Last Christmas - Wham!

One of the best known Christmas songs of all time, 'Last Christmas' was originally released in 1984 but re-released almost every year since then. I already wrote about the 1989 re-release on this blog five years ago, but this time I'd like to present to you two re-releases that I bought earlier this year.

The 1985 edition featured 'Blue (live in China)' on the B-side and came in the same sleeve that was used every year since then. My copy, pictured above, was created in the UK and comes in the kind of thick cardboard sleeve that is so uniquely British.

The 1988 edition, pictured below, was made in Holland and inevitably looks cheaper. There is also  an interesting mistake on the back cover, as it promises 'Everything she wants (live in China)', but apparently this is caused by them using the 1985 sleeve and simply replacing the line 'Blue' but leaving the line with 'live in China' intact.

I could of course have written two entries, but I'm sure this is more efficient. After all, we all have some Christmas duties to perform these days...

My collection: 7" single no. 5668 & no. 5471
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 23, 2014 & Kringloop Hebbes, Den Haag, July 25, 2014
Cost: 1 euro each
Tracks: 'Last Christmas' / 'Blue (live in China') & 'Last Christmas' / 'Everything she wants'

Say wonderful things - Ronnie Carroll

Ronnie Carroll returned in the Eurovision Song Contest the year after he appeared with 'Ring-a-ding girl'. 'Say wonderful things' was the song he competed with in 1963, and just like in 1962 he finished fourth. The single was considerably more successful in the UK singles chart, peaking at number 6.

The most popular version of the song in the United States was recorded by Patti Page, as the title song of her first album for Columbia Records. Page's record peaked only at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100 but was more successful in Australia, continental Europe and in Asian territories such as Hong Kong and Japan.

My collection: 7" single no. 5675
Found: Discogs.com, received December 2, 2014
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Say wonderful things' / 'Please tell me your name'

Ring-a-ding girl - Ronnie Carroll

Ronnie Carroll was born as Ronald Cleghorn on August 18, 1934 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He scored his first hit in 1956 with 'Walk hand in hand'. Having taken part in the 1960 UK Eurovision selection contest with the song 'Girl with a curl', he returned to win the selection and be Britain's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1962.

The song 'Ring-a-ding girl' received 10 points, placing 4th in the field of 16 competitors. The single reached number 46 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 5674
Found: Discogs.com, received December 2, 2014
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Ring-a-ding girl' / 'The girls in their summer dresses'

Damned if I do - Alan Parsons Project

'Damned if I do' is a single taken from the Alan Parsons Project's 1979 album 'Eve'. The focus of the songs on this album is on the strengths and characteristics of women, and the problems they face in the world of men.

The lead vocal on this single is performed by Lenny Zakatek. He was born just prior to Karachi becoming part of Pakistan and moved to London at the age of thirteen. The single was successful in the USA and Canada, where it peaked at number 27 and number 16, respectively, but it failed to chart in Europe.

My collection: 7" single no. 5673
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 23, 2014
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Damned if I do' / 'You lie down with dogs'

Catch me if you can - Hot Eyes

Hot Eyes was the name adopted for international acts by the Danish singing duo known in their home country as Kirsten and Søren. It was formed by Kirsten Siggard (born 7 September 1954 in Slagelse) and Søren Bundgaard (born 4 March 1956 in Glostrup). In 1984 they participated in the Eurovision Song Contest as Kirsten and Søren with Det' lige det, but in 1985 they participated as Hot Eyes with 'Sku' du' spørg' fra no'en?' ('What business is it of yours?'). At the close of voting, this song had received 41 points, placing 11th in a field of 19 competitors. The duo would return to the Contest in 1988 with the song 'Ka' du se, hva' jeg sa'?', again as Kirsten & Søren.

One single by Hot Eyes then. I found this copy at a cheap German dealer's stall at the record fair in Utrecht, much to my surprise. It features the English version of their 1985 Eurovision song, with the original Danish version on the B-side.

My collection: 7" single no. 5669
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 23, 2014
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Catch me if you can' / 'Sku' du spoerg' fra no'en'

Io così non ci sto - Mariella Farré

Mariella Farré (born 1963 in Thurgau as Gabriella Filomeno) is a Swiss singer of Italian descent, best known for her participation in the Eurovision Song Contests of 1983 and 1985. Farré's first attempt at Eurovision came in 1981 when, as a newcomer, she entered the Swiss selection heat, only for her song "Una cosa meravigliosa" to finish sixth and last. She was to have more luck in 1983 with 'Io così non ci sto' ('I don't like it this way'), which won the selection and went forward to the Eurovision Song Contest, where it finished in a disappointing 15th place of the 20 entries.

This single is a good example of how expensive online dealers can be: while this single was offered on Discogs.com for €3.50 by some Dutch dealer, I picked it up for a fraction of that price at the recent record fair in Utrecht. But then, Dutch online vendors are not generally known for their generosity.

My collection: 7" single no. 5664
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 23, 2014
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Io così non ci sto' / 'Soli'

Feuer - Ireen Sheer

Ireen Sheer was born on February 25, 1949 in Basildon, Essex, England. She has competed in several Eurovision Song Contests over the past four decades. She married another musician, Gavin du Porter, in 1976.

'Feuer' ('Fire') was the German entry in the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest. This was Sheer's second Eurovision entry, in 1974 she had represented Luxembourg with Bye Bye I Love You, then singing in French. The song was performed thirteenth on the night. At the close of voting, it had received 84 points, placing 6th in a field of 20 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 5663
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 23, 2014
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Feuer' / 'Oh, mon amour'