Rosanna - Toto

'Rosanna' may well be one of the era-defining tracks of the Eighties. The instantly recognisable Toto track was written by the band's primary songwriter, David Paich. Many people think the song is about Rosanna Arquette, who at the time had a troublesome relationship with band member Steve Porcaro. The title was actually just coincidential: Paich needed a name to fit well into the chorus.

The single peaked at number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 3 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 12 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2429
Found: August 19, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Rosanna' / 'It's a feeling'

Another way to die - Jack White and Alicia Keys

A lot of care went into the James Bond themes in the early days. And I have to say, the quality was still there in the Nineties, although some of the tracks released in the Eighties and Nineties relied on cliche a little too much. But with the latest Bond movie, 'Quantum of solace', nothing really is Bond anymore - and the theme song went the same way.

'Another way to die', performed by Jack White and Alicia Keys, sounds like a hastily compiled demo, in which the writer, Jack White, forgot to include a melody and a comprehensible song structure. On the plus side: it's the first time since Madonna's 'Die another day' that the Bond theme appeared on the 7" vinyl format again and it is pressed on semi-gold coloured vinyl.

My collection: 7" single no. 3576
Found: eBay.co.uk, received February 2, 2009
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Another way to die' / 'Another way to die (instrumental)'

Run to the sun - Erasure

'Run to the sun' was the second single from Erasure's sixth studio album 'I say I say I say', released in July 1994. It was the last single by Erasure to be released on the 7" single format in the UK in the Nineties. It was pressed on yellow vinyl and came with a free full colour poster.

The single peaked at number 6 in the UK singles chart. The single's B-side, a ballad entitled 'Tenderest moments', is a fan favorite and was later re-recorded by Erasure in an acoustic version for their 2006 album 'Union Street'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2156
Found: September 3, 1994
Cost: ?
Tracks: 'Run to the sun' / 'Tenderest moments', 'Run to the sun (Beatmasters' Intergalactic mix)

Walking on thin ice - Yoko Ono

I'll have to give full credit to Puck for introducing me to this song. I don't know exactly when, but it may well have been when the remixes of this track were released in 2003. Somehow I managed to miss this track when it was first released in 1981 - although it did not chart in the Netherlands.

Yoko Ono released this single, like the sleeve states, 'For John'. The lyrics talk of the unpredictability of life and death - of 'throwing the dice in the air' - and reach the conclusion, 'when our hearts return to ashes, it will be just a story...'. With the world in shock of John Lennon's death just two months before the released of this single in February 1981, a new poignancy was added to the already haunting yet highly danceable track.

My collection: 7" single no. 4061
Found: eBay.com, received September 23, 2009
Cost: $4
Tracks: 'Walking on thin ice' / 'It happened'

You want this - Janet Jackson

Released in October 1994, 'You want this' was the seventh and final single taken from Janet Jackson's album 'Janet'. While most previous singles were released on the 7" format in the UK, this one wasn't. This is an American pressing meant, as the label states, for jukeboxes only.

The track features samples from the Supremes' 1968 song 'Love child' and Kool & the Gang's 1973 song 'Jungle boogie'. The single reached number 14 in the UK singles chart and number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4058
Found: eBay.com, received September 23, 2009
Cost: $4
Track: 'You want this' / 'New agenda'

Tokyo - Athlete

'Tokyo' was the second single from Athlete's third album 'Beyond the neighbourhood'. While the cd-single contained four live tracks (including 'Tokyo' itself), this 7" single featured the album version of 'Tokyo' and an exclusive B-side track.

Released in November 2007, the single did not reach the UK top 100, partly due to lack of promotion and the fact that the cd-single EP sales were discounted as a result of UK chart rules.

My collection: 7" single no. 4057
Found: Recordstore.co.uk, received September 23, 2009
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Tokyo' / 'Accidents happen'

22 - Lily Allen

'22' is the latest single by Lily Allen, released just last month. The title of the song is slightly misleading, since it is about a nearly thirty-year-old woman realizing she's at the end of her prime. Lily commented on the song: 'It's more about girls that haven't figured out what they want to do with themselves. Especially really pretty girls. They can rely on their looks to an extent: people will pay for their dinners and drinks and they don't really have to think. And then suddenly it hits them that they're not doing anything with their lives and it's too late. And, yes, it's about a specific person. Most of my songs start like that and then become more general.'

The single was released, like the two previous ones, as a 7" picture disc. It peaked at number 14 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4056
Found: Recordstore.co.uk, received September 23, 2009
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: '22' / '22 (The Big Pink Remix)'

Gulliver - Angelo Branduardi

Angelo Branduardi was born on February 12, 1950 in Cuggiono, a small town in the provence of Milan, Italy. His debut album was released in 1974.

Six years later, Branduardi had his first Europe-wide hit with 'Gulliver', a beautiful melodious track incorporating Renaissance and Baroque music. The single did not chart in the Netherlands, but it was a radio hit at the time.

My collection: 7" single no. 1122
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, December 1, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Gulliver' / 'La luna'

Shapes that go together - A-ha

The last single by A-ha for a long time was 'Shapes that go together', released in 1994. The title was rather ironic, given that there was a significant amount of discord between the band members at the time of the song's release.

This single was the official song of the Paralympics '94 which were held at Lillehammer, Norway. That country was also the only territory where this single was a significant commercial success, peaking at number 5 in the chart. Furthermore, it reached number 27 in the UK and number 57 in Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 2101
Found: Melody Maker, May 15, 1994
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Shapes that go together' / 'Cold as stone (remix)'

Stool pigeon - Kid Creole and the Coconuts

An informant (known in law enforcement as a criminal informant or C.I.) is someone who provides privileged information about a person or organization to an agency, usually law enforcement, without the consent of that person or organization. In slang, such persons are referred to as 'rats' or 'stool pigeons'.

And that's the title of this era-defining song by Kid Creole and the Coconuts. With latin sounds and a rather wordy lyric, they set the charts alight in 1982. The single reached number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 17 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2824
Found: February 1, 1997
Cost: ?
Tracks: 'Stool pigeon' / 'In the jungle (remix)'

Avalon - Roxy Music

'Avalon' was the second single from Roxy Music's 1982 album of the same name. Produced by Rhett Davies and the band, it became one of the band's signature songs. The single reached number 3 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 13 in the UK singles chart.

The album 'Avalon' was listed as number 307 in the Rolling Stone magazine's list of 500 greatest albums of all time in 2003. I always wonder how they make these lists...

My collection: 7" single no. 1753
Found: London, October 19, 1992
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Avalon' / 'Always unknowing'

I'm only shooting love - Time bandits

In October 1983, the Dutch band Time Bandits had their fourth top 10 hit in the Netherlands with 'I'm only shooting love'. It peaked at number 6 as a result of almost continuous airplay. So much so, that for a long while I couldn't stand hearing the song.

I finally relented in 1989 when I saw this limited poster sleeve edition of the single. As a collector of rare items, I couldn't pass this one up. Nowadays it's sheer nostalgia to hear the falsetto voice of lead singer Alides Hidding on this track.

My collection: 7" single no. 888
Found: All that music, Leiden, June 16, 1989
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'I'm only shooting love' / 'Only lovers will survive'

Survive - David Bowie

'Survive' is a track from David Bowie's 1999 album 'Hours'. It was written by Bowie and Reeves Gabrels and released as the second single from the album. While the album version is a beautiful track, the Marius de Vries mix featured on this single ruins the track somewhat.

Much to my surprise I found out that this single was actually released on the 7" format, and as a picture disc, no less, in 2000. I'm always glad to find 7" singles from around that time, because the format had been almost completely abandoned by then.

My collection: 7" single no. 4055
Found: eBay.nl, received September 22, 2009
Cost: 8 euro
Tracks: 'Survive (Marius de Vries mix)' / 'Seven (live)'

Love comes - Bananarama

Disc two features Keren Woodward on the picture disc and the B-side 'Voyage voyage', originally performed by Desireless. The tracks were all produced by Ian Masterson, who previously had success as part of the remix team Trouser Enthusiasts, producer of Dannii Minogue and also producing Kim Wilde's surprise hit 'Loved' in 2001.

'Love comes' is a track from Bananarama's latest album 'Viva', released last week.

My collection: 7" single no. 4054
Found: Townsend Records, UK, received September 22, 2009
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Love comes (radio edit)' / 'Voyage voyage'

Love comes - Bananarama

'Love comes' is the brand new single by Bananarama, released on September 6 - just two weeks ago. Much to my delight, the single was released as two separate 7" picture discs. Since they are a duo these days (and have been since 1993), each disc portrays a member of Bananarama.

Picture disc number one features Sara Dallin and the B-side is a cover of Bryan Ferry's song 'Tokyo Joe'. 'Love comes' peaked at number 44 in the UK singles chart earlier this month.

My collection: 7" single no. 4053
Found: Townsend Records, UK, received September 22, 2009
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Love comes (radio edit)' / 'Tokyo Joe'

Never too late - Kylie Minogue

'Never too late' was the third single taken from Kylie Minogue's second album 'Enjoy yourself'. Kylie herself wanted the title track to be released as the third single, but she was overruled by producer Pete Waterman - illustrating once more who had creative control over her career at that point.

The B-side, called 'Kylie's Smiley Mix', was a megamix of Kylie's biggest hits up until then, including the tracks 'Je ne sais pas pourquoi', 'Turn it into love', 'I should be so lucky' and 'Got to be certain'. 'Never too late' was apparently the favourite Kylie song of the late INXS lead singer and Kylie's ex-boyfriend Michael Hutchence.

My collection: 7" single no. 3330
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, March 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Never too late' / 'Kylie's Smiley mix'

Breakaway - Kim Appleby

'Breakaway' was the second and last single from Kim Appleby's second album of the same name, both released in 1993. The single reached number 56 in the UK singles chart, the lowest charting single of her entire career.

This single was the last 7" release by Appleby. The 1994 single 'Free spirit' was only released on cd-single and 12" single.

My collection: 7" single no. 2681
Found: Record fair, July 3, 1996
Cost: ?
Tracks: 'Breakaway' / 'Mama (acoustic)'

Old town - Phil Lynnott

Ex-Thin Lizzy frontman Philip Lynnott recorded the song 'Old town' on his 1982 self-titled solo album. The song was written about the breakup of two lovers. It features a great piano solo by Darren Wharton. Unbelievably, this single did not chart in any territory.

In 1999 the Corrs performed this song during their Unplugged session for MTV. a studio recording featured six years later on their album 'Home'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2426
Found: July 22, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Old town' / 'Beat of the drum'

Because you're young - Private lives

This single from 1982 features an early version of the track 'Because you're young' by the then-unknown group Private Lives. The sleeve only added to the mystery: there was no photograph of its members anywhere. A listing of names on the back of the sleeve reveals that Private Lives consisted of John Adams, Steve Harvey, Brother James, Rick Lane, John Reid and Bobby Valentino. Session musicians Paul Harvey and Gary Barnacle appeared on this track as well.

The single did not reach the charts, but the track would resurface in 1984 as a re-recorded B-side of the single 'From a river to a sea'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2953
Found: Record fair, February 7, 1998
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Because you're young' / 'Because you're young (instrumental)'

Future love paradise - Seal

Entitled the Future Love EP, this 7" single actually is not an EP, as EP's usually feature more than two tracks. Apparently the UK version of this single did feature three tracks, but as always, European buyers were ripped off.

It was the second single from Seal's 1991 self-titled debut album. It reached the top 10 in Ireland, Norway and Switzerland, whereas it peaked at number 6 in the Netherlands and number 12 in the UK singles chart. 'Violet' is a beautiful acoustic version of the track that appears on the album.

My collection: 7" single no. 1432
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, 1991
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Future love paradise' / 'Violet'