Rio - Duran Duran

Sometimes keeping a collection in good shape means that you have to buy a single again and again, as this blog has demonstrated quite well in recent years. There are some old purchases that I really regret, such as the single 'Rio' by Duran Duran without a picture sleeve. What was I thinking? 

Well maybe, back in 1989, I didn't believe that I would ever find a copy with a picture sleeve. I was in London and it was the first time I saw the single for real. I have to say that I only saw it a few times since, and I wasn't really motivated to buy it since 'I already had it'. But finally, a week ago, I corrected a very old mistake. 'Rio' is here!

My collection: 7" single no. 7870
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 15 November 2025
Tracks: 'Rio' / 'The chauffeur (blue silver)' 

Tell me tomorrow - Princess

I bought 'Tell me tomorrow' back in 1986, soon after it didn't become a hit and the store wanted to get rid of the single by dropping the price. Unfortunately the sleeve was a bit worn then, and that bothered me ever since. 

Fortunately, almost four decades later, I got the opportunity to buy this UK pressing of the single. And this limited edition comes in yellow vinyl too! It looks likely that this single is going to be featured a few more times on this blog, because the single was actually released in four different colours.

My collection: 7" single no. 7868
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 15 November 2025
Tracks: 'Tell me tomorrow' / 'Say I'm your number one (original demo)' 

What about love - Heart

The band Heart has a special place in my heart, ever since I first heard 'Magic Man' and 'Crazy on you' back when I was very young. Their self-titled album from 1985 is a firm favourite of mine, so it might not be too surprising that when I saw this Japanese pressing of 'What about love', I simply wanted to have it. Fortunately the dealer wasn't asking a lot for this item.

I did have the US pressing of this single, but without a picture sleeve, so this is a very nice addition to my collection. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7866
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 15 November 2025 
Tracks: 'What about love' / 'Heart of darkness'

Raw - Spandau Ballet

Two weeks ago I nearly bought this poster edition of Spandau Ballet's 'Raw', but decided to wait a little because I was going to the big record fair in Den Bosch. I'm glad I did, because I had the unique opportunity to buy this item for just 1 euro! That saved me a lot of postage costs.

And why would I want this poster edition? It's not because I'm particularly looking forward to seeing the boys from the band in great detail, but I'm just a sucker for limited editions. 'Raw' reached number 47 in the UK singles chart and number 27 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 7864
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 15 November 2025
Tracks: 'Raw' / 'Raw (flip)' 

Rhythm is gonna get you - Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine

Sometimes I buy singles just for the sheer beauty of the artwork. This is a good example. Gloria Estefan used to be (!) very photogenic, and her record company realized this and released a lot of her singles as limited editions with posters and - in this case - a gatefold edition featuring a calendar. 

Inside this gatefold sleeve was a little booklet showing Gloria in all her glory, in six different photographs. 'Rhythm is gonna get you' is a catchy little song, and the fact that I could buy this little gem for just 1 euro was a good deal.

My collection: 7" single no. 7863
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 15 November 2025
Tracks: 'Rhythm is gonna get you' / 'Give it up' 

On your knees - Grace Jones

'On your knees' is exactly the sort of title you would expect from Grace Jones - her attitude was legendary already in the late Seventies. It was the only single released from her third album Muse in 1979. The single was ignored by the record-buying public and left little impact on dance music charts in the US. 

The album version was 6 minutes and 20 seconds long; for this single release it was edited down to three minutes and 47 seconds. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7861
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 15 November 2025
Tracks: 'On your knees' / 'Don't mess with the messer' 

Kom terug - Johnny White

Anne Marie David won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1973 with 'Tu te reconnaitras'. It was a popular song at the time, so many other artists wanted to have a piece of the pie and started recording their own versions. 

One of them was Johnny White, whose real name was Johnny Wittevrouw, born in Belgium on 13 June 1946. During his career he released a handful of albums and over fifty singles. 'Kom terug' ('Come back') was his version of the Eurovision winner, and it sounds as emotional as this melody dictates.

My collection: 7" single no. 7859
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 15 November 2025
Tracks: 'Kom terug' / 'Nu geen tranen' 

Aan de stroom - Erik van Neygen & Sanne

Erik Filip Van Neygen was born in Anderlecht (Belgium) on 1 May 1951. He started his career with the  skiffle group Motten Drizzle, which he founded together with his classmate Johan Verminnen. In 1975 he recorded his first solo single.

Since 1989 he primarily worked with singer Sanne, with whom he also had a relationship. Their 1992 single 'Aan de stroom' is a Flemish version of the 1975 Eurovision entry from Yugoslavia, 'Dan ljubezni'. It's quite unusual for such an obscure song to resurface after 17 years, but there you go!

My collection: 7" single no. 7858
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 15 November 2025 
Tracks: 'Aan de stroom' / 'Allemaal cinema'

9 to 5 - Sheena Easton

Although Sheena Easton's hit single was called 'Morning train' in Europe as a result of Dolly Parton's hit single already being called '9 to 5'. But in Japan, the single was unashamedly called '9 to 5'. The sleeve was a thing of beauty, with a very young Sheena Easton pictured in between the titles.  

Japanese singles tend to be very expensive for some reason, even when they're very old, but this time a dealer came up with the standard price of 3 euros. It was a good deal for this beautiful item.

My collection: 7" single no. 7865
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 15 November 2025
Tracks: '9 to 5' / 'Moody (My love)'

 

Money, money, money - Abba

Although this French sleeve of 'Money, money, money' uses the same photographs as the Dutch one, it uses them far more effectively. I didn't notice it until now, but the Italian one mirrored those photographs, which I guess was a mistake on the part of the Italian record company. 

The songs remain the same, obviously. I remember 'Money, money, money' from my early childhood and I remember that Frida's low voice certainly made an impression. It remains a great moment in pop history.  

My collection: 7" single no. 7869
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 15 November 2025
Tracks: 'Money, money, money' / 'Crazy world'

Omdat ik van je hou - Louis Neefs

The sleeve of this single doesn't give it away, but 'Omdat ik van je hou' ('Because I love you') is actually a cover version of the song 'L'amore e un attimo'. Massimo Ranieri represented Italy with the song at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1971. 

Louis obviously had some Eurovision experience himself, in 1967 and 1969, and kept a close eye on the competition afterwards. I imagine he heard the song and decided to record his own version with lyrics in Flemish. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7857
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 15 November 2025
Tracks: 'Omdat ik van je hou' / 'Du bist mijn meisje' 

Zwischen Wolga und Don - Edina Pop

Just last month I bought a copy of 'Komm komm zu mir' by Edina Pop, and now I was lucky enough to find another Eurovision-themed cover version by the same artist.

'Zwischen Wolga und Don' is a version of 'Alors je chante', as proclaimed on the sleeve, and that, of course, is the French title of the Spanish Eurovision song 'Vivo cantando'. Just like other covers Edina recorded the lyrics were translated into German, and the title suggests that the subject has changed entirely yet again too.

My collection: 7" single no. 7856
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 15 November 2025
Tracks: 'Zwischen Wolga und Don'/ 'Jambo' 

Wij waren jong - Rina Pia

Nini Watripont was born in Ninove (Belgium) on 21 July 1935. During her childhood she sang in the café run by her parents. She started having hits as Rina Pia during her twenties. In 1957 she wanted to represent Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest, but that honour fell on Bobbejaan Schoepen with his 'Straatdeuntje'. In 1963 she tried again and participated in the Flemish national final, but she lost to Jacques Raymond. That year she married producer/composer Al Van Dam. 

In 1964 she recorded 'Wij waren jong' ('We were young'), a Flemish version of 'Non ho l'eta per amarti', the Eurovision winner of that year. The B-side, 'Jij bent een Judas' ('You are a Judas') is perhaps even more amusing. Rina Pia passed away on 24 August 2023.  

My collection: 7" single no. 7855
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 15 November 2025
Tracks: 'Wij waren jong' / 'Jij bent een Judas' 

 

Private life - Grace Jones

Although Grace Jones' 'Private life' was originally released in 1980, the track was re-released in 1986 after the huge success of 'Slave to the rhythm'. This track is decidedly more sedate and brings you back to the days of disco and dub reggae. 

The song was actually written by Chrissie Hynde from the Pretenders, and included on that band's debut album from 1979. She said: 'I wanted to do reggae, and I wrote "Private Life". When I first heard Grace's version I thought 'Now that's how it's supposed to sound!' In fact it was one of the high points of my career – what with Sly and Robbie being the masters, and Grace Jones with her scorching delivery.'

My collection: 7" single no. 7860
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 15 November 2025
Tracks: 'Private life' / 'My Jamaican guy' 

I loved you (Dansevise) - Tony Osborne, his piano and orchestra

One of the best winners of the Eurovision Song Contest ever was 'Dansevise', in my humble opinion at least. It's no wonder that many other artists wanted to profit from the song's popularity; a lot of cover versions were released in the year 1963 alone - and more in the years after that. 

Tony Osborne recorded his version already in 1963. Osborne was born in June 1922 in Cambridge (UK) and passed away on 1 March 2009 in Sydney (Australia). He released many albums and singles, mainly in the Sixties and Seventies. The bulk of his work was based on other people's songwriting. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7854
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 15 November 2025
Tracks: 'I loved you (Dansevise)' / 'Mombasa' 

Un, dos, tres - Catherine Ferry

Catherine Ferry recorded 'Eins zwei drei' for the German market, after coming second at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1976 with '1, 2, 3' - sung in French.

But that was not all: she also recorded the song in Spanish. I saw this single at the record fair in Den Bosch in April, but decided not to buy it because the sleeve was not in the best shape. However, since I saw it again this weekend I decided to get it this time, because the single isn't that easy to get in a better shape. I mean, on Discogs it is on offer for about 2 euros, but with the shipping costs from Spain it quickly adds up to more than I paid for it here. So I'm glad the disc is in better shape than the sleeve.

My collection: 7" single no. 7853
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 15 November 2025
Tracks: 'Un, dos, tres' / 'Petit Jean'

Mikado, Mikado - Simone Drexel

Simone Drexel represented Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest 1975 with 'Mikado'. She performed the song in German, but she also recorded a French version, entitled 'Mikado, Mikado' (in order to identify a different version I guess). 

Even the B-side was recorded in French: 'Die Marionetten' became 'Les marionnettes'. Simone also did this for the English version - which I have yet to find.

My collection: 7" single no. 7852
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 15 November 2025
Tracks: 'Mikado, Mikado' / 'Les marionnettes' 

Love conquistador - Da Vinci

Although I already own the single 'Conquistador', I felt it was amusing to also buy 'Love conquistador', which is the English version of that song. Of course, that version appears on the B-side of the other single, but for this release, the two sides are flipped and the English version suddenly becomes the A-side.

Obviously this is the German release of the song, whereas the other single is the original Portuguese release. It's interesting to compare how the photograph is cropped on this sleeve.

My collection: 7" single no. 7851
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 15 November 2025
Tracks: 'Love conquistador' / 'Conquistador'

Nous - Mary Roos

'Nur die Liebe läßt uns leben' sang Mary Roos in 1972, and it gave Germany an honourable third place at that year's Eurovision Song Contest. Such was the success of the song that she decided to record it in English, French and Italian as well. 

This is the French version, released in Germany by her record company as 'Nous'. The language always sounds beautiful, but this version lacks the engaging nature of the original version.

My collection: 7" single no.  7850
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 15 November 2025
Tracks: 'Nous' / 'N'oublie pas lorsque tu chantes'

La notte non lo sa - Nana Mouskouri

The Eurovision song 'A force de prier', performed by Nana Mouskouri in 1963, was recorded by her in different languages. There was an English version and a German version, and when I found the latter two years ago, I wrote down the hope that I would find the Italian version in 2025. Well, I did just that!

'La notte non lo sa' was released with yet another sleeve design, together with an Italian version of 'Weisse rosen aus Athen', which was another successful song by the Greek singer. Now aged 91, she continues to make occasional appearances on TV shows despite her 'farewell tour' and 'final concert' a few years ago.

My collection: 7" single no. 7849
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 20 November 2025
Tracks: 'La notte non lo sa' / 'Rosa d'Atene'