You don't believe - Alan Parsons Project

'You don't believe' appeared on the B-side of the single 'Don't answer me'. Both songs appeared on the Alan Parsons Project's 1984 album Ammonia Avenue. 

However, the album The best of the Alan Parsons Project was released in 1983 and 'You don't believe' appeared on that album too. The B-side is also interesting: 'Lucifer' was used on a radio programme in the Netherlands (I forget which one, unfortunately), and so this single is an unexpected great find.

My collection: 7" single no. 7574
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'You don't believe' / 'Lucifer'

Crying in the rain - Everly Brothers

'Crying in the rain' was composed by Carole King with lyrics by Howard Greenfield, originally recorded by American duo the Everly Brothers. Their version was released as a single in December 1961, peaking at number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in February 1962.

The song was a collaboration between Greenfield and King, both of whom worked for music publisher Aldon Music at the time. On a whim, two Aldon songwriting partnerships decided to switch partners for a day; King's regular lyricist and then-husband Gerry Goffin partnered with Greenfield's frequent collaborator Jack Keller, leaving King and Greenfield to pair up.

For younger listeners, the song is best known in a version by A-ha.

My collection: 7" single no. 7570
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Track: 'Crying in the rain' / 'That's old fashioned (That's the way love should be)'

I just don't know what to do with myself - Dusty Springfield

'I just don't know what to do with myself' is a song written by Burt Bacharach and lyricist Hal David. The song was first recorded by Chuck Jackson in 1962. The song was recorded by Dusty Springfield and it reached number 3 on the UK singles chart in 1964. 

Production was credited to Philips Records owner Johnny Franz - although Springfield later stated her solo Philips tracks were self-produced - and arranged by Ivor Raymonde who conducted his orchestra. Springfield, whose first solo recordings had included covers of the Bacharach/David compositions 'Anyone who had a heart' and 'Wishin' and hopin'' - had brought back 'I just don't know what to do with myself' from an overnight trip to New York City where she met up with Bacharach in February 1964. Two years later, the song was also recorded by Dionne Warwick.

My collection: 7" single no. 7567
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'I just don't know what to do with myself' / 'My colouring book'

Zijn eigen wonder - Willeke Alberti

Dutch singer Willeke Alberti had profited from the Eurovision Song Contest before, having recorded 'Uno per tutte' with her father Willy in 1963. Six years later she went at it on her own, recording a version of Frida Boccara's moving chanson 'Un jour, un enfant' - but in a Dutch translation.

Cees Nooteboom provided the lyrics for this song. The Dutch novelist, poet and journalist used to write lyrics for his then-partner Liesbeth List, but later made a name for himself as a writer. The book 'Rituelen' became an international success and he was even mentioned recently as a candidate for the Nobel Prize in literature. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7572
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Zijn eigen wonder' / 'Happy, happy, happy'.

Blue diamond - H2O

I vaguely recall this song from the Eighties, it probably featured on the radio at some point. It didn't chart in the Netherlands, and even in the UK it only managed to scrape to number 77. In fact, the only singles by H2O to get into the UK top 40 were 'Dream to sleep' and 'Just outside of heaven' in 1983. 

'Blue diamond' was released in 1987 and was also released on a cd-single which is now very expensive - at least, on Discogs. (I bet some kind reader of this blog would gladly send it to me for free.) By comparison, this 7" single was a steal for just 1 euro.

My collection: 7" single no. 7569
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Blue diamond' / 'Go on'

Mama's pearl - The Jackson 5

'Mama's pearl' was a hit recording for The Jackson 5 in 1971 and was written by The Corporation, a songwriting team that had helped the group score four consecutive number 1 singles. The song, while sung mostly by Michael featured cameo spots from brothers Jermaine and Jackie. According to a Jackson biographer, it was originally called 'Guess who's making whoopie (with your girlfriend)'. Producer Deke Richards reportedly had the lyrics and title changed to preserve Michael Jackson's youthful, innocent image. 

The single reached number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 25 in the UK singles chart, whereas it didn't chart in Europe.

My collection: 7" single no. 7562
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025 
Tracks: 'Mama's pearl' / 'Darling dear'

Pictures of matchstick men - Status Quo

Although I already had 'Pictures of matchstick men' in my collection, it was an unsightly 'old gold' release, without a picture sleeve. Fortunately I now own an original release of that song, courtesy of a seller who didn't charge a ridiculous price for it.

According to Francis Rossi, who wrote the song: 'I wrote it on the bog. I'd gone there, not for the usual reasons... but to get away from the wife and mother-in-law. I used to go into this narrow frizzing toilet and sit there for hours, until they finally went out. I got three quarters of the song finished in that khazi. The rest I finished in the lounge.' So basically we know where the song was written, but not what it's about.

My collection: 7" single no. 7564
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Pictures of matchstick men' / 'Gentleman Jim's sidewalk cafe'