Katinka - De Spelbrekers

Theo Rekkers (born April 24, 1924) and Huub Kok (born February 10, 1918) formed the Spelbrekers in 1945. They met in a German arms factory where they were performing forced labour in 1943. They had their first hit in 1956 with 'Oh wat ben je mooi' ('Oh how beautiful you are').

In 1962, they represented the Netherlands during the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Katinka'. They ended up in joint last place, failing to score any points. This result was partly to blame on a bad broadcast: during their performance the image on television went almost entirely black, causing the two to look almost like criminals. Still, in their homeland they reached number 9 in the charts in May 1962.

My collection: 7" single no. 4274
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 3,5 euro
Tracks: 'Katinka' / 'Carnaval'

Dracula's tango - Toto Coelo

'Dracula's tango (Sucker for your love)' sounds a lot like songs performed by various other girl groups at the time - even Dutch ones. The single was released in November 1982 and reached number 54 in the UK singles chart. It was their last single to reach the chart, although they did release a handful of other singles after that.

My collection: 7" single no. 4338
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, December 1, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Dracula's tange (Sucker for your love)' / 'Mucho macho'

She blinded me with science - Thomas Dolby

Thomas Dolby's 'She blinded me with science' was originally released in October 1982 as a single in October 1982 and subsequently included on the second edition of his debut album 'The golden age of wireless'. The single only reached number 49 in the UK singles chart, but when it was released in the USA, it reached number 5 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The song's title 'She blinded me with science' plays upon the British expression 'to blind with science', meaning to deliberately confuse someone by giving the impression of highly complex knowledge. In the song, however, the phrase is interpreted as a straightforward reference to the natural sciences. The song features interjections from the British scientist and TV presenter Magnus Pyke, who repeatedly shouts 'Science!' and delivers other lines in a deliberately over-the-top "mad scientist" voice.

My collection: 7" single no. 4337
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, December 1, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'She blinded me with science' / 'One of our submarines'

Right next door (Because of me) - Robert Cray

Robert Cray was born on August 1, 1953. By the age of twenty, he had seen Albert Collins, Freddie King and Muddy Waters live, and decided to form his own band. After years of regional success, Robert Cray was signed to a record company in 1982. He released his breakthrough album 'Strong persuader' in 1986.

The single 'Right next door' was released in the summer of 1987, and it was his first international success, peaking at number 50 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4335
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, December 1, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Right next door (because of me)' / 'New blood'

Shame - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

'Shame' was released as the third single from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's 1987 album 'The pacific age'. The band had suggested another track, 'Stay', as a possible single from the album, but label Virgin thought 'Shame' had more potential. The band relented, although feeling the album version was a bit slow, they re-recorded the track with producer Rhett Davies.

The single, released in May 1987, was not the big success that it was hoped to be, reaching only number 52 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4334
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, December 1, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Shame (re-recorded version)' / 'Goddess of love'

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'