Si tu aimes ma musique - Stella

'Si tu aimes ma musique' ('If you like my music') was the Belgian entry for the 1982 Eurovision Song Contest, performed by Stella. The song finished 4th in a field of 18 competitors.

Stella Maessen was born in Zandvoort, the Netherlands on August 6, 1953. She previously competed for the Netherlands in 1970 with her sisters in a group called Hearts of Soul, and in 1977 for Belgium in the group Dream Express.

My collection: 7" single no. 4137
Found: Backtrack, Antwerpen, November 7, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Si tu aimes ma musique' / 'Renegade'

Su canción - Betty Missiego

Beatriz Teresa 'Betty' Missiego was born January 1, 1945 in Lima, Peru. She began her career as a dancer in Peru, but had to stop this career after an injury. In 1969 she moved to Spain to pursue a singing career. She took on Spanish citizenship in 1972.

In 1979, she represented Spain in the 24th Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Su canción'. She ended up in second place, behind Israel's Milk and Honey with the song 'Hallelujah'. The single was (obviously) a hit in Spain, but it was also released elsewhere in Europe. To this day, copies of this single pop up everywhere as it didn't chart in most countries. I finally bought my copy of the single this weekend.

My collection: 7" single no. 4136
Found: Backtrack, Antwerpen, November 7, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Su canción' / 'Contrastes'

Honey honey - Abba

This French version of the single 'Honey honey' by Abba features a photograph of their performance of 'Waterloo', the song that gave them a Eurovision victory earlier on in 1974. 'Honey honey' was released as the followup to that hit around the world, with the exception of the UK.

The single reached number 2 in Germany and number 4 in Austria and Switzerland. Elsewhere in Europe, it was less successful, peaking at number 16 in the Netherlands and number 12 in Belgium. However, it was a hit for Abba in the USA, peaking at number 27.

My collection: 7" single no. 4135
Found: Backtrack, Antwerpen, November 7, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Honey honey' / 'King Kong song'

That's the way the money goes - M

Robin Scott, a.k.a. M, released his debut album 'New York, London, Paris, Munich' in 1979. The best known single (as well as the first one) from the album is 'Popmuzik', but 'That's the way the money goes' was another single taken from that album - the third one.

Not that it was as successful: it did not chart in most of Europe, and only reached number 45 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4134
Found: Backtrack, Antwerpen, November 7, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'That's the way the money goes' / 'Satisfy your lust (before you go bust)'

Souvenir - Orchestral manoeuvres in the Dark

A tape consisting of slowed-down loops of a choir tuning up lent by ex-OMD member Dave Hughes was the initial inspiration for 'Souvenir'. Although very displeased with the original version, the band decided it had some merit after all, after having re-recorded it. The song features a rare lead vocal by Paul Humphreys. He was satisfied with his attempt at singing and would continue to sing lead vocals for some other OMD songs later on.

'Souvenir' reached number 3 in the UK singles chart and number 29 in the Dutch Top 40. This single is the European version of the single, which features a different sleeve when compared to the UK original.

My collection: 7" single no. 4133
Found: Backtrack, Antwerpen, November 7, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Souvenir' / 'Motion & heart (Amazon version)'

Lovin' you - Shanice

'Lovin' you' was originally released in 1975 by Minnie Riperton. The sugary sweet song reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and was a worldwide hit.

Shanice Wilson recorded a cover version of the song on her 1991 album 'Inner child'. It was released as the second single from the album after the successful single 'I love your smile'. It could not match the success; it only reached number 54 in the UK singles chart, while it didn't chart in the Dutch Top 40. Shanice recorded the song for a second time on her 2006 album 'Every woman dreams'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4132
Found: Backtrack, Antwerpen, November 7, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Lovin' you' / 'I love your smile (Driza Bone single remix)'

The last time - Agnetha Fältskog

In 1987, Fältskog travelled to Malibu, California, to record the album 'I stand alone', produced by Peter Cetera and Bruce Gaitsch. Released in November of that year, it spent weeks at number 1 in Sweden, but was only a minor success in the rest of Europe.

When the first single 'The last time' appeared in the shops, I didn't buy it on account of Agnetha's strange hair on the sleeve photograph and the fact that the single was produced by Peter Cetera (whom I only knew from his boring middle of the road ballads at the time). 'The last time' was not a hit: it didn't chart in the Netherlands and the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 4131
Found: Backtrack, Antwerpen, November 7, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'The last time' / 'Are you gonna throw it all away'