Mark James wrote and recorded 'Suspicious minds' in 1968. After his single was a commercial failure, the song was handed to Elvis Presley, who turned it into one of the most notable hits of his career. It was his seventeenth and last number one hit in the USA.
Session producer Felton Jarvis made the unusual decision to add a
premature fade-out to the song starting at 3:36, mirroring the way
Presley used to perform it in his live Las Vegas stage act. This
fade-out lasts for about 15 seconds before fading back in, conveying a
message of relationship in the song.
My collection: 7" single no. 5610 Found: Kringloop Hebbes, Rijswijk, February 7, 2015 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Suspicious minds' / 'You'll think of me'
The title 'Alors je chante' may only seem familiar to those who have read about Rika Zarai's single on this blog almost six years ago. It is a cover of the 1969 Eurovision song Vivo cantando, one of four winners that year.
Dimitri Dourakine recorded this - instrumental - version of the song in 1969, not long after his single 'Casatchok' became a number one hit in France. It's kitsch, but Eurovision-related kitsch is always worthwhile of course.
My collection: 7" single no. 5599 Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, January 16, 2015 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Alors je chante (and then I sing)' / 'Haifa'
Kathy Kirby was born as Kathleen O'Rourke on October 20, 1938. She is best known for her cover version of Doris Day's 'Secret Love' and for representing the United Kingdom in the 1965 Eurovision Song Contest, finishing in second place.
Her song 'I belong' was chosen during a television broadcast on January 29, 1965. All six songs feature on this EP, although 'I belong' was rearranged for the performance at the Eurovision Song Contest in Naples on March 20. While Kirby performed a very contemporary hit song, she was beaten by France Gall who performed an even more modern tune.
My collection: 7" single no. 5681 Found: Discogs.com, received December 9, 2014 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'I'll try not to cry', 'Sometimes', 'My only love' / 'I won't let you go', 'One day', 'I belong'
Scottish singer Kenneth McKellar was born on June 23, 1927 and studied forestry at the University of Aberdeen, then trained at the Royal College of Music as an opera singer. He went on to sing traditional Scottish songs.
In 1965, the BBC selected him to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest. This EP features all five songs that were performed during the national final. The song 'A man without love' was chosen for him to perform at Eurovision. It finished ninth in a field of 18 competitors, which was actually the UK's worst placing for a long time - until 1978. McKellar died of pancreatic cancer on April 9, 2010.
My collection: 7" single no. 5683 Found: Discogs.com, received December 12, 2014 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'As long as the sun shines', 'Country girl', 'A touch of the Tartan' / 'A man without love', 'Comes the time'
Ronnie Carroll returned in the Eurovision Song Contest the year after he appeared with 'Ring-a-ding girl'. 'Say wonderful things' was the song he competed with in 1963, and just like in 1962 he finished fourth. The single was considerably more successful in the UK singles chart, peaking at number 6.
The most popular version of the song in the United States was recorded by Patti Page, as the title song of her first album for Columbia Records. Page's record peaked only at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100 but was more successful in Australia, continental Europe and in Asian territories such as Hong Kong and Japan.
My collection: 7" single no. 5675 Found: Discogs.com, received December 2, 2014 Cost: 1 pound Tracks: 'Say wonderful things' / 'Please tell me your name'
Ronnie Carroll was born as Ronald Cleghorn on August 18, 1934 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He scored his first hit in 1956 with 'Walk hand in hand'. Having taken part in the 1960 UK Eurovision selection contest with the song 'Girl with a curl', he returned to win the selection and be Britain's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1962.
The song 'Ring-a-ding girl' received 10 points, placing 4th in the field of 16 competitors. The single reached number 46 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 5674 Found: Discogs.com, received December 2, 2014 Cost: 1 pound Tracks: 'Ring-a-ding girl' / 'The girls in their summer dresses'
Rare singles come in many gueses, but I always get a weird feeling when I get my hands on a single that was made of 50 years ago. I wasn't even born in 1960, but the Eurovision Song Contest was already celebrating its fifth edition and François Deguelt represented Monaco with the beautiful song 'Ce soir-là', included in this delightful little EP.
'Ce soir-là' is in the chanson style popular in the early years of the Contest. Deguelt describes the first night he spent with his lover and explains to her that he realised then that 'Life would never have attraction for me / Far from you'. It appears from the lyrics, however, that his lover has left him since then, which has resulted in his perpetual waiting for her return in order to relive 'that night'.
At the close of voting, this song had received 15 points, placing third in a field of 13 competitors.
Also check out the swinging 'Linda' on this disc - it is very different and very enjoyable.
My collection: 7" single no. 5643 Found: eBay.co.uk, received September 2, 2014 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'Ce soir-là', 'Jean' / Linda', 'Sur la piste (plus loin)'
Sometimes I buy a single and I can't believe my luck. This EP from 1964 (!) in very good condition and a 'Factory sample - not for sale' sticker on the label appeared in my hands during the recent record fair in Utrecht. I think the dealer didn't know what he was selling, because this EP appears online for a tenner or more.
This 'A Song For Europe' EP was released on the occasion of Matt Monro's appearance in the TV programme of the same name, also known as the national final of the Eurovision Song Contest in the UK. The song that was chosen was 'I love the little things' (track 3 on side A), which ended second in a field of 16 competitors in the Contest that year.
My collection: 7" single no. 5656 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 23, 2014 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'Choose', 'It's funny how you know', 'I love the little things' / 'I've got the moon on my side', 'Ten out of ten', 'Beautiful, beautiful'
Classic albums come in many shapes and colours, but among them, The Beatles' 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' is especially loved by pop music historians. The album was full of experimentations that were quite innovative in their time.
This single was apparently released in 1987, probably in conjunction with the CD release of the album. (Back then, record companies still released singles to promote products, remember?) The A-side is a double whammy of the title track and 'With a little help from my friends', while the B-side presents arguably the best track from the album.
My collection: 7" single no. 5370
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band/With a little help from my friends' / 'A day in the life'
The 'oldies single' was an attractive way to get old songs into your singles collection, back in the Seventies and Eighties. Warner Bros. had an attractive series of such singles, one of which you can see here. The sleeve was always the same: a small photo in the middle and a large logo above, inside a 'jukebox style' sleeve design.
This single presents the 1968 hit single 'Hello I love you' and the 1971 hit single 'Love her madly', both by The Doors. Of course, both these songs are picked rather randomly, although obviously both have been big hits for the band.
My collection: 7" single no. 5390 Found: unknown Tracks: 'Hello I love you' / 'Love her madly'
Robert Cogoi was born as Mirko Kogoj on October 25, 1939 in Châtelet to Yugoslav parents. In 1961 he picked up a contract with Philips Records, and the following year, won first prize at the Grand Prix International des Variétés at the Casino in Ostend with the song 'Si un jour', which went on to sell 100,000 copies in France, earning Cogoi a gold disc.
In 1964, he represented belgium with 'Près de ma rivière' ('Near my river'). At the close of voting, it had received 2 points, placing 10th in a field of 16 competitors. Cogoi also recorded the song in English, German and Italian language versions, entitled, respectively, 'My River of Memories', 'Weit, da wo der Strom beginnt' and 'Sulla mia riviera'. The English version, however, was not released until nearly 30 years after the Contest.
Cogoi continued releasing albums and singles, with modest success, until the late 1960s. In 1976 he appeared in the Belgian movie 'Les arpents dorés'. After many years out of the public eye, Cogoi made a guest appearance, along with several other former Eurovision participants, at the Belgian Eurovision national final in 2005.
My collection: 7" single no. 5652 Found: Marktplaats.nl, November 5, 2014 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'Pres de ma riviere' / 'Quand le jour se leve'
In 1968, the Netherlands were represented in the Eurovision Song Contest by Ronnie Tober. He sang the song 'Morgen', a ballad in which the singer expresses his desire for "tomorrow" to arrive as soon as possible, enabling him and his wife, who is far away, to be reunited. This is slightly ironic, since Ronnie Tober later turned out to be gayer than Christmas.
The song was performed second on the night. At the close of voting, it had received 1 point, placing 16th (equal last) in a field of 17 competitors. Of course, the next year, the Netherlands would be one of four winners of the Contest, when it was organised in Spain.
My collection: 7" single no. 5594 Found: Marktplaats.nl, August 1, 2014 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Morgen' / 'Die ouwe pianola'
Dario Campeotto was born on February 1, 1939 in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen to Italian parents, Emma and Ernesto Campeotto.
He started performing at the age of ten, but his breakthrough was a victory in the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix in 1961 with the song 'Angelique', which went on to finish fifth in the Eurovision Song Contest. The song is a love ballad directed towards one Angelique, with Campeotto singing about the various things he would do for her if he had the skill - such as writing poetry if he were William Shakespeare or playing the violin if he were Yehudi Menuhin.
Following Angelique, Dario Campeotto released a number of records,
starred in theatrical play, operettes, revues, and movies. He has been married twice and once lived in Italy with his
former wife, actress Ghita Nørby, but returned to Denmark where he is
currently continuing his career.
My collection: 7" single no. 5660 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 23, 2014 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'Angelique' / 'Du er min kaerlighed'
Bryan Johnson was born on July 18, 1926. He became a regular appearance on 'A Song For Europe', the UK national finals for the Eurovision Song Contest. He competed in 1957, 1960 and 1961, but only qualified for the 1960 edition with 'Looking high, high, high', a song written by John Watson. He ended up in second place on the Contest, behind 'Tom Pillibi' by Jacqueline Boyer. The single reached number 20 in the UK singles chart.
Johnson was also an actor who, in Donald Wolfit's company, played such roles as Feste in Twelfth Night and the Fool in King Lear. In Ronald Harwood's biography of Wolfit, the actor is quoted as saying that he was "the best Fool I ever had". Later he played roles in musicals such as 'Lock Up Your Daughters' and enjoyed a late success as Scrooge in a touring production of 'A Christmas Carol'. He died on October 18, 1995.
My collection: 7" single no. 5602 Found: Marktplaats.nl, received August 6, 2014 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'Looking high, high, high' / 'Each tomorrow'
In 1965, French singer France Gall represented Luxembourg with the song 'Poupée de cire poupée de son'. It was composed by Serge Gainsbourg, also from France, and inspired by the Piano Sonata No. 1 by Beethoven. As is common with Gainsbourg's lyrics, the words are filled with double
meanings, wordplay, and puns. The title can be translated as "wax doll,
rag doll" (a floppy doll stuffed with bran or chaff) or as "wax doll,
sound doll" (with implications that Gall is a "singing doll" controlled
by Gainsbourg).
At the time of her performance, France Gall was too young to understand all these double meanings. In later years, she disassociated herself with the Eurovision Song
Contest, and refuses to discuss it in public or perform her winning
song.
Finding this single was a feat in itself. This original French pressing has become very rare and it's hard to track down such a good copy. I'm happy that I finally managed to get this one, in what I would call mint condition.
My collection: 7" single no. 5614 Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, August 10, 2014 Cost: 5 euro Tracks: 'Poupée de cire, poupée de son', 'Un prince charmant' / 'Dis a ton capitaine', 'Le coeur qui jazze'
Although I already had a copy of Sandie Shaw's Puppet on a string, I thought this German copy would be a worthwhile addition for its colourful sleeve. The different B-side is just a bonus, of course.
Sandie Shaw won the 1967 edition of the Contest with this song, despite the fact that she wasn't particularly fond of the song. In August 2014, Shaw was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian opposing Scottish independence in the run-up to September's referendum on that issue. I guess she wanted Scotland to be the puppet on England's string, then...
My collection: 7" single no. 5628 Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received August 29, 2014 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Puppet on a string' / 'Had a dream last night'
'Spirit in the sky' was originally written and recorded by Norman Greenbaum. Released in 1969, the single sold over two million copies, reaching number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, number 1 in the UK, Australia and Germany.
According to Greenbaum, he was inspired to write the song after watching Porter Wagoner
on TV singing a gospel song. Greenbaum later said: "I thought, 'Yeah, I
could do that,' knowing nothing about gospel music, so I sat down and
wrote my own gospel song. It came easy. I wrote the words in 15
minutes." The lyric makes several references to Jesus, despite the fact that Greenbaum is in fact Jewish.
Several artists have covered 'Spirit in the sky', including Kim Wilde, who released her version of the song on a single, released on February 24, 2012 as a double A-side with a cover of the Buzzcocks' 'Ever fallen in love'.
My collection: 7" single no. 5653 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 23, 2014 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Spirit in the sky' / 'Tars of India'
There's not much to write about the Moody Blues' 'Nights in white satin' that hasn't already been written about hundreds or thousands of times. The single reached number 19 in the UK singles chart in 1967, number 2 in the Dutch Top 40 in 1968 and number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in 1972. The single was re-released in the UK that same year, and reached number 9 on that occasion.
But the real surprise on this disc - and we know record collecting is full of surprises - is the B-side. 'Cities' is a bit of a doomy look on cities, where 'rivers are sewers' and 'flowers don't grow'. I never heard this track before buying this single, and so it is a real discovery.
My collection: 7" single no. 5455 Found: unknown Tracks: 'Nights in white satin' / 'Cities'
'Touch Me' is a song by The Doors from their album 'The Soft Parade'. Written by Robby Krieger, it is notable for its extensive usage of brass and string instruments (including a solo by featured saxophonist Curtis Amy). Ray Manzarak played harpsichord and organ on the song. The song also borrowed the guitar riff from the 1967 Four Season's 'C'mon Maryann' and used it on keyboards.
The single was released as a single in December 1968 and reached number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. The single also did well elsewhere, peaking at number 1 in Canada. It is by far the most melodic and beautiful single by the Doors... but that's my opinion of course. I'm very glad to have found a reasonable copy for a reasonable price.
My collection: 7" single no. 5392 Found: unknown Tracks: 'Touch me' / 'Wild child'
'Behind a painted smile' is a song written by Ivy Jo Hunter and Beatrice Verdi.
It was recorded in 1967 by The Isley Brothers appearing on their album 'Soul on the rocks' and released as a single that reached number five in the UK singles chart and number 26 in the Dutch Top 40.
Dutch singer Mathilde Santing released a cover version of the song in 1982.
My collection: 7" single no. 5422 Found: unknown Tracks: 'Behind a painted smile' / 'One too many heartaches'
