Bert Gustav Tommy Körberg was born in Norsjö (Sweden) on July 4, 1948. In 1988, he represented Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Stad i ljus', a beautifully orchestrated ballad.The song finished 12th in a field of 21 competitors.
The single peaked at number 8 at the Swedish singles chart. On the single, the song appears sung in Swedish and in English. In 2013 Körberg tried to reach the Eurovision Song Contest one more time as part of he group Ravaillacz. They ended up in 10th place in the Swedish national final.
My collection: 7" single no. 5676 Found: Discogs.com, received December 12, 2014 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'Stad i ljus' / 'Unchained light'
Swedish singer Harpo is best known for his worldwide hit 'Moviestar', which was a hit in 1975. He followed that single up with this one: 'Motorcycle mama', a song with a lyric that mentions various Sixties phenomena, such as Woodstock, Jimi Hendrix, Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band and Ravi Shanker. Still, it only charted in Sweden and Denmark, peaking at number 8 and 9 respectively.
This single is memorable (or should be) because of the B-side, as it gives us a Christmas song, and one that hasn't been played to death. 'Beautiful Christmas' was written by Harpo himself. You won't find it on most of the Christmas compilation albums, so I consider this to be a rather exclusive Christmas experience. Enjoy!
My collection: 7" single no. 5399 Found: unknown Tracks: 'Motorcycle mama' / 'Beautiful Christmas'
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'
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'
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' 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'
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'
