No doubt about it - Hot Chocolate

'No doubt about it' was written by Mike Burns, Simon Glen and Donny Most. It is an unusual lyric, dealing with life from outer space. The music is almost futuristic, laden with synthesizers which would become more common after 1980, when this single was released.

It was a successful single for Hot Chocolate, because it reached number 2 in the UK singles chart. In the Dutch Top 40 the single peaked at number 14.

My collection: 7" single no. 939
Found: All that music, Leiden, July 7, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'No doubt about it' / 'Gimme some of your lovin''

Joan of Arc - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

The second single from OMD's third album 'Architecture & Morality' was the beautiful 'Joan of Arc'. Not to be confused with 'Maid of Orleans', which was subtitled 'The waltz of Joan of Arc', which was the next single and would be a worldwide hit.

This single was less successful worldwide, although it did reach number 5 in the UK singles chart, only one place lower than 'Maid of Orleans'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2493
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 30, 1995
Cost: 40p
Tracks: 'Joan of Arc' / 'The romance of the telescope (unfinished)'

Let me be the one - Five Star

'Let me be the one' was released in the summer of 1985 as the fourth single from the group's 'Luxury of life' album.

This 12" single features two remixes of the track, of which the 'Philadelphia remix' features famous saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr. As an extra treat, there's a dub mix of one of their early hits, 'All fall down' and of course the instrumental B-side 'Beat 47'.

My collection: 12" single no. 463
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, 2008
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Let me be the one (Philadelphia remix)', 'Let me be the one (Dance mix by Hardrock) / 'All fall down (M&M dub mix)', 'Beat 47'

Johnny wanna live - Sandra

'Johnny wanna live' originally appeared on Sandra's fourth album 'Paintings in yellow' (1990). When it was decided in the summer of 1992 that a compilation album, '18 greatest hits' was to be released, Sandra re-recorded the track to be included as a new single.

The song's lyric protests against cruelty to animals. In an interview in Sweden. Sandra explained the origins of the song citing her disapproval of people wearing fur coats. The single reached number 9 in Israel and number 37 in Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 1790
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, November 14, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Johnny wanna live' / 'Mirrored in your eyes'

Big yellow taxi - Amy Grant

Joni Mitchell originally wrote 'Big yellow taxi'. She commented about the song: 'I wrote 'Big yellow taxi' on my first trip to Hawaii. I took a taxi to the hotel and when I woke up the next morning, I threw back the curtains and saw these beautiful green mountains in the distance. Then, I looked down and there was a parking lot as far as the eye could see, and it broke my heart... this blight on paradise. That's when I sat down and wrote the song'.

Amy Grant recorded her version of this song in 1994 for her album 'House of love'. In my opinion, it's the best version of the song. It reached number 20 in the UK singles chart and number 67 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

My collection: 7" single no. 2335
Found: HMV, Lonodn, June 26, 1995
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Big yellow taxi' / 'House of love'

I can make you feel good - Shalamar

'I can make you feel good' was the biggest hit for Shalamar in the Netherlands, where it reached number 8 in the Dutch Top 40. It also did well in the UK, where the single peaked at number 7.

The single was taken from Shalamar's 1982 album 'Friends'. In the UK, that album is apparently regarded as one of the defining albums of that year.

My collection: 7" single no. 2582
Found: December 12, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: ' I can make you feel good' / 'Help me'

More than love - Wet Wet Wet

'More than love' was the fourth single from Wet Wet Wet's fourth studio album, 'High on the happy side'. The single was released in March 1992 and reached number 19 in the UK singles chart and number 9 in the Dutch Top 40. The single's B-side was 'Goodnight girl', which was actually the previous single that reached number 1 in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 1968
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, September 25, 1993
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'More than love' / 'Goodnight girl'