Love is reason - A-ha

'Love is reason' was the first single to be released from A-ha's debut album Hunting high and low in april 1985. In 1984 they had released an unsuccesful first version of 'Take on me' - the song that would make them famous later on in 1985. This single, however, was only released in Norway.

Because of that, the single has become very collectable. After all, not many copies were pressed. Hence, copies online will cost you a few hundred euros. At last week's record fair I was lucky: I found a copy for much less. Either the dealer didn't know what he had, or he just wanted to get rid of this single. Anyway, I finally got the single I wanted to have for a long, long time!

My collection: 7" single no. 8291
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: 'Love is reason' / 'Dream myself alive' 

101 - Sheena Easton

I bought a copy of Sheena Easton's '101' a long time ago, but that was before I knew that there was also a UK edition with a poster sleeve. To find this version decades later was nothing less than a revelation for me. I've always liked these poster editions, and the fact that Sheila Rock's beautiful photograph of the Scottish singer is replicated here a few times is an added bonus. The single is also present here in its original picture sleeve.  

'101' was famously written and produced by Prince. The single reached number 54 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 8290
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: '101' / '101 (instrumental)'

Every little kiss / The way it is - Bruce Hornsby & the Range

In the Eighties, it wasn't uncommon for record companies in the UK to release new singles by an artist bundled with the previous hit single. They were often shrinkwrapped together, but this package of Bruce Hornsby and the Range's 'Every little kiss' is something different: it's a gatefold sleeve with the artwork of both singles simply printed on opposing sides. Still, you got both singles by the band for the price of one.

'The way it is' is, of course, the song that will forever be Bruce Hornsby's finest hour, while 'Every little kiss' is a largely forgettable bop. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8289
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: 'Every little kiss' / 'The river runs low' // 'The way it is' / 'The red plains' 

She drives me crazy - Fine Young Cannibals

'She drives me crazy' is probably the best known track by the Fine Young Cannibals. It was a huge hit back in 1988 and you can still regularly hear it on the radio. What I didn't know was that there were so many different versions of the single. 

This version of the single comes in a silver sleeve (with a gray dot in the middle). It's like a grayscale version of the original sleeve design - with orange 'FYC' letters in the middle. I thought it was a beautiful version of the most familiar sleeve design, and the track, of course, can't be beat.

My collection: 7" single no. 8288
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: 'She drives me crazy' / 'Pull the sucker off' 

This is love - Gary Numan

'This is love' sounds like an strangely conventional title for a Gary Numan song, but it was really a single released by him in 1986. It was the lead single from his eighth studio album Strange Charm.

Early copies of the single included a free interview flexi disc, and I was lucky enough to score one of those at last week's record fair. The single was reasonably successful in the UK, reaching number 28 in the UK singles chart. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8287
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: 'This is love' / 'Survival' // '[Interview]' (flexi disc) 

Rules of the game - Bucks Fizz

When I saw this single at some dealer's stand, I didn't think I had it. Although I have a pretty complete collection of Bucks Fizz singles, it could have passed me by. But of course, I already have a copy of 'Rules of the game', but it's a German pressing.

This UK pressing comes in a funny gatefold sleeve, which presents facts about the group's career in a 'Game of the Goose' style. A limited edition like this should have pushed the sales somewhat, but in fact this single only managed to reach number 57 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 8285
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: 'Rules of the game' / 'When we were at war' 

People are people - Depeche Mode

After my visit to the record fair last Saturday I was waiting for the bus to take us back to the station of Den Bosch and talked for a while with a German buyer. We both were pretty satisfied despite not having found many collector's items this time around. He told me that he bought the Depeche Mode 12" singles box containing the singles of the album Violator, but sold it after a few years because its value had tripled in the meantime.

I said I was collecting the red vinyl singles from the early days and he assumed that they had become very expensive too, since Depeche Mode fans are now at an age where they can spend more money on music. But fortunately, that isn't the case: I bought this red vinyl version of 'People are people' for a mere 5 euros. It looks like I might get the set complete, as long as I keep on searching, both online and offline.

My collection: 7" single no. 8284
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: 'People are people' / 'In your memory'