Let it loose - Chris Rea

'Let it loose' was recorded by Chris Rea for the soundtrack of the movie 'Cross country'. The track also appeared on his 1983 album 'Water sign'.

Released as a single in February 1983, it only reached number 85 in the UK singles chart. At the time, the record company was barely interested in working with Rea, to a point that his album 'Water sign' was basically a collection of demos.

My collection: 7" single no. 5172
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Let it loose' / 'Urban samurai'

Tokyo nights - Bee Gees

'Tokyo nights' was released as the third single from the Bee Gees 1989 album 'One', but in Europe only. In America, the track 'Bodyguard' was released as a single instead.

The single was not a commercial success; as far as I know it didn't chart in any territory.

My collection: 7" single no. 5139
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Tokyo nights' / 'Will you ever let me'

One - Bee Gees

'One' is the second international single (and lead single in the U.S.) from the Bee Gees' 1989 album of the same name. This was the song that returned the Bee Gees back to American radio and would turn out to be their biggest US hit in the 1980s. It peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1989, and it stayed in the Top 40 for ten weeks.

Over in Europe, the single didn't do as well: it only reached number 37 in Germany, number 26 in Belgium and number 71 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 5135
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'One' / 'Flesh and blood'

Halleluja - The Bunker Boys

Some single releases are just ill-advised. Take for instance this single by the Belgian Bunker Boys. Released in 1979 on the unknown (and probably self-financed) Velpia Records label, it was a cover of that year's Eurovision winner 'Halleluja'. It's a beautiful song with a beautiful melody, but this instrumental version does not do any justice to it.

The Bunker Boys sound like a bunch of amateurs who by some freak of circumstances managed to get their rehearsals recorded and splurged out on vinyl. Well, it's a novelty record and a Eurovision cover - amusing enough to want to hear once.

My collection: 7" single no. 5186
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Hallelujah' / 'Espagnola'

I can't help it - Andy Gibb & Olivia Newton-John

In 1979, Andy Gibb performed along with the Bee Gees, ABBA, and Olivia Newton-John at the Music for UNICEF Concert at the United Nations General Assembly, which was broadcast worldwide. After this, he returned to the studio to begin recording sessions for his final full studio album, 'After Dark'.

In March 1980, the last of Gibb's top 10 singles charted just ahead of the album's release: 'Desire'. A second single, 'I can't help it', a duet with family friend Olivia Newton-John, reached the top 20.

My collection: 7" single no. 5144
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I can't help it' / 'Someone I ain't'

I see a star - Mouth & MacNeal

Besides the Dutch version 'Ik zie een ster', Mouth & MacNeal also released the English version of their 1974 Eurovision Song Contest entry as a single in Europe. In the case of the Belgian pressing, the sleeve was a variation on the Dutch one, making it quite a beautiful set.

'I see a star' actually became a hit in the UK, peaking at number 8 in the singles chart during the summer of 1974. They remained one hit wonders in that country though: follow-up singles never charted.

My collection: 7" single no. 5183
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'I see a star' / 'My friend'

Ik zie een ster - Mouth & MacNeal

'Ik zie een ster' is the original Dutch version of the 1974 Eurovision entry by Mouth and MacNeal, 'I see a star'. Although they performed the song in English during the Contest - as a result of relaxed language rules - this single contains a version entirely in Dutch.

The song was released as a single in the Netherlands in March 1974 and reached number 3 in the Dutch Top 40. That's quite remarkable, as 'I see a star' finished third during the Contest as well. This Belgian pressing features a much more beautiful sleeve than the Dutch pressing.

My collection: 7" single no. 5184
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Ik zie een ster' / 'Liefste'