What kind of fool - All about Eve

After the big success of their single 'Martha's Harbour', All About Eve released one last single from their debut album, titled 'What kind of fool'. Now several editions of that single have already been featured on this blog: the 7" single, this 12" single and this 12" single.

But there was also this 10" single. And not just any 10" single: it came in a gatefold sleeve with a booklet inside. The booklet contains the lyrics of 'What kind of fool' plus all the non-album tracks that were released as B-sides of several singles taken from the album. The B-side of the 10" single features an exclusive live track, recorded at the Astoria in London.

My collection: 10" single [unnumbered]
Found: Record fair, 1990
Tracks: 'What kind of fool', 'Gold and silver' / 'Every angel (live)' 

The name of the game - Abba

While I am still trying to catalogue several Abba singles that didn't yet make it to this blog while I've had them for years, I am also still buying different variations of Abba singles these days. And so, as luck would have it, I bought an Abba single yesterday which I can easily pair to one I've had much longer.

The single is 'The name of the game'. It's one of my favourite Abba songs (which, I will grant you, there are many of), but all too often the song has been butchered on CD releases. The vinyl singles presented here contain a version that almost reaches the five minute mark, but on various CD's the song skips an entire second verse. 

The German edition, pictured above, has a light blue stripe across the photograph. It is this version which is replicated in the CD singles box set, released in a tin box in 1999.  

When you compare it with the French edition, pictured here, it is easy to spot the difference. That edition was released on the Melba record label, as opposed to Polydor which was used in most of Western Europe.

You might find these differences trivial, but for me they are quite fascinating. I am a bit of a late adopter when it comes to collecting Abba singles, so I probably won't easily get the Australian, Hungarian and Yugoslavian editions, but once you dive in, it's hard to resist. 

My collection: 7" single no. 5891 / no. 7764
Found: Discogs.com, received 31 January 2018 / Rommelmarkt, Voorburg, 14 September 2025
Tracks: 'The name of the game' / 'I wonder (Departure)' 

 

Woodstock - Matthew's Southern Comfort

The song 'Woodstock' was originally written and performed by Joni Mitchell. It appeared on her 1970 album Ladies of the Canyon and on the B-side of her single 'Big Yellow Taxi'.The song's lyrics refer to the four-day Woodstock Music and Arts Festival held in August 1969, and tell the story of a concert-goer on a trek to Max Yasgur's farm in New York State to join in the "song and celebration".

A few months later, the song was recorded by Matthew's Southern Comfort. It became the best-known version of the song in the UK, where it topped the charts. Matthews recalled in 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner & Spencer Leigh: "I had bought Joni Mitchell's album and we had to do four songs on a BBC lunchtime show. We worked up an arrangement for “Woodstock” and the response was so good that we put it out as a single."

I first became aware of the song when I was just a child. I had an EP featuring 6 Top Hits from England (which, incidentally, was also the title of that EP) and I played it a lot on my first ever record player. As far as I can recall, it was my favourite song of the six. I threw away the EP when I sanitized my record collection a few years later, but the memory remains. This became clear when I bought this single and played it again after all those decades. I have to say this version by Matthew's Southern Comfort is better than the version by the unknown artist on that EP though.

My collection: 7" single no. 7763
Found: Rommelmarkt, Voorburg, 14 September 2025
Tracks: 'Woodstock' / 'Scion' 

Driving in my car - Madness

While the foldout sleeve edition of the single 'Driving in my car' is an amusing way to package a 7" single, there was also a picture disc released at the same time, no doubt to make the single go higher in the UK charts. 

The strategy must have worked, because the single ended up peaking at number 4, which was just slightly lower than the charttopping 'House of fun', which preceded this single release a few months earlier, also in 1982. Then again, Madness routinely released picture disc 7" singles at that time - and now, over four decades later, I am still hunting them down.

My collection: 7" single no. 7762
Found: Discogs.com, received 12 September 2025
Tracks: 'Driving in my car' / 'Animal farm' 

Life's what you make it - Talk Talk

In 1991, a remix version of 'Life's what you make it' by Talk Talk was released in Europe. The single featured an arty sleeve with a cover painting by James Marsh, as per usual. However, a year earlier the same sleeve was used for a UK re-release of the original song.

This single may have a similar sleeve, but both the A-side and B-side are different. On the A-side, there was the original version of 'Life's what you make it', and on the B-side there was a live recording of that song. The single was released to promote the album Natural history, a 'greatest hits' collection put together by EMI. They followed this up with the remix album History revisited, which is why the other single was released in 1991.

My collection: 7" single no. 7761
Found: Discogs.com, received 12 September 2025
Tracks: 'Life's what you make it' / 'Life's what you make it (live from Hammersmith Odeon)' 

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'

Ascension day - Talk Talk

After three very successful albums with EMI Records, the band Talk Talk delivered their fourth, Spirit of Eden to baffled record company executives and enthusiastic critics. Decades later the album is appreciated as their masterpiece, but it meant the end of their recording contract with EMI.

The fifth album, Laughing Stock, was released on the Verve label and took the approach of Spirit of Eden to another level. For decades I couldn't get into that album myself, until I read Mark Hollis's biography A perfect silence last year. I played the album numerous times and finally heard the beauty of that unstructured music with those unintelligible lyrics. 

However, I never thought that there was actually a 7" single taken from that album! And in fact, there was no commercial 7" release. All that happened in 1991 was this promotional 7" single from Spain, featuring the second track from the album with a fade out ending. It is a unique release from a unique band. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7758
Found: Discogs.com, received 9 September 2025
Tracks: 'Ascension day' / 'Ascension day' 

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'

Every angel - All about Eve

All about Eve were promoted heavily by their record company when their debut album looked like it was going to be a big success. They didn't yet have their big hit 'Martha's harbour' yet, but a good live reputation and a strong fanbase went a long way. 

And so, Mercury Records started releasing singles in many different formats - a wellknown strategy in 1988, before chart rules were made more strict in the UK. 'Every angel' was released on a 7" single, a 12" single, and this limited edition 10" single. This format came with its own exclusive track: 'More than this hour' was only available on this 10" single. The exclusive poster showed the image from the sleeve of the 7" and 12" singles. 

My collection: 10" single [unnumbered]
Found: Record fair, 1990
Tracks: 'Every angel (extended)', 'Candy tree' / 'Wild flowers', 'More than this hour'

Mamma Mia - Abba

'Mamma Mia' was written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson, with the lead vocals shared by Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. It is the opening track on the group's third album, the self-titled album ABBA (1975). The song was released in September 1975 as its sixth single. It tells the story of the narrator's on-again, off-again relationship with a lover who is repeatedly unfaithful to her. The song's name is derived from Italian and literally translates as "my mother", but is used as an interjection (Mamma mia!) in situations of surprise, anguish, or excitement. 

The distinctive sound at the start of the song is the marimba. According to biographer Carl Magnus Palm, the instrument was incorporated at the last minute, added after Benny Andersson found it in the studio and decided its "tick tock" rhythm was perfect for the track. 

The song was ABBA's first number one in the UK since 'Waterloo' in 1974. As of September 2021, it is ABBA's seventh-biggest song in the UK with 860,000 chart sales (pure sales and digital streams).

The Dutch pressing had a beautiful sleeve, but in Germany and France different designs were used. It was nice to find these recently.

My collection: 7" single no. 5891 / 6759
Found: Discogs.com, received 31 January 2018 / 9 August 2022
Tracks: 'Mamma Mia' / 'Intermezzo no. 1' 

Light my fire - Amii Stewart

Another picture disc I bought online is this one by Amii Stewart, featuring her version of 'Light my fire' coupled with '137 disco heaven'. I already owned this single as a regular 7", but like the other picture discs I bought from this online seller I thought it was too pretty to miss.

Amy Paulette "Amii" Stewart was born on 29 January 1956. She grew up as the fifth of six children in a strictly Catholic family. In 1975, before signing a contract at Ariola Records, Stewart worked at the touring company for the stage production of the musical revue Bubbling Brown Sugar, relocating to places of production, such as Miami, then New York city's Broadway and eventually London's West End, where she met Barry Leng, songwriter and record producer for Hansa Records. Her debut album in 1979 yielded this energetic take on the Doors classic. Since relocating to Rome in the mid-Eighties her career has mainly developed in Italy.

My collection: 7" single no. 7750
Found: Discogs.com, received 30 August 2025
Tracks: 'Light my fire/137 Disco Heaven' / 'Bring it on back to me'

Through the barricades - Spandau Ballet

It's been five years since I last bought a Spandau Ballet single, and I thought I had them all. But then I saw this picture disc while I was browsing through an online seller's catalogue and I felt it was pretty enough to want to have it.

The album of the same name was re-released a few years ago as a deluxe edition, but unfortunately the extra tracks on that one were not interesting enough. Now that the band has released a sumptuous book/disc collection spanning their formative years, here's hoping they will do a similar thing for later years in their career too. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7749
Found: Discogs.com, received 30 August 2025
Tracks: 'Through the barricades' / 'With the pride (live in '85)' 

Who will you run to - Heart

In the Eighties, Heart went through a kind of metamorphosis, after the record company took the band aside and said they needed to change their style in order to have some kind of success. According to Nancy Wilson in an interview: 'The image of it was so intensely unreal. It was the [hair] extensions, the corsets and all the stuff'.

'Who will you run to' was taken from the band's 1987 album Bad Animals, which was full of these high energy, loud songs. Personally I prefer the more intimate sound of the B-side, 'Nobody home', which ends up pretty loud anyway, but in a good way. I already owned the regular 7" single, but this picture disc is definitely an added bonus.

My collection: 7" single no. 7748
Found: Discogs.com, received 30 August 2025
Tracks: 'Who will you run to' / 'Nobody home' 

Excerpts from Bye Bye Birdie, vol. 3 - Various artists

In 1961 the musical Bye Bye Birdie opened in London's West End, after its Broadway debut a year earlier. The role of the titular Conrad Birdie was played by Marty Wilde. Together with Chita Rivera, Peter Marshall and others the story revolved around a popular singer going off to the Army and its effect on a group of teenagers in a small town in Ohio. There were obvious parallels to Elvis Presley being drafted to go to Germany in 1957. The name of the rockstar, 'Conrad Birdie', was word play on the name of the then-popular Conway Twitty.

The EP presents five songs from the musical, two of which were performed by Marty Wilde: 'One last kiss' together with the ensemble, and 'A lot of livin' to do' with Sylvia Tysick and a group of teenagers. With its big band sound, the tracks border on jazz at times.

My collection: 7" single no. 7747
Found: Discogs.com, received 30 August 2025
Tracks: 'Hymn for a Sunday evening', 'One last kiss' / 'What did I ever see in him?', 'A lot of livin' to do', 'Kids' 

We love you - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

Back in 1986, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark released this double single of 'We love you'. The package contained the original single of 'We love you' plus the original single of 'If you leave'. Although I already own both singles, this double single package was just too good to pass on. 

The inside of the gatefold sleeve shows the group, which at the time counted no less than six members. These days OMD still exists, but only with core members Paul Humphreys and Andy McCluskey.

My collection: 7" single no. 7745
Found: Discogs.com, received 30 August 2025
Tracks: 'We love you' / 'We love you (dub)' // 'If you leave' / '88 seconds in Greensboro' 

Does your mother know - Abba

'Does your mother know' is one of the rare occasions (at the time anyway) where the lead vocals were performed by Bjorn Ulvaeus. By today's standards the lyrics are a bit risqué, because the singer seems to lead on a very young girl. 

The sleeve of this single leapt out at me because the blue on this one is brighter than the blue on the one I already owned. On top of that, this was an Austrian pressing. I don't have many 7" singles pressed in Austria, and so this was a very pleasant surprise.

My collection: 7" single no. 5537
Found: Teuchtler, Vienna (Austria), 25 September 2017
Tracks: 'Does your mother know' / 'Kisses of fire' 

Kate Bush - Kate Bush

Kate Bush is a mini-LP released in the USA and Canada in 1983. With this release the record company EMI America hoped to raise the profile of the British singer/songwriter who had until then been largely ignored by the record buying public over there.

The record was a mix of two tracks from Kate's most recent album at that time ('Sat in your lap' and 'Suspended in gaffa'), one track from the preceding album ('Babooshka'), a live track from the On Stage EP ('James and the cold gun') and one new track: a French version of 'The infant kiss', called 'Un baiser d'enfant'. The Canadian release came with one extra track, 'Ne t'enfuis pas'. 

I bought this mini LP a few years after it came out, after a lengthy period of doubt. I had all of the tracka already on various single releases, and so it didn't really add anything. In the end, I still bought this record. Of course I should have gotten the Canadian one, but that one wasn't available at the time. Many variations on coloured vinyl existed, but these days they cost a bundle. So I'm glad I at least have this one.

My collection: LP [unnumbered]
Found: Free Record Shop, 1986
Tracks: 'Sat in your lap', 'James and the cold gun (live version)' / 'Babooshka', 'Suspended in gaffa', 'Un baiser d'enfant' 

Dancing in the dark - Kim WIlde

The second single taken from Kim Wilde's third album Catch as Catch Can was apparently the first and only single for her in Japan. 'Dancing in the dark' was the first single not to be written by her dad Marty and her brother Ricky, but by Nicky Chinn and Paul Gurvitz instead.

The single was unsuccessful in the UK and Europe, and one can only assume that it wasn't exactly a big hit in Japan either. Not that it's a bad song, it's just a bit unexciting compared to Kim's earlier singles. Fortunately this wasn't the end of her career; she would be back with a bang a year later.

My collection: 7" single no. 3029
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 23 September 1998
Tracks: 'Dancing in the dark' / 'Back street driver' 

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' 

What kind of fool - All About Eve

Last year I caught up with my collection of All About Eve 12" singles on this blog, but it seems I forgot one of them. This limited edition box features a big poster based on the artwork of the 7" single, plus a three track disc featuring the 'Autumn Rhapsody' version of the title track. Together with the two B-side tracks, this was an attractive package for the fans.

Funnily enough I never bought the 'regular' 12" single, featuring the same three tracks. A 10" single is also in my possession, but more about that later. Watch this space!

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Record fair, 199X
Tracks: 'What kind of fool (Autumn Rhapsody)' / 'Gold and silver', 'The garden of Jane Delawney'

S.O.S. - Abba

Early on in their career, Abba realized one of the greatest songs of their impressive catalogue: it was S.O.S., a song that is still an emotional highlight of the current Voyage live experience in London. Although I already owned the French, Dutch and Japanese pressings from 1975 and the recent picture disc release, I also had to have the original German pressing. 

The good thing about all these releases is that they all came with different sleeves, and in the case of Abba it's really interesting to compare all those different variations. The photograph on this one features Agnetha and Frida's iconic 'cat' costumes. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7103
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, March 2024
Tracks: 'S.O.S.' / 'Man in the middle' 

View from a bridge - Kim Wilde

Although the Japanese record company decided to release 'Take me tonight', flipping the A-side 'View from a bridge' with the B-side, they also released 'View from a bridge' in Japan. The sequence has been lost in the haze of time, so I have no way of knowing which version came first. 

I do know that the sleeve of this release was outstanding. Using a photograph like that on the sleeve was brilliant, and certainly more colourful than the black and white sleeve that was used in Europe. The song remains a bona fide Eighties classic.

My collection: 7" single no. 1969
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 25 September 1993
Tracks: 'View from a bridge' / 'Take me tonight' 

Underwater - Harry Thumann

Harry Thumann was a German electronic music composer and sound engineer. He was quick to adapt to new technologies and started working with synthesizers early on in the Seventies. His single 'Underwater', released originally in 1979, was embraced in several European countries. Released in the Netherlands in the summer of 1980, it shot to number 12 in the Dutch Top 40.

I bought the single without a picture sleeve back in 1993, but during my recent shopping spree in a record shop in Darmstadt (Germany) I found a very decent copy with a picture sleeve. Of course I needed to upgrade. 

Harry Thumann died in 2001.

My collection: 7" single no. 1946

Originally found: Leiden, 20 August 1993
Picture sleeve version found: Come Back, Darmstadt (Germany), 4 August 2025

Tracks: 'Underwater part I' / 'Underwater part II'

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' 

Everything I own - Boy George

In 2013 Virgin Records celebrated its 40th anniversary. On that occasion they released a series of picture disc 7" singles of some interesting titles, and this single by Boy George was one of them. I didn't actually know this when I found this single last week; this knowledge comes from the Discogs website. There are more picture discs, but they have become quite expensive!

By contrast, this picture disc was definitely on the cheap side, cheap enough for me to want to take it with me on a day of shopping. I already owned the regular single, of course, but who could resist a picture disc? I certainly can't. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7742
Found: Velvet, Leiden, 19 August 2025
Tracks: 'Everything I own' / 'Use me' 

Sweet sixteen - Billy Idol

This limited edition package comes all the way from Australia, where this one was released back in 1986. And an attractive package it is too: not only does it come with a poster sleeve, it also contains two 7" singles pressed on purple vinyl.

The second disc, which is a free extra, claims to contain extended versions of 'Mony Mony' and 'White Wedding'. Claims, because while 'White Wedding' is indeed the so-called 'Shotgun mix' of 8 minuted and 20 seconds, the version of 'Mony Mony' is just the regular short version, and not the five minute extended version. Funny enough, no-one on Discogs has found this out yet. Despite this flaw, I still love this little limited edition from Australia; it's a keeper.

My collection: 7" single no. 7740
Found: Discogs.com, 16 August 2025
Tracks: 'Sweet sixteen' / 'Beyond belief' // 'Mony Mony' / 'White Wedding (extended version)' 

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' 

When a heart beats - Nik Kershaw

The recent release of a box set of Nik Kershaw's MCA years includes, I think, all of the material he recorded and released during the Eighties, including this 12" single. 

'When a heart beats' was released in 1984 as the third single from his album The Riddle, and the 12" single presents extended versions of both the A-side and the B-side. The single was not a hit in the Netherlands, which doesn't really surprise me: it isn't as catchy as his earlier releases were. Thankfully, Nik is still making music and his recent albums have been really quite good!

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Music & Video Exchange, London (UK)
Tracks: 'When a heart beats (extended mix)' / 'Wild horses (extended mix)'

Alphabet St. - Prince

Although some of his releases were a bit weird, Prince was at the height of his success during the Eighties. The albums kept coming and they all ended up being awarded gold and platinum. 

'Alphabet St.' was the lead single from his 1988 album Lovesexy. The album came out just after Prince had withdrawn his 'diabolical' 'Black album'. Lovesexy was more upbeat, and 'Alphabet St.' was an example of that. This 12" single featured the album version of the track, as well as an extended version with the warning on the label: 'This is not music, this is a trip'. And indeed it is.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Alphabet St. (album version)' / 'Alphabet St.' 

(Sexual) healing - Marvin Gaye

To be honest, I wasn't a fan when '(Sexual) Healing' first came out. I thought the song was a little boring. I grew to like it after a decade or two, and finally bought the single in 2010.

Buying this 12" single came out of curiosity. The song is advertised as a 'club mix', but it is actually just a longer version of the song. I had to clean up the record because it was a bit dirty, but I think it turned out okay.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: '(Sexual) Healing (club mix)' / '(Sexual) Healing (instrumental)' 

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'

Malibu - Patricia Paay

Dutch singer Patricia Paay was born on 7 April 1949. She started her career in 1966 with the singles 'No on can love you like I do' and 'You called me baby', before releasing a few singles in Dutch. Her first really big hit happened in 1977, with 'Who's that lady with my man', which reached number 2 in the Dutch Top 40. 

A year later she released 'Malibu', a single that also ended up on a compilation album, which is how I got to know the song. Followers of this blog know that I have almost bought every track on that album as a single, but this one was pretty hard to find, I have to admit. So it was a bit of a surprise to find this in a German store. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7737
Found: Come Back, Darmstadt (Germany), 4 August 2025
Tracks: 'Malibu' / 'The touch' 

Theme from E.T. (Dance version) - Ego

The movie E.T. came with a theme that was recorded by various artists, due to the sheer popularity of that movie. The Dutch Future World Orchestra came with a version, and a bit further south the Italian band Ego came up with a dance version.

Ego was an Italian project, probably formed by brothers Carmelo and Michelangelo La Bionda, who are considered the inventors of Italian disco music. I say 'probably', because they are listed as the writers of the B-side, 'Ego's theme'.

My collection: 7" single no. 7736
Found: Come Back, Darmstadt (Germany), 4 August 2025
Tracks: 'Theme from E.T. (Dance version)' / 'Ego's theme' 

Emma - Hot Chocolate

The dramatic story of 'Emma' gave Hot Chocolate their first significant hit. It became a number 3 hit in both the UK and the Netherlands in 1974. 

The song details the love of the (nameless) singer and a girl called Emmaline from the age of 5 all through a wedding at 17 until her suicide at an unspecified later date. Emma wanted to be a 'movie queen' but never got a break, eventually killing herself, explaining in a suicide note: 'I just can't keep on living on dreams no more'.

My collection: 7" single no. 7735
Found: Come Back, Darmstadt (Germany), 4 August 2025
Tracks: 'Emma' / 'Makin' music' 

Funky town - Pseudo Echo

In 1980 Lipps Inc. released 'Funkytown', a single that was a big hit in discotheques and charts worldwide. Quite why the Australian band Pseudo Echo decided to record a cover version of the song 1987 is a bit of a mystery, but it was a charttopper in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Back in the UK it reached number 8, while it didn't chart in the Dutch Top 40 at all.

The band still exists, after a period of hiatus through much of the Nineties. By now, they have released six albums and some 20 singles. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7734
Found: Come Back, Darmstadt (Germany), 4 August 2025
Tracks: 'Funky town' / 'Lies are nothing' 

El Lute - Michael Holm

Michael Holm recorded the 'Deutsche Originalversion' of 'El Lute', a song originally recorded by Boney M. Many German artists had the opportunity to simply translate hit songs and have a local hit with it because it was recorded in the language that literally everyone spoke (and still speaks) in the country. 

Holm was born on 29 July 1943 and started his career in 1961. Between then and now he released many dozens of singles and some 20 albums, nearly all of them in German. I saw this single while browsing through a few hundred discs, and thought it interesting enough to bring it home.

My collection: 7" single no. 7732
Found: Come Back, Darmstadt (Germany), 4 August 2025
Tracks: 'El Lute' / 'Wer lügt, gewinnt' 

Yester-me, yester-you, yesterday - Stevie Wonder

In 1966 Chris Clark recorded 'Yester-me, yester-you, yesterday', a song written by Ron Miller and Bryan Wells. Stevie Wonder recorded the song a year later, but the single was released in 1969, when he was going through some vocal problems and was required to wait before recording a song. Motown decided to release some tracks that were recorded earlier, and so his version of the song saw the light in September 1969. 

It was a big success: the single reached number 7 in the US BIllboard Hot 100 and number 2 in the UK singles chart, making it at that time, Wonder's biggest UK hit.

I found this disc during the annual family holiday while going through some singles in a record store in Darmstadt. That record store was a highlight of the week for me. Oddly, because I went to that same shop in 2018 and found exactly nothing!

My collection: 7" single no. 7733
Found: Come Back, Darmstadt (Germany), 4 August 2025
Tracks: 'Yester-me, yester-you, yesterday' / 'I'd be a fool right now'

The blood that moves the body - A-ha

Back in 1988, I bought a single of 'The blood that moves the body', not knowing that there was a much more interesting release in the UK. This limited edition pack included three postcards of the band, which in itself isn't exactly earth-shattering, but as I am a bit of a nerd when it comes to limited edition packages, I still wanted to have it when I found out about it 35 years later. It took me almost two years to find a near mint copy, and of course I had to find it online.

In fact, I was tipped off by a friend, and I think I bought this copy from a friend of that friend. I don't really care: it makes my A-ha collection that much more interesting. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7730
Found: Discogs.com, received 23 July 2025
Tracks: 'The blood that moves the body' / 'There's never a forever thing'

Slow emotion replayed - The The

When The The announced their most recent single 'Slow Emotion Replayed' last month via their newsletter, I was very disappointed when it was already sold out when I looked. Mind you, I read that newsletter within an hour after it dropped in my mailbox. This month another newsletter dropped, and lo and behold, it was announced that more copies were available to order! I didn't hesitate, of course, because the The The collection needs to be complete. Well, as complete as it can be. 

'Slow emotion replayed' is a new version of 'Slow emotion replay', recorded after their successful recent tour. I missed out on those live gigs, because I hate standing for hours, so this is a fine replacement. The B-side is a bit of wordplay on the title of the A-side and is an instrumental track that is inspired on the A-side as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 7729
Found: The The website, received  22 July 2025
Tracks: 'Slow emotion replayed' / 'Crow commotion displayed'

Kids in America - Kim Wilde

Since I am catching up on older acquisitions, I think it's time I highlight my Japanese pressings of Kim Wilde singles. I started last week with the exclusive release 'Take me tonight', and today I went for her debut single, the immortal 'Kids in America'. 

On the internet there's the recurring debate about the line 'New York to East California' in the song, with people wondering why exactly Kim chose to sing about East California while there's really nothing there to sing about. The simple explanation given by dad Wilde, who wrote the song, was that it sounded better than 'West California'. In pop, things usually are that simple.

In Japan, 'Kids in America' was released twice, and with different sleeves. In the absence of any chart data I have to assume that the first release wasn't successful enough, and so the record company went for a re-release after worldwide success became evident. 

My collection: 7" single no. 1838 / no. 3340
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 23 January 1993 / Ebay, 2001
Tracks: 'Kids in America' / 'Tuning in tuning on'  

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' 

Voy a volverme loco - Chris Rea

Chris Rea's single 'Fool (if you think it's over)' was released in 1978 and became quite successful. Although it only reached number 30 in the UK singles chart and number 25 in the Dutch Top 40, it also reached number 12 in the US Billboard Hot 100, which gave the singer the status of a 'one hit wonder' over there.

In 1980 he recorded a Spanish version of the song. 'Voy a volverme loco' was released in Spanish-speaking countries. This promotional single is a welcome addition to my collection, even if I already owned this version on CD.

My collection: 7" single no. 7728
Found: Discogs.com, received 15 July 2025
Tracks: 'Voy a volverme loco' / 'Three angels' 

Tu eres mi mejor amante - Luv'

After Luv' acquired great success in the Netherlands and surrounding countries, they tried to capitalize on that success by recording an alternative version of their number one hit, 'You're the greatest lover' in Spanish. 'Tu eres mi mejor amante' was the result of this, but the single was packaged in this rather dull black and white sleeve. I am pretty sure that it would have made more impact if the sleeve had been as colourful as the original version.

I don't know, to be honest, whether this was a hit in Spanish-speaking countries, but I saw this single while buying some records from a Spanish dealer and I just couldn't resist.

My collection: 7" single no. 7727
Found: Discogs.com, received 15 July 2025
Tracks: 'Tu eres mi mejor amante' / 'Everybody's shakin' hands on Broadway'

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'

Mix - Cock Robin

I thought I had every Cock Robin single known to man, but then I spotted this Spanish release some time ago. Getting hold of a copy wasn't simple, because I tend to wait until the price goes down and/or the seller has more interesting releases to buy (in order to slash the relative shipping costs). 

I got lucky earlier this month, so now I can finally say that I own 'Mix', the most peculiar Cock Robin single out there. It is a medley of their three hit singles, and honestly I think it was mixed together in a slightly amateurish way. I wonder if the band approved the release back in 1986.  

My collection: 7" single no. 7726
Found: Discogs.com, received 15 July 2025
Tracks: 'Mix'

Fernando - Abba

Since I was ordering a few singles from Serbia, I thought it was nice to check out if the seller had any nice sleeve variations of Abba singles. And indeed, he did: this Yugoslavian pressing of Fernando comes with the same photograph that was used on most 'Fernando' singles, but with a different layout and a different 'Abba' logo!

The single was released on the Radio-Televizija Beograd' label, although the original Swedish Polar company gets a mention on the sleeve as well. Collecting Abba singles is best left to the most avid fans, but it is nice to catch a few in my collection as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 7724
Found: Discogs.com, received 15 July 2025
Tracks: 'Fernando' / 'Tropical loveland'

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'