(Just like) Starting over - John Lennon

'(Just like) Starting over' was released as the first single from John Lennon's 1980 album 'Double fantasy' and his first single in five years. It was chosen by Lennon, not because he felt it was the best track on the album, but because it was the most appropriate one, following his five year absence from the music business. The original title of the song was 'Starting over'. '(Just like)' was added at the last minute because a country song of the same title was released by Tammy Wynette just a few months before.

Released in October 1980, the single reached number one in the UK and the USA two weeks after Lennon was killed by a madman on December 8 of that year. The sound of Yoko Ono getting an orgasm on the B-side was an added bonus.

My collection: 7" single no. 2898
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 30, 1997
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: '(Just like) Starting over' (John Lennon) / 'Kiss kiss kiss' (Yoko Ono)

Forest fire (remix) - Lloyd Cole and the Commotions

After Lloyd Cole & the Commotions decided to call it quits, the record company released a compilation album with all their single releases. To accompany the album, a single was released. A remix of the track 'Forest fire' was made by Bruce Lampcov. The single did not chart.

The band broke up in 1989 amid reports of personality clashes between members, but they reformed in 2004 to perform a 20th anniversary mini-tour of the UK and Ireland.

My collection: 7" single no. 2476
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 16, 1995
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Forest fire (remix)' / 'Perfect blue (remix)'

Chiquitita - Abba

Before the song 'Chiquitita' was created, it existed in various working forms. Titles like 'Kålsupare', 'Three wise guys' and 'In the arms of Rosalita' all passed by. The song was finally recorded as 'Chiquitita' in December 1978 and released a month later, as the first single from the album 'Voulez-vous'.

Upon its release it was featured in the 1979 UNICEF charity event, the 'Music for UNICEF' concert, broadcast worldwide from the United Nations General Assembly. The single subsequently became a charttopper in Belgium, the Netherlands, Finland, Ireland, Spain, South Africa, Switzerland, Mexico and New Zealand. In the UK, the single peaked at number 2.

My collection: 7" single no. 2247
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 4, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Chiquitita' / 'Lovelight'

Freedom - Wham!

Wham! enjoyed their first UK number 1 hit with 'Wake me up before you gogo' in the summer of 1984. When the next single 'Freedom' was released, no-one could have suspected that it would become another charttopper for the duo. Not only that, but it also became the number 10 best selling single in the UK that year.

Meanwhile, the duo went on tour in China. The music video showed images from that tour. Wham were the first 'western' band to tour the Asian country.

My collection: 7" single no. 3848
Found: Zeeheldenfestival, Den Haag, July 4, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Freedom' / 'Freedom (instrumental)'

The captain of her heart - Double

There aren't that many Swiss bands that achieved international success, but Double managed it in 1985 with their single 'The captain of her heart'. It reached number 8 in the UK singles chart. Furthermore, it was a top 10 hit in the Dominican Republic, Italy, Canada, France, Norway and Germany. Interesting enough, it only reached number 11 in Switzerland.

The band consisted of Kurt Maloo and Felix Haug. The sleeve of this single pictures four members, but I couldn't find information about the additional two...

My collection: 7" single no. 368
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'The captain of her heart' / 'Your prayer takes me off part 2'

Torch - Soft Cell

One of the more beautiful synthpop hits from the Eighties was Soft Cell's 1982 hit 'Torch'. It was, fortunately, recognised by the international audiences, as it peaked at number 2 in the UK and at number 10 in the Netherlands.

The lead vocals were performed, as always, by Marc Almond, but at the end a female voice joins him. According to the sleeve this is Cindy Ecstacy, which is almost certainly a pseudonym.

My collection: 7" single no. 2544
Found: Record Exchange, London, November 1, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Torch' / 'Insecure me'

Love of life - Earth and Fire

Throughout the Seventies, the Dutch band Earth and Fire had symphonic rock tendencies interspersed with modern keyboard sounds. This is probably illustrated best by 'Love of life', which is a song that almost sounds like Eighties synthpop - but not quite.

It was another big success for the band, peaking at number 2 in the summer of 1974.

My collection: 7" single no. 1237
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 25, 1990
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Love of life' / 'Tuffy the cat'