Giverny - Chris Rea

Somewhere along the way, I have become addicted to unknown Chris Rea singles. They are always surprising, but in a good way. His sound is usually pretty relaxed, laidback and soothing. This single from 1986 is no exception. 'Giverny' was taken from his album 'On the beach', but it was only released in Europe.

In these days of European politics, it is worth noting that Chris Rea is apparently a supported of the idea of a Brexit, claiming that 'you cannot force different people to live together [when] they simply do not want to'. Applying this logic to the United Kingdom, we're in for some interesting times then...

My collection: 7" single no. 6081
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, May 24, 2019
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Giverny' / 'Bless them all'

Jump to it - Heartbeat UK

Steve Byrd was a guitarist in Kim Wilde's band when she went on tour for the first time in 1982. Since then, he remained in the band and also wrote songs together with her when she started writing songs herself. But in 1987 he made a break for himself and joined Heartbeat UK, a band that was formed by ex-Culture Club member Jon Moss. Together with Steve Lambert and Mark Heyward-Chaplin (the latter also from Kim's backing band) they signed with Virgin Records and released this single, 'Jump to it'.

The single bombed. Heartbeat UK soon ceased to exist. Steve Byrd went back to Kim's backing band - and he appeared live on stage with her when she supported Michael Jackson in Europe during his 'Bad' tour in 1988. All's well that ends well, then? Well, anyway, I needed to hear this song for myself. It's a nice pop track. It would have been interesting to hear more from this band. Alas, it wasn't to be.

My collection: 7" single no. 6080
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, May 24, 2019
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Jump to it' / 'Jumping'

Ik heb zorgen - Louis Neefs

It ain't easy to find a copy of Louis Neefs' first Eurovision entry, so it is only appropriate that I should find one in Belgium. After all, Belgium was the country he represented when he performed 'Ik heb zorgen' in Vienna in 1967.

His participation was quite successful, since he finished in seventh place in a field of 17 competitors. Neefs recorded the song in English ('I got troubles') and German ('Ich habe Sorgen'). He would return to the Eurovision stage in 1969, with the song 'Jennifer Jennings'. I am still looking for that single...

My collection: 7" single no. 6079
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, May 24, 2019
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'Ik heb zorgen' / 'Alleen met z'n twee'

How do you mend a broken heart - Guys 'n' Dolls

As one of the popular groups of the Seventies, Guys 'n' Dolls scored a string of hits in the UK and Europe. It is less wellknown that they also had a shot at representing the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest.

In 1979, the group took part in the national A Song For Europe contest with the song 'How do you mend a broken heart?'. Although the TV show was abandoned due to a BBC strike, the song finished in tenth place of the 12 entries when the judges cast votes on the audio recordings of the songs. When you hear the song now, you could say that it might have been a better effort than Black Lace's 'Mary Ann'.

My collection: 7" single no. 6077
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, May 24, 2019
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'How do you mend a broken heart' / 'Perfectly well'

La, la, la - Digno Garcia y sus Carios

Spain won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1968 with the song 'La la la', as performed by Massiel. Such was the success of the song that several cover versions happened. One of them already appeared on this blog, recorded by Heidi Brühl. And here is another one, recorded by Digno Garcia y sus Carios.

Digno Garcia was a Paraguayan harpist, who formed his own group, sus Carios, with Lonardo Aquino, Antonia Alvarez and Arnaldo Peralta. 'La la la'  appeared in 1968, right about the time when Massiel had stormed the charts with that song.

My collection: 7" single no. 6076
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, May 24, 2019
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'La la la' / 'Costa Brava'

Eurovision 1966 - Caravelli et ses violons magiques

Caravelli was a French orchestra leader, born in Paris on September 12, 1930. Born as Claude Vasori, he was the son of an Italian father and a French mother. Vasori took his stage name in 1956 from the newly introduced twin-jet Caravelle from Caravelle Aerospatiale. This plane was the first jet created for the short-haul market. The first Caravelle entered service for Air France on May 9, 1959. He made it more Italianate in honor of his father's origins, changing the last letter: 'Caravelli et son Violons Magiques' ('Caravelli and his magnificent strings').

In 1959 with the help of the French jazz musician Ray Ventura, he obtained a contract to form his own orchestra oriented to popular music. He signed a contract with the French record label Versailles. His first album Dance Party was recorded. In 1963, he composed 'Accroche-toi Caroline!' which was used by the BBC as the theme to the Vision On television series.

This single was released in 1966 and features cover versions of two Eurovision songs: 'Chez nous' (originally performed by Dominique Walter representing France) and ' Dio come ti amo' (performed by Domenico Modugno representing Italy).

My collection: 7" single no. 6075
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, May 24, 2019
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Chez nous'  / 'Dio como ti amo'

Made in Spain (La chica que yo quiero) - La decada prodigiosa

La Década Prodigiosa was formed in 1985 as a project directed by Javier de Juan (drums), Manel Santisteban (piano) and Manuel Aguilar (bass) to produce an album of medleys of popular Spanish songs from the sixties. Several session singers collaborated in this first album, 'Los Años 60, Vol. I'. Due to the success of the album, a band of eight members was formed in 1986 for the second album ('Los Años 60, Vol. II'): Manolo Rodríguez, Cecilia Blanco, Ana Nery, Carmelo Martínez and Jose Subiza joined the three creators.

In 1988, La Década was internally chosen by broadcaster Televisión Española to represent Spain at the 33rd Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin with one of their first original songs, 'La chica que yo quiero (Made in Spain)'. As only six people were allowed on stage by EBU rules, Javier de Juan directed the orchestra and Manolo Rodríguez stayed backstage. The song finished eleventh out of 21 competitors. Since then, the group has survived many replacements of members, even though in the mid-nineties their popularity began to decline.

The single is pretty rare nowadays and is often sold online for upwards of 10 euros. I was therefore pretty happy to find a copy of this single on a Spanish marketplace website.

My collection: 7" single no. 6074
Found: Todocoleccion.net, received May 23, 2019
Cost: 4 euro
Tracks: 'Made in Spain (La chica que yo quiero)' / 'Made in Spain (La chica que yo quiero)'

Love is blue - Paul Mauriat and his Orchestra

I already bought a copy of 'L'amour est bleu' by Paul Mauriat and his Orchestra in January 2015, and in the very same store too, but when I saw this copy I just couldn't leave it there last Saturday. This is the original French single, complete with a small price tag attached to the sleeve (not scanned here) and a different B-side.

It does happen occasionally that I buy different releases of the same single, especially when it comes to Eurovision releases. And since we're in a winning mood this week, why not listen to this great instrumental version of the Vicky Leandros song all over again?

My collection: 7" single no. 6070
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, May 18, 2019
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Love is blue' / 'Comme un garçon'

Rock 'n' Roll is king - Electric Light Orchestra

I think I wasn't the only one who was quite shocked when Electric Light Orchestra released this single in 1983. Ever since they hit it big with 'Sweet talkin' woman', 'Mr. Blue Sky', 'Don't bring me down' and 'Xanadu', listeners had grown accustomed to lush arrangements and melodic songs, so 'Rock 'n' Roll is king' felt a bit like the band had gone back to basics. And after radio picked it up, I quickly didn't want to hear this song ever again.

And so I ended up in a record store in Leiden last Saturday, where another visitor was playing a few singles before he decided to buy some of them, and I heard this one come by. Quite nice. And so I picked up a copy and took it home. A lot changes in 35 years.

My collection: 7" single no. 6073
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, May 18, 2019
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Rock 'n' Roll is king' / 'After all'

Eurovision mit Hazy Osterwald - Hazy Osterwald-Sextett

Rolf Osterwald was born in Bern (Switzerland) on February 18, 1922. He began his career as a pianist. Starting in 1944, he led his own ensemble and recorded right through to the Seventies.

This EP is an interesting one for Eurovision fans, because it is a potpourri of several Eurovision songs from the Fifties. It is not very easy to find an EP like this six decades later, so I am pretty glad to have ordered this one along with a handful of other 7" singles recently. You will recognise a few melodies if you know your Fifties Eurovision stuff...

My collection: 7" single no. 6016
Found: Discogs.com, received March 13, 2019
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Potpourri: Oui, oui, oui - N'beetje - Die Gitarre und das Meer - Side Saddle - Irgendwoher - Sing little birdie' / 'Potpourri: Passion Flower - Augustin - El Millionaro - Der 3. Mann - Piove'

Heaven help me - Deon Estus (with additional vocals by George Michael)

Deon Estus was born in Detroit on July 4, 1956. As a teenager he joined the band Brainstorm and recorded two albums with them. During the early Eighties he moved to Europe, living in Belgium and Ireland before settling in London. Not long after that he was invited to join Wham! - he is featured prominently in the music videos for 'I'm your man' and 'The Edge of heaven'.

No wonder, then, that George Michael appeared on this track, recorded for Estus' solo album 'Spell'. The sleeve shown here is from the American edition of the single. Curiously enough, a European sleeve which I saw in the same record store last Saturday does not mention George Michael on the front sleeve at all. No wonder, then, that the single only reached number 41 in the UK, whereas it reached number 5 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

My collection: 7" single no. 6072
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, May 18, 2019
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Heaven help me' / 'It's a party'

New song - Howard Jones

The recent release of a super deluxe edition of Howard Jones' debut album 'Human's Lib' included a rare track. It made me aware of a Portuguese single of 'New song', Howard's debut release, that apparently contained a different version of the song. Did I mention that I am a collector? Somehow I felt motivated to get a copy of this single, and sure enough, a Portuguese dealer offered a copy online.

I ordered this single along with a few others from this dealer, and I wasn't disappointed: the 7" single from Portugal did indeed contain a version of 'New song' that I'd never heard before. How this ended up on the single is still unclear, but it's nice to have a copy.

My collection: 7" single no. 6015
Found: Discogs.com, received March 13, 2019
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'New song' / 'Change the man'

Piove (Ciao ciao bambina) - Domenico Modugno

While we're in a winning Eurovision mood, it's good to revisit some old goodies - and since I've bought a few good ones yesterday, I can really present to you a rare gem. Domenico Modugno represented Italy a few times in the very first decade of the Contest. In 1959 he sang the song 'Piove (Ciao ciao bambina)'. I bought a copy of this single four years ago.

Yesterday in Leiden I was in a shop that had a few coloured vinyl singles stuck to a window. Blasphemy of course, but what can you do... I spied with my little eye and saw this copy of 'Piove'... on clear vinyl! I was shocked, but didn't hesitate: I ripped it off the window, stuck it in a white sleevee and took it home.

My collection: 7" single no. 6071
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, May 18, 2019
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Piove (Ciao ciao bambina)' / 'Ventu d'estati'

Popcorn - MH Band

Here is another version of 'Popcorn', the legendary Gershon Kingsley composition. Well... not exactly another version, because I already owned a copy of the M&H Band's version of 'Popcorn', but this is a different edition.

But this single is still of interest, because the sleeve is different and the B-side features a track called 'Popcorn House', created by Mark Haliday, but incorporating a piece of the melody of 'Popcorn'. And this makes it all very worthwhile.

My collection: 7" single no. 6069
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, May 18, 2019
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Popcorn (radio version)' / 'Popcorn house'

Save your kisses for me - Bobby Vinton

There was excitement here when the Netherlands finally won the Eurovision Song Contest yesterday, for the first time since 1975. It was the first time that I experienced this and I guess it is a historic moment in time. While celebrating this amazing result, we also have to spare a thought for those who were less lucky. Across the North Sea, Eurovision fans weren't quite as happy. The UK ended up in last place, with - it has to be said - a song that was unable to touch anyone's heart.

Things were quite different in 1976: 'Save your kisses for me' was a hit before the Contest even took place and copies of the Brotherhood Of Man single were pressed in such high amounts that they pop up in every thrift shop on a regular basis still. This single, on the other hand, is rare: it wasn't even listed on the excellent Discogs.com website! It is a German pressing of the Bobby Vinton cover of that song. And if, like me, you've heard the original too often, you will like this version a lot, because it is lush and polished.

My collection: 7" single no. 6068
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, May 18, 2019
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Save your kisses for me' / 'Love shine'

Love city groove - Love city groove

With the acquisition of this 7" single I can truly say that I now own every UK entry for the Eurovision Song Contest that was ever released on this format. The very first one, 'All' by Patricia Bredin, was never released on vinyl, and after 1999's 'Say it again' by Precious, no further UK entries were ever released on 7" anymore - regrettably so.

'Love City Groove', a track by the band of the same name, is in my opinion the worst entry ever sent to Eurovision. The chorus is rather grating, especially when you have to listen to it repeatedly, and rapping is always a huge turnoff. It is especially frustrating when you think that year's national final included a song written by Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman, an Ian Curnow/Phil Harding production and the excellent 'I'm just your puppet on a... (string!)' by London Beat. They did manage to reach tenth place in a field of 23 competitors. It makes you wonder what the juries were thinking.

My collection: 7" single no. 6067
Found: Discogs.com, received May 17, 2019
Cost: 5 pounds
Tracks: 'Love City Groove (Reason's Euromix Rap)' / 'Love City Groove (7" mix)'

Giorgio - Lys Assia

A day before another edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, let's go back in time - way back, in fact. Lys Assia was the Contest's first winner, back in 1956 and she reappeared on that stage two times: in 1957 and 1958. While I haven't found a single of her 1957 entry yet, I did find another copy of her 1958. Yes, I already owned a single of 'Giorgio', but the one I found recently comes with a picture sleeve and two more tracks. Obviously I had to have this one.

My collection: 7" single no. 6061
Found: Record fair, Den Haag
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Giorgio', 'Du gabst mir ein paar Blumen' / 'Louella', 'Die Sterne von Venezia'

Twenty foreplay - Janet Jackson

'Twenty foreplay' was the second single release from the compilation album 'Design of a decade' that was released by A&M Records after she'd left the label in favour of Virgin Records. Confusingly, the album was released after Janet's first album for Virgin, the sexy album 'Janet.'

The compilation album featured two new tracks that were both released as a single: 'Runaway' being the first. This vinyl single is pretty rare because it was released for jukeboxes only. No commercial 7" single for this track was ever released. In those days, vinyl was on the decline and CD's were on the rise. 'Twenty foreplay' reached number 22 in the UK singles chart and only reached top 10 in South Africa.

My collection: 7" single no. 6065
Found: Discogs.com, received May 10, 2019
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Twenty foreplay (Slow Jam International edit)' / 'Alright (CJ radio)'

Fire of love (Pali się)- Tulia

It should come as no surprise that I will be watching the first final of the Eurovision Song Contest tonight, and before I do, I will post this entry on my blog because it is so appropriate. Poland will be represented by Tulia. Joanna Sinkiewicz, Dominika Siepka, Patrycja Nowicka and Tulia Biczak formed Tulia in 2017 and immediately caught the attention of their country by posting a cover version of Depeche Mode's 'Enjoy the silence' on YouTube.

I was pleased to find out that their Eurovision entry was released on 7" vinyl recently, and I ordered it straight away. Upon receiving the disc I found out that it was signed by all four, and the disc is actually on coloured 'splatter' vinyl! It may be one of the most beautiful Eurovision singles I own.

My collection: 7" single no. 6063
Found: eBay, received May 7, 2019
Cost: 10 euro
Tracks: 'Fire of love (Pali się)' / 'Pali się'

I giorni dell'arcobaleno - Nicola di Bari

I don't know if anyone has ever wondered if there is a connection between The Doors and the Eurovision Song Contest, but if you have been wondering about this, wonder no more, because this single offers the solution to that particular riddle. Italian singer Nicola di Bari offers not only his 1972 Eurovision entry on this EP, but also cover versions of 'La Bamba' (the Richie Valens song) and 'Light my fire' (The Doors track).

Nicola di Bari was born as Michele Scommegna on September 29, 1940. His first commercial success followed in 1964 when he recorded the song 'Amore ritorna a casa'. Since then he was a regular competitor at the San Remo festival, winning in 1971 and 1972. 'I giorni dell'arcobaleno' ('The days of the rainbow') went on to the Eurovision Song Contest in 1972 and reached sixth place in a field of 18 competitors.The EP was given to me as a gift during a visit at a fellow Eurovision fan recently. Music connecting people.

My collection: 7" single no. 6063
Found: Den Haag, May 8, 2019
Tracks: 'I giorni dell'arcobaleno', 'La bamba' / 'Era di primavera', 'Dammi fuoco'