I need love - Sandra

'I need love' was released as the second single from Sandra's 1992 album 'Close to seven'. The track was edited for the single. It featured Andy Jones, a.k.a. Andy 'Angel' Hart, performing the male vocals. The B-side, 'Shadows' also appeared on the album and was a cover of Michael Cretu's 1979 track 'Shadows over my head'.

This was the first single from Sandra that wasn't a chart success for her. Subsequently, the third single 'Steady me' was not released commercially, although promotional cd-singles do exist.

My collection: 7" single no. 1671
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, June 20, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'I need love' / 'Shadows'

A girl like you - Edwyn Collins

Edwyn Collins was born on August 23, 1959. He formed the Nu-sonics in 1976, which became Orange Juice in 1979. This band broke up in 1985, after which he pursued a solo career.

His biggest solo success is the single 'A girl like you', released in 1994. It became his only single to reach the top 10 in the UK (peaking at number 4) and the only single to have chart success in Europe. In the Dutch Top 40, it reached number 16.

My collection: 7" single no. 2398
Found: HMV, London, July 6, 1995
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'A girl like you' / 'You're on your own'

Net zo lief gefortuneerd - Het Goede Doel

Roughly translated the chorus of this song starts with the words 'I'd rather be well off / preferably a millionaire'. The song is taken from the band' 1984 album 'Tempo doeloe', and as mentioned before on this blog, the singles taken from that album didn't do exactly well as most people were turning away from Dutch language music in the Netherlands after the most popular band 'Doe maar' disbanded.

My collection: 7" single no. 2858
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, June 21, 1997
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Net zo lief gefortuneerd' / 'De plaat sloeg af en het gesprek viel stil'

I'm specialized in you - Time bandits

'I'm specialized in you' was the second chart hit in the Netherlands for the Dutch band Time Bandits, and also their biggest hit. It reached number 2 in the Dutch Top 40 in January 1983. The track was taken from their self-titled debut album, produced by well-known Dutch producer Pim Koopman.

The band, fronted by Alides Hidding, had several more top 10 hits in the Netherlands, but they never matched this success again.

My collection: 7" single no. 2823
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, February 1, 1997
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'I'm specialized in you' / 'Ginny (puts her hands on her shoulders)'

Eldorado - Drum Theatre

Simon Moore, Paul Snook, Patrick Gallagher, Gari Tarn, Myles Benedict and Kent B. Bass formed Drum Theatre in 1985. They released one album, entitled 'Everyman', after which they disbanded.

Four singles were taken from the album. The most successful was 'Eldorado', released in January 1987. It reached number 44 in the UK singles chart and number 13 in the Dutch Top 40. It was their third of four singles.

My collection: 7" single no. 1028
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Eldorado' / 'Jungle of people'

Candy love - Lili and Sussie

I don't know why I like this song so much, but I do. It's pretty standard eighties dance stuff, but it has that certain Scandinavian coolness about it. I described the 12" single of 'Candy love' last year on this blog, but obviously I've got the 7" single too.

This single hit number 28 in the Dutch Top 40 in February 1987. Nothing was ever heard from them again - at least, in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 1644
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 3, 1992
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Candy love' / 'Candy love (instrumental)'

MacArthur park - Richard Harris

This is the original version of 'MacArthur park', also made famous by Donna Summer. Richard Harris recorded it for his 1968 album 'A tramp shining' and also released it as a single. It was an unusual single, running for more than seven minutes, with a long, climactic orchestral break. Throughout his recording, Harris can be heard using the incorrect possessive form, "MacArthur's Park". Producer Jimmy Webb has said he tried correcting Harris during re-takes, but gave up when he simply could not (or would not) sing the correct words.

The single reached number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 12 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1313
Found: HMV, London, October 15, 1990
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'MacArthur park' / 'The yard went on forever'

I'll find my way home - Jon and Vangelis

Jon Anderson and Vangelis had their biggest hit together in 1982, when they released 'I'll find my way home'. It reached number 1 in Switzerland and number 4 in the Dutch Top 40, although it didn't chart in the UK.

The track was originally not included on their 1981 album 'The friends of Mr. Cairo', but after the single was such a success, it was still added to the tracklisting. And so there are two versions of the LP - although the cd edition was only released with 'I'll find my way home' included.

My collection: 7" single no. 2056
Found: November 27, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'I'll find my way home' / 'Back to school'

Your own sweet way - The Notting Hillbillies

When the Dire Straits went on hiatus in 1987, band leader Mark Knopfler formed the Notting Hillbillies, a country music project, with Brendan Croker, Steve Phillips, and Knopfler's bandmate Guy Fletcher. They made just one album, 'Missing... presumed having a good time' (1990).

The song 'Your own sweet way' was released as a single. While the album reached number 2 in the UK albums chart, the single did not chart at all.

My collection: 7" single no. 1244
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, June 14, 1990
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Your own sweet way' / 'Bewildered'

The head and the heart - Chris de Burgh

Chris de Burgh is considered by many to be the epitome of uncool. Hearing this song, having not played it for two decades, I would say I would have to agree. There is one saving grace for this particular song: it features Howard Jones on piano. And Howard Jones is, of course, very cool.

'The head and the heart' is a single taken from Chris de Burgh's 1984 album 'Man on the line'. The slightly oversensitive ballad did not make any chart impact.

My collection: 7" single no. 260
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1984
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'The head and the heart' / 'Taking it to the top'

Enola gay - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the dark

'Enola Gay' is named after the aeroplane, a USAAF B-29 Superfortress which dropped 'Little Boy', the first atomic bomb to be used in an act of War, on the Japanese city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 to bring an end to the Second World War. The lyric attacks the decision to use the bomb, suggesting that the bombing was unnecessary ('It shouldn't ever have to end this way').

The song appears on OMD's second album 'Organisation' (1980) and when it was released as a single in September 1980, it reached number 8 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2763
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 29, 1996
Cost: 40p
Tracks: 'Enola gay' / 'Annex'

Cowboys and angels - George Michael

'Cowboys and angels' was released as the fifth single from George Michael's 1990 album 'Listen without prejudice vol. 1'. The song was written, arranged and produced by George Michael and was the first single in his career not to reach the top 40 in the UK: it peaked at number 45 in March 1991. It did better in the Dutch Top 40, reaching number 15.

Although the album version of 'Cowboys and angels' is over 7 minutes long, the single version was edited to four and a half minutes, amongst other things removing the beautiful piano intro from the track.

My collection: 7" single no. 2451
Found: Record fair, September 2, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Cowboys and angels (edit)' / 'Something to save'

Forever autumn - Justin Hayward

The mailman made me happy today, when he delivered this little package to my doorstep. Although I have the UK pressing of 'Forever autumn', this Dutch pressing came in a beautiful sleeve; and sometimes the sleeve is what counts.

'Forever autumn' reached number 22 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 5 in the UK singles chart. It is of course a track from Jeff Wayne's marvellous musical version of the book 'War of the worlds'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4100
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received October 10, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Forever autumn' / 'The fighting machine'

Mrs. Malinski - Ricky Wilde

Ricky Wilde's short-lived music career consisted of six singles released on the UK label. 'Mrs. Malinski' was the fourth of this series, released in 1974. The song was written and produced by his father Marty Wilde. The B-side is called 'Cassette blues' and sounds rather like it was recorded on a cassette as well.

This single was the least successful of all Ricky Wilde singles, having not reached the charts in any country.

My collection: 7" single no. 3354
Found: eBay.co.uk, 2002
Cost: 5 pounds
Tracks: 'Mrs. Malinski' / 'Cassette blues'

Nothing compares 2 u - Sinéad O'Connor

'Nothing compares 2 u' was written in the Eighties for the Family by Prince. They released their version in 1985. In 1990, Sinéad O'Connor recorded a cover version on her second album 'I do not want what I haven't got', and released it as the first single from that album. A limited edition box set was released in the UK, featuring a giant poster and a picture button.

The song was famous mostly for the music video in which Sinéad sheds two tears. I never quite got what was so special about that, but the media were in spasms about it. It helped the song get to number 1 in 11 countries, including the UK, the Netherlands and the USA.

My collection: 7" single no. 1156
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1990
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Nothing compares 2 u' / 'Jump in the river'

The man with the child in his eyes - Kate Bush

Kate Bush released her second single 'The man with the child in his eyes' in the summer of 1978. This 7" single is a bit of a rarity, since the single version of this track has only ever been released on one obscure cd compilation. It remains unreleased on any Kate Bush cd.

Kate wrote the song when she was only 13 years old. It was recorded at Air Studios in 1975. The single reached number 6 in the UK and number 27 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 676
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'The man with the child in his eyes' / 'Moving'

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'