Bahama mama - Boney M

'Bahama Mama' was the second single from Boney M's fourth album Oceans of Fantasy (1979). In Europe it was released as a double A-side with 'I'm born again', but in Japan the record company released 'Bahama mama' as the sole A-side and gave the single a different sleeve, based on the photograph from the album sleeve. 

Perhaps they were especially enamoured with this photograph because it alluded to the woodblock print 'The Great Wave off Kanagawa', created by the Japanese artist Hokusai (1760–1849). The print depicts three boats moving through a storm-tossed sea, with a large, cresting wave forming a spiral in the centre over the boats and Mount Fuji in the background.

My collection: 7" single no. 8462
Found: Discogs.com, received 16 October 2026
Tracks: 'Bahama mama' / 'I'm born again' 

The sounds of silence - Simon & Garfunkel

'Hello darkness my old friend' may be one of the most recognized first lines of a pop song. It was recorded by Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel in March 1964 for their debut album Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. An overdubbed electric remix was released the following year and went to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. 

It led the duo to quickly record their second album, which was called Sounds of Silence to profit from the song's popularity. In 1967, 'The sounds of silence' was featured under both the opening and closing credits of the film The Graduate. This Japanese single shows part of the movie poster, making it perfectly clear that this was the song from that movie. It reached number 1 in Japan.

My collection: 7" single no. 8461
Found: Discogs.com, received 16 October 2026
Tracks: 'The sounds of silence' / 'The big bright green pleasure machine' 

Yesterday when I was young / Goldfinger (live in Japan) - Shirley Bassey

Two songs from Shirley Bassey's live performance at the Kosei-Nenkin Hall in Tokyo in 1974 were released on this single. She sings 'Yesterday when I was young' and the James Bond theme 'Goldfinger' before an enthusiastic audience in Japan.

The single was taken from the double album Live in Japan, released exclusively in Japan in the autumn of 1974. A cd version of that album was finally released worldwide in 2008. It reproduces the text from a booklet that came with the LP, which included the lyrics in English and Japanese.

My collection: 7" single no. 8460
Found: Discogs.com, received 16 October 2026
Tracks: 'Yesterday when I was young (live)' / 'Goldfinger (live)' 

 

Gotta go home - Boney M

'Gotta go home' was re-written from a German single 'Hallo Bimmelbahn' (1973) by Nighttrain with the brothers Heinz and Jürgen Huth, both also credited as co-writers on Boney M.'s version. The song was coupled with 'El Lute', tells the true story of Spanish outlaw Eleuterio Sánchez, who was still in prison at the time the song was released, though he was shortly to be released following a pardon. The song presents his claim that he was wrongly convicted of murder and links his liberation from prison to the liberation of his country from oppression after the rule of Franco. During a promotional visit in Spain, Boney M. met Sánchez and gave him a golden record for the sales of the single. 

The Japanese sleeve is similar to the one released in Europe, but adds the 'Happy Disco No. 1 Hit!' label. Hopefully it helped the sales over there.

My collection: 7" single no. 8458
Found: Discogs.com, received 16 October 2026
Tracks: 'Gotta go home' / 'El Lute' 

Felicidad (Margherita) - Boney M

My hunt for Japanese Boney M singles continued with another Japanese seller who offered more titles than just the Boney M ones. I received the package after significant delay at the Dutch customs - after paying an import charge I had to wait a mere 18 days until it was finally delivered. But anyway...

'Felicidad (Margherita)' was a non-album single by the German band, released in December 1980. The song was a cover of the Italian artist Massara's 1979 summer hit 'Margherita (Love in the sun)' which was sung in Italian and was released in English in the UK under the title 'Margarita (Mamma, oh mamma)'. Producer Frank Farian had a difficult relationship with the band at the time and originally recorded the song with session singers, but in the end had to overdub Liz Mitchell and Marcia Barrett's vocals.

My collection: 7" single no. 8457
Found: Discogs.com, received 16 October 2026
Tracks: 'Felicidad (Margherita)' / 'Strange' 

4 track sampler - Kerri Anderson

Somewhere in 1991 I read a review of Kerri Anderson's album Labyrinth in a TV magazine. The reviewer described the lyrics as pure poetry. Somehow I was intrigued, but I only bought the album on CD in 1992 when I found it in a local record store. Slowly but surely Kerri Anderson won me over. Ever since then, I play the disc quite regularly and when Discogs came around I found out that there was also an acoustic sampler on CD, which I managed to snag last year. 

Kerri Anderson only released one vinyl record - this promotional 12" single - and it arrived on my doorstep this afternoon. It features four tracks from the album. It's as varied as the album itself: the haunting 'Ghosts', which is the opening track of the album and always gets me in a good mood, the hopeful but perhaps too optimistic 'One day', the fantastic 'In the night', which is one of the best tracks on the album, and the all out rocker 'Day by day'. 

I wonder what happened to her. If it wasn't for her record company folding in 1992, she might have released more music. As it is, the one album is the only evidence of her amazing talent.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received 9 October 2026
Tracks: 'Ghosts', 'One day' / 'In the night', 'Day by day' 

 

Accordeon Potpourri no. 47 - The 3 Jacksons

Since 2021 I have bought a handful of singles by the 3 Jacksons, a trio that worked the accordeons like madmen. Their instrumental versions of hits of their contemporaries were always varied, and they touched on Eurovision classics more than once. This particular selection includes their version of 'Are you sure' by the Allisons, among other, English, Dutch and German hits.  

I found this single in a weird sleeve, but found an authentic Philips sleeve in the same row, so I swapped them around. It always feels better to have a Philips single in an authentic Philips sleeve!

My collection: 7" single no. 8456
Found: Rataplan, Rijswijk, 3 October 2026
Tracks: 'Wheels, Danke für die Blumen, Och was ik maar (bij moeder thuis gebleven)' / 'Corinne Corinna, Are you sure, Kill watch'

Are you sure? - The Allisons

Bernard Colin Day (born 2 February 1941) and Brian John Alford (born 31 December 1939) were marketed as the brothers Bob and John Allison, while in fact they weren’t brothers. The song ‘Are You Sure’ was written by John, inspired by an old girlfriend who broke off their relationship. They were only 18 at the time, so it had an impact. 'Over the next few months, I wrote a succession of very sad songs. One afternoon, about six months later (…) I began to wonder why on earth did she say goodbye? I don’t understand why she finished it. So I kept thinking, would she change her mind? (…) I hadn’t got a tune. Normally when I wrote songs, you get an idea for a tune first of all and then you decide what lyrics, which sort of lyrics would suit that tune. But I had an idea, I had this thought, why are there so many words that mean goodbye. So I wrote them down. Goodbye, farewell, so long, au revoir. And then I thought I could turn that into a verse. So I did.' 

Meanwhile, Bob was in school, finishing his exams. His parents didn’t want him to do anything other than school work, and so the two didn’t meet for two months. In the meantime, John finished the song on his own. When they finally did meet, the created the harmony together. In 1961 they represented the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song. 

This German single was released in 1987, but with a colour picture sleeve. It was number 54 in a series of hundred 'Hit Come Back' singles. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8454
Found: Reformdrogist de Regenboog, Rijswijk, 3 October 2026
Tracks: 'Are you sure' / 'There's one thing more' 

Let it be - Joan Baez

Speaking of the Beatles, I wasn't really aware that Joan Baez had recorded a cover version of 'Let it be' until I saw this single last weekend. She turned this staggering anthem into an intimate folk tune. 

Joan Baez was born on 9 January 1941 and her repertoire is full of songs of protest and social injustice. She played at the Woodstock festival in 1969 and released some 30 albums. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8455
Found: Rataplan, Rijswijk, 3 October 2026
Tracks: 'Let it be' / 'Poor wayfaring stranger' 

2+2 - The Supremes

In 1977 EMI released 50 EP's under the series title 2+2. It was an easy way to pick up four hits from a certain artist. Obviously the tracks were from the previous decade, otherwise the price tag would have been too steep probably. 

In the case of the Supremes, you got a brilliant set of songs, all written by the trio Holland, Dozier & Holland. I don't think I've ever seen an EP from this series before, but I guess I will have to look out for some of them. After all, who could resist tracks by the Jackson 5, the Beach Boys or the Beatles?

My collection: 7" single no. 8453
Found: Reformdrogist de Regenboog, Rijswijk, 3 October 2026
Tracks: 'Baby love', 'Stop! In the name of love' / 'My world is empty without you', 'You can't hurry love' 

One hello - Randy Crawford

Randy Crawford made a name for herself when she released 'One day I'll fly away' in 1980. It was a track from her fourth solo album Now we may begin. Her first three albums didn't get the amount of success this fourth album did. This was mainly thanks to her guest appearance on the track 'Streetlife' by the Crusaders. Further albums and singles got more recognition from the public.

'One hello' was the first single taken from her sixth album Windsong. The song became a minor hit, peaking at number 35 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 48 in the UK singles chart. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8452
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 September 2026
Tracks: 'One hello' / 'That's how heartaches are made' 

Theme from Love Story - Francis Lai

I recently bought 'Love story' by Nino Tempo & April Stevens, which is a vocal version of the theme from the movie Love Story by Francis Lai. I was pleased to find a copy of that instrumental piece. 

The vocal version was a big hit in 1972, but this instrumental version, released in the first half of 1971, did alright too: it peaked at number 24 in the Dutch Top 40. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8451
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 September 2026
Tracks: 'Theme from Love Story' / 'Skating in Central Park' 

Little Jackie wants to be a star - Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam

Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam formed after Lisa Velez auditioned for the production team Full Force at age 14. The group signed with Columbia Records, which released their debut single, 'I wonder if I take you home' in 1983 for the compilation album Breakdancing. The single eventually went gold in the United States. That same year, the group released their debut album, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam with Full Force.

'Little Jackie wants to be a star' was released as a single off their third album Straight to the sky from 1989. The single reached number 5 in the Dutch Top 40, but only got to number 90 in the UK singles chart. In the US Billboard Hot 100, the single peaked at number 29.

My collection: 7" single no. 8450
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 September 2026
Tracks: 'Little Jackie wants to be a star' / 'Star (The Jackie mix)' 

Always another girl - Silver Convention

The best way to describe this single by Silver Convention is 'vacuous but fun'. The song 'Always another girl' isn't very impressive lyrically - lots of repeats - but it's got a good rhythm; perfect for discotheques. The B-side, 'I like it', is equally void of substance. It's bubblegum music, but in a good disco way. 

'Always another girl' was the trio's second single, after 'Save me'. It reached number 29 in the Belgian (Flemish) chart and number 15 in the Dutch Top 40. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8449
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 September 2026
Tracks: 'Always another girl' / 'I like it' 

Masquerade - Sky

Inspired by classical music, Sky recorded several albums with their modern versions of compositions by various composers. Their best-known line-up featured two Australians - classical guitarist John Williams and electric guitarist Kevin Peek - alongside three Britons - bass player Herbie Flowers, drummer/percussionist Tristan Fry and keyboard player Francis Monkman. In 1980, Monkman was replaced by Steve Gray. In March 1982 they released their fourth album, and this single was taken from that one.

'Toccata' remains the band's only successful single, and I have to say that I never came across any other single by the band. Although I'd never heard 'Masquerade', I was intrigued enough to buy this single. The B-side, 'Fantasy', sounds more interesting, I have to say. According to Herbie Flowers, 'John was keen to do 'Fantasy' by Bach'. Turns out he had a good instinct.

My collection: 7" single no. 8448
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 September 2026
Tracks: 'Masquerade' / 'Fantasy' 

Wonderful world, beautiful people - Amazulu

The reggae/ska/pop band Amazulu was started by Sharon Bailey and Lesley Beach, together with Rose Miner, the original lead singer. With Debbie Dread joining on drums, initially all the members were female. Miner was later replaced by Anne-Marie Ruddock, and Dread was replaced by John "Nardo" Bailey, whom they called their token male.

Their debut album Amazulu was quite successful, especially in New Zealand and Sweden. The biggest hit single taken from that album was 'Too good to be forgotten', originally recorded by the Chi-lites. By 1987, Ruddock and Bailey were the only members left and they released their second album Spellbound, which didn't chart. 'Wonderful world, beautiful people', a cover version of a song by Jimmy Cliff, was their final single, peaking at number 97 in the UK singles chart. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8447
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 September 2026
Tracks: 'Wonderful world, beautiful people' / 'Wonderful world, beautiful people (instrumental)'

Superman - Vulcano

I bought a single by Vulcano recently ('Staying with it') and I enjoyed it enough to justify buying another one. 'Superman' was their second single after their debut 'Shut up and boogie' and it became their only English-language hit. 

The single entered the Dutch Top 40 on 24 October 1981 and reached number 29. After three more singles in English they switched to Dutch for the national final of the Eurovision Song Contest in the Netherlands. With 'Een beetje van dit' they would enjoy their only top 10 hit, causing them to stick with Dutch language songs for the rest of their career.

My collection: 7" single no. 8446
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 September 2026
Tracks: 'Superman' / 'O-only you' 

Late in the evening - Paul Simon

'Late in the evening' was the lead single from Paul Simon's fifth studio album One Trick Pony, released in 1980. The song was praised for Simon's lyrics, the horn interlude, and the distinctive drum part, a New York City-style Cuban Mozambique drum groove by Steve Gadd. Gadd performed the part using two pairs of drumsticks – one in each hand – in order to give the impression of two drummers playing together.  

The single reached number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100. In the UK singles chart it only reached number 58, but in the Dutch Top 40 it got to number 9. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8445
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 September 2026
Tracks: 'Late in the evening' / 'One trick pony' 

Dancing the night away - The Motors

'Dancing the night away' was the debut single by English garage rock pub rock band the Motors, which was released in 1977 as the lead single from their debut studio album 1. On the album the song was a full six and a half minutes; for the single it was edited down to just three. The song was written by band members Andy McMaster and Nick Garvey, and produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange. 

The single peaked at number 42 on the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 50 for four weeks. In 1983 the American rock band Cheap Trick recorded a cover version of the song for their seventh album Next position please. They also released the song as a single, but it only reached number 111 in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 8444
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 September 2026
Tracks: 'Dancing the night away' / 'Whisky and wine' 

Don't drive drunk - Stevie Wonder

Right now Stevie Wonder is planning a celebration of his seminal album Songs in the key of life with live performances, even in Europe. It's quite weird to hear this single knowing that he recorded a fair share of timeless classics, because 'Don't drive drunk' was certainly of its time, with the cheap samples and all.

The song was recorded for the soundtrack of the movie The Woman in Red, a romantic comedy written and directed by Gene Wilder with Kelly LeBrock and himself in the starring roles. The movie soundtrack also included Wonder's 'I just called to say I love you', which is regarded as an overload of cheese these days. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8443
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 September 2026
Tracks: 'Don't drive drunk' / 'Don't drive drunk (instrumental)' 

Car wash - Rose Royce

'Car Wash' is a song by the American soul and R&B band Rose Royce. Written and arranged by the ex-Motown producer Norman Whitfield, the song was the group's first single and one of the most notable successes of the 1970s disco era. The theme of the 1976 film Car Wash was Rose Royce's most successful single and the lead single from their first studio album, the Car Wash soundtrack. 

I have vague memories of when this single was released in september 1976. Despite being just six years old I already watched the pop shows on television religiously every week, and this song bored me to death. But when I heard it on the radio recently, I quite liked it. So it only took me half a century to appreciate this song.

My collection: 7" single no. 8442
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 September 2026
Tracks: 'Car wash' / 'Water'