Dream on - Aerosmith

Long before Aerosmith became The Most Irritating Band On Earth, they debuted in 1973 with 'Dream on'. The power ballad written by band leader Steven Tyler became their first major hit, reaching number 59 in the US chart. It was re-released in 1976 when it reached number 6.

I bought this single after hearing the track on a compilation cd my sister had bought. Soon after, the band would continue to haunt the charts with worse songs every time. Their 1987 reunion should never have taken place.

My collection: 7" single no. 1135
Found: Leiden, December 28, 1989
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Dream on' / 'Sweet emotion'

Don't look back - Peter Tosh

Peter Tosh was born as Winston Hubert McIntosh on October 18, 1944. He became a core member of The Wailers, Bob Marley's backing band. In 1976 he launched a solo career with the debut solo album 'Legalize it'.

His big international breakthrough came in 1979, when he recorded the Temptations song 'Don't look back' together with Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger. The single only reached number 43 in the UK singles chart, but topped the Dutch Top 40 in early 1979. Tosh died in 1987 when a three man gang raided his house.

My collection: 7" single no. 2430
Found: August 19, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Don't look back' / 'Soon come'

James Cagney - Nik Kershaw

'James Cagney', a song named after the actor of the same name, was taken from Nik Kershaw's 1986 album 'Radio Musicola', and released as a single in Germany only in early 1987. The single did not chart.

I bought the single a year later, although I didn't know the song. I was pleasantly surprised when I got home and played it. It would take me more than 20 years to find the 12" single with an extended mix of this great track.

My collection: 7" single no. 681
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, November 12, 1988
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'James Cagney' / 'Radio Musicola'

Don't let the sun go down on me - George Michael and Elton John

'Don't let the sun go down on me' was originally a hit for Elton John in 1974. The single peaked at number 16 in the UK singles chart. However, it was this live version, performed together with George Michael, that made the song even more popular.

The track was recorded live at a concert in Wembley Arena on March 25, 1991, where Elton appeared as a surprise guest star of George Michael, the duet became a massive hit. It reached number 1 in the USA, the UK and the Netherlands. The proceeds from the single were divided among 10 different charities for children, AIDS and education.

The B-side of this single is a live performance of the Stevie Wonder song 'I believe (when I fall in love it will be forever)'. The first verse sounds a lot like Mel & Kim's 'Who's gonna catch you'. Or rather, I think it's the other way around...

My collection: 7" single no. 3256
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 20, 2000
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'Don't let the sun go down on me' / 'I believe (when I fall in love it will be forever)'

Something's jumpin' in your shirt - Lisa Marie with Malcolm McLaren and the Bootzilla Orchestra

'Something's jumpin' in your shirt' was the second single taken from Malcolm McLaren's 1989 album 'Waltz darling'. The song comes with a peculiar lyric, which I'm sure is about tits. And I'm not sure there are that many hit singles about that particular subject (Well, excluding the whole hiphop genre, of course - I'm talking about music here).

The single reached number 29 in the UK singles chart and number 8 in the Dutch Top 40. I remember buying the cd-single for a guilder during an open air market in Hoorn almost a decade later from a little kid who was just about 10 years old. I was wondering what that little boy was doing with this particular song...

My collection: 7" single no. 967
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, August 19, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Something's jumpin' in your shirt' / 'All night long'

Don't give up - Peter Gabriel

The Italian promo single is a strange phenomenon. There are several in my collection, and without exception they are white label promos, released in a custom white sleeve, with two A-side tracks from different artists on them. In this case: 'Don't give up' by Peter Gabriel and 'In too deep' by Genesis.

I'm not up on Italian chart placings, but it's safe to assume that both singles were a hit in Italy. What's interesting about this single is that in a way it reunites the old line-up of Genesis. But that's a rather pointless observation. It's a nice collector's item for fans of Genesis, Peter Gabriel... and Kate Bush of course.

My collection: 7" single no. 1718
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 19, 1992
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Don't give up' (Peter Gabriel with Kate Bush) / 'In too deep' (Genesis)

This is your land - Simple Minds

'This is your land' was released as the second single from the Simple Minds' 1989 album 'Street fighting years' in April 1989. The song was written and composed by the band and features Lou Reed as guest vocalist.

The single peaked at number 13 in the UK singles chart and number 6 in the Dutch Top 40. It's quite a long single, as both sides clock in at over six minutes. Great value for money!

My collection: 7" single no. 878
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, June 10, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'This is your land' / 'Saturday girl'

Closer to your heart - Clannad

With less folk influences, a clear rhythm and intelligable lyrics, 'Closer to your heart' was widely considered to be Clannad's first 'pop' single. The single was taken from the band's 1985 album 'Macalla'.

Amazingly, this great song did not chart in any territory. My copy of the single bears a sticker with the text 'Not for resale' on the back.

My collection: 7" single no. 1465
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 30, 1991
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Closer to your heart' / 'Buachaill on eirne'

So sorry, I said - Liza Minelli

'So sorry, I said' was the third single release from Liza Minelli's 1989 'Results' album, which was produced by the Pet Shop Boys. The single was released in a limited edition gatefold sleeve featuring a photograph of Liza with the Pet Shop Boys.

The two tracks on the single were both from the album, which may account for its low chart placing: it only reached number 62 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2269
Found: April 8, 1995
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'So sorry, I said' / 'I can't say goodnight'

I get lonely - Janet Jackson

'I get lonely' was released as the third single from Janet Jackson's sixth studio album 'The velvet rope' (1997) in February 1998. The single version featured extra material by Blackstreet, an American R&B group who apparently specialises in mumbling through other people's good songs in an incoherent manner.

Needless to say, I don't especially appreciate this version, but fortunately the remix on the B-side is a bit more interesting. The single reached number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100, number 5 in the UK singles chart and number 18 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3015
Found: September 5, 1998
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'I get lonely (TNT remix edit featuring Blackstreet)' / 'I get lonely (Jam & Lewis Feel my bass mix - radio edit)'

It's my mix - Talk Talk

I don't often write about my LP's on this blog, unless it's a rare or very interesting one. And here's a good example. Talk Talk's 'It's my mix' was released in Canada and Italy only (this is the Italian pressing) and contains six extended remixes of Talk Talk tracks. It also features a giant size poster of the photograph on the sleeve.

'Why is it so hard' was originally written by Talk Talk as a song for Michael Apred's film 'First born'. The 7" version of the track was first released on EMI's compilation album 'Asides besides' in 1998. The 12" US remix is only available on this LP - and has so far not been released on cd.

My collection: LP no. 133
Found: Plaatboef, Den Haag, 1996
Cost: 2,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Why is it so hard (12" US remix)', 'Talk Talk (12" mix)', 'My foolish friend (12" mix)' / 'It's my life (12" mix)', 'Dum dum girl (12" remix)', 'Such a shame (12" US remix)'

She kissed me - Terence Trent d'Arby

'She kissed me' was the third single taken from Terence Trent d'Arby's third album 'Symphony or damn'. It was a more rock-oriented track than any of his previous singles. The B-side features a rather bad remix of the album's first single 'Do you love me like you say'.

The single reached number 16 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2041
Found: HMV, London, October 22, 1993
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'She kissed me' / 'Do you love me like you say (Masters at work 12" mix)'

Canton (live) - Japan

Japan performed live for the last time in the UK during a six night stint at London's Hammersmith Odeon in November 1982. These performances, which were sold out, were recorded in order to put together the live album 'Oil on canvas'.

From this album, Japan's final single 'Canton (live)' was released in June 1983. The single was released in a gatefold sleeve and featured a live version of the earlier single 'Visions of China' on the B-side. As the band had decided to split up, they were just beginning to get some commercial success in the UK. 'Oil on canvas' became their highest charting album in the UK, reaching number 5. This single reached number 42 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1020
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Canton (live)' / 'Visions of China (live)'

Wish I could write a love song - Chas and Dave

One month ago today, Chas and Dave announced their split. Dave Peacock decided to retire from the music business after the death of his wife Sue in July. Chas Hodges will continue to perform live as Chas and his band - honouring touring commitments the duo had already made.

Their last chart hit in the UK was 'Snooker loopy' from 1986. One of their best singles is 'Wish I could write a love song' from 1983 - but that one did not chart. The B-side, 'That's what I like' was covered in 1996 by Tori Amos.

My collection: 7" single no. 3005
Found: Geest, Den Haag, June 20, 1998
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Wish I could write a love song' / 'That's what I like'

Maria Magdalena - Sandra

Sandra came full circle when she released a remix of her first international hit 'Maria Magdalena' in 1993. The remix of 'Maria Magdalena' remained uncredited, and was made to promote the greatest hits collection '18 Greatest hits', which was released in October 1992.

This 12" single features the 'Vega Sicilia mix', which did not appear on the cd-single of the track, which was my reason for buying it. In the end, that remix is not so very different from other remixes. The single was not a big success: it only reached number 8 in Finland.

My collection: 12" single no. 230
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 1993
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Maria Magdalena (club mix)' / 'Maria Magdalena (Vega Sicilia mix)'

99.9 F - Suzanne Vega

'99.9F°' was the title track of Suzanne Vega's 1992 album, which was subsequently released as a single as the album's second single. My copy of the single comes from the music library of Capital radio, as the large sticker on the front clearly indicates.

It's interesting to note that the highest chart position is also noted on this sticker: number 57. However, this is incorrect: the single made it to number 46 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2206
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, October 8, 1994
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: '99.9F°' / 'Tom's diner (live)'

Paranoid - Black Sabbath

These days, Ozzy Osbourne is an old, mumbling idiot who prostitutes himself for the entertainment of people who watch corny shows on MTV, but back in 1968 he formed the rock band Black Sabbath with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward.

In 1970, they released the single 'Paranoid', from the album of the same name. Iommi came up with riff while the rest of the band was out to lunch. When they returned, the band recorded the track within a couple of minutes. The lyrics had not been written yet so vocalist Osbourne sang whatever came to mind. The final version contained different lyrics penned by bassist and principal lyricist Butler. The song became a big hit, reaching number 4 in the UK and number 2 in the Dutch Top 40. It subsequently landed in the annual Top 100 of all times chart from Radio Veronica, which is where I got to hear the track in the mid-Eighties.

My collection: 7" single no. 2727
Found: Record fair, Leiden, September 7, 1996
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Paranoid' / 'The wizard'

Jealousy - Pet Shop Boys

'Jealousy' was originally written by the Pet Shop Boys in 1982. It was finally recorded for their 1990 album 'Behaviour'. It was released as a single in 1991, in a slightly altered version: the outro which was originally recorded with a sampler-based orchestra, was re-recorded with a real orchestra. This dramatically increased the quality of the track, of course. In the track, Neil Tennant recites a quote from William Shakespeare's Othello: 'Not poppy, nor mandragora /Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world / Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep / Which thou owedst yesterday.'

The single reached number 12 in the UK singles chart and number 20 in Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 1455
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, June 22, 1991
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Jealousy' / 'Losing my mind'

Dumb waiters - The Korgis

The artwork department must have been happy when 'Dumb waiters' by the Korgis was released as a single. They didn't even bother to design a new sleeve: the single sleeve was identical to the album sleeve - as the album was also called 'Dumb waiters' anyway.

'Dumb waiters' was the third single from the album, but unlike its two predecessors, it did not reach the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2916
Found: London, November 1, 1997
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Dumb waiters' / 'Perfect hostess'

Cold cold heart - Wet Wet Wet

'Cold cold heart' was a new track recorded for Wet Wet Wet's first Greatest Hits album, 'End of part one' (1993). It was produced by Nile Rodgers of Chic fame.

The single was released on December 27, 1993 and reached number 23 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2092
Found: April 16, 1994
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Cold cold heart' / 'Roll 'um easy', 'Cold cold heart (Arthur Baker '93 remix)'