Sussudio - Phil Collins

'Sussudio' was released as a single from Phil Collins' 1985 album 'No jacket required'. The main lyric came about as Collins was improvising lyrics to a drum machine track he had programmed: 'Suss-sussudio' was a wording that scanned improperly. After trying to find an alternative word to fit the rhythm, the singer decided to keep 'Sussudio' as the song title and lyric. The song is about a normal crush that a schoolboy may have on a girl and that by saying 'suss-sussudio' may raise speculations about the boy having a stutter.

The single reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 17 in Germany and number 12 both in the UK and the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 5159
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Sussudio' / 'The man with the horn'

Massachusetts - Bee Gees

'Massachusetts' is a song written, recorded, and released by the Bee Gees in 1967 and later appearing on their 1968 album, 'Horizontal'. It was their first Number 1 hit in the UK and eventually became one of the best selling singles of all times.

At the time of release, the Bee Gees consisted of Robin, Barry & Maurice Gibb plus Vince Melouney (lead guitar) and Colin Petersen (drums). Shortly after 'Massachusetts' was recorded, Beatles manager Brian Epstein told him that it was beautiful and would be the hit of the summer. These proved to be Epstein's last words to Maurice; Epstein died a few days later.

My collection: 7" single no. 5140
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Massachusetts' / 'Barker of the U.F.O.'

Une petite Française - Michele Torr

'Une petite française' was the Monegasque entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1977, performed in French by French singer Michèle Torr. The song was composed by Olivier Toussaint and Paul de Senneville, a very successful team whose compositions were recorded by major French singers such as Michel Polnareff, Christophe, Dalida, Petula Clark, Claude François and Mireille Mathieu all through the 60s and 70s.

'Une petite française' is a mid-tempo ballad, with Torr describing herself as an average Frenchwoman, rather than the cosmopolitan types more commonly associated with that country. She confides that she is no Marilyn, she never reads about her own life in the magazines, she doesn't own a Rolls, she doesn't consider herself an idol, she hasn't read Pascal, she rarely visits Paris, she hasn't changed her name, she leads a quiet provincial life with her children - she just happens to be country girl from Provence who likes to sing. She asks her audience to be the judge of whether she should have left her home for a career in music. Despite her peculiar voice, the jury apparently thought so, because she ended up in 4th place in a field of 18 contestants.

My collection: 7" single no. 5185
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Une petite Française' / 'Le mal de Mai'

Eyes - Donna Summer

'Eyes' is the third and final single from the album 'Cats without claws' by Donna Summer. Edited in length from the original version on the album, the single did not achieve chart success.

The song was mixed by the then very popular John ´Jellybean´ Benitez.

My collection: 7" single no. 5167
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Eyes' / 'It's not the way'

I've gotta get a message to you - Bee Gees

'I've gotta get a message to you' is a song recorded by the Bee Gees in 1968, which became their second number 1 single in the UK singles chart. The song is about a man who, awaiting his execution in the electric chair, begs the prison chaplain to pass a final message on to his wife.

Robin Gibb, who wrote the lyrics, said that the man's crime was the murder of his wife's lover. He came up with the idea following a quarrel with his wife and originally conceived the song with Percy Sledge in mind to record it. In fact, Sledge did record it in February 1970.

My collection: 7" single no. 5137
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I've gotta get a message to you' / 'Kitty can'

Let your love flow - Bellamy Brothers

'Let your love flow' was written by Larry E. Williams, a former roadie for Neil Diamond, and made popular by the American country music duo The Bellamy Brothers. It was offered to Neil Diamond first, but he turned it down.

The single reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 6 in the Dutch Top 40. In 2008 the song was used in an advert in the United Kingdom for Barclaycard (right - 'Let your money flow'...). Subsequently, the song re-entered the UK Singles Chart and peaked at number 21.

My collection: 7" single no. 5134
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Let your love flow' / 'Inside my guitar'

I won't let the sun go down - Nik Kershaw

'I won't let the sun go down' was Nik Kershaw's debut single, released in 1983. The song was written during the latter part of the Cold War period when nuclear war between the two superpowers of the USSR and USA was still a very real concern, and the lyrics reflect a satirical view of politics and the threat of war with lines such as: 'old men in stripey trousers, rule the world with plastic smiles', and: 'forefinger on the button, is he blue or is he red?'

Originally the single only reached number 47 in the UK charts. However, the follow up single from the same album, 'Wouldn't it be good', reached the top five and on the back of that success 'I won't let the sun go down' was re-released and soared to number 2. It was also subsequently a major hit in several other countries and was responsible for bringing Nik Kershaw to greater public attention.

My collection: 7" single no. 5147
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I won't let the sun go down' / 'Dark glasses'