Just a dream - Nena

Sometimes when you're in a record shop, going through the racks, you get this 'what's this?'-experience. Finding this 12" single was such a moment. I was buying a few 12" singles and while I was browsing I saw this sleeve. It was an English version of Nena's hit 'Nur geträumt', and both the sleeve picture and the title of the record instantly drew my attention to it. I wanted to try it out, because the original German track was eighties pop at its best.

Unfortunately, the 12" version of 'Just a dream' is a tad too experimental for my taste. A bunch of echo effects, lots of repetition and more drums than you can shake a stick at.

My collection: 12" single no. 380

Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 2001

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Just a dream (Mega-dream-mix)' / 'Nur geträumt (German version)', 'Indianer'

Download: here

The man mountain - Bow wow wow

After the split of Bow wow wow was announced, RCA still released another single from their album 'When the going gets tough the tough get going'. The brooding ballad 'The man mountain' was as untypical for a punk band as it can be: it was melodious and slow. It was actually the first Bow wow wow single I ever bought, because the track really appealed to me.

My collection: 7" single no. 201

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1983

Cost: 3,5 guilders

Tracks: 'The man mountain' / 'Aphrodisiac'

Download: Album 'When the going gets tough, the tough get going', including both tracks

Ocean blue - ABC

I have to admit that I missed the release of 'Ocean blue' when it happened and only found out about it some time after the fact. I bought the single via mailorder, and the 12" single just appeared out of nowhere in a shop some time after that.

ABC's album 'How to be a zillionaire' was not one of their most successful ones, even though the first single 'Be near me' broke the US market. The Ecstacy mix of that track on this 12" single is a bit tedious, though. The two versions of 'Ocean blue' are worthy of a spin or two; they're beautifully arranged tracks.

My collection: 12" single no. 117

Found: Concerto, Amsterdam, 1991

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Ocean blue (Atlantic mix)', 'Tower of London' / 'Be near me (Ecstacy mix)', 'Ocean blue (Pacific mix)'

Download: here

Adventure - Rupert Holmes

A strong melody is what always appeals to me most. I buy a lot of pop singles because they often have this, but sometimes a more (soft)rock-oriented track comes into my collection. And 'Adventure' by Rupert Holmes fits the description: it is a very strong melody, worthy of the title of the track: it is truly an adventure.

'Adventure' is taken from the album of the same name, recorded and released in 1980. I bought the single a few years after my sister had. Not surprisingly, she inspired me to want to have it by playing it for me repeatedly.

My collection: 7" single no. 409

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1986

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Adventure' / 'The mask'

Cars ('E' Reg Model) - Gary Numan

Originally released in 1979, 'Cars' was remixed and re-released in 1987. The ''E' Reg Model' version featured more synth sounds and a fuller sound than the sparse original. According to Gary Numan, the song's lyrics were inspired by an incident of road rage: 'I was in traffic in London once and had a problem with some people in front. They tried to beat me up and get me out of the car. I locked the doors and eventually drove up on the pavement and got away from them. It's kind of to do with that. It explains how you can feel safe inside a car in the modern world... When you're in it, your whole mentality is different... It's like your own little personal empire with four wheels on it.'

My collection: 7" single no. 2841

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 5, 1997

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Cars ('E' Reg Model)' / 'Are 'Friends' Electric?'

Download: here

The Slightest Touch - Five Star

In 1987, the family holiday destination was London. As soon as the opportunity presented itself, my sister and I were off to the nearest record shop, which on the first day was Tower Records in Kensington High Street. I couldn't believe my eyes when I stepped into that store: it was much bigger than any record shop in Holland. The amount of 7" singles on display at the back of the store seemed endless. The first single I picked out of that collection was Black's 'Sweetest smile', and this was the second one: a box set from Five Star, including a free second single, which carried two older tracks 'Hide and seek' and 'Crazy'. I didn't know at the time they had been released as a single before. Adding to the two singles, the box set also contained five colour photographs of the band members. A collectable box set indeed!

My collection: 7" single no. 545

Found: Tower Records Kensington, London, 1987

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'The Slightest touch' / 'Stone court' // 'Hide and seek' / 'Crazy'

Download: here

What makes the world go 'round - Kiss

When our grandparents went on holiday to England, my sister and I, 16 and 10 years old respectively, asked them for a souvenir in the guise of a Kiss record. We were still big fans of the group, ever since their breakthrough with 'I was made for loving you'. It was the kind of youthful excitement that is very common at that age. We were very surprised when they returned with this single, one for each of us. In Holland, 'Talk to me' had just been released, but the UK had obviously preferred to release 'What makes the world go 'round'. It was not a successful release: the single didn't make the charts. My grandparents, meanwhile, were very surprised that we were into 'these painted men'.

My collection: 7" single no. 66

Found: present

Cost: 0

Tracks: 'What makes the world go 'round' / 'Naked city'

Download: Album 'Unmasked', including both tracks

Amarti è l'immenso per me - Eros Ramazzotti

Eros Ramazzotti was born in Rome on October 28, 1963 and made his breakthrough winning the San Remo festival in 1984. International fame in Europe followed in 1988 with songs like 'Musica è' and 'Se bastasse una canzone'. The track 'Amarti è l'immenso per me' was recorded for his 1990 album 'In ogni senso' as a duet with Antonella Bucci. It was a modest hit in the Dutch Top 40, reaching no. 26 in the summer of 1990.

I bought the single because of its beautiful string arrangement. The vocals can be a bit overwhelming, like most Italian songs...

My collection: 7" single no. 1259

Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, July 12, 1990

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Amarti è l'immenso per me' / 'Dammi la luna'

Download: here

Answers to nothing - Midge Ure

I discovered Midge Ure's second solo album 'Answers to nothing' while on holiday in pre-war Yugoslavia. I owned a tape walkman and after a week on holiday I was desperate to hear something new. So I bought a tape of this album on the assumption that Midge Ure from Ultravox was certainly capable of making some interesting music. I wasn't disappointed.

As it turned out, the 7" and 12" singles drawn from this album were mainly available in England, and that's where I bought this 12". 'Answers to nothing' was a great title track and I was very curious to hear the extended version. Again, I wasn't disappointed: clocking in on 8 minutes, this is an excellent remix.

My collection: 12" single no. 103

Found: Record exchange, London, 1990

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Answers to nothing (extended version)' / 'Honorare', 'Oboe'

Download: here

Every kinda people - Robert Palmer

'Every kinda people' was recorded in 1978 by Robert Palmer on his album 'Double Fun'. With its blend of Caribbean steel pan, violins and moving lyrics, "Every Kinda People". has become one of Palmer's best-loved songs, covered multiple times by other artists (including Chaka Demus and Pliers, Randy Crawford and Amy Grant).

I bought this single, together with 'Aubrey' by Bread, in a shop in the centre of Brussels. They had a whole collection of Japanese singles for discount prices.

My collection: 7" single no. 1537

Found: Record shop, Brussels, 1991

Cost: 250 Belgian Francs

Tracks: 'Every kinda people' / 'Keep in touch'

Download: here

I'll wait - Taylor Dayne

Taylor Dayne was born as Leslie Wunderman on March 7, 1962 in Baldwin, Nassau County, New York. Signed to Arista Records in 1987, she hit the worldwide charts with her debut single 'Tell it to my heart'. 'I'll wait' was the third single taken from her third album 'Soul dancing', released in 1993. In America, this double 12" single pack was released, featuring seven versions of the track. With remixes by Eric "E-Smoove" Miller and Steve "Silk" Hurley, this was a top three hit in the U.S. Dance chart.

I bought my copy in an obscure dance vinyl shop in the centre of Amsterdam, while I was studying there. The 'New Anthem mix', which goes on for almost 15 minutes, was the most impressive of them all.

My collection: 12" single no.

Found: Amsterdam, 2004

Cost: 25 guilders

Tracks: 'I'll wait (E-Smoove Anthem Vocal Mix)', 'I'll wait (E-Smoove Vocal Mix)' / 'I'll wait (7 Minutes of Silk)', 'I'll wait (4 Minutes of Soul)' // 'I'll wait (New Anthem Mix)' / 'I'll wait (Silky Dub Total)', 'I'll wait (Album Version)'

Download: here

Working with fire and steel - China Crisis

'Working with fire and steel' was taken from China Crisis's second album of the same name. It was the second single from that album, but it still didn't manage to reach the UK Top 40. They would only manage to do so with their next single, 'Wishful thinking'.

The 12" single included two bonus tracks plus an extended remix of the track entitled 'Fire and steel'. With added instrumental breaks, this version knocks spots off the original version.

My collection: 12" single no. 227

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1994

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Working with fire and steel', 'Fire and steel (mix)' / 'Dockland', 'Forever I and I'

Download: here

(No more) Fear of flying - Gary Brooker

'(No more) Fear of flying' is taken from the album of the same name, which was Gary Brooker's debut solo album. Unlike 'The Angler', this single was a hit in the Netherlands. Then again, it was Gary Brooker's only hit in this country. Despite releasing four albums and eight singles, Brooker never found commercial success again.

I heard this song on the radio lots of times during the eighties. For a long time I didn't know what it was called and who performed it. When I found out, I still needed a lot of time to find the single. Obviously, when I found it, I was very glad.

My collection: 7" single no. 2128

Found: Record Palace, Amsterdam, July 30, 1994

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: '(No more) Fear of flying' / 'S.S. Blues'

Download: here

I knew you were waiting (for me) - Aretha Franklin and George Michael

George Michael released his first solo single while he was still in Wham! The fact that 'Careless whisper' became number one hit, may have been one of the factors that caused him to quit the band. After 'A different corner' had also reached the top spot, all eyes were on him. For his third solo single, he enlisted Aretha Franklin for a duet. And that helped him score the hattrick. Remarkably, it was Franklin's first and only number one hit in the UK.

The song was written by Dennis Morgan and Simon Climie. The latter was unknown at that point, but he would be part of the duo Climie Fisher, together with Rob Fisher, who'd previously been part of Naked Eyes.

My collection: 12" single no. 359

Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 1999

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'I knew you were waiting (for me) (extended remix)' / 'I knew you were waiting (for me) (percapella)', 'I knew you were waiting (for me) (edited remix)'

Download: here

Take on me - A-ha

The story of the song 'Uncertain smile' is similar to the one of this song. When the Norwegian group A-ha signed to WEA records in 1984, they released 'Take on me' as their debut single. When the sleeve pictured here doesn't look familiar to you, you've probably got another version of that same song. This original version was produced by Tony Mansfield, a man who had forged a pop career himself in the late seventies with New Musik.

Without the pop video that would stun the world, the original version 'Take on me' flopped mercilessly. The more successful version would be released a year later on the same label. I was lucky to find this original version within months of the release of the later successful one.

My collection: 7" single no. 377

Found: Nieuwstraat, Den Haag, 1985

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Take on me [original version]' / 'And you tell me'

Download: here

Uncertain smile - The The

When The The signed to CBS Records in 1982, their first single on that label was a version of 'Uncertain smile'. This track would appear on their first album for CBS, 'Soul Mining', released a year later, but in a different version. The album version featured a lengthy piano solo, whereas the single version from 1982 featured saxophone and flute solos.

The album version of 'Uncertain smile' was released on single in 1984, and that version even made the Dutch Top 40, peaking at no. 31. At that time, the original version was often played on a local radio station, causing me to search for this single for years. Obviously it had become very rare. But finally, in 1991, I succeeded: I found it during a record fair in Amsterdam.

My collection: 7" single no. 1518

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 21, 1991

Cost: 10 guilders

Tracks: 'Uncertain smile' / 'Three orange kisses from Kazan'

Download: here

Daddy Cool - Boney M

One of the greatest lines in pop music is 'She's crazy like a fool / What about it Daddy Cool?'. It was presented to the world by Boney M, the group brought together by Frank Farian, the fraudulent German producer who preferred to work with people who could perform songs rather than sing them.

'Daddy Cool' was one of many hits that were part of the European disco craze in the second half of the Seventies. The B-side was a disco cover of Bob Marley's classic 'No woman no cry'. It was a Europe-wide success, one that Boney M kept building on until the bubble burst in 1984.

My collection: 7" single no. 1633

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, April 18, 1992

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Daddy Cool' / 'No woman no cry'

Download: Album 'Take the heat off me', including both tracks

Dear Prudence - Siouxie and the Banshees

When I was in highschool, I had a classmate who was wild about Siouxie and the Banshees. I think he owned all of their records. I got to know them through this single, a cover of the song by the Beatles. I'd heard the original two or three times, but I preferred this to the original pretty quickly.

'Dear Prudence' wasn't a hit in the Netherlands, however it peaked at number 3 in the UK singles charts, making it their biggest hit in that country.

My collection: 7" single no. 221

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1983

Cost: 3,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Dear Prudence' / 'Tattoo'

Download: here

? (Fragezeichen) - Nena

After having had hits with '99 Luftballons', 'Nur geträumt' and 'Leuchtturm' in the Netherlands, '? (Fragezeichen)' was the first single taken from Nena's second album of the same name. It was a good success, peaking at number 12 in the beginning of 1984. The b-side 'Ich lieb' dich' was sung by band member Carlo Kages.

My collection: 7" single no. 3384

Found: Geest, Den Haag, 2006

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: '? (Fragezeichen)' / 'Ich lieb' dich'

Download: here

Bang Bang - B.A. Robertson

B.A. Robertson was born on September 12, 1956 in Glasgow, Scotland. He released his debut album in 1973, but he would only find his first chart success in the UK in 1979. His first single to hit the singles chart was 'Bang Bang', which reached number 2 in the summer of that year. It was subsequently also released in the Netherlands, but there it didn't make the charts.

I bought this single as part of a batch of singles, because I vaguely remembered it from my childhood. Back then, I thought it was a very funny single because of the strange vocals at the end. Three decades later the joke has worn thin.

My collection: 7" single no. 3386

Found: Geest, Den Haag, 2006

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Bang Bang' / 'B side the C side'

Download: here