Rubberband girl - Kate Bush

After a silence of four years, Kate Bush returned to the music scene in 1993 with the song 'Rubberband girl'. I remember Puck managed to buy a promotional cd-single two days before the release of the single for me, and so I got to hear the song a little earlier than usual. But of course, I had to buy several more formats until I would be entirely satisfied. So I bough the regular cd-single, the 2-track European cd-single, the American cd-single, an American promotional cd-single, a picture disc 12" single... plus the 7" single of course.

Out of all the formats, the 7" single is probably the most beautiful, with its glossy sleeve and picture labels. The single reached number 12 in the UK singles chart, but failed to chart in the Netherlands.

More recently, I found a jukebox promotional 7" single with no sleeve and a very basic black label. I guess it's a rarity, so I was rather surprised to pick it up for next to nothing.

My collection: 7" single no. 1947 / no. 4259
Found: HMV, London, September 25, 1993 / Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 2 pounds / 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Rubberband girl' / 'Big stripey lie'

Telegram - Silver convention

Producers and songwriters Sylvester Levay and Michael Kunze recruited Linda Thompson, Penny McLean and Ramona Wulf to form Silver Convention. After having had worldwide hits with disco tracks like 'Fly Robin fly' and 'Get up and boogie', they struggled to have more success with formulaic disco songs, but failed to do so.

In 1977, they represented Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Telegram'. As a result of a new language rule, they were allowed to perform the song in English. They finished eighth in a field of 18 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 4898
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received May 28, 2010
Cost: 1,25 euro
Tracks: 'Telegram' / 'Midnight lady'

If leaving me is easy - Phil Collins

Phil Collins debuted as a solo artist in 1981 with his album 'Face value'. Three singles were taken from the album, of which 'If leaving me is easy' was the last one. The single was released in a limited edition poster cover, and featured the demo version of 'In the air tonight' - Phil's very successful debut single - on the B-side.

'If leaving me is easy' reached number 17 in the UK singles chart and also charted in several European countries.

My collection: 7" single no. 4909
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received May 28, 2010
Cost: 2,5 euro
Tracks: 'If leaving me is easy' / 'Drawing board (In the air tonight)'

Someone to somebody - Feargal Sharkey

'Someone to somebody' was released in 1986 as the third single from Feargal Sharkey's self-titled debut album. In the UK, the single was released in a limited edition poster sleeve, featuring a live photograph and six different versions of the cover.

The single was Sharkey's least successful single up to that point, as it only reached number 64 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4908
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received May 28, 2010
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Someone to somebody' / 'Cold water'

Wouldn't change a thing - Kylie Minogue

What's odd about this single, is that it sounds so slow now. In the Eighties, Kylie was the hottest dance act in the Stock/Aitken/Waterman stable, but 'Wouldn't change a thing' sounds a lot like a 45rpm single played on 33rpm speed.

'Wouldn't change a thing' was the second single taken from Kylie's second album 'Enjoy yourself'. It reached number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 24 in Germany. It went top 10 in Australia and Finland.

My collection: 7" single no. 4907
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received May 28, 2010
Cost: 1,1 euro
Tracks: 'Wouldn't change a thing' / 'It's no secret'

Keep each other warm - Bucks Fizz

Although the popularity of Bucks Fizz was slowly fading, their record company still tried everything to keep the hit machine going. 'Love the one you're with', the second single from the band's 1986 album 'Writing on the wall', had reached number 47 in the UK singles chart but the record company didn't give up.

And so, a third single, 'Keep each other warm' was released as a limited edition double single, featuring a medley of all album tracks on the second disc. It helped, but only slightly: this single made it to number 45.

My collection: 7" single no. 4906
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received May 28, 2010
Cost: 2,8 euro
Tracks: 'Keep each other warm' / 'Give a little love' // 'Writing on the wall medley, part 1' / 'Writing on the wall medley, part 2'

Dance with me - Orleans

Orleans was formed in Woodstock, New York in February 1972, by John Hall, Larry Hoppen and Wells Kelly. In November of that year, the group also added Larry's younger brother Lance to the line-up. Jerry Marotta joined the next year, completing the quintet.

'Dance with me' was taken from the band's third album 'Let there be music'. The single was a big hit in the USA, but failed to chart in Europe.

My collection: 7" single no. 4905
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received May 28, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Dance with me' / 'Ending of a song'

Time - Frida and B.A. Robertson

Released in 1984, the track 'Time' was recorded by Frida (formerly from Abba) and B.A. Robertson for the soundtrack of 'Abbacadabra', a musical based on music by Abba. In fact, 'Time' was based on the instrumental track 'Arrival', from Abba's 1976 album of the same name, with added lyrics.

Frida recorded a French version of this track together with Daniel Balavoine as 'Belle'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4904
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, May 28, 2010
Cost: 1,75 euro
Tracks: 'Time' / 'I am the seeker'

I love Saturday - Erasure

Erasure released their album 'I say I say I say' in 1994, at a time when the 7" single was fast becoming harder to find. Only the first two singles, 'Always' and 'Run to the sun' were released on 7" vinyl in the UK - and for more than a decade, their remaining singles were released as cd-singles only.

But much to my surprise, I found a 7" vinyl copy of the third (and last) single from the album 'I say I say I say' recently: 'I love Saturday'. It was made in Germany, where Erasure have always been popular. However, the single reached number 69, their lowest-charting single in Germany up to that point. In the UK, meanwhile, the single reached number 20.

My collection: 7" single no. 4901
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received May 28, 2010
Cost: 2,5 euro
Tracks: 'I love Saturday' / 'Dodo'

Megamix:Ninety! - Mel and Kim

The 1990 megamix of Mel & Kim tracks, created by Alan Coulthard, was released as a 12" single and a 7" single. I was lucky enough to find the 12" single a long time ago, but the 7" single has eluded me for a long time. Until recently, when it suddenly popped up on a mailorder website. What's interesting about this single is that both the A-side and the B-side are shorter than its 12" single counterparts.

There is also a cd-single, but that one is even harder to find. I wonder if I'll ever get my hands on that one.

My collection: 7" single no. 4900
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received May 28, 2010
Cost: 1,75 euro
Tracks: 'Megamix:Ninety!' / 'Showing out (Italo House mix)'

Johnny Rocco - Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin

'Johnny Rocco' was written by Les Vandyke in the late Fifties and recorded by several rock and roll acts, including Marty Wilde.

Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin recorded their version in 1982 as a track on their album 'Disappear'. When released as a single, it didn't manage a chart placing.

My collection: 7" single no. 4899
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received May 28, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Johnny Rocco' / 'The Hamburger song (We've survived this before)'

Hurricane - Westend

Westend was an Austrian band, consisting of Gary Lux, Hans Christian Wagner, Bernhard Rabitsch, Peter Vieweger and Patricia Tandien. They represented their country during the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Hurricane'.

The song is an up-tempo track, in which the band sings about being without the object of their affections and likens this condition to being in a hurricane. The song finished ninth in a field of 20 participants.

My collection: 7" single no. 4897
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received May 28, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Hurricane' / 'Hurricane (instrumental)'

Tall story teller - Arabesque

Most of the songs by the German disco trio Arabesque follow a certain formula, which is defined by unified vocals and a firm disco beat. And 'Tall story teller' is no exception.

Released in the autumn of 1982, the single featured the track 'Caballero' on the B-side, which was released as a single in Japan only. In Japan, Arabesque were quite famous; even in the late Nineties their whole repertoire was released on cd in that country.

My collection: 7" single no. 4896
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received May 28, 2010
Cost: 1,4 euro
Tracks: 'Tall story teller' / 'Caballero'

Looker - Sue Saad

The band Sue Saad and the Next never made it big, but existed from 1979 to 1986. Their self-titled debut album was released in 1980, but only managed a lowly placing in the US album chart at number 131.

After the album, only one single was released, 'Looker' credited to Sue Saad. It did not chart, but the band still played live concerts until 1986, while also contributing tracks to movie soundtracks from time to time.

My collection: 7" single no. 4895
Found: Da Capo, Utrecht, May 28, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Looker' / 'Highwire'

Gimme love/gimme pain - Sue Saad and the Next

The only claim to fame Sue Saad and the Next ever made was a hit in the Netherlands with the dramatic rock song 'Young girl'. I bought the single at the time and for years it was one of my favourite songs of all times.

I never bought any of their next singles, until I found 'Prisoner' six months ago. 'Gimme love/gimme pain', which I found just the other day, is another example of their brand of new wave rock. It was not a hit, but sometimes the best singles are those that are ignored by the general public...

My collection: 7" single no. 4894
Found: Da Capo, Utrecht, May 28, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Gimme love/gimme pain' / 'Kamonbaybeh'

Drama! - Erasure

Last week when we were in Utrecht, Puck showed me this single by Erasure. I couldn't for the life of me figure out whether I already had it or not. I've seen the sleeve numerous times through the years, of course, which causes confusion in my photographic memory.

When I came home, it turned out I didn't have this single, and so, since I knew I would be back at the store this week, I had a new opportunity to buy it. 'Drama' was the first single from Erasure's 1989 album 'Wild!' and was a number 4 hit in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4893
Found: Da Capo, Utrecht, May 28, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Drama!' / 'Sweet sweet baby'

Hold on - Bolland en Bolland

The Dutch brothers Bolland recorded a very American-sounding single in 1978, entitled 'Hold on'. I got to know the song because of a compilation album of 1978 hits which I got as a present in 1979, but the strange thing is: 'Hold on'was never a hit.

That's not to say it's a bad song: it could easily compete in the international charts at the time - but I think the record company never even tried this.

My collection: 7" single no. 4892
Found: Da Capo, Utrecht, May 28, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Hold on' / 'Outlaws paradise'

London - Alessi

The Alessi Brothers made some great jazzy stuff in the late Seventies,with one of their best known tracks being 'Oh Lori'.

This single was taken from the same album as 'All for a reason', a year after 'Oh Lori'. It's an ode to one of the world's most exciting cities, 'London'. And it's got that same jazzy feel.

My collection: 7" single no. 4891
Found: Da Capo, Utrecht, May 28, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'London' / 'Farewell'

The one that you love - Air Supply

'The one that you love' is a classic love song, written by Graham Russell and recorded by the Australian band Air Supply. The single reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in July 1981. Although it is a wellknown song, the single did not chart in most of Europe.

This copy of the single was pressed on green vinyl, which I suppose is part of a limited edition run. Quite a beautiful collector's item!

My collection: 7" single no. 4890
Found: Da Capo, Utrecht, May 28, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'The one that you love' / 'I want to give it all'

Am I normal? - Eye to eye

After the duo Marshall Hain split up, Kit Hain went on a solo career and Julian Marshall seemingly disappeared from the pop scene. Seemingly, because in 1980 he was part of the group Eye to eye.

Most people don't know this, as the single 'Am I normal?' did not become a hit. The beautiful sleeve featured a painting called 'Hand Maid', created by Philip Castle.

My collection: 7" single no. 4889
Found: Da Capo, Utrecht, May 28, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Am I normal?' / 'Tonight insomnia'