Gwendolyne - Julio Iglesias

I already own a copy of 'Gwendolyne' by Julio Iglesias, the Spanish entry for the 1970 Eurovision Song Contest - possibly one of the country's most beautiful entries ever. When I bought my copy 15 months ago, I didn't know this one existed...

...It's a promotional single which features four versions of the song: in Spanish, English, Italian and French. Of course it's all sung with a delicious Spanish accent, but it's a rarity that I suspect many Eurovision fans would kill for, 31 years after its release...

My collection: 7" single no. 5110
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, June 4, 2011
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'Gwendolyne (Espanol)', 'Gwendolyne (Ingles)' / 'Gwendolyne (Italiano)', 'Gwendolyne (Frances)'

When I think of you - Janet Jackson

My collection of Jackson records is far from complete, but I do have most of the albums, 7" singles and cd-singles released by Michael and Janet since 1988. Problem is, before the cd-single became popular, they'd released several singles on vinyl only. As such, most of the remixes from Janet's album 'Control' have only been released on vinyl.

This 12" single is a good example. Although there is a cd called 'Control: the remixes', it does not contain all four versions included on this disc. As such, it is worth having. And I'm glad to have come across a cheap copy...

My collection: 12" single no. 561
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, June 4, 2011
Cost: 2,25 euro
Tracks: 'When I think of you (Dance remix)' / 'When I think of you (Instrumental)', When I think of you (Extra beats)', 'When I think of you (Dub)'

Masked moods - Blue Rondo

A search of 25 years came to an end two years ago when I found the 7" single of 'Masked moods' by Blue Rondo. I thought that would be the end of it, but I should have known there was also a 12" single. Not that it contains a different version of the track, but I bought this copy just to be sure. It was quite amazing to spot it in a record shop not too far from home - and getting 50% off because that record shop is closing down.

Despite the absence of a different version of 'Masked moods', it's still a nice 12" single, as the other tracks are very dancable.

My collection: 12" single no. 560
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, June 4, 2011
Cost: 2,75 euro
Tracks: 'Masked moods', 'The method' / 'Samba no pé', 'Heavens revisited'

For you only - Alison Moyet

'For you only' was the last single to be taken from Alison Moyet's debut solo album 'Alf'. It was a new version of the track, but for reasons unknown, it wasn't released in the UK, but only in some European countries.

This 12" single features an extended version of that new version. It is a nice extended version because it is not a total remix, something that would happen more often in the late Eighties.

My collection: 12" single no. 559
Found: Record fair, 200X
Cost: unknown
Tracks: 'For you only (Extended new version)' / 'Twisting the knife'

Strong as steel - Five Star

The ballad 'Strong as steel' was the second single from Five Star's 1987 album 'Between the lines', their third album. It reached number 16 in the UK singles chart.

This 12" single featured the full album version of 'Strong as steel' (as opposed to the 7" single, which featured an edit) and a remix of the 1986 hit single 'Can't wait another minute'. Apparently there was another 12" single featuring a megamix of Five Star hits instead.

My collection: 12" single no. 455
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 22, 2008
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Strong as steel' / 'The man', 'Can't wait another minute (M&M Groove Remix)'

Heart and soul - T'pau

Ron Rogers and Carol Decker from T'pau have just released Story behind the tracks, a remarkable collection of demos and unreleased tracks from 1987 and before, when T'pau celebrated their first success with the single 'Heart and soul'.

I actually have two 12" singles of this hit single: a UK pressing and a German one. There is a difference between the two: while the UK version contains two remixes of the title track, the German has a live version of 'Taking time out'. I bought both some time after their release.

My collection: 12" single no. 102
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 1990
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Heart and soul (US Dance mix)' / 'Heart and soul (remix)', 'On the wing'

My collection: 12" single no. 558
Found: Record fair, 1999
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Heart and soul (remix)' / 'On the wing', 'Taking time out (live mix)'

When am I going to make a living - Sade

I don't have a lot of test pressings and white label records, but this one must be pretty sought after by Sade fans. I found it in one of the Music & Video Exchanges in London in a corner of a basement in Camden. I would never have bought it if the sleeve, which was white, had been written on. That way, it was easier to recognise this record - a snip at just 50p.

Not that this particular 12" single had a lot to offer: two tracks from Sade's debut album 'Diamond life' and the B-side 'Should I love you', which I already had at the time. But still, it's a white label record. Collectors items like these are quite hard to find.

My collection: 12" single no. 106
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 1990
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'When am I going to make a living' / 'Why can't we live together', 'Should I love you'