'Sunday girl' was the fourth single to be taken from Blondie's album 'Parallel lines'. Two versions of the song were included on the single: one in English and one in French. My copy of the single unfortunately didn't come in a picture sleeve - and so I'm still searching for one that does.
The single reached number 1 in the UK, Australia and Ireland, while also reaching number 13 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 176 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1981 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Sunday girl' / 'Sunday girl (French version)'
Although the intro of 'Shiny happy people' is a lovely melody, it doesn't sit well with the rest of the song, which is a pretty straightforward rock song. I've always had mixed feelings towards this song, but still felt positive enough to buy it when I did.
'Shiny happy people' was the second single from R.E.M.'s 1991 album 'Out of time'. The song features guest backing vocals by Kate Pierson of the B52's who also appeared in the song's music video. The single peaked at number 10 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 6 in the UK singles chart and number 10 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 1510 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, August 17, 1991 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Shiny happy people' / 'Forty second song'
Last week, my wife came home from the local Kringloop shop with two singles, one of them being 'Save your love (for #1)' by René and Angela. The other one was 'Pass the dutchie' by Musical Youth. Although the sleeve was in perfect shape, unfortunately it contained the wrong single. When I went shopping yesterday, I found the single once more, and so I now own it.
Musical Youth recorded 'Pass the Dutchie' in 1982. It was a major hit, reaching number 1 in the UK and the Netherlands in the autumn of 1982. It was a cover version of the song 'Pass the Koutchie' by The Mighty Diamonds, which deals with the recreational use of cannabis. For the cover version, the song's title was changed to 'Pass the Dutchie', and all obvious drug references were removed from the lyrics.
My collection: 7" single no. 4454 Found: Kringloop, Lisse, January 23, 2010 Cost: 0,7 euro Tracks: 'Pass the Dutchie' / 'Please give love a chance'
At the time of its release in February 1983, I thought that Christopher Cross's 'All right' was one of the dullest songs on the planet. But 27 years later, you can see that I've changed my mind. The fact is, these days it's hard to find any melodic pop songs anymore and it's good to be able to travel back to the early Eighties via singles like this.
'All right' is a track from the album 'Another page', also released in 1983. It reached number 16 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 51 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 4453 Found: Kringloop, Lisse, January 23, 2010 Cost: 0,7 euro Tracks: 'All right' / 'Long world'
According to Phil Collins, 'Sussudio' is the result of an improvisation. He was just playing around with a drum machine, and the lyric 'sus-sussudio' was what came out of his mouth. 'So I kinda knew I had to find something else for that word, then I went back and tried to find another word that scanned as well as 'sussudio', and I couldn't find one, so I went back to 'sussudio',' Collins explained. The lyrics are about a schoolboy crush on a girl at school.
The single reached number 3 in the Dutch Top 40, number 12 in the UK singles chart and number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 4452 Found: Kringloop, Lisse, January 23, 2010 Cost: 0,7 euro Tracks: 'Sussudio' / 'The man with the horn'
Alan Merrill and Jake Hooker from The Arrows wrote 'I love Rock 'n Roll' in 1975. They recorded the track on RAK Records, produced by Mickie Most. Although not a chart hit because the label did not promote the song, it did catch the attention of Joan Jett when the Arrows performed the song on their weekly television series The Arrows Show.
She first recorded the song in 1979 with two of the Sex Pistols: Steve Jones and Paul Cook. This first version was not released until 1993 on the album 'Flashback'. In 1982, Jett re-recorded the song, this time with her band, The Blackhearts, and this recording became a U.S. Billboard Hot 100 1 single for seven weeks. The single also hit number 1 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 4 in the UK singles chart. Let us forget about the lifeless version by Britney Spears in 2002, shall we?
My collection: 7" single no. 4451 Found: Kringloop, Lisse, January 23, 2010 Cost: 0,7 euro Tracks: 'I love Rock 'n Roll' / 'Love is pain'
Leif Garrett was born as Leif Per Nervik on November 8, 1961. He started his career in entertainment at just five years old, acting in several television series in America. In 1976, he signed a recording contract and released his self-titled debut album. His second album 'Feel the need' spawned the single 'I was made for dancin'', which became his first worldwide hit single, reaching number 10 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 11 in the Dutch Top 40. Subsequent singles and albums couldn't match this succcess however.
I bought a copy of this single - a UK pressing with a custom record company sleeve - already in 1979 during a holiday in London, which would have placed it among the first 30 singles in my current collection. However, not long after that holiday, my sister talked me into swapping the single for a different one out of her collection, and as I didn't play that single often enough, I agreed. Now, 30 years later, the single is back in my possession: an American pressing in a picture sleeve.
My collection: 7" single no. 4450 Found: Kringloop, Lisse, January 23, 2010 Cost: 0,7 euro Tracks: 'I was made for dancin'' / 'Living without your love'
This is one single I almost didn't buy because I thought I already had it. I didn't, but the sleeve looks awfully familiar. I just can't work out where I might have seen it.
Anyway: 'Worn down piano' is one of the most interesting songs from 1977. Split into two parts, the full length of the song is over eight minutes. The lyric tells a story of an old piano that's about to be auctioned off, while a poor man plays the most beautiful melodies on it. The single reached number 8 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 4449 Found: Kringloop, Lisse, January 23, 2010 Cost: 0,7 euro Tracks: 'Worn down piano (part 1)' / 'Worn down piano (part 2)'
Lipps Inc. (pronounced like 'lip sync') was a studio band that is quite basically the very definition of the term 'one hit wonder'. The group was formed in Minneapolis by Steven Greenberg, who wrote and produced all of the group's music, and who also played several musical instruments. The lead singer was Cynthia Johnson, and the rest of the group consisted of a changing group of session musicians.
The group released their debut album 'Mouth to mouth' in 1980. The single 'Funkytown' was taken from this album and became a number 1 hit in the USA, the Netherlands and several other European countries. In the UK singles chart it reached number 2. Their further singles failed to chart, and so Lipps Inc. gradually faded from view. They actually released four albums between 1980 and 1983, none of which attracted much attention.
My collection: 7" single no. 4448 Found: Kringloop, Sassenheim, January 23, 2010 Cost: 0,12 euro Tracks: 'Funkytown' / 'All night dancing'
Petra De Steur was born in Gent, Belgium on June 20, 1972. She was discovered in 1988 and scored a series of hits in Belgium between 1989 and 1992 as Petra & Co. 'Jij daar', a dance song produced by wellknown producer Phil de Wilde (who's worked with Kabouter Plop, K-Otic and Kate Ryan) and low on substance, was their second hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 8 in the Dutch Top 40.
She reinvented herself in 2006 and is known since then as La Sakhra.
My collection: 7" single no. 4447 Found: Kringloop, Sassenheim, January 23, 2010 Cost: 0,12 euro Tracks: 'Jij daar!' / 'Where and when'
The biggest hit of 1982 in the Netherlands was 'Someone loves you honey' by June Lodge and Prince Mohammed. This reggae version of a country and western tune topped the charts in Jamaica and went on to chart all over Europe.
Although the record was a big hit, it bankrupted producer Joe Gibbs, as he had failed to pay royalties to the songwriter. An album of the same name, featuring the deejay talents of Prince Mohammed was released in 1982.
My collection: 7" single no. 4446 Found: Kringloop, Sassenheim, January 23, 2010 Cost: 0,12 euro Tracks: 'Someone loves you honey' / 'Stay in tonight'
'Hot love' is the second single from Five Star's self-titled 1990 album. The single was, like the album, recorded in their new studio built in the grounds of their family home in Ascot, Berkshire. When the single only reached number 68 in the UK singles chart, the press were quick to declare Five Star's bankruptcy, although the band refuted those claims, saying that they were in fact very happy and wealthy, after all the fortunes their previous hits had brought them.
Still, bad times were ahead as the album was shelved by the record company after the disappointing result of the single. The album was released in the USA, and only available as an import in the UK. The band subsequently left Epic and pursued a career in the United States.
My collection: 7" single no. 4445 Found: Kringloop, Sassenheim, January 23, 2010 Cost: 0,12 euro Tracks: 'Hot love' / 'Act one'
The singing aspirations of the actors from the popular evening drama 'Dallas' has led to some pretty embarrassing results. Readers of this blog have already heard the single by Charlene Tilton, and here is another shocking example.
Mireille Mathieu and Patrick Duffy recorded 'Together we're strong' in 1983 when Duffy appeared in Mathieu's French television show. The song, which was written by Ralph Siegel and Richard Palmer James, was released as a single and, unbelievably, became a hit all over Europe. In the Dutch Top 40, 'Together we're strong' landed at number 5. I bought this single strictly for its comedy value.
My collection: 7" single no. 4444 Found: Kringloop, Sassenheim, January 23, 2010 Cost: 0,12 euro Tracks: 'Together we're strong' / 'Something's going on'
Producer Hans van Hemert formed Veronica Unlimited on the occasion of the 12,5 year jubilee of the Dutch broadcaster Veronica's Dutch Top 40. His idea to make a disco medley of old hits, combined with jingles from Radio Veronica, was realised by singers such as Margriet Eshuijs and Sandra Reemer, although the line-up soon changed to include four German singers: Manfred Kohler, Edna Bejarano, Gabi Kreutz and Angie Kreutz.
'What kind of dance is this' was the group's first single and also their biggest hit. It reached number 2 in the Dutch Top 40 in the summer of 1977. The B-side of this single features a disco version of the classic melody 'Für Elise'. Subsequent releases couldn't match this success, and ultimately the group broke up in 1981.
My collection: 7" single no. 4443 Found: Kringloop, Sassenheim, January 23, 2010 Cost: 0,12 euro Tracks: 'What kind of dance is this' / 'Ferme la porte'
The band Grace, then without apostrophe, is founded in 1968 by Henk van der Burgh and his two brothers Frans and John, together with Ronald Dobber and Guido Collard. The band plays predominantly covers. In 1970, John and Frans van der Burgh leave the band, and they are replaced by Ed Kemperman and Peter de Wijn. Their debut single 'I hear music' is released in 1975, but it doesn't chart. Two further singles also flop.
In 1979, singer Gerda van den Outenaar joins the band. It ultimately results in a change of the band name in 1983 to G'Race and a contract with a bigger record company. G'Race's first single 'Manhattan' is released and peaks at number 4 in the Dutch Top 40. It's the first of three hit singles, after which the band keeps trying for success without results.
My collection: 7" single no. 4442 Found: Kringloop, Sassenheim, January 23, 2010 Cost: 0,12 euro Tracks: 'Manhattan' / 'Manhattan (part 2)'
Arthur Baker was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on April 22, 1955. During the Seventies he started working as a DJ in the Boston area. In 1981, he moved to New York, where he continued to work as a DJ, while also moving into production. He produced amongst others Afrika Bambaataa and Planet Patrol.
In the late Eighties and early Nineties, Baker worked with soul star Al Green, writing and producing the international hit 'The message is love'. The single reached number 8 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 38 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 4441 Found: Kringloop, Sassenheim, January 23, 2010 Cost: 0,12 euro Tracks: 'The message is love' / 'The message is love (Cupid mix)'
'Gonna make you a star' was released in the autumn of 1974 as a single by David Essex. The song was written by himself and produced by Jeff Wayne. The record features a prominent use of the synthesizer.
The single reached number 1 in the UK singles chart, spending three weeks at the top in November 1974. In the Dutch Top 40, where it entered in January 1975, it peaked at number 12.
My collection: 7" single no. 4440 Found: Kringloop, Sassenheim, January 23, 2010 Cost: 0,12 euro Tracks: 'Gonna make you a star' / 'Window'
'Everything I own' was written by David Gates to be recorded by his band Bread in 1972 on their album 'Baby I'm a want you'. Although the song is frequently interpreted as a romantic love song, Gates actually wrote the song as a tribute to his late father. It quickly became a popular standard, recorded by artists such as Olivia Newton-John, Rod Steward, Chrissie Hynde... and Boy George.
Boy George's version was a reggae treatment of the song, released as his debut solo single after Culture Club split up in 1987. Coming at the time of his arrest for possession of heroin it provided a major boost to his career. It was a number 1 in many countries, including the UK, Italy, Norway, Canada and South Africa. In the Dutch Top 40, the single peaked at number 3 - Boy George's only top 10 hit in the Netherlands to this day.
My collection: 7" single no. 4439 Found: Kringloop, Sassenheim, January 23, 2010 Cost: 0,12 euro Tracks: 'Everything I own' / 'Use me'
When Barbra Streisand asked Barry Gibb to write an album for her, he not only contributed his songs, but also his voice, as well as producing the whole thing. The title track, 'Guilty', was actually recorded as a duet between Streisand and Gibb, and subsequently released as a single too.
The single peaked at number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 34 in the UK singles chart and number 12 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 4438 Found: Kringloop, Sassenheim, January 23, 2010 Cost: 0,12 euro Tracks: 'Guilty' / 'Life story'
'Lost in music' was originally a track on Sister Sledge's 1979 album 'We are family'. I've had the 1984 release of the single for almost 10 years now, but this is the original release from 1979. It features a version of the track 'Thinking of you' on the B-side.
The single reached number 15 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 4437 Found: Kringloop, Sassenheim, January 23, 2010 Cost: 0,12 euro Tracks: 'Lost in music' / 'Thinking of you'
'Sunday girl' was the fourth single to be taken from Blondie's album 'Parallel lines'. Two versions of the song were included on the single: one in English and one in French. My copy of the single unfortunately didn't come in a picture sleeve - and so I'm still searching for one that does.
