Cry to heaven - Elton John

I hated the song 'Nikita' by Elton John. I thought it was a sentimental piece of drivel with a much too repetitive chorus. This made it hard to like 'Cry to heaven', released a few months later. Still, I did buy the single a few years later, realising that this song actually had an interesting melody.

'Cry to heaven' reached number 12 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 47 in the UK singles chart. It was less successful than 'Nikita', which inexplicably became a top 10 hit almost everywhere.

My collection: 7" single no. 656
Found: Leiden, September 23, 1988
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Cry to heaven' / 'Candy by the pound'

I wish it would rain down - Phil Collins

'I wish it would rain down' was released in 1989 as the second single from Phil Collins' album 'But seriously'. Phil Collins commented that it was as close as he had ever gotten at the time to writing a blues song. He asked Eric Clapton to provide the guitar playing throughout the song. As Collins recalls, 'I said 'Eric, have I never asked you to play? Come on, I've got a song right up your street'.

The song was a top ten hit in many countries, including Canada where it topped the chart. In the USA and the Netherlands, the single reached number 3, while peaking at number 7 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1174
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, February 17, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'I wish it would rain down' / 'Homeless (Another day in paradise - demo)'

Ducks - The Tiptops

From the information I could gather online, the Tiptops were a Belgian group. This single, 'Ducks', was their first release in the summer of 1962. I bought this single in Denmark on the strength of the title: I am not a duckophile for nothing.

This is the kind of music you might hear on radio shows at the time, as background music. It's not been a hit in Europe, although I imagine it could have been a hit in Belgium.

My collection: 7" single no. 3426
Found: Esbjerg, June 17, 2006
Cost: 10 Danish crowns
Tracks: 'Ducks' / 'Little Sally'

Who's that girl - Eurythmics

Not to be confused with the Madonna track that was released four years later, 'Who's that girl' was released by the Eurythmics in 1983. The music video featured Annie Lennox appearing in a male and female version. She appeared as a nightclub singer performing the song and also as a man who is a member of the audience. The video features cameo appearances by Bananarama, Cheryl Baker and Jay Aston of Bucks Fizz, Kiki Dee, Hazel O'Connor, Kate Garner of Haysi Fantayzee, Thereza Bazar of Dollar and Marilyn. In the end of the clip, the female-Lennox is shown kissing the male-Lennox.

The single reached number 3 in the UK singles chart, number 21 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 28 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 208
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1983
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Who's that girl?' / 'You take some lentils... and you take some rice'

How am I supposed to live without you - Michael Bolton

'How am I supposed to live without you' was originally recorded in 1983 by Laura Branigan. The song was written by Michael Bolton. He wrote several songs for various artists, during a gap of seven years in which he didn't release records of his own. His first two albums, 'Michael Bolton' (1975) and 'Everyday of my life' (1976) had failed to chart, but after he wrote some hit singles for others, his own career started once more from 1983 onwards.

In 1989, he released the album 'Soul provider', on which he recorded 'How am I supposed to live without you' himself. It turned out to be a good choice: it was his first international hit, peaking at number 3 in the Dutch Top 40 and the UK singles chart. From then on, he remained popular in various countries for inexplicable reasons: these days I find his voice particularly grating.

My collection: 7" single no. 1262
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, July 14, 1990
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'How am I supposed to live without you' / 'Forever eyes'

Geef niet op - Frank Boeijen Groep

In 1986 Frank Boeijen and his group left his old record company Telstar to sign with BMG. Around that time, the old label decided to released the fourth and final single from the fifth album 'Foto van een mooie dag'.

As a result, 'Geef niet op' ('Don't give up') was not promoted by the band and sunk without a trace.

My collection: 7" single no. 397
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Geef niet op' / 'Nachtportier'

The big one - Black

Black faced the 'difficult second album' syndrome in 1988. After a very successful 1987, it was time to come up with a second album that would match the success of his debut 'Wonderful life'. 'Comedy' certainly met all the artistic demands, but commercially it was less fortunate.

The first single from the album was 'The big one', in comparison the weakest track from the album. As such it may not have been the best choice. The single was released in a limited edition poster sleeve in the UK, but this didn't help much: it only reached number 54 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 678
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1988
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'The big one' / 'You are the one'

The dreaming - Kate Bush

'The dreaming' was released in July 1982 as the second single from Kate Bush's fourth album of the same name. The first single, 'Sat in your lap', had been released thirteen months earlier, but was still included on the album as well. The song is about the destruction of Aboriginal homelands by white Australians in their quest for weapons-grade uranium. Musical guest Rolf Harris plays the didgeridoo on the recording. Bird impersonator Percy Edwards provided sheep noises.

The single reached number 48 in the UK singles chart, which was quite disappointing in a way, as all of Kate's single up to that point had reached the UK top 40 (with the exception of 'Hammer horror', which peaked at number 44). The single was not released in Europe, where the track 'Suspended in gaffa' was preferred.

My collection: 7" single no. 548
Found: HMV, London, October 1987
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'The dreaming' / 'Dreamtime'

Daar gaat ze - Clouseau

Clouseau were already big in their native Belgium, but their international career took off in early 1990 when they released 'Daar gaat ze' ('There she goes') as a single from their debut album 'Hoezo'. It rocketed up the charts in the Netherlands, peaking at number 2 in the Dutch Top 40 in March. From then on, they became almost as popular in the Netherlands as they already were in Belgium.

The track was later recorded in English as 'Close encounters'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1282
Found: August 23, 1990
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Daar gaat ze' / 'Fiets'

One vision - Queen

'One vision' was released as the first single from Queen's 1986 album 'A kind of magic', released in 1985. Queen were inspired to write and record this song because of the euphoric feeling that came from their performance at Live Aid. The track contains mysterious and distorted beginning vocals, most prominently the vocals retained in the single version. The reversed vocals at the start of the song relay new lyrics when played forwards—they say, 'God works in mysterious ways... mysterious ways...'.

The final line of the song is 'fried chicken', although the printed lyrics say 'one vision'. This was a result of a prank that Freddie Mercury played in the studio, as the band had fried chicken for dinner that day. Jim Hutton, Freddie Mercury's lover, says in his book, that the singer was not sure whether to include it in the final cut or not. Hutton encouraged him, saying 'You are big enough' (to get away with this).

My collection: 7" single no. 1573
Found: Record fair, January 25, 1992
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'One vision' / 'Blurred vision'

Fireworks - Roxette

'Fireworks' was released as the third single from Roxette's 1994 album 'Crash! Boom! Bang!'. The song was written by Per Gessle and used all the now familiar trademark Roxette sounds.

The single achieved moderate success in various European countries, and made number 30 in the UK Singles Chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2162
Found: HMV, London, September 26, 1994
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Fireworks' / 'Dangerous (from MTV Unplugged)'

Meer Nederlandse sterre - Rubberen Robbie

After Rubberen Robbie discovered chart success with 'De Nederlandse sterre die strale overal', the band decided to make a sequel. For the second time, they glued together bits and pieces of famous Dutch songs and wrote their own funny lyrics for these songs.

After the previous single hit number 1, this one still did quite well, peaking at number 8 in the Dutch Top 40 in October 1981. The best track of the two is, however, the B-side: a melodramatic piece about an alcoholic who wonders why his Marie left him.

My collection: 7" single no. 116
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Meer Nederlandse sterre' / 'Marie'

I.G.Y. (What a beautiful world) - Howard Jones

In 1993, Howard Jones fulfilled his contract with Warner Bros. with a compilation album spanning his ten year career. It included all of his hit singles, plus one new track: a cover of Donald Fagen's 'I.G.Y.'.

This new track was released as a single in the UK only, but it failed to reach the UK singles chart. The album did reach the albums chart, but peaked at number 36 during a two week chart run.

My collection: 7" single no. 2011
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 18, 1993
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'I.G.Y. (What a beautiful world)' / 'One last try'

Rock my world - Five Star

'Rock my world' was the second single from Five Star's 1988 album 'Rock the world'. The music video for this single saw the band leather clad, with long hair extensions, dancing in the bottom of a quarry, with dumper trucks driving around them. The B-side, 'Sweetest innocence', received a BPI award for best instrumental.

The single became their last ever UK top 40 hit, peaking at number 28. The next single, 'There's a brand new world' would bring Five Star's run of 16 consecutive Top 40 hits to an end when it only reached number 61.

My collection: 7" single no. 3099
Found: House of Rhythm, London, May 13, 1999
Cost: 20p
Tracks: 'Rock my world' / 'Sweetest innocence'

Time will crawl - David Bowie

The lyric of 'Time will crawl' is about the pollution and destruction of the planet by industry. Bowie has cited hearing of the Chernobyl disaster in April 1986 as the genesis of the lyric. The song was praised by critics for its restrained production compared to Bowie’s other work of the era.

The song was released as the second single from the album, with a version of the song 'Girls' on the B-side. It reached number 33 in the UK singles chart and number 5 in Canada.

My collection: 7" single no. 2885
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, October 29, 1997
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Time will crawl' / 'Girls'

Girls - Tina Turner

The song 'Girls' was written by David Bowie and Erdal Kizilcay. It was recorded by Tina Turner on her 1986 album 'Break every rule'. The track featured Phil Collins on drums and was produced by Terry Britten.

The single reached number 16 in the Dutch Top 40, but as 'Girls' wasn't released as a single in the UK and the USA, it didn't chart there.

My collection: 7" single no. 511
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Girls' / 'Take me to the river'

Take it now - Maarten Peters and the Dream

The lyric of the song 'Take it now' can be described as a day in the life of a pop star. I was never too impressed with the song, but as I have all of Maarten Peters' singles, I couldn't let this one pass me by when it turned up for almost nothing.

'Take it now' was released in November 1986 and failed to reach the Dutch Top 40. It was the first single from Peters' second album, 'Burn your boats'.

My collection: 7" single no. 586
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 6, 1988
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Take it now' / 'One night'

The way to your heart - Soulsister

The single 'The way to your heart' from the Belgian duo Soulsister was initially released as a one-sided 7" single. Subsequent copies did have a B-side, the track 'Bye bye'. Initially I searched for the one-sided version, but when that search proved to be unsuccessful, I settled for the 'normal' single.

Fortunately, I still found the one-sided single last year (it is described here), and so my collection of Soulsister singles is as complete as it ever will be.

My collection: 7" single no. 705
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, December 17, 1988
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'The way to your heart' / 'Bye bye'

Mag het licht uit - De Dijk

The Dutch band De Dijk has had a career of almost thirty years up until now, with only a dozen hit singles to show for it. One of them was this single, 'Mag het licht uit' ('Turn off the lights), which reached number 23 in the Dutch Top 40 in the summer of 1983.

Even if you can't understand the lyric, you can appreciate the musical buildup of this track: a slow, tense ballad which turns into a rock song midway. The fact that the lyric isn't that interesting doesn't even matter if you don't understand Dutch anyway.

My collection: 7" single no. 542
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Mag het licht uit' / 'Wat een vrouw (niet kan doen)'

Don't wanna lose you - Gloria Estefan

'Don't wanna lose you' was written and recorded by Gloria Estefan. It was released in 1989 as the first single from the album 'Cuts both ways'. The single reached number 1 in the USA, where it became her second number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also reached number 3 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 6 in the UK singles chart.

Estefan also recorded 'Si voy a perderte', which is the Spanish version of this song. It is included on the B-side of this single. A Portuguese version, 'Se tenho que perder' was released as a single in Brazil.

My collection: 7" single no. 927
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, July 1, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Don't wanna lose you' / 'Si voy a perderte'