Many Swedish Eurovision entries sound like old Abba tracks, and this entry from 1982 is no exception. The duo Chips, consisting of Kikki Danielsson and Elisabeth Andreasson (the latter would go on to be part of Bobbysocks and win the 1985 edition) performed the song 'Dag efter dag' (appearing here on the B-side), written by Lasse Holm and Monica Forsberg. They finished eighth in a field of 18 contestants.
This single was a chart success in Scandinavia: it peaked at number 4 in Sweden and at number 5 in Norway. Elsewhere, of course, the single did not chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 5658 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 23, 2014 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'Day after day' / 'Dag efter dag'
Easily one of the longest titles of a hit single ever, this song was written by David Bellamy and recorded by the Bellamy Brothers. It was released in March 1979 as the second single from their album 'The Two and Only'.
'If I said you had a beautiful body...' derived its double entendre title from a Groucho Marx line. Songwriter David Bellamy told country music journalist Tom Roland that he regularly watched Marx's program, You Bet Your Life, where Marx sometimes used the quote while interviewing an attractive female contestant, then shake his cigar and raise his eyebrows to elicit a reaction. The comment stuck in Bellamy's head as a possible hook line for a song.
My collection: 7" single no. 5654 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 23, 2014 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'If I said you had a beautiful body would you hold it against me' / 'Make me over'
'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'
I really didn't expect to find yet another different version of Jeff Wayne's 'Eve of the war', having written about one so recently, but I did. I was very surprised to find this one, as the sleeve is so different from others and the disc actually contains a rather rare version too: it's an edit of a 'disco mix' that was created by Steve Thompson and Geoff Young in 1979.
The disco versions appears on a 12" single from 1979, and was also released on a 3" CD-single some ten years later, but that one was over six minutes long. This version runs at 4'40 minutes and is an edit of that disco mix. As far as I know, this version was only released on this 7" single. But feel free to correct me in the comments if you know otherwise...
My collection: 7" single no. 5671 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 23, 2014 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Eve of the war [disco mix edit]' / 'Horsell Common and the heat ray'
Another Eurovision cover by the Belgian band 'De Strangers', this time from 1985 winner 'La det swinge' by the Bobbysocks. Lyrically, the men from Antwerp stay pretty close to the subject of the original: rock and roll is much better than the modern 'dance' music. All this in true local dialect, of course.
The B-side is a version of the year's Belgian entry to the Eurovision Song Contest: Linda Lepomme's 'Laat me nu gaan'. Entitled 'Lot ons na gaan' ('Let us go') is a plea to let the band go to Eurovision as they feel they might have a good shot at winning the contest. Some interesting foreign languages fly by in this track...
My collection: 7" single no. 5617 Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, August 10, 2014 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'Lot ons swingen' / 'Lot ons na gaan'
Paulo represented Portugal during the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'E depois do adeus'. Despite the modest result at the Contest (it ended up in 14th place in a field of 17 competitors), the song achieved considerable fame as one of the two signals to launch the Carnation Revolution in Portugal against the Estado Novo regime of Marcelo Caetano - the other being the folk song 'Grândola Vila Morena' by Zeca Afonso, which was the signal for the coup leaders to announce that they had taken control of strategic parts of the country. It was broadcast at 22.55 on 24 April 1974 by 'Emissores Associados de Lisboa'.
Perhaps this is part of the reason why Paulo also recorded his song in English. This single, '(And then) After love' presents the song, which sounds suspiciously like a mellow jazz standard. It turns up online as a rather expensive single, so I'm glad I found it where I did.
My collection: 7" single no. 5611 Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, August 10, 2014 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: '(And then) After love' / 'I'll be there with you'
Written by Yello's Boris Blank and Dieter Meier with The Associates' Billy MacKenzie, 'The Rhythm Divine' was released in 1987 as a single by Yello with Shirley Bassey. It actually featured Billy MacKenzie on backing vocals. The song was said to have been written specially with her voice in mind.
Bassey's vocals were recorded at Yello's studio in Zurich. The song
blends the electro-pop sound of the 1980s with a classic big Bassey
ballad. It reached number 54 in the UK singles chart, number 24 in the Netherlands and number 21 in Switzerland.
My collection: 7" single no. 5418 Found: unknown Tracks: 'The rhythm divine' / 'Dr. van Steiner'
Released in 1984, 'Let's make this last' was the first of many Mari Wilson singles that failed to chart. Until then, most of her singles had charted in the UK - although many of them only made it to lower positions - but starting with this single, she never charted again.
So what happened? It's not that this was a bad song. Tony Mansfield produced this single, and he had been responsible for many interesting sounds in the early Eighties, with a.o. New Musik and even the debut single by A-ha.
My collection: 7" single no. 5415 Found: unknown Tracks: 'Let's make this last' / 'Let's make this last (Stereo shift mix)'
'Tourada' ('Bullfight') was the Portuguese entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1973, performed by Fernando Tordo. Born on Marh 29, 1948, Tordo was a singer and composer who debuted in 1969, competing at the national final for Eurovision in Portugal.
The song features the metaphor of a bullfight, comparing it either with the autocratic regime in Portugal at the time or with the culture of materialism. The song was performed third on the night. At the close of voting, it had received 80 points, placing 10th in a field of 17 contestants.
My collection: 7" single no. 5650 Found: Discogs.com, received October 11, 2014 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'Tourada' / 'Carta de longe'
Written by Eugene Record, 'Oh girl' was originally a hit for the Chi-Lites in 1972. The song centers on a relationship on the verge of break-up. The narrator expresses concern that the break-up may prove unbearable for him, while knowing that staying will be no better. The song became their first and only number one hit in the USA.
Paul Young recorded a cover of the song in 1990 on his album 'Other voices'. It was released as the second single from the album. It reached number 25 in the UK singles chart, while climbing to number 8 in the USA.
My collection: 7" single no. 5421 Found: unknown Tracks: 'Oh girl' / 'You're the one'
'The farm yard connection' is the last single by the Fun Boy Three, released in 1983. While all their previous singles ended up in the UK singles chart (and, bar one, all in the top 20), this single did not chart.
The single was taken from the band's second album 'Waiting', which was produced by Jeremy Green and David Byrne. That album fared pretty well, peaking on number 14 in the UK albums chart and achieving the silver status.
My collection: 7" single no. 5396 Found: unknown Tracks: 'The farm yard connection' / 'We're having all the fun'
The band Prefab Sprout debuted in 1982 with their self-released single 'Lions in my own garden: exit someone'. Two years later, they debuted on Kitchenware Records with this single, 'Don't sing'.
Taken from their debut album 'Swoon', released in March 1984. This album has a markedly different, and less accessible, musical feel than
their later works, featuring intricate guitar-based compositions that
drew comparisons with Aztec Camera and Steely Dan. My collection: 7" single no. 5438 Found: unknown Tracks: 'Don't sing' / 'Green Isaac II'
'Cross Your Heart' was the Irish entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1974, performed by Tina Reynolds.
The song is moderately up-tempo, with Reynolds using a number of childhood rhymes ("cross your heart and hope to die" and "sticks and stones wouldn't break my bones") to communicate to a would-be lover how serious she is about a potential relationship, with the contrast between the serious intention and the playful nature of the rhymes being drawn out throughout the lyrics.
The song was performed thirteenth on the night. At the close of voting, it had received 11 points, placing 7th in a field of 17 competitors.
My collection: 7" single no. 5609 Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, August 10, 2014 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Cross your heart' / 'What would I be'
'Jennie, Jennie' was the Swedish entry in the 1975 Eurovision Song Contest, performed by Lasse Berghagen.
The song was performed eighteenth on the night. At the close of voting, it had received 72 points, placing 8th in a field of 19 competitors.
Berghagen has released this song also in his language native Swedish and in German, both with the same title "Jennie, Jennie".
A year later, Sweden opted out of the contest. Broadcaster Sveriges Radio (SR) did not have enough money to host another contest if Sweden won again and in Sweden there were protests against the commercial character of Eurovision Song Contest.
My collection: 7" single no. 5585 Found: KEG records, Sweden, received August 1, 2014 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'Jennie, Jennie' / 'Ett brev till dig'
'The height of the fighting' was the fifth and last single taken from Heaven 17's debut album 'Penthouse and pavement'. Three out of the four previous singles had reached the lower regions of the UK singles chart, but this one, like their second single 'I'm your money', failed to chart. This single only managed to get to number 20 in... New Zealand.
Glenn Gregory from the band said about this song and some others of their debut album: "Some things will always be relevant. We wrote about subjects that
touched our lives and our souls, things that mattered not just to us as
individuals but also to us as a part of a political or social system. We
never preached and always (I hope) ranted with wit and humour. They
were political times and the album reflected those
times and I believe as you say, some of those songs are still very
relevant today."
My collection: 7" single no. 5403 Found: unknown Tracks: 'The height of the fighting' / 'Penthouse and pavement'
Without a doubt, this 'Oldiethek' single is the 7" single with the longest playing time in my entire collection. The disc has to be played at 33rpm to accommodate the 11'35 minute epic 'The end' on side A and the slightly shorter, but still impressive 7'14 minute track 'Riders on the storm'. Released in 1988, this single was meant for all those who wanted to have a piece of classic Doors music on a little disc.
'Riders on the storm' was originally released in 1971 on the band's last album with Jim Morrison, 'L.A. Woman'. 'The End' was a track from their debut album, originally released in 1967. The song was recorded live in the studio without overdubbing. Two takes were done, the second take being the one that was used on the record.
My collection: 7" single no. 5389 Found: unknown Tracks: 'The End' / 'Riders on the storm'
When Linda Lepomme represented Belgium in the 1985 Eurovision Song Contest, there was a feeling she would do well, apparently, because French and English versions of her song Laat me nu gaan were recorded and released as a single. English lyrics were provided by Ad Bear and French lyrics by Michel Detry.
In the end, Linda ended up in last place at the Contest and this single never became a chart hit outside of Belgium. And even in Belgium, the single only got to number 38.
My collection: 7" single no. 5597 Found: Marktplaats.nl, received August 2, 2014 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'Just a charade' / 'Delivre-moi'
'Who wants to live forever' was a track on Queen's 1986 album 'A kind of magic', and was written by guitarist Brian May for the soundtrack to the film Highlander. The song is used to frame the scenes in the film where Connor MacLeod
must endure his beloved wife Heather MacLeod growing old and dying while
he, as an Immortal, remains forever young. The song's title is taken from a line in another movie scored by Brian
May and Queen, Flash Gordon (the line can be heard on "Battle Theme"
from the Flash Gordon soundtrack album) and is based on May's personal
troubles (the death of May's father and failing first marriage).
Released as a single, the song peaked at number 24 in the UK singles chart. It did better in France and the Netherlands, peaking at number 5 and 6 respectively.
My collection: 7" single no. 5461 Found: unknown Tracks: 'Who wants to live forever' / 'Killer Queen'
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'
'Comé-comédie' ('Come-Comedy') was the French entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1972, performed by Betty Mars.
The song was performed second on the night. At the close of voting, it had received 81 points, placing 11th in a field of 18 contestants.
The song is a moderately up-tempo number, with Mars singing about the joy which will come when she and her lover say that they love each other. Mars also recorded the song in German, under the title 'Komödiant der Liebe' ('Comedian of love').
My collection: 7" single no. 5613 Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, August 10, 2014 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Comé-comédie' / 'Mon café russe'
