A message to your heart - Samantha Janus

'A message to your heart' was written and composed by Paul Curtis and performed by the unknown singer Samantha Janus during the 1991 Eurovision Song Contest. Curtis wrote a socially conscious track about poverty and starvation, full of the usual cliches: we should all be very happy because we're living in 'paradise'. Yeah, right.

On the night of the Contest, Janus was dressed in a pink mini-dress, flanked by three women (Zoë Pico, Lucy Moreby, and Nicky Belsher) in white mini-dresses. Janus later commented that she thought her performance was 'ridiculous', because she was dressed in such a sexy outfit singing about starving children. The song finished tenth on the Contest and reached number 30 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3953
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'A message to your heart' / 'Heaven is a place for heroes'

I'm never giving up - Sweet dreams

Carrie Gray, Helen Kray and Bobby McVay formed Sweet dreams in 1983, when they were selected to represent the UK during the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest with 'I'm never giving up'. The song finished sixth in the Contest and reached number 21 in the UK singles chart. The group was re-launched later in the year as Dreams, but their new single '17 electric (look out!)' failed to chart.

Bobby McVay went on to become a local radio presenter. Carrie Gray married singer David Grant and became a vocal coach. In this role she appeared in BBC Television's Fame Academy in 2002-2004, and has also participated in a few Eurovision programmes on BBC 3.

My collection: 7" single no. 3952
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'I'm never giving up' / 'Two way mirror'

Waiting for the loveboat - The Associates

After the departure of Alan Rankine and Michael Dempsey, The Associates was basically the solo project of Billy MacKenzie. He started working on what was to become the album 'Perhaps', released in 1985. The album was preceded by the single 'Waiting for the loveboat', a minor hit single peaking at number 53 in the UK singles chart.

Because the album 'Perhaps' only sold 40,000 copies whereas it cost £250,000to make, MacKenzie fell into significant debt to his record company.

My collection: 7" single no. 3951
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Waiting for the loveboat' / 'Schampout'

Popmuzik (1989 re-mix) - Robin Scott's M

Robin Scott celebrated the tenth anniversary of his biggest hit 'Popmuzik' with a new remix of the track. It was released in June 1989 and became M's first UK hit since 1980's 'Official secrets'. The single peaked at number 15.

The original 1979 mix of 'Popmuzik' is featured on the B-side of this single, although that one sounds remixed as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 3950
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'Popmuzik (1989 re-mix)' / 'Popmuzik (Original 1979 mix)'

So far so good - Sheena Easton

Sheena Easton recorded 'So far so good' for the soundtrack of the movie 'About last night', released in 1986. It was just after she'd released the album 'Do you', which was produced by Nile Rodgers (the B-side is taken from that album), and this track was produced by Narada Michael Walden. The Scottish girl was working with a lot of 'black' artists, although she was yet to meet the man who would turn her career around: Prince.

This single reached number 43 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. I don't know if it was released in the UK - this is an American pressing.

My collection: 7" single no. 3949
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'So far so good' / 'Magic of love'

Flash - Stephanie

It's always weird to find a single not intended for the UK market in a shop in the UK. But here I was, finding a copy of Princess Stephanie of Monaco's 'Flash', the French version of 'One love to give'.

As described in that post, this single reached number 4 in France and number 28 in Switzerland. Due to the similarity of the sleeve I doubted for a moment whether or not I had this single already. I'm glad I decided to take it with me just in case. Turns out I really didn't have this one!

My collection: 7" single no. 3948
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Flash' / 'Le sega Mauricien'

Where does the time go - Julia Fordham

Julia Fordham released 'Where does the time go' in 1989 as a single from her second album 'Porcelain'. The male voice on the track was performed by John O'Kane. The single peaked at number 41 in the UK singles chart.

Although I am not familiar with most of Fordham's work, I decided I wanted to try this one out, if nothing else for the ridiculously low price of this disc.

My collection: 7" single no. 3947
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 10p
Tracks: 'Where does the time go' / 'My little secret'