The Nits have become very famous for their arty pop songs, especially in the Nineties after 'In the Dutch mountains' had become a hit in various countries. Since then, their songs became ever more peculiar.
Compared to their later output, 1983's 'The Vermillion pencil' is a relatively straightforward pop song. The single was taken from their fifth album 'Omsk', which had already given them a hit single in the shape of 'Nescio'. This single, however, did not chart.
My collection: 7" single no.5458 Found: unknown Tracks: 'The Vermillion pencil' / 'Clean shirt in Paris'
'Rock the Casbah' was released by the Clash in 1982 as the third single from their fifth album, 'Combat Rock'. The song is a fictional story of a ban on rock music by the king
being defied by the population, who proceed to "rock the casbah." The
King orders jet fighters to bomb any people in violation of the ban. The
pilots ignored the orders, and instead played rock music on their
cockpit radios. It was inspired by ban on Western music in Iran after
the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The song reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US. It is the band's highest charting single worldwide, and their biggest hit in the Netherlands until a re-release of 'Should I stay or should I go' in 1991 was propelled into the top 10 thanks to a successful ad campaign using that song.
My collection: 7" single no. 5378 Found: unknown Tracks: 'Rock the casbah' / 'Long time jerk'
Right, so this is where things start to become a little confusing. The Spanish duo Baccara competed in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1978, representing Luxembourg, with a song called 'Parlez-vous Français?', which appears here in the English version. Confusingly, the title is still 'Parlez-vous Français?', although most of the lyric is in English - although it has to be said that the Spanish girls do not necessarily pronounce everything correctly.
During the contest they ended up in seventh place, partly thanks to full marks from Italy, Portugal and Spain. The song was a commercial success in most of Europe. Baccara competed for another appearance in Eurovision in 2004, when they appeared in the Swedish national finals. However, they lost out to local star Lena Philipsson.
My collection: 7" single no. 5638 Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received August 29, 2014 Cost: 1,5 euro Tracks: 'Parlez-vous Français?' [english version] / 'You and me'
'Behind a painted smile' is a song written by Ivy Jo Hunter and Beatrice Verdi.
It was recorded in 1967 by The Isley Brothers appearing on their album 'Soul on the rocks' and released as a single that reached number five in the UK singles chart and number 26 in the Dutch Top 40.
Dutch singer Mathilde Santing released a cover version of the song in 1982.
My collection: 7" single no. 5422 Found: unknown Tracks: 'Behind a painted smile' / 'One too many heartaches'
Luv Bug formed in late 1982 and consisted of sister and brothers June (lead vocals), Hugh (bass) and Max (guitar) Cunningham along with Ricky Meyler (vocals and keyboards) and Majella Grant (drums). They became successful as a live act throughout Ireland and released their first single 'Red Light Spells Danger' in 1984. The song was a cover of the Billy Ocean track and was followed up by a string of their own compositions, many of which became hits on the Irish Charts.
In 1986, they represented Ireland during the Eurovision Song Contest with 'You can count on me'. They ended up in fourth place. The group continued successfully, releasing their first album a year later. In 1988 they signed a recording deal with Virgin Records in the UK with two single releases under a different name, Heart of Ice. By the end of the decade the group had toured Europe and had completed some recording work in Los Angeles.
Luv Bug still continue today as a four-piece, performing live mainly in Ireland. Their set list is made up of cover versions, with none of their own songs included.
My collection: 7" single no. 5633 Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received August 29, 2014 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'You can count on me' / 'You can't have it'
The original single of Alicia Bridges' I love the nightlife was featured on this blog a few months ago, but I also own a copy of a remix of this track. It was released in 1994, after having been used in the movie 'The adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the desert'. The music video that accompanied this release featured Hugo Weaving, star of the movie.
The original track was a disco classic, and these remixes are less memorable. Typical Nineties fare, I would say, as many remixes from that decade have unfortunately turned out to be rather forgettable.
My collection: 7" single no. 5469 Found: HMV, London Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'I love the nightlife (Real Rapino 7" mix)' / 'I love the nightlife (Phillip Damien 7" mix)'
'The show must go on' was released as the third single from Queen's 1991 album 'Innuendo'. It was written mainly by Brian May. It chronicles the effort of Freddie Mercury continuing to perform despite approaching the end of his life; he was dying from complications due to AIDS, although his illness had not yet been made public in spite of ongoing media speculation claiming that he was seriously ill. Mercury was so ill, and could barely walk, when the band recorded the song in 1990, that May had concerns as to whether he was physically capable of singing it. Recalling Mercury's performance, May states; "he went in and killed it, completely lacerated that vocal".
It was released as a single in the United Kingdom on 14 October 1991 in promotion for the Greatest Hits II album, just six weeks before Mercury died. Following Mercury's death on 24 November 1991, the song re-entered the British charts and spent as many weeks in the top 75 (five) as it did upon its original release, initially reaching a peak of 16. By now, it is truly obvious that 'the show must go on', as Queen have just released another greatest hits album featuring a few 'new' tracks, recorded before Mercury's death, including a duet with another dead legend, Michael Jackson.
My collection: 7" single no. 5443 Found: unknown Tracks: 'The show must go on' / 'Keep yourself alive'
