Holding out for a hero - Bonnie Tyler

When you hear this song you will probably recognise the production values of Jim Steinman immediately: with its backing vocals and high speed music, it's an almost hysteric piece of music. 'Holding out for a hero' was originally released in 1984 and included on the soundtrack of the movie 'Footloose'. It later appeared on Tyler's 'Secret dreams and forbidden fire' album.

The single peaked at number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 34 in the US Billboard Hot 100. In the Netherlands, the single flopped mercilessly.

My collection: 7" single no. 3291
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Holding out for a hero' / 'Faster than the speed of night'

Crystal ball - Keane

Tim Rice-Oxley from Keane commented about 'Crystal ball': 'That was a really scary for me, because I've always had lots to say, and lots of opinions whether right or wrong. We then ended up having a massive row about something a couple of days later and it came out of that that we were all feeling this sense of numbness, this feeling of kinda fading away as people. I struggled to find one last song to complete the album, and found I could not write. I was left looking around song directories written by the sheer desperates of London, thus explaining how I discovered Crystal Ball...'

The track was released as the second single of Keane's second album 'Under the iron sea'. It reached number 20 in the Dutch Top 40 and the UK singles chart. This 7" single is a numbered limited edition; this is number 30.

My collection: 7" single no. 3490
Found: eBay.co.uk, received December 20, 2008
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Crystal ball' / 'Maybe I can change'

Love house - Samantha Fox

Honestly, I have no idea why I bought this single. It's a long time ago when I did. Even then, I was not impressed with the output of Page 3 girl Samantha Fox and house music in general. This track was produced by the Dutch brothers Bolland, but that in itself is no reason for me to buy a single - quite the contrary.

Mysteries have a right to survive, and so I won't guess any more. The only thing I do know that this single reached number 10 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 32 on the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2410
Found: Leiden, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Love house' / 'Don't cheat on me'

Cannonball - Supertramp

Without Roger Hodgson, but with a reputation that was very good, Supertramp soldiered on after 1983. Rick Davies took over lead vocals, and the 1985 album 'Brother where you bound' was promoted with the first single 'Cannonball'.

On the album and on thie 12" single, the track lasted for well over 7 minutes, whereas the 7" single contained an edit. Impressive also is the 10 minute instrumental version on the B-side of this 12" single.

My collection: 12" single no. 285
Found: Record Exchange, London, 1996
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Cannonball (Direct to disc version)' / 'Cannonball (instrumental)'

Heartbreaker - Dionne Warwick

When Barry Gibb is producing, or even co-producing, any song takes on a decidedly 'Bee Gees sound'. So when Dionne Warwick had her 1982 album 'Heartbreaker' co-produced by Gibb, it was almost as if she was doing backing vocals to Bee Gees tracks. Warwick later commented that she didn't like the album's title track, but recorded it because she trusted the judgement of the three Gibb brothers, who wrote the song, that it would be a hit.

And it was: Warwick reached the charts all over the world when 'Heartbreaker' was released as a single. It reached number 5 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 2 in the UK singles chart. Warwick commented: 'I cried all the way to the bank'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3088
Found: Record Exchange, London, May 12, 1999
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Heartbreaker' / 'I can't see anything but you'

Ever so lonely - Monsoon

To be honest, I'd completely forgotten that I owned this 12" single of 'Ever so lonely'. The single has been on this blog in an earlier entry. So when I was going through my 12 inch singles, I was pleasantly surprised.

This extended version of 'Ever so lonely' is made in the best of the Eighties traditions: it's just longer, it features a few extra instrumental and vocal passages, and no irritating beats and out of key synth loops. How refreshing!

My collection: 12" single no. 338
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 1998
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Ever so lonely (extended version)' / 'Sunset over the Ganges'

Mama - Zucchero

In 1990, the Italian singer Zucchero attempted to reach the charts outside of continental Europe, where he'd made a name for himself. In July 1990 he released 'Mama' in the UK, an English version of his 1989 European hit 'Madre dolcissima'. The single did not chart.

In 1991, he had more success, when he recorded a duet with Paul Young. Their track 'Senza una donna' became a top 10 hit in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 3060
Found: Record Exchange, London, May 9, 1999
Cost: 20p
Tracks: 'Mama' / 'Madre dolcissima'

You keep me hangin' on - Tata Vega

Tata Vega was born as Carmen Rosa Vega in New York on October 7, 1951. She began her singing career in 1963. She was cast in the Broadway production of the musical 'Hair', after which she joined the band Pollution and then the group Earthquire. Between 1976 and 1981, she released four solo albums on the Motown label.

In 1980, she released her version of the Supremes hit 'You keep me hangin' on'. It was a typical late Seventies disco version, which did not manage to chart outside of America. I bought this single because I am interested in every cover version of 'You keep me hangin' on'. I have to admit that I still like Kim Wilde's version best.

My collection: 7" single no. 3045
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, December 19, 1998
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'You keep me hangin' on' / 'You better watch out'

The sun ain't gonna shine anymore - The Walker Brothers

'The sun ain't gonna shine anymore' was written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio. It was originally released as a single by Frankie Valli in 1965. Although it was recorded with his group the Four Seasons, it was released as his first solo single in over a decade.

In 1966, the Walker Brothers released their cover version of the song. This version had a lot more success than Valli's original, reaching the singles charts all over the world. The single peaked at number 13 in the US Billboard Hot 100, number 9 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 1 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1071
Found: London, October 19, 1989
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'The sun ain't gonna shine anymore' / 'My ship is coming in'

Love scenes - Beverley Craven

Beverley Craven released her second album 'Love scenes' in 1993, after giving birth to her first daugher, Mollie. This experience ended up being part of the subject matter on that album, unfortunately, with the track 'Mollie's song' as the most unfortunate result.

The title track was released as the album's first single, and it was also the last single to be released on the 7" vinyl format. Subsequent singles 'Mollie's song' (yes, I couldn't believe it either) and 'The winner takes it all' (a cover of the Abba track) were only released on cd-single. 'Love scenes' reached number 34 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1996
Found: London, October 18, 1993
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Love scenes' / 'Blind faith'

This feeling - Sam Brown

'This feeling' was the third single taken from Sam Brown's debut album 'Stop!'. The track features a beautiful guitar solo by Pink Floyd's David Gilmour. 'This feeling' was remixed for the single, which in fact didn't really make it much better, but it was shorter and that was probably the most important thing for the record company.

It didn't help matters much: the single stalled at number 91 in the UK singles chart, although it did manage to reach number 28 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 691
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, October 1, 1988
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'This feeling' / 'Soldiers'

I should be so lucky - Kylie Minogue

I never shy away from a good debate, especially when it takes place on this blog. So when Jos asked me why in God's name I bought singles by Risqué, I can't help but reply (while of course respecting the fact that there is no accounting for tastes, indeed). Within my collection there are certainly some artistic highs and lows. I love the good, the bad and the ugly. But most of all, I like pop. And it's true, a lot of pop music is not sung by the ones on the sleeve (and when it is, it is usually 'polished' in the studio), the music comes from session musicians - but it is always produced well. Does it matter that the guys from Milli Vanilli or Boney M didn't sing their stuff themselves? I think not; 'Daddy cool' and 'Ma Baker' are still pop classics.

All this to conceal that I bought a lot of Kylie Minogue singles - after she became 'cool' when she started working with Manic Street Preachers in 1995. So did she sing this debut single herself? I think so - it sounds irritating enough. But look here: two decades on, she's a star. And she's already performed this very song in about ten different arrangements - including a ballad and a variety showband version. Creativity knows no boundaries.

My collection: 7" single no. 3316
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, March 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'I should be so lucky' / 'I should be so lucky (instrumental)'

Motorcycle emptiness - Manic Street Preachers

The Manic Street Preachers formed in 1986. Members were James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Sean Moore and Richey Edwards. Edwards mysteriously vanished on February 1, 1995. Nothing was ever heard from him again. To this day, it is still one of the big mysteries of rock.

Before all that, the band released their debut album 'Generation terrorists' in 1992. 'Motorcycle emptiness' was the fifth single taken from that album and it became the biggest hit, reaching number 17 in the UK singles chart and number 24 in the Dutch Top 40 - their first and only hit in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 1696
Found: Melody Maker, August 15, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Motorcycle emptiness' / 'Bored out of my mind'

Is there something I should know - Duran Duran

'Is there something I should know?' was recorded in December 1982 in London. It was released as a non-album single, although in the USA the track was added to the 1983 reissue of the band's debut album 'Duran Duran'.

In the UK, the single became the band's first number one hit. It reached number 4 in the US Billboard Hot 100 in August 1983. In the Dutch Top 40, the single reached number 14, their first hit in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 1806
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 9, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Is there something I should know?' / 'Faith in this colour'

Sylvia's mother - Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show

The lyric of the song 'Sylvia's mother' tells the story of a man trying to say one last goodbye to his ex-girlfriend but unable to get past her mother, who tries to interfere. It was released in 1972 by Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show, a band that would become one of the coolest bands of the Seventies - although in later decades they would come to represent everything that was reprehensable about that era.

'Sylvia's mother' was their first hit, reaching number 5 in the US Billboard Hot 100, number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 3 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 304
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 30, 1985
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Sylvia's mother' / 'Makin' it natural'

Monkey - George Michael

Released in the summer of 1988, 'Monkey' was the fifth single taken from George Michael's debut solo album 'Faith'. The single version was remixed by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who at the time were very successful with Janet Jackson's 'Control' album and its singles. Compared to the album version, the track sounded a lot livelier and 'fuller'.

In the US, this single was George Michael's fourth consecutive number 1 hit, joining the likes of Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston as three artists that all had four or more number one hits from one album. In the UK, the single was less successful, peaking at number 13, whereas in the Netherlands it reached number 6. At the time of release, I only bought the cd-single, but in 1995 I corrected this painful mistake and still got the 7" single.

My collection: 7" single no. 2488
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 30, 1995
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'Monkey' / 'Monkey (Acapella)'

Golden brown - The Stranglers

According to Hugh Cornwell from the Stranglers, ''Golden Brown' works on two levels. It's about heroin and also about a girl'. Essentially the lyrics describe how 'both provided me with pleasurable times'. In an other interview drummer Jet Black quipped it was a song about Marmite. Even if harddrugs aren't your thing, this song is still worth listening to.

Released in December 1981, the single reached number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 8 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2586
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 23, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Golden brown' / 'Love 30'

Be my baby - Vanessa Paradis

In 1992 Vanessa Paradis moved to the United States, aged just 20. For some time, she was romantically linked with Lenny Kravitz, who also produced her first English language album, also released in 1992.

The album topped the French album chart and even reached number 45 in the UK albums chart. The first single taken from the album was the retro-sounding 'Be my baby', which made number 5 in France, number 6 in the UK singles chart and number 7 in the Dutch Top 40 - her only top 10 hit in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 1746
Found: HMV, London, October 19, 1992
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Be my baby' / 'The future song'

Wild horses - Gino Vannelli

Gino Vannelli sounds a lot like a crooner on this song, although 'Wild horses' is very much an eighties production. The single was taken from his 1987 album 'Big dreamers never sleep'. It was his last hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 7 in May 1987.

I'd all but forgotten this single when I suddenly heard it again sometime in 1991. I thought it was really very good and started hunting. Within a couple of weeks, I'd found my copy.

My collection: 7" single no. 1409
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, April 3, 1991
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Wild horses' / 'Shape me like a man'

Is dit nou later - Stef Bos

Stef Bos was born in Veenendaal, the Netherlands on July 12, 1961. He moved to Antwerp, Belgium in 1984 and has been living there ever since. After working with Ingeborg on her 1989 Eurovision Song Contest entry 'Door de wind', he released his debut solo album 'Is dit nu later' ('So is this later') in 1990. The title track was his debut single.

The lyric of the song is based on the idea that children are promised that the world is at their feet later, when they're all grown up. The singer states that his diploma is full of lies, stating that he's an adult who knows the truth, when in reality he doesn't understand life at all. There's an anger in this song that I've always been able to relate to very well.

My collection: 7" single no. 1908
Found: Groningen, May 15, 1993
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Is dit nou later' / 'M'n hart gevolgd'