Wild world - Jimmy Cliff

'Wild world' was originally written by Cat Stevens (as advertised on the sleeve of this single). He recorded it on his fourth album 'Tea for the Tillerman' in 1970.

Jimmy Cliff's version, released a few months before Stevens released the original version, reached number 8 on the UK Singles Chart. Surprisingly, Stevens' version was not released as a single in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 1845
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 23, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Wild world' / 'Be aware'

Pictures of matchstick men - Status Quo

The Spectres, the Scorpions and Traffic: these three band names all preceded the name Status Quo between 1962 and 1967. The core of the band was eventually formed by Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt, who continued to work together after meeting in 1964. When they decided to call themselves Status Quo and signed a record deal with PYE records, their debut album 'Picturesque Matchstickable Messages from the Status Quo' was released in 1968.

'Pictures of matchstick men' became the band's first hit, peaking at number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the Dutch top 40. The B-side on this re-release 7" single is their next hit, 'Ice in the sun', which was written by Marty Wilde (Kim's father). That one reached number 8 in the UK and number 24 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2932
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 17, 1998
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Pictures of matchstick men' / 'Ice in the sun'

Davy's on the road again - Manfred Mann's Earth Band

Manfred Mann founded his Earth Band in 1971. Members of the band were Mick Rogers, Noel McCalla, Geoff Dunn and Steve Kinch. Mann wanted to move away from the strict three minute pop song format that was the rule in his previous band, simply called Manfred Mann.

Their 1978 album 'Watch' featured the hit single 'Davy's on the road again'. It was the band's last top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at number 6, whereas in the Netherlands it was the band's second and last hit overall, peaking at number 15.

My collection: 7" single no. 1843
Found: January 23, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Davy's on the road again' / 'Bouillabaisse'

Misfit - Curiosity killed the cat

Curiosity killed the cat first came to public attention when they had Andy Warhol in the video for their 1986 single 'Misfit'. Warhol referenced Bob Dylan's 'Subterranean homesick blues' music video by dropping piece of white card in time to the music.

While not a hit at first, it was re-released in 1987 and reached number 7 in the UK singles chart on that occasion. This limited edition release with a 44 inch foldout sleeve may have helped in reaching that position; it's quite a great item.

My collection: 7" single no. 2615
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, February 10, 1996
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Misfit' / 'Man'

Marc Anthony's tune - Tyka Nelson

Tyka Nelson is the sister of Prince Roger Nelson, the artist formerly known as Prince (Or is it currently? I don't know anymore...). She recorded an album called 'A brand new me' in 1988 and this single was taken from that album.

It was often played on Dutch radio back then, but the single did not chart. Her career never really took off either, despite her famous family member.

My collection: 7" single no. 973
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 29, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Marc Anthony's tune' / 'Be good to me'

Peter Gunn (live) - Emerson Lake and Palmer

Peter Gunn is an American private eye television series which aired on American television networks between 1958 and 1961. The innovative jazz theme was composed by Henry Mancini and his orchestra. A hip, bluesy, brassy number with an insistent piano-and-bass line, the song became an instant hit for Mancini, earning him an Emmy Award and two Grammys

The Peter Gunn theme has been covered by numerous jazz, blues, and rock artists since, including Emerson Lake & Palmer. Their live performance of the theme was included on their 1979 album 'In concert' and released as a single. While not a hit, it became one of my favourite tracks of 1980.

My collection: 7" single no. 2052
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, November 20, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Peter Gunn (live)' / 'Knife-edge (live)'

Dusk till dawn - Ladyhawke

'Dusk till dawn' is another single by New Zealand pop artist Ladyhawke. Pressed on heavy white vinyl, it is a beautiful collectors item. The track itself is not as catchy as 'My delirium', but it's still a slice of modern synthpop.

Released in the autumn of 2008, the single peaked at number 78 in the UK singles chart, but did not chart in other territories.

My collection: 7" single no. 3904
Found: 7inchsingles.nl, received July 24 ,2009
Cost: 4 euro
Tracks: 'Dusk till dawn' / 'Danny and Jenny'

Lifesaver - Emiliana Torrini

Emiliana Torrini's 2005 album 'Fisherman's woman' was woven through with the memory of her boyfriend, who was killed in a car accident in the early Noughties. It is evident in the two tracks on this single, the first one to be lifted from the album: 'Lifesaver' and 'Serenade': two slightly melancholy tracks which are, like most of the album, acoustically-based.

This single release is a special item as well: not only does it come in a numbered limited edition (this is number 96 of 1250 copies), but it has a signed inner sleeve and the resealable plastic sleeve contains a small leaf that is part of the artwork. Here's hoping the leaf won't disintegrate before I die.

My collection: 7" single no. 3900
Found: 7inchsingles.nl, received July 24, 2009
Cost: 9 euro
Tracks: 'Lifesaver' / 'Serenade'

What! - Soft Cell

While Soft Cell only had one hit in the USA with 'Tainted love', several other singles were also released across the Atlantic. This single is living proof: it's the American pressing of 'What!', featuring a different B-side than its UK counterpart.

'What!' peaked at number 3 in the UK singles chart and number 6 in Ireland, but did not chart in other territories.

My collection: 7" single no. 1752
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 19, 1992
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'What!' / 'Memorabilia'

Room in your heart - Living in a box

Living in a box released their second album 'Gatecrashing' in 1989. From this album, they released 'Room in your heart'. It was the first time the group released a ballad as a single.

The single was a big success: it was the first time they equalled the success of their debut single, 'Living in a box', which also reached number 5 in the UK singles chart. In the Netherlands, the same happened, as both singles peaked at number 10.

My collection: 7" single no. 1111
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, November 17, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Room in your heart' / 'When push comes to shove'

Eagle / Thank you for the music - Abba

Released as a double A-side, 'Eagle' and 'Thank you for the music' got equal attention at its release, but in later years, it's 'Thank you for the music' that has become an Abba classic, and not 'Eagle'. I don't really understand. While 'Thank you for the music' certainly has a universal appeal, 'Eagle' comes with a much better production and sound overall.

The single became a number 1 hit in Belgium, but peaked lower in all other countries. In the Netherlands it made number 4, while in the UK it was not released. I got my copy from my sister as a result of a swap. I do not recall which single I swapped but I do know it was an improvement.

My collection: 7" single no. 18
Found: Den Haag
Cost: -
Tracks: 'Eagle' / 'Thank you for the music'

House of Salome - Kim Wilde

I knew nothing about this single when I bought it. I had the album 'Catch as catch can', which it was taken from, but I didn't know it was released, and for some time I wondered why. As it turns out, 'House of Salome' was released as a single by RAK Records shortly before Kim's contract with them expired. Hence, she did not do any promotion for it, there was no music video, and the single sunk without a trace.

I found my copy in early 1985, a year after its release. It's one of the standout tracks from Kim's 1983 album, and the sleeve is a gem too; a stunning photograph that has never been used before or since.

My collection: 7" single no. 284
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'House of Salome' / 'Sing it out for love'

Strange way - All about Eve

The release of 'Strange way', the second single from All about Eve's 1991 album 'Touched by Jesus' was promoted by the record company with a special promotional 7" single, featuring the full lengh track and a radio edit of the track.

It wasn't a very high profile promotional disc, in a custom black sleeve and a small info sticker at the front. But since these promotional items are collectable anyway and the radio edit never surfaced on any other disc, I'm glad I got hold of this item.

My collection: 7" single no. 1882
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, April 24, 1993
Cost: 7 guilders
Tracks: 'Strange way (radio edit)' / 'Strange way (full version)'

How can I fall - Breathe

Released as the second single from Breathe's debut album 'All that jazz', 'How can I fall' was a beautiful ballad, which peaked at number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 48 in the UK singles chart. In the Netherlands, the single reached number 23.

It was released in a limited edition containing a 1989 calendar. The gatefold sleeve could be made to stand up in a triangle, to be used as a desk calendar all year.

My collection: 7" single no. 3189
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 16, 2000
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'How can I fall' / 'All this I should have known'

Pas pour moi - Daniela Simons

Daniela Simons represented Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest 1986 in Bergen with the song 'Pas pour moi'. The song finished second behind Belgium's entry. Simons had made previous attempts to represent Switzerland. In 1983 she came last in the national selection with 'Dis moi tout'. She took second place in 1985 with 'Repars a zero'.

On this single, the B-side is an English version of 'Pas pour moi'. I liked the song, but only bought it because I found it in a discount bin years later.

My collection: 7" single no. 1909
Found: Plaatboef, Leiden, May 19, 1993
Cost: 0,5 guilder
Tracks: 'pas pour moi' / 'Candlelight'

Controversy - Prince

'Controversy' was originally released in 1981 as a single from Prince's album of the same name. The song addresses certain rumours about him, particularly rumours about his sexual preference, and how he couldn't understand why people were even interested in such facts. On its original release, the single charted in the US and Australia only.

When the record company released a compilation album in 1993, 'Controversy' was re-released in the UK. Besides a double cd-single release, this picture disc was also available. This time around, the single peaked at number 5 in the UK, Prince's first top 10 hit in that country since 'My name is Prince' a year before.

My collection: 7" single no. 2653
Found: June 29, 1996
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Controversy' / 'The future (remix)'

Heaven can wait - Sandra

After Sandra and Michael Cretu married on January 7, 1988, they went right back into it and released Sandra's third album 'Into a secret land'. Four singles were taken from the album, of which 'Heaven can wait' was the first.

Sales for the single were very good in Israel, where it reached number 2, and Austria, where the single reached number 4. In her native Germany, the single peaked at number 12.

My collection: 7" single no. 1923
Found: Record fair, June 5, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Heaven can wait' / 'Heaven's theme'

A whiter shade of pale - Procol Harum

'A whiter shade of pale' is one of those songs that have been universally accepted as a true classic. The Hammond organ line was inspired by Johann Sebastian Bach's 'Sleepers awake' and 'Air on a G String', but contrary to popular belief, the song is not a direct copy or paraphrase of any music by Bach, although it makes clear references to both pieces.

The song reached number 1 in several countries, including the UK and the Netherlands, when released in 1967. Written by Gary Brooker, Matthew Fisher and Keith Reid, the latter commented that he got the idea for the title when it came to him at a party, which gave him a starting point for the song.

My collection: 7" single no. 330
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'A whiter shade of pale' / 'Conquistador'

Early morning - A-ha

I wasn't very impressed with the third single off A-ha's 1990 album 'East of the sun west of the moon'. It was 'Early morning', a track that didn't stand out in any way. What's more, it didn't come with any interesting remixes, B-sides or somesuch. However, there was one interesting thing after all: in the UK, the record company released a limited edition 7" box set, which included three postcards and a tourpass. I am a sucker for extras and limited editions, so obviously I went for it.

The single was not a big success, stalling at number 78 in the UK singles chart. It was the last single to be released from the album.

My collection: 7" single no. 2929
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 17, 1998
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Early morning' / 'East of the sun'

Heartstopper - Emiliana Torrini

Emiliana Torrini was born on May 16, 1977 in Kópavogur, Iceland, where she went to opera school. Between 1994 and 1996 she released three albums in her native country. International recognition followed when Roland Orzabal from Tears for fears produced her first international album 'Love in the time of science'.

She followed up the album with the more acoustically based 'Fisherman's woman' in 2005. 'Heartstopper' was the second single from that album, which, like the first single 'Sunnyroad', did not chart. Too beautiful, I guess.

My collection: 7" single no. 3901
Found: 7inchsingles.nl, received July 24, 2009
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'Heartstopper (Radiofied version)' / 'Thinking out loud (Extended Horn section version)'