Volare - Al Martino

Al Martino (October 7, 1927 - October 13, 2009) was an American singer and actor. His greatest successes as a singer took place between the Fifties and Seventies.

One of his many successes was this disco version of 'Volare', originally performed by Domenico Modugno as 'Nel blu dipinto di blu' during the 1958 Eurovision Song Contest. It reached number 3 in the Dutch Top 40 in early 1976.

My collection: 7" single no. 4379
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Volare' / 'You belong to me'

Suddenly - Billy Ocean

After a string of uptempo hit singles, Billy Ocean surprised many with the slow ballad 'Suddely'. It was the title track of his 1984 album, but released a a single in 1985. Such was the success of this ballad, that he would release further slow songs like 'There'll be sad song (to make you cry)' in later years.

The single peaked at number 4 in the UK singles chart and the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, while peaking at number 23 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 821
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 13, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Suddenly' / 'Lucky man'

Back on the chain gang - The Pretenders

'Back on the chain gang' was originally going to be about Ray Davies, with whom Chrissie Hynde had a relationship. They also had a daughter together. The meaning of the song changed when James Honeyman-Scott, guitarist of the Pretenders, died of a drug overdose at the age of 25 in 1982.

The song was released as a single in 1982 and later included on the Pretenders' 1984 album 'Learning to crawl'. The single reached number 5 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 17 in the UK singles chart and number 30 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2313
Found: June 3, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Back on the chain gang' / 'My city was gone'

Miss you like crazy - Natalie Cole

Natalie Maria Cole was born in 1950 as the daughter of Nat King Cole and former Duke Ellington Orchestra singer Maria Cole. She started singing herself from an early age and had her first performance aged 11. Her father died of lung cancer just four years later. After graduation in 1972, she started singing in small clubs. She released her first album, 'Inseparable', in 1975. Many albums followed, until 1989's 'Good to be back' gave her the biggest hit of her career: 'Miss you like crazy'.

The single reached number 2 in the UK singles chart, number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 18 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1425
Found: April 7, 1991
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Miss you like crazy' / 'Good to be back'

Ev'ry time we say goodbye - Simply Red

Cole Porter wrote 'Ev'ry time we say goodbye' in 1944 for the musical revue 'Seven lively arts'. The song became a jazz standard, recorded by classic artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington, Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Carly Simon and many others.

Simply Red recorded the song on their 1987 album 'Men and women'. It was released as a single just before the end of the year, reaching number 11 in the UK singles chart and number 27 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 596
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, February 18, 1988
Cost: 4 guilders
Tracks: 'Ev'ry time we say goodbye' / 'Love for sale'

Kiss - Prince

'Kiss' started as a short acoustic demo with one verse and the chorus. Prince gave the song to the funk band Mazarati for their debut album. They reworked the song and gave it its stripped down sound. When Prince heard this version, he took back the song for himself, replacing their lead vocal, adding a guitar break in the middle. Mazarati were credited for their backing vocals, which Prince left intact. He added the song at the last minute to the album 'Parade'.

When 'Kiss' was released as a single, it reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the Dutch Top 40 it reached number 2, and number 6 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3204
Found: September 30, 2000
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Kiss' / '♥ or $'

November rain - Guns n' Roses

'November rain' is a very long single, clocking in at 8 minutes and 57 seconds. Axl Rose had been working on the song since at least 1983. An early live version by the band, released in Australia in 1985 is an acoustic version with guitar, lead vocals and backing vocals, but without guitar solos or the outro. An 18 minute version was recorded in 1986 with guitarist Manny Charlton from the band Nazareth. The version on this single comes from Guns n' Roses' 1992 album 'Use your illusion'.

The single peaked at number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 4 in the UK singles chart. In the Netherlands, the single charted twice: in April 1992, it reached number 13 during a six week chart run, and in September, 'November rain' reached number 4 during a 12 week chart run.

My collection: 7" single no. 1720
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, September 26, 1992
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'November rain' / 'Sweet child o' mine'