Puttin' on the ritz - Taco

Dutch singer Taco Ockerse made his debut in 1982 with a cover version of 'Puttin' on the ritz', which was written by Irving Berlin in 1929. The song was used in several movies, including 'Idiot's delight' (1939), performed by Clark Gable, and 'Blue skies' (1946), performed by Fred Astaire.

Taco's version included a tap dance solo as a tribute to Astaire. Also included in the recording are parts of 'White Christmas', 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' and 'There's No Business Like Show Business' (all written by Irving Berlin), and 'Gotta Dance' from the movie 'Singin' in the Rain'. Taco's single reached number 12 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 187
Found: Studio Echo, Den Haag, 1983
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Puttin' on the ritz' / 'Livin' in my dream world'

El Norte - Cock Robin

'El Norte' was the third and final single from Cock Robin's second album, 'After here through midland' (1987). It showed the first signs of the Spanish influences that would become more apparent on their next album, 'First love last rites' (1989).

The single was very unsuccessful, as it didn't chart in any territory. In fact, I only found out about its existance a few years after it was released.

My collection: 7" single no. 1480
Found: July 3, 1991
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'El Norte' / 'For dear life'

Luka - Suzanne Vega

'Luka' was a track on Suzanne Vega's second album 'Solitude standing'. It was released as a single in May 1987. The song was one of the earliest about the subject of child abuse and domestic violence.

The single reached number 23 in the UK singles chart, number 26 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, making it her biggest hit in the USA. This 10" single features two live track on the B-side, recorded at Piccadilly Theatre in London.

My collection: 10" single [unnumbered]
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 1993
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Luka' / 'Straight lines (live)', 'Neighborhood girls (live)'

Hanna Hanna - China Crisis

China Crisis released 'Hanna Hanna' in March 1984, after their first top 10 hit, 'Wishful thinking'. The single did not match that success, as it only reached number 44 in the UK singles chart and failed to chart in much of Europe - contrary to its predecessor.

The B-side is a live version of their debut single 'African and white', recorded at Reading University in January 1984.

My collection: 7" single no. 2113
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, June 11, 1994
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Hanna Hanna' / 'African and white (live)'

Dreamlover - Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey is one of those vocalists that people love or loathe. And of course, I'm in the latter category - and rightfully so. People who think that the woman can sing clearly have their ears clogged up. But the strange thing is, she did occasionally record a decent song. 'Dreamlover', taken from her fourth album 'Music box' was the one track that stood out amidst a pile of drivel.

The single reached number 1 in Canada and the USA, peaking at number 9 in the UK singles chart and number 8 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1995
Found: HMV, London, October 18, 1993
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Dreamlover' / 'Do you think of me'

Never gonna cry again - Eurythmics

The Eurythmics were one of the most successful bands of the Eighties, but their debut single went by almost unnoticed - except by me. My sister bought 'Never gonna cry again' when it was released and for a long time it was a favourite of ours. The spooky sleeve and the sad, melancholic song appealed enormously to us.

The song was produced by Conny Plank and featured Holger Czukay from the band Can on French horn. Annie Lennox performed a flute solo, one of the few times that she actually used the instrument during her pop career, despite having studied it at the prestigious Royal College of Music in London. The single reached number 63 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 215
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1983
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Never gonna cry again' / 'Le sinistre'

Driver's seat - Sniff 'n' the tears

The genesis of 'Driver's seat' dates back to 1973 and a demo tape recorded for a French record label by singer/guitarist Paul Roberts for the band Ashes of Moon. However, that band broke up and, at the suggestion of drummer Luigi Salvoni, Roberts reformed it as Sniff 'n' the Tears with guitarists Laurence 'Loz' Netto and Nick Dyche and bassist Nick South. They shopped the demo tape and signed with the small Chiswick label in 1977. They recorded 'Driver's seat' in 1978 on their debut album 'Fickle heart'.

According to Paul Roberts, 'Driver's seat' isn't about driving, but rather 'fragmented, conflicting thoughts and emotions that might follow the break-up of a relationship'. The single peaked at number 4 in the Dutch Top 40 in 1980, but resurfaced in 1992 when it was used in a Pioneer commercial, reaching number 1 on that occasion.

My collection: 7" single no. 924
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 25, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Driver's seat' / 'Slide away'

Humanahum - Jean Gabilou

Jean Gabilou was born in Tahiti and became the first singer from French overseas territory to represent France at the Eurovision Song Contest. He did so in 1981, with the song 'Humanahum'. The title may seem nonsensical, but the message is quite serious: the lyric is about an old man teaching a group of children about life on Earth. Gabilou sings that because humanity 'invented the war', the Earth eventually could not support life. The song, therefore, is a plea for global peace.

The song finished third in the contest, out of 20 competitors. France famously opted out of the Contest the next year, with the national broadcaster calling Eurovision 'a monument to inanity'. France returned in 1983 with a different broadcaster sending the artists.

My collection: 7" single no. 4345
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, December 1, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Humanahum (Version Française)' / 'Humanahum (English version)'

All for Leyna - Billy Joel

Taken from Billy Joel's 1980 album 'Glass houses', 'All for Leyna' is the tale of someone who meets a girl names Leyna, and after a one night stand, becomes obsessed with her. At the time, Billy Joel sang his songs with a biting aggressiveness that made this track that much more attractive.

'All for Leyna' reached number 40 in the UK singles chart, but failed to chart in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 1840
Found: Record fair, January 23, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'All for Leyna' / 'Close to the borderline'

You could have been with me - Sheena Easton

'You could have been with me' was the title track from Sheena Easton's second album, released in 1981. The song was composed by Lea Maalfrid who had had considerable success in her native New Zealand as frontwoman for glam rock band Ragnarok. Maalfrid had little awareness of Sheena Easton and 'wasn't too bothered [i.e. interested]' about Easton recording her song. When the song turned out to be successful, Maalfrid abandoned her own singing career in favour of songwriting.

The single reached number 14 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 15 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the UK, the single only reached number 54, showing the first signs of Easton's career being more successful in America than in her native Great Britain.

My collection: 7" single no. 103
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'You could have been with me' / 'Family of one'

Hijo de la luna - Mecano

The fairytale-like 'Hijo de la luna', recorded in 1990 by the Spanish band Mecano, was a major European hit. It reached number 3 in the Dutch Top 40, despite the fact that even most of the Dutch can't understand Spanish.

The lyric of the song depicts a 'gypsy' woman, who prays an entire night to the Moon goddess for a husband. In the end, the moon says that she shall have her man, but in return she wants her first-born child to be turned over to her. When the child is born, it turns out that its skin color does not resemble the father's, but instead is white 'like the back of an ermine' (the white fur of a stoat originating from Armenia), and has grey eyes. The gypsy man automatically assumes that his wife committed adultery, and kills her with a knife. Afterwards, he carries the infant onto the top of a mountain, where he abandons it. The child is taken up into the sky by the moon, and on nights when the moon is full, it is because the child is happy, and when the child cries, the moon will wane to make him a cradle. The chorus throughout the song says that the moon wants to be a mother, yet cannot find a lover who will make her a woman (and therefore, impregnate her), and questions her as to what she would do with a child of flesh.

My collection: 7" single no. 1242
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, June 9, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Hijo de la luna' / 'Mujer contra mujer'

Burning the ground - Duran Duran

When Duran Duran's compilation album 'Decade: Greatest hits' was released in 1989, 'Burning the ground' was released as the accompanying single (although the track did not appear on the album). It is essentially a megamix of Duran Duran hits, created by producer John Jones.

'Burning the ground' contains elements from 'Save a prayer', 'Hungry like the wolf', 'Rio', 'The reflex', 'The wild boys', 'Skin trade', 'A view to a kill', 'Notorious', 'I don't want your love', 'Planet earth' and 'Girls on film'. The song also uses several samples from the 1968 erotic science fiction movie 'Barbarella', from which the band took their name.

My collection: 7" single no. 2319
Found: Record fair, June 3, 1995
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Burning the ground' / 'Decadance'

Souvenir - Orchestral manoeuvres in the Dark

I bought a European pressing of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's 1981 single 'Souvenir' just last month, but when I saw this UK pressing, I just couldn't resist buying this one too. And for good reason, too: the picture label is so beautiful that the sleeve was made to fit the label.

What's more, where the European single only contains the B-side track 'Sacred heart', this one also contains a second B-side track. All in all, quite a good package here.

My collection: 7" single no. 4267
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Souvenir' / 'Motion & heart (Amazon version)', 'Sacred heart'

Preacher man - Bananarama

Bananarama's fifth studio album 'Pop life' was the only one to feature member Jacquie O'Sullivan, who replaced Siobhan Fahey when she left the trio in 1988. The album was made without the involvement of Stock Aitken & Waterman, who produced and co-wrote most of their two previous albums.

'Preacher man' was produced by Youth and was the most successful single from the album, although it peaked at number 20 in the UK singles chart only. It's obvious Bananarama were struggling a bit by 1991.

My collection: 7" single no. 4325
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, December 1, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Preacher man' / 'Megalomaniac'

Say you really want me - Kim Wilde

Although 'Say you really want me' was released as a single in the USA in late 1986, in conjunction with the movie 'Running scared' in which the song was featured, the single was only released in the UK and Australia in July 1987. The single featured a newly remixed version, made by Kim's brother Ricky Wilde.

Two videos were made for this release - one to accompany the 7" version, and a second extended one to promote the song in clubs. This video remix was also released in the UK on a second 12" single. The video was considered 'too raunchy' for children's television, and so it was banned by presenter Timmy Mallett. The single, meanwhile, reached number 29 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 555
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 7 guilders
Tracks: 'Say you really want me' / 'Don't say nothing's changed'

On Stage EP - Kate Bush

Back in 1979, Kate Bush went on tour. I was only eight years old when she came to Amsterdam, otherwise I would certainly have gone. In hindsight, I probably should have gone anyway, since the woman has never toured since. What a shame!

Although a full video was released in 1979 as well, featuring most of the show as recorded live on May 13, 1979, this single was the only official release on record of that tour. It features four live songs, which were tweaked and redubbed in the studio and, in the case of 'James and the cold gun', edited as well. The single reached number 10 in the UK singles chart, number 15 in Ireland and number 21 in the Dutch Top 40. There are rumours that the video will be released on dvd soon as well. Here's hoping...

My collection: 7" single no. 34
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1979
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Them heavy people', 'Don't push your foot on the heartbrake' / 'James and the cold gun', 'L'amour looks something like you'

The war song - Culture Club

Culture Club released their third album 'Waking up with the house on fire' in 1984. In an attempt to profit from their fame, the record company pushed them to come up with new material as soon as their world tour had ended. The band was a bit tired, and it can be heard in the songs on the album.

The lead single 'The war song' was not very inspired, but ended up being the one hit single from the album. It reached number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 5 in the Dutch Top 40. Subsequent singles were far less successful.

My collection: 7" single no. 2962
Found: February 9, 1998
Cost: 2,5 guilders
Tracks: 'The war song' / 'La cancion de guerra'

Old and wise - Alan Parsons Project

Here's another song that pops up on numerous compilation albums. Oddly enough, most albums use a shorter version than the one that appears on this version. It's a shame, because the saxophone solo at the end is a beautiful thing that deserves to be heard until the very last notes of the fade out.

'Old and wise' was taken from the Alan Parsons Project's 1982 album 'Eye in the sky'. It reached number 19 in the Dutch Top 40, but only managed number 74 in the UK singles chart during a one week chart run.

My collection: 7" single no. 180
Found: Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Old and wise' / 'Children of the moon'

Greenpeace - Teach-In

During a week when half the world is flying(!) to Copenhagen, Denmark to talk about the environment and how we humans are destroying our planet, I thought I might post a song that is slightly related to the subject. It's Teach-In's 1979 song 'Greenpeace', about the action group of the same name. It was a hit in the Netherlands for this Dutch group, peaking at number 10 in the Dutch Top 40.

The song was recorded both in Dutch and English, and both versions appear on the single. It's amusing that the English version contains a phrase like 'Rainbow Worrier'. The title of the song is sung as 'Green peas'.

My collection: 7" single no. 96
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1981
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Greenpeace (English version)' / 'Greenpeace (Nederlandse versie)'

Love games - Level 42

Level 42 had their first significant hart success with 'Love games', the first single from their 1981 album 'Level 42'. Peaking at number 38 in the UK singles chart, they managed a top 10 placing in the Netherlands, peaking at number 4 in the Dutch Top 40.

Although the band was not yet a household name, this early single already had all the hallmarks that would make them one of the hottest bands around in the second half of the Eighties: a bouncing bassline, lively vocals and a funky rhythm.

My collection: 7" single no. 1627
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, April 18, 1992
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Love games' / 'Forty two'