Fairytale of New York - The Pogues

Often voted as the best ever Christmas song, The Pogues' 'Fairytale of New York' was specifically recorded for this merry time of year. It did not reach number one in the UK, being held off the top spot by the Pet Shop Boys' 'Always on my mind'. In Ireland, the Pogues did have a number one hit with this.

Guest vocals were performed by Kirsty MacColl. Her part was originally intended for band member Cait O'Riordan. She left the band, however, in 1986, and so producer Steve Lillywhite proposed to have his wife sing a guide vocal for the recording. The band liked her contribution so much that she also sang the part on the actual recording.

On December 18, 2007, BBC Radio 1 banned the words 'faggot' and 'slut' from the song to 'avoid offence'. The words were dubbed out. MacColl's mother Jean, called the ban "too ridiculous", while the Pogues said they found it "amusing". However, that evening Radio 1 backed down and said that after a day of criticism from listeners, the band, and MacColl's mother, they reversed the decision. The unedited version was then played later on that day.

My collection: 7" single no. 3673
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Fairytale of New York' / 'The Battle March medley'

't is O.K. - Harmony

Ab van Woudenberg, Donald Lieveld and Rosina Lauwaars formed Harmony in 1978 and represented the Netherlands in the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest with ''t Is OK' ('It's OK'), lyrically a pale imitation of the 1975 Contest winner 'Ding-a-dong': 'sing a melody / Happy and in harmony'.

The group finished 13th in the Contest, which took place in Paris after the 1977 victory by Marie Myriam. In the Dutch Top 40, ''t Is O.K.' peaked at number 29.

My collection: 7" single no. 3647

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: ''t Is O.K.' / 'Bim bam bom'

You are my world 87 - The Communards

I wrote about the Communards' 'You are my world' before (although Blogger seems to have deleted that post again in their random actions vandalism), but that was the original version from 1986 with which they made their debut.

In 1987, they re-released the track in a re-recorded version. This version did better than the original: while that one peaked at number 30 in the UK, this one peaked at number 21. And in the Netherlands, where the original didn't chart, it reached number 24. I bought the single to get my collection of Communards singles complete. Always a good feeling to be complete.

My collection: 7" single no. 3646

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 0,8 euro

Tracks: 'You are my world 87' / 'Judgement day'

A little bit further away - Kokomo

The British funk band Kokomo formed in the Seventies. They released their debut album 'Kokomo' in 1975. The second album 'Rise & shine' appeared two years later and the third album, again titled 'Kokomo' came out in 1982. This album contained the hit single 'A little bit further away', a beautiful soul song with vocal harmonies and a very early Eighties soul music backing.

While not a big hit in the UK, it peaked at number 4 in the Netherlands. I got to know the song thanks to a compilation cd which I bought in the late Eighties. Now I've finally got the original single as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 3680

Found: La La Land, Den Haag, April 25, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'A little bit further away' / 'Keep on dancin''

The ballroom blitz - The Sweet

'The Ballroom Blitz' was written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman. It was released as a single in 1973, where it reached number 1 in Australia and entered at number 2 in the UK singles chart but failed to go to number one. The song reached number 5 in the United States and number 4 in the Netherlands.

The song itself was written about the Grand Hall of the Palace Theatre in Kilmarnock, Scotland, after the band was forced off stage by a barrage of bottles.

My collection: 7" single no. 3678

Found: La La Land, Den Haag, April 25, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'The ballroom blitz' / 'Rock & Roll disgrace'

Belfast - Boney M

'Belfast' was originally written by Drafi Deutscher for Marcia Barrett while she was still performing as a solo artist in the early Seventies. Boney M performed the song live because they didn't have enough of their own material yet, and it proved to be an audience favourite. This gave producer Frank Farian the idea to record it anew.

However, because of the politically tinted lyrics ('when the hate you have for one another's past') he first recorded it with Gilla in German. It still appeared on Boney M's 1977 album 'Love for sale' and ended up being a single for them. It peaked at number 9 in the UK and number 3 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 3682

Found: La La Land, Den Haag, April 25, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Belfast' / 'Plantation boy'

I'm your man - Wham!

'I'm your man' was released in November 1985 after Wham!'s world tour, followed by a period of rest. The last people had seen of Wham! was during Live Aid in the Summer. Thus, the single was long-awaited. It was a number 1 in the UK and peaked at number 4 in the Netherlands.

Within a few months, Wham! announced their split. 'I'm your man' did not appear on any studio album, and so its only appearance on an album was on 'The final', the compilation album that was released in 1986 to commemorate the end of Wham!'s career. In 1995, Lisa Moorish covered the song.

My collection: 7" single no. 3684

Found: La La Land, Den Haag, April 25, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'I'm your man' / 'Do it right (instrumental)'