Farewell my summer love - Michael Jackson

Motown gave a good example in 1984 of what will probably happen in the next few months and years to come. Spurred on by the success of Michael Jackson's 'Thriller', they excavated their archives and came up with a whole album of previously unreleased material entitled 'Farewell my summer love', recorded between 1973 and 1975. To make the album sound contemporary, the songs were remixed.

The title track was released as a single and reached number 38 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 7 in the UK singles chart. The untimely death of Michael Jackson will be a sign for record companies to start digging. Who knows what they will come up with...

My collection: 7" single no. 3807
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 28, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Farewell my summer love' / 'Call on me'

Close to perfection - Miquel Brown

'Close to perfection' was the title track of the 1985 album by Miquel Brown and released as its first single. It was only a minor hit in the UK, peaking at number 63, but in the Netherlands it reached a very respectable number 13. It was also regularly heard on the radio during that year and included in many remixes by DJ's like Ben Liebrand.

Miquel Brown has two twin daughters, Greta and popstar Sinitta.

My collection: 7" single no. 2989
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, May 27, 1998
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Close to perfection' / 'Close to perfection (instrumental)'

Give in to me - Michael Jackson

'Give in to me' was released as the sixth single from Michael Jackson's album 'Dangerous'. It featured a guitar solo by Guns 'n Roses guitarist Slash. It was not the first time that Jackson used a famous guitarist: for 'Dirty Diana' (1988) he hired Steve Stevens and on 'Beat it' (1983) you can hear Eddie Van Halen.

'Give in to me' reached number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 3 in the Netherlands. It may seem like I am desperately buying Michael Jackson in the wake of his death, but in fact I started completing my collection already a couple of months ago. I am happy to find these singles at relatively low prices right now because they will start to rocket in the near future, I'm afraid.

My collection: 7" single no. 3804
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 28, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Give in to me' / 'Dirty Diana'

Rocky - Frank Farian

'Rocky' was originally written by Jay Stevens in 1975 and performed by two different American artists: Austin Roberts, who recorded it as a pop song and Dickey Lee, who had a hit in the country charts with it.

Frank Farian had only just recorded one song, 'Baby do you wanna bump' as Boney M, but the group did not exist as such yet. His next single was a German version of the song 'Rocky'. He didn't just score a hit in Germany with this, but also reached number 8 in the Dutch Top 40. A few months before that, a Dutch version performed by Don Mercedes reached number 1 in the same chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3812
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 28, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Rocky' / 'Am Samstagabend'

Why can't we live together - Timmy Thomas

Timmy Thomas was born on November 13, 1944 in Evansville, Indiana (USA), and is best known for his 1972 hit 'Why can't we live together'. The song is notable for its sparse production, featuring only a Hammond organ, percussion from an early rhythm machine and Thomas's passionate, soulful vocal.

Released as a single in late 1972, the song became a major hit in the US during the early part of 1973, reaching number 12 in the UK singles chart and number 25 in the Netherlands. The song was later covered by Mike Anthony and Sade.

My collection: 7" single no. 3811
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 28, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Why can't we live together'

If you feel the funk - La Toya Jackson

I always perceived La Toya Jackson as Michael Jackson's weird sister. She was born on May 29, 1956 and only made her debut after her little brother hit it big with 'Off the wall'. Her self-titled debut came out in 1981. The first single from that album was 'If you feel the funk', a rather run-of-the-mill dance track in that day and age. It was a hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 13.

After marrying Jack Gordon in September 1989, Jackson distanced herself from certain members of her family. Her 1991 autobiography 'La Toya: Growing up in the Jackson family' was probably the main reason for this estrangement, as it made scathing criticisms of several family members. Some members of the family hypothesised that that part of the book had, in fact, been written by Gordon. In 1996 La Toya walked out on her husband after he attempted to force her to dance at a strip club in Cleveland, Ohio. A year later, she ended her estrangement with the entire Jackson family, returned home and divorced Gordon.

My collection: 7" single no. 3806
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 28, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'If you feel the funk' / 'Lovely is she'

Too low for zero - Elton John

'Too low for zero' was the title track of Elton John's 17th studio album, released in 1983. All the lyrics on the album were written by Bernie Taupin. At the insistence of Taupin, Elton decided to go back to basics and returned to working with Taupin full time.

Released as the third single from the album, it couldn't match the success of the previous two singles, 'I guess that's why they call it the blues' and 'I'm still standing'. Contrary to those two, this single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3810
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 28, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Too low for zero' / 'Dreamboat'

Ben - Michael Jackson

'Ben' was written by Don Black and Walter Scharf. The song was originally written for Donny Osmond, but he was on tour and unavailable when it was time to record the single, so the song was offered to Michael Jackson. He recorded it, while he was just 14 years old, for the Motown label in 1972.

The song, the theme song of a 1972 film of the same name, reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and Australia. It peaked at number 2 in the Netherlands and number 7 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3805
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 28, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Ben' (Michael Jackson) / 'Lookin' through the windows', 'Little bitty pretty one'

Beg, steal or borrow - The New Seekers

'Beg, steal or borrow' was performed by the New Seekers during the 1972 Eurovision Song Contest. The song was composed and written by Tony Cole, Steve Wolfe and Graeme Hall.

I bought the German version, 'Oh, ich will betteln, ich will stehlen' six months ago, but I didn't have the original version yet. I found a copy today and was able to get it for half price too. Well, enough reason to add this to my collection, I'd say...

My collection: 7" single no. 3813
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 28, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Beg, steal or borrow' / 'Sing out'

La mémoire en exil - Jo Lemaire

The album 'Concorde' by Jo Lemaire, released in 1983, contained one side in English and one side in French. This single was taken from the album and contains two French-language tracks. Just like earlier single 'Parfum de rêve', I bought this single because of the beautiful sleeve, and again I was not disappointed: the single is a perfect example of Belgian melodious synthpop.

My collection: 7" single no. 3809
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 28, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'La memoire en exil' / 'Les ombres de la rue'

If there was a man - The Pretenders

'The living daylights' was the final James Bond film to date to be scored by composer John Barry. The soundtrack is notable for its introduction of sequenced electronic rhythm tracks overdubbed with the orchestra, which at the time was a relatively new thing.

Contrary to previous Bond films, the film uses different songs over the opening and end credits. The song heard over the end credits, 'If there was a man', was one of two songs performed for the film by Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders. The Pretenders were originally considered to perform the title song. However, the producers were pleased with the commercial success of Duran Duran's 'A view to a kill', and felt that A-ha would be more likely to make an impact in the charts. 'If there was a man' was released as a single nonetheless, and peaked at number 49 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3808
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 28, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'If there was a man' / 'Into Vienna'

The glamorous life - Sheila E.

Sheila Escovedo was born on December 12, 1957 in Oakland, California (USA). She is the daughter of percussionist Pete Escovedo. She became a drummer and percussionist herself and made her debut in 1976 with jazz bassist Alphonso Johnson on 'Yesterday's dream'. Sheila met Prince in the early Eighties, when she was performing with her father. He enlisted her for his band and she played during the recording sessions for 'Purple rain' (1984).

Though taken under Prince's wing, she proved to be a successful artist in her own right. In 1984 she scored her first solo hit with 'The glamorous life', which peaked at number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 1896
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 2, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'The glamorous life' / 'The glamorous life part 2'

Road to your soul - All about Eve

When All about Eve released the single 'Road to your soul', some record company executives must have thought that the song was too long for the radio. At more than 5 minutes, there may well have been some reluctance by DJ's to play the song. And so they got to work: a DJ promo with the song was made, including an exclusive 'radio edit'.

If it were me, I would have made a different edit of the song. The radio edit featured on the A-side of this promotional single still clocks in at over four minutes, making it still a lengthy track.

My collection: 7" single no. 2912
Found: London, November 1, 1997
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Road to your soul (radio edit)' / 'Road to your soul'

Armageddon days are here (again) - The The

Another single from The The's 1989 album 'Mind bomb', 'Armageddon days are here (again)' was an odd choice because of its explosive political content. A lyric like 'Islam is rising / The Christians mobilising' implies a lot of things. The single only managed a number 70 placing in the UK singles chart during a two week run.

I remember being surprised to find this single in the shop, since a video for 'Kingdom of rain' was regularly shown on MTV at the time. I would have expected to find that single, but in the end, I never did.

My collection: 7" single no. 987
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, October 5, 1989
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Armageddon days are here (again) (radio edit)' / 'Armageddon days are here (again) (Orchestral version)'

My Sharona - The Knack

The Knack released their debut single 'My Sharona' in 1979. According to lead singer/guitarist Doug Fieger, he met Sharona Alperin (who was 16 at the time) and she inspired a two-month-long run of songwriting. 'It was like getting hit in the head with a baseball bat; I fell in love with her instantly. And when that happened, it sparked something and I started writing a lot of songs feverishly in a short amount of time.' The main riff of 'My Sharona' was written by the band's guitarist, Berton Averre, long before he ever joined The Knack.

Sharona appears on the picture sleeve for the single, and became a major booster of the band bringing many girls to their early shows. The single reached number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 6 on the UK singles chart and number 20 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 1895
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 2, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'My Sharona' / 'Let me out'

Talk Talk - Talk Talk

When EMI released the compilation album 'Natural history' in 1990, the record company was also re-releasing lots of old Talk Talk singles. For some strange reason, EMI France decided to re-release the band's early single 'Talk Talk'. Not that it had been a hit in 1982, when it was originally released. And sure enough, the second time around it didn't chart either.

As a collector of Talk Talk single, I was happy to find this item. The artwork is different from the singles that were (re-)released in the UK in 1990, so it's a great find.

My collection: 7" single no. 3119
Found: Record fair, June 27, 1999
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Talk Talk' / 'Today'

You're in the army now - Bolland

The brothers Rob and Ferdi Bolland released their album 'The domino theory' in 1981. The single 'You're in the army now' was released as the first single from that album. In the Netherlands, this single did not chart, but in South Africa, where the two were born, the single peaked at number 9 in May 1982.

In 1986, the band Status Quo recorded the song on their album 'In the army now'. Their version peaked at number 2 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1160
Found: All that music, Leiden, January 27, 1990
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'In the army now' / 'The Domino Theory theme'

Nur ein Lied - Thomas Forstner

Thomas Forstner was born on December 3, 1969 in Deutsch Wagram, Austria. He represented Austria during the 1989 Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Nur ein Lied' ('Only a song'), composed and produced by Dieter Bohlen, of Modern Talking fame. The song gave Austria fifth place — their highest position since their win in 1966.

Forstner was selected to represent Austria again in Rome in 1991. His entry, "Venedig im Regen" (English: "Venice in Rain") came in last at 22nd, failing to score a single point.

My collection: 7" single no. 3802
Found: eBay.co.uk, received June 25, 2009
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Nur ein Lied' / 'Nur ein Lied (instrumental)'

Memories - Earth and Fire

Earth & Fire debuted in 1970 with the single 'Seasons'. The single made an immediate impression and peaked at number 2 in the Dutch Top 40. But it would take the band two years to improve on that success: 'Memories', released in April 1972, was the band's first single to reach the number one position.

'Memories' was taken from the album 'Song of the marching children', an album that was released in a beautifully illustrated gatefold sleeve, as advertised on the back of the sleeve of this single.

My collection: 7" single no. 2731
Found: September 7, 1996
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Memories' / 'From the end till the beginning'

I don't know anybody else - Black box

'I don't know anybody else' was the second hit single for the Italo house band Black Box. It was the second single from their debut album 'Dreamland' and was released in the first months of 1990 in most of countries worldwide. The single peaked at number 4 in the UK singles chart, number 23 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 37 in the Dutch Top 40.

The song features an un-credited Martha Wash on lead vocals. Wash later sued the record label for royalties and directly contributed to legislation ensuring proper credit for vocalists on both songs and music videos.

My collection: 7" single no. 1199
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, March 30, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'I don't know anybody else (Melody mix)' / 'I don't know anybody else (House club)'