Boom boom - Mabel

While it is lovely to have a French copy of Mabel's 'Boom boom', after fifteen years I saw this German version and I was impressed by the design of this sleeve. Quite why the band wanted to be seen inside a heart was not immediately clear to me, but of course the lyrics speak of 'a feeling in my heart'.

The other side of this single contains 'I'm only here to rock 'n' roll', which was a hit for the band in 1977. 'Boom boom' was, of course, their Eurovision entry for Denmark in 1978, which made this release an attractive package for German record buyers.

My collection: 7" single no. 7812
Found: Lenny's Music Store, Vienna, 17 October 2025
Tracks: 'Boom boom' / 'I'm only here to rock 'n' roll' 

Musik klingt in die Welt hinaus - Egon Egemann

Two singles by Egon Egemann made it into my collection until now: 'A song goes out around the world', featuring the English and German version and 'A song goes out around the world' with an instrumental version on the B-side. But the original version is of course this Swiss pressing, featuring 'Musik klingt in die Welt hinaus' on the A-side and the English version on the B-side.

The song was of course the Swiss entry of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1990. Egon Egemann made 11th place with it.

My collection: 7" single no. 7803
Found: Seven Star Records, Vienna, 14 October 2025
Tracks: 'Musik klingt in die Welt hinaus' / 'A song goes out around the world' 

A million in 1, 2, 3 - Dream Express

Dream Express was pretty successful when they participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1977. They ended up being 7th in a field of 18 participants and the single reached number 2 in the Belgian singles chart. This German edition of the single has a rather efficient sleeve.

Patricia Maessen left the group in 1979, and Luc Smets, Bianca Maessen and Stella Maessen continued as LBS until 1980. Stella represented Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest again as a solo artist with 'Si tu aimes ma musique'.

My collection: 7" single no. 7795
Found: Moses Records, Vienna, 13 October 2025
Tracks: 'A million in 1, 2, 3' / 'Spinning top' 

Raggio di luna - Matia Bazar

Although 'Raggio di luna' already ended up in my collection back in 2017, I was quite surprised to find a German pressing of that same single with a slightly different sleeve. The funny thing is that on both sleeves the same photograph was used, but on this one it is shown entirely, whereas on the French edition it is cropped.

All this aside, 'Raggio di luna' was a daring Eurovision entry from Italy back in 1979, as the decision was made not to use the orchestra. As a result, the song ended up sounding a bit 'empty' and became 15th in a field of 19 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 7792
Found: Moses Records, Vienna, 13 October 2025
Tracks: 'Raggio di luna' / 'Pero che bello' 

Mathema solfege - Pascalis, Marianna, Robert and Bessy

For a long time, 'Mathema solfege' was Greece's most successful Eurovision entry. Its chorus of 'do fa fa fa, sol fa sol fa mi do ti mi mi mi, do ti do ti sol ti do' was recognizable for people all over Europe, even if they didn't understand Greek. These tricks were often employed back when countries had to enter songs in their own national languages. A trick like that wouldn't work anymore these days, but it certainly did in 1977: the song ended up in fifth place in a field of 18 competitors.

The quartet performing the song consisted of Paschalis Arvanitidis (born on 24 August 1946), Marianna Tolli (3 October 1952), Robert Williams (4 December 1949) and Bessy Argyrake (4 April 1957). They recorded one album together and then followed their own solo careers, with Bessy being the most successful one of the four.

My collection: 7" single no. 7790
Found: Moses Records, Vienna, 13 October 2025
Tracks: 'Mathema solfege' / 'I love, I love, I love you' 

Se piangi, se ridi - Bobby Solo

I already have an EP and a single featuring 'Se piangi, se ridi', so why buy this one? Well, the answer is simple: because I really prefer this sleeve. It's in colour, for one thing, and Bobby Solo looks a lot like the rock 'n' roll stars of his days on this one. Adding to that, this is the original Italian single, where we find out that the song is recorded with 'orchestra diretta da Gianni Marchetti, con il Coro di Nora Orlandi'. 

'Se piangi, se ridi' was a number 1 hit in Italy and Brazil, and also reached number 2 in Belgium, number 3 in Uruguay (of all places!) and number 4 in Argentina. Why this didn't chart in the Netherlands and the UK I don't know. It's a classic song.

My collection: 7" single no. 7789
Found: Moses Records, Vienna, 13 October 2025
Tracks: 'Se piangi, se ridi' / 'Saro' un illuso'

Džuli - Daniel

I never knew that the original version of 'Julie' was released in Germany, but then I saw this single. It comes in a sleeve that is quite similar to the one featuring the English version, but it announces that this one features the 'Jugoslawische originalversion' and the 'Jugoslavenska originalnaverzija', which is German and Croatian for 'Yugoslavian original version'. 

After a few seconds of being very surprised by this one, I checked the label of the disc, and it did indeed announce 'Džuli' as the A-side track. What's more, the B-side includes another original track by Daniel, which doesn't appear on the Yugoslavian single. I guess my collection is now complete.

My collection: 7" single no. 7777
Found: Alt & Neu, Vienna, 13 October 2025
Tracks: 'Džuli' / 'Bio sam naivan'

Child of earth - Karoline Krüger

There have been several 'environmentally friendly' Eurovision songs, but the Norwegian entry from 1988 was not recognized as such by most people because of the difficult language Karoline Krüger had to sing in. So she did what any sensible artist would do: she also recorded an English version.

I bought 'For vår jord' in 2022, thinking I might never get this English version because it was a bit on the expensive side. But look, a few years later the single isn't that expensive anymore and I got to order a copy from Norway. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7775
Found: Discogs.com, received 9 October 2025
Tracks: 'Child of earth' / 'For vår jord'

New fashioned waltz - Rita Reys, Rob de Nijs & the Pim Jacobs Combo

Back in 1966, Sweden was represented by Lill Lindfors and Svante Thuresson singing 'Nygammal vals'. I still haven't been able to buy a copy of that song, although I do have a cover version by Gunnar Wiklund. 

However, there was another cover version, and a very interesting one at that. It was recorded in the Netherlands by two artists who both forged decades-spanning careers for themselves. Rita Reys became a celebrated jazz singer, whereas Rob de Nijs had a career that lasted almost exactly until his death earlier this year (with a moving farewell concert in June 2022). They recorded 'New fashioned waltz', an English-language version of the Swedish song. 

I have been looking out for this single for a few years now. Imagine my surprise when I arrived at a record fair, and seeing this very single standing right at the front on one of the dealers' racks. It was in a very good condition - the pushout center wasn't even dinked - and it wasn't even expensive. That was a very nice start for an enjoyable little record fair.

My collection: 7" single no. 7767
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, 5 October 2025
Tracks: 'New fashioned waltz' / 'Side by side'

Deshojada - Simone

In 1969 Simone de Oliveira represented Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Desfolhada Portuguesa'. In a year when the contest had four winners, Simone landed in penultimate place with her song. 

The event took place in Spain, and it was perhaps logical that Simone also recorded her song in Spanish. 'Deshojada' was released in French as well, but the EP with that version requires a buyer to shell out 750 euros. I wouldn't pay that much for a vinyl disc in 750 years.

My collection: 7" single no. 7760
Found: Discogs.com, received 9 September 2025
Tracks: 'Deshojada' / 'Cinco pedras, cinco quadras'

Que daria yo - Alan Sorrenti

Alan Sorrenti represented Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1980 with the song 'Non so che darei'. Due to the success of his song at the contest, he decided to record several versions of the song. The English version, 'If you need me now', was released in several countries, and the Spanish version was released in Spain and South America. 

My copy of 'Que daria yo' is a promotional disc, meaning that the label is white and says 'disco promocional - prohibida su venta'. That's always a bonus in my book.

My collection: 7" single no. 7753
Found: Discogs.com, received 2 August 2025
Tracks: 'Que daria yo' / 'Todo es magico de noche'

Katson sineen taivaan - Katri Helena

This is a single which has been on my wantlist for a few years. I bought the English version of this song, 'I will follow starlight', five years ago, and that was when I was already searching for this original Finnish version.

Katri Helena represented Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1979 with 'Katson sineen taivaan', and listening to this song will immediately put you in a good mood. It does me, anyway. There's something about this song. Katri Helena is saying her professional goodbyes this year in Finland, and so I find it rather appropriate that I finally managed to buy a copy of this great single.

My collection: 7" single no. 7744
Found: Discogs.com, received 26 August 2025
Tracks: 'Katson sineen taivaan' / 'Kevät' 

Pour qui, pourquoi - Maribelle

Although I would certainly understand it if people called 'Ik hou van jou' a bit of a twee song, the melody of it is undeniably beautiful - especially when it's played by a full orchestra. After I disliked the song for a few years, I ended up buying the single in 1993 and the English version ('In love with you') five years after that. 

Obviously I was aware of the French version of the song pretty soon after that, but finding the single was hard - especially in the days before lively trade on the internet. Just a few months ago I was offered this single for 100 euros on a record fair. I finally found a decent copy on Discogs from a Czech seller - and for a decent price too. This copy has one playable side only - which is enough in this case.

My collection: 7" single no. 7743
Found: Discogs.com, received 22 August 2025
Tracks: 'Pour qui, pourquoi' 

Alla andra får varann - Inger Berggren

Although Siw Malmkvist performed 'Alla andra får varann' for Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1960, she never recorded it in the studio. And so, no single of this song by her exists. Fortunately the song was recorded by two other artists. I bought the version by Östen Warnerbring last year, and this year it's Inger Berggren's version that ended up in my collection.

Inger is no stranger to the Eurovision Song Contest, of course: in 1962 she would go on the represent Sweden herself with 'Sol och vår', which I bought twice.

My collection: 7" single no. 7739
Found: Discogs.com, received 13 August 2025
Tracks: 'Alla andra får varann', 'Underbar så underbar' / 'Concert d'amour', 'Zigenare' 

Love is blue - Marcello Minerbi & his orchestra

There are many versions of 'L'amour est bleu', the song with which Vicky Leandros appeared at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1967. And a sizeable portion of those cover versions is instrumental-only. The Sixties were a great time for orchestras. Famously, Paul Mauriat made it to number 1 the US Billboard Hot 100 with his instrumental cover, and many other orchestras followed, hoping to have similar success.

Marcello Minerbi was born on 7 August 1928 in Genoa (Italy) and became the leader of the vocal trio Marcello's Ferial, which formed in 1962. They were very popular in Italy until they broke up in 1968. Meanwhile, Minerbi formed his orchestra, recording theme songs and hits of the day in his style. His version of 'Love is blue' was a nice find during my singles hunt in Darmstadt - and also the last one.

My collection: 7" single no. 7738
Found: Come Back, Darmstadt (Germany), 4 August 2025 
Tracks: 'Love is blue' / 'From your side'

L'amour est bleu - Vicky

Almost ten years ago I bought my first copy of Vicky Leandros's 'L'amour est bleu'. Why it didn't end up on this blog back then, I don't really know. It is an interesting enough EP, because it announces all the tracks in Spanish, but they are actually sung in French.

Two of these tracks are familiar, because they are also on other releases of the song, but the B-side is populated by two more songs. Vicky didn't win the contest on this occasion, but she would do so half a decade later, when she performed 'Après toi'. 

My collection: 7" single no. 5704
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, 21 November 2015
Tracks: 'L'amour est bleu', 'Le soleil a quitté ma maison' / 'Le tour du monde', 'Les amoureux' 

Dan ljubavi - Nada, Bisera, Beti & Boba

Back in 1975, Yugoslavia participated in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Dan Ljubezni', performed in Slovenian by Pepel in kri. Although this was a fine version, it wasn't exactly what those in the Serbian-speaking regions of the country wanted. And so they recorded their own version: 'Dan ljubavi'. 

The song was recorded by Nada, Bisera, Beti and Boba, although the sleeve of this single suggests that many more people were involved in the recording of this single. The sleeve proudly exclaims 'Pesma je kandidat za gran pri evrovizije '75' ('The song is a candidate for the Eurovision Song Contest '75'). It was, but not in this version.

My collection: 7" single no. 7725
Found: Discogs.com, received 15 July 2025
Tracks: 'Dan ljubavi' / 'Ostavi sve'

Poslije tebe - Zdenka Vučković

Zdenka Vučković was born in Zagreb on 20 June 1942. She was a Croatian popular music singer with a career spanning 60 years. Her popularity peaked during the Sixties, when she was a teen pop star. In 1972 she recorded a Croatian version of the song 'Après toi', which won the Eurovision Song Contest in the original version by Vicky Leandros.

She announced the end of her career with the song 'Odrasla je djevojčica mala' ['The Little Girl has Grown Up'], performed at the 1989 Zagreb Festival. However, in 1991, she performed the song 'To Love Somebody' (a cover version of the Bee Gees song in Croatian) as a duet with Severina. She passed away in Zagreb on 7 March 2020.

My collection: 7" single no. 7723
Found: Discogs.com, received 15 July 2025
Tracks: 'Poslije tebe' / 'Doći Će ljepši dan' 

Malo mira - Ana Štefok

Yugoslavia competed in the Eurovision Song Contest during the Seventies and Eighties, and like in other participating countries it was pretty popular. Although Yugoslavia didn't manage to win until 1989, the Contest inspired many local artists to record their own versions of winning songs - and in their own language too.

Ana Štefok recorded a version of 'Ein Bisschen Frieden', the winning song of 1982, in Croatian. She even recorded the Belgian entry 'Si tu aimes ma musique' for the B-side. It's interesting how exotic these songs sound just by changing the language.

My collection: 7" single no.  7722
Found: Discogs.com, received 15 July 2025
Tracks: 'Malo mira' / 'Ako voliš tu pjesmu'

Piove (Ciao, ciao, bambina) - Peter Schilperoort

Domenico Modugno's 'Piove' has been covered so many times that it's hard to keep up. It always pays off to type in 'Piove' (or 'Volare'!) when doing online purchases, but in this instance I found a single in a real life record shop. 

This instrumental version was played by Peter Schilperoort on the clarinet, along with his quintet (whose members remain uncredited). Schilperoort was a founding member of the Dutch Swing College, a band that started on 5 May 1945, when the Netherlands were liberated from the German nazis. He passed away on 17 November 1990.

My collection: 7" single no. 7715
Found: Kay's Outlet, Wagenberg (Netherlands), 12 July 2025
Tracks: 'Piove (Ciao, ciao, bambina)' / 'When the saints go marching in'