Amiga Quartett - Boney M

Is Boney M still Boney M without Bobby Farrell? I've always had my doubts. He was sacked from the group by the end of 1981, and the band soldiered on with Reggie Tsiboe, a Ghanaian-British singer who previously was a member of the group Sugarcane, who had a hit in 1978 with 'Montego Bay'. 

'Kalimba de luna', released in 1984 is a decent track and pretty well performed too. Still, with this single and the tracks that appear on this Amiga Quartett EP the group failed to attract as many record buyers as before. By 1986, the band fell apart. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7701
Found: Discogs.com, received 5 July 2025
Tracks: 'Kalimba de luna', 'Felicidad' / 'My Chérie Amour', 'Consuela Biaz' 

Irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann - Nena

My little subcollection of Amiga Quartett EP's continues with this release of Nena's hit singles from 1984. The title track, 'Irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann' may sound more familiar than most tracks on this one, becuase it also became a hit in English as 'Anyplace, anywhere, anytime' as a duet with Kim Wilde in 2003. 

The four other tracks were all released separately as singles in the West, but in the German Democratic Republic this EP would have to do. It's a great selection, actually, because these Quartett's often also included B-sides or album tracks. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7699
Found: Discogs.com, received 5 July 2025
Tracks:  'Irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann', '? (Fragezeichen)' / 'Rette mich', 'Lass mich dein Pirat sein'

Love is blue - Vicky Leandros

I have my share of copies of Vicky Leandros's 1967 Eurovision entry for Luxembourg: in French (two, no, three different copies), German, and English. But there are actually two different versions of the song in English, and this is the other one. 

'Love is blue' has the same lyrics as 'Colours of love', but the musical accompaniment is quite different. You can hear it during the first verse already: 'Colours of love' features a piano accompaniment which is absent on 'Love is blue'. 

Initially I bought this single because I didn't have this sleeve - which is quite pretty - but in doing so I actually found a different version of this Eurovision classic. And that's always a treat. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7690
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 15 June 2025 
Tracks: 'Love is blue' / 'Dance with me until tomorrow'

Mamma Mia - Abba

The fourth and final picture disc to be released recently off the album Abba from 1975 is 'Mamma Mia'. Coincidence: my mum was also called Mia, and so this song became a bit of an injoke when I was young. ('Here she goed again'). 

This is actually my fourth copy of the song, having bought the Dutch single, the German single (not on this blog!) and the GDR single over the past few decades. I doubt this will end here, because I'm still after a few variants!

My collection: 7" single no. 7683
Found: Platenzaak.nl, received 14 June 2025
Tracks: 'Mamma Mia' / 'Intermezzo no. 1'

Cliff (No. 2) - Cliff Richard

I actually bought this single a few months ago but it needed a bit of cleaning in order to make it playable. And then I forgot to put it on this blog! Fortunately it is still in my collection, so it randomly pops up now. 

It's 'Cliff (No. 2)', an EP that was released back in 1959. It features five tracks with his backing band The Drifters, plus one track by the Drifters on their own. The most interesting ones for me were the Richie Valens track 'Donna', which is a track that was also recorded by Marty Wilde, and 'Move it', a song Cliff performed on the UK radio a few years ago together with Kim Wilde. It's a piece of music history!

My collection: 7" single no. 7568
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Donna', 'Move it', 'Ready Teddy' / 'Too much', 'Don't bug me baby', 'Driftin''

S.O.S. - Abba

Of the four picture discs that were released recently to celebrate the 50th birthday of Abba's self-titled album from 1975, only 'S.O.S.' features a photograph in black and white. It's a shame really because picture discs should really be in colour, always. On top of that, 'S.O.S.' is actually the best song of the four, so it's a bit weird to make it seem like it wasn't important. Because it was. 

The song started a run of 18 consecutive top 10 hits for Abba in the UK, peaking at number 6. It was also a number 2 hit in the Netherlands. Both John Lennon and Pete Townshend stated that it was one of their favourite pop records. In my opinion, 'S.O.S.' is the absolute highlight of Abba's current 'Voyage' shows in London. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7682
Found: Platenzaak.nl, received 14 June 2025
Tracks: 'S.O.S.' / 'Man in the middle' 

Hooked on you - Bread

I bought a few Bread singles recently, and that's because for some reason I keep bumping into them. The soft rock stylings of this band never disappoint, even with songs I'm not that familiar with. And they had some classy sleeves too!

'Hooked on you' was written and composed by David Gates. It was the second single released from Bread's 1977 album Lost Without Your Love, and became their final charting hit, reaching number 60 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 48 in Canada.

My collection: 7" single no. 7697
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 15 June 2025
Tracks: 'Hooked on you' / 'Fly away' 

Julie - Arne Jansen & les Cigales

Back in the summer of 1983, 'Julie' by Daniel was the summer hit of the year. The Yugoslavian entry for that year's Eurovision Song Contest made it to fourth place on the scoreboard and subsequently became a big hit in several European countries.

And at the time there were plenty artists who thought they could profit from the song's success as well. Enter Arne Jansen, a moderately successful Dutch singer, who with his support group Les Cigales recorded a version of the song in Dutch. The lyrics were provided by record company mogul Johnny Hoes, who conveniently also ran Arne Jansen's record company Telstar. A hit was born: this version of 'Julie' made it to number 28 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 7696
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 15 June 2025 
Tracks: 'Julie' / 'Lorelei'

It ain't easy / Give up your guns - Ritty McGarrety

You'd be forgiven if you've never heard of Ritty McGarrety - I hadn't either. It was purely by chance that I saw this single and decided to buy it, based on one of the titles on this sleeve. 'Give up your guns' was originally recorded by the Buoys, and I absolutely love that song. So I was quite curious what this person had made of it. 

It turns out that Ritty was actually named Ritty van Straalen. He was a Dutch drummer, best known for his years with the succesful Utrecht-based band, Continental Uptight Band. He released a couple of solo singles and 'Give up your guns' was one of them, scraping into the Tipparade, just outside of the Dutch Top 40. Quite why the song appears on this 'maxi single' remains unknown, although the record company probably wanted to profit from its near-hit status. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7693
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 15 June 2025
Tracks: 'It ain't easy' / 'Give up your guns', 'Please, look back'

Waarom - Bonnie & José

The recently deceased Ron Brandsteder introduces 'Waarom' ('Why'), a sombe lyric about people making war, not love. It seems awfully current, but this single was released 40 years ago. The song was based on the Abba song 'Move on', and Brandsteder also wrote the Dutch lyrics of this version.

Like the singles 'Cassandra' and 'Zoals vrienden doen' this single was taken from the Abba-themed album Herinnering, which was actually released on CD for the first time in 2020, as I found out when I recorded this purchase in my Discogs collection. To my surprise, the duo released two more singles from this album, although only the two previously mentioned made it into the Dutch Top 40. 'Waarom' only managed a few weeks in the Tipparade.

My collection: 7" single no. 7689
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 15 June 2025
Tracks: 'Waarom' / 'Ligt dat aan jou of aan mij' 

I do, I do, I do, I do, I do - Abba

After So long, this is the second picture disc released this year to be taken from the album Abba, originally released 50 years ago. It's another colourful photograph from that era, released to coincide with the re-release of the album on a 'half speed master 2LP' edition.

'I do, I do, I do, I do, I do' was recorded on 21 February 1975 at Glen Studio, and was inspired by the European schlager music of the Fifties, as well as the saxophone sound of the 1950s American orchestra leader Billy Vaughn. The single reached number 38 in the UK singles chart, number 15 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 3 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 7681
Found: Platenzaak.nl, received 15 June 2025
Tracks: 'I do, I do, I do, I do, I do' / 'Rock me'

A little bit slower (Do it again) - Herman & Dorothy

One of the singles Ricky Wilde recorded when he was a teenager was 'Do it again, a little bit slower'. It was obviously a cover version, but I'm having a hard time finding the original. This single by Herman & Dorothy predates Ricky's version by five or six year, but it is only one version of the many released back in 1967. 

The original version was actually performed by Jon & Robin and The In Crowd; a version that will undoubtedly pop up on this blog at some point. But meanwhile, this version by Herman & Dorothy is amusing as well, especially with the ending actually slowing down. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7695
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 15 June 2025
Tracks: 'A little bit slower (Do it again)' / 'Charing Cross' 

High noon / Jezebel - Frankie Laine

'High Noon', also known as 'The Ballad of High Noon', was the theme song of the 1952 movie High Noon, starring Gary Cooper. In the movie the song was performed by Tex Ritter, but the American singer Frankie Laine also recorded a version of the song. It actually became the bigger hit of the two.

However, I bought this single because of the other side, an original version of the song 'Jezebel', later also recorded by Marty Wilde. In Laine's words, the song uses "flamenco rhythms to whip up an atmosphere of sexual frustration and hatred while a guy berated the woman who'd done him wrong." The song ends with Laine shouting 'Jezebel!' at the woman who has destroyed him.This is still done by Wilde during his live concerts, to great effect.

My collection: 7" single no. 7694
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 15 June 2025
Tracks: 'High Noon' / 'Jezebel' 

Autobahn - Kraftwerk

The Kraftwerk album Autobahn celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, and so it is very cool that I managed to buy the single of the same name exactly this year. I already own a UK copy, of course, but this German edition with a picture sleeve is the real deal!

Curiously this single advertises with the banner 'From the U.S. Top LP', but it is rather wellknown that Kraftwerk was always more successful outside of Germany than it was within the country. Hence the decision to record their albums both in German and English after this one. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7685
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 15 June 2025
Tracks: 'Autobahn' / 'Morgenspaziergang' 

So long - Abba

Abba released four new picture disc 7" singles of the songs associated with their self-titled album from 1975. Abba was their third album, and the first single to be taken from that album was 'So Long', a rockier track than usual from the quartet. The single was released in most of Europe and in Australia and New Zealand in November 1974. Spain and Japan followed suit in early 1975. 

The B-side of this picture disc, 'I've been waiting for you' was actually also released as a single back in 1975, but only in Australia and New Zealand. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7680
Found: Platenzaak.nl, received 15 June 2025
Tracks: 'So long', 'I've been waiting for you' 

Wichita lineman - Glen Campbell

Somehow I can vaguely recall hearing this song on the radio when I was much younger. It's one of those songs that you fail to identify until many years later. I think I really 'got into' this song when it was performed by Glenn Gregory during some live concert in London which I attended maybe ten years ago.

Glen Campbell recorded the song back in 1968 and it reached number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. I stumbled on a copy by chance, and remembering the song almost instantly after having forgotten all about it once again, I snapped it up.

My collection: 7" single no. 7684
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 15 June 2025
Tracks: 'Wichita lineman' / 'Back in the race' 

What the hell just happened? - Remember Monday

This year's Eurovision Song Contest has come and gone, and some physical releases have arrived over the past few weeks. The latest is the pink vinyl 7" single of the UK entry 'What the hell just happened?' by Remember Monday. 

I'm sorry to say that while I quite liked the song with all its tempo changes - recalling early Queen songs - at first, but the more I heard it, the more grating it become. Especially the title of the song, which is repeated in shrill exclamations by the three singers, becomes a bore after two or three times. And it is repeated almost a dozen times. No wonder, then, that this song didn't score much at the Eurovision Song Contest. And, get this: they even do this on the B-side. Bring back Sam Ryder!

My collection: 7" single no. 7679
Found: Remember Monday website, received 13 May 2025
Tracks: 'What the hell just happened?' / 'What the hell just happened? (karaoke version)'

Karusell - Kirsti Sparboe

Kirsti Sparboe (born on 7 December 1946) was just 18 years old when she represented Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Karusell', a song that was written by Jolly Kramer-Johansen. He composed music for several Norwegian films, including De vergeløse from 1939, Bastard from 1940, Tørres Snørtevold from 1940, Den farlige leken from 1942, and Bustenskjold from 1958. 

The song ended up in 13th place in a field of 18 competitors. It didn't deter her from trying again: in 1967 she participated again with 'Dukkemann' (I'm still searching for that single!) and in 1969 she tried for the third and last time with 'Oj, oj, oj, så glad jeg skal bli'. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7678
Found: Discogs.com, received 13 May 2025
Tracks: "Karusell' / 'Med lokk og lur'

Maman - Louane

Last week was all about the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, and it was the usual mix of beautiful ballads, hyped up loud noises, ridiculousness and the odd scandal. As usual I like to focus primarily on the good songs, and fortunately this year there were a few. One of the best was France's entry, even if it bordered on the sentimental.

At least Louane's performance of 'Maman' was sincere and executed well. Frankly it's a scandal that the song ended up in seventh place, because in the past this would have easily won. Unfortunately the French language seems to be some kind of handicap these days, as Luxembourg and Switzerland (those countries also sent in some fine songs and performances) are sure to agree. 

This single was originally released as a limited edition, which I missed out on, but fortunately a second edition, pressed on purple vinyl, was released a few weeks later. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7677
Found: Official Louane website, received 12 May 2025
Tracks: 'Maman (original version)' / 'Maman (instrumental version)'

Ljubim te pesmama - Extra Nena

Although I bought a copy of 'Ljubim te pesmama' four years ago, it always bugged me that I didn't have a copy of the four track EP, featuring all language versions of the song. When the opportunity came up recently, I didn't hesitate of course!

Extra Nena was Yugoslavia's last ever Eurovision artist, even if by 1992 the country was already in big trouble. In fact, only Serbia and Montenegro competed that year in the national final. Slovenia had already proclaimed its independence in June 1991. It was the starting point for several armed conflicts, particularly in Croatia and later in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

Anyway, 'Ljubim te pesmama' was recorded in Serbian, English, French and Italian, and all versions appear on this EP. Extra Nena (real name: Snežana Berić) continued her career as a singer, actress and writer of children's books well into the new century.

My collection: 7" single no. 7676
Found: Discogs.com, received 1 May 2025
Tracks: 'Ljubim te pesmama', 'We can't have our love anymore' / 'Je t'embrasse par mes chansons', 'Ti bacio con ogni canzone'