Good-bye bad times - Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder

I've seen this single countless times over the years, but I never made the decision to buy it until now. Philip Oakey, frontman of the Human League, and producer Giorgio Moroder, had a big hit with 'Together in electric dreams' in 1984.

They got together again in 1985 to work on an album that was to be called 'Body beat', but finally was simply named after the performers. The record label had high expectatoins for the first single from the album, 'Good-bye bad times', but they did not come true. Both the single and the album flopped. This is still a nice popsong though.

My collection: 7" single no. 3653

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 0,8 euro

Tracks: 'Good-bye bad times' / 'Good-bye bad times (instrumental)'

L'amour toujours - Telex

The Belgian synthpop group Telex released their fourth album 'Wonderful world' in 1984. The single 'L'amour toujours', released a year later, was taken from this album. The single wasn't a commercial success for the band.

I didn't know this song when I bought it, I just assumed that it would be just as nice as the other Telex singles I have. And it is.

My collection: 7" single no. 3637

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'L'amour toujours' / 'I don't like music'

Bitakat hob - Samira

In 1980, Morocco competed in the Eurovision Song Contest for the first - and so far, only - time. It was the first time that the contest featured a song in Arabic, while the music also showed clear Arabic influences.

Samira Bensaïd, who was born on January 10, 1958 in Rabat, performed the song 'Bitakat hob' ('Message of love') as the fifth of 19 performers in the Contest, finished 18th. This low placing may have contributed to the withdrawal by Morocco from further Contests.

I bought this single for its rarity value - and was very happily surprised when it also contained an original press sheet inside!

My collection: 7" single no. 3674

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 3 euro

Tracks: 'Bitakat hob' / 'Les enfants de l'amitié'

Lifeline - Spandau Ballet

Released in September 1982, 'Lifeline' became Spandau Ballet's fourth top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at number 7. Produced by Steve Jolley and Tony Swain, this track is a sign that the band were slowly moving away from their earlier, rougher work and taking a slightly more commercial-sounding approach.

This picture disc was a limited edition release, which probably helped the sales of the single in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 3627

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Lifeline' / 'Live & let live'

Adventures in modern recording - The Buggles

I didn't know this single existed until I saw it mentioned on discogs.com recently. 'Adventures in modern recording' is the title track from the Buggles' second album, and it sums up the career of band member Trevor Horn pretty nicely. During and since the Buggles, he's always been on the forefront of modern recording and producing, creating the most fabulous albums out there.

This single, however, was not rewarded with chart success, just like the other singles taken from the album - as well as the album itself.

My collection: 7" single no. 3671

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Adventures in modern recording' / 'Blue nylon'

Rough justice - Bananarama

It's hard to tell from this image, but the sleeve of this single has a 3D postcard on the front. It's this kind of collectable issues that always draws me in. I had to buy 'Rough justice' anyway, because it's one of those tracks that take me right back to the year 1984, the year in which I avoided homework by watching music videos on television every day.

The socially conscious 'Rough justice' deals with social apathy towards children, poverty and starvation. The single peaked at number 23 in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 3670

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Rough justice' / 'Live now'

Friends - Shalamar

Jody Watley was one of the members of Shalamar, and she would go on to have solo success. One of her solo singles was called 'Friends', just like this single by Shalamar. As you might expect, they are two different songs.

Shalamar released 'Friends' in November 1982, and it peaked in at number 12 in the UK singles chart. Like much of their material, it's a very groovy, danceable song.

My collection: 7" single no. 3625

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Friends' / 'I just stopped by because I had to'