Shelley - Marty Wilde

Although Marty Wilde was very successful in the UK between 1958 and 1962, he never managed to regain that early popularity. In 1968 he had a hit in Europe with 'Abergavenny', and that allowed him to record an album 'Diversions' in 1969.

This single, 'Shelley', was also released in 1969, but the track does not appear on that album. It is a good example of the versatility of Marty Wilde, as it doesn't sound at all like the rock and roll tracks he recorded in his heydays.

My collection: 7" single no. 4607
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received February 27, 2010
Cost: 4 euro
Tracks: 'Shelley' / 'Jump on the train'

In dreams - Marty Wilde

After his daughter Kim had some success with her first two albums, father Marty decided to get back into the game as well. He signed with Kaleidoscope Records, a small subsidiary of Epic Records, and released this cover of the Roy Orbison track 'In dreams'.

The single did not become the success he may have hoped for. The problem is, while this is a good version of the song, it was a bit out of time. It mystifies me why he didn't try out a song of his own - after all, Marty Wilde was one of the best songwriters in the UK at the time, with many hit singles under his belt.

My collection: 7" single no. 3434
Found: Esbjerg, June 17, 2006
Cost: 10 Danish crowns
Tracks: 'In dreams' / 'Hard to find, easy to lose'

Sea of heartbreak - Marty Wilde

When his daughter Kim made it big in 1981, partially thanks to his own songwriting, Marty Wilde decided to try and record another disc himself, too. This single was one of the results. Released on the small Kaleidoscope label, it featured a modern-sounding (for that time) production.

'Sea of heartbreak' was originally a hit single for Don Gibson in 1961. Personally I prefer the B-side, which was written by Marty and his son Ricky - the same duo that wrote Kim's first three albums. This single was not a success for Marty.

My collection: 7" single no. 1872
Found: Record fair, March 27, 1993
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Sea of heartbreak' / 'Don't wanna be the one'

Lonely avenue - Marty Wilde

As a fan of Kim Wilde, I was rather late in discovering the music of Marty Wilde. As 'Abergavenny' had been a hit in the Netherlands, I knew that song, but his earlier work eluded me until the Nineties. After I'd discovered great songs like 'Jezebel' and 'Teenager in love', I started hunting for these singles - but they are incredibly hard to come by.

I found this EP on eBay a few years ago. I was again intrigued, as the song titles didn't look familiar. Turns out that the two songs on the A-side of this EP were recorded with the legendary John Barry and his orchestra. The songs were not commercially successful, but I do think they are an artistic triumph. Released in 1964, this is an extraordinary collection of songs.

My collection: 7" single no. 3342
Found: eBay.co.uk, received 2002
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Lonely avenue', 'Brand new love' / 'Kiss me', 'My what a woman'

Abergavenny - Marty Wilde

On the occasion of his daughter Roxanne's wedding today, I thought it might be nice to get out a real classic today: Marty Wilde's 'Abergavenny'. While all of the UK knows him for his hits beween 1958 and 1962, the European continent was more impressed with this song from 1968. Marty performed it at the Knokke festival, and subsequently had a great European hit on his hands: in the Netherlands the song peaked at number 5. The song also became a top 50 hit in America under Marty's pseudonym Shannon. 'Abergavenny' also appears on Marty's 1969 album 'Diversions', a collection of truly great songs including 'Jesamine', the 1968 hitsong he wrote for the Casuals.

I was incredibly lucky to get this Belgian pressing from a dealer who probably wasn't aware that this single normally sells for anything above 10 euros. I should know, I've searched for this one for years...

My collection: 7" single no. 3716
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Abergavenny' / 'Alice in blue'