The word girl - Scritti Politti

'The word girl' was released as the fourth single from Scritti Politti's 1985 album 'Cupid & Psyche 85'. It turned out to be the band's biggest hit, peaking at number 6 in the UK singles chart. It also charted in the Netherlands, where it reached number 16 in the Dutch Top 40.

The song has a similar sound to many of the other group's songs, with a reggae rhythm, a smooth R&B-inspired sound with Green Gartside's soulful vocals on top.

My collection: 7" single no. 462
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'The word girl' / 'Flesh & blood'

Give me a break - Renée

Released as a single in 1982, Renée had no success with 'Give me a break', a track from the compilation album 'Sometimes you cry'. The song sounded a lot like previous singles from the band, and presumably the listeners had had enough of the band. Although they continued to perform live for years, they would have no further chart success.

My collection: 7" single no. 1835
Found: Record Palace, Amsterdam, January 13, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Give me a break' / 'She's a star'

Piano man - Billy Joel

'Piano man' is a fictionalized retelling of real people Joel met during his days as a piano-lounge singer in Los Angeles, after the failure of his first album, 'Cold spring harbor'. At the time, Joel was trying to get out of a bad deal with the record company Family Productions, so, according to Joel, he was 'hiding out' at the bar, performing under the name Bill Martin while Columbia Records tried to get him out of the deal.

When the song was released as a single in 1975, it gave him his first hit: it peaked at number 25 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1569
Found: All that music, Leiden, January 2, 1992
Cost: 4 guilders
Tracks: 'Piano man' / 'You're my home'

Serious - Duran Duran

By the time 'Serious' was released as the second single from Duran Duran's 1990 album 'Liberty', interest in the album had already waned. Poor promotion, including a decision not to tour in support of the album, led the single to stall at number 48 in the UK singles chart. This was the band's worst charting single up until then.

Due to the commercial failure of this single, plans for future singles were shelved. The third single in the USA was to have been the rock track 'First impression', while in Europe EMI would have released the album's title track 'Liberty'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2276
Found: April 23, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Serious' / 'Yo bad Azizi'

Moon over Bourbon Street - Sting

'Moon over Bourbon Street' is a track from Sting's debut solo album 'The dream of the blue turtles'. The lyric of the song was inspired by the book 'Interview with the vampire' by Anne Rice.

It was released in early 1986 as the fifth and last single from the album. Although released all over Europe, it only managed a number 44 placing in the UK singles chart. My copy of the single comes with a German press information insert.

My collection: 7" single no. 1877
Found: Record fair, March 27, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Moon over Bourbon Street' / 'Mack the Knife'

As one - Sam Brown

'As one' was the final single taken from Sam Brown's 1989 album 'April moon'. As far as I know, there was no cd-single release, only a 12" single and a 7" single - which in 1990 was quite unusual.

The choice of this track for a single was quite unusual too, as it was not particularly a standout track on the album. Furthermore, the single was barely promoted, and so it sank without a trace.

My collection: 7" single no. 1316
Found: London, October 15, 1990
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'As one' / 'Think about your troubles'

Manzanar - Cock Robin

Cock Robin released the second single from their third album 'First love last rites' in early 1990. 'Manzanar' was an album track, coupled with a non-album track 'We've changed'. The single was not a commercial success, as it didn't chart in any territory.

Still, a third single, 'Straighter line' was released a few months later. I have a cd-single of that single, but I've never been able to locate a 7" single of that title.

My collection: 7" single no. 1210
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, April 20, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Manzanar' / 'We've changed'

Late at night - Maywood

The Dutch duo Maywood had several hits in the Netherlands, but none of them was as big as 'Late at night'. This single reached number 1 in the Dutch Top 40 in the summer of 1980. There were actually many sultry nights during that summer when my sister, who owned a copy of this single, played this song, and I will forever associate this song with hot summers for that reason.

One of the most fascinating features of this song are the vocals. Someone in the studio must not have been paying attention: you constantly hear 'Late at nighT / Early in the morning lighT'.

My collection: 7" single no. 961
Found: All that music, Leiden, August 10, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Late at night' / 'One, two, three'

Wishful thinking - China Crisis

'Wishful thinking' was the third single from the album 'Working with fire & steel' by China Crisis. When the song was released as a single, it became an international success, reaching number 9 in the UK singles chart - their only top 10 hit in the UK - and number 14 in the Dutch Top 40. Since then, it has become one of the classic songs from the Eighties, appearing on numerous compilation albums.

My collection: 7" single no. 2588
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, December 30, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Wishful thinking' / 'This occupation'

Flesh for fantasy - Billy Idol

Released in September 1984, 'Flesh for fantasy' was the third single from Billy Idol's third solo album 'Rebel Yell'. After the international success of the previous single 'Eyes without a face', this single did almost equally well, reaching number 11, 20 and 30 in Germany, Switzerland and Italy respectively. The single also reached number 54 in the UK singles chart and number 29 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

In the UK, the single was issued in a gatefold sleeve. I was happy to find one of these, 14 years after its original release.

My collection: 7" single no. 2985
Found: House of Rhythm, London, May 23, 1998
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Flesh for fantasy' / 'Blue highway'

Pearl in the shell - Howard Jones

'Pearl in the shell' was the fourth and final single from Howard Jones' debut album 'Human's lib'. The track features a saxophone solo by Davey Payne of Ian Dury's band The Blockheads. Released in May 1984, the single reached number 7 in the UK singles chart.

This single, although made in Germany, comes in a poster sleeve. A similar poster sleeve was released as a limited edition in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 347
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Pearl in the shell' / 'Law of the jungle'

Ik dans dus ik besta - Het Goede Doel

Sometimes, when you're buying records, you find something you didn't know about. It's these nice surprises that makes all the record hunting so worthwhile. This 12" single is a very good example: there aren't that many extended remixes of Dutch songs, certainly from circa 1986.

And yet, here it is: a remix version of 'Ik dans dus ik besta' ('I dance, therefore I am') by the Dutch group Het Goede Doel. And it is quite a rare version: as far as I know it has never been released on cd. Finding this 12" single was a very nice surprise.

My collection: 12" single no. 524
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Ik dans dus ik besta (Special maxi version)' / 'Ik dans dus ik besta (instrumental)'

Bem bom - Doce

The female quartet Doce, consisting of Laura Diogo, Lena Coelho, Fátima Padinha and Teresa Miguel, represented Portugal during the 1982 Eurovision Song Contest with the catchy pop song 'Bem bom' ('Very good'). During their performance, the four women were dressed in musketeer outfits.

They finished 13th in a field of 18 competitors. The single was released in several European countries, but failed to chart outside of Portugal.

My collection: 7" single no. 4400
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Bem bom (English version)' / 'Bem bom (Portuguese version)'

Tomb of memories - Paul Young

I bought a copy of 'Tomb of memories' for something quite close to nothing in July 2009, although I was aware of the limited edition double single version. I didn't really think I would find it so fast for such a reasonable price.

This limited edition double single has two live tracks on the second disc. It's nothing very special, but it is a double single. Did I ever mention that I am a sucker for such limited editions?

My collection: 7" single no. 4386
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 3,5 euro
Tracks: 'Tomb of memories' / 'Man in the iron mask' // 'Bite the hand that feeds (live)' / 'Love will tear us apart (live)'

Vamos a la playa - Righeira

'Vamos a la playa' was originally performed by the Mexican band Los Joao. Righeira recorded their version of the song in 1983. It reached number 53 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the Dutch Top 40.

This single features 'Vamos a la playa' on both sides - the labels give no further information. I'm not sure, but I think the B-side version is performed in Italian instead of Spanish.

My collection: 7" single no. 4384
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Vamos a la playa' / 'Vamos a la playa'

The eve of the war - Jeff Wayne

I've already got two copies of 'The eve of the war', namely the Dutch pressing and the UK pressing from 1978. When you listen to the version of 'The eve of the war' on this single, you will hear that it is performed by a different vocalist. And this is where the confusion begins...

When 'Eve of the war' was released as a single, Justin Hayward had already had a hit with 'Forever autumn'. There was no rights clearance for a single release of 'The eve of the war', and so Chris Thompson stepped in and sung an alternative version of the song. That version is featured on the 1978 singles - although the Justin Hayward version was also available circa 1978 when the rights issues were sorted out. This single was released in 1989, when Jeff Wayne's musical version of the War of the Worlds was re-released on lp and cd. And it features the Justin Hayward version! Obviously, I had to have this one as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 4382
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'The eve of the war' / 'The red weed'

Where did love go wrong - Belle and the Devotions

The response on this blog is sometimes very useful. Last year I found out that there are three singles by Belle and the Devotions: their Eurovision entry 'Love games' of course, 'Got to let you know', released in 1983, and this one: 'Where did love go wrong'.

It was of course just a matter of time until I would find this one. And as always, I found it in a place where I least expected it: in a second hand shop in Amsterdam. Like the other two singles, it sounds like a modern Motown track. And I guess that was the sound that the group was always going for. I have to say that in my opinion, this is the least interesting single of the three.

My collection: 7" single no. 4383
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Where did love go wrong' / 'When you're alone'

She loved like diamond - Spandau Ballet

'She loved like diamond' sounds a bit like a rough demo, and so it is quite a surprise to find that it is actually Spandau Ballet's sixth single, the third single taken from their second album 'Diamond'. Earlier singles like 'Muscle bound' and 'Chant no. 1' sound a lot more sophisticated than this track.

Perhaps this is also why it was less successful chart-wise: 'She loved like diamond' only reached number 49 in the UK singles chart, the lowest chart placing for any Spandau Ballet single up until then.

My collection: 7" single no. 4381
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'She loved like diamond' / 'She loved like diamond (instrumental)'

Fool's paradise - Rosie Vela

I was very excited to find this single by Rosie Vela. Not because it contained any new tracks (both the A-side and the B-side are taken from her 1986 album 'Zazu'), but because of the sleeve and the fact that I didn't really know this single existed. Sure, I do have the 12" single so it was only logical a 7" single would also exist, but I always assumed it was only released in the UK and with a sleeve similar to the 12" single version.

But this is German pressing, featuring 'Tonto' on the B-side instead of 'Interlude'. I can only assume that there's a different UK pressing of 'Fool's paradise' on 7" single somewhere too. I'll keep on searching...

My collection: 7" single no. 4380
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Fool's paradise' / 'Tonto'

Dansez maintenant - Dave

I don't remember this myself, but I am told that I was very much impressed with the song 'Dansez maintenant' by Dave when I was five years old. Dave was born as Wouter Otto Levenbach on May 4, 1944 in Amsterdam. He had a string of number 1 hits in France in the Seventies, but he remained virtually unknown in his country of origin.

The exception was 'Dansez maintenant', a track based on 'Moonlight serenade' by Glenn Miller and Mitchell Parish. It reached number 1 in the Dutch Top 40 in the autumn of 1975.

My collection: 7" single no. 4378
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Dansez maintenant' / 'Dimanche avec toi'