Echo beach - Toyah

'Echo beach' was originally recorded by the Canadian band Martha & the Muffins in 1980. I liked that song a lot, and so it's no surprise that I would also be interested in cover versions. Toyah's version of the song was released in 1987, but I didn't find out about it until more than a decade later. That's when I found this 12" single.

It was an interesting find, because even though I like the song and Toyah's delivery of it isn't bad, it doesn't have quite the same magnetic quality the original had. The 'Surf mix' of the track is longer but doesn't add much to the song either. I would have to say that I haven't quite made up my mind on this one. But judge for yourself...

My collection: 12" single no. 387

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 1999

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Echo Beach (Surf mix)' / 'Echo Beach (7" mix)', 'Plenty'

Download: here

Popcorn - Anarchic System

Gershon Kingsley composed 'Popcorn' as an instrumental tune. Still, there are a few vocal versions of this track, and the first one was recorded by Anarchic System in 1972. Anarchic System was a French band. Early singles 'Popcorn' and 'Carmen Brasilia' were very much influenced by electronic music, although later work is influenced more by the rock genre.

For the longest time, I didn't know that there was this vocal version of 'Popcorn', all I knew was that Anarchic System recorded 'a version' of Kingsley's composition. I found out shortly before I found my copy at a Dutch record fair. Although I prefer the instrumental version on the B-side of this record, it's still a great rarity.

My collection: 7" single no. 2736
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 8, 1996
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Popcorn (Vocal)' / 'Popcorn (Instrumental)'
Download: here

I put a spell on you - Dee Dee

I am pretty sure that I would never have bought this 12" single if I hadn't had the double lp The best of the Top 40 of the year in my collection. By the time I bought this, that album was mine for more than a quarter of a century, and I'd played 'I put a spell on you' by Dee Dee more than a few times. Otherwise, I might have just glanced at this record and put it aside in the shop.

The way it was, I just had to have this special yellow vinyl edition, featuring an extended version of this cover of the Cleedence Clearwater Revival classic. Sure, it's throwaway pop, but I've never disliked that...

My collection: 12" single no. 436

Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 2004

Cost: 5 euro

Tracks: 'I put a spell on you [12" version]' / 'Do your loving right'

Download: here

I've seen that face before / Pull up to the bumper - Grace Jones

Before I bought this record, I left it standing in the shop for months and months. I didn't think it would contain longer versions of the two songs listed, and that was reason enough not to buy it. I think I was right, because when I finally did buy it, this record contained the regular versions of the songs. Still, after all that time, the price had dropped, so the financial damage was limited.

Grace Jones is an icon, and 'I've seen that face before' is her best song, in my opinion at least. If only for that one line: 'toi aussi, tu déteste la vie'. There's only one woman who can snarl like that.

My collection: 12" single no. 325

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1995

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'I've seen that face before' / 'Pull up to the bumper'

Download: Disc 2 of album 'Ultimate Collection', including both tracks

Living in a world (turned upside down) - Private Lives

The radio station I listened to in the first half of the 1980's was very much oriented towards the UK charts. Even if songs didn't make it into the Dutch charts, you would hear the latest sounds from Britain, and that would give you a good idea of what was going on on the other side of the North Sea.

Private Lives was a band that never made it in Europe. They didn't even make it in the UK, as only this song, 'Living in a world (turned upside down)' reached the lower regions of the singles charts.

It's a classy, stylish song, with a melody that stays in your head once you've heard it. I loved it in the eighties and I was happy to find this single almost a decade later. Much to my surprise, it was a Dutch pressing!

My collection: 7" single no. 1832

Found: Record Palace, Amsterdam, January 13, 1993

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Living in a world (turned upside down)' / 'Breakup'

Download: Album 'Prejudice and pride', including both tracks

Respectable - Mel & Kim

The British sisters Mel and Kim Appleby, born to English and Jamaican parents, were noticed while they were dancing in a nightclub in London, signed to Supreme records and put under the guidance and supervision of the production team Stock Aitken & Waterman. It was the start of a short but very successful career, starting in September 1986 with their debut single 'Showing out (Get Fresh at the weekend)'. The second single, 'Respectable', was an even bigger success in the UK, reaching no. 1 in the spring of 1987.

I bought this single twice. The first copy I bought quickly after its release, the second copy six years later. It was a German limited edition in red vinyl, which was a great find. I never saw this item before or since.

My collection: 7" single no. 526 (1) and 1884 (2)

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987 (1) and Record Fair, Amsterdam, April 24, 1993 (2)

Cost: 6 guilders (1) and 4 guilders (2)

Tracks: 'Respectable' / 'Respectable (instrumental)'

Download: here

Find me (Odyssey to Anyoona) - Jam & Spoon feat. Plavka

Time can be cruel to pop songs. Some songs sound dated only a couple of years after they are released, others are truly timeless. I'd have to say that this one falls into the former category. Listening to 'Find me' in 2008 makes it a very 'nineties' track. Jam & Spoon have produced and created many tracks but they have used the same style pretty much all the time.

Still, 'Find me' is a nice popsong, and when I bought this promotional double 12" release, I was very glad. It contains no less than six versions of the song, plus two other tracks, and the heavy duty gatefold sleeve gives it a lush look. The fact that such releases sometimes turn out to be a bit disappointing in the long run is just a minor remark.

My collection: 12" single no. 219

Found: Kensington High Street, London, 1994

Cost: 6 pounds

Tracks: 'Find me (Fruhschicht)', 'Find me (House ideaz)' / 'Find me (Dedicated to the blondes)', 'Find me (Ben Liebrand mix)' / 'Find me (Odyssey to Anyoona)', 'Odyssey to Anyoona' / 'Drie Kraft der vier Herzen', 'The Tribe'

Download: here

Chequered love - Kim Wilde

'Chequered love' was Kim Wilde's second single and it was another big success. In the Netherlands, it did even better than Kim's debut Kids in America, reaching no. 2 in the charts where 'Kids' only made it to no. 6.

In 1982, I was going to Disco Market on a very regular basis, searching through the singles until I found one or two titles I could take home and play. It was a nice surprise to find 'Chequered love' only a few weeks after I'd found View from a bridge.

My collection: 7" single no. 129

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Chequered love' / 'Shane'

Download: here

When your heart is weak - Cock Robin

Cock Robin hit the Dutch singles chart in early 1986 with a bang: their first hit, 'The promise you made', reached no. 1 within a few weeks and made an instant impression with the Dutch audience. Elsewhere they weren't as succesful: in the UK that single reached the chart four months later and barely scraped the top 40.

I heard the 12" mix of 'The promise you made' in a shop and was instantly interested in their remixes as well. A few weeks after I bought that 12", I found 'When your heart is weak' for a lower price than usual. Of course, I bought it. I wasn't disappointed: the 12" single contained a nice extended version of the track, as well as an instrumental version. Of course, I had to have the other 12" singles by Cock Robin as well... more about that later.

My collection: 12" single no. 41

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1986

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'When your heart is weak (Dance mix)' / 'When your heart is weak (Instrumental)', 'When your heart is weak (Single mix)'

Download: here

After the party - Maarten Peters

Maarten Peters first rose to prominence in the Dutch music scene as the guitarist of the Frank Boeijen Groep. He took the place of original guitarist Wil Theunissen, who quit the band for health reasons. While playing the the Frank Boeijen Groep, Maarten Peters formed his own band, Maarten Peters & the Dream. This is probably one of their best known singles, despite the fact that it didn't reach the top 40 singles chart in Holland.

'After the party' was included on many mid-80's compilation albums and surprised some people because of its lush production. The 7" single included a short version and a full length version. The latter version ended up on the album, 'Hunting the queenbee'.

My collection: 7" single no. 418

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, June 28, 1986

Cost: 3,5 guilders

Tracks: 'After the party' / 'After the party (short version)'

Download: here

On T.V. - Buggles

The trip to Esbjerg and the visit to the local record shop there which I mentioned earlier today was pleasing in many ways. For instance, I also got to fill one omission in my collection of Buggles singles.

On T.V. was the third single from the Buggles's second album, 'Adventures in modern recording'. When you look at the chart history of the Buggles, it's as if they never made more than their debut album, because the second album nor any of the five singles that were drawn from it ever made the chart. Finding 'On T.V.' meant that I finally had all of the Buggles's singles. Well, you know I didn't know about the single Elstree at that time...

My collection: 7" single no. 3431
Found: Esbjerg (Denmark), June 17, 2006
Cost: 10 Danish crowns
Tracks: 'On T.V.' / 'Blue Nylon'
Download: Album 'Adventures in modern recording', which includes both tracks

Good times - Chic

The assignment: buy as many singles as you can for 1 pound. The place: a warehouse, either Woolworth or some similar shop. The time: a summer holiday in 1979. I was only eight years old, but I knew what I had to do. I bought no less than 10 ex-chart singles in that shop in London. Almost all of them were in plain white paper sleeves, and all of them were UK pressings, something that I considered to be the best souvenir of this country I could ever have - better than a small Big Ben statue or a t-shirt with the word 'London' on it.

One of those singles was Chic's 'Good times'. Only a few months later this song would be misused for Sugarhill Gang's 'Rapper's delight'. What a waste...

My collection: 7" single no. 13

Found: London, July 1979

Cost: 10p

Tracks: 'Good times' / 'A warm summer night'

Download: here

Love take over - Five Star

Five Star is one of those pop groups that churn out happy tunes like there's no tomorrow, sell millions of records and then disappear into anonymity. Well, almost, because part of the group is still performing live from time to time.

I always liked Five Star, so it's no wonder that at some point I started collecting their 12" singles. Back in 1985, there was still a good chance that a 12" single would include an extended version of a song, instead of a remixed, remodelled and re-done track. 'Love take over' was remixed by Paul Hardcastle, who was one of the big names of that time. A nice find, although I can't remember exactly how I got my hands on this one...

My collection: 12" single no. 342
Found: ?
Cost: ?
Tracks: 'Love take over (remix by Paul Hardcastle)' / 'Keep in touch', 'Let me be the one (instrumental version featuring Grover Washington jr.)'
Download: here

See those eyes - Altered Images

I was very late discovering Altered Images. I did buy 'Don't talk to me about love' somewhere in the eighties, but I never realised they did much more than that until singer Clare Grogan joined the 2002 Here & Now Tour, and I got to hear a selection of their tracks live.

'See those eyes' was one of them. So naturally, when the chance presented itself, I snapped up the single. That happened in 2004.

It's always good to discover music, even if it's years too late...

My collection: 7" single no. 3400

Found: Den Haag, 2004

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'See those eyes' / 'How about that then (I've missed my train)'

Download: Album 'Pinky blue', which includes both tracks

Rabbit - Chas & Dave

I knew a girl once who was always talking. She talked so much that my ears, and those of our mutual friends, started to bleed. I had to do something, and that's when I reached back into my record collection and recorded this song for her. It's got the great lines: Now you were just the kind of girl to break my heart in two / I knew right off when I first clapped my eyes on you / But how was I to know you'd bend my ear'oles too / With your incessant talking? / You're becoming a pest. When I asked about it, she confessed that she never really listened much to lyrics of songs, just the music. And so this little hint went right past her.

I bought the single a decade earlier, just because I liked it. I never heard much more about Chas & Dave until Tori Amos covered two songs of theirs in 1996.

My collection: 7" single no. 184

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1983

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Rabbit' / 'Uneasy feeling'

Download: here

Every breath you take - Otis Liggett

The Police's 'Every breath you take' is one of the world's best known songs. It was released in 1983 and reached no. 1 in the UK and the USA. Even twenty years later, Sting, who wrote the song, earned an average of $2000 per day in royalties.

No wonder, then, that other artists would record a cover version of this song. Acts like UB40, Juliana Hatfield and Puff Daddy have tried their hand on it, but the first artist to do this must have been Otis Liggett. His version was released in 1983, shortly after the Police released their single.

I didn't know this when I bought the single. I was in Esbjerg, Denmark, for an '80s rock festival in 2006 when I found a second hand record shop in the centre of town. Naturally I had to check it out. I left the shop with 13 singles, and this was one of them. It's a nice enough version, nothing spectacular, but a nice rare find.

My collection: 7" single no. 3430

Found: Esbjerg (Denmark), June 17, 2006

Cost: 10 Danish crowns

Tracks: 'Every breath you take' / 'Every beat you hear'

Download: here

No more talk - Dubstar

I don't remember why I bought 'No more talk' by Dubstar on cd-single (well, yes, I do buy those things too sometimes) in 1997. I may have heard the song in the shop while I was there, and decided to buy it on the spot. All I know is that it was in London, because outside of the UK I've never even seen a Dubstar release (except on international record fairs, of course...)

I do remember why I bought the promotional double 12" single of that track in 1999. I'd played the cd-single countless times and loved every track on it. My only regret was that it didn't contain any remixes of the song. Usually, when I like a song, I become interested in remixes because they can add a different perspective on it. And so I was very excited to come across this promotional release, containing six remixes of 'No more talk' by three different remixers.

The excitement faded, alas, when I heard the remixes. In my opinion, the Breakout mix by Jamie Myerson is the only one that warrants repeated listening. All the others are perfect music for loud discos where people are getting drunk. But that's not where I'm headed anytime soon. Still, I finally got what I was looking for and it's worth owning for that one remix alone.

My collection: 12" single no. 406
Found: Beanos, East Croydon (UK), May 1999
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'No more talk (Jamie Myerson Breakout mix)' / 'No more talk (FC Kahuna vocal mix)', 'No more talk (Steve Hillier remix)' / 'No more talk (Jamie Myerson Breakout instrumental mix)', 'No more talk (Jamie Myerson Vocal House mix)' / 'No more talk (FC Kahuna dub mix)'
Download: here

Waterloo - Abba

When I was a child, Abba was probably the most popular band in the world. I was always listening to them, whether it was on the records of my sister, on television or on the radio. I've bought the majority of their singles in my life, although I'm still not complete. When I bought this particular single, though, it was mostly for sentimental reasons. I don't think I ever played it. I don't think I could hear anything new if I played Waterloo once again.

This single was released in 2004 to commemorate the fact that Abba won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest 30 years earlier. Sounds like a record company ploy, like most Abba releases these days. I think the third version of their 'Complete Albums' boxset was released recently. Thank God I'm not a hardcore Abba fan.

My collection: 7" single no. 3404

Found: hmv.co.uk website, 2004

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Waterloo' / 'Watch out'

Download: Album 'Waterloo', including these two tracks (password: sanmarino)

Laissez briller le soleil - Reynaert

In the world of the Eurovision Song Contest, anything can happen. Every country is always trying to win, but there are many opinions about what a winning song should be. In the case of Belgium, it took a thirteen year old child to win the contest: Sandra Kim with 'J'aime la vie' took the prize home in 1986. Then in 1987 the Flemish broadcaster tried their luck with Lilianne Saint-Pierre and a strange song called 'Soldiers of love' (with an even stranger choreography). When French broadcaster RTBF took their turn again in 1988 they opted for an introspective ballad instead of the happy bouncy pop that won them the award two years earlier.

Reynaert's 'Laissez briller le soleil' is an interesting song because it doesn't choose: it's a ballad, but performed in mid-tempo, it's in a minor key but it has a message of hope... and so on. Personally I think this is a great song, but many people disagreed: during the 1988 Song Contest in Dublin, it ended as no. 18 out of 21 contestants.

My collection: 7" singles no. 1491

Found: private collection, Den Haag, July 7, 1991

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Laissez briller le soleil' / 'The sun could shine in your heart'

Download: here

That ole devil called love - Alison Moyet

In the 1980's, record companies started releasing double vinyl singles as a way to attract buyers. The idea of 'buy one, get one free' was a good way to give the consumer two extra tracks from the same artist (although, one could wonder, wouldn't it be easier to press an ep instead?). The two singles, usually in a gatefold sleeve, were usually limited edition collectables. Quite easy to find in the UK, where they were released, but abroad, this could present a problem.

Fortunately, Dutch record shops started to import these items as well. The 'get one free' concept was less popular here, though: double singles would often cost twice as much. In the case of Alison Moyet's hit single 'That ole devil called love' it was worth it. Two extra live tracks plus a rather attractive inside sleeve (which featured a painted portrait of Alison) was a good proposition.

'That ole devil called love' was originally performed by Billie Holiday. Alison Moyet's version reached no. 2 in the UK singles charts in the summer of 1985.

My collection: 7" single no. 345

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1985

Cost: 12 guilders

Tracks: 'That ole devil called love' / 'Don't burn down the bridge' / 'That ole devil called love (live)' / 'Twisting the knife (live)'

Download: here

View from a bridge - Kim Wilde

After buying Kids in America, I'd definitely become interested in owning more Kim Wilde singles. I didn't have a very great budget, though, so that made things difficult. Fortunately, my favourite second hand singles shop started to stock more Kim Wilde singles, which enabled me to have a few titles in a relatively short time.

I can't be sure now, but I think I bought 'View from a bridge' there as well. It was one of my favourite Kim Wilde tracks at the time and buying this made me very happy. I was kindof disappointed that the sleeve was made in black and white because I wanted to see colour photos of Kim even then...

My collection: 7" single no. 112
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'View from a bridge' / 'Take me tonight'
Download: Album 'Select', which includes both tracks

Suboceana (Boom boom chi boom boom) - Tom Tom Club

Tom Tom Club had two hits in the Netherlands: 'Wordy Rappinghood' (1981) and 'Under the boardwalk' (1982). I didn't buy either of them. I did buy this track, 'Suboceana' on a 12" single. It was a couple of years after I saw the interesting video. The single, of course, never reached the Dutch record shops, since this was released in the UK only. And so it was in the UK that I found this record.

The 'Dream master remix' was made by Keith Cohen, the man who also founded and fronted K.C. and the Sunshine Band.

My collection: 12" single no. 135
Found: Record Exchange, London, 1992
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Suboceana (Boom boom chi boom boom) (Dream master remix)' / 'Suboceana (Boom boom chi boom boom)', 'The Suckling'
Download: here

Christian - China Crisis

Somehow I managed to miss the song 'Christian' when it came out. I only found out about it years later, through a live version that came free with the double single for China Crisis's 'You did cut me'. I liked the song, but it took some time to find out that it was actually their first big hit - in the UK at least. In the Netherlands it didn't reach the top 40, but in the UK it got to no. 12 in 1983.

When I found the 12" single for 'Christian', I checked it out. The label said the song lasted for 5 minutes and 45 seconds, which seemed incredibly long to me. So I bought it, hoping to hear an extended version of the song. Of course, as fans of the band would know, the song is originally that long. But still, it wasn't a bad buy, because the B-side tracks were worth a spin or two as well. The upbeat 'Greenacre Bay' and the introspective instrumental 'Performing seals' are just two examples of China Crisis's extraordinary talent.

My collection: 12" single no. 98

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1990

Cost: 2,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Christian' / 'Greenacre bay', 'Performing seals'

Download: here

Jean - Oliver

As a child, I was collecting singles. I took over this obsession from my brother and sister, who were seven and six years older than me, respectively. Starting at such a young age had its disadvantages. For instance, like I wrote in my first post, I was constantly cleaning out my collection, so that I will never know what my first record was. It also meant that whenever I did have a record that one of my siblings deemed interesting enough, they swindled me out of it by proposing a swap. This is how Oliver came into my life. My brother wanted a single from my collection and gave me a broad range of his throwaway singles to choose from. I chose this one, for reasons that I cannot remember.

From that moment on until just a few minutes ago, I knew nothing about this Oliver. As a child I thought this record was from the 1950's, because it looked so old and had no year of release on it. It also didn't reach the Dutch singles chart. Not even the UK chart! I played it every now and again, but that was all. The mystery remained.

Thanks to Wikipedia, I now know everthing about Oliver. William Oliver Swofford (February 22, 1945 – February 12, 2000) was an American pop singer. Oliver's clean-cut good looks and soaring baritone were the perfect vehicle for his July 1969 single 'Good Morning Starshine', from the pop-rock musical 'Hair'. In October 1969 Oliver reached no. 2 on the Hot 100 and no. 1 on the adult contemporary chart with Rod McKuen's melodious ballad "Jean", the theme from the Oscar-winning film The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. See? I didn't know all that. Thank God for this blog.

My collection: 7" single no. 3

Found: at home, in my brother's collection

Cost: nothing. Well, 1 other single.

Tracks: 'Jean' / 'Who will buy'

Download: here

Don't look now - Torch song

Back in 1984, I was addicted to music channels like Sky and Music Box. It got kinda bad, because at some point I couldn't get through the day without my daily fix of music videos. There was so much to see, and sometimes I even got to see what I wanted.

The great thing about this addiction was that I got to know a lot of videos. Not only the videos belonging to the popular tunes of the day, but also the more obscure ones. Like for instance, this one. It was a striking piece of video and although I hadn't seen it for twenty years until I rediscovered it on YouTube, I still remember most frames.

It also presented a problem, because when I went out to buy 'Don't look now' by Torch Song, all I got in the Dutch record shops were blank stares. To this day, I don't know if a 7" single even exists. But I did manage to find the 12" single, only a couple of years ago. What a great find. At the time, I didn't even know who William Orbit was. Nowadays, everybody knows. But does everybody know this great track? I bet they don't.

My collection: 12" single no. 435

Found: 2004

Cost: 5 euro

Tracks: 'Don't look now' / 'P2e (remix)'

Download: here

It takes a muscle to fall in love - Spectral Display

In the early 1980's, synthpop was the flavour of the day. Bands that were starting out didn't need drums, bass and guitars anymore: all they needed was a good synthesizer to make it in the charts. Depeche Mode, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and Soft Cell were the hottest bands around and their example was followed everywhere.

In the Netherlands, Michel Mulders was the synth wizard behind Spectral Display. The single 'It takes a muscle to fall in love' was a striking piece of pop music, which should have been a massive hit. Amazingly, it never reached the Dutch Top 40. These days, a band would be dropped almost immediately by their record label, but Spectral Display released a handful of singles and two albums before calling it a day. Did I mention that none of these records made the charts?

My collection: 7" single no. 151

Found: Studio Echo, Den Haag, 1982

Cost: 5,5 guilders

Tracks: 'It takes a muscle to fall in love' / 'Tango'

Download: Album 'Spectral Display', including both tracks

China in your hand - T'pau

The British band T'pau burst onto the scene in 1987 with this song, 'China in your hand'. It wasn't their first single, but it was certainly their biggest hit. In the Netherlands, it got to number one in early 1988, after having reached that same position in the UK. There was no doubt that this band would make it big...

I bought this single almost right after its release in the charts. I was pretty surprised when I found out, later on, that the single version was actually way better than the album version. I bought the album later on in 1988 and was very pleased that I owned the single to compensate for this.

The throwaway B-side 'No sense of pride' was an early indication of how the second album by T'pau would sound. Like the rest of their career, this single was a hit-and-miss affair.

My collection: 7" single no. 574
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'China in your hand' / 'No sense of pride'
Download: here

Diggi-loo diggi-ley - Bröderna Delay

One of the great injustices in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest was the fact that the Swedish Herrey brothers won the 1984 edition with 'Diggi loo diggi ley', a simple popsong with nonsensical lyrics. So what else is new...

But when I found this single six months ago at a record fair, I was curious enough to want to buy it. The 'original disco cover version' by the Swedish Delay brothers is exactly what it promises to be: a disco cover version of the song that won their country the contest. Released in 1984 like the original, this is probably a novelty record with the aim of cashing in on a popular song.

Even in this day and age of internet, no details about the Delay brothers can be found. Not even a chart statistic of their homeland! The single contains the Swedish and the English version of the song.

My collection: 7" single no. 3452

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, 2008

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Diggi-loo diggi-ley (Swedish version)' / 'Diggi-loo diggi-ley (English version)'

Download: here.

Sweetest smile - Black

In 1987, I went on holiday to London. Having not been there for many years, I really longed for that holiday. I knew that the city would offer some record shops, and if I was to believe my sister, they were huge. I saved up a lot of money for that holiday, hoping to have enough to buy everything I saw - at least the things I liked.

The day before we went, I saw 'Top of the pops' on the BBC. Much to my surprise, I saw a performance by the band Black. I hadn't heard from that band since Hey Presto, so this was a great surprise. Apparently their single 'Sweetest smile' was just released, and the holiday to London presented an opportunity to pick up the single. Of course, it wasn't released in the Netherlands until it became a hit in the UK. I couldn't know that Black was about to become a household name during that year.

'Sweetest smile' was very different from 'Hey Presto', but I really liked it. Singer Colin Vearncombe has one of the most beautiful voices in the business, and the sophistication and style that oozed from 'Sweetest smile' was irresistible for me. I do wonder why the public dropped him so easily after 'Wonderful life'. Maybe it was just too good. Fortunately, I never lost contact with Black again.

My collection: 7" single no. 544

Found: Tower Records, Kensington London, 1987

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Sweetest smile [7" edit]' / 'Sixteens'

Download: here

Coming home - Marshall Hain

Say Marshall Hain, and most people with some knowledge of the late seventies charts will reply with 'Dancing in the city'. A typical one hit wonder act, Julian Marshall and Kit Hain only released on album ('Free ride') before going their separate ways. Kit Hain tried to launch a solo career, but that didn't go so well either.

'Injustice!', I cry, for the follow-up to 'Dancing in the city' is a jewel. 'Coming home' was released in October 1978 and scraped the lower regions of the UK singles chart for a couple of weeks. The album 'Free ride' includes a version that is slightly different from the single version, because it omits the great fretless bass intro, replacing it with vocals from Julian Marshall instead.

So here it is, in all its glory, the single version of 'Coming home' and the B-side 'Different point'. Just to prove that I was right in buying this, even if I was just an eight year old kid.

My collection: 7" single no. 72

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1978

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Coming home [7" version]' / 'Different point'

Download: here

Hammer horror - Kate Bush

This is it: the first Kate Bush single I ever bought. All through 1978 I was captivated by Kate Bush. I've heard it many times in my life: hearing 'Wuthering Heights' is, for most people, a life-changing experience. Since I was only 7 years old at the time, my memory is hazy about this, but the fact that I bought this single in the autumn of 1978 is a testament to the fact that she stuck in my mind. I must have paid full price for it, and that was the first time I ever did that.

But it was worth it. 'Hammer horror' is an exciting piece of music and the sleeve, as you can see, carried a very beautiful picture of ms. Bush.

'Hammer horror' and the B-side, 'Coffee Homeground' were both taken from the album 'Lionheart', that would be released quickly after this.

My collection: 7" single no. 19
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1978
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Hammer horror' / 'Coffee Homeground'
Download: Album 'Lionheart', including both tracks

From New York to L.A. - Patsy Gallant

Described as 'camp as tits' somewhere on the web, and I'm inclined to agree. This is another of my very first singles, and I remember buying it. I had one guilder to spend, and the single I really wanted to buy was 'A far l'amore comincia tu' by Rafaella Carra, another camp track. I never bought that single in the end. I spent some time searching for it in the shop, and when I finally concluded they didn't have it, I had to search all over again for something else.

It's not the best guilder I ever spent, because in the past thirty years I don't think I played it much. Hearing it now I have to conclude that it isn't too bad, but I also reckon that I'm not a fan of song titles with the city 'New York' mentioned in them.

My collection: 7" single no. 5
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1978
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'From New York to L.A.' / 'Angie'
Download: here

Pop Muzik - M

When you have a record collection it's always nice to show people some rarities and gimmicks. Back when everyone knew what vinyl records did, it was great to show this one. The 12" record of M's 'Pop Muzik' played two different songs on the same side, both songs starting at the beginning of the record. It was just a matter of choosing the right groove, because the A-side of this record actually had two grooves!


Of course, I only found out about this 12" when it left the shops for some time. So I had to wait for some time to get my hands on it, whereas my brother actually had it for years. I bought my second hand copy in 1990, eleven years after its release.

Which brings me to another interesting fact: a lot of people actually seem to think that 'Pop Muzik' is an eighties song. However, it was released in April 1979 and was a top 10 hit almost everywhere in Europe that summer. It influenced a lot of tracks from the eighties, though, so it's no wonder it keeps appearing in lots of eighties compilations.

My collection: 12" single no. 91
Found: 1990
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Pop muzik', 'M Factor' / 'Pop muzik (full length disco mix)'
Download: here

Bette Davis Eyes - Kim Carnes

In the Netherlands and most of Europe, Kim Carnes is a one hit wonder. She still released a stack of albums, so I guess she did better in her home country, America. But the one hit I'm talking about, is 'Bette Davis Eyes'. It reached no. 16 in the Dutch top 40 in the summer of 1981. In the UK it fared even better and reached no. 10.

I never bought this single until recently. Back in 1981 the song was played on the radio too often, I didn't need the record to play the song in my head. But it's a great slice of pop that belongs in my collection.

My collection: 7" single no. 3399
Found: Den Haag, 2004
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Bette Davis Eyes' / 'Miss you tonight'
Download: Album 'Mistaken identity', including both tracks

Love resurrection - Alison Moyet

After working with Vince Clarke in Yazoo, Alison Moyet went solo. I was disappointed at first, but then slowly warmed up to her music. I had to be quick in deciding whether I wanted to buy her debut single, 'Love resurrection', because despite the fact that it was in the charts, the shop where I went to offered it for half price. And so I bought it, despite doubting this purchase at first. It was the summer of 1984, the golden age for pop music as far as I'm concerned, and each week there were many singles I wanted to have.

'Love resurrection' reached no. 10 in the UK singles charts, and only no. 25 in the Dutch top 40. The single featured a non-album track, 'Baby I do'.

My collection: 7" single no. 236

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1984

Cost: 3,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Love resurrection' / 'Baby I do'

Download: here

Elstree - The Buggles

The Buggles are best known for their debut hit 'Video killed the radio star'. I didn't know this single existed until I saw it at a record fair earlier this year. I had to buy it, if only for the curiosity value.

'Elstree' reached number 55 in the UK singles chart, and was the fourth single to be taken from the album 'The age of plastic'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3450
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, 2008
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Elstree' / 'Johnny on the monorail'
Download: Album 'The age of plastic', including both tracks

Kids in America - Kim Wilde

Did I mention that I have a complete collection of Kim Wilde records? I didn't? Well, okay, so I did now. And in this first installment of a series that will take some months to develop, I can tell you it all started with Kim's debut single: 'Kids in America'.

I bought my first copy of this single in 1982 in the shop I mentioned in my first post, Disco Market. It was a year after Kim made the charts with this track, and it took so long to get it because I was always buying older, thus cheaper, chart singles. When Kim burst onto the scene I was only 10 years old. The song stuck in my mind, which is why I still wanted to have it one year on.

The copy pictured here is not the one I bought then. I've got three copies: the tattered, torn first one, a third one I bought recently to have a pristine copy, and the one pictured here. I had it signed by Kim in 1997, when she ended her 11 month run with the musical Tommy.

My collection: 7" single no. 108
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Kids in America' / 'Tuning in tuning on'
Download: Album 'Kim Wilde, including both tracks

One more lonely night - Kaija

When you're into pop music, you're bound to be into the Eurovision Song Contest. Although in recent years that logic seems to have diminished. I always loved it, anyway, ever since I was a kid. Part of the excitement was the process of seeing every country giving their opinion on the songs, part of the disappointment was usually the winning song. My taste is probably so eclectic that I always seem to root for the underdog. One of those underdogs was Kaija. She competed in the Contest in 1991 with a song called Hullö Yö. Pardon? Yes, it's Finnish. I don't know many people outside Finland who can understand this language, but the Finnish always had to compete singing in their own language.

No wonder, then, that the song didn't win. It got 4 points from Ireland, 1 from Iceland and 1 from Greece... And that was all. To make matters even worse, the single was unavailable wherever I went. In the shops, at record fairs and even among some Eurovision fans I knew, no-one was able to provide me with this single. Finally, in 2008, my luck changed. A few months ago I bought this single on eBay. A search of 17 years was concluded.

The single includes the song in English and Italian.

My collection: 7" single no. 3455

Found: eBay, 2008

Cost: 7 euro

Tracks: 'One more lonely night' / 'Una notte folle'

Download: here

Don't you want me - Human League

The soundtrack of the eighties wouldn't be complete without the Human League. For years I thought that 'Don't you want me' was their debut single, until I found out that there was a previous incarnation of the group - an incarnation I never quite got into.

'Don't You Want Me' was released in the UK on 5 December 1981 and to everyone in the band's amazement it went almost immediately to number one and remained in the UK charts for 13 weeks. The group became famous for lead singer Phil Oakey's weird hairdo, although he cut his hair pretty quickly and started to look more like a regular Joe.

I only bought this single in 2004, when I reached the point of wanting to 'complete' certain parts of my collection. Back in 1982, when this song was in the charts, I heard it so many times I didn't really want to buy it. There are still other Human League songs I prefer, but to many, this is their one and only classic.

My collection: 7" single no. 3380
Found: Den Haag, 2004
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Don't you want me' / 'Seconds'
Download: 12" single 'Don't you want me', including both tracks

Get it - Urban Heroes

I'm not a big fan of Dutch music, but every now and again there are exceptions to this rule. I'm always happy to hear exceptions, but they've been pretty scarce recently. Things were better in the 1980's. The Urban Heroes are an example. The band was formed in the late Seventies in Den Haag, and released their first single, 'Get it', in 1980. It reached the Dutch top 40, stayed in there for three weeks and reached number 32. Not a very high chart placing, but they would also reach number 32 with the next single, 'Not another world war'. Their biggest hit was 'Habadaba Riwikidi', which got to number 21 in 1981. After this, the band never reached the top 40 again. They split up, reunited, split up again and reunited again.

Only 'Get it' made it into my record collection, because I considered the other singles to be a repeat of this nice song. As I said, I'm not a big fan of Dutch music....

My collection: 7" single no. 42

Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1980

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Get it' / 'Lovin' you lovin' me'

Download: here

The best of the Top 40 of the year - Various artists

I don't know what the occasion was, but I remember I got this double lp in the summer of 1979. The way I remember it, it was the first lp that was my own, because this one was bought in the shop as opposed to earlier lp's I got, previously owned by my parents. This album contains no less than 32 hits of the year 1978 and although I was at first a bit disappointed at the track listing (I missed my favourite artists of that time, Kate Bush and Abba and others), I played these two discs a lot. Now that I've listened to it again I can hear that it hasn't survived the years too well.

Some sounds of that lp have become etched in my memory forever. I will always define 1978 by tracks like 'Dancing in the city', 'Follow me', Windsurfin'' and 'Let's all chant'. I consider this to be the actual start of my obsession with pop music - and records.

My collection: LP no. 7

Found: as a present, 1979

Cost: -

Tracks:

Side 1: Let's all chant (Michael Zager Band) / Dancing in the city (Marshall Hain) / Red Hot (Robert Gordon) / Every 1's a winner (Hot Chocolate) / Only a fool (Mighty Sparrow) / Ragtime Piano Joe (Peter Straker) / Malibu (Patricia Paay) / Copacabana (Barry Manilow)

Side 2: Nutbush city limits (Ike & Tina Turner) / Boogie Oogie Oogie (A taste of honey) / You and I (Rick James) / Fool (Chris Rea) / If I had words (Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley) / For a few dollars more (Smokie) / If you can't give me love (Suzi Quatro) / It's raining (Darts)

Side 3: Three times a lady (Commodores) / Follow me (Amanda Lear) / Angel of the morning (Guys & Dolls) / Put your love in me (Hot Chocolate) / More than a woman (Tavares) / Baker street (Gerry Rafferty) / Windsurfin' (The Surfers) / Hold on (Bolland & Bolland)

Side 4: I put a spell on you (Dee Dee) / Wet day in September (Pussycat) / Realite (Next One) / Rosita (George Baker) / She was too young (The Cats) / Round in circles (Highlight) / It's only a matter of time (Breeze) / Floral Dance (Brighouse & Rastrick Band)

Download: Disc One, Disc Two

Carmen Brasilia - Revolution System

I have a confession to make. I absolutely love Gershon Kingsley's 'Popcorn', and all the cover versions that have been released since that original track. Well, of course there are exceptions - who needs yet another techno reworking of 'Popcorn', and let's ignore that version by Crazy Frog shall we? - but I think it's one of the best instrumental tracks ever.

The obsession actually started with this single. It was one of the first singles I ever bought (it's number 10 in my current administration) and it's announced as 'Brand New Popcorn'. I must have known as a child what 'Popcorn' was, because that triggered the buying of this single. 'Carmen Brasilia' is an instrumental version, performed on a Moog synthesizer, based on the most famous part of the opera Carmen by Georges Bizet. The B-side of this single features the track 'Ooh Uggerdoo', most probably written by members of the group.

There's also a version by the group Anarchic System, which I finally bought in 1995. More on that one later...

My collection: 7" single no. 10

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1977

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Carmen Brasilia' / 'Ooh Uggerdoo'

Download: here

Fool's paradise - Rosie Vela

A lot of the records I've bought have been second hand. It's usually the only way to get hold of rare old singles. The second hand market is full of great finds. Having discovered Rosie Vela in 1989, three years after she released her album 'Zazu' on A&M records, I was very glad when I found the 12" single of 'Fool's paradise' somewhere in the 1990's. Unfortunately, as you can see, it was far from a pristine copy. It lay in a Record Exchange in London for only 30p, and despite its desperate state, I had to buy it. Not only for the remarkable sleeve (which you'll agree is pretty beautiful if you ignore the wear and tear), but also for the exclusive 'new 12" version' that was on the B-side of this record. The A-side consisted of the album tracks 'Fool's paradise' and 'Interlude'.

Rosie Vela was a model who got into singing and had the amazing good luck to have her debut album produced by Steely Dan's Gary Katz, with musical contributions by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker - five years after Steely Dan disbanded. 'Fool's paradise' was the third and last single to be released from 'Zazu', and like its predecessor ('Interlude') didn't reach the charts anywhere in the world. Rosie remains best known for her debut single 'Magic smile'.

My collection: 12" single no. 284
Found: Record exchange, London
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'Fool's paradise', 'Interlude' / 'Fool's paradise (new 12" mix)
Download: here

Victor should have been a jazz musician - Grace Jones

Grace Jones has recently released a new album, entitled 'Hurricane'. I was quite surprised when I found about that last month, because I figured she'd just stopped making music years ago. The last Grace Jones record I bought, only a couple of years ago, was the 12" vinyl of 'Victor should have been a jazz musician'. There were really two reasons: it was cheap (only 1 euro), and both the A-side and the B-side - 'I'm not perfect (but I'm perfect for you)' - were remixed by Ben Liebrand. And Ben Liebrand was responsible for many interesting remixes in the 1980's.

I was less impressed with the tracks themselves when they were released. To me, Grace Jones peaked with 'Slave to the rhythm', and then faded into obscurity. But I have to admit I was wrong. 'Victor should have been a jazz musician' is not only a great title (it's up there with 'You will always find me in the kitchen at parties' and 'I don't know what you want but I can't give it anymore'), but also a classy, cool track. The remixes, then. Ben Liebrand did a reasonable job on 'Victor', but the remix of 'I'm not perfect' is slightly too manic for me.

My collection: 12" single no. 274
Found: 1996
Cost: 2,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Victor should have been a jazz musician (Jazz club million minute mix)' / 'I'm not perfect (but I'm perfect for you) (C + VI minimix)'
Download: Victor should have been a jazz musician, I'm not perfect (But I'm perfect for you).

Hey Presto - Black

One of the great mysteries of the 1980's is the video for Black's 'Hey Presto'. I saw it, I know I saw it, I saw it many times on the satellite TV channels of that time: Sky Channel, Music Box and the like. When my parents finally bought a VCR, in December of 1984, the video disappeared, and it never resurfaced again. Even in this age of YouTube and all, the video is nowhere to be found.

It was because of this video that I discovered the band Black. It was a love story that still hasn't ended to this day. This song, so dynamic and lively, wasn't available in Dutch shops in 1984, so I had to wait until 1987 to find my copy. By that time, Black had resurfaced in the Dutch and UK charts with 'Sweetest smile' and 'Wonderful life' - also great tracks. But more about those singles later...

'Hey presto' was released on WEA's Eternal label, but despite some promotion didn't make the charts in the UK, despite critical acclaim. It was at the beginning of their professional career. Although Black built a relatively successful career a few years later, they would never perform this song live again. Strange, because despite it being worlds apart from their later type of music, this track is certainly nothing to be ashamed of.

My collection: 7" single no. 565

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1987

Cost: 3,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Hey Presto' / 'Stephen'

Download: here

Shine a little love - Electric Light Orchestra

One of the most popular bands of the Seventies was probably Electric Light Orchestra. Their albums were full of spectacular soundscapes and the singles were invariably big hits. As I explained in a previous entry, the shop where I bought my singles in the late Seventies discounted ex-chart tracks. I don't know what happened in my mind, exactly, when I bought this single. 'Don't let me down' was high in the charts and I really wanted to have that song. I was very excited when I found this in the discount section. I must have misread or misunderstood the title, because when I played the single at home it didn't sound like 'Don't let me down' at all. I think I didn't play this single for months afterwards, angry at myself for this stupid mistake.

Still, 'Shine a little love' is a great song as well. It was taken from ELO's 1979 album 'Discovery', and made number 6 in the UK and number 10 in the Netherlands in the summer of 1979. The song was sampled in the track 'Shine' by the Lovefreekz in 2004.
The b-side, 'Jungle', was apparently a single candidate at some point, although the record company decided against it. Read more about the story of that track on this page.

My collection: 7" single no. 21
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1979
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Shine a little love' / 'Jungle'
Download: here

Who knows what love is - Strawberry Switchblade

The Scottish duo Strawberry Switchblade is perhaps best known for their hit 'Since yesterday', which earned them a status as one hit wonders in most parts of Europe. In the UK it reached number 5 before the end of 1984, and after that they never managed to scrape the top 40 again.

'Who knows what love is' was, after 'Let her go', the third single to be taken from their self-titled debut album. It is a perfect slice of melancholy pop.

I first heard the track while I was recording tapes for a radio station. Back in 1985 and 1986 I did this from time to time. While using the great record collection I had at my disposal I discovered loads of great tracks. I wasn't always able to buy them myself and this one was a good example: I only bought my copy of this single in August 1998 - more than a decade later!

'Who knows what love is' was released on the Korova label, which was distributed by WEA (Warner). The track was edited for the single version and backed with a non-album track, 'Poor hearts'.

There is a wealth of information about Strawberry Switchblade, as well as mp3 downloads, on the website strawberryswitchblade.net. And you can find a collection of rare tracks, including an interesting extended version of 'Who knows what love is' on the great Mine for life blog.

My collection: 7" single no. 3012
Found: Wreckastow, Rotterdam, 1998
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Who knows what love is' / 'Poor hearts'
Download: here

Laugh and walk away - The Shirts

I didn't know much about The Shirts. I saw 'Tell me your plans' on TV when it was in the charts, but I thought that the next single 'Laugh and walk away' was much better. It was so aggressive and uptempo, it excited me a lot. It was 1979 and my weekly allowance was not big enough to be able to buy chart singles. There was a record shop around the corner where singles would be 50% cheaper once they fell out of the Top 40. It was January 1980 when I bought this single.

'Laugh and walk away', released on EMI's Harvest label, entered the Dutch Top 40 on November 10, 1979, reached no. 12 and stayed in the chart for seven weeks. Nothing was ever heard from them again.

My collection: 7" single no. 35

Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1979

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Laugh and walk away' / 'Maybe, maybe not'

Download: Laugh and walk away

The first post... The first record!

The first single I ever bought was... well according to my administration it was 'Hello ah' by Mouth & MacNeal, released on the Decca label. The real first single will always remain a mystery, since I spent most of my childhood not only playing singles, but also rearranging and re-cataloguing them. Dozens of singles went into the garbage can, because I didn't like them anymore. I remember several 'Top 6' ep's, containing popular songs like 'Yellow river' and 'Heart of gold' performed by anonymous studio groups. I don't have those anymore...

I was only six or seven years old when I bought this single. I remember where I bought it too: the shop was called 'Disco Market' and it was the most popular second hand record store in the area. It was already in business before I was born and it closed its doors only recently, last year I think. Loads of singles that will appear in this blog were bought there. Sometimes I went there every week.

Mouth & MacNeal were a Dutch duo, most famous for their appearance in the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest. They finished behind Abba with their 'I see a star'. This single was their second no. 1 hit in the Netherlands, after 1971's 'How do you do'. It entered the Dutch Top 40 on May 20, 1972 and remained in the chart for 13 weeks.

And there you have it... This blog is off to a very promising start. Future posts will feature music from the seventies, eighties and nineties - all in some way present in my record collection. It's all 'Music on vinyl' to me!

My collection: 7" single no. 1

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1977 (ish)

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Hello ah' / 'Talk a little louder'

Download: here