L'amour interdit - Gemini

Besides the Swedish group Gemini, there is also a Belgian one. A quite different one, too. It is obvious from this sleeve, but when you listen to the music, you notice another difference: this is not serious pop music, but a track styled after other novelty records like 'Je t'aime... moi non plus' by Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg. In other words: lots of groaning and moaning.

My collection: 7" single no. 3561

Found: All that music, Leiden, January 24, 2009

Cost: 1,6 euro

Tracks: 'L'amour interdit' / 'I miss you so'

Download: here

Have mercy - Gemini

Gemini consists of Karin and Anders Glenmark. They debuted in 1985 with a self-titled album, which included their only international hit, 'Just like that'. 'Have mercy' was the follow-up single in Europe, but it flopped. Just like all the other songs on their debut album, 'Have mercy' was written by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, from Abba. Which just goes to show that even that didn't guarantee success in the eighties.

My collection: 7" single no. 3560

Found: All that music, Leiden, January 24, 2009

Cost: 1,6 euro

Tracks: 'Have mercy' / 'Too much love is wasted'

Download: Album 'Gemini', including both tracks

La luna - Nova

After 'Aurora' and 'Sol' had become chart hits, CNR Records released a third single from Nova's debut album 'Terranova', 'La luna'. Despite the fact that it was another beautiful instrumental synthpop tune, the audience had had enough: the single didn't chart at all.

It didn't mean that Nova quit: another album, 'Qua vadis' would be released, and for Veronica television they would compose a soundtrack. But the commercial success was over for good.

My collection: 7" single no. 3555

Found: All that music, Leiden, January 24, 2009

Cost: 1,6 euro

Tracks: 'La luna' / 'Terra'

Download: Album 'Terranova', including both tracks

Clean clean - The Buggles

'Clean clean' is the third single to be taken from the Buggles debut album 'The age of plastic'. Backed by the non-album track 'Technopop', the single reached number 38 in the UK singles chart, but fared less well in other territories.

Owning all the other Buggles singles by now, 'Clean clean' was the last one missing from my collection. It's always nice to complete a part of your collection.

My collection: 7" single no. 3559

Found: All that music, Leiden, January 24, 2009

Cost: 1,6 euro

Tracks: 'Clean clean' / 'Technopop'

Download: here

Lady Lady - Bravo

The Spanish group Bravo consisted of Amaya Saizar, Luis Villar, Yolanda Hoyos and Esteban Santas. They represented Spain in the 1984 Eurovision Song Contest, held in Luxemburg. Their song 'Lady Lady' finished third in the contest, behind the Swedish winners The Herrey's ('Diggi loo diggi ley') and Linda Martin from Ireland ('Terminal 3').

The track was released as a single in various European countries, including the Netherlands, where it hovered just outside the Dutch Top 40 for a couple of weeks.

My collection: 7" single no. 3558

Found: All that music, Leiden, January 24, 2009

Cost: 1,6 euro

Tracks: 'Lady Lady' / 'Dime por que'

Download: here

Shut up and boogie - Vulcano

Producer and composer Hans van Hemert brought together Anna Dekkers (a.k.a. Dee Dee), René van der Wel, Suzanne Venneker and Jos Groothuizen to form Vulcano. They debuted in 1981 with this single 'Shut up and boogie'. The B-side, an instrumental version, is aptly titled 'Shut up'. It was a nice disco track, but it didn't reach the Dutch Top 40.

When I bought this single, three copies were staring at me from the shelf. Two of them were pressed on black vinyl, and one was pressed on clear yellow vinyl. Since they were all the same price, obviously I chose the yellow-coloured one. I guess it's a kind of limited edition pressing. A nice little item.

My collection: 7" single no. 3557

Found: All that music, Leiden, January 24, 2009

Cost: 1,6 euro

Tracks: 'Shut up and boogie' / 'Shut up'

Download: here

Famous people - Sharpe and Niles

'Change your mind' by Bill Sharpe and Gary Numan was one of my favourite tracks of the year 1985. When I had the opportunity to buy Bill Sharpe's album 'Famous people' on cd at a discount price a few years later, I got to know many more great tracks. The instrumental track 'Peace' for instance, and the title track, which was apparently released as a single as well.

I never actually got round to buying that single, but it's exactly these two tracks that appear on it. Naturally, I bought it.

My collection: 7" single no. 3556

Found: All that music, Leiden, January 24, 2009

Cost: 1,6 euro

Tracks: 'Famous people (US remix)' / 'Peace'

Download: here