Underwater - Harry Thumann

Harry Thumann was a German electronic music composer and sound engineer. He was quick to adapt to new technologies and started working with synthesizers early on in the Seventies. His single 'Underwater', released originally in 1979, was embraced in several European countries. Released in the Netherlands in the summer of 1980, it shot to number 12 in the Dutch Top 40.

I bought the single without a picture sleeve back in 1993, but during my recent shopping spree in a record shop in Darmstadt (Germany) I found a very decent copy with a picture sleeve. Of course I needed to upgrade. 

Harry Thumann died in 2001.

My collection: 7" single no. 1946

Originally found: Leiden, 20 August 1993
Picture sleeve version found: Come Back, Darmstadt (Germany), 4 August 2025

Tracks: 'Underwater part I' / 'Underwater part II'

Pour qui, pourquoi - Maribelle

Although I would certainly understand it if people called 'Ik hou van jou' a bit of a twee song, the melody of it is undeniably beautiful - especially when it's played by a full orchestra. After I disliked the song for a few years, I ended up buying the single in 1993 and the English version ('In love with you') five years after that. 

Obviously I was aware of the French version of the song pretty soon after that, but finding the single was hard - especially in the days before lively trade on the internet. Just a few months ago I was offered this single for 100 euros on a record fair. I finally found a decent copy on Discogs from a Czech seller - and for a decent price too. This copy has one playable side only - which is enough in this case.

My collection: 7" single no. 7743
Found: Discogs.com, received 22 August 2025
Tracks: 'Pour qui, pourquoi' 

Everything I own - Boy George

In 2013 Virgin Records celebrated its 40th anniversary. On that occasion they released a series of picture disc 7" singles of some interesting titles, and this single by Boy George was one of them. I didn't actually know this when I found this single last week; this knowledge comes from the Discogs website. There are more picture discs, but they have become quite expensive!

By contrast, this picture disc was definitely on the cheap side, cheap enough for me to want to take it with me on a day of shopping. I already owned the regular single, of course, but who could resist a picture disc? I certainly can't. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7742
Found: Velvet, Leiden, 19 August 2025
Tracks: 'Everything I own' / 'Use me' 

Sweet sixteen - Billy Idol

This limited edition package comes all the way from Australia, where this one was released back in 1986. And an attractive package it is too: not only does it come with a poster sleeve, it also contains two 7" singles pressed on purple vinyl.

The second disc, which is a free extra, claims to contain extended versions of 'Mony Mony' and 'White Wedding'. Claims, because while 'White Wedding' is indeed the so-called 'Shotgun mix' of 8 minuted and 20 seconds, the version of 'Mony Mony' is just the regular short version, and not the five minute extended version. Funny enough, no-one on Discogs has found this out yet. Despite this flaw, I still love this little limited edition from Australia; it's a keeper.

My collection: 7" single no. 7740
Found: Discogs.com, 16 August 2025
Tracks: 'Sweet sixteen' / 'Beyond belief' // 'Mony Mony' / 'White Wedding (extended version)' 

Alla andra får varann - Inger Berggren

Although Siw Malmkvist performed 'Alla andra får varann' for Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1960, she never recorded it in the studio. And so, no single of this song by her exists. Fortunately the song was recorded by two other artists. I bought the version by Östen Warnerbring last year, and this year it's Inger Berggren's version that ended up in my collection.

Inger is no stranger to the Eurovision Song Contest, of course: in 1962 she would go on the represent Sweden herself with 'Sol och vår', which I bought twice.

My collection: 7" single no. 7739
Found: Discogs.com, received 13 August 2025
Tracks: 'Alla andra får varann', 'Underbar så underbar' / 'Concert d'amour', 'Zigenare' 

When a heart beats - Nik Kershaw

The recent release of a box set of Nik Kershaw's MCA years includes, I think, all of the material he recorded and released during the Eighties, including this 12" single. 

'When a heart beats' was released in 1984 as the third single from his album The Riddle, and the 12" single presents extended versions of both the A-side and the B-side. The single was not a hit in the Netherlands, which doesn't really surprise me: it isn't as catchy as his earlier releases were. Thankfully, Nik is still making music and his recent albums have been really quite good!

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Music & Video Exchange, London (UK)
Tracks: 'When a heart beats (extended mix)' / 'Wild horses (extended mix)'

Alphabet St. - Prince

Although some of his releases were a bit weird, Prince was at the height of his success during the Eighties. The albums kept coming and they all ended up being awarded gold and platinum. 

'Alphabet St.' was the lead single from his 1988 album Lovesexy. The album came out just after Prince had withdrawn his 'diabolical' 'Black album'. Lovesexy was more upbeat, and 'Alphabet St.' was an example of that. This 12" single featured the album version of the track, as well as an extended version with the warning on the label: 'This is not music, this is a trip'. And indeed it is.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Alphabet St. (album version)' / 'Alphabet St.'