J'ai déjà vu ça dans tes yeux - Jeane Manson

Jeane Manson was born as Jean Manson on October 1, 1950 in Cleveland, Ohio. She was Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month for the August 1974 issue. She had a few film roles before she was a Playmate, but her entertainment career took a major turn forward when she moved to France soon after she appeared in Playboy.

Performing under the name Jeane Manson, she became a recording artist in Europe. Her albums have covered several genres, from pop to gospel and country. Jean also has hosted several television specials in France and had a regular role on the longrunning primetime soap Riviera. She represented Luxembourg in the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest in Jerusalem, achieving 13th place for her song 'J'ai deja vu ça dans tes yeux'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4902
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, May 28, 2010
Cost: 2,5 euro
Tracks: 'J'ai déjà vu ça dans tes yeux' / 'Ma pauvre musique'

Rubberband girl - Kate Bush

After a silence of four years, Kate Bush returned to the music scene in 1993 with the song 'Rubberband girl'. I remember Puck managed to buy a promotional cd-single two days before the release of the single for me, and so I got to hear the song a little earlier than usual. But of course, I had to buy several more formats until I would be entirely satisfied. So I bough the regular cd-single, the 2-track European cd-single, the American cd-single, an American promotional cd-single, a picture disc 12" single... plus the 7" single of course.

Out of all the formats, the 7" single is probably the most beautiful, with its glossy sleeve and picture labels. The single reached number 12 in the UK singles chart, but failed to chart in the Netherlands.

More recently, I found a jukebox promotional 7" single with no sleeve and a very basic black label. I guess it's a rarity, so I was rather surprised to pick it up for next to nothing.

My collection: 7" single no. 1947 / no. 4259
Found: HMV, London, September 25, 1993 / Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 2 pounds / 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Rubberband girl' / 'Big stripey lie'

Telegram - Silver convention

Producers and songwriters Sylvester Levay and Michael Kunze recruited Linda Thompson, Penny McLean and Ramona Wulf to form Silver Convention. After having had worldwide hits with disco tracks like 'Fly Robin fly' and 'Get up and boogie', they struggled to have more success with formulaic disco songs, but failed to do so.

In 1977, they represented Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Telegram'. As a result of a new language rule, they were allowed to perform the song in English. They finished eighth in a field of 18 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 4898
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received May 28, 2010
Cost: 1,25 euro
Tracks: 'Telegram' / 'Midnight lady'

If leaving me is easy - Phil Collins

Phil Collins debuted as a solo artist in 1981 with his album 'Face value'. Three singles were taken from the album, of which 'If leaving me is easy' was the last one. The single was released in a limited edition poster cover, and featured the demo version of 'In the air tonight' - Phil's very successful debut single - on the B-side.

'If leaving me is easy' reached number 17 in the UK singles chart and also charted in several European countries.

My collection: 7" single no. 4909
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received May 28, 2010
Cost: 2,5 euro
Tracks: 'If leaving me is easy' / 'Drawing board (In the air tonight)'

Someone to somebody - Feargal Sharkey

'Someone to somebody' was released in 1986 as the third single from Feargal Sharkey's self-titled debut album. In the UK, the single was released in a limited edition poster sleeve, featuring a live photograph and six different versions of the cover.

The single was Sharkey's least successful single up to that point, as it only reached number 64 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4908
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received May 28, 2010
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Someone to somebody' / 'Cold water'

Wouldn't change a thing - Kylie Minogue

What's odd about this single, is that it sounds so slow now. In the Eighties, Kylie was the hottest dance act in the Stock/Aitken/Waterman stable, but 'Wouldn't change a thing' sounds a lot like a 45rpm single played on 33rpm speed.

'Wouldn't change a thing' was the second single taken from Kylie's second album 'Enjoy yourself'. It reached number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 24 in Germany. It went top 10 in Australia and Finland.

My collection: 7" single no. 4907
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received May 28, 2010
Cost: 1,1 euro
Tracks: 'Wouldn't change a thing' / 'It's no secret'

Keep each other warm - Bucks Fizz

Although the popularity of Bucks Fizz was slowly fading, their record company still tried everything to keep the hit machine going. 'Love the one you're with', the second single from the band's 1986 album 'Writing on the wall', had reached number 47 in the UK singles chart but the record company didn't give up.

And so, a third single, 'Keep each other warm' was released as a limited edition double single, featuring a medley of all album tracks on the second disc. It helped, but only slightly: this single made it to number 45.

My collection: 7" single no. 4906
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received May 28, 2010
Cost: 2,8 euro
Tracks: 'Keep each other warm' / 'Give a little love' // 'Writing on the wall medley, part 1' / 'Writing on the wall medley, part 2'