World in perfect harmony - Kim Wilde

'Just think of the good things / Instead of all the bad', is the first line of Kim Wilde's 1990 single 'World in perfect harmony'. It was the optimistic counterpart of 'Who's to blame', another track on the same album, 'Love moves'. Both songs were about the environment, a subject close to Kim's heart, but it's no wonder that the optimistic version made it to a single release.

At least, 'World in perfect harmony' was released as a single in Europe. No music video was made for this single, but it was promoted with many performances in television programmes. The single did not chart despite these efforts.

My collection: 7" single no. 1352
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, 1990
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'World in perfect harmony' / 'Can't get enough (of your love) (remix edit)'

Heimwee - Frank Boeijen Groep

Frank Boeijen wrote a song about the people from the Dutch West-Indies, who were forced to come to the Netherlands while waiting for a free republic in their homeland. 'Heimwee gaat nooit over naar het land van onze dromen' ('Homesickness for the country of our dreams never ends') is the key sentence of this song's lyric.

Released as the second single from the Frank Boeijen Groep's eighth album 'Dans in slow-motion', 'Heimwee' did not reach the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 700
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, December 15, 1988
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Heimwee' / 'De wind nam hem mee (live)'

Als je me wil - Clouseau

Clouseau appeared on television quite regularly, and 'Als je me wil' ('If you want me') was one of the tracks that appeared during a television special with the band. I quite liked the song, although by this time I was growing a bit tired of their continuous output of music. Still, I bought the single quite quickly after that.

'Als je me wil' did not chart in the Netherlands but it did reach number 29 in the Belgian singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1719
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, September 26, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Als je me wil' / 'Alarm'

Hoe verschrikkelijk ik ben - Frank Boeijen Groep

The story goes, that when Frank Boeijen told the members of his group that he'd written a song called 'Hoe verschrikkelijk ik ben' ('How terrible I am') they made jokes about it. And it's true, there aren't that many songwriters that qualify themselves as 'terrible'.

The song was released as the first single from the band's 1988 album 'Dans in slow motion' ('Dance in slow motion'), but it failed to chart. Still, the theatre tour that followed sold out and the album sold exceptionally well too.

The single was released in two different sleeves as well: the first edition featured a purple sleeve, whereas later editions (and the cd-single) featured a red sleeve. For no apparent reason, it has to be added.

My collection: 7" single no. 653 (1 & 2)
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, September 15, 1988 / Leiden, November 26, 1988
Cost: 6 guilders / 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Hoe verschrikkelijk ik ben' / 'Piccadilly Circus'

Spirit of the forest - Spirit of the forest

After Band Aid, Dance Aid, Ferry Aid and USA for Africa, the Gentlemen without weapons figured they had something to add to the growing amount of charity singles: a rainforest appeal. Together with the animal and rainforest noises which they'd already used for an album, they rounded up lots of famous artists to record 'Spirit of the forest'.

Somehow, the idea didn't quite work. The song sounded a bit naff and people were apparently not so concerned about the destruction of the rain forest as they were about starving children in Africa. The single was a commercial failure, but fans of Afrika Bambaataa, Jon Anderson, B52's, Michael de Barre, Big Country and the few dozen other artists mentioned on the sleeve of this single had another collector's item to get their hands on.

My collection: 7" single no. 900
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, June 23, 1989
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Spirit of the forest' / 'Spirit of the forest'

Feel like change - Black

Colin Vearncombe, who on his own made up the band Black, was inspired to write 'Feel like change' by the events taking place in South Africa: the freeing of Nelson Mandela and the impending dismantling of the Apartheid regime.

The track was released as the first single from Black's third album, 'Black' (1991). Produced by Robin Millar, both the single and the album featured an altogether smoother sound. Coupled with Vearncombe's excellent vocals, this was a very enjoyable listening experience. 'Feel like change' reached number 56 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1439
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, May 18, 1991
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Feel like change' / 'Nice'

Let it be - Ferry Aid

On March 6, 1987, the Herald of Free Enterprise - a ferry between Zeebrugge in Belgium and Dover in England - capsized, which killed 193 passengers and crew. The Sun newspaper, which had sold cheap tickets for the ferry on that day, quickly organized a recording of a charity recording. The song 'Let it be' was performed by an impressive array of artists, recorded on March 14, 15 and 16 at PWL studios. The recording was produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman.

Contributing artists were, in order of appearance: Paul McCartney, Boy George, Sara Dallin, Keren Woodward, Nick Kamen, Paul King, Mark King, Taffy, Andy Bell, Pepsi & Shirley, Mel & Kim, Jaki Graham, Mark Knopfler (guitar solo), Gary Moore (guitar solo), Kim Wilde, Nik Kershaw, Edwin Starr, Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot, Ruby Turner and Kate Bush. The closing choruses of the song feature an ensemble choir featuring many of the above performers as well other recording artists, including Bonnie Tyler, Errol Brown, Hazel O'Connor, The Nolans, Rick Astley, Jim Diamond, Doctor and the Medics, Alvin Stardust, Steve Strange, Mandy Smith, Su Pollard, Maxi Priest and members of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Go West, The Alarm and Bucks Fizz.

The single made number 1 in the UK singles chart and also topped the charts in Switzerland and Norway. In the Dutch Top 40, Ferry Aid reached number 3.

My collection: 7" single no. 575
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 4 guilders
Tracks: 'Let it be' / 'Let it be (Gospel Jam mix)'