Body and soul - Mai Tai

Mai Tai only made a name for themselves in their native Netherlands, when they had some success abroad. The single 'History' was released in May 1985 and became a top 10 hit in the UK, while it only reached number 22 in the Dutch Top 40.

Their next single in the UK was 'Body and soul', released in August 1985, which reached number 9 in the UK singles chart. That single had already been released in the Netherlands a year before, peaking at number 31. Like most of their early work, the single was produced by Eric van Tijn and Jochem Fluitsma, who would go on to produce some of the Netherlands' entries for the Eurovision Song Contest.

My collection: 7" single no. 4332
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, December 1, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Body and soul' / 'The rules of love'

I just can't wait - Mandy Smith

Mandy Smith had a successful career as a model in 1987, while she was just 16 years old. By then, she already had a stop/start relationship with Rolling Stone Bill Wyman, whom she married as soon as she turned 18. That marriage only lasted for two years.

Her music career was equally short-lived, with just one album and a handful of singles, of which 'I just can't wait' was the first. Produced by Stock, Aitken and Waterman, the single did not chart in any territory, but hordes of pop lovers were already falling in love with this beautiful young woman.

My collection: 7" single no. 4340
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, December 1, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I just can't wait' / 'You're never alone'

Right now! - Tomas Ledin

Tomas Ledin represented Sweden during the 1980 Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Just nu'. With the song, he finished number 10 in a field of 19 participants.

The song became a big hit in Scandinavia, but since he also recorded a version in English, called 'Right now!', he also scored in Greece and Portugal. This copy of the single is a promotion copy, made in Sweden.

My collection: 7" single no. 4336
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, December 1, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Right now!' / 'It's sure worth giving a try'

True life confessions - The Korgis

Although commercial success eluded them, the Korgis continued to record and release singles until the mid-Eighties. In their catalogue, 'True life confessions' is a somewhat atypical song for them, with a rather breezy pop sound, slightly caribbean.

'True life confessions', which was released as a single in the summer of 1985, also appears on the 1986 album by lead singer James Warren, 'Burning questions'. A 12" single with an extended version of 'True life confessions' also exists, but I have yet to find a copy.

My collection: 7" single no. 4331
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, December 1, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'True life confessions' / 'Possessed'

Catch my fall - Billy Idol

'Catch my fall' is a track from Billy Idol's second solo album 'Rebel yell' (1983). On the sleeve of the single, Idol is pictured with red and black paint on his face, which I'm sure has to mean something, although nobody knows what.

The single was not a hit in the UK when it was originally released in 1984, but a re-release in 1988 caused the single to peak at number 63.

My collection: 7" single no. 4330
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, December 1, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Catch my fall' / 'Daytime drama'

Go wild in the country - Bow wow wow

Bow wow wow's manager Malcolm McLaren found himself in a bit of a pickle when the mother of frontwoman Annabella Lwin sued him for exploitation of a minor. Part of the controversy was caused by the photograph on this sleeve, Bow wow wow's take on Manet's painting 'Le déjeuner sur l'herbe', which was taken when Lwin was only 15 years old...

'Go wild in the country' was released in January 1982 and became Bow wow wow's first top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at number 7.

My collection: 7" single no. 4329
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, December 1, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Go wild in the country' / 'El boss dicho'

Megarama '89 - Bananarama

Released in 1989, 'Megarama '89' is a megamix of hit songs by Bananarama. The single was released in Germany, France and Japan only. This copy is a German pressing. The single had its greatest success in France, where it peaked at number 17 in the singles chart.

The megamix does not appear on any of Bananarama's albums and has not been included on any of the group's greatest hits packages. Tracks that were used for this mix were: 'Na na hey hey kiss him goodbye', 'Cruel summer', 'Love in the first degree' and 'Venus'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4328
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, December 1, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Megarama '89' / 'Venus (The Greatest remix edit)'

I didn't want to need you - Heart

'I didn't want to need you' was written and composed by songwriter Diane Warren and recorded by Heart on their 1990 album 'Brigade'. The track was released as the second single from the album.

The single reached number 23 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and reached number 47 in the UK singles chart. In Europe, the single went by without anyone noticing.

My collection: 7" single no. 4323
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, December 1, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I didn't want to need you' / 'The night'

Happy hour - The Housemartins

Sometimes I am still surprised at my own tastes in music. Back in 1986, I didn't really like 'Happy hour' by the Housemartins, but when I heard it recently I realised it is actually quite nice. Now I finally understand why it became a hit: it reached number 3 hit in the UK and number 22 in the Dutch Top 40 in the summer of 1986.

The Housemartins was formed in 1983 by Paul Heaton and Stan Cullimore. They recruited Ted Key and Dodger. The band's membership changed considerably over the years. By 1986, Key and Dodger were replaced by Hugh Whitaker and Norman Cook (who would become Fatboy Slim in the Nineties). It was a John Peel session that helped the band get their breakthrough with 'Happy hour'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4322
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, December 1, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Happy hour' / 'The mighty 'ship'

The rhythm - Mari Wilson

Mari Wilson disappeared from the music scene for five years, until she returned in 1991 with the album 'The Rhythm Romance'. The first single was 'The rhythm', recorded with Rumba Tres.

The song sounds very different from her material circa 1984, when she was going for a Fifties/Sixties sound. This is a sunny, energetic track which, if anything, sounds more like an Eighties production. The single did not chart in the UK or anywhere else.

My collection: 7" single no. 4321
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, December 1, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'The rhythm' / 'Someone to watch over me'

Mosquito - Vanessa Paradis

I bought Vanessa Paradis's debut album 'M&J' a long time ago and I thought I had all the singles taken from that album, but I discovered one I didn't know about. Although both tracks on the single appear on the album, it is the nice and moody sleeve that convinced me to buy this one.

With her sixteen years, Vanessa didn't really have an engaging voice, but she was fortunate enough to be surrounded by great songwriters and producers. And so, 'Mosquito', the fifth and final single to be taken from the album still reached number 22 in the French singles chart in early 1989.

My collection: 7" single no. 4318
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, December 1, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Mosquito' / 'Chat ananas'

All she wants is - Duran Duran

The title of the second single from Duran Duran's 1988 album 'Big Thing' is 'All she wants is'. It doesn't become obvious during the course of this track what it is exactly 'she' wants, but from the panting and high-pitched screaming, the listener does get some kind of idea.

The single was reasonably successful, reaching number 9 in the UK singles chart and number 22 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 730
Found: Free Record Shop, Den haag, February 2, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'All she wants is' / 'I believe/All I need to know'

Wishing (If I had a photograph of you) - A Flock of seagulls

'Wishing (If I had a photograph of you)' was the opening track on A Flock of Seagulls' second album 'Listen'. The synth-heavy track holds the rare distinction of having been performed almost entirely on the black keys of a keyboard. The original version of this song clocked in at nearly 14 minutes. Obviously, it was edited down to four minutes for the single release.

The single peaked at number 10 in the UK singles chart in November 1982. Six months later it charted in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it reached number 26.

My collection: 7" single no. 171
Found: Studio Echo, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Wishing (If I had a photograph of you)' / 'Committed'

Let's wait awhile - Janet Jackson

'Let's wait awhile' is a track from Janet Jackson's successful album 'Control'. It was written by Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis and Melanie Andrews. The song talks about waiting until the right moment to have sexual intercourse. The song can also be interpreted as an anthem to sexual abstinence, as it was a hit during the height of the AIDS pandemic.

When the track was released as the fifth single from the album, it reached number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 3 in the UK singles chart and number 16 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1182
Found: Oldies Unlimited, UK, February 26, 1990
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Let's wait awhile' / 'Nasty (Cool summer mix, part 1)'

Lavender - Marillion

'Lavender' was released as the second single from Marillion's most popular album 'Misplaced childhood'. The song was re-recorded for the single and sounds notably different from the album version. It features a number of verses that are reminiscent of the folk song 'Lavender blue'.

As the follow-up to the big UK number 2 hit 'Kayleigh', the song became their second Top 5 UK hit, peaking at number 5. In other countries, the single failed to reach the chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 339
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Lavender' / 'Freaks'

Jedan dan - Dubrovački Trubaduri

Forget Johnny Logan, forget Sandra Kim and forget all the noise of recent years: it's songs like this we remember the Eurovision Song Contest so fondly for. 'Jedan dan' is melodious, it includes some elements of folk music and it is instantly memorable when you hear it.

The song was performed during the 1968 Eurovision Song Contest by the Dubrovački trubaduri, representing Yugoslavia. The song reached seventh place in the Contest and was subsequently released as a single all over Europe (this single is actually a Dutch pressing). The group, in different line-ups, existed until the early Eighties when they broke up.

My collection: 7" single no. 4276
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Jedan dan' / 'Trubadurska serenada'

The lady in red - Chris de Burgh

Chris de Burgh is often seen as the epitome of uncool, but he has written a few gorgeous love songs. 'The lady in red' is one of them. The song was written in reference to (though not specifically about) his first wife Diane. The song was inspired by the memory of the first time he saw her, and how men so often cannot even remember what their wives were wearing when they first met.

When the track from his 1986 album 'Into the light' was released as a single, it reached number 1 in the UK singles chart, number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 6 in the Dutch Top 40. Few would confess they have this single in their collection now. Well, I'm coming clean anyway.

My collection: 7" single no. 475
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'The lady in red' / 'Borderline'

Brass in pocket - The Pretenders

'Brass in pocket' was released as the Pretenders' third single. It was their first success, reaching number 1 in the UK singles chart in January 1980. In the Dutch Top 40, the single reached number 7. The song takes its title from an expression Hynde heard from a member of a Yorkshire-based support band who was looking for his money.

Chrissie Hynde commented about 'Brass in pocket' two decades after its release: 'When we recorded the song I wasn't very happy with it and told my producer that he could release it over my dead body, but they eventually persuaded me. So I remember feeling a bit sheepish when it went to number one.'

My collection: 7" single no. 1011
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Brass in pocket' / 'Swinging London', 'Nervous but shy'

To miss someone - Feargal Sharkey

'To miss someone' is another single from Feargal Sharkey's 1991 album 'Songs from the mardi gras'. Since I liked the album and especially the near-title track ('After the mardi gras'), I decided to buy all the singles from that album. 'To miss someone', however, is not one of the strongest tracks on the album. The real treat here is the acoustic performance of 'I'll take it back', originally also a track on the album.

The single did not chart in the UK, and the fact that this single is a promotional copy adds some credibility to the assumption that DJ's rather sold off the disc than play it.

My collection: 7" single no. 2339
Found: London, June 26, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'To miss someone' / 'I'll take it back (live)'

Liberation - Pet Shop Boys

'Liberation' was released as the fourth single from the Pet Shop Boys' 1993 album 'Very'. The single reached number 14 in the UK singles chart and was the lowest charting single from the album. The single was released on several formats, including two cd-singles, a double 12" single set and this 7" single.

The music video was full of computer generated graphics, which is true for all the videos from the album 'Very'. The wonderful B-side 'Decadence' features Johnny Marr from the Smiths on guitar.

My collection: 7" single no. 2099
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, April 16, 1994
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Liberation' / 'Decadence'