'Sing Sang Song' was the German entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1976, performed in German by the Les Humphries Singers.
The Les Humphries Singers had had a series of hits Continental Europe and Scandinavia in the early Seventies, most notably 'Mexico' (1972) and 'Mama Loo' (1973). The group's usual line-ups consisted of 20 performers and up from all over the world. For their performance in Eurovision they were however reduced to six singers; two female and four male.
Their Eurovision song was composed by Eurovision veteran Ralph Siegel, who had made his debut in the 1974 Contest when he wrote Ireen Sheer's 'Bye Bye I Love You', representing Luxembourg, this was however his first entry for his native Germany.
The song received 12 points, placing 15th in a field of 18 competitors. In late 1976 the group disbanded.
My collection: 7" single no. 5640 Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received August 29, 2014 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Sing sang song' / 'Slow down'
A duet between two country singers, Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers serves as the very definition of 'uncool' these days. But still, in some quarters, both these people are still revered as legends. Dolly Parton rocked Glastonbury earlier this year, and Kenny Rogers is still regularly touring the USA and Canada to sold out theatres. Apparently, he's also the owner of his own chain of chicken-based restaurants called Kenny Rogers Roasters (in California and, rather amazingly, Asia).
'Islands in the stream' was written by the Bee Gees, and reached number 1 in the USA, Canada and Australia. Rogers and Parton went on to record a Christmas album together, and had an additional hit with their 1985 duet 'Real Love'.
My collection: 7" single no. 5463 Found: unknown Tracks: 'Islands in the stream' / 'Midsummer nights'
Paul Young released his fourth solo album 'Other Voices' in 1990. The album peaked at number 4 in the UK albums chart, selling over 100,000 copies. The first single from the album was 'Softly whispering I love you', written by Roger Greenaway and Roger Cook in 1967. The song was originally recorded by the duo under the name of David and Jonathan. It was covered in 1971 by the Congregation and in 1972 by Johnny Farnham and Allison Durbin.
Paul Young's version was a hit in the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands, peaking at number 21, 16 and 44 respectively.
My collection: 7" single no. 5420 Found: unknown Tracks: 'Softly whispering I love you' / 'Leaving home'
Released in 1989, 'A bit of U2' is the debut single by Kiss AMC, featuring a sample of U2's 'New Year's Day'. This single was quite controversial because the title actually mentioned U2, something the band wasn't too happy about. Later copies would cut the word from the title, naming it 'A bit of...' instead. This is why I wanted to buy this copy, because it is a rarity in a way. And you know how much I like rarities.
Kiss AMC consisted of sisters Anne and Marie Copeland. They took a chance on using the sample but still got permission from the band to use it. Further singles by the duo were unsuccessful. Which really isn't much of a surprise if you listen to the B-side of this single.
My collection: 7" single no. 5432 Found: Music Exchange, London Tracks: 'A bit of U2' / 'The raw side'
'Ring Ring' was originally a 1973 single by ABBA, which gave the group their big break in several European countries (although the rest of Europe, North America and Australia would be introduced to ABBA the following year). It was originally written in Swedish by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, along with their manager Stig Anderson, and the translation into English lyrics was helped by Neil Sedaka and Phil Cody.
This German single was actually released in 1974, after ABBA had won the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Waterloo'. It couples 'Ring Ring' with another previous single hit, 'Honey Honey'.
My collection: 7" single no. 5365 Found: unknown Tracks: 'Ring Ring' / 'Honey Honey'
Listening to this old single by Fleetwood Mac, you realise the band has got quite a history. You wouldn't recognise this as a Fleetwood Mac single if you grew up in the Eighties or later. There is a reason, of course, for this metamorphosis: in the Sixties, the band's blues rock guitarist and founder member Peter Green was a major member of the band, until he left in 1970, being diagnosed with schizophrenia and spending time in psychiatric hospitals.
The composition and its arrangement suggest a relaxing sea setting, with
cymbals imitating the sound of waves (Mick Fleetwood played his drum
kit using timpani mallets to give a muted sound) and a dreamy solo from
Green's guitar. It is often assumed that Green used his Les Paul but he said it was his Fender Stratocaster, as there is subtle use of the vibrato bar. The single, released in November 1968, went no. 1 in the UK singles chart and no. 2 in the Netherlands.The B-side, 'Need your love so bad', released as a single in its own right four months earlier, was similarly successful, reaching no. 31 and no. 4 respectively.
My collection: 7" single no. 5395 Found: unknown Tracks: 'Albatross' / 'Need your love so bad'
No, this is not the big - and sometimes very irritating - hit single by Pharrell Williams, but a song recorded in 1973 by Michael Jackson for the movie 'Lady sings the blues' (although it doesn't actually appear in that movie). According to Smokey Robinson, who wrote 'Happy', the song was inspired
by the film's melody, which was originally composed by Michel Legrand.
He explained, "I was looking at the movie one day, and I was listening
to that melody, and I thought it was just such a beautiful melody, until
I wanted to write some words for that melody, which I did, and I went
and I sang them for Berry Gordy, and he was really upset because I
didn't write them before he finished the movie so they could've been in
the movie." Jackson continued to perform the track in concert as late as 1977, citing it as one of his favorite songs.
Record companies are always eager to cash in on success, and so Motown re-released this track in 1983 when Jackson hit it big with the many hit singles from his album 'Thriller'. 'Happy' appeared as a regular single, a limited edition in a poster sleeve and this, a picture disc.
My collection: 7" single no. 5645 Found: Alan's Records, London, September 9, 2014 Cost: 3,5 pounds Tracks: 'Happy' / 'We're almost there'
