London Town - Bucks Fizz

Former Eurovision winners Bucks Fizz had an excellent run of hit singles between 1981 and 1983, and so a Greatest Hits album was a logical decision at the time. The album featured all of the eleven hit singles, including this one: 'London Town', released just two months before the album. Lead vocals on the track are by member Bobby G, although he was unhappy with the way his vocals were mixed, giving them a distorted quality, claiming that he "sounded like a munchkin".

Of course I already bought the single back in 1992, but the picture disc is a recent acquisition - in fact, I received it earlier today! And a pretty one it is, too.

My collection: 7" single no. 8320
Found: Discogs.com, received 27 June 2026
Tracks: 'London town' / 'Identity'

 

 

Hooray! Hooray! It's a holi-holiday - Boney M

With the intense heatwave we've had this week it makes sense to post some Boney M today, especially when it's a summery tune like 'Hooray! Hooray! It's a holi-holiday', complete with steel drums and a catchy chorus. The song and its B-side, 'Ribbons of Blue', were taken from the movie Disco Fever, billed as 'the first feature movie by Boney M' in 1978.  

The film soundtrack also included 'Rivers of Babylon', 'Rasputin', 'Dancing in the streets' and other performances by Eruption, La Bionda and Teens. If you don't remember this movie, you're not alone: it wasn't a big success. This picture disc, however, is a keeper.

My collection: 7" single no. 8319
Found: Discogs.com, received 18 June 2026
Tracks: 'Hooray! Hooray! It's a holi-holiday' / 'Ribbons of blue'

Westside - Athlete

The quest for Athlete singles led me to this, the band's earliest release. 'Westside' was released on 4 March 2002 on the independent Regal label. This 10" single came in a handsprayed cover with the stencil included inside the sleeve. 1000 copies were made; this is number 567. 

'Westside' was a hit, garnering airplay on BBC Radio 1 and paving the way for another single, 'You got the style' which cracked the UK singles chart in June 2002. Parlophone took notice and promptly signed the band, and this led to a successful career with three studio albums and several hit singles.

My collection: 10" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received 18 June 2026
Tracks: 'Westside' / 'Dungeness', 'One of those days'

Touch the wind - Wheeler St James

The Spanish group Mocedades had great success with their 1973 Eurovision song 'Eres tu'. So much so, that they recorded several versions of the song and there were many cover versions by other artists of this song!

The English version of 'Eres tu' was called 'Touch the wind', and this version was covered by Wheeler St. James, an English pop group consisting of Shirley Bagnall, Johnny Wheeler and Shirley's husband Mel James. It was released in 1974, but this single didn't chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 8316
Found: Discogs.com, received 18 June 2026
Tracks: 'Touch the wind' / 'Listen to me' 

 

Bad - Michael Jackson

The recent resurgence of Michael Jackson (thanks to the excellent biopic Michael, released earlier this year) prompted me to go through my singles and find out whether I have 'everything'. The brackets signify that I will never have everything, of course, but those all important Eighties singles have to be present and accounted for. 

Turns out that I didn't have the UK version of 'Bad', which has a different B-side than the single 'Bad' that I've owned for the past thirty years. This one comes with an edit of the dance mix that appears on the 12" and cd-singles back in the day.

My collection: 7" single no. 8314
Found: Discogs.com, received 18 June 2026
Tracks: 'Bad' / 'Bad (dance remix radio edit)' 

Digging your scene - Blow Monkeys

40 years ago I bought the single 'Digging your scene' by the Blow Monkeys. I can't say that I actually played it much, but when I saw the 10" single recently I was still motivated to buy it. This was motivated by the remix of the track - and I am always curious about remixes from the Eighties.

This is actually a four track 10" single, which is also quite rare: usually a track listing like this would be released on a 12" single. (Actually, the 12" single features a totally different track listing, with three mixes of 'Digging your scene'.) 

My collection: 10" single [unnumbered] 
Found: Record Mania, Amsterdam, 1 June 2026
Tracks: 'Digging your scene (re-mix)', 'I backed a winner (in you)' / 'Digging your scene (instrumental)', 'Man from Russia (re-mix)'

Sweet memory - Belle Stars

I bought a single of 'Sweet memory' in 2023, but that one was a German release of the song, with 'Sign of the times' on the B-side. This picture disc represents the UK release of 'Sweet memory', with the song 'April fool' on the B-side.

The single reached number 22 in the UK singles chart. It was to be their last single to reach the UK Top 40, as subsequent releases only got to the lower reaches of the chart. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8313
Found: Discogs.com, received 5 June 2026 
Tracks: 'Sweet memory' / 'April fool'

Save me - Silver Convention

Silver Convention was a vocal girl trio performing disco tracks produced by the German duo Michael Kunze and Sylvester Levay. Their first single 'Save Me' was originally recorded with session singers doing the sparse lyrics.

Three German girls, Ramona Wulf - a former child star wanting a change of image - Penny McLean, and Jackie Carter formed the very first line-up. Carter, however, was quickly replaced with Linda G. Thompson after just a few TV-appearances. Their debut album, also titled 'Save Me' in some territories, featured a very saucy sleeve. Compared to that, this single sleeve is very modest. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8310
Found: Record Mania, Amsterdam, 1 June 2026
Tracks: 'Save me' / 'Save me again'

Manhattan - G'Race

Back in 2010 I bought the single 'Manhattan' by G'Race. It's the kind of hit single that sticks in your ear once you've heard it a few times, and I always felt slightly iffy about it. But then I came across this 12" single for a euro and I thought I might as well check it out - especially since those extended versions from the Eighties are always very interesting. A remix like this is unlikely to pop up on any compilation like the Now 12"-compilations that have been released recently. 

Just as I thought, this extended version is actually more interesting than the single version. Nothing beats the drumbreak in this version.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Record Mania, Amsterdam, 1 June 2026
Tracks: 'Manhattan [extended]' / 'Manhattan part II'

Loving you - Feargal Sharkey

The unique voice of Feargal Sharkey became a bit of a fixture in the mid-Eighties when he celebrated his biggest successes with 'You little thief' and 'A good heart'. This was before his first two solo singles weren't very successful outside of the UK.

'Loving you' was his second single and it was quite surprising to find a 12" single of this song. I don't think I've ever come across it before. On the label the playing time appeared, fortunately, so that I could conclude that this was most probably an extended version (there was no indication of that on the sleeve or label). It's a very nice extended version, actually!

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Record Mania, Amsterdam, 1 June 2026
Tracks: 'Loving you [extended]' / 'Is this an explanation?'

The wounds of fate - Ray Manzarek

Ray Manzarek became famous as one quarter of the famous band The Doors, playing those keyboards like a madman. After lead singer Jim Morrison died, he soldiered on with the two other members of the band, until they faced ever decreasing success.

A musician never stops, of course, and so Ray started making music on his own. He released two albums in 1974, and then went on to create the album Carmina Burana, which was released in 1983. It was based on the famous classical work, but with a modern twist. From that album this single was released. It's an interesting piece of work!

My collection: 7" single no. 8308
Found: Record mania, Amsterdam, 1 June 2026
Tracks: 'The wounds of fate (Fortune Plango)' / 'The roasted swan (Olim Lacus)' 

El Salvador - Athlete

I keep adding random Athlete singles to my collection and since I have the later repertoire pretty much complete, it's the early stuff that I'm after. 'El Salvador' was their fourth single, and the third one to be taken from the debut album Vehicles & Animals. Although 'You got the style' was the first to break into the UK Top 40, 'El Salvador' became their biggest success at that point, peaking at number 31. 

The real surprise on this single is its B-side. 'Moving out' is an epic track with an instrumental ending that intrigues. I was quite impressed by this track and it was an early indication that this band was going to create some glorious music.

My collection: 7" single no. 8307
Found: Record Mania, Amsterdam, 1 July 2026
Tracks: 'El Salvador' / 'Moving out' 

Vivo cantando / El trovador - Luis Alberto del Parana y Los Paraguayos

Three years ago I found this colourful single by Luis Alberto del Parana y Los Paraguayos, with a cover version of 'La, la, la'. A year later, the group was at it again, with not one, but two cover versions of Eurovision songs: 'Vivo cantando' (the Spanish entry) and 'El trovador' (the Dutch entry!). 

I was actually aware that the group  had covered 'De troubadour', so I was very happy to find a copy of this single!

My collection: 7" single no. 8306
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 May 2026
Tracks: 'Vivo cantando' / 'El trovador'

Just for you - Spargo

The Dutch group Spargo made some catchy songs in the early Eighties, although some were embarrassing ('Hip hap hop' anyone?). Fortunately, 'Just for you' is one of their better singles and became a hit in various European countries.

Lead singer Lilian Day-Jackson, stepdaughter of jazz drummer Art Blakey, passed away in April 2023, aged 63. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8305
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 May 2026
Tracks:  'Just for you' / 'Fandango's invitation'

Latin America - Gibson Brothers

The Gibson Brothers were very successful at the height of the disco craze with songs like 'Non stop dance', 'Cuba' and 'Que sera mi vida'. In 1980 they released 'Latin America', and it would be their last hit outside their native France. It reached number 18 in the Dutch Top 40.

A song like 'Latin America' almost writes itself: in the chorus the phrase of the title is alternated with countries and cities from that region. Still, it's a catchy song and quite enjoyable.

My collection: 7" single no. 8304
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 May 2026
Tracks: 'Latin America' / 'Latin America (part two)'

The baby, she's on the street - Jona Lewie

Jona Lewie started his solo career in 1976 with the single 'Cherry Ring', which was followed by this single, 'The baby, she's on the street'. The track almost had a trademark Stiff sound, the record label that became famous because of Madness and Kirsty MacColl. Although the song is never mentioned on his biographies, it is catchy as hell, but it didn't chart. He would have his first hit in 1980, the inimitable 'You will always find me in the kitchen at parties'. 

I found this single during a random visit to Leiden and I felt it was interesting enough to buy it. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8303
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 May 2026
Tracks: 'The baby, she's on the street' / 'Denny Laine's valet'

We close our eyes '93 - Go West

When Go West released a greatest hits album (Aces and Kings - The best of Go West) in 1993, it seemed like a good idea to release a remixed version of their successful debut single 'We close our eyes'. Tom Lord Alge was commissioned to do the job, but unfortunately the remix didn't do much to distinguish it from the original version. 

The single was only a minor success in the UK, where it reached number 40 in the charts, and I wasn't awware of this release until last month! It's a nice curio, but unfortunately nothing really special.

My collection: 7" single no. 8301
Found: Discogs.com, received 20 May 2026
Tracks: 'We close our eyes 93' / 'Tell me' 

Party girl - Grace Jones

Grace Jones followed up her monumental album Slave to the rhythm (1985) with the rather less engaging Inside Story (1986), which spawned a few singles. The single 'Party girl' was the least successful of the three, as it only reached number 82 in the UK singles chart and number 53 in Germany. 

The song was remixed by Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero for single release and another Inside Story track, "White Collar Crime", was used as the single B-side.  

My collection: 7" single no. 8299
Found: Discogs.com, received 20 May 2026
Tracks: 'Party girl' / 'White collar crime' 

Please speak to me of love - Raphael

After the recent acquisition of 'Dis-moi lequel' I felt I had to finally get my hands on 'Please speak to me of love', the English version of 'Hablemos del amor'; one of my alltime favourite Eurovision songs. Raphael recorded his song in English and French, but it was easier to get the English version, as it has been for sale on Discogs for a long time now.

This time I was able to combine this purchase with a few other singles, and so I was a happy man when I received this package a few days ago. Raphael does a decent version of his song, even if his pronunciation of '[what does it] matter' is a bit curious.

My collection: 7" single no. 8298
Found: Discogs.com, received 20 May 2026
Tracks: 'Please speak to me of love' / 'While I live' 

Fremder - Carola

You're probably familiar with Carola's 1983 Eurovision entry, 'Främling' or the English version 'Love isn't love'. If you're from the Netherlands, you will know 'Je ogen hebben geen geheimen'. But the least known version, I think, is the German one: 'Fremder'. It was released in Germany, obviously, and perhaps in Austria and Switzerland too. 

I don't have any info on chart placings, but my guess would be that this wasn't a big hit. These days copies change hands for steep prices and that's usually a sign that only a small amount of discs was pressed. A nice addition to my collection. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8297
Found: Discogs.com, received 6 May 2026
Tracks: 'Fremder' / 'Ich bin noch lange nicht frei'