Poupée de cire poupée de son - France Gall

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'

School - Supertramp

Five years ago, School already appeared on this blog, but this single predates that one, and it's now part of my collection as well. The song was never officially released as a single when it was released on the album 'Crime of the century' in 1974.

It turns out that it was released as a single almost a decade later: this single was made in 1983, after the success of their album 'Famous last words' and the single 'It's raining again'. This was while the band was - probably - still under contract with A&M Records, and as such, this was released on the A&M label.

My collection: 7" single no. 5411
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'School' / 'Oh darling'

Train of love in motion - Heaven 17

'Train of love in motion' was released as the second single off Heaven 17's 1988 album 'Teddy Bear, Duke & Psycho'. It wasn't the band's most successful album, causing them to fall silent for many years. This single fared even worse than its predecessor The Ballad of Go Go Brown, because it failed to chart at all.

When Heaven 17 returned, it was 1996. They released 'Bigger than America', another album that failed to chart. You'd think they'd gone for good, but fortunately Heaven 17 found a second lease of life in this century, releasing new albums (a new one is planned for 2015) and even performing live - something they never did in the Eighties.

My collection: 7" single no. 5406
Found: Record Exchange, London
Cost: 10p
Tracks: 'Train of love in motion' / 'Work'

'k Zen zo gere Polies - De Strangers

After releasing a version of the 1985 Eurovision winner as Lot ons swingen, Belgian band De Strangers decided to make an annual event of it. Their 1986 cover version was derived from Sandra Kim's J'aime la vie. Sandra represeted Belgium, and it was the first time that Belgium won the Contest.

In their undecipherable Antwerp dialect, the Strangers sing that they would like to be a policeman. Not exactly sure, because I can't really understand what they are singing at all. Evidently, most Belgians could, as this single actually gave them a hit: ''k Zen zo gere Polies' peaked at number 23 in the Belgian chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 5618
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, August 10, 2014
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: ''k Zen zo gere Polies' / 'Allee allee mokt da na mee'

Spread your wings - Queen

One of the biggest news stories in the Netherlands today was the fact that 'Bohemian Rhapsody' by Queen didn't make number 1 in the annual Top 2000, the chart that is compiled by Radio 2 listeners who vote on a website during a couple of weeks near the end of the year. The chart is broadcast every year in the last week, the period between Christmas and New Year's Eve. This year, The Eagles' 'Hotel California' surpassed the classic Queen song for the first time in many years.Well, at least the Rhapsody is still number 2.

By contrast, many Queen singles have been long forgotten. Who remembers, for instance, 'Spread your wings'? This single was released in February 1978 and only managed to reach number 34 in the UK singles chart and number 20 in the Dutch Top 40. The previous single from the album 'News of the World', 'We are the champions' is remembered by many more people - despite the fact that this single is far more interesting.

My collection: 7" single no. 5441
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'Spread your wings' / 'Sheer heart attack'

Haven't we said goodbye before - Dollar

This limited edition 'special 2 record set' brings together two of Dollar's singles, the 1986 single 'Haven't we said goodbye before' and their debut single from 1978 'Shooting star'. It is an odd pairing, probably made because the record company thought there would be some interest in a re-release of the duo's debut, which peaked at number 14 when it was originally released.

The plan didn't work: 'Haven't we said goodbye' did not chart in any territory. It would take an Erasure cover to resurrent their career, albeit briefly.

My collection: 7" single no. 5385
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'Haven't we said goodbye before' / 'Platinum rap' // 'Shooting star' / 'Tokyo'

Puppet on a string - Sandie Shaw

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'

Out of sight, out of mind - Level 42

Despite this song's irresistible hook, Level 42's 'Out of sight, out of mind' only managed to get to number 41 in the UK singles chart, just missing the top 40. The song was released as the first single from their 1983 album 'Standing in the light', the album that gave them their first top 10 hit in the shape of 'The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up)'.

It would take the band two more years to become world famous with the album 'Running in the family'. Compared to some of their later singles, this one sounds fresher and more innovative... but that's just my opinion.

My collection: 7" single no. 5436
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'Out of sight, out of mind' / 'You can't blame Louis (remix)'

Never-ending dream - Atlantis 2000

Atlantis 2000 competed in the 1991 Eurovision Song Contest with Dieser Traum darf niemals sterben. I bought the single of that song five years ago, as you can see here. I didn't know, however, that an English version was also released. That version appears here, on a single which contains both the English and German version. The lyric of the English version was written by Richard Palmer-James.

It was a nice try, but this single didn't chart in any territory. And so, the never-ending dream came to a premature end.

My collection: 7" single no. 5626
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received August 29, 2014
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Never-ending dream' / 'Dieser Traum darf niemals sterben'

Destination Zululand - King Kurt

King Kurt are best known for this single, 'Destination Zululand', which was their biggest hit in the UK, peaking at number 36 in October 1983. The rockabilly band played rowdy gigs where nobody left the room unscathed. A good example of their live presence can be seen in this YouTube video of 'Destination Zululand'.

Subtitled 'Humdiddledu mhoowahaya', this song was produced by Dave Edmunds.

My collection: 7" single no. 5431
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'Destination Zululand' / 'She's as hairy'

Light my fire - The Doors

The double LP and double CD collection 'The best of the Doors', originally released in 1985, can still be seen as the ultimate introduction to the American band's output. The album was re-released in 1991 and promoted by this single, featuring an edit of 'Light my fire' and the classic 'People are strange'.

At the time of release, there was also a 12" single featuring the full length version of 'Light my fire' and the additional track 'Soul kitchen'. And, to top it all off, a CD-single featured all four tracks. Although it isn't particularly inspiring to hear both the edit and full length version of 'Light my fire' side by side, I'd have to say.

My collection: 7" single no. 5386
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'Light my fire (edit)' / 'People are strange'

Day after day - Chips

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'

If I said you had a beautiful body would you hold it against me - Bellamy Brothers

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 - Norman Greenbaum

'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'

Eve of the war - Jeff Wayne

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'

Lot ons swingen - De Strangers

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'

(And then) After love - Paulo

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'

The rhythm divine - Yello featuring Shirley Bassey

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'

Let's make this last - Mari Wilson

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 - Fernando Tordo

'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'