Live your life - Stephanie

Released as the third single from Stephanie's first album 'Besoin', 'Live your life' was remixed by a certain Dimitri. Although French-speaking countries favoured the B-side 'Fleur du mal', this single was arguably a bigger success.

'Fleur du mal' only charted in France, peaking at number 16, whereas 'Live your life' went to number 9 in Norway. No further chart performances are known. Stephanie's music career ended just as soon as it had began - although she would still release a single called 'Winds of chance' in 1991 and perform vocals on Michael Jackson's 'In the closet' in 1992 - although she was not credited for this, but rather called a 'mystery girl'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3147

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, October 23, 1999

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Live your life' / 'Fleur du mal (A Paul)'

Antmusic - Adam and the Ants

'Antmusic' was the third single released in the UK from the hugely popular Adam & the Ants album 'Kings of the wild frontier' (1980). 'Antmusic' fared better than the first two singles and peaked at number 2 in January 1981, being held off the top by the re-release of John Lennon's 'Imagine' after he was murdered in New York City in December 1980.

The video to 'Antmusic' featured the group playing in a discothèque with a giant juke box, and persuading the young audience to turn away from disco music and dance to the new-styled 'Antmusic'. The band was also presented in the Netherlands, with two drummers being the main gimmick of this band. Despite this, the single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2902

Found: Record Exchange, London, October 30, 1997

Cost: 50p

Tracks: 'Antmusic' / 'Fall-in'

I am a camera - The Buggles

'I am a camera' was written by the Buggles for their second album 'Adventures in modern recording' (1981). Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes started writing the song before joining up with the band Yes. A version of the song was released as 'Into the lens' on the Yes album 'Drama'. When Horn and Downes continued with the new The Buggles album, the song was completed as 'I am a camera'.

The single was a non-charter for the Buggles. It still stuck in my mind as a great songs more than a decade later.

My collection: 7" single no. 2937

Found: January 31, 1998

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'I am a camera' / 'Fade away'

Vacation - Gogo's

Belinda Carlisle, Jane Wiedlin, Charlotte Caffey, Kathy Valentine and Gina Schock formed the Gogo's in 1978. Initially a punk band, the band moved into rock territory with their debut album 'Beauty and the beat' (1981). After a Grammy award for Best New Artist in 1982, they released their second album 'Vacation'.

This single is the title track from that album. While the album got a Grammy award for Best Packaging, this single did not chart in Europe.

My collection: 7" single no. 3134
Found: Den Haag, July 24, 1999
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Vacation' / 'Beatnik beach'

Oh, Lori - Alessi

According to a text on the back of the sleeve of this single, 'the choice of 'Oh, Lori' for this single was made easy - from the beginning it has been one of the album's most-favoured cuts'. The single peaked at number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 6 in the Netherlands.

The jazzy 'Oh Lori' is uncharacteristic for my taste, although a few jazzy tracks appear in my singles collection. The Alessi brothers have a typical Seventies smoothness around them which charmed me for a while.

My collection: 7" single no. 1093

Found: All that music, Leiden, November 11, 1989

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Oh Lori' / 'I was so sure'

Gijzelaar - Het Goede Doel

'Gijzelaar' ('Hostage') was Het Goede Doel's first chart hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 28 in September 1982. The single was controversial with some broadcasters, because of the lyric of the song: 'I wish I was a hostage / Then dinner would always be ready / I would never have to do the dishes / and I could always play cards'.

The single appeared on the band's debut album 'België', which was released in November 1982.

My collection: 7" single no. 3762

Found: Marktplaats.nl, received June 3, 2009

Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Gijzelaar' / 'Gijzelaar (instrumentaal)'

Plus grandir (live mix) - Mylene Farmer

'Plus grandir' was originally released as the second single from Mylene Farmer's debut album 'Cendres de lune' (1985). These days, that single costs a small fortune. The song deals with subjects that Farmer was especially fond of at the time : difficulty of leaving childhood, fear of aging, permanent pain of living and death. Laurent Boutonnat wrote the music, which was rather pop for such a sensitive theme. About the lyrics, Farmer said: 'Old age traumatizes me, it's what I wanted to say in the song'.

This live version was released in 1990, and taken from her album 'En concert'. It peaked at number 35 in the French singles chart, but did not chart in other territories.

My collection: 7" single no. 1870

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, March 27, 1993

Cost: 8 guilders

Tracks: 'Plus grandir (live mix)' / 'Plus grandir (Mum's rap)'

Love will lead you back - Taylor Dayne

Taylor Dayne was never one for subtlety, and so she delivers 'Love will lead you back' as one of her trademark powerballads: lots of loud vocals. The song, written by Diane Warren, is about a woman who is willing to set her lover free because she is confident that one day his love will lead him back to her: 'Sometimes it takes some time out on your own now / to find your way back home'. Warren has stated that she began writing the song while in a hotel in Russia, and that she had originally intended the song to be offered to Whitney Houston, but Arista Records president Clive Davis wanted to let Dayne record the song.

The single reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 11 in Australia, but otherwise it wasn't a big success. In the UK, the single stalled at number 69.

My collection: 7" single no. 1361

Found: Free Record Shop, Den haag, December 8, 1990

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Love will lead you back' / 'I'll be your shelter'

Cry wolf - A-ha

'Cry wolf' was released as the second single from A-ha's second album 'Scoundrel days'. The theme of the video was taken from the story of the boy who cried wolf, which was also the inspiration for the song. Pal Waaktaar commented about the song: ''Cry Wolf' has my first decent word-picture: ‘He came from where the winds are cold and truth is seen through key-holes…' Otherwise lots of bass, riffs and pure youthful force… Not so much substance, perhaps'.

The single was a top 5 hit in the UK and peaked at number 16 in the Netherlands. The single was released in a limited edition fold-out picture bag, which was a beautiful item to have. Actually, I like the sleeve more than I like the song...

My collection: 7" single no. 486
Found: Free Record Shop, 1987
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Cry wolf' / 'Maybe maybe'

Every angel - All about Eve

'Every angel' was the third single released from All About Eve's debut album. It was remixed for the single release by Paul Samwell-Smith and Tony Phillips. The B-side featured a new acoustic track, 'Wilde flowers'. The single was another chart success for the band, peaking at number 30.

The music video for this song was the one that started my interest in the band. It was broadcast on a satellite channel somewhere in 1988, and it was obvious to me that I should investigate this band further. This is how I found one of their singles, 'Martha's harbour' a week later. Finding 'Every angel' proved to be more difficult: it took me until 1990 to find this one.

And then, of course, there was also a limited edition release of the 7" single (pictured below). This fold-out cover featured a band photograph, featuring for the first time the four piece lineup consisting of Julianne Regan, Tim Bricheno, Andy Cousin and Mark Price.

My collection: 7" single no. 1180

Found: Oldies Unlimited, received February 26, 1990

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Every angel' / 'Wild flowers'

Rivers of Babylon - Boney M

'Rivers of Babylon' is a song written and recorded by Brent Dowe and Trevor McNaughton of The Melodians in 1972. It is based on the Biblical hymn Psalm 137, a hymn expressing the yearnings of the Jewish people in exile following the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem in 586 BC. The rivers of Babylon are the Euphrates river, its tributaries, and the Chebar river. The song also has words from Psalm 19:14.

The song was covered in 1978 by Boney M, with a version that was released as a single. In the UK Boney M. sold more than 1,985,000 copies of the song, making the single officially three times platinum and one of the all-time best-selling singles in the UK. It was also the group's only significant US chart entry, peaking at number 30 in the Pop charts. Some controversy arose when the first single pressings only credited Frank Farian and Reyam (aka Hans-Jörg Mayer) of Boney M; after an agreement with Dowe and McNaughton, these two were also credited on later pressings.

My collection: 7" single no. 71
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1980
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Rivers of Babylon' / 'Brown girl in the ring'

Mrs. Thompson - Just 4 Fun

The Norwegian quartet Just 4 Fun was formed especially for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1991. The members were Marianne Antonsen, Jan Groth, Eiríkur Hauksson and Hanne Krogh. Krogh had represented Norway once before, in 1985 when she won together with Elisabeth Andreassen as Bobbysocks.

'Mrs. Thompson' was written by Dag Kolsrud, who previously was a member of the band One 2 Many. The song was not a big success: it placed 17th in the Contest. Still, I liked the song a lot and was very happy when I found this single.

My collection: 7" single no. 2071

Found: Bea Records, February 19, 1994

Cost: 8 guilders

Tracks: 'Mrs. Thompson (Norwegian version)' / 'Mrs. Thompson (English version)'

Play it cool - Freiheit

The German band Münchener Freiheit started their international career in 1987 with an English language album entitled 'Romancing in the dark'. The single 'Play it cool' was taken from this album. It showcased their slight formulaic but effective pop.

The single was very successful in Europe, reaching number 3 in the Netherlands and top 10 in various other European countries. It was another one of those singles I didn't buy because it was played so often on the radio - only years later I still wanted to get my hands on a copy.

My collection: 7" single no. 1856

Found: Concerto, Amsterdam, January 30, 1993

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Play it cool' / 'Hide away'

Whole lotta Rosie - ACDC

'Whole lotta Rosie' can be described as the ultimate superficial rock song. The song was apparently based on singer Ron Scott's actual sexual experiences with an obese woman, whose first name was Rosie. The song's first verse reveals Rosie's physical measurements (42"-39"-56"), and that she weighs nineteen stone (approximately 120 kilograms).

The song was an annual appearance on Dutch radio station Veronica's Top 100 of all times, which is where I finally got interested in this song. Upon its release in 1978, it peaked at number 3 in the Dutch Top 40. Two years later, it reached number 36 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1706

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 19, 1992

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Whole lotta Rosie' / 'Dog eat dog'

Unless - Pale Fountains

When I found 'Thank you' after a couple of years searching, I also found this single, 'Unless'. I decided to give it a try - and I wasn't disappointed. It's the same kind of elegant pop music that they made on 'Thank you'.

'Unless' was released in January 1984 and didn't reach the charts - much like all their other singles. The Pale Fountains split up soon after this release, leaving Mick Head to form Shack and Andy Diagram to join James. Bassist Chris McCaffery died in 1986 of a brain tumour.

My collection: 7" single no. 1831

Found: Record palace, Amsterdam, January 13, 1993

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Unless' / 'Natural'

Bon anniversaire - Guesch Patti

Released as the final single from her 1988 album 'Labyrinthe', 'Bon anniversaire' was another spirited track by Guesch Patti and her band Encore. I got to know the track because my sister had bought the album and I played this track more than a few times. It was only a year after the release when I found out that it had been released as a single.

Of course, it was not a hit in the Netherlands - where French music usually has a hard time breaking through - but it did reach the charts in a few French-speaking countries.

My collection: 7" single no. 1139

Found: All that music, Leiden, December 28, 1989

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Bon anniversaire' / 'Backstage d'une star'

All cried out - Alison Moyet

'All cried out' was released as the second single from Alison Moyet's debut album 'Alf'. Produced by Steve Jolley and Tony Swain, the track reached number 8 in the UK singles chart and number 19 in the Dutch Top 40. On various complilation cd's usually an extended version of this song is used, making this single cut a rare treat.

In 2002, 'All cried out' was covered by the German pop band No Angels. A year later the song was also covered by German electro-industrial act Wumpscut on their 2003 studio album 'Preferential Legacy'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2462

Found: September 9, 1995

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'All cried out' / 'Steal me blind'

Tule luo - Katri Helena

Katri Helena represented Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest twice, in 1979 and 1993. 'Katson sineen taivaan' finished 14th in 1979, whereas 'Tule luo' ('Come to me') only managed 17th place. It should have been a good warning for the Netherlands, but they were stubborn and sent Willeke Alberti to the Contest only a year later.

That's not to say that 'Tule luo' was a bad song: if anything, it was melodious - a lot more melodious than many other Finnish entries around that time. But perhaps Katri Helena, who was born on March 17, 1945 had become a little too old for the young viewing audience of the Contest.

My collection: 7" single no. 1973

Found: Bea Records, October 17, 1993

Cost: 10 guilders

Tracks: 'Tule luo' / 'Viesti'

Hurricane - Athlete

Part one of 'Hurricane' was already featured on this blog, so here is part two. I bought this one earlier in fact, so the search was on since then. This second part of the double single features a new track, which did not appear on the album 'Beyond the neighbourhood'. The single was pressed on orange vinyl, to add to the collectability even more.

As written before, the single only managed to reach number 31 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3486
Found: eBay, received December 20, 2008
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Hurricane' / '09/05 Speyside'

Stop for a minute - Sandra

'Aus dem Tatort 'Salü Palü'', says this sleeve, which means that Sandra's 'Stop for a minute' was used in the soundtrack of an episode of the German detective series 'Tatort'. The song was a new one, not having appeared on Sandra's two albums that were released up to that point. The track would appear as a new track on her first compilation album 'Ten on one', which was meant to close the gap between Sandra's second and third album.

I didn't know this song when I bought the single - I was simply attracted by the beautiful (and glossy) sleeve. It's one of Sandra's stronger pop tracks, so I have no regrets.

My collection: 7" single no. 1607

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, March 28, 1992

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Stop for a minute' / 'Two lovers tonight'

Pearl in the shell (live) - Howard Jones

The Howard Jones fanclub released three different live singles in the course of a few years. This second single was recorded by Radio Clyde, but a date and venue are not mentioned on the label.

The live tracks are 'Pearl in the shell' (originally released on Howard Jones' debut album 'Human's lib') and 'Things can only get better' (originally released on Howard Jones' second album 'Dream into action').

My collection: 7" single no. 2792

Found: Howard Jones fanclub, received November 28, 1996
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Pearl in the shell (live)' / 'Things can only get better (live)'

Shout - Tears for fears

'Shout' is commonly referred to as Tears for fears' signature song. Roland Orzabal commented: 'A lot of people think that 'Shout' is just another song about primal scream theory, continuing the themes of the first album. It is actually more concerned with political protest. It came out in 1984 when a lot of people were still worried about the aftermath of The Cold War and it was basically an encouragement to protest.'

The single was a big success, topping the charts in Australia, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Switzerland. In the UK, the single peaked at number 4. I bought the single when it was brand new, right before I would become sick of hearing it. But it's still a great song.

My collection: 7" single no. 253

Found: Wouters, Den Haag, December 1984

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Shout' / 'The big chair'

Niemand weet dat jij bestaat - Het Goede Doel

Although I pretty much kept up to date with the releases by het Goede Doel, I completely missed the release of this single. Presumably, 'Niemand weet dat jij bestaat' ('No-one knows that you exist') was released in early 1990 as the third and last single from their 1989 album 'Souvenir'. The single did not chart.

I only found out about this release because I bought a stack of Goede Doel singles from a private seller. I completed my collection of this group all at once!

My collection: 7" single no. 3770

Found: Marktplaats.nl, received June 3, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Niemand weet dat jij bestaat' / 'Niemand weet dat jij bestaat (instrumental)'

Lovetown - Peter Gabriel

The soundtrack of the motion picure 'Philadelphia' contained a famous Bruce Springsteen track, 'Streets of Philadelphia'. But strangely enough it is less well known that the soundtrack also contained a new Peter Gabriel track, entitled 'Lovetown'.

That's unfortunate, because the track is simply mesmerizing. The single only managed a number 47 placing in the UK, and did not chart in most other territories. The B-side was taken from Peter Gabriel's then-current album 'Us'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2506

Found: Record fair, October 30, 1995

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Lovetown' / 'Love to be loved'

Pretty good year - Tori Amos

Released as the second single from Tori Amos' second album 'Under the pink', 'Pretty good year' was an emotional ballad, quite different from her previous singles. By this time, Tori's cult following had grown into thousands and they followed her every move almost religiously. The cd-singles of 'Pretty good year' contained four different bonus tracks, one of which appeared on the B-side of this 7" vinyl single: 'Honey'. Tori has often stated that in hindsight she regretted not including that track on the album.

The single peaked at number 7 in the UK, but was not released in America. Around this time, Tori Amos was touring Europe - and I've got a signed cd-single of 'Pretty good year' to prove that I, too, was there. Her concerts in Nijmegen and Scheveningen are still amongst the best concerts I've ever witnessed.

My collection: 7" single no. 2084

Found: Record fair, March 26, 1994

Cost: 10 guilders

Tracks: 'Pretty good year' / 'Honey'

Head over heels - Abba

'Head over heels' was the second single taken from Abba's 1981 album 'The visitors'. The song was written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. The lead vocal was sung by Agnetha Fältskog, singing about her 'very good friend', played in the accompanying music video by Anni-Frid Lyngstad, an overactive high-society woman who rushes through the shops, with her hapless and exhausted husband (played by Ulvaeus) following behind.

The single was not the big success previous singles were, only managing a top 10 placing in France, Austria, the Netherlands and Belgium. In the UK, the single only peaked at number 25, breaking a run of 18 consecutive top 1o hits in that country.

I bought the single as soon as it came out, as had become usual for Abba singles around that time. Fourteen years later, I found the UK edition with a different - but beautiful - picture sleeve (pictured below).

My collection: 7" single no. 107 / no. 2700
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1982 / House of Rhythm, London, July 3, 1996
Cost: 6 guilders / 1 pound
Tracks: 'Head over heels' / 'The visitors'

Ploem ploem jenka - Trea Dobbs

After a few unsuccessful years in Eurovision, the Dutch broadcaster decided to organise the National final in a different way. Between February 8 and 12, every night a different artist sang three songs. A jury selected the songs for the final on February 13. Conny van den Bos won the national selection with ''t Is genoeg'.

The concept proved to be a successful one, as various songs from that week were popular. One of them was Trea Dobbs' 'Ploem ploem jenka', released by Decca as a single. While this was a rather simple song, 'Stad' ('City') on the B-side, a melancholy ballad about lost love, was thoroughly impressive.

My collection: 7" single no. 3753

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Ploem ploem jenka' / 'Stad'

I love the heaven's solo - Tanita Tikaram

'I love the heaven's solo' was already a B-side of Tanita Tikaram's 1990 single 'Little sister leaving town', before it was re-recorded for her 1991 album 'Everybody's angel'. This version was released as the second single from that album.

The single did not chart, and so no further singles were taken from the album.

My collection: 7" single no. 2550

Found: Record exchange, London, November 2, 1995

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'I love the heaven's solo' / 'Only in name'

Together in electric dreams - Giorgio Moroder and Philip Oakey

The film 'Electric dreams' was director Steve Barron's first full feature film. Barron had made a name for himself conceiving and directing music videos, such as the Human League's 'Don't you want me'. For his film, Barron enlisted Giorgio Moroder as director of music. He wrote most of the score. Barron wanted the end credits to roll to 'an emotional song'.

Moroder wrote 'Together in electric dreams' which was to be a male solo vocal. When he asked who Barron would like to sing the lyrics, Barron immediately thought of his former associate Philip Oakey. When Oakey recorded the song it was over very quickly, after the first full recording Moroder told Oakey that the first take was 'good enough, as first time is always best'. Oakey who thought he was just rehearsing insisted on doing another take. Moroder let him but to this day Oakey is convinced that Moroder still used the first take on the final production.

The song soon overshadowed the success of the film. Oakey states that it is ironic that a track that took literally ten minutes to record would become a worldwide hit, while some of his Human League material that took over a year to record didn't.

My collection: 7" single no. 492

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1985

Cost: 4 guilders

Tracks: 'Together in electric dreams' / 'Together in electric dreams (instrumental)'

Forbidden city - Electronic

'Forbidden city' was the first single taken from Electronic's second album 'Raise the pressure'. It was written by Bernard Sumner, Johnny Marr and ex-Kraftwerk member Karl Bartos.

The song was not a huge hit, peaking at number 14 on the UK singles chart, but did receive substantial radio play in Britain. It remains one of Johnny Marr's favourite Electronic songs and opened up their best of compilation in 2006, with stills from its Tom Merriton-directed video used for the front cover and inside the booklet.

My collection: 7" single no. 2713
Found: HMV, London, July 4, 1996
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Forbidden city' / 'Imitation of life'

The plastic age - The Buggles

'The plastic age' was the second single by the Buggles. Hopes were high, since 'Video killed the radio star', their debut single, was a worldwide hit. The futuristic song only charted in the UK and the Netherlands, peaking at number 16 and 27 respectively.

The song alludes to plastic surgery and the stress of modern culture. The Buggles also created an unusual, futuristic and illusion-like music video to promote the song.

My collection: 7" single no. 1096

Found: All that music, Leiden, November 11, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'The plastic age' / 'Island' [mistitled 'The plastic age' on the label]

One love to give - Stephanie

More than the previous single 'Ouragan/Irresistible', 'One love to give' showed the vocal inadequacies of Princess Stephanie of Monaco. With a synth-heavy backing (which was so popular in the Eighties) and a rather strong composition, Stephanie wasn't able to keep up. But still she was rewarded with a number 1 hit in Sweden and a number 10 placing in the German singles chart.

French speaking countries preferred the version in their own language: 'Flash' went to number 4 in France and number 28 in Switzerland.

My collection: 7" single no. 2999

Found: June 20, 1998

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'One love to give' / 'Le sega Mauricien'

Winter in America - Doug Ashdown

Whenever a Dutch artists covers a beautiful song, my heart breaks. Unless, of course, I don't know it's a cover. This happened in 1988, when Rene Froger had a top 5 hit in the Netherlands with 'Winter in America'. I liked the song but couldn't stand the voice of the man. And then I found out that the original was recorded in 1978 by Doug Ashdown. What a relief!

Doug Ashdown was an Australian singer/songwriter, who only had this one hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 13. His version is, of course, far superior.

My collection: 7" single no. 771

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 16, 1989

Cost: 1 guilders

Tracks: 'Winter in America' / 'Skid row'

Won't you hold my hand now - King

While everyone remembers 'Love and pride' by King, the next single 'Won't you hold my hand now' is less wellknown. In the Netherlands, it didn't even chart, whereas in the UK it only managed a number 24 placing in the singles chart.

I bought this limited edition 4 track double single as part of a deal where the seller offered a discount on five singles bought together. (One of those 'buy 5 pay 4' deals). I already had four singles I really wanted to have, and then spotted this double single. Well, double singles are always nice to have - even if the live tracks aren't all that great.

My collection: 7" sigle no. 913

Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 25, 1989

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Won't you hold my hand now' / 'Fish (reprise) (live)' // 'Won't you hold my hand now (live)' / 'And as for myself (live)'