Brother Louie - Hot Chocolate

Not to be confused with the Modern Talking song from the Eighties, this single by Hot Chocolate was written by band members Tony Wilson and Erroll Brown and released in April 1973. It's a song about an interracial love affair and a father who does not approve. Founding father of British blues Alexis Korner has a spoken word part in the song.

The single was a hit for the band, peaking at number 7 in the UK singles chart. The song was later covered by the American band Stories, the Quireboys and - unfortunately - Dutch singer Bert Heerink who created a Dutch version called 'Julie July'.

My collection: 7" single no. 5165
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Brother Louie' / 'I want to be free'

C'mon let's boogie - Kirka

As it says in Wikipedia: 'Kirill "Kirka" Babitzin (22 September 1950 – 31 January 2007) was a musician from Finland, but now he's dead'. It's a bit harsh, but it is the truth. There's more to the story than that of course, but there you go.

Kirka represented Finland in Eurovision Song Contest 1984 with the song 'Hengaillaan' (which is Finnish for 'hanging out'). The song finished ninth in a field of 19 competitors. This single features an English language version of the song, entitled 'C'mon let's boogie'.

My collection: 7" single no. 5177
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'C'mon let's boogie' / 'Oh Marie'

Don't stand another chance - Janet Jackson

Two major compilation albums with hits by Janet Jackson have been released so far, but both of them failed to include her earliest singles. Only a UK limited edition double cd package of 'Design of a decade' (1995) included a 12" version of 'Young love', 'Say you do' and this single, 'Don't stand another chance'.

It's even more amazing when you think that Janet actually released 10 singles before she hit it big with 'What have you done for me lately' - and subsequent singles. And one more thing: between 1982 and 1985 she didn't need to get her tits out to sell records. But then, she only sold half a million records in that time...

My collection: 7" single no. 5155
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Don't stand another chance' / 'Rock 'n' roll'

Give me just a little more time - Kylie Minogue

'Give me just a little more time' was originally released in 1970 as the debut single of Chairmen of the Board, an American soul band. The song was written by Holland, Dozier & Holland, who also released the single on their own Invictus label.

It was covered in 1991 by Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue. Minogue's version was featured in a commercial for Accurist watches at the time. It was one of the last tracks to be recorded for her fourth album, 'Let's get to it. It peaked at number 2 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 5152
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Give me just a little more time' / 'Do you dare (NRG edit)'

Eternity - Sheena Easton

'No sound but a heart' was Sheena Easton's eighth studio album, released in 1987 on the EMI label. The album was issued in Canada, Mexico, Japan, and other Asian markets. The album consisted of midtempo and ballad songs. The release of 'No sound but a heart' was hampered in the United States after EMI America was absorbed into EMI Manhattan records and two scheduled release dates for the album (February and June of 1987) were not met.

The album produced only one single, 'Eternity', written by Prince. The single was, amazingly, not a hit. This was Easton's final release on the EMI label, where she had started her career. She subsequently moved to MCA Records the following year in 1988.

My collection: 7" single no. 5149
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Eternity' / 'Shockwave'

Laat de zon in je hart - Aline

There is no information available about this release, so I don't know who Aline is, but I'll wager a guess that she's from Belgium. The label, Diamonds Records, is unknown, but the photograph on the sleeve was credited to one Clement in Maasmechelen and Diamonds Records could be reached via a Belgian phone number.

So what is 'Laat de zon in je hart'? It's a Flemish cover version of Wind's successful 1987 Eurovision Song Contest entry 'Lass die Sonne in dein Herz'. A collector's item of sorts.

My collection: 7" single no. 5178
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Laat de zon in je hart' / 'Memories of the wind (instrumental)'

Girls night out - Jody Watley

After the band Shalamar split up, Jody Watley moved to England, and while there she recorded a guest vocal with British Jamaican roots reggae group Musical Youth for their album 'Different Style'. She also recorded demos with Gary Langan, Anne Dudley and J.J Jeczalik (who later became Art of Noise). A brief stint with Phonogram Records yielded two demos that were released as promo records.

'Girls night out' was one of them, a single released in 1985. Billed simply as 'Jody', I only discovered this single because the shopkeeper was smart enough to put them in the 'Jody Watley' section. Otherwise, I wouldn't have found this bubbly piece of pop.

My collection: 7" single no. 5151
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Girls night out' / 'My house (4-free)'