Early morning - A-ha

I wasn't very impressed with the third single off A-ha's 1990 album 'East of the sun west of the moon'. It was 'Early morning', a track that didn't stand out in any way. What's more, it didn't come with any interesting remixes, B-sides or somesuch. However, there was one interesting thing after all: in the UK, the record company released a limited edition 7" box set, which included three postcards and a tourpass. I am a sucker for extras and limited editions, so obviously I went for it.

The single was not a big success, stalling at number 78 in the UK singles chart. It was the last single to be released from the album.

My collection: 7" single no. 2929
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 17, 1998
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Early morning' / 'East of the sun'

Heartstopper - Emiliana Torrini

Emiliana Torrini was born on May 16, 1977 in Kópavogur, Iceland, where she went to opera school. Between 1994 and 1996 she released three albums in her native country. International recognition followed when Roland Orzabal from Tears for fears produced her first international album 'Love in the time of science'.

She followed up the album with the more acoustically based 'Fisherman's woman' in 2005. 'Heartstopper' was the second single from that album, which, like the first single 'Sunnyroad', did not chart. Too beautiful, I guess.

My collection: 7" single no. 3901
Found: 7inchsingles.nl, received July 24, 2009
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'Heartstopper (Radiofied version)' / 'Thinking out loud (Extended Horn section version)'

Everything must change - Paul Young

Another single taken from his 1984 album 'The secret of association', 'Everything must change' is for all intents and purposes a 'black' soul song. It's one of the few hits by Paul Young which he himself co-wrote (Most of his hits are cover versions).

The single peaked at number 9 in the UK singles chart and number 25 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3868
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, July 20, 2009
Cost: 0,25 euro
Tracks: 'Everything must change' / 'Give me my freedom'

Hometown glory - Adele

I heard this song on a television series (I'm not saying which) and found out what it was because I remembered some of the lyrics. These days with Google, it ain't hard. Adele's 'Hometown glory' is a great piano-based track, with the voice of Adele not distracting too much from the beautiful music.

Adele wrote 'Hometown glory' when she was just 16 years old. She was born on May 5, 1988 in Enfield, North London and released her debut album '19' in 2008. The single reached number 19 in the UK singles chart, after flopping on its initial release in 2007.

My collection: 7" single no. 3617
Found: La La Land, April 2009
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'Hometown glory' / 'Fool that I am (live)'

Girl you're so together - Michael Jackson

Not content with one hit single, 'Farewell my summer love', from their archive-plundering album of the same name, Motown released a second single, 'Girl you're so together'. While the previous single charted in several countries, this one only made the charts in the UK and Ireland, peaking at number 33 and 29 respectively.

I'm still curious what Motown will come up with, now that Michael Jackson is no longer with us. There still must be a lot of material in those vaults...

My collection: 7" single no. 3850
Found: eBay.co.uk, received July 15, 2009
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Girl you're so together' / 'Touch the one you love'

Mirror, mirror - Diana Ross

'Mirror mirror' was released as a single from Diana Ross's 1982 album 'Why do fools fall in love'. Having hit number 1 in the Netherlands with the title track, 'Mirror mirror' was a relative disappointed, peaking at number 27.

The song is notable as one of the few songs Ross sung both lead and background vocals.

My collection: 7" single no. 3887
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, July 20, 2009
Cost: 0,25 euro
Tracks: 'Mirror, mirror' / 'Sweet nothings'

The racing rats - Editors

'The racing rats' was the third single taken from the Editors' album 'An end has a start'. In the UK, the single was released, unusually, on one cd-single and two different 7" singles. This is the second one, featuring a demo version of the track and a new B-side track.

'The racing rats' reached number 26 in the UK singles chart and number 12 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 3899
Found: 7inchsingles.nl, received July 24, 2009
Cost: 4 euro
Tracks: 'The racing rats (original demo)' / 'A thousand pieces'

My delirium - Ladyhawke

Ladyhawke was born as Philippa "Pip" Brown in Wellington, New Zealand. During her childhood various illnesses and allergies kept her in and out of the hospital. In 2008 she debuted with her self-titled album, from which several singles have been taken.

Her biggest hit so far is 'My delirium', a catchy synthpop anthem which led to comparisons with Kim Wilde in various media. The single peaked at number 33 in the UK singles chart and number 8 in Australia. This picture disc edition comes on extremely heavy vinyl.

My collection: 7" single no. 3903
Found: 7inchsingles.nl, received July 24, 2009
Cost: 4 euro
Tracks: 'My delirium' / 'My delirium (Toddla T& Ross Orton Remix)'

Instinctual - Imagination

'Instinctual' was the last (minor) hit for Imagination. It was released in 1987 as a single from their album 'Closer'. The song was written by Arthur Baker and Paul Gurvitz. The single reached number 62 on the UK singles chart.

While on the album the band was pictured with three members, only two of them featured on this sleeve: Leee John and Ashley Ingram. I've no idea where Errol Kennedy went back then...

My collection: 7" single no. 3886
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, July 20, 2009
Cost: 0,25 euro
Tracks: 'Instinctual' / 'Touch (part 2)'

Shame for you - Lily Allen

'Shame for you', a double A-side with 'Alfie', was the fourth single taken from Lily Allen's debut album 'Alright, still', released in 2007. The vocal melody is loosely based on a horn line of a Jackie Mittoo song titled "Loving You" off the album "Evening Time". The single did not come with a music video, but it was released on 7" vinyl.

I was aware of this release, but it was always exceedingly expensive to get a hold of. Now I ordered it online together with some other recent singles (soon on this blog), the price was more reasonable.

My collection: 7" single no. 3902
Found: 7inchsingles.nl, received July 24, 2009
Cost: 4 euro
Tracks: 'Shame for you' / 'Alfie'

Fall in love with me - Earth Wind and Fire

'Fall in love with me' was written by Wayne Vaughn and Wanda Vaughn. It was released in 1982 as a single from Earth Wind & Fire's 1983 album 'Powerlight'. The single peaked at number 47 in the UK singles chart and number 11 in the Dutch Top 40.

'Fall in love with me' was also nominated for a Grammy in the category Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

My collection: 7" single no. 3889
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, July 20, 2009
Cost: 0,25 euro
Tracks: 'Fall in love with me' / 'Lady sun'

I need you - B.V.S.M.P.

Sometimes my memory plays dirty tricks on me. I remembered 'I need you' by B.V.S.M.P. as a nice popsong with some regrettable hip hop elements, but listening to it now I have to conclude that it was a dull hip hop song after all. Nothing can be worse than a song starting with the words 'Yo, hey, check this out'. The only thing missing here is the 'bitch' and 'motherfucker'.

The band consisted of Percy Nathan Rodgers, Calvin Williams and Frederick Eugene Byrd. 'I need you' reached number 3 in the UK singles chart and number 8 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3895
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, July 20, 2009
Cost: 0,25 euro
Tracks: 'I need you' / 'I need you (Radio instrumental)'

Come back and stay - Paul Young

Paul Young's 1983 hit single 'Come back and stay' was written by American musician Jack Lee. The song may have been written about one of his two teen sweethearts (with whom he fathered respectively a son and a daughter) or to his wife and mother of his two youngest daughters. This theme of loss of love, heartbreak and abandonment was derived from his life experiences that kept repeating.

Paul Young reached number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the Dutch Top 40 with this track. The album version, which lasted for seven minutes, was edited to a 4'23 minute single remix version.

My collection: 7" single no. 3878
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, July 20, 2009
Cost: 0,25 euro
Tracks: 'Come back and stay (single remix version)' / 'Yours'

Listen to the man with the golden voice - Time Bandits

Alides Hidding started the band Time Bandits in the early Eighties. Their debut single 'Live it up' was a big hit in the Netherlands and the start of a career that would span the entire decade.

'Listen to the man with the golden voice' is released in April 1983 and reaches number 7 in the Dutch Top 40 - but also becomes a hit in other European countries. The track is sung with Hidding's distinctive falsetto voice.

My collection: 7" single no. 3877
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, July 20, 2009
Cost: 0,25 euro
Tracks: 'Listen to the man with the golden voice' / 'Words'

Labour of love - Hue and Cry

Hue and Cry are a pop duo formed in 1983 in Coatbridge, Scotland by the brothers Pat and Greg Kane. Their biggest hit was the 1987 single 'Labour of love', which peaked at number 6 in the UK singles chart. It was released as their second single after their first single 'I refuse' had failed to make the UK top 75.

The song is written from the perspective of a disillusioned working-class Conservative voter of the mid-Eighties who has worked hard to believe in Margaret Thatcher's story of a new proud, individualist Britain and who is now realising that there is less "gain" than "pain" in doing so.

My collection: 7" single no. 3888
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, July 20, 2009
Cost: 0,25 euro
Tracks: 'Labour of love' / 'Wide screen'

Singin' in the rain - Sheila B. Devotion

'Singin' in the rain' was originally written by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown in 1929. It was prominently featured in the movie of the same name from 1952, starring Gene Kelly.

Sheila B. Devotion recorded this disco version of the track in 1977. It was a big hit, peaking at number 3 in the Netherlands and number 11 in the UK singles chart. The most interesting bit in the song is Sheila's pronunciation of the word 'Rain'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3884
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, July 20, 2009
Cost: 0,25 euro
Tracks: 'Singin' in the rain part 1' / 'Singin' in the rain part 2'

The same old scene - Roxy Music

'Same old scene' was released as the second single from Roxy Music's 1980 album 'Flesh & Blood'. It peaked at number 12 on the UK charts and number 34 in the Netherlands.

The song plays during the opening credits of the 1980 film 'Times Square' and is included on the soundtrack album. The song was also used for the ending credits of the first episode of the 2008 series 'Ashes to Ashes', causing it to jump to the No.1 most downloaded Roxy Music song on iTunes for a short period.

My collection: 7" single no. 3890
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, July 20, 2009
Cost: 0,25 euro
Tracks: 'The same old scene' / 'My only love'

No more tears (Enough is enough) - Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer

In 1979, Barbra Streisand, famous for her easy listening songs, and disco queen Donna Summer got together to record a duet. Entitled 'Enough is enough', it almost never made it onto Streisand's album 'Wet', because the lyric did not contain any reference to water (the theme of the album). Streisand really wanted the song on the album and thus changed the title of the song to 'No more tears (Enough is enough)', upon which the ballad introduction was written, to give more of an explanation of water to the song. 'It's raining, it's pouring, my love life is boring me to tears after all these years'.

During the recording of the song, Summer is said to have passed out and fallen off her chair having been out partying the night before. Streisand supposedly carried on singing her long note and waited until she had finished it before stopping and asking Summer if she was okay. Another rumour regarding the song is that Streisand's son, Jason Gould, is the one who talked his mother into recording the duet as he was a fan of Summer's work. The single became a number one hit in the USA and Canada, peaking at number 3 in the UK and number 20 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 3896
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, July 20, 2009
Cost: 0,25 euro
Tracks: 'No more tears (Enough is enough)' / 'Wet' (Barbra Streisand)

Raw - Spandau Ballet

After a break from recording, during which the Kemp brothers Gary and Martin established themselves as credible actors in the gangster film 'The Krays', Spandau Ballet released the album 'Heart Like a Sky' in 1989.

'Raw' was released as the first single in September 1988. It reached number 47 in the UK singles chart and number 27 in the Dutch Top 40, but in other territories the single flopped. Meanwhile, internal conflicts caused the band to split up in early 1990.

My collection: 7" single no. 3881
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, July 20, 1989
Cost: 0,25 euro
Tracks: 'Raw' / 'Raw (Flip)'

Total eclipse of the heart - Bonnie Tyler

'Total eclipse of the heart' is one of those singles I thought I had for years, and then one day I discovered I didn't have it. It still didn't get to the top of my want list, because it's also one of those songs that have been played to death on radio and television in the mid-Eighties, the time when I was actually hooked on those media.

The song remains Bonnie Tyler's most successful song, peaking at number 1 in the United States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. In the Netherlands, surprisingly, it didn't do so well, peaking at number 24 in the Dutch Top 40. It's still a radio favourite these days.

My collection: 7" single no. 3893
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, July 20, 2009
Cost: 0,25 euro
Tracks: 'Total eclipse of the heart' / 'Take me back'