Christmas forever - Nova

It's impossible to find information about the Dutch duo Nova, that recorded the single 'Christmas forever' in 1981. It was released but never charted, and the song is credited to E.O. MacDonald and H. Promes and recorded and mixed at 'Rena Sound' in Rotterdam. The single was released on the unknown MacProPoc label.

Of course, there was also 3a synthesizer duo called Nova around at the time, but this duo remains unlisted on any of the websites around today. Still, it's a Christmas song with religious overtones and a nifty melody line.

My collection: 7" single no. 4643
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Christmas forever' / 'My dream'

Last Christmas - Wham!

Most people know Wham's 'Last Christmas' - and about half of them love the song, the other half loathes it. It's a holiday staple every year, and more than a hundred covers of it exist.

It's less wellknown that the first release of this single appeared in a limited edition gatefold sleeve. I certainly didn't know this until January this year, when I bought this single in Amsterdam. The inside of the gatefold features the lyric of the song and an extra photograph of the popular duo.

My collection: 7" single no. 4488
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Last Christmas' / 'Everything she wants'

Doris Day - Doe Maar

Contrary to what people from abroad may think, Doe Maar's song 'Doris Day' was not a tribute to the American actress, but rather a complaint about the fact that there was never anything good on TV, just a film with Doris Day or a boring opera. The song suggests that it's better to turn off the one eyed monster and go out and have fun.

The single was released in the first half of 1982 and was the first big hit for the band, who would subsequently become 'as big as the Beatles' in the Netherlands for two consecutive years. 'Doris Day' reached number 9 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4980
Found: Kringloop, Lisse, December 18, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Doris Day' / 'Winnetoe'

Going back to my roots - Odyssey

The writing team of Holland-Dozier-Holland had several hits in the Sixties, as writers of songs by the Supremes, the Four Tops and the Isley Brothers. This single, 'Going back to my roots' by Odyssey was released in 1981 - the song was written by Lamont Dozier alone.

He still had what it takes: the single reached number 4 in the UK singles chart and in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4979
Found: Kringloop, Lisse, December 18, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Going back to my roots' / 'Baba awa'

Get up and boogie - Freddie James

It's strange how a run of the mill disco track can sound quite good thirty years on. Freddie James recorded the track in 1979 and managed to get a worldwide hit with it, despite his age (he was just a young kid).

The single reached number 54 in the UK singles chart, but reached number 3 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4973
Found: Empire Record, Den Haag, December 3, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Get up and boogie' / 'Get up and boogie (instrumental)'

Heartache all over the world - Elton John

Double singles have always been irresistible to me, so when I spotted this one I bought it despite the fact that I didn't know the A-side track. Elton John is a classic singer/songwriter anyway, so most of his stuff is worth listening to. With the exception, perhaps, of 'Heartache all over the world', which is a piece of music that doesn't really go anywhere.

Despite being described as a 'non-hit' on Wikipedia, it still managed to reach number 7 in Australia. In the UK, it didn't get past number 45.

My collection: 7" single no. 4966
Found: Sister Ray, London, October 31, 2010
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Heartache all over the world' / 'Highlander' // 'I'm still standing' / 'Passengers'

Walking in the air - Aled Jones

Aled Jones was born on December 29, 1970. He was raised in the small Welsh-speaking community of Llandegfan, in Anglesey and attended Ysgol David Hughes. Jones joined the choir of Bangor Cathedral at age nine and was lead soloist within two years. The remarkable clarity of his treble voice was appreciated by a member of the congregation, Hefina Orwig Evans, who wrote a letter to local record company Sain, and he was duly signed. In 1982 he won the Cerdd Dant solo competitions for competitors under 12 at the Urdd Eisteddfod.

He became famous when he recorded 'Walking in the air' for the Channel 4 animated film 'The snowman', based on the book by Raymond Briggs. It reached number 5 in the UK singles chart three years later. I actually got to know the song two decades later, when All About Eve recorded a remarkable cover on their album 'Iceland'. However, this version - with full orchestra - is in a league of its own.

My collection: 7" single no. 4954
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 31, 2010
Cost: 10p
Tracks: 'Walking in the air' / 'Walking in the air (instrumental)'