Zoom - Fat Larry's Band

Fat Larry's Band was formed by 'Fat' Larry James (August 2, 1949 - December 5, 1987). He recruited Art Capehart, Doug Jones, Jimmy Lee, Ted Cohen, Darryl Grant, Larry La Bes and Erskine Williams to form his band. They performed R&B and funk tracks between 1977 and 1987. The band folded when its founder died.

Their biggest (and only) hit in the Netherlands was the ballad 'Zoom', released in the autumn of 1982. It reached number 13 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2424
Found: All that music, Leiden, July 22, 1995
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Zoom' / 'House party'

It doesn't have to be - Erasure

'It doesn't have to be' was released as the second single from Erasure's second album 'The circus' (1987). Written by the band members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, the track features Clarke's signature synthesizer programming along with a prominent acoustic guitar. Bell's lyrics touch upon patching up an argument between two people in a relationship.

The single peaked at number 12 in the UK singles chart and number 16 in the German singles chart. In the Netherlands, it was only a minor success, peaking at number 38 in the Dutch Top 40.
The single's B-side, 'In the hall of the mountain king', is an excerpt from Grieg's Peer Gynt suite as performed by Vince Clarke.

My collection: 7" single no. 2547
Found: London, November 1, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'It doesn't have to be' / 'In the hall of the mountain king'

I like Chopin - Gazebo

Paul Mazzolini was born on February 18, 1960 in Beirut, Libanon as the son of an Italian diplomat and an American singer. He learned to play the guitar at 10 to impress a girl in his class.

He used the stage name Gazebo when he started his solo career in 1982. 'I like Chopin', released a year later, became an international success. The piano motif in the song is not a Chopin composition; actually the entire song was composed by Pierluigi Giombini. The single reached number 7 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 216
Found: Studio Echo, Den Haag, 1983
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'I like Chopin' / 'I like Chopin (instrumental)'

Words - F.R. David

F.R. David was born as Eli Robert Fitoussi on January 1, 1947 in Menzel Bourguiba, Tunisia.During the Seventies, he was a member of the French rock band Les Variations. After this, he went solo, always wearing his trademark sunglasses and a white Fender Stratocaster guitar.

His single 'Words', released in 1982, became his trademark song when it sold eight million copies worldwide. It peaked at number 2 in the UK singles chart and the Dutch Top 40. The song actually topped the charts in Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria and Norway.

My collection: 7" single no. 1767
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 20, 1992
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'Words' / 'When the sun goes down'

Your latest trick - Dire Straits

'Your latest trick' is a track from the classic Dire Straits album 'Brothers in arms'. It was released as a single in the UK, with all the royalties from the sale of the record donated to 'the hospitals for sick children'. Whether this helped a lot remains to be seen: the single peaked at number 26 in the UK singles chart, with only six weeks in the chart not one of the band's biggest hits.

The saxophone solo on the track was performed by Michael Brecker, an American jazz saxophonist who worked with many famous contemporaries including Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Chet Baker, George Benson, Quincy Jones and Pat Metheny.

My collection: 7" single no. 2205
Found: Record fair, October 9, 1994
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Your latest trick' / 'Irish boy', 'The road'

Blood on the dancefloor - Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson recorded 'Blood on the dancefloor' in 1991, during the sessions for his eighth album 'Dangerous'. The song was written by Michael Jackosn, but producer Teddy Riley came up with the title. It failed to make the final track listing of the album, but in 1997 it became the title track of Jackson's remix album, released after the double album 'History'.

Riley was reportedly upset that Jackson didn't call him to 'vacuum clean this old master'. Riley wanted to update the musical composition before it appeared on the remix album. The song was released as the first single from the album and reached number 42 in the US Billboard Hot 100. It was more successful in the UK, where the single topped the singles chart and in the Netherlands, where the single peaked at number 7.

Like 'History', which I found recently as well, this is a very rare single, released only for jukebox purposes, apparently.

My collection: 7" single no. 3853
Found: eBay.co.uk, received July 15, 2009
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'Blood on the dancefloor' / 'Blood on the dancefloor (Refugee Camp edit)'

More than one kind of love - Joan Armatrading

Around 1990 it happened regularly that I spotted a music video on one of the music channels (MTV Europe or Super Channel, the two that were most popular back then) and decided right away to buy the single. I happened by some interesting tracks that way.

I thought Joan Armatrading had long since stopped making music when I saw 'More than one kind of love' on television in 1990. I think the video was shown only once - at least, that I saw - and the success of the single wasn't great either: it reached number 75 during a one week run in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1257
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, September 5, 1990
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'More than one kind of love' / 'Love and affection (live)'

Go insane - Lindsey Buckingham

After ending his seven year relationship with Carol Ann Harris, Lindsey Buckingham released his second solo album 'Go insane'. The title track was released as a single, with a rather interesting music video to promote it.

The single became a modest hit, reaching number 23 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. However, the single did not chart in Europe.

My collection: 7" single no. 279
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Go insane' / 'Play in the rain'

Joey - Beverley Craven

Beverley Craven's later work would be the housewife's wet dream, as the lyrics were all about homely subjects: period pains, faithful wifes and of course... children. However, her second single 'Joey', which was still quite listenable, was an early sign of this danger: the song was about her dog.

The audiences in different countries were not amused, and so the single flopped mercilessly. It's a shame, because the B-side is actually one of the best songs of her career!

My collection: 7" single no. 1959
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 25, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Joey' / 'It doesn't have to end this way'

The worker - Fischer Z

The biggest hit by Fischer Z was 'The worker'. It peaked at number 53 in the UK singles chart and number 20 in the Dutch Top 40. The song was remixed for the single, putting the emphasis on the keyboard parts instead of the bass and guitar parts.

The song was one of the few singles during that time to go down in the charts after being featured in the BBC chart show 'Top of the pops'.

My collection: 7" single no. 845
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 27, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'The worker' / 'Kitten curry'

Wouldn't it be good - Nik Kershaw

'Wouldn't it be good' was released as the second single from Nik Kershaw's debut album 'Human racing' (1984). The single peaked at number 4 in the UK singles chart. In the Netherlands, the single reached number 24.

Kershaw performed the song live at Live Aid in July 1985. The song was covered by various acts including Placebo, Cascada and Soulwax.

My collection: 7" single no. 2762
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 29, 1996
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Wouldn't it be good' / 'Monkey business'

Uit vrije wil - Het Goede Doel

In 1988, the Dutch government launched an advertising campaign to stimulate the use of condoms. This was in the time when Aids was a relatively new phenomenon and safe sex was considered to be the only way to avoid an almost certain death. The campaign used the image of a bee and a flower, which was considered, shortly thereafter, a stupid move.

Be that as it may, the song 'Uit vrije wil' ('Free will') by Het Goede Doel tied in to the campaign, and was essentially a song about safe sex. The single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 635
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1988
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Uit vrije wil' / 'Uit vrije wil (instrumentaal)'

The days of Pearly Spencer - Marc Almond

Marc Almond recorded a cover version of David McWilliams' 1967 single 'The days of Pearly Spencer' on his 1992 album 'Tenement Symphony'. Unlike the original, this became a top 10 hit for Almond, peaking at number 4 in the UK singles chart. It would also prove to be Almond's last top 10 hit in the UK.

At the time of buying this single, I only knew the original version. I assumed that Marc Almond would do a decent job with his cover version. Fortunately, I was not wrong.

My collection: 7" single no. 1619
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, April 18, 1992
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'The days of Pearly Spencer' / 'Bruises'

Days of Pearly Spencer - David McWilliams

David McWilliams was born on July 4, 1945. He recorded his first single in 1966 and recorded three albums in two years. All three albums managed to reach the lower regions of the UK albums chart, but single success never followed.

Nonetheless, his 1967 single 'Days of Pearly Spencer' became a classic of its time. The lyric was inspired by the fate of a homeless friend of McWilliams. The single reached number 8 in the Dutch Top 40. McWilliams died of a heart attack at his home in Ballycastle, County Antrim in 2002, at the age of 56.

My collection: 7" single no. 1646
Found: May 3, 1992
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Days of Pearly Spencer' / 'Poverty street'

Master Blaster (Jammin') - Stevie Wonder

'Master Blaster (Jammin')' was released by Stevie Wonder in 1980, taken from his album 'Hotter than July'. The song, built on a heavy reggae rhythm, was an ode to reggae legend Bob Marley. Wonder had been performing with Marley a few times in concerts (and actually billed him as an opening act) on his US tour in the fall of the year.

'Master Blaster' became a major hit, reaching number 2 on the UK singles chart and the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1065
Found: London, October 18, 1989
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Master Blaster (Jammin')' / 'Master Blaster (dub)'

This corrosion - The Sisters of Mercy

'This corrosion' was the first single from the Sisters of Mercy's 1987 album 'Floodland'. The song was written by Andrew Eldritch. The lyric concerns the leaving of band members to form a new band, The Mission.

Produced by Jim Steinman, the track was constructed as a very impressive piece, incorporating a 40 piece orchestra, a choir, and lasting over ten minutes. For this single, the song was drastically edited. Peaking at number 7, the track became one of only two top 10 hit singles in the UK for the band.

My collection: 7" single no. 1964
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 25, 1993
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'This corrosion' / 'Torch'

Hora - Avi Toledano

Avi Toledano was born in Morocco on April 4, 1948. His music career in Israel in the Eighties seemed to revolve around the Eurovision Song Contest. In 1981 he sang 'Carneval' in the national final, reaching third place. In 1982 he won the national selection and represented Israel with 'Hora'. He finished in second place, although a considerable distance behind the German winner, Nicole.

In 1983 Toledano composed the song that represented Israel in Munich, 'Hi', performed by Ofra Haza. He also wrote Israel's 1986 song 'Lechaim', performed by Chaim Moshe. In 1989 Toledano performed in the Israeli final himself and took second place with the song 'Dayenu'.

My collection: 7" single no. 202
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Hora (English version)' / 'Hora (Hebrew version)'

Miami Vice theme - Jan Hammer

Jan Hammer was born on April 17, 1948 in Prague. After having been in several bands and returning to solo work every now and again, he finally hit the big time in 1985 after he composed the theme tune for the TV series 'Miami Vice'.

It was first heard by the public in September 1984 and released as a single in 1985, peaking at the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100. The single also peaked at number 5 in the UK singles chart and number 23 in the Dutch Top 40. In 1986, Hammer won Grammy Awards for Best Instrumental Composition and Best Pop Instrumental Performance.

My collection: 7" single no. 3315
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, March 24, 2001
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Miami Vice theme' / 'Miami Vice theme (TV version)', 'Miami Vice theme'

Girls and Cadillacs - Albert West

Released in 1980, I always interpreted Albert West's song 'Girls and Cadillacs' as the story of a fallen popstar. 'Goodbye to girls and Cadillacs / I had my share and I had a ball'. The sleeve was rather appropriate with all the carwrecks, but I did wonder where the girls were in that picture.

The single was Albert West's first hit since 'Listen' (1977), peaking at number 23 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 68
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1980
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Girls and Cadillacs' / 'Sunday rosas'

Weak in the presence of beauty - Floy Joy

'Floy Joy' is the name of a 1972 album by the Supremes. It's also the name of the band that debuted in 1986 with the single 'Weak in the presence of beauty'. This single did not chart, but when Alison Moyet recorded a version of that song, it shot to number 6 in the UK singles chart.

I bought two versions of the single: the regular German pressing pictured here and a limited edition UK single on which one side could be used as a mirror. Like the accompanying card says: 'You too can grow weak in the presence of beauty'!

My collection: 7" single no. 708
Found: December 22, 1988
Cost: 0,5 guilder
Tracks: 'Weak in the presence of beauty' / 'You and me'