Popcorn - M and H band

Mark Haliday is the French musician who is the sole member of the M&H Band. He released a very 'Italo Disco' version of the familiar instrumental track 'Popcorn' in 1987. As far as I know, this version didn't chart in any country, but it did find its way to collectors of covers of Gershon Kingsley's 1968 composition.

The B-side of this single features an original instrumental composition by Mark Haliday himself.

My collection: 7" single no. 3345

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 2001

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Popcorn' / 'Ordinopaso'
Download: here

Popcorn - Fresh Cream

There's always a tingle of excitement when I spot a version of Gershon Kingsley's 'Popcorn' that I don't have yet. My most recent tingle came about when I saw this single by Fresh Cream. Apparently, it's a French group, which released one album of classical melodies played on the Moog synthesizer, and this single, released in various countries in 1972, when a lot of other versions of this instrumental favourite came out. The Japanese version portrays a topless woman throwing popcorn in the air. By comparison, this is a rather dull sleeve.

My collection: 7" single no. 3548

Found: All that music, Leiden, January 24, 2009

Cost: 1,6 euro

Tracks: 'Popcorn' / 'Cap horn'

Download: here

Popcorn - Hot Butter

Hot Butter was an instrumental cover band consisting of Stan Free, Dave Mullaney, John Abbott, Bill Jerome, Steve Jerome and Danny Jordan. Their version of Gershon Kingsley's composition 'Popcorn' is one of the best known versions of the wave of versions that were released in 1972. Sales in the UK exceeded a quarter of a million, and worldwide Hot Butter sold two million copies of this single.

I bought my copy in London, after having searched for this version for years. Unfortunately it didn't have a picture sleeve. But sometimes you just take what you can get.

My collection: 7" single no. 2526

Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, November 1, 1995

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Popcorn' / 'At the movies'
Download: here

Popcorn - Luminatus

'Popcorn' was always a popular track to cover. Many artists and groups have tried their hand at this instrumental track through the years, with varying success. One of my personal favourites is the 1993 cover version by Luminatus.

I found this single during a holiday in London in 1995. By then, I'd already made the resolution to buy every 'Popcorn' cover I would come across. This was one of the first I found (and bought). It was going downhill from then on, because my oh my, there have been lots of worse covers around. More about that later...

My collection: 7" single no. 2515

Found: London, October 31, 1995

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Popcorn' / 'Cryptoid'

Download: here

Popcorn - The Popcornmakers

Although I was very interested in the track 'Popcorn', I didn't know about all the versions that existed. So when I found this version by the Popcornmakers, I wasn't even aware that this was one of the versions that contributed to the number 1 position in the Dutch Top 40 in 1972, together with those by Anarchic System, Hot Butter and Revolution System.

The B-side was another moog instrumental, 'Toad in the hole', presumably another track named after a delicacy. It all may sound hopelessly dated now, back then it sounded downright futuristic.

My collection: 7" single no. 2209

Found: Record fair, the Netherlands, October 22, 1994

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Popcorn' / 'Toad in the hole'

Download: here

Popcorn - Anarchic System

Gershon Kingsley composed 'Popcorn' as an instrumental tune. Still, there are a few vocal versions of this track, and the first one was recorded by Anarchic System in 1972. Anarchic System was a French band. Early singles 'Popcorn' and 'Carmen Brasilia' were very much influenced by electronic music, although later work is influenced more by the rock genre.

For the longest time, I didn't know that there was this vocal version of 'Popcorn', all I knew was that Anarchic System recorded 'a version' of Kingsley's composition. I found out shortly before I found my copy at a Dutch record fair. Although I prefer the instrumental version on the B-side of this record, it's still a great rarity.

My collection: 7" single no. 2736
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 8, 1996
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Popcorn (Vocal)' / 'Popcorn (Instrumental)'
Download: here