1.000.000 sterren - Frank Boeijen Groep

The Frank Boeijen Groep had to come up with another hit after their previous single 'Zwart wit' had been such a convincing top 5 hit. '1.000.000 sterren' ('1,000,0000 stars') was a song that didn't meet these expectations, although it was still able to reach number 29 in the Dutch Top 40.

Having been successful with their first music video for 'Zwart wit', another music video was made for this single. While 'Zwart wit' was shown sometimes in later years, the video for '1.000.000 sterren' disappeared from tv screens forever.

My collection: 7" single no. 229
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1984
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: '1.000.000 sterren' / 'Het antwoord (live)'

Aufrecht geh'n - Mary Roos

'Aufrecht geh'n' ('Walk tall') was the German entry in the 1984 Eurovision Song Contest, performed by Mary Roos. The song was composed by Michael Reinecke with lyrics by Michael Kunze, who previously had written the lyrics to Silver Convention's 1977 entry 'Telegram'. This was also Mary Roos' second Eurovision entry; she had represented Germany at the 1972 Contest with 'Nur die Liebe läßt uns leben', which finished third in a field of 18 competitors.

Obviously, the Germans were hoping for a similar result in 1984. But this time around Mary Roos wasn't so lucky: she finished 13th in a field of 19 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 4392
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Aufrecht geh'n' / 'Wer sagt, daß ich verlier''

Que mon coeur lâche - Mylene Farmer

This is the last single by Mylene Farmer to be released on the 7" vinyl format. It was released to coincide with the release of the album 'Dance remixes', which was a collection of remixes of previous hits by Mylene. The track was originally recorded for a charity compilation album coordinated by Etienne Daho, which would benefit AIDS research. However, it was refused for that album, because the lyric was considered to be too ambiguous and seemed to advocate sexual intercourse without the use of a condom. Mylene did refute these claims, but in the end she recorded an acoustic version of an other track for the charity album, and this track ended up being a single.

The single reached number 9 in the French singles chart and number 8 in the Belgian (Wallonia) singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2629
Found: Record fair, March 16, 1996
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Que mon coeur lâche' / 'Que mon coeur lâche'

Worship - Clouseau

The third and final single from Clouseau's second English language album 'In every small town' (1993) was the beautiful ballad 'Worship'. A simple yet effective track with just vocals and keyboards, it is one of the essential love songs in my collection.

The single was not a commercial success, but I'm still happy to have found a 7" vinyl copy. These were the days that 7" singles were becoming extinct, after all.

My collection: 7" single no. 2844
Found: Record fair, April 5, 1997
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Worship' / 'How long'

Burning bush - Savage Progress

'Burning bush' was one of those strange synthpop singles from 1984 that irritated me at first, until I grew to like it later. Although none of the four singles from Savage Progress were a hit in the UK, 'Burning bush' is probably their best known song.

This 12" single features both the A- and B-sides of the 7" single, plus a remix entitled 'Mad Mix II'. It's one of those remixes you either love or loathe. I've still not decided, though.

My collection: 12" single no. 416
Found: Record fair, 1999
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Burning bush (Mad Mix II)' / 'Burning bush', 'Tears of love'

Underground - David Bowie

David Bowie played a starring role in the Jim Henson movie 'Labyrinth' and also contributed music to the soundtrack of that movie. 'Underground' was selected as the lead single, a deviation from Bowie's catalogue in that it sounded slightly like a gospel track, with a large chorus of backing vocalists and blues guitarist Albert Collins.

The single reached number 21 in the UK charts and number 6 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1459
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 27, 1991
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Underground' / 'Underground (instrumental)'

Brothers in arms - Dire Straits

'Brothers in arms' is a classic album by Dire Straits, which spawned the hit single 'Money for nothing'. A few years later, things got turned around: the compilation album 'Money for nothing' spawned the single 'Brothers in arms'. The single was re-released to promote the compilation album, which came out just in time for Christmas 1988.

'Brothers in arms' was a hit in the UK in 1985, but this re-release was unsuccessful in all territories. For me, it was the first opportunity to get this track on a 7" single.

My collection: 7" single no. 695
Found: Den Haag, December 5, 1988
Cost: - (present)
Tracks: 'Brothers in arms' / 'Going home (live)'

If I ever lose my faith in you - Sting

'If I ever lose my faith in you' was released as the second single from Sting's 1993 album 'Ten summoner's tales' in January 1993.

The single reached number 17 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, also winning a Grammy award in 1994 for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. In the Dutch top 40, the single reached number 15 and in the UK singles chart it reached number 14.

My collection: 7" single no. 2345
Found: Record Exchange, London, June 26, 1995
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'If I ever lose my faith in you' / 'Every breath you take (live)'

Little bit of snow - Howard Jones

Although Howard Jones's current album 'Ordinary heroes' is full of ballads, none of them can come close to this epic ballad, 'Little bit of snow'. It's a very intimate work, but this is what makes it so special. A track on his third album 'One to one', it was an unlikely single release.

Hence, the UK single release was the only one: the song was not released as a single in other territories. The success wasn't overwhelming either: during a one week chart run, it reached number 70 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2529
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, November 1, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Little bit of snow' / 'Let it flow'

I don't want to live without you - Foreigner

Recorded as a track on Foreigner's 1987 album 'Inside information', 'I don't want to live without you' was released as the second single from that album.

The single became the band's sixteenth and - to this day - final entry in the Billboard top 40, peaking at number 5 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The single did not chart in the UK, but reached number 19 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1978
Found: London, October 17, 1993
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'I don't want to live without you' / 'Face to face'

Talking in your sleep - Bucks Fizz

'Talking in your sleep' was written and recorded by the Romantics in 1983. It was a hit in the USA, but failed to chart in the UK.

The song was picked up in 1984 by Bucks Fizz. Their version was recorded on their fourth album 'I hear talk' and released as a single. Their version reached number 15 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3143
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 18, 1999
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Talking in your sleep' / 'Don't think you're fooling me'

Away - Maarten Peters

After having been a member of the Frank Boeijen Groep for a year, Maarten Peters embarked on a solo career that gave him some success in the second half of the Eighties. His first taste of chart success came when he released the single 'Away', a song written by himself and produced by Jos Haagmans, not coincidentally a member of the Frank Boeijen Groep.

The single reached number 36 in the Dutch Top 40 during a 4 week chart run. Not a high placing, but then better things were on their way in the years to come.

My collection: 7" single no. 514
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Away' / 'Away (instrumental)'

I gave you my heart (didn't I) - Hot Chocolate

Although this single was released in 1983, I didn't hear it until 1988. When I did hear it, it was hard to believe that this was a Hot Chocolate track: it was a poppy track, but lacked the funky feel of most of their material. Still, I liked it a lot and after some time hunting for this single, I found it.

'I gave you my heart (didn't I)' was the last original hit single for Hot Chocolate in the UK, peaking at number 13 in early 1984. Although the band never formally broke up, they stopped releasing original material in 1984. Remixes and reissues did manage to get into the UK singles chart subsequently, but this single represents the end of Hot Chocolate as an active band.

My collection: 7" single no. 841
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 27, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'I gave you my heart (Didn't I)' / 'Jeannie'

Hey now, whatcha gonna do - José

Released in 1983, 'Hey now, whatcha gonna do' was another single by José that failed to chart in the Dutch Top 40. The song was written and produced by Pim Koopman and stayed faithful to the uptempo, major key popsongs that José was known for even when she was still a member of the girl trio Luv'. Still, the single failed to become a success.

I bought the single when it came out, and always wondered about the photograph on the sleeve: for a woman, the upper body looks decidedly, er, flat.

My collection: 7" single no. 219
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1983
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Hey now whatcha gonna do' / 'Hey now whatcha gonna do (instrumental)'

Enséñame a cantar - Micky

Micky was born as Miguel Ángel Carreño Schmelter in Madrid in 1943. He began his music career in 1962 leading the band Micky y Los Tonys, which released 30 singles and 5 albums. He started a solo career in the Seventies. After his single 'Bye bye fräulein' (1976) entered the charts in Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, he was chosen to represent Spain during the 1977 Eurovision Song Contest.

The song 'Enséñame a cantar' ('Teach me to sing') was written by Fernando Arbex. On the night of the Contest, it finished ninth in a field of 18 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 4458
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received January 28, 2010
Cost: 1,5 euro
Tracks: 'Enséñame a cantar' / 'Profundamente'

Young Turks - Rod Stewart

'Young Turks' is a track on Rod Stewart's 1981 album 'Tonight I'm yours'. It was released as the second single from the album. In English slang, a 'Young Turk' is a rebellious kind of teenager who would go against the grain.

The single reached number 5 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 11 on the UK Singles chart. In the Dutch Top 40, the single reached number 9.

My collection: 7" single no. 445
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 9, 1986
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Young Turks' / 'Tora tora tora'

Little bit of heaven - Lisa Stansfield

The last single taken from Lisa Stansfield's 1993 album 'So natural' was the dance track 'Little bit of heaven'. Written by Lisa Stansfield and her husband Ian Devaney, it was one of the few uptempo tracks on the album, and a bit of a return to form.

The single reached number 32 in the UK singles chart during a 4 week chart run. After this, Stansfield's career went into a nosedive, as subsequent albums failed to impress the recordbuying audiences.

My collection: 7" single no. 2091
Found: April 16, 1994
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Little bit of heaven' / 'Gonna try it anyway'

Queen of rain - Roxette

'Queen of rain' was originally written and recorded for Roxette's highly successful album 'Joyride' and considered as the closing track. When it was replaced by another ballad called 'Perfect day', the song reappeared on Roxette's next album, 'Tourism'.

It was released as the second single from that album in the autumn of 1992. It reached number 12 in Sweden, number 19 in Germany, number 28 in the UK singles chart and number 26 in the Dutch Top 40. The B-side was recorded live at the Entertainment Centre in Sydney, Australia in December 1991.

My collection: 7" single no. 1781
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, October 31, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Queen of rain' / 'It must have been love (live)'

Empty garden - Elton John

'Empty garden' was written by Elton John after his friend John Lennon was murdered by an obsessed fan in front of his New York City apartment on December 8, 1980. He first performed the song live at Madison Square Garden in 1982, with Lennon's widow Yoko Ono and their son Sean in the audience.

The 'Empty garden' referred to in the song is Madison Square Garden, where John Lennon did a duet with Elton in 1974 during his last stage performance. Elton has since performed the song several times at Madison Square Garden. The single was released in the summer of 1982, reaching number 13 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 51 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2435
Found: All that music, Leiden, August 19, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Empty garden' / 'Take me down to the ocean'

Adieu sweet Bahnhof - The Nits

'Adieu sweet Bahnhof' is the title of the Nits' 1984 album, which they recorded with producer Jaap Eggermont, who became famous internationally thanks to his 'Stars on 45' project. The song was the title track of that album.

It is also the title of a single, which the Nits released five years later. The single version was recorded live and included on their 3LP box 'Urk', a collection of live recordings made in Amsterdam, Utrecht and Moscow in the winter of 1988. The single reached number 26 in the Dutch Top 40 and was their last hit single until 1992's 'Soap bubble box'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1124
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Adieu sweet Bahnhof (live)' / 'In the Dutch mountains (live)'