Hablemos del amor

Raphael competed in the 1967 Eurovision Song Contest with the monumental ballad 'Hablemos del amor'. It is an impressive bit of singing, with an equally impressive orchestral backing. Hard to believe that this is 41 years ago, although it does sound slightly oldfashioned. When I first heard this song - it was little more than 10 years ago - I was very impressed. I was very glad when I found this ep, even though the vinyl was a bit battered.

Raphael, who was born on May 5, 1943, represented Spain at Eurovision in 1966 and 1967. He reached 7th and 6th position respectively. Even if he didn't win, it was the first time that Spain obtained a high place in the competition. It turned Raphael into an international star.

My collection: 7" single no. 2968

Found: Bea Records, February 21, 1998

Cost: 10 guilders

Tracks: 'Hablemos del amor', 'Si un amor se va' / 'No tiene importancia', 'Quedate con nosotros'

Download: Album 'Raphael 1966-1967', including all four tracks (part 1/part 2)

Tokyo - Lili and Sussie

I bought this single on the relative strength of 'Candy love', Lili & Sussie's only hit in the Netherlands. I didn't expect much from 'Tokyo'. It's a bit of throwaway pop, likeable but a bit fluffy. It didn't trouble the charts outside of Scandinavia, although I don't even know if it charted there either.

Part of my record collection is 'buying by association'. It's obvious that this time the lucky grab wasn't too lucky, although the single is nice enough.

My collection: 7" single no. 3333

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, March 24, 2001

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Tokyo' / 'Do you remember'

Download: here

Perfect way - Scritti Politti

'Perfect way' was released in September 1985 and reached no. 45 in the UK singles chart. Not an impressive success, despite its catchy hooks. In America it did far better, reaching no. 11. The 12" single was remixed by François Kevorkian, who remains best known for his work with Kraftwerk.

I bought my copy of the 12" as a bargain in London. I was always interested in those eighties singles by Scritti Politti and the extended versions seemed like a good addition to my collection.

My collection: 12" single no. 264

Found: Record Exchange, London, 1995

Cost: 50p

Tracks: 'Perfect way (extended mix)' / 'Perfect way (version) (extended mix)'

Download: here

You'll always find me in the kitchen at parties - Jona Lewie

One of the big complaints of the early eighties was that any fool with a synthesizer could knock out a hit, because with a computer it was easy to make what you wanted. Jona Lewie's 'You'll always find me in the kitchen at parties' is one of those songs that could have gotten this criticism, because it sounds deceptively simple.

Contrary to popular belief, Kirsty MacColl didn't perform backing vocals on this track; she only appeared with Jona Lewie on TV a couple of times to mime to the vocals recorded by the wives of Bob Andrews (producer of the song) and Dave Robinson (owner of Stiff Records, to which Jona was signed).

My collection: 7" single no. 2103

Found: Record fair, Leiden, May 28, 1994

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'You'll always find me in the kitchen at parties' / 'Bureaucrats'

Download: here

Hacka-Tacka music - Baba & Roody

The reggae-track 'Hacka-Tacka music' is most notable for its panting and groaning by the French performers, Baba & Roody. It was a sensation in the Netherlands in the late Seventies because of their performance in the weekly chart show 'Toppop': the female singer's top slowly moved downwards, revealing a whole nipple in the end.

I bought the single for its comedy value in 1989, and then a year later once again, to give it to a friend during his birthday party, saying 'This is the one you've been searching for so long!'. (In fact, it's his birthday again today!) He was asked to play the single by all who were there, and while the song was playing his head turned bright red. I really had to laugh.

My collection: 7" single no. 959

Found: All that music, Leiden, August 10, 1989

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Hacka-Tacka music' / 'La musique erotique'

Download: here

Forever - Kiss

After 'Unmasked', Kiss went through hard times. Peter Criss left the band, the remaining members worked with a replacement for a while and then decided to really put down their masks. They struggled with their fanbase and identity for years. In 1989, they released the album 'Hot in the shade'. This single, 'Forever', was written by Paul Stanley with Michael Bolton and features the kind of melodrama you would expect from the latter, but not from Kiss. It is a hard-edged rock ballad, which appealed to me a lot at the time. Despite the success of 'Forever', 'Hot in the Shade' became the first Kiss album to fail to reach platinum status since 'Creatures of the night' (1982). A live version appeared on 'Kiss Symphony: Alive IV' (2003).

My collection: 7" single no. 1261

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, July 14, 1990

Cost: 3,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Forever' / 'The street giveth and the street taketh away'

Download: Album 'Hot in the shade', including both tracks (password: heavyrock4life.blogspot )

Typical! - Frazier Chorus

'Typical!' was Frazier Chorus's second single to make the UK Singles chart, and it peaked at no. 53. That's pretty much where all their singles ended up: Frazier Chorus never became known for their mass commercial appeal. But they appealed to me, for their melodic pop and rather clever lyrics.

It is important to note that 'Typical!' is one of a handful of 10" singles I own. They were never classified and numbered like my 7" and 12" singles were. 10" singles were never a very widespread format, which makes them all the more interesting. Especially when, like in this case, they contain extra bonus tracks.

My collection: 10" single (unnumbered)

Found: House of Rhythm, London

Cost: 3,2 pounds

Tracks: 'Typical!', 'String' / 'Storm (live mix)', 'Typical! (live mix)'

Download: here