Milk from the coconut - Toto Coelo

Toto Coelo were brought together by producer Barry Blue. Original members were Anita Mahadervan, Lacey Bond, Lindsey Danvers, Ros Holness and Sheen Doran. The group's name is Latin and means 'by the whole extent of the heavens' or 'heaven-wide', but is commonly translated as 'completely', 'entirely' or 'utterly'. Of the name, Sheen Doran said, 'It has a number of meanings, such as 'heart and soul', 'root and branch' and 'totally different'. It seemed to describe what we were. Plus, it's strange-sounding and hard to pronounce, so it sticks in your mind.'

'Milk from the coconut' was released in 1983, but failed to chart. Personally, I think this track is more catchy and memorable than their only hit, 'I eat cannibals'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3156

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 27, 1999

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Milk from the coconut (part 1)' / 'Milk from the coconut (part 2)'

Download: here

Different time, different place - Julia Fordham

Julia Fordham's 1994 album 'Falling forward' received some critical praise. The single 'Different time, different place', written by Julia Fordham and Simon Climie, was a minor hit, reaching number 41 in the UK singles chart.

Buying this single was a gamble for me: it caught my attention because of the beautiful sleeve and the free postcard that came with this single. And I figured, someone who had recorded 'Happy ever after' was bound to make more nice popsongs. I was right, of course.

My collection: 7" single no. 2102

Found: Record fair, May 15, 1994

Cost: 8 guilders

Tracks: 'Different time, different place' / 'Safe (alternative version)'

Download: here

Why - Carly Simon

The movie 'Soup for one' was released in 1982, and flopped. However, the soundtrack of this movie, released in the same year, met with critical acclaim and commercial success. The soundtrack was produced by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers from Chic. Carly Simon provided vocals on this track, 'Why' and was perceived at the time as a conscious attempt to move away from her guitar-based singer/songwriter material from the Seventies.

The single flopped in America, peaked at number 10 in the UK singles chart and at number 29 in the Dutch Top 40. The song resurfaced in 1989 on the 'Hacienda' scene in Ibiza.

My collection: 7" single no. 954

Found: All that music, Leiden, August 10, 1989

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Why' (Carly Simon) / 'Why (instrumental)' (Chic)

Download: here

'Ullo John! Gotta new motor? - Alexei Sayle

British comedian Alexei Sayle made quite an impression on me with this video back in 1984. Some kind of lunatic running through the streets, venting the most incoherent oneliners... it was great. Finding the accompanying single was a big problem though. It wasn't available in Holland, and when I ordered it in England all they had was the 12" single. It took me a decade to finally come across a copy - and of course I bought it right away.

My collection: 7" single no. 2534

Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, November 1, 1995

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: ''Ullo John! Gotta new motor? (part 1)' / ''Ullo John! Gotta new motor? (part 2)'

Download: here

Jamie - Mistral

Mistral was a studio project by Robbie van Leeuwen (ex-Shocking Blue) and Rick van der Linden (ex-Ekseption). The duo recorded three singles, and used different singers for every one of them. Sylvia van Asten sang the vocals on 'Jamie'. When this single became a hit in the Dutch Top 40 (it would eventually peak at number 15), the group was invited to perform at the popular chart show Toppop. Two dancers were clad in ridiculous insect suits, but the whole routine looked incrediby stupid.

It was one of the reasons that led to me disliking the song. (Sometimes it happens that way.) Thankfully, I changed my mind two decades later.

My collection: 7" single no. 2851

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, June 21, 1997

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Jamie' / 'Nectar'

Download: here

Perfect - The The

'Perfect' appeared on The The's album 'Soul mining'. It was the third single drawn from that album, and it appeared in several different formats. This particular 12" single is presumably a rare one, since it isn't listed on discogs.com. It features the album version of 'Perfect' and the B-side track 'Fruit of the heart' - and nothing else. There isn't even a picture cover! As such, it's one of those releases where you wonder whether you've stumbled across a collector's item...

My collection: 12" single no. 412

Found: Record Exchange, 2001

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Perfect' / 'Fruit of the heart'

Download: here

Fade to grey (Bassheads 93 remix) - Visage

Record companies were milking their back catalogues in the late Eighties and early Nineties. It had become a proven recipe for success: take an old song, remix it and have a new chart hit. It didn't turn out so well in this case: whereas 'Fade to grey' was a top 10 hit in 1980, the 1993 remix by Bassheads only reached number 39 in the UK singles chart.

Being as interested in cover versions and remixes as I am, I always try out such releases. In this case, I was well pleased with this single. The remix updated the original music, but thankfully kept the original vocals intact. Nothing beats the original track, of course, but sometimes this is a great alternative.

My collection: 7" single no. 2037

Found: Virgin Megastore, London, October 22, 1993

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Fade to grey (Bassheads edit)' / 'Fade to grey (7" remix)', 'Fade to grey (7" Original mix)'

Download: here