I won't let the sun go down - Nik Kershaw

'I won't let the sun go down on me' is a track from Nik Kershaw's debut album 'Human racing', and released as the fourth single from that album. Written during the last few years of the cold war period, when a nuclear threat was imminent, Kershaw wrote a lyric like 'forefinger on the button, is he blue or is he red?'.

Upon its first release, the single reached number 47 in the UK singles chart. After 'Wouldn't it be good' reached the top 5, the single was re-released and reached number 2 on this occasion. In the Netherlands, the single reached number 6 after that.

I have two versions of the single: one in a 'blue' sleeve, which according to a fan is a rare item, because he never saw this sleeve before, and another one in a limited edition postersleeve.

My collection: 7" single no. 1062 ('blue' sleeve)
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 18, 1989
Cost: 1 pound
My collection: 7" single no. 2496 (postersleeve)
Found: London, October 30, 199
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'I won't let the sun go down' / 'Dark glasses'

More than a feeling - Boston

The American rock band Boston released their self-titled debut album in 1976. It was an instant success. The album's biggest hit was 'More than a feeling', a song that has since become a rock classic. The song took writer Tom Scholz five years to complete. He cited 'Walk away Renee' by the Left Banke as the song's main inspiration.

'More than a feeling' reached number 22 in the UK singles chart and number 11 in the Dutch Top 40. This single is a re-release, also featuring the later hit 'Don't look back'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1369
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, January 3, 1991
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'More than a feeling' / 'Don't look back'

Sign of the times - Belle Stars

Only this year I bought the 12" single of 'Sign of the times' by the Belle Stars, but I've had the 7" single for years. I bought my copy during a holiday in London 16 years ago - and then again a few years later as I'd forgotten I already had it.

The song borrows loosely from Sixties Motown tracks, but sounds very Eighties production-wise. The single peaked at number 3 in the UK and the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 2025
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 19, 1993
Cost: 80p
Tracks: 'Sign of the times' / 'Madness'

Atlantic - Keane

'Atlantic' is a track from Keane's second album 'Under the iron sea', released in 2006. This one-sided vinyl 7" single was released in a numbered limited edition of 1000 copies (this is number 34) in a boxed set together with the first single taken from that album, 'Is it any wonder'. 'Atlantic' was promoted with a music video before the album was released, but it wasn't released as a single commercially.

My collection: 7" single no. 3489
Found: eBay.co.uk, received December 20, 2008
Cost: 4 pounds
Tracks: 'Atlantic'

Malaika - Boney M

Malaika means 'Angel' in Swahili. The song was first recorded by Kenyan musician Fadhili William and his band Jambo Boys in 1960. In 1981, the song was covered by Boney M for their album 'Boonoonoonoos'. The single reached number 13 in the German charts and number 20 in the Dutch Top 40.

These lower placings were a first sign of Boney M's popularity decreasing. In the Netherlands, they would never reach the top 20 again (except for a Megamix released in 1993, which reached number 13).

My collection: 7" single no. 86
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1981
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Malaika' / 'Consuela Biaz'

Tainted love 91 - Soft Cell

In 1991, the compilation album 'Memorabilia' was released, featuring the biggest hits by Soft Cell and Marc Almond. There was one problem: some of the tracks were remixes and re-recordings. Soft Cell's 'Tainted love', for instance, was slightly remixed - a version that would later reappear on less well documented Eighties compilation albums.

This 91 version of 'Tainted love' still became a hit in the UK, peaking at number 5, whereas the original version had been a charttopper.

My collection: 7" single no. 3312
Found: Record fair, February 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Tainted love 91' / 'Where the heart is'

Find a way - Amy Grant

Amy Grant had just earned the title 'Queen of Christian Pop' in her native USA when she changed direction and started recording secular albums. She wanted to become as successful in the mainstream as she had been in Christian circles. Her 1985 album 'Unguarded' was an album not very different from other artists production-wise, but the fact that her lyrics were no longer riddled with references to Jesus, God and the Bible shocked her fanbase.

'Find a way' was a single from this album and it became a hit in America. She didn't cross over to Europe yet (it would take her a few more years to do that), but this single is a promotional copy made in England. Proof that A&M Records were already trying hard to try and make her a star in the UK too.

My collection: 7" single no. 2396
Found: London, July 6, 1995
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Find a way' / 'It's not a song'

Hello - The Beloved

Taken from their 1990 album 'Happiness', 'Hello' was the second hit single for the Beloved, peaking at number 19 in the UK singles chart. It was released in a limited edition 7" single box set, including three square postcards.

As well as the names of some the band members' friends, the song mentions a number of famous people, chosen to loosely fit a "saints and sinners" theme. In alphabetical order, the people listed in the song are: Jeffrey Archer (politician and novelist), Fred Astaire, Bobby Ball (comedian), Charlie Brown, Tommy Cannon (comedian), Billy Corkhill (soap opera character), Leslie Crowther (TV presenter), "Freddie" Flintstone, Paris Grey (singer), Brian Hayes (broadcaster), Vince Hilaire (footballer), Barry Humphries, The LSO, Kym Mazelle (singer), Mork and Mindy, Little Nell, Charlie Parker, Andre Previn, Little Richard, Salman Rushdie, Jean Paul Sartre, The Supremes ("Mary Wilson, Di and Flo"), William Tell, Sir Bufton Tufton, Desmond Tutu, Willy Wonka, Zippy and Bungle (TV characters). There are also references to "Peter" and "Paul", presumably the Christian apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Kym Mazelle, who's mentioned in the song, actually sings backing vocals on it.

My collection: 7" single no. 2771
Found: London, October 30, 1996
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Hello' / 'Hello (Dolly)'

Crackers International EP - Erasure

In November 1988, Erasure released 'Crackers International', an EP with four self-produced tracks. 'Stop' was the lead track of the EP, with 'She won't be home' pushing the Christmas theme for the end of the year.

In the UK singles chart, the EP equalled the success of their biggest hit to date, 'Sometimes', reaching number 2. In the rest of Europe, the EP did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2559
Found: Record fair, November 19, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Stop', 'The hardest part' / 'Knocking on your door', 'She won't be home'

Pictures of you - The Cure

'Pictures of you' was released in two versions, and this version was pressed on purple vinyl. The B-side was a live track on both singles, recorded live at Wembley in London in July 1989. Further live tracks from this gig appeared on the cd-single of the track.

The single peaked at number 24 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1201
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, March 30, 1990
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Pictures of you (remix)' / 'Prayers for rain (live)'

Pictures of you - The Cure

'Pictures of you' was a track on the Cure's 1989 album 'Disintegration'. Clocking in at 7'24 minutes, the track was remixed and edited for the single release in 1990, lasting just 4'48 minutes.

According to interviews, the inspiration of the song came when a fire broke loose in Robert Smith's home. After that day, Robert was going through the remains and came across his wallet which had pictures of his wife, Mary. The cover of the single is one of the pictures. The single was released in two versions. This one is pressed on green vinyl.

My collection: 7" single no. 1209
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, April 14, 1990
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Pictures of you (remix)' / 'Last dance (live)'

This is the day - The The

Early 12" singles by The The were selling for anything upwards of 20 pounds circa 1990. Although I was an avid collector of the band's work, I never shelled out that much money for their records. And now it turns out I was right. Somewhere in a dark corner of a Dutch record shop, this disc suddenly popped up in front of me. I knew instinctively I had to have this - even if my 12" collection is not growing so fast anymore.

The The released a collector's edition of their greatest hits album '45 rpm: volume 1' (By the way, where is volume 2?) in 2002, with disc 2 containing some extended versions. This extended version is missing from that disc. And so I'm very happy to have finally caught this one. And cheaply, too!

My collection: 12" single no. 503
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, July 20, 2009
Cost: 2,5 euro
Tracks: 'This is the day (extended version)' / 'I've been waiting for tomorrow (all of my life) (Special mix)'

In private - Dusty Springfield

Dusty Springfield released 'In private' in late 1989. Just like her previous two hits, the track was produced by the Pet Shop Boys, who had a big hand in her glorious comeback in 1987. 'In private' appeared on Springfield's 1990 album 'Reputation'.

The single reached number 9 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 14 in the UK singles chart. Although she released a handful of further singles, Dusty Springfield would never break the top 20 in the UK again.

My collection: 7" single no. 1155
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, January 30, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'In private' / 'In private (instrumental)'

Help me make it through the night - Gladys Knight and the Pips

During live performances artists have a tendency to speak with their audiences, introducing songs and such. It is a rare thing when this happens on a record, but that's exactly what happens here: Gladys Knight speaks about 'hearing a beautiful song that expresses that feeling of loneliness'.

'Help me make it through the night' was written by Kris Kristofferson for his 1970 album 'Kristofferson'. Gladys Knight & the Pips recorded their cover version in 1972. It peaked at number 11 in the UK singles chart that summer. My copy of the single is an original UK pressing, although the center has been punched out and it comes in a mutilated custom white paper sleeve.

My collection: 7" single no. 1061
Found: London, October 18, 1989
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Help me make it through the night' / 'If you gonna leave (just leave)'

Stay the night - Ghosts

I've had one single of 'Stay the night' for some time now, but since there were two different versions, I was still looking for the other one. Last week, I managed to find it in an online shop, and I ordered it along with a few other recent singles. When I received the package, it contained the single in the version I already had! But one e-mail sufficed to correct this error. So many thanks to the online shop.

This version of the single was pressed on light blue vinyl and contains two nice tracks. The B-side is an interesting instrumental track.

My collection: 7" single no. 3905
Found: 7inchsingles.nl, received July 27, 2009
Cost: 4 euro
Tracks: 'Stay the night' / 'Dark at 4'

Love... thy will be done - Martika

Martika was contacted by Prince after her debut album 'Martika' was a success. She agreed to become one of his protégées, and they wrote the song 'Love... thy will be done' together. It was another hit for the American singer.

The single became her last top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at number 9, and also reached the lower regions of the Dutch Top 40, peaking at number 30.

My collection: 7" single no. 1516
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, September 20, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Love... thy will be done' / 'Mi Tierra'

Hold on to love - Patty Brard

Patty Brard's career in music started promising with this debut single, 'Hold on to love', the first single drawn from her debut solo album 'All this way'. Released in January 1981, the single peaked at number 19 in the Dutch Top 40.

After this, things went quickly downhill. Despite releasing a handful of singles from three different solo albums, she never reached the chart anymore. Her career led her towards producing magazines, television programmes and reforming with her old band, Luv'.

My collection: 7" single no. 94
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1981
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Hold on to love' / 'Love keeps knockin''

Cokane in my brain - Dillinger

Dillinger was born as Lester Bullock on June 25, 1953 in Kingston, Jamaica. In the Seventies he started working with producer Lee 'Scratch' Perry, who suggested his stage name, after gangster John Dillinger.

In 1977, he recorded 'Cokane in my brain', a track that relied heavily on the main tune from 'Do it anyway you wanna' by The People's Choice. It became a number 1 hit in the Netherlands, where Dillinger was hyped somewhat by the weekly Hitkrant publication. They published stories like 'Does Dillinger even exist?' when he didn't turn up for a TV performance. Dutch artist Dingetje recorded a parody of this song, entitled 'Ik ga weg Leen'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2141
Found: White noise, Utrecht, August 2, 1994
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Cokane in my brain' / 'Power bank'

The look of love 1990 mix - ABC

Here's another ill-advised remix version of a classic. When ABC released their compilation album 'Absolutely' in 1990, the record company decided to promote it with a so-called '1990 mix' of 'The look of love', one of the band's biggest and most cherished hits from 1982. The track sounded very 1990, but it also sounded very crap, unfortunately.

This single was rewarded appropriately with a one week chart run at number 68 in the UK singles chart. Some would say this was even too much, but you know... a fan has to have everything. Even crap singles.

My collection: 7" single no. 2748
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 28, 1996
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'The look of love 1990 mix' / 'Ocean blue'

Marilyn et John - Vanessa Paradis

'Marilyn & John' was the title track from Vanessa Paradis's 1987 debut album 'M&J', and one of the strongest tracks on the album. Sounding very unlike the debut single 'Joe le taxi', it was a hit in France but didn't reach the charts outside of France like the debut single had.

I got to know the track because I'd bought the album some time before. And as usual, when I like an album I have to have the accompanying singles as well... It's a strange habit but someone's got to do it.

My collection: 7" single no. 2224
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 17, 1994
Cost: 4 guilders
Tracks: 'Marilyn & John' / 'Soldat'