De verzoening - Frank Boeijen Groep

There was always something quite embarrassing about 'De verzoening' ('The reconsiliation') by the Frank Boeijen Groep. Frontman Frank Boeijen wrote the song with a very personal lyric, leading to a chorus that proclaimed 'Heb me lief' ('Love me'). During live concerts and television performances this led to hysterical audiences singing along to those lines, something that always struck me as something otherworldly.

Anyway, the song struck a chord with many people, which led to it becoming a modest hit: it reached number 32 in the Dutch Top 40. The response endures to this day: whenever Boeijen sings this song, audiences sing along as if their lives depend on it. I just chuckle whenever I notice that.

My collection: 7" single no. 487
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'De verzoening' / 'Niemand heeft gelijk'

Only for love - Limahl

'Only for love' is the debut single by former Kajagoogoo singer Limahl, who was fired from the group by his bandmates in 1983. The song was later included on Limahl's 1984 debut solo album, 'Don't suppose'. The song became his first solo hit, peaking at number 16 in the UK singles chart.

It also played a part in the singer meeting producer Giorgio Moroder, while he was performing the song at a rock festival in Tokyo the following year. Moroder would help Limahl reach greater international success later in his career.

My collection: 7" single no. 4790
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Only for love' / 'OTT (Over the top)'

Running up that hill - Kate Bush

During many televised interviews and in dozens of magazine articles, Kate Bush has had to explain the meaning behind her 1985 single 'Running up that hill' while she was promoting her album 'Hounds of love'. I'm sure this is one of the reasons why she did so little promotion ever since. She commented: 'I was trying to say that, really, a man and a woman, can't understand each other because we are a man and a woman. And if we could actually swap each other's roles, if we could actually be in each other's place for a while, I think we'd both be very surprised!'

The single was released in August 1985 and was basically Kate's comeback single after an absence of over two years from the pop scene. Many people thought this was an extremely long time. (Little did they know about what Kate would do later on in her career...). She was welcomed back in many countries with one of the biggest hits of her career. 'Running up that hill' reached number 3 in the UK, number 6 in the Netherlands and number 30 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 316
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, August 1985
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Running up that hill' / 'Under the ivy'

You and your heart so blue - Bucks Fizz

'You and your heart so blue' was released when band member Jay Aston announced she was leaving Bucks Fizz .Halfway through promoting the single, the group recruited a new female singer, Shelley Preston. More publicity went towards a TV special that was filmed in Mauritius, but remained unscreened as the production company went bankrupt midway through filming.

The single became overshadowed in all the publicity and failed to reach the UK top 40, stalling at number 43.

My collection: 7" single no. 4784
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'You and your heart so blue' / 'Now those days are gone'

Both sides of the story - Phil Collins

'Both sides of the story' was the first single from Phil Collins' 1994 album 'Both sides'. It was one of his socially conscious lyrics, trying to make a case for listening to both sides of a story before making a judgement.

The single reached number 25 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2008
Found: Virgin Megastore, London, October 18, 1993
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Both sides of the story' / 'Always (live)'

The wizard - Paul Hardcastle

'Top of the Pops' was the most popular television chart programme in the history of television. Broadcast by the BBC in the UK between 1964 and 2006, it had a weekly audience of millions, tuning in to see studio performances of the biggest chart hits by all the artists and bands that mattered.

This show also had a theme tune, which changed from time to time. Between April 1986 and October 1991, Paul Hardcastle's 'The wizard' was the tune that was used. It was released as a single in 1986, just after the success of Hardcastle's '19'. This single reached number 15 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4809
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'The wizard (part 1)' / 'The wizard (part 2)'

Louise - Clouseau

Released as the follow-up to their biggest hit up until then, 'Daar gaat ze', 'Louise' was the second single by Clouseau with a girl's name as the title. And just like 1989's 'Anne', 'Louise', released in May 1990, was a song about a girl that is adored by the protagonist.

The band had no complaints about popularity: the single reached number 9 in the Belgian chart and number 12 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1464
Found: Record fair, June 29, 1991
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Louise' / 'Zij is van mij'