Brite side - Deborah Harry

'Brite side' was released as the third single from Deborah Harry's third solo album, 'Def, dumb and blonde'. The single was only released in the UK and a limited edition was released in a poster sleeve (just like my copy). The song is an eerie and smoky ballad which sounds very unlike the harder, edgier material from her Blondie days.

The single, however, was not a big success: it reached number 59 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1157
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 19, 1992
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Brite side' / 'Bugeye'

Violet hill - Coldplay

Coldplay originally released 'Violet hill' on April 29, 2008 as a free download from their official website. After one week of free downloading, the song was available as a paid download. Although the free track was downloaded two million times, the single was still released commercially as well. A cd-single made the rounds in Europe, whereas the paid downloads provided the band with chart placings in America and the UK (number 40 and number 8 respectively).

This 7" single was released as a free promotional disc with the May 10 issue of the UK magazine NME, including the non-album track 'A spell a rebel yell' on the B-side. On subsequent cd releases, 'Lost?', an acoustic recording of album track 'Lost!' serves as extra track instead. I have to say this was the first time I ever bought the NME...

My collection: 7" single no. 3454
Found: Bruna, Den Haag, May 15, 2008
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'Violet hill' / 'A spell a rebel yell'

The air that I breathe - The Hollies

This song has the rare distinction of being the one and only song that has ever appeared in my dreams. I don't remember much of the dream, but I do remember waking up (twenty years ago) and remembering having heard this song while I was sleeping. And I think in my dream I was singing along, too! How weird.

'The air that I breathe' was written by Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood and originally recorded by Phil Everly. When the Hollies recorded it in 1974, they reached number 2 in the UK singles chart with it. This copy of the single is a UK re-release from 1988, which reached number 60.

My collection: 7" single no. 1083
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 19, 1989
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'The air that I breathe' / 'We're through'

Fast car - Tracy Chapman

Tracy Chapman was born on March 30, 1964 in Cleveland, Ohio, where she was raised by her mother. In 1988, he made her debut with the single 'Fast car', a vivid tale of poverty that reached number 1 in Ireland and number 2 in the Dutch Top 40.

While usually I don't understand why an artist has one hit as big as this and then virtually disappears from the world stage, in this case I do. Tracy Chapman appeared on the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday tribute concert, doing her 'girl with guitar' thing, and the world was in raptures. But after two or three songs of a girl with a guitar, the fascination leaves as quickly as it comes. And so it did.

My collection: 7" single no. 2414
Found: Record fair, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Fast car' / 'For you'

This is me - Climie Fisher

'This is me' was originally Climie Fisher's debut single in 1986. After the success of 'Love changes (everything)' and 'Rise to the occasion', the track was re-released in 1988. This is the re-released single, featuring a new sleeve.

The single, which flopped the first time around, now reached number 22 in the UK singles chart and number 54 in Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 1327
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1990
Cost: 1,5 pounds
Tracks: 'This is me' / 'Far across the water'

That was my big mistake - Korgis

For a while in the early Eighties, I thought the Korgis were the coolest thing since sliced bread. That was largely thanks to their biggest hit 'Everybody's got to learn sometime', but this single was a close second in my book.

'That was my big mistake' was the first single from their 1981 album 'Sticky George'. A lot of people did not agree with me, as the single did not chart in any country.

My collection: 7" single no. 739
Found: All that music, February 9, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'That was my big mistake' / 'Can't we be friends'

It's alright - Pet Shop Boys

'It's alright' was originally recorded by Sterling Void in 1988. The Pet Shop Boys released their cover version of the song a year later on the album 'Introspective'. They heard the original on a house compilation album. While the original verion had only two verses, Neil Tennant wrote a third verse (sung as the second verse in their cover version) to expand the song's political concerns towards environmental issues.

The nine minute album version was edited for the single, which became half the length. The single reached number 5 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1925
Found: Record fair, June 5, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'It's alright' / 'One of the crowd', 'Your funny uncle'

Lonely avenue - Marty Wilde

As a fan of Kim Wilde, I was rather late in discovering the music of Marty Wilde. As 'Abergavenny' had been a hit in the Netherlands, I knew that song, but his earlier work eluded me until the Nineties. After I'd discovered great songs like 'Jezebel' and 'Teenager in love', I started hunting for these singles - but they are incredibly hard to come by.

I found this EP on eBay a few years ago. I was again intrigued, as the song titles didn't look familiar. Turns out that the two songs on the A-side of this EP were recorded with the legendary John Barry and his orchestra. The songs were not commercially successful, but I do think they are an artistic triumph. Released in 1964, this is an extraordinary collection of songs.

My collection: 7" single no. 3342
Found: eBay.co.uk, received 2002
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Lonely avenue', 'Brand new love' / 'Kiss me', 'My what a woman'

Losing my mind - Liza Minelli

'Losing my mind' was written by Stephen Sondheim for the 1971 musical 'Follies'. The song was originally performed by Dorothy Collins and was since covered by many artists including Shirley Bassy and Michael Ball.

The most successful version of the song was recorded by Liza Minelli, on her 1989 album 'Results', which was produced by the Pet Shop Boys and Julian Mendelsohn. The single reached number 6 in the UK singles chart and number 31 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1891
Found: May 2, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Losing my mind' / 'Tonight is forever'

More love - Feargal Sharkey

Released three years after its predecessor, 'Wish' is the second solo album by Feargal Sharkey. It disappointed commercially, with the singles underperforming in the singles chart and the album not selling too well either.

The first single from the album was 'More love', a dynamic song with bittersweet lyrics. It reached number 44 in the UK singles chart - the only single from the album to even reach the chart, by the way.

My collection: 7" single no. 747
Found: V&D, Den Haag, February 17, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'More love' / 'A breath of scandal'

If you don't know me by now - Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes

'If you don't know me by now' was written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff and recorded by the Philadelphia soul musical group Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. It became their first hit when it was released as a single in 1972. The single reached number 18 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 9 in the UK singles chart.

The song was later covered by Simply Red, giving them a hit in 1989. The song was also covered by British comedian Ricky Gervais as his character David Brent from the comedy series 'The office'. A music video was produced and released with BBC's The Office DVD set.

My collection: 7" single no. 804
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, April 21, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'If you don't know me by now' / 'Let me into your world'

Now you're in heaven - Julian Lennon

Julian Lennon released his third album 'Mr. Jordan' in 1989. The first single taken from that album was 'Now you're in heaven'. The single reached number 5 in Australia, but failed to chart in most other countries.

I didn't know the song when I bought this single, I simply assumed that it would be interesting to hear. I have to say the track sounds a bit David Bowie-esque.

My collection: 7" single no. 2292
Found: May 13, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Now you're in heaven' / 'Second time'

Purple rain - Prince

'Purple rain' was the title track from Prince's 1984 album. In order to be released as a single, the song was shortened from 8:45 to 4:05. It's quite a shame really, because the majestic guitar solo is totally deleted from the edited track, leaving just a quite boring ballad. The 12" single did feature the full length track - but I found that out after buying this single. Still, I don't regret buying the single, because it was pressed on purple vinyl.

'Purple rain' has become one of Prince's signature songs, reaching number 1 in the Dutch Top 40, number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 8 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 245
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1984
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Purple rain' / 'God'

Always the sun - The Stranglers

'Always the sun' was released as the second single from the Stranglers' 1986 album 'Dreamtime'. In his book 'The Stranglers song by song', Hugh Cornwell mentioned that he thought it could have been as big as the band's earlier hit 'Golden brown'. He blamed their record company for its disappointing performance, peaking at number 30 in the UK singles chart: 'We'd given CBS something great to work with and I could see in this guy's face that he knew he hadn't delivered'.

The single performed poorly in the Netherlands as well, stalling at number 35 in the Dutch Top 40, but it did reach number 15 in France.

My collection: 7" single no. 489
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Always the sun' / 'Norman normal'

Africa - Toto

Toto's Steve Lukather commented in 2003: 'I didn’t think it was very good. That tells you what can happen when we pick our own singles!' Indeed, for 'Africa' became Toto's biggest hit ever. Taken from their 1982 album 'Toto IV', the single scored number1 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 2 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 3 in the UK singles chart.

'Africa' was almost omitted from the album prior to its release. Having spent a great amount of time producing the tune, the band became so tired of the song that they didn’t want it on the album. The song itself was very different from anything the band had done before, and some members felt that it didn’t sound like Toto.

My collection: 7" single no. 165
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Africa' / 'We made it'

Prayer for the dying - Seal

'Prayer for the dying' was released as the first single from Seal's second self-titled album. Released in May 1994, the single peaked at number 14 in the UK singles chart. A year later, in November 1995, the single was re-released as a double A-side with the track 'Don't cry'. This released stalled at number 51.

The B-side is a beautiful piano version of the album track 'Dreaming in metaphors'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2123
Found: Virgin Megastore, London, July 16, 1994
Cost: pounds
Tracks: 'Prayer for the dying' / 'Dreaming in metaphors (piano version)'

Visions of China - Japan

'Visions of China' was a single released by Japan in 1981. I discovered the track a few years later, when the music video appeared on television quite regularly. It was a strange music video, which stuck in my head. Later on, the song became a happy obsession for a while.

I finally found the single in 1996, after I'd found the live version on single in 1989. This single peaked at number 32 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2685
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, July 3, 1996
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Visions of China' / 'Taking island in Africa'

De ambulance - Rubberen Robbie

Although I realise the joke is lost on foreign readers, I have committed myself to putting my record collection online and that includes a handful of Rubberen Robbie singles. 'De ambulance' is a parody of the song 'De diligence' and is all about boozing and fighting in a nearby pub.

The pub that was frequented by the members of Rubberen Robbie - and often mentioned in their songs - was 'De hut van Ome Henne' (Uncle Henne's cabin), a pub in Leiden that still exists. The B-side of this single was apparently recorded live there too.

My collection: 7" single no. 2567
Found: November 19, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'De ambulance' / 'Witte en rooie radijs (live)'

Better than this - Keane

'Better than this' was the last single release from Keane's 2008 album 'Perfect symmetry'. The single did not reach the UK singles top 100.

The 7" single came with a pair of 3d glasses, by way of promoting a concert that was shown in 3d on the internet a few months ago. That concert is still accessible via the band's official website, www.keanemusic.com.

My collection: 7" single no. 3615
Found: Keanemusic.com webshop
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Better than this' / 'Better than this (Stuart Price demo mix)'

Romeos - Alphaville

In 1989, Alphaville released their third album 'The breathtaking blue'. The album was released as a CD+G, a shortlived format including graphic representations of songs on the cd, which people could view from a CD+G-enabled cd player.

'Romeos' was the second single from the album, which reached number 45 in the German singles chart. In other territories, this single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2732
Found: Record fair, September 7, 1996
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Romeos' / 'Headlines'