Joe le taxi - Vanessa Paradis

Vanessa Chantal Paradis was born on December 22, 1972 in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, a suburb of Paris, France. She appeared on television for the first time on the show 'L'école des fans' in 1980. Five years later, she recorded her debut single, 'La magie des surprises-parties'. Although this was not a hit, her next single, 'Joe le taxi', released in 1987, was.

At only 14 years, Vanessa Paradis topped the chart in France for a whopping 11 weeks with this single. It stormed the European charts as well, peaking at number 3 in the UK singles chart and number 23 in the Netherlands. A successful career would follow.

My collection: 7" single no. 1739
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 18, 1992
Cost: 1,5 pounds
Tracks: 'Joe le taxi' / 'Varvara Pavlovna'

You're my world - Nick Heyward

Nick Heyward was a member of Haircut One Hundred between 1980 and 1983, then he pursued a solo career. His third solo album 'I love you avenue' was released in 1988 and contained this single, 'You're my world'. It peaked at number 67 in the UK singles chart.

I saw the music video for this song on television and decided right away that I would buy the single.

My collection: 7" single no. 658
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, September 29, 1988
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'You're my world' / 'Pizza tears'

The look of love - Madonna

People who like good singers can largely ignore Madonna's output during the Eighties. She couldn't sing until she got some vocal coaching for her appearance in the movie 'Evita'. Despite her lack of vocal skills, she did manage to release two interesting singles during the Eighties. 'The look of love' was one of them.

'The look of love' was the third and final single from the soundtrack of the movie 'Who's that girl' (a movie in which Madonna tried to show off her non-existant acting skills). The single reached number 8 in the Netherlands and number 9 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2657
Found: House of Rhythm, London, June 29, 1996
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'The look of love' / 'Express yourself (7" remix)'

History - Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson may be dead, but his music still lives on. Never more than now. I was already filling in the blanks in my collection over the last few months, but recently there has been a surge of supply of rare items. And sometimes I'm lucky enough to win the bidding war on eBay.

'History' was released as the second single from Jackson's remix album 'Blood on the dancefloor' (1997), although the version on this single was not a remixed version but rather an edited version from the previous album 'History' (1995). This single was never commercially released on 7" vinyl. This is either a test pressing or a promotional disc, I think...

My collection: 7" single no. 3849
Found: eBay.co.uk, received July 11, 2009
Cost: 7 euro
Tracks: 'History' / 'Ghosts'

Tinsel town in the rain - The Blue Nile

So what is a mispressing of the Blue Nile's 'Tinsel town in the rain' worth? I never went out to research this and usually it's whatever someone wants to pay for it. And then I doubt that this mispressing is rare: the must be hundreds or thousands of singles like this, where the B-side is announced as an instrumental version of 'Heatwave', but it's an unidentifiable dance track.

'Tinsel town in the rain' was an unexpected hit for the Scottish band, peaking at number 28 in the Dutch Top 40 in October 1984. It was a remarkable hit, because in other countries the single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 242
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1984
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Tinsel town in the rain' / 'Heatwave (instrumental)' (sic)

Never my love - Patty Brard

'Never my love' was written by American siblings Donald and Richard Addrisi, who recorded under the name the Addrisi Brothers and had two Top 40 hits as singers. The first recording of the song that achieved chart success was by the Association, an American pop-rock band from California. Their version peaked at number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in late 1967.

Dutch singer Patty Brard recorded the song in 1983 on her second solo album 'You're in the pocket'. Released as a single, the track did not chart but it still got some attention because of the music video, in which Brard was rolling around in the nude. Don't bother to look for it on YouTube: it can't be found.

My collection: 7" single no. 2726
Found: September 7, 1996
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Never my love' / 'Oh girl'

Everlasting love - Sandra

'Everlasting love' was written by Buzz Cason and Mac Gayden. It was first a hit for soul singer Robert Knight in 1967. The song was subsequently covered by various acts, the most famous of which were U2 in 1989 and Love Affair in 1968. The Love Affair version peaked at number 1 in the UK in January 1968.

Sandra recorded her cover version of the song as a new track for her compilation album 'Ten on one' in 1988. The European release featured the track 'Change your mind', from Sandra's debut album, while the UK single featured the other new track from 'Ten on one', 'Stop for a minute'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1860 (German pressing) / no. 2670 (UK pressing)
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, January 30, 1993 / Leeds, June 30, 1996
Cost: 3 guilders / 1,5 pounds
Tracks: 'Everlasting love' / 'Change your mind' (German pressing)
'Everlasting love' / 'Stop for a minute' (UK pressing)

Love's been a little bit hard on me - Juice Newton

'Love's been a little bit hard on me' was released in 1982. It reached number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 during the summer of that year. I bought the single because I liked the song, while it met with disapproval of my sister, with whom I had an almost shared record collection at the time. Suffice to say that she was rather shocked that I came home with this one...

My collection: 7" single no. 135
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Love's been a little bit hard on me' / 'Ever true'

Candle in the wind (live) - Elton John

'Elton John live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra' was released in 1987. This single, a live version of 'Candle in the wind', the famous song dedicated to Marilyn Monroe, was taken from that album. The single reached number 5 in the UK and Canada.

While touring in Australia, the year before, Elton lost his voice. Shortly thereafter he underwent throat surgery. Several non-cancerous polyps were removed from his vocal cords, and John lost his famous falsetto, and he sang with a new voice.

My collection: 7" single no. 627
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Candle in the wind (live)' / 'Sorry seems to be the hardest word (live)'

Feel so high - Des'ree

As written before on this blog, 'Feel so high' was released twice in the UK, with the second release being the most successful one. The original single had a different B-side than this reissue. The sleeve was also different.

Enough reasons for me to warrant the purchase of this single. It was the last 7" single by Des'ree I bought. Not long after this, the vinyl format was abandoned by the record company and the artist started recording dull songs.

My collection: 7" single no. 2361
Found: July 3, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Feel so high' / 'Got to be strong'

When will I see you again - Three Degrees

'When will I see you again' was written and produced by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. The Three Degrees recorded and released the track in 1974. Sheila Ferguson from the group recalled that 'the song was played to me by Kenny Gamble at the piano in 1973 and I threw a tantrum. I screamed and yelled and said I would never sing it. I thought it was ridiculously insulting to be given such a simple song and that it took no talent to sing it. We did do it and several million copies later, I realized that he knew more than me.'

The single became one of the most successful recordings using the 'Philly Soul' sound, selling over 25 million copies worldwide. In the UK the single topped the chart, whereas in the Netherlands it reached number 4.

My collection: 7" single no. 2958
Found: February 9, 1998
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'When will I see you again' / 'I didn't know'

Feel the raindrops - The Adventures

Almost a decade before I bought the 12" single of 'Feel the raindrops', I bought the 7" single. It was one of the best tracks of 1985 in my opinion, and after the beautiful 'Send my heart', this was another track I instantly fell in love with.

The song still sounds as fresh as ever now in 2009. Music like this has become pretty rare in the mean time.

My collection: 7" single no. 440
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, July 26, 1986
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Feel the raindrops' / 'Nowhere near me'

I'm not a loser - Judie Tzuke

I didn't know this song when I bought it. I bought this single for one reason only: it was a picture disc. And a beautiful one, at that. Fortunately I did know Judie Tzuke and the type of music she made.

In 1982 Tzuke joined a new label, Chrysalis Records after having served with Rocket Records for three years. Her first album for Chrysalis was 'Shoot the moon', from which this single was taken. The single did not chart, but the album reached number 19 in the UK albums chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2781
Found: London, November 1, 1996
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'I'm not a loser' / 'Run on luck'

Lover of mine - Alannah Myles

'Lover of mine' was released in 1990 as the fourth and last single from Alannah Myles' self-titled debut album. While in Canada, the single equalled the number 2 position her biggest hit 'Black velvet' had reached a year earlier, elsewhere in the world, it did not impress the record-buying audiences.

The song is a power ballad, very different from the rock stylings of her earlier singles. Later on in her career, Myles would try her luck more often with this kind of power ballad.

My collection: 7" single no. 1829
Found: Record Palace, Amsterdam, January 13, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Lover of mine' / 'Just one kiss'

A face in the crowd - Tom Petty

Tom Petty's 'A face in the crowd' was written and produced by Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne, like most of the material on his album 'Full moon fever'. The track has a beautiful warm, relaxed sound that seemed to please especially the Dutch audience.


The single peaked at nnumber 23 in the Netherlands, whereas it stalled at number 93 in the UK singles chart and number 46 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

My collection: 7" single no. 1249
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, June 21, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'A face in the crowd' / 'A mind with a heart of its own'

Lean on me - Red Box

After Red Box signed to Sire Records and released their single 'Saskatchewan', there must have been some doubt whether this band would actually make it. The single did not chart and some record company executives must have felt panic. These days, the band would probably have been dropped immediately.

But they followed through with 'Lean on me', which proved the be a more successful track. It would prove to be the biggest hit of their career, peaking at number 3 in the UK Singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2140
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, August 2, 1994
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Lean on me' / 'Stinging bee'

Pride (In the name of love) - U2

Contrary to what you might think, when I bought this single two decades after its release, I didn't have to pay a fortune for it. I was as surprised as anyone when I spotted this limited edition double single during a record fair for a rather low price. Considering the ever growing fanbase of this Irish band, I would have expected the dealer to make a nice profit. Fortunately he didn't, otherwise I would never have bought this of course.

I consider 'Pride' to be U2's breakthrough single. It was the first one to reach the top 3 of the UK singles chart, peaking at number 3, and it was the first top 10 hit in the Netherlands, reaching number 8. The accompanying album 'The unforgettable fire' is an unmistakable classic which demands a luxury extended collectable ultimate edition of some sort. Now that's something I would buy...

My collection: 7" single no. 3365
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 2002
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Pride (In the name of love)' / '4th of July' // 'Boomerang I (Instrumental)' / 'Boomerang II (Vocal)'

Scarlet - All about Eve

The third single from All about Eve's 1989 album 'Scarlet and other stories' was 'Scarlet'. It was released in early 1990 and backed with a live track recorded at Hammersmith Odeon, where the band celebrated the biggest commercial success of their career.

'Scarlet' equalled the chart placing of the previous single 'December' in the UK, reaching number 34 in the singles chart. As always, the single was released in several collectable formats: the 7" single, a 12" single with a gatefold sleeve and a live poster, a cd-single and a picture disc cd-single.

My collection: 7" single no. 1205
Found: Wreckastow, Rotterdam, April 13, 1990
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Scarlet' / 'Our summer (live)'

Love's great adventure - Ultravox

'Love's great adventure' was recorded as a new track for Ultravox's 1984 compilation album 'The Collection' and released as a single to promote the album. Released in October 1984 it peaked at number 12 in the UK singles chart and number 30 in the Dutch Top 40.

The style of this single is different from any of their preceding singles from the album 'Lament', aiming for a more lightweight, pop-oriented approach. The music video features the band members in a humorous parody of Indiana Jones, with Midge Ure being chased across deserts and forests by a ruthless treasure hunter. Midge Ure stated in his autobiography 'If I was' that the aim of the single and its video was to promote Ultravox as having a sense of humour, away from the seriousness of their previous releases.

Once again, I bought this single in a clear vinyl edition. The gatefold sleeve also contained a booklet with a beautifully illustrated song lyric in the style of the front sleeve. Unfortunately, I found this edition some years after buying the original single and the booklet sleeved one with the disc pressed on black vinyl. So now I've got three copies of this single...

My collection: 7" single no. 247-1, 247-2, 3068
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1984 / Disco Market, Den Haag, 1984 / House of Rhythm, London, 1999
Cost: 6 guilders / 3,5 guilders / 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Dancing with tears in my eyes' / 'White China (live)'

Original sin - Taylor Dayne

'Original sin' was recorded as a theme song for the 1994 movie 'The shadow', based on the character of the same name created by Walter B. Gibson in 1931. At a budget of 40 million dollars, the movie barely made a profit with worldwide sales of 48 million.

Taylor Dayne performed 'Original sin', which was produced, written and arranged by Jim Steinman, the man responsible for many bombastic hits such as 'Total eclipse of the heart' by Bonnie Tyler and 'Paradise by the dashboard light' by Meatloaf. The single only made the UK singles chart, peaking at number 63.

My collection: 7" single no. 2359
Found: June 29, 1995
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Original sin (radio edit)' / 'Original sin (radio mix)'