Are you man enough - Five Star

I have a lot of singles by Five Star, but I've never come across this one. 'Are you man enough' was only released in the USA and features 'Summer groove' on the B-side - the track that appears on the B-side of 'Rain or shine' in the UK. 

You have to wonder why the band's biggest UK hit wasn't released in the USA - but that's record company policy for you. Also, why didn't 'Are you man enough' come in an attractive picture sleeve? Again, I think the US record company didn't do a proper job on this one. Nice track though.

My collection: 7" single no. 7263
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, 6 July 2024
Tracks: 'Are you man enough (7" remix version)' / 'Summer groove'

It's no secret - Kylie Minogue

Kylie Minogue has just released a new single with two other female artists I've never heard of. It's not the best pop song I've ever heard but it will probably be a big hit, because it's a clever combination of popular names, apparently.

This single was released back in 1988, when Kylie was still working with Stock, Aitken and Waterman, and her voice sounded decidedly shrill. 'It's no secret' was released as the B-side of 'Wouldn't change a thing', but apparently it was a single in the USA around that time. It's a nice addition to the singles I already have, but I wouldn't have bought it if it weren't so cheap.

My collection: 7" single no. 7262
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, 6 July 2024
Tracks: 'It's no secret' / 'Made in heaven'

Heart - Pet Shop Boys

It's worth hunting down Pet Shop Boys 12" singles if they contain one or more tracks that aren't available on CD. (Someday there will be a full box set of every track they've ever released, but I'm not sure if that will happen during my lifetime, so it's best to be on the safe side.)

This 12" single of 'Heart' features a dub mix and a 'remix', both of which don't appear on the CD-single of the same name. Unfortunately this copy is a bit crackly, but it still gives a good impression of these remixes which I would otherwise have missed out on.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received 2 July 2024
Tracks: 'Heart (remix)' / 'Heart (dub mix)', 'I get excited (You get excited too)'

Running up that hill - Elastic Band

Kate Bush's 'Running up that hill' was very popular two years ago, thanks to a certain Netflix series, but the song has always attracted some attention. There are many cover versions of the song, and this 12" single features just one of them.

Elastic Band recorded their version of the song in 1994 - a dance-infused track with lots of beats and thin vocals. It wasn't a patch on the original, of course, but it's an amusing take on the classic track nonetheless. And the cover is pretty beautiful, I have to say.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received 2 July 2024
Tracks: 'Running up that hill (Alex Party Version)' / 'Rolling down that mountain (Momentum mix)'

Als m'n moesje niet meer hier is - Annie

I think I mentioned before that the repertoire of Dutch singer Annie is full of morbid lyrics. A good example is this single, 'Als m'n moesje niet meer hier is' ('If my mum is no longer among us'). A guy meets a girl, they dance a lot, and suddenly the girl is pregnant and says that they have to get married. But the guy refuses, saying that he doesn't want to leave his mum alone, and she'd have to wait until 'my mum is no longer among us'. The girl gets angry and says she doesn't ever want to see him again. When the guy gets home, he finds his mum... dead. 

Yes, I told you there's something morbid about her lyrics.

The B-side is a bit more innocent: it's about a girl in prison, who finds some consolation in a guy who is waiting for her outside, while taking care of her child. Somehow I feel this story won't end well either - but that is not told in the lyrics this time.

Annie is a phenomenon, and certainly a singer who amused me a lot back in the day.

My collection: 7" single no. 2873
Found: Disco Market, 1985
Tracks: 'Als m'n moesje niet meer hier is' / 'Meisje in de Bijlmerbajes'

Elle était si jolie - Les Djinns

Les Djinns arrived in my collection with their version of 'Oui, oui, oui, oui', the French entry for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1959. 'Elle était si jolie' was originally performed by Alain Barriere in 1963 at the same event. And this song was recorded by Les Djinns as well. It appears on this EP, which features four tracks by the choir.

Les Djinns recorded two more Eurovision songs: 'Le chant de Mallory' and 'Tom Pillibi'. I'm sure those versions will eventually end up in my collection as well. It's just a matter of finding them for cheap as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 7261
Found: Discogs.com, received 4 July 2024
Tracks: 'Elle était si jolie', 'Voila, voila' / 'Voila le carnaval', 'Son vent ma jolie'

Vragen - Paradise

The band Paradise has three members: IJsbrand van Belleghem (lead vocals, drums), Piet van Doorn (keys, vocals) and Rob Bijhouwer (guitar, vocals). After more than 40 years they are still going strong, but they only ever released one single.

'Vragen' was released in 1987. It is a Dutch version of the song 'Rücksicht', performed by Hoffman & Hoffman at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1983. A remarkable choice, because the original never charted in the Netherlands. Predictably, this single didn't chart either. But the band still exists and plays live regularly. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7260
Found: Discogs.com, received 4 July 2024
Tracks: 'Vragen' / 'Terug in de tijd'

You'll never know - Hi-Gloss

'You'll never know' was co-written by Phil Hurtt and Giuliano Salerni, who gathered a team of session players to produce something mid-tempo enough to induce movement, but smooth enough to allow strangers to make the most of the dark. Bonita Taylor sang the lead vocal, with in-demand future star Luther Vandross among the backing vocalists. 

The song was popular with club DJs and soul-friendly sections of the music press. In August 1981 the song entered the UK singles chart, eventually peaking at number 12. In the Dutch Top 40 the single reached number 21. I heard the track on a CD compilation recently and was interested enough to want to have the 7" single. Because of the song, mind you, although the sleeve is certainly quite appealing as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 7259
Found: Discogs.com, received 4 June 2024
Tracks: 'You'll never know' / 'I'm totally yours'

Ik wist allang (dat jij zou komen) - Shirley

In 1966, Michèle Torr represented Luxembourg with 'Ce soir je t'attendais', a beautiful ballad. The song was quickly covered in Dutch by Shirley, with the new title 'Ik wist allang (dat jij zou komen)' ('I knew all along (that you would come)'). 

Shirley is Dutch vocalist Shirley Zwerus, who was born on 22 May 1946. She recorded her first single already in 1958, when she sang 'Maar ondanks dat (ben jij mijn lieve schat)' together with Godert van Colmjon, three years her senior. Although her career continued throughout the Seventies, she only ever had two hit singles: 'It's me' (1977) and 'Heel even' (1981). Since 1996 she resides in Spain.

My collection: 7" single no. 7257
Found: Discogs.com, received 4 June 2024
Tracks: 'Ik wist allang (dat jij zou komen)' / 'Georgia'

Tourada - William Carlos

Although this EP is nameless and it contains four tracks, I mainly bought it for the cover version of 'Tourada', the song originally performed by Fernando Tordo at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1973. William Carlos included the track as the last of four.

Information about William Carlos is scarce. It seems this EP was all he ever released. According to the text on the back sleeve: "The Canberra newspapers say wonderful things about him. However, this EP shows us little of his true potential, especially since it responds to a "request" made by the Australian market, where his music is beginning to receive attention. Let us therefore welcome this young man with enthusiasm and demand from him everything he can give us."

My collection:  7" single no. 7256
Found: Discogs.com, received 2 July 2024
Tracks: 'You and me', 'Sun keep on shining' / 'Semente', 'Tourada'

Sobe, sobe, balão sobe - Alice Amaro

Between 1960 and 1980, Portuguese singer Alice Amaro released almost 20 singles and one album. The last single she seems to have released was a cover version of the song 'Sobe, sobe, balão sobe', originally performed by Manuela Bravo during the Eurovision Song Contest 1979.

Alice's version is a bit faster and more electronically-driven. Remarkably, the logo of RTP, the Portuguese broadcaster, appears on the sleeve of the single, although Alice was not even one of the performers during the Portuguese preselection for the Eurovision Song Contest. It was probably an attempt to make the version look like the official one. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7255
Found: Discogs.com, received 2 July 2024
Tracks: 'Sobe, sobe, balão sobe' / 'Zé Brasileiro Portuguese de Braga'

Hallelujah - Grupo Alpha

Although another group called Grupo Alpha was active in the Seventies, they recorded in Spanish and released most of their records in the USA. This Grupo Alpha only released one single and sang exclusively in Portuguese.

This single presents two songs from the Eurovision Song Contest 1979: the winning song 'Hallelujah', as well as the Danish entry, the pleasantly quirky 'Disco Tango'. Both versions are well done, but also very different from the originals - mainly because of the language.

My collection: 7" single no. 7254
Found: Discogs.com, received 2 July 2024
Tracks: 'Hallelujah' / 'Disco Tango'

Den är din, denna jord - Inger Öst

Katja Ebstein made an impression with her performance of 'Diese Welt', with which she represented Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1971. The song was interesting enough for Inger Öst to want to record a cover version of the song. Her version was recorded in Swedish, and became 'Den är din, denna jord'.

Inger was no stranger to Eurovision songs: she would also record 'Rör vid mej', a cover version of 'Eres tu' two years later. In 1974 she teamed up with Torsten Wallin to record 'Du hör en sang', a cover version of 'I see a star'.

My collection: 7" single no. 7250
Found: Discogs.com, received 2 July 2024
Tracks: 'Den är din, denna jord' / 'Du gör att livet är skont'

Sku' du spørg' fra no'en - Kirsten & Søren

Although I own the single 'Catch me if you can' by Hot Eyes, I never actually bought the original Danish version. It wasn't high on my list of priorities, but it does feel a bit odd not to have the "original version" by Kirsten & Søren, performed on the Eurovision stage in 1985, while I do have the 'Hot Eyes' version with the English translation on the A-side. It feels good to finally have a copy of the single, and in mint condition too.

The song is actually more catchy than I remember it from almost 40 years ago, when I felt this duo was a bit stupid and the song was rather vacuous. Getting milder as we're getting older, I guess.

My collection: 7" single no. 7253
Found: Discogs.com, received 2 July 2024
Tracks: 'Sku' du spørg' fra no'en' / 'Du ka' tro nej'.

 

Vi gratulerar! - Östen Warnerbring

'Congratulations' was a big hit for Cliff Richard, despite the fact that he didn't win the Eurovision Song Contest with it, and many artists wanted a piece of the pie. Even abroad, because several European artists tried their hand at the song. 

In the case of Östen Warnerbring, he recorded a Swedish version of the song. 'Vi gratulerar!' with lyrics by Bo Göran Torulf Edling, a Swedish saxophone-player and composer. His version is almost as spirited as the original.

My collection: 7" single no. 7251
Found: Discogs.com, received 2 July 2024
Tracks: 'Vi gratulerar!' / 'Hej här har du mej!'

Rör vid mej - Inger Öst

Lilian Inger Elisabeth Öst was born on 1 February 1949 into a musical family and already at the age of ten she toured together with her mother on the weekends. She was exempted from ninth grade to tour with the singing group Family Four. In the late 1960s, she began her career as a solo artist. In 1969 participated for the first time in Melodifestivalen with the song 'Du ser mig inte'. Five years later, she participated again, this time with 'En grön dröm om mej'.

During the first half of the 1970s, she toured with, among others, Siw Malmkvist and Marie Bergman. She had several hits on the Svensktoppen, the biggest one was called 'Rör vid mej', the Swedish version of Spain's ESC entry 'Eres tu' which was on the list for 19 weeks in 1973, including seven weeks in first place. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7252
Found: Discogs.com, received 2 July 2024
Tracks: 'Rör vid mej' / 'Det kallar jag kärlek gosse'

Tom tom tom - Emigranterna

Marion Rung represented Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1973 with 'Tom tom tom', an upbeat song that certainly could have done better in the competition if it weren't for the complicated Finnish language. 

The Swedish band Emigranterna thought they could do something with the song, and so they recorded a version in Swedish. Not only that, they also added the popular song 'Eviva España' on the flipside. I don't know how well the song did in Sweden at the time - there were no official charts in Sweden at the time - but I bet it was at least more accessible for most Scandinavians.

My collection: 7" single no. 7249
Found: Discogs.com, received 2 July 2024
Tracks: 'Tom tom tom' / 'Eviva España'

Stand by me - Maurice White

Most people will be familiar with 'Stand by me' through the version by Ben E. King. But in 1985, Earth Wind & Fire member Maurice White started his solo career with a cover version of that song. It wasn't quite the success he might have hoped for: the single didn't chart in the UK and only nearly made it into the Dutch Top 40.

I heard the track on a compilation album some 30 years ago, but I never actually bought the single. When I bought some 12" singles online I spotted this one and decided I wanted to check out the 'extended dance remix' on this disc. It sounds more like an extended version, but it's an interesting addition to my collection nonetheless.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received 28 June 2024
Tracks: 'Stand by me (extended dance remix)' / 'Stand by me (instrumental)'

West End girls - Pet Shop Boys

The Pet Shop Boys released 'West End girls' in 1984 and it wasn't very successful. After signing to a major label, 'West End girls' was quickly re-released, and that release came with a 12" single featuring a remix of the track. The remix was created by the Pet Shop Boys themselves, together with Frank Roszak. 

There are at least two slightly different versions of this mix. The original version appears on this 12" single and on the album Essential. A remastered version with a slightly longer fade (mostly silence) on the Further Listening bonus disc with the Please reissue.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received 28 June 2024
Tracks: 'West End girls (dance mix)' / 'A man could get arrested', 'West End girls'

Am I losing you forever - Mai Tai

I have a few singles of Mai Tai's 'Am I losing you forever' (here, here and here), but I didn't know that there was an extended version of the track on a 12" single, until very recently, when I was going through the inventory of an online seller. And that extended version is really extended, i.e. over 9 minutes. 

Of course I had to check this out - not least because the item wasn't exactly expensive. This disc delivers: it's a great extended version of this ballad, and the B-side is extended as well. Fortunately this song is from the Eighties, so it doesn't replace the music with generic beats - it stays true to the original songs.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received 28 June 2024
Tracks: 'Am I losing you forever [extended]' / 'The rhythm of the street [extended]'