Sobe, sobe, balao sobe - Manuela Bravo

Maria Manuela de Oliveira Moreira Bravo, (known as Manuela Bravo) was born in Queluz (Sintra) on December 7, 1957. She made her first public apperarence when she was only 5 years old in Cinema Éden. When she was 15 years old, she released her first single with two songs composed by José Cid, 'Nova Geração' and 'Another Time'.

In 1979 Manuela Bravo won the Portuguese national final for Eurovision with the song 'Sobe, sobe, balão sobe' and represented her country in the Eurovision Song Contest. She finished in 9th place in a field of 19 competitors. When you listen to this single now, the song sounds a bit dated.

My collection: 7" single no.  6031
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 13, 2019
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Sobe, sobe, balao sobe' / 'Meu tempo novo de viver'

Vita vidder - Family Four

In 1971 Sweden was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest by Family Four. With the song 'Vita vidder' they managed to get to sixth place in a field of 18 competitors.

Family Four consisted of Berndt Öst, Marie Bergman, Agnetha Munther and Pierre Isacsson. They went on to represent Sweden again the next year, with the song 'Härliga sommardag'. Marie Bergman was no stranger to Eurovision after this: she returned to the Eurovision stage together with Roger Pontare in 1994.

My collection: 7" single no. 6027
Found: Discogs.com, received March 28, 2019
Cost: 2 euro 
Tracks: 'Vita vidder' / 'Heja mamma'

Popcorn - Hot Butter

My copy of 'Popcorn' by Hot Butter, described on this blog ten years ago, wasn't very interesting to look at for its lack of a picture sleeve. I think I have compensated for that now.

I recently ordered a promotional 7" single of Kim Wilde's 'View from a bridge' from Japan (Do I really have to describe all my Kim Wilde singles on this blog? I have decided not to) and found this Japanese copy of 'Popcorn' for just a few dollars extra. I decided to buy this one as well, just because my 'Popcorn' collection is something I am particularly proud of. It may not be a complete collection, but this single is rare enough to want to own it.

My collection: 7" single no. 6023
Found: Discogs.com, received March 28, 2019
Cost: $3
Tracks: 'Popcorn' / 'At the movies'

Colorado (international version) - Xandra

On June 6, 2017 Sandra Reemer passed away following a long battle with breast cancer. She had a long and interesting career, not least because she appeared at the Eurovision Song Contest three times, representing the Netherlands. The last of her appearances was the 1979 song Colorado, which I bought as a single in 2002.

That single featured the Dutch version. The single featured here today was also released at the time, featuring a version in English. Like the Dutch version, this one was written and produced by the brothers Rob and Ferdi Bolland.

My collection: 7" single no. 6024
Found: Discogs.com, received March 28, 2019
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Colorado' / 'Stranger in town'

Menina do alto da serra - Tonicha

Tonicha was born as Antónia de Jesus Montes Tonicha on 8 March 1946, in Beja, Alentejo, Portugal. She represented Portugal in the Eurovision Song Contest 1971, with the song 'Menina do alto da serra' ('Girl from the country mountain'). She finished on ninth place in a field of eighteen competitors.

'Menina do alto da serra' is a classic Eurovision song, the kind you don't get to hear anymore these days. It's beautiful and melodious. This copy comes straight from Portugal, where I ordered it, and despite its age it looks almost like new.

My collection: 7" single no. 6012
Found: Discogs.com, received March 13, 2019
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Menina do alto da serra' / 'Mulher'

Die Roboter - Kraftwerk

Kraftwerk singles are pretty rare, so whenever I see one for an affordable price I leap at the chance to own it. Even if, in this case, the state of the sleeve is a bit questionable. 'Die Roboter' is the original German version of the track better known as 'The robots' in English speaking countries, and it was released in 1978.

Taken from the album 'Die Mensch Machine', the single reached number 25 in the German singles chart and number 23 in Austria. The track was remixed for the album 'The Mix' in 1991 and got to number 18 in Germany then.

My collection: 7" single no. 6006
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, March 2, 2019
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Die Roboter' / 'Spacelab'

Bang-a-boomerang - Sven & Charlotte

Svenne Hedlund and Charlotte Walker met in 1967 when Svenne was the vocalist in the band Hep Stars, which also included Benny Andersson who would go on to form Abba. They spent time together during the Swedish leg of Lotta's concert tour with the American band the Sherrys. Upon Lotta's return to America, the pair missed each other so greatly that Lotta soon travelled back to Sweden; this time with her three children. Seeking parental approval, Lotta also brought her mother to meet Svenne.

After the Hepstars broke up and Abba became a phenomenon  after winning the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, Sven and Charlotte competed in the Swedish national finals for the Contest in 1975 with 'Bang-a-boomerang'. The song was composed by the male members of Abba, who didn't want to represent Sweden a year after having won the contest, so they gave the duo the song instead. It became a big hit in Scandinavia. Abba recorded the song as well, but from a Scandinavian perspective, this is primarily a Seven & Charlotte hit.

My collection: 7" single no. 6005
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, March 2, 2019
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Bang-a-boomerang' / 'Roly-poly girl'

Wuthering heights / The man with the child in his eyes - Kate Bush

There's been a lot of attention for Kate Bush these last few months, on the occasion of her 'Remastered' box sets. Re-releases of Kate Bush music have been very scarce - between 1978 and now there has even only been one official compilation album.

Which is why this 'Old gold' single is a bit of a rarity too. It presents Kate's first two hits on one single. It was released in 1983, while EMI also released the 7" singles box set 'The Single File'. Interestingly, this single features the single version of 'The man with the child in his eyes', which has never been released on any Kate Bush CD until now (although it does appear on a compilation CD of love songs somewhere...).

My collection: 7" single no. 6004
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, March 2, 2019
Cost: 3,5 euro
Tracks: 'Wuthering heights' / 'The man with the child in his eyes'

Wisconsin - Peter Shelley

The song 'Wisconsin' appears as the B-side of the single Little Julie, which I bought just six months ago. And here's the UK single of that very song, this time on the A-side. Released on the Magnet label, this single did not reach the UK charts, contrary to 'Gee baby' and Love me love my dog, which were minor hits in the UK.

This single is mainly an addition to my ever expanding Marty Wilde collection, but it has to be said that 'Wisconsin' is a beautiful composition.

My collection: 7" single no. 6001
Found: Discogs.com, received March 1, 2019
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Wisconsin' / 'I'm flying'

War of the worlds EP - Jeff Wayne

Several singles from the legendary 'War of the world' album by Jeff Wayne have already been featured on this blog, but today's addition to my collection is especially rare. While I was browing the Discogs website - I have done that a lot lately - I discovered this promotional EP, released in New Zealand only. Normally I wouldn't consider buying a single just like that, but it was cheap and the same seller also had an extremely rare New Zealand pressing of Kim Wilde's 'Kids in America'. It was simply an offer I couldn't resist.

So here it is, a rare EP from New Zealand with four tracks from 'War of the worlds' in edited form. These edits appear on the singles for 'Horsell Common and the Heat Ray', 'Forever autumn' and 'Thunderchild' as well, but anyway...

My collection: 7" single no. 5999
Found: Discogs.com, received February 20, 2019
Cost: $5
Tracks: 'Horsell Common and the Heat Ray', 'Forever autumn' / 'The fighting machine', 'Thunder child'

Danswijsje - Corry Brokken

The Eurovision Song Contest isn't often won by the best song, but in 1963 it happened: 'Dansevise' by Grethe and Jørgen Ingmann was the winner that year, representing Denmark. It is one of my favourite Eurovision tunes of all time.

What I didn't know was that previous Eurovision winner Corry Brokken (who represented the Netherlands when she won with 'Net als toen' in 1957) recorded a cover version of the song in Dutch. Entitled 'Danswijsje', the lyrics stay fairly true to the original and the music certainly does too. The B-side is called 'Ga niet weg', and that is a cover of the Swiss entry from 1963: 'T'en va pas' by Esther Ofarim, who represented Switzerland. The orchestra on this single was conducted by Jack Bulterman, who also conducted that legendary Dutch jazz ensemble The Ramblers.

My collection: 7" single no. 5997
Found: Discogs.com, received February 13, 2019
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Danswijsje' / 'Ga niet weg'

It's nice to be in love again - The Swarbriggs plus two

The Irish entry in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1977 was performed by the Swarbriggs Plus Two. Following on from The Swarbriggs' first appearance at the Contest two years earlier, Thomas (Tommy) and John James (Jimmy) Swarbrigg recruited Nicola Kerr and Alma Carroll to form the bizarrely named quartet The Swarbriggs Plus Two. They were dressed in dark blue outfits, with the two men wearing their blazers of that colour over white suits.


The song was performed first on the night. At the close of voting, it had received 119 points, placing third in a field of 18 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 5983
Found: Discogs.com, received January 16, 2019
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'It's nice to be in love again' / 'Here we are again'

Rayo de luna - Matia Bazar

The Italian band Matia Bazar has had a few hits in Europe, but their participation in the Eurovision Song Contest seems to have been forgotten by many. In 1979 they represented Italy with the song 'Raggio di luna'.

They recorded the song both in Italian and in Spanish - and the single containing the Spanish version appeared when I was ordering some singles from Spain recently. Of course I wanted to have it, because it's always a delight when an artist records their own song in a different language.

My collection: 7" single no. 5981
Found: Discogs.com, received January 4, 2019
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Rayo de luna' / 'Esta tarde... Que tarde'

Estoy sonando - Abba

'Estoy sonando' is of course the Spanish version of 'I have a dream'. With the help of Buddy and Mary McCluskey the ballad was turned into a warm-blooded version for the Spanish speaking market.

I ordered this single along with a few others from Spain. The problem with online ordering is illustrated right here: this was by far the worst sleeve of the whole package. You can't always know what you'll get. The might be an occasion to replace this single, but I am not rushing it. For now this is good enough to have - a nice curiosity doesn't always need to be perfect.

My collection: 7" single no. 5980
Found: Discogs.com, received January 4, 2019
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Estoy sonando' / 'As good as new'

Chance in time - Severine

When Severine won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1971 with 'Un banc, un arbre, une rue', she also recorded the song in other languages. I already found the German version ('Mach die Augen zu (und wünsch dir einen Traum)') in 2010, and yesterday I suddenly found the English version. 'Chance in time' was released in several countries, and this is the Dutch pressing.

Now all that's left for me to find is the Italian version, 'Il Posto'. I am sure it will come to me some day.

My collection: 7" single no. 5977
Found: Top 2000 café, Circus, Den Haag
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Chance in time' / 'Nothing bad can be this good'

Whatever happened to Benny Santini? - Chris Rea

During my life I have shopped for singles in many strange places. Yesterday was a very strange one indeed. Two days ago I went to the circus with my daughters, and discovered a record shop inside the tent. Turns out the organiser of the circus also acquired a record collection, to sell during the event until today. With two children by my side I didn't have time to browse all the singles, and so I went back yesterday.

My first find was immediately a good one: this Chris Rea single on red vinyl. Released in the UK in 1978, this track, the title track of Rea's debut album, was an unsuccessful follow-up to 'Fool (If you think it's over)'. The single did reach number 71 in the US Billboard Hot 100 for some curious reason.

My collection: 7" single no. 5972
Found: Top 2000 cafe, Circus, Den Haag
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Whatever happened to Benny Santini?' / 'Three angels'

Chiquitita (cantado en español) - Abba

I have memories of Abba premiering 'Chiquitita', the song they wrote for Unicef, which was performed at a special concert and broadcast everywhere including the Netherlands. I was only eight years old but somehow the moment stuck in my head. I was never too fond of the song: compared to their earlier songs it was too schmaltzy, too kitsch and too slow for my taste. There was of course one exception: the last few seconds of the song with the impressive piano solo.

Being an Abba fan - and having been one for over forty years now, I am proud to say - I have recently acquired all the original German singles of them. It started when I bought the singles box set and saw all these replicas, and I wanted to have the originals as well. I found most of them for less than a euro, and some of them cost a little more - but I am very satisfied to have them all now. I have started looking into the rarer singles - as long as they are not insanely expensive, like most 'weird' Abba singles tend to be.

This Spanish version of 'Chiquitita' is my most recent Abba acquisition. I couldn't fault the price and it was nice to reacquaint myself with this little beauty. I think I like the Spanish version a little better than the original version, in fact!

My collection: 7" single no. 5964
Found: Discogs.com, received December 7, 2018
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Chiquitita (cantado en español)' / 'Lovelight'

Toi - Geraldine

After Abba won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, some countries were quick to adapt to the new times... and others were not. The Netherlands almost copied the style of that song, 'Waterloo', and won the contest.

Other countries weren't so smart and went ahead the way they always had, with boring ballads and incomprehensible lyrics. One of them was Luxembourg's Geraldine Brannigan with the song 'Toi'. She still managed to reach fifth place in a field of 19 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 5967
Found: Discogs.com, received December 7, 2018
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Toi' / 'C'est mon secret'

Popcorn festival - Mat Camison

I have a lot of versions of the immortal Gershon Kingsley composition 'Popcorn', but there are very few with lyrics as it was originally an instrumental track. Mat Camison recorded this version in 1974 and it features French lyrics. Not that they make any sense: apparently it's all about girls and guys hanging out at the Woodstock festival and cops who apparently don't like the music.

I found this single by accident, browsing the stock of one of those online vendors you have to check out these days because there are no record stores anymore. It's hard to find anything by accident unless, like me, you have lots of weird little sub-collections in your record collection.

My collection: 7" single no. 5966
Found: Discogs.com, received December 7, 2018
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Popcorn festival' / 'Ma fleur d'amour'

That's what friends are for - Swarbrigg

When you listen to 'That's what friends are for', you hear it's a rather quaint, slightly boring song. You certainly wouldn't expect a band to win a song contest with it.

Thomas and John James Swarbrigg, two Irish music promoters, still got on with it and took it to the Eurovision Song Contest stage in 1975. Their performance was notable for the fact that the singers wore identical electric blue suits, taking full advantage of the increasing trend towards bright and eye-catching costumes. At the close of voting, they ended up in ninth place in a field of 19 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 5960
Found: Discogs.com, received November 30, 2018
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'That's what friends are for' / 'Love is'