

My collection: 7" single no. 719

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1989

Cost: 10 guilders

Tracks: 'Something's gotten hold of my heart' (Marc Almond & Gene Pitney) / 'Something's gotten hold of my heart' (Marc Almond)

My girl (Gone, gone, gone) - Chilliwack

My sister bought this single back in 1981. I have no idea where she picked this song up, it was probably played on the radio a few times. The single did not chart in Europe. At the time of its release, the Canadian band consisted of Bill Henderson, Brian MacLeod and Ab Bryant.

Taken from the album 'Wanna be a star', the single was a number one hit in Canada and peaked at number 22 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

My collection: 7" single no. 1563

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

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'My girl (Gone, gone, gone)' / 'Sign here'

Arms of a dream - Laurie Freelove

Freelove was a founding member of the critically acclaimed band Two Nice Girls, formed by Gretchen Phillips, Kathy Korniloff and Laurie Freelove. After releasing their debut on Rough Trade Records, Laurie decided to leave the band and set out to forge a solo career.

She was 'discovered' by Nigel Grainge of Chrysalis/Ensign Records at a music conference in Austin, Texas. Recognizing her potential as a break-through artist, she was signed to the English label within the week, and that year recorded her first solo CD 'Smells like truth'. 'Arms of a dream' was the first single taken from the album, but the single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2327
Found: June 3, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Arms of a dream' / 'O my heart'

King without a crown - ABC

'King without a crown' was released as the third single from ABC's 1987 album 'Alphabet city'. It was, in my opinion, also the best of the three single releases from the album. The whole atmosphere of the song, the arrangement and the pure, straightforward pop was a relief compared to the cluttered sound of the previous two singles.

Unfortunately my opinion differered once again from that of the general public. In the UK the single peaked at number 44, in the Netherlands at number 31, making it the worst selling single of the three. After this single, ABC's career once again took a nosedive with ABC's next disastrous album, which ironically was titled 'Up'.

My collection: 7" single no. 752
Found: V&D, Den Haag, February 17, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'King without a crown' / 'The look of love (live in Boston)'

Hi! Hi! Hi! - Sandra

Released as the second single from Sandra's second album 'Mirrors', 'Hi! Hi! Hi!' was an upbeat track written by Michael Cretu and Hubert Kemmler. The latter was making a name for himself in Germany as Hubert Kah.

Released in the autumn of 1986, the single was a top 20 hit in Austria, France, Israel, Italy and Switzerland.

My collection: 7" single no. 1965

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 25, 1993

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Hi! Hi! Hi!' / 'You'll be mine'

Alles geprobeerd - Het Goede Doel

'Alles geprobeerd' ('Tried everything') was one of my favourite tracks of 1986. Even if you don't understand Dutch, you should be able to appreciate the lengthy musical piece at the second half of this track. At 6 minutes and 22 seconds, this was another long single by het Goede Doel, taken from their album 'Mooi en onverslijtbaar'.

The band usually performed this track with an even longer instrumental piece, which caused the track to last for anything between 10 and 20 minutes.

My collection: 7" single no. 447

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, August 9, 1986

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Alles geprobeerd' / 'Alles geprobeerd (instrumentaal)'

Viva sport - Dafna

The song that represented Israel during the 1992 Eurovision Song Contest was about that most useless of all pastimes, 'Viva sport', or 'Ze rak sport' in Hebrew. And because there are a lot of people in Europe who think that this pastime is not useless, the song was rewarded with a sixth place in the ranking. Of course, they are wrong.

The song was performed by Dafna Dekel, who was born on May 7, 1966 in Ashdod, Israel. In 1999, when the Contest was hosted in Israel, she presented the programme together with Yigal Ravid and Sigal Shachmon.

My collection: 7" single no. 1655

Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, May 16, 1992

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Viva sport' / 'Ze rak sport'

Manhattan skyline - A-ha

A day at the record company's office

'So we're going to release a third single from A-ha's album 'Scoundrel days''.

- 'Oh? Which one?'

'I think we should take 'Manhattan skyline.'

- 'Really? You do know it's almost five minutes long, don't you?'

'I know. We should make an edit.'

- 'An edit? How in God's name would you do that?'

'Well, you start by cutting the intro'.

- 'Okay, done. Now what?'

'There's bound to be some repetitive bits in that song. Aren't there?'

- 'Well, there are. But should we really edit them all out?'

'Yeah, no problem. No-one's paying attention to that stuff, it fills up the album nicely but on the single you need to keep up the pace.'

- 'Well if you say so... it's a waste, but okay... done. Now what?'

'What's the running time now?'

- 'We're down to 4 minutes 15 seconds.'

'Okay, good enough. We don't have to spend too much time on this.'

- 'B-side? What do we stick on the B-side?'

'Oh, just take a live track or something.'

- 'A live track? I do have a few, but they all sound horrible.'

'Doesn't matter, no-one ever plays the B-side anyway. Are we done?'

- 'Well, I guess so...'

My collection: 7" single no. 510

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Manhattan skyline [edit]' / 'We're looking for the whales (live version)'

Dreamboat Annie - Heart

'Dreamboat Annie' was the title track and a recurring theme on Heart's debut album. Originally divided in three parts scattered on the album, the single version was a mixture of all three and did not appear on the album in this form.

The B-side 'Sing child' was taken from the album and foreshadowed the later singles of the band. They would be stuck in a middle of the road rock phase for a couple of years.

My collection: 7" single no. 1567

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

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Dreamboat Annie' / 'Sing child'