Say it say it - E.G. Daily

So I've had the 12" single of 'Say it say it' for more than 20 years. I didn't buy the single because I didn't have enough money at the time. I didn't have that excuse anymore when I saw the single today - a steal at only 50 eurocents. Besides, the single had a B-side that didn't appear on the 12" single!

The single was a reasonable success for the American singer. It reached number 11 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 70 in the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3843
Found: Zeeheldenfestival, Den Haag, July 4, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Say it say it' / 'Don't let them take the child away'

Blow the house down - Living in a box

Having seen the Here and Now tours in the UK between 2001 and 2004, I've also had the pleasure to see Living in a box live. It was a mixed pleasure, actually. The songs were decent enough, but the band members had become a bit older and didn't move too subtle anymore. Especially 'Blow the house down' lacked the power it should have.

Back in 1989, this single was a hit for the band. It reached number 10 in the UK and number 11 in the Netherlands. I didn't like it back then. But the live performances did change that: it's actually quite a powerful song. Just as long as singer Richard Darbyshire didn't try to clap his hands in the air, though...

My collection: 7" single no. 3830
Found: Zeeheldenfestival, Den Haag, July 4, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Blow the house down' / 'Dance the mayonnaise'

Club Fantastic megamix - Wham!

'Club Fantastic megamix' is a unique Wham! single, because it's the only one that didn't become a top 10 hit in the UK. It still peaked at number 15, so that wasn't too bad, but all the other singles they released during their career made it into the top 10, which is quite a feat!

The megamix was a medley of three album tracks from Wham's debut album 'Fantastic': 'A ray of sunshine', 'Love machine' and 'Come on'. The band members George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley did not approve of this release. It was released three months after Wham! had begun proceedings to leave the label Innervision records.

My collection: 7" single no. 3846
Found: Zeeheldenfestival, Den Haag, July 4, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Club Fantastic megamix' / 'A ray of sunshine (instrumental mix)'

Positive reaction - Mandy Smith

Mandy Smith became a model during her early teens. In 1987 she was signed to PWL Records. The production trio Stock/Aitken/Waterman produced her first two singles, 'I just can't wait' and 'Positive reaction'. Neither single charted in the UK. The latter reached number 9 in Italy and number 11 in Switzerland.

Mandy Smith started dating Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman at age 13 in 1983. Six years later, they got married. In 1991, they divorced. In 2001, she was briefly engaged to Vanity Fair fashion model Ian Mosby with whom she had a son, Max Harrison Mosby. Smith now lives in Manchester. Having tried a career as a make up artist, Smith is presently training to be a counsellor.

My collection: 7" single no. 3836
Found: Zeeheldenfestival, Den Haag, July 4, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Positive reaction (Our Mandy's mix)' / 'Positive reaction (Amanda's mix)'

(Si Si) Je suis un rock star - Bill Wyman

Bill Wyman was born as William George Perks on October 24, 1936. He is best known as bass guitarist of the Rolling Stones, which he was between 1962 and 1992. While in the Stones, he recorded four solo albums, the third of which was 'Bill Wyman', released in 1982.

The single '(Si Si) Je suis un rock star' was released in July 1981 and became a top 20 hit in several countries. In the Netherlands, the single peaked at number 13, while in the UK it reached number 14.

My collection: 7" single no. 3829
Found: Zeeheldenfestival, Den Haag, July 4, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: '(Si Si) Je suis un rock star' / 'Rio de Janeiro'

Blaze of glory - Joe Jackson

It is printed on the sleeve and on the label of this single: 'For promotion only Not for sale'. So was 'Blaze of glory' released commercially as a single? You would guess not, because it is not listed in his discography on Wikipedia and discogs.com. Yet, I do have a cd-single which does not come with the 'promotion only' warning... How strange!

Anyway, 'Blaze of glory' is the title track of Joe Jackson's 1989 album. The on the album were an examination of his generation as the Eighties were ending, ranging from the optimism of the Fifties ('Tomorrow's world') to the politics of terrorism ('Rant and rave', included here on the B-side). The title track tells the story of a singer who is successful, but then dies young.

My collection: 7" single no. 1117
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, December 1, 1989
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Blaze of glory' / 'Rant and rave'

She's out of my life - Michael Jackson

It's hard to believe now, but 20 years ago, when you wanted to hear a song and not be dependent of radio stations, you actually had to buy records. You could also opt for cd's, but since my money resources were limited, I usually bought singles. And this is how I ended up with this single from the 'Hall of fame' series by Epic Records.

'She's out of my life' was an old song from 1980, which I did not have. I really wanted to have it, and while I am usually searching for picture sleeves, in this instance I made do with this release. Even if it didn't look that attractive, and even if the B-side was already part of my collection. These days, most people just download tracks somewhere. Life has become so much easier.

My collection: 7" single no. 1079
Found: HMV, London, October 19, 1989
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'She's out of my life' (Michael Jackson) / 'Lovely one' (Jacksons)

I'll wait - Taylor Dayne

Even though the American double 12" single of 'I'll wait' contains no less than 7 remixes of the track, the 'US 7" mix' is not on it. That one is included on the B-side of this single, which I bought almost a year after I bought the 12" format.

By that time, I was merely completing my collection, not so much an avid Taylor Dayne fan anymore. That star had faded fast, unfortunately.

My collection: 7" single no. 2360
Found: June 30, 1995
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'I'll wait (Hot mix)' / 'I'll wait (US 7" mix)'

More than the sun - Black

'More than the sun' was the second single by Black. Unlike the debut single 'Human features', this single was released on the independent 'Wonderful world of...' label. It is an early version of a track that Black would re-record in 1984, when they were signed to WEA Records. The B-side 'Jump' is an even bigger rarity, since that track never appeared again.

I ordered this single, together with another early Black release, in the UK, although I can't remember from which company. I received it some time after I ordered it. It was a very special moment: I was filling in some much-lamented gaps in my Black collection.

By the way: if you go to Black's official website, you can download the new album 'The Given' for free! (Donations welcome.)

My collection: 7" single no. 2626
Found: received March 9, 1996
Cost: 5 pounds
Tracks: 'More than the sun' / 'Jump'

Love is - Vikki

Vikki Watson was born in 1959 in Liss, Hampshire (UK). As a child she took singing and dancing lessons, and then went on to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. She wanted to become an opera singer, but soon realized that her voice was more suited to popular music.

In 1985 she represented the United Kingdom during the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Love is', gaining fourth place. The single reached number 49 in the UK singles chart. She toured the United States and then returned to her Celtic roots. She did well in terms of touring, television shows and live work, yet a difficult lifestyle coupled with the commercial direction of the material, drove her to emigrate to the United States. These days she is performing world music under the pseudonym Aeone.

My collection: 7" single no. 3828
Found: 45toeren.nl, received July 3, 2009
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Love is' / 'Lead me through the darkness'

Livin' thing - Electric Light Orchestra

'Livin' thing' was written by Jeff Lynne and appears on ELO's 1976 platinum-selling album 'A New World Record'. In the UK and Canada the single peaked at number 4, whereas in the Netherlands ELO scored their first top 10 hit with this, peaking at number 6. According to 'Unzipped', Suzi Quatro's autobiography, her sister Patti sang uncredited backing vocals on the track, particularly the 'higher and higher' parts.

The chorus of the song ('It's a livin' thing / It's a terrible thing to lose / It's a given thing / What a terrible thing to lose') has been subjected to frequent interpretation, because the lyric never explicitly identifies what 'it' is. This has led to the interpretation by some that the song was intended as an anti-abortion or a pro-environmentalist statement. Lyrical imagery elsewhere in the song may also give support to these impressions. Jeff Lynne has stated that the song was intended to be about love and the loss of love.

My collection: 7" single no. 3819
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, July 2, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Livin' thing' / 'Fire on high'

You're the greatest lover - Luv'

'You're the greatest lover' is Luv's signature song. Originally released in July 1978, it reached number 1 a month later. The trio was at the height of their popularity in the second half of 1978, when also their next single 'Trojan horse' became a number 1 hit.

So is it alright to buy singles by Luv' when you're a grown man? I guess not. I've got the perfect excuse, though: I've got nearly all their singles because I bought them as a kid. Now all I want to do is complete the set, like I'm doing with a lot of other artists. Just label this as a guilty pleasure...

My collection: 7" single no. 3823
Found: La La Land, July 2, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'You're the greatest lover' / 'Everybody's shakin' hands on Broadway'

Wow (Eddy TM Losers remix) - Snow Patrol

The album 'DanceRocks' was released in April 2007 and features remixes by Eddie Temple Morris. It's a collection of rock tracks by bands such as the Doors, the Who and the Infadels, remixed to fit the taste of the dancefloor crowd.

One of the tracks on the album is the Eddy TM Losers remix of 'Wow' by Snow Patrol. Being one of the hot bands around, that remix was also released on a promotional 7" single, backed with a remix of a track by Stone Lions. I didn't know this promo existed, but when I saw it I bought it immediately.

My collection: 7" single no. 3814
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, July 2, 2009
Cost: 4,5 euro
Tracks: 'Wow (Eddie TM Losers remix)' (Snow Patrol) / 'Transitions' (Stone Lions)

New dimension - Imagination

Imagination released the single 'New dimension' in 1983. It met with a muted response from the record-buying audience: the single only charted in the UK (where it peaked at number 56) and Germany (where it peaked at number 61). In the Netherlands, it was the biggest success, reaching number 12. It was also their last hit in the Netherlands.

When I bought this single I didn't know whether I had it already. Maybe this is because many of Imagination's singles sound the same. It's hard to distinguish the one from the other. That's not to say that the songs are bad: this is another great, dynamic dance track.

My collection: 7" single no. 3821
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, July 2, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'New dimension' / 'I'll always love you'

Schoolgirl - Steve Forbert

Steve Forbert was born on December 13, 1955 in Meridian, Mississippi. In America he is best known for his song 'Romeo's tune', which reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1980. However, in the Netherlands he had only one hit, 'Schoolgirl', which reached the Dutch Top 40 in March 1981 and peaked at number 19.

I only bought the single for the striking resemblance between the sleeve of this single and Kim Wilde's single 'Schoolgirl', which was released in 1986. Both were wearing jeans, both were photographed in black and white and both had a song entitled 'Schoolgirl'. However, hers is a lot better than his...

My collection: 7" single no. 3818
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, July 2, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Schoolgirl' / 'Rain'

The way to your heart - Soulsister

The Belgian duo Soulsister, consisting of Jan Leyers and Paul Michiels, released their fourth single 'The way to your heart' in 1988. What was interesting about this release, was the fact that initially the single was released at half price with only one track - the B-side being totally blank. The track owed a lot to the Sixties Motown sound.

The single reached number 7 in the Netherlands and also charted in many other European countries. After its European success, the single was released in the US in 1989 were it went to number 41 in the Billboard Hot 100.

My collection: 7" single no. 3822
Found: La La Land, July 2, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Track: 'The way to your heart'

There's no answer to it - Ph.D.

The self-titled debut album from Ph.D. did not only include their big hit 'I won't let you down' and the unsuccessful 'Little Suzi's on the up' but also this follow-up single, 'There's no answer to it'. This third single didn't trouble the charts anyway and sunk without a trace.

My collection: 7" single no. 3815
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, July 2, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'There's no answer to it' / 'Rock 'n' Roll days'

Einstein a go-go - Landscape

Landscape was formed in 1974 by Richard James Burgess, Christopher Heaton, Andy Pask, Peter Thoms and John Walters. They began experimenting with computer programmed music and electronic drums in the late Seventies, making records in the emerging genres of electronic dance music and synthpop.

They had only two hits in the UK, both in 1981: 'Norman Bates' which reached number 40 and the number 5 hit 'Einstein a go-go'. They never managed to score a hit outside of the UK, but this single appears on many Eighties compilation cd's.

My collection: 7" single no. 3824
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, July 2, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Einstein a go-go' / 'New religion'

Poker face - Lady Gaga

I don't really keep up with the hypes of today anymore. Sad to say, I've lost touch with the charts some years ago because the amount of untalented people and angry 'niggaz' became too high for me. But sometimes a new song still reaches me when I flick through the channels on TV.

Lady Gaga was born as Stefani Germanotta on March 28, 1986, in Yonkers, New York (USA). Her debut single was 'Just dance', released in April 2008, which was a number one hit in the USA, Canada, Australia, Ireland, the Netherlands and the UK. 'Poker face' was released in September 2008, and added France, Germany, New Zealand and Sweden to the countries where it topped the charts. About the song, Lady Gaga commented: 'It's about a lot of different things. I gamble but I’ve also dated a lot of guys who are really into sex and booze and gambling, so I wanted to write a record my boyfriends would like too.'

My collection: 7" single no. 3825
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, July 2, 2009
Cost: 5,9 euro
Tracks: 'Poker face' / 'Poker face (Space Cowboy remix)'

Video - The Dutch

After The Dutch had their first hit with 'This is welfare' and the mini-album of the same name, they released a new track as a single in 1984. It was 'Video', another nicely crafted popsong. The single did not chart - and in fact I didn't know it existed until today. I didn't really keep up with the band at all, so that's not so shocking.

The nice thing about buying singles is that every once in a while you can try out something. And as in this case, sometimes you get lucky.

My collection: 7" single no. 3820
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, July 2, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Video' / 'D'Artagnan'