The kid's a punk - Slik

After the UK hits 'Forever and ever' and 'Requiem', Slik tried to make it a hattrick with the song 'The kid's a punk'. Unfortunately, this attempt was unsuccessful: the single flopped.

I have to say that buying this single was a gamble: I bought 'Forever and ever' not so long ago and liked that song so I hoped this would be just as nice. It isn't, but the B-side does make up for it: it's very out of style for the band, but a very infectious tune.

My collection: 7" single no. 3717

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'The kid's a punk' / 'Slik shuffle'

Un jour, un enfant - Frida Boccara

Frida Boccara was born on October 29, 1940 in Casablanca, Marocco. She started her singing career in the Sixties. In 1969, she represented France during the Eurovision Song Contest. Her monumental ballad 'Un jour, un enfant' was one of the four songs to win the Contest that year, since no rules were in place for a tiebreak.

This single was made in Holland and contains mono versions of the two tracks. It did not reach the charts in the Netherlands, which may be caused by the country's own victory by Lenny Kuhr. Frida Boccara died on August 1, 1996.

My collection: 7" single no. 3745

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009

Cost: 4 euro

Tracks: 'Un jour, un enfant' / 'Belle du Luxembourg'

I think I'll get my haircut - Jona Lewie

This is one of many singles by Jona Lewie that never made the UK singles chart. 'I think I'll get my haircut' was released in 1981, as always on the Stiff label. Lewie's music is basically always the same: a strong melody, funny lyrics and short songs. Always a safe bet when you buy a single by him.

I didn't actually remember the song when I bought this single, but playing it made me realise I have heard it before.... Although it may be a quarter of a century ago now.

My collection: 7" single no. 3727

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'I think I'll get my haircut' / 'What have I done'

Got to let you know - Belle and the Devotions

Although Belle and the Devotions were a threesome when they represented the United Kingdom in the 1984 Eurovision Song Contest, the band started out as a name for British singer Kit Rolfe. Under this name she released the singles 'Where did love go wrong?' and 'Got to let you know' in 1983.

Both singles failed to chart, but the tide turned - albeit briefly - with 'Love games'. It would be their only hit single in a short career.

My collection: 7" single no. 3742

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Got to let you know' / 'Reach out for love'

What do I do - Sandra and Andres

Sandra and Andres represented the Netherlands in the 1972 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Als het om de liefde gaat'. They also recorded two versions in other languages: the song was titled 'Was soll ich tun' in German and 'What do I do' in English.

It's a miracle that my friend Puck and I didn't buy the same singles on May 5. While he bought 'Als het om de liefde gaat' and this English single somewhere else in the country, I was back in my hometown buying the single 'Was soll ich tun'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3705
Found: May 5, 2009
Cost: -
Tracks: 'What do I do' / 'Gypsy man'

Sad songs - Alessi

The twin brothers Billy and Bobby Alessi were born on July 12, 1954 on Long Island, New York. In 1977 they hit it big with the single 'Oh Lori'. 'Sad songs' was released that same year, but that single did not chart.

I'd completely missed out on the Alessi brothers and only found out about them at the end of the Eighties, when my sister bought a compilation cd of their music. Some of their songs really impressed me, so I bought the singles. I never had a craving for an entire cd of their music, though.

My collection: 7" single no. 2563

Found: November 19, 1995

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Sad songs' / 'Don't hold back'

Respect yourself - The Kane Gang

Martin Brammer, Paul Woods and Dave Brewis met in 1982 and formed the trio The Kane Gang, naming themselves after the movie 'Citizen Kane'. They signed a record deal in 1983 and released their debut album 'Bad and lowdown world of the Kane Gang' in 1984.

The single 'Respect yourself', taken from that album, is a cover of The Staples Singers song. The song was written in 1970 by Luther Ingram, a Stax Records singer, and Mack Rice, a Stax house songwriter. Ingram, who was frustrated with the state of the world at the time, told Rice 'black folk need to learn to respect themselves.'

My collection: 7" single no. 2137
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, August 2, 1994
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Respect yourself' / 'Amusement park'