The red shoes - Kate Bush

Kate Bush's most beautiful single 'Moments of pleasure' was not released on 7" vinyl. It's a damn shame, but at least EMI was sensible enough to pick up where it left off, with the next single 'The red shoes'. It was the title track of Kate's 1993 album and released in part to promote the movie 'The line, the cross & the curve' which was launched at a film festival in London in the spring of 1994.

The single reached number 21 in the UK singles chart in April 1994, spending three weeks in the chart. Besides the 7" vinyl, there was also a double cd-single edition featuring a dance mix of 'The red shoes'. The B-side 'You want alchemy' was a great treat for fans.

My collection: 7" single no. 2100
Found: Record fair, April 16, 1994
Cost: 8 guilders
Tracks: 'The red shoes' / 'You want alchemy'

Only for you - Louise Tucker

The classically trained Louise Tucker became involved in the world of pop when producers Charlie Skarbek and Tim Smit recorded the album 'Midnight blue' with her. Her soprano voice and synthpop music were an interesting combination and gave her a hit in America and the Netherlands with the title track of that debut album.

In some countries a second single was released, 'Only for you'. This single was considerably less successful, as it didn't chart in any territory.

My collection: 7" single no. 4920
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, June 5, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Only for you' / 'Jerusalem'

Knocked out - Paula Abdul

As I'd written before, 'Knocked out' was Paula Abdul's debut single in 1988. I bought the re-released version from 1990 in January this year, and now I found the original release as well. I didn't know there was a limited edition poster sleeve of this debut single, but now I have it.

This version only managed to reach number 98 in the UK singles chart, despite the very pretty poster.

My collection: 7" single no. 4919
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, June 5, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Knocked out' / 'Knocked out (instrumental)'

I'm on automatic - Sharpe and Numan

Bill Sharpe and Gary Numan recorded the album 'Automatic' in 1989 and this single was taken from the album. Like the album, the single wasn't a commercial success despite the lightweight pop that was contained in the album.

I've always been very fond of their first collaboration, 'Change your mind' and thought their other collaborations were pretty good too. It's hard to understand that many people didn't see it this way.

My collection: 7" single no. 4918
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, June 5, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'I'm on automatic' / 'Love like a ghost'

Blame it on the boogie - Big Fun

Big Fun were an English boyband featuring Phil Creswick, Mark Gillespie and Jason John (a.k.a Jason Herbert). Their only album, 'A pocketful of dreams' (1990), reached the Top 10 in the UK Albums Chart and contained this hit single, 'Blame it on the boogie', a cover of the famous Jacksons track.

It was their first and biggest it in the UK, where it reached number 4 in the singles chart. In the Netherlands, it was their only hit, peaking at number 28.

My collection: 7" single no. 4917
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, June 5, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Blame it on the boogie' / 'Blame it on the boogie (instrumental)'

I wanna hold your hand - Dollar

The duo Dollar had just released their debut album 'Shooting star' in 1979 when they released this single, a cover of the wellknown Beatles track 'I wanna hold your hand'. Whereas the original sounds straightforward and confident, this version, produced by Christopher Neil, sounds a bit shaky and lacks a bit in the vocal department.

Still, it went to number 9 in the UK singles chart, and gave the duo their fourth top 10 hit in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 4916
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, June 5, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'I wanna hold your hand' / 'Love one another'

All day in love - Alan Sorrenti

Italian singer Alan Sorrenti had a European hit with his song 'Tu sei l'unica donna per me' ('You are the only woman for me'), although in some countries the English version 'All day in love' was promoted to the A-side.

In the Dutch Top 40, the single reached number 26 in the autumn of 1979. It was one year before his appearance at the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Non so che darei'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4915
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, June 5, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'All day in love' / 'Tu sei l'unica donna per me'

Our lips are sealed - Gogo's

Written by Go-Go's guitarist Jane Wiedlin and Specials and Fun Boy Three singer Terry Hall, 'Our lips are sealed' was first recorded by the Go-Go's as the lead single from their 1981 album 'Beauty and the Beat'. It was their debut American single. The single peaked at number 20 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 47 in the UK singles chart.

The following year, Terry Hall re-recorded the song with his own band, Fun Boy Three. This version became a major hit, reaching number 7 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4914
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, June 5, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Our lips are sealed' / 'Surfing and spying'

What I like about you - The Romantics

'What I like about you' was written by the Romantics around a guitar part by Mike Skill. The song's 'Hey, uh-huh-huh' refrain was influenced by the Yardbirds' 'Over under sideways down' and Chuck Berry's 'Back in the U.S.A.'.

The single reached number 48 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 12 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4913
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, June 5, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'What I like about you' / 'First in line'

Take care of yourself - Level 42

'Take care of yourself' was the only new song on the compilation album 'Level best', released in October 1989. It was the last song recorded with guitarist Alan Murphy, who died of Aids on October 19, 1989.

The track was released as a single to promote the album. 'Take care of yourself' reached number 39 in the UK singles chart and number 11 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4912
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, June 5, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Take care of yourself' / 'Silence (live)'

Ciao amore - Vlado and Isolda

Vlado Kalember and Izolda Barudzija represented Yugoslavia in 1984 at the Eurovision Song Contest with the pop song 'Ciao amore'. Izolda had some previous experience as a backing singer in two previous contest, most famously the year before when Daniel reached the top 5 with 'Julie'. Vlado Kalember would return to the contest in 1988 as a member of Silver Wings with the song 'Mangup'.

'Ciao amore' wasn't a very successful entry for Yugoslavia: it finished eighteenth in a field of 19 contestants.

My collection: 7" single no. 4911
Found: eBay.nl, received June 2, 2010
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Ciao amore (English version)' / 'Ciao amore (Croatian version)'

Boom boom - Mabel

Mabel was a Danish band, fronted by Michael Trempenau and featuring three other Danish guys. They recorded four albums and were very popular in Denmark and Spain.

In 1978 Mabel represented Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Boom boom'. The song finished sixteenth in a field of 20 competitors. The group then moved to New York City, but broke up soon after that.

My collection: 7" single no. 4910
Found: eBay.nl, received June 2, 2010
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Boom boom (English version)' / 'F.B.I. on the nail'

Il y aura toujours des violons - Joël Prevost

Joël Prévost was born as Richard-Jacques Bonay on February 16, 1950 in Narbonne, France. He was adopted soon after birth by a family from northern France, renamed Jean-Luc Potaux, and grew up at Trith-Saint-Léger, close to the border with Belgium. He moved to Paris in 1970 and in 1972 signed a contract with CBS Records, releasing a string of singles and touring over the next few years with artists such as Serge Gainsbourg, Mike Brant, Michèle Torr and Serge Lama.

He is however best known for his participation in the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest, when he represented France with the song 'Il y aura toujours des violons' ('There will always be violins'). It finished in third place in a field of 20 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 4903
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received May 28, 2010
Cost: 3,5 euro
Tracks: 'Il y aura toujours des violons' / 'Raoul'

J'ai déjà vu ça dans tes yeux - Jeane Manson

Jeane Manson was born as Jean Manson on October 1, 1950 in Cleveland, Ohio. She was Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month for the August 1974 issue. She had a few film roles before she was a Playmate, but her entertainment career took a major turn forward when she moved to France soon after she appeared in Playboy.

Performing under the name Jeane Manson, she became a recording artist in Europe. Her albums have covered several genres, from pop to gospel and country. Jean also has hosted several television specials in France and had a regular role on the longrunning primetime soap Riviera. She represented Luxembourg in the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest in Jerusalem, achieving 13th place for her song 'J'ai deja vu ça dans tes yeux'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4902
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, May 28, 2010
Cost: 2,5 euro
Tracks: 'J'ai déjà vu ça dans tes yeux' / 'Ma pauvre musique'

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'