In the Dutch mountains - The Nits

The Dutch band The Nits released the album 'In the Dutch mountains' in October 1987. The title track was released as the first single, reaching number 14 in the Dutch Top 40. The band decided to go back to basics and record this album live to two-track in their own rehearsal space to, in their own words, 'reproduce the special atmosphere of a Nits concert'.

The album was the first to be released in the UK and the USA. While the single 'In the Dutch mountains' was a success in several European countries, the album failed to receive similar commercial acclaim. This copy of the single was made in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 1031
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'In the Dutch mountains' / 'Strangers of the night'

Hourglass - Clannad

'Hourglass' and 'Theme from Harry's Game' were released as a double A-side single by Clanad in 1989 to promote the greatest hits album 'Pastpresent'. 'Hourglass' was a new track, whereas 'Theme from Harry's Game' was (and still is) Clannad's biggest hit to date.

While 'Pastpresent' became Clannad's best selling album, reaching number 5 in the UK albums chart, this single did not chart at all.

My collection: 7" single no. 1055
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Hourglass' / 'Theme from Harry's Game'

Bad romance - Lady Gaga

'Bad romance' was released in October 2009 as the first single from Lady Gaga's second album 'The fame monster'. The lyric of the song talks about exploring the joys of a bad romance while referencing Alfred Hitchcock films in some of the verses.

The single reached number 1 in the UK singles chart as well as in Ireland, Canada, Sweden, Austria and Denmark. The song is in the Dutch Top 40 right now, climbing to number 14 this week. As usual for a Lady Gaga single, 'Bad Romance' was released on a 7" picture disc as well as several other formats.

My collection: 7" single no. 4347
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, December 19, 2009
Cost: 5,9 euro
Tracks: 'Bad romance (radio edit)' / 'Paparazzi (DJ Dan club remix)'

Boys keep swinging - David Bowie

'Boys keep swinging' was the single from, and preceded the release of, David Bowie's 1979 album 'Lodger'. During the sessions for the album Bowie wanted to capture a garage band style for the track. He asked guitarist Carlos Alomar to play the drums and drummer Dennis Davis to play bass. The intention, according to Bowie, was to suggest 'young kids in the basement just discovering their instruments'.

The single reached number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 17 in the Dutch Top 40 when it was released in April 1979. 'Boys keep swinging' was not released in the USA because of, let's face it, homophobia. They couldn't handle the line 'When you're a boy / Other boys check you out' and the fact that the music video starred three drag queens on backing vocals.

My collection: 7" single no. 91
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1980
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Boys keep swinging' / 'Fantastic voyage'

A winter's tale - David Essex

Today most of the country was covered in snow. It immediately made me think of David Essex's 1982 single 'A winter's tale'. The song is not necessarily a winter song, but rather a lovesong about a relationship gone sour.

In the UK singles chart, 'A winter's tale' reached number 2. In the Netherlands, where David Essex hadn't been in the charts in 1978, the single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2810
Found: Present @ Den Haag
Cost: -
Tracks: 'A winter's tale' / 'Verity'

Like a mountain (remix) - Soulsister

After the success of Soulsister's single 'The way to your heart', the previous single 'Like a mountain' was re-released in a remixed version. It was a small success in Belgium, but in other countries, this single did not follow in the footsteps of 'The way to your heart'.

My collection: 7" single no. 946
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, July 21, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Like a mountain (remix)' / 'Car'

Black Betty - Ram Jam

'Black Betty' is a 20th century African-American work song often credited to Huddie 'Lead Belly' Ledbetter as the author, though the earliest recordings are not by him. Some sources claim it is one of Lead Belly's many adaptations of earlier folk material; in this case an 18th century marching cadence about a flint-lock rifle.

In 1977 the rock band Ram Jam recorded a heavy version of the song. The single reached number 18 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, despite a boycott by civil rights groups who claimed the track insulted black women. In the Netherlands, the single reached number 4 and in the UK singles chart it reached number 7.

My collection: 7" single no. 1861
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, January 30, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Black Betty' / 'I should have known'

The dead heart - Midnight Oil

The Australian band Midnight Oil specialises in songs with lots of socially conscious and political comments. 'The dead heart' refers to early white settlement in Australia, from the perspective of the Aborigines who had laid claim to the land prior to the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788. The song also gives a mention to the industrialisation of Australia with the words 'Mining companies, pastoral companies, uranium companies, collected companies / Got more right than people / Got more say than people'.

Although originally released in 1986 in Australia, the single was only released in Europe in 1988 after the single 'Beds are burning' had become a worldwide hit. The less accessible 'The dead heart' only managed to reach number 62 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 769
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 16, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'The dead heart' / 'Kosciusko'

Endless road - Time Bandits

The Time Bandits scored another hit in the Netherlands with the single 'Endless road' in the summer of 1985. Having had a successful run of hits since the early Eighties, it was not much of a surprise that this one reached number 16 in the Dutch Top 40.

It was a surprise, however, that I found a UK pressing of this single nine years ago. The international career of the Time Bandits never took off, despite some interesting collaborations with American producer Dan Hartman.

My collection: 7" single no. 3195
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 16, 2000
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Endless road' / 'Fiction'

Mindworks - Sam Brown

'Mindworks' was released as the fourth single from Sam Brown's 1990 album 'April moon'. In the UK, a strictly limited edition featured a pop-up gatefold sleeve, with part of the lyric of the song and Sam Brown's head popping out.

Still, the single did not chart in any territory. Remarkably, the record company did not give up after this and released one more single from the album: 'As one'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1309
Found: HMV, London, October 15, 1990
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Mindworks' / 'No man is an island'

When doves cry - Prince

I've never actually seen a dove cry, but I guess that's a poetic license the Purple Majesty took on himself in this song. Prince wrote and composed the tracks after all the other tracks on the album 'Purple rain' (which was also the soundtrack to the movie of the same name) were complete. In addition to vocals, he also played all instruments on the track. Remarkably, there is no bass line in the track. Prince has said that there originally was a bass line, but decided that the song was too conventional with it.

The song was released as the first single from the album, peaking at number 10 in the UK singles chart and number 5 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 237
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1984
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'When doves cry' / '17 days (the rain will come down, then U will have 2 choose. If U believe, look 2 the dawn and U shall never lose)'

Walking down your street - The Bangles

Following up the massive hit 'Walk like an Egyptian' was quite a chore for the Bangles, as they didn't have a lot of these unusual tracks on their album 'Different light'. In the end, the record company opted for 'Walking down your street', in a slightly remixed version when compared to the album version. In the UK, they released the single in a limited edition double pack with 'Walk like an Egyptian' as the free second single.

Of course, this single scored less well. It peaked at number 16 in the UK singles chart and number 33 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 504
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Walking down your street' / 'Return post' // 'Walk like an Egyptian' / 'Not like you'

Just an illusion - Imagination

'Just an illusion' was written by Leee John and Ashley Ingram from the band Imagination, together with their producers Steve Jolley and Tony Swain. The smooth soul sound of the track appealed to a lot of listeners.

When the track was released as a single in March 1982, it became the band's biggest hit, peaking at number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 8 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2054
Found: November 20, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Just an illusion' / 'Just an illusion (instrumental)'

Lost without your love - Bread

Bread broke up in 1974 and lead singer David Gates launched a solo career, as well as Jimmy Griffin. The band come back together in 1976 when their record label expressed interest in another album. David Gates, Jimmy Griffin, Mike Botts and Larry Knechtel returned to the studio that year and recorded the album 'Lost without your love', which was released in January 1977.

The title track, written and sung by Gates, was the band's last top 10 hit in the USA, peaking at number 9 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the Dutch Top 40, the single reached number 14 and in the UK singles chart it got as far as number 27.

My collection: 7" single no. 1235
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 25, 1990
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Lost without your love' / 'Change of heart'

You treated me wrong - Maywood

The sisters Alie and Doetie de Vries, calling themselves Alice May and Caren Wood, started singing at a very early age. The joined the Karina's in 1974, moving on to the country group Colt 45 in 1976 and in 1977 forming the duo The Lady Pop's. In 1978 they decided to continue as Maywood.

'You treated me wrong' was their second single, produced by ex-Kayak drummer Pim Koopman, who had just started producing. Although the single only reached number 32, it was their first Dutch Top 40 hit and the start of a very successful career.

My collection: 7" single no. 782
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 24, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'You treated me wrong' / 'I can't let you go now'

Saltwater - Julian Lennon

Julian Lennon sounds a lot like his famous father on this 1991 single, 'Saltwater'.The song combines subtle melodies with a lyric full of environmentally conscious themes such as pollution and poverty. The many marvels and feats of human civilization are in sharp contrast with the way we handle our planet. The track features George Harrison on lead guitar.

This first single from Julian Lennon's 1991 album 'Help yourself' became his biggest hit in the UK, peaking at number 6 during a 13 week chart run. In the Netherlands, it peaked at number 15.

My collection: 7" single no. 1531
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, September 28, 1991
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Saltwater' / 'Rebel king (edit)'

What is love - Howard Jones

'What is love?' was Howard Jones' second single, released in November 1983. It reached number 2 in the UK singles chart. What's more, the single was his international breakthrough. It became a hit in various European countries and peaked at number 33 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart during the summer of 1984.

I got to know Howard Jones thanks to the single 'What is love?' and I bought it within days of hearing it - which I didn't do very often in 1983 because of lack of money. Since then, I've bought every Howard Jones single and album.

My collection: 7" single no. 220
Found: LP Top 100, 1983
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'What is love?' / 'It just doesn't matter'

Am I losing you forever - Mai Tai

Although Mai Tai made a name for themselves with dance hits like 'Body and soul' and 'History', they tried their luck in 1985 with the ballad 'Am I losing you forever'. Contrary to most Dutch productions, this track had an international sound: it might as well have been sung by an American soul trio.

International success did not follow for this particular single, but it did reach number 27 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 941
Found: All that music, Leiden, July 7, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Am I losing you forever' / 'The rhythm of the street'

Wow - Kate Bush

'Wow' was released as the second single from Kate Bush's second album 'Lionheart'. The single featured an edited version of the song, although it is not actually labelled as such: the first 12 seconds of synthesizer chords were removed from the track.

Released in March 1979, the single peaked at number 14 in the UK singles chart and number 17 in Ireland .

My collection: 7" single no. 675
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1988
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Wow' / 'Fullhouse'

One more night - Phil Collins

Phil Collins was playing around with a drum machine when he started saying the chorus of 'One more night'. He later recalled that 'the rest of the song was written very quickly'.

The track was recorded for Collins' 1985 album 'No jacket required' and released as its second single. It reached number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 15 in the Dutch Top 40. My copy was made in France and turned up in a record shop discount bin four years after its release.

My collection: 7" single no. 713
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, January 5, 1989
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'One more night' / 'I like the way'