I have no idea how many versions of Gershon and Kingsley's composition 'Popcorn' exist. Everytime I think I have found everything, a new single I've never heard of pops up. Check out yesterday's new find: it's Rod Hunter's version of 'Popcorn', released on the Decca label in 1972. I have no further information on it, just that it's another nice version of that old classic.
And it's great to add it to my collection, of course!
Robin Gibb was not content just to be part of the Bee Gees, one of the most successful bands of all time. In 1983, he released a solo album. It was actually his second solo album, since 1970's 'Robin's Reign' was an early attempt at making it on his own. The 1983 album 'How old are you?' was a more successful attempt, since it yielded several hit singles.
'Juliet' was the first single taken from the album. It was a number one hit in Germany, Switzerland and Italy, peaking at number 2 in Austria and, by way of contrast, number 94 in the UK. Robin performed this song last December during the Night of the Proms concerts in Germany, and I took to the song instantly. I simply had to buy the single. I didn't know it was such an old song, though!
My collection: 7" single no. 3620 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Juliet' / 'Hearts on fire'
Arabesque was a German disco music group, founded in 1977. The trio consisted of Sandra Cretu, Jasmin Vetter and Michaela Rose. In 1984, Cretu would leave the group to pursue a solo career as Sandra, produced by Michael Cretu. This single is their fifth release, 'Take me don't break me' (1980). It barely made the German top 40 at the time.
I bought this single because I became interested in Sandra's pre-solo activities. I supposed she always made lightweight pop. This single delivers as promised.
My collection: 7" single no. 3664
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Take me don't break me' / 'Parties in a penthouse'
In 1985, synth wizard Paul Hardcastle had a big hit with the sample-heavy '19'. The track contains stuttering samples of television narrator Peter Thomas speaking about Vietnam war veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
It is a little-known fact that Hardcastle also made French and German versions of the track. This is the German version of '19', narrated by Werner Veigel. Just like in many other countries, '19' topped the chart in Germany, partly thanks to this version.
My collection: 7" single no. 3657
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: '19 (German version)' / 'Eat your heart out'
'This town ain't big enough for the both of us' was my favourite childhood song, but it was also the last hit by the Sparks as far as I knew. The chart book tells me they had another hit in 1974 with 'Amateur hour' and one in 1975 with 'Something for the girl with everything', but in 1979 the Sparks returned with 'Beat the clock'. It peaked at number 15. In the UK, it was the Sparks' first top 10 hit since 'Amateur hour'.
Listening to 'Beat the clock' you can tell that the band took on a very different sound at the end of the Seventies. The disco-influenced track with operatic vocals is, like much of the band's work, a one-off.
My collection: 7" single no. 3666
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Beat the clock' / 'Beat the clock (Alternative mix)'
In 1973, the Spanish group Mocedades ('Youth') represented Spain during the Eurovision Song Contest with this song, 'Eres tu'. They ended up in second place behind winning country Luxemburg, represented by Anne-Marie David with 'Tu te reconnaitras'. The difference between the two was only four points.
'Eres Tú' became a huge international hit. It also remains one of the only Spanish language songs to reach the top 10 in the United States, peaking at number 9 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 2005, Eres Tú was nominated for the 50th anniversary Eurovision concert 'Congratulations' after being selected as one of the 14 most popular songs in Eurovision history, and finished eleventh. In the Netherlands, it was voted the most popular Eurovision song of all times that year. (That should have been 'Rapsodia' by Mia Martini, of course.)
I bought my copy of the single in a custom Polydor sleeve. Since the single was released on the Omega International label, that sleeve certainly was wrong. And so, no picture of the sleeve with this entry...
This is the kind of music you hear in elevators, supermarkets and bad restaurants. Kenny G is probably one of the most uncool artists on the planet. Yet his 'Songbird' is one of the most recognizable instrumentals around. It wasn't a very big hit in Europe, peaking at number 22 in the UK and number 25 in the Netherlands, but in America the single got to number 4 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
'Songbird' comes from Kenny G's multi-platinum album 'Duotones' (1986) and was featured prominently in the 1990 movie 'Pretty woman' and in the 2005 animation movie 'Robots'.
I have no idea how many versions of Gershon and Kingsley's composition 'Popcorn' exist. Everytime I think I have found everything, a new single I've never heard of pops up. Check out yesterday's new find: it's Rod Hunter's version of 'Popcorn', released on the Decca label in 1972. I have no further information on it, just that it's another nice version of that old classic.
