Fields of gold - Sting

Although 'Fields of gold' was covered by Eva Cassidy and reportedly brought many people to tears, it still is a bit of an overlooked Sting classic. He wrote and recorded the track on his 1993 album 'Ten summoner's tales'. It was released as the third single from the album that year.

The single reached number 23 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 16 in the UK singles chart and number 52 in Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 2392
Found: Marlyn Music, Eastbourne, July 5, 1995
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Fields of gold' / 'We work the black seam'

Come closer - Renée

'Come closer' is another single by the Dutch band Renée that didn't make the Dutch Top 40. Not that the track wasn't promoted: several television appearances have survived the three decades since its release (see here and here).

I didn't like the song when it came out, but I appreciated it more in hindsight. This is why I bought the single 20 years after its original release.

My collection: 7" single no. 3272
Found: November 10, 2000
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Come closer' / 'It's absurd'

Right by your side - Eurythmics

One of the most successful collaborations in Eighties pop is the Eurythmics. Dave Stewart and Annie Lennox were continually changing their sound, releasing one hit single after another. 'Right by your side' was lyrically and sonically different from past single releases from the band. The track is an uptempo love song featuring calypso music, synthesized steel drum and marimba sounds as well as a horn section.

The track was released as the second single from Eurythmics' third album 'Touch'. It reached number 10 in the UK singles chart and number 20 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3097
Found: House of Rhythm, London, May 13, 1999
Cost: 40p
Tracks: 'Right by your side' / 'Right by your side (Party mix)'

So natural - Lisa Stansfield

After the big success of her first two albums and the track 'In all the right places' for the soundtrack of the movie 'Indecent proposal', Lisa Stansfield released her third solo album 'So natural' in 1993. It was her very first musical work almost entirely realized by the singer herself along with her husband and collaborator Ian Devaney. Previously, the pair had worked in a trio with Andy Morris, but he only shared writing credits on three tracks on this album.

It's all speculation whether this is really the cause, of course, but without Morris, Stansfield had a hard time maintaining her commercial success. The title track was released as a single, which reached number 15 in the UK singles chart but failed to reach the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1994
Found: HMV, London, October 18, 1993
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'So natural' / 'So natural (Roger's club mix)'

Tears on the telephone - Hot Chocolate

Although their success in the Seventies was phenomenal, in the early Eighties the success of the band Hot Chocolate headed for a steady decline. Their last big success was 1982's 'It started with a kiss', but subsequent singles didn't fare as well.

'Tears on the telephone', released in September 1983, was Hot Chocolate's last hit single in the Netherlands, peaking at number 14. It sold less well in the UK, where it only reached number 37.

My collection: 7" single no. 3121
Found: July 24, 1999
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Tears on the telephone' / 'It's my birthday'

Distant love - Maywood

1981 is a very successful year for the Dutch duo Maywood. They release three hit singles, of which 'Distant love' is the first, and they win the prestigious Silver Harp awards in the Netherlands. They also receive prizes and awards in Germany, Poland, Japan and Korea. A world tour takes them to Sweden, Finland, Bulgaria, Indonesia en de Soviet Union.

'Distant love' reaches number 15 in the Dutch Top 40, a placing that is exceeded by the two subsequent single releases.

My collection: 7" single no. 80
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1981
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Distant love' / 'I'm in love for the very first time'

Loving you again - Chris Rea

Taken from the album 'Dancing with strangers', 'Loving you again' was released five years after another Chris Rea single 'Loving you'. Despite the similar title, the songs had very little in common and if nothing else it showed the progression of Chris Rea's music through these years: it had become a little harder edged.

'Loving you again' was a moderate success, peaking at number 47 in the UK singles chart, number 25 in Ireland and number 43 in Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 803
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, April 21, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Loving you again' / 'Donahue's broken wheel'

Spasticus Autisticus - Ian Dury

'Spasticus Autisticus' was written by Ian Dury and Chas Jankel in 1981 for the International Year of Disabled Persons. The lyric was deliberately provocative, as the word Spastic (a name for sufferers of cerebral palsy) was becoming taboo in Britain, due to its use as a derogatory term. Despite the fact that Dury was himself disabled (from polio, rather than cerebral palsy), the BBC deemed it offensive to polite sensibilities and denied it airplay, only confirming the validity of Dury's uncompromising lyrics.

The single did not chart in any territory, but I remember it made quite an impression on me when the single was first released and Dury performed it on television in the music programmes at the time.

My collection: 7" single no. 2939
Found: Record fair, Leiden, January 31, 1998
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Spasticus Autisticus' / 'Spasticus Autisticus (Version)'

I don't wanna go on with you like that - Elton John

'I don't wanna go on with you like that' was taken from Elton John's 1988 album 'Reg strikes back'. Written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, the song describes the breakup of a lovers' relationship.

When the single was released in the summer of 1988, it reached number 30 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was kept from the top spot by the single 'Monkey' by George Michael.

My collection: 7" single no. 660
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, October 1, 1988
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'I don't wanna go on with you like that' / 'Rope around a fool'

Breakfast in America - Supertramp

'Breakfast in America' was the title track of Supertramp's 1979 album. During the recording of this album, tensions between band members and main songwriters Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson were rising. Hodgson later commented: 'Rick didn't like the song 'Breakfast in America' and didn't want it on the album. He also didn't want the album to be titled 'Breakfast in America' either and I guess I won out on both accounts'.

When released as a single, 'Breakfast in America' became a big hit in various countries. It reached number 9 in the UK singles chart and number 16 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 851
Found: Den Haag, May 27, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Breakfast in America' / 'Gone Hollywood'

Confusion / Last train to London - Electric Light Orchestra

'Confusion' was released as a double A-side single with 'Last train to London' in the UK and Ireland, whereas the two tracks were released as separate singles in other territories. Thanks to this fact, we can conclude that 'Confusion' was actually the better selling of the two, since it was a top 10 hit in four other countries, in contrast to 'Last train to London', which only reached the top 10 in France. Meanwhile, the double A-side single reached number 8 in the UK and number 9 in Ireland.

Both tracks were taken from Electric Light Orchestra's 1979 album 'Discovery', from which three previous singles had already been released.

My collection: 7" single no. 2758
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 29, 1996
Cost: 20p
Tracks: 'Confusion' / 'Last train to London'

It's called a heart - Depeche Mode

'It's called a heart' was the second new track to be lifted from Depeche Mode's compilation album 'The Singles (81-85)'. Both Alan Wilder and Martin Gore have commented about their dislike of the track in hindsight. They actually wanted 'Fly on the windscreen' to be the A-side of this single, but the record company thought the violent nature of the song would be suitable for radio play (Imagine hearing the first line, 'Death is everywhere' on a sunny Sunday morning).

The single was released with a limited edition poster sleeve in the Netherlands. In the UK singles chart, 'It's called a heart' reached number 18.

My collection: 7" single no. 351
Found: Den Haag, 1985
Cost: unknown
Tracks: 'It's called a heart' / 'Fly on the windscreen'

Lied für einen Freund - Maxi and Chris Garden

The mother and daughter duo Maxi & Chris Garden represented Germany during the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Lied für einen Freund' ('Song for a friend'). Like many of Germany's entries, the song was written and composed by Ralph Siegel and Bernd Meinunger, but this one is actually a rather baroque track musically speaking: lots of orchestral backing, piano riffs and, well, a disappointing lyric.

At the close of voting, 'Lied für einen Freund' finished 14th in a field of 21 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 4455
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received January 28, 2010
Cost: 1,5 euro
Tracks: 'Lied für einen Freund' / 'Du und ich'

State of independence - Donna Summer

Donna Summer has been around for such a long time, that many of her singles are still wellknown. From her output in the Eighties, 'State of independence' is quite probably her best known song. The track was originally written and recorded by Jon Anderson & Vangelis on their 1981 album 'The friends of Mr. Cairo'.

Donna Summer recorded her version a year later on her 1982 self-titled album, with Quincy Jones producing. Her version of the song features an all-star choir including among others Michael Jackson, Brenda Russell, James Ingram, Dionne Warwick, Kenny Loggins, Lionel Richie and Stevie Wonder. Upon its original release, it became a number 1 hit in the Dutch Top 40, peaking at number 14 in the UK singles chart and number 41 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Remixes were released in 1990 and 1996.

My collection: 7" single no. 293
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'State of independence' / 'Love is just a breath away'

The train - The Nits

'The train' was the second single taken from the 1988 album 'Hat' by the Nits. The song was written and produced by the band. The sleeve of the single featured stills from the rather strange music video. And like the music video, the song was rather strange as well.

'Strange and beautiful' was increasingly becoming the trademark of the Nits, which earned them a big fan following in the Netherlands, but also a lack of commercial success: this single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 753
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, February 17, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'The train' / 'Blue'

Beyond my control - Mylene Farmer

Mylene Farmer's song 'Beyond my control' was inspired by two characters in the 1782 French novel 'Les liaisons dangereuses'. In the song, the voice heard on the chorus of the song which repeats 'It's beyond my control' is in fact a sample of John Malkovich's voice from the film 'Les liaisons dangereuses' by Stephen Frears. The song deals with self-control, love and death. Farmer tells her own story from the sampled sentence: that of a woman who kills her unfaithful lover after a night of love.

The single reached number 8 in France and number 10 in the French-speaking part of Belgium. The single was also released in the Netherlands, but without any chart success.

My collection: 7" single no. 2220
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 17, 1994
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Beyond my control' / 'Beyond my control (Ya ya version)'

Everybody hurts - R.E.M.

The statement is quite belittling: to say to the thousands of victims of an earthquake, in this case in Haiti: 'Everybody hurts sometimes'. Yet, that's what happening right now: an array of pop stars have recorded a cover version of this sog by R.E.M. I haven't heard it yet, but when Leona Lewis and Mariah Carey are involved, it's bound to be an atrocious track.

So let's go back to the original. Much of the song was written by R.E.M. drummer Bill Berry. He said about the song: 'If you're consciously writing for someone who hasn't been to college, or is pretty young, it might be nice to be very direct. In that regard, it's tended to work for people of a lot of ages.'

My collection: 7" single no. 1916
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, May 22, 1993
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Everybody hurts' / 'Pop song 89'

Midnight man - Flash and the Pan

'Midnight man' is a track from Flash and the Pan's fifth studio album 'Early morning wake up call'. The album was produced by Harry Vanda and George Young themselves, like all their albums.

The track was edited for the single release. The single reached number 66 in Australia and number 23 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 289
Found: Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Midnight man' / 'Fat night'

Save me - Queen

'Save me' was released as a single in January 1980, six months before the album 'The game' was released, on which the track appeared. Brian May wrote the song about a friend whose relationship had ended.

The single reached number 5 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 11 in the UK singles chart, while it was also a top 10 hit in Ireland, Italy and Norway.

My collection: 7" single no. 1575
Found: Record fair, January 25, 1992
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Save me' / 'Let me entertain you'

God - Tori Amos

Released as the last single from Tori Amos' second album 'Under the pink' in Europe (as opposed to the USA, where it was released as the first single), 'God' was issued in several different formats. The 7" picture disc featured the album version and a remix, whereas the cd-single and the 12" single featured a few more remixes.

One has to question the point of those remixes though. The 'acapella vocal and rain mix' is basically the prettiest version of three remixes that are basically the same: the 'Thinking mix 2' and the 'Rainforest Resort mix' are just lengthier versions with some alterations in them. The only reason why this 12" single is worth owning, is the CJ Bolland mix: this one actually adds something to the track that makes it sound danceable, and even gives it a poppy, Kraftwerk-ish appeal.

My collection: 12" single no. 222
Found: HMV, London, 1994
Cost: 4 pounds
Tracks: 'God (Thinking mix 2)', 'God (acapella vocal and rain mix)' / 'God (Rainforest resort mix)', 'God (CJ Bolland mix)'