Voltarei - Dora

Portuguese singer Dora (full name: Dora Maria Reis Dias de Jesus) represented her country twice: in 1986 with 'Não sejas mau para mim' and in 1988 with this song, 'Voltarei'. Like many Portuguese entries at the Eurovision Song Contest, they weren't very successful. The former ended up in 16th place, and the latter finished in 18th place.

The single features both the Portuguese version and the English translation, 'I'll come back'.

My collection: 7" single no. 5682
Found: Discogs.com, received December 9, 2014
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Voltarei' / 'I'll come back'

Songs for Europe - Kenneth McKellar

Scottish singer Kenneth McKellar was born on June 23, 1927 and studied forestry at the University of Aberdeen, then trained at the Royal College of Music as an opera singer. He went on to sing traditional Scottish songs.

In 1965, the BBC selected him to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest. This EP features all five songs that were performed during the national final. The song 'A man without love' was chosen for him to perform at Eurovision. It finished ninth in a field of 18 competitors, which was actually the UK's worst placing for a long time - until 1978. McKellar died of pancreatic cancer on April 9, 2010.

My collection: 7" single no. 5683
Found: Discogs.com, received December 12, 2014
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'As long as the sun shines', 'Country girl', 'A touch of the Tartan' / 'A man without love', 'Comes the time'

Sue (Or In a season of crime) - David Bowie

I started this year with an entry about David Bowie, so I thought it would be appropriate to end the year with Bowie as well. He surprised everyone - again - with his latest offering, 'Sue (Or In a season of crime)'. The single was released on 10" vinyl only, so no cd-singles, 7" or 12" at all. The track also appeared on his latest compilation, 'Nothing has changed'. But does the world really need yet another Bowie compilation album? I guess record companies still like to cash in with old stuff.

'Sue' is a weird offering, as it sounds a lot like jazz and it can seem a bit tedious, being such a long track. But repeated listening is rewarding. Bowie keeps changing, even if nothing much has changed.

My collection: 10" single [unnumbered]
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 23, 2014
Cost: 8 euro
Tracks: 'Sue (Or In a season of crime)' / ''Tis a pity she was a whore', 'Sue (Or In a season of crime) (edit)'

Komm' heut zu mir - Chocolate Menta Mastik

Chocolate, Menta, Mastik ('Chocolate, mint, gum') was an Israeli female musical trio, active in the Seventies, composed of Yardena Arazi, Ruthie Holzman and either Tami Azaria (1972-1973) or Leah Lupatin. The trio performed both in Israel and Internationally, especially after being the 1976 entry to the Eurovision Song Contest in The Hague with 'Emor Shalom'.

Founded in 1948, Israel was a 28-year-old country in 1976, giving the line "I've been alone for almost thirty years" an extra meaning- since it gained independence Israel was isolated in the Middle East, surrounded by hostile Arab countries (Egypt and Jordan signed peace agreements with Israel since then). At the close of voting, it had received 77 points, placing 6th in a field of 18 competitors. This single presents the German and English versions of their song.

My collection: 7" single no. 5680
Found: Discogs.com, received December 9, 2014
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Komm' heut zu mir' / 'Say hello'

Du bist Musik - Blue Danube

Blue Danube was an Austrian band that has represented their country in the 1980 Eurovision Song Contest. Their song 'Du bist musik' ('You are music') was filled with names of famous composers and certain types of music. The band consisted of Marty Brem, Wolfgang 'Marc' Berry, Sylvia Schramm, Rena Mauris and Wolfgang Weiss.

'Du bist Musik' received 64 points, placing 8th in a field of 19 competitors. The group split up after Eurovision, but Marty Brem reappeared solo on the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest, representing Austria with 'Wenn du da bist'.

My collection: 7" single no. 5679
Found: Discogs.com, received December 9, 2014
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Du bist Musik' / 'Du bist Musik (instrumental)'

Fångad i en dröm - Björn Skifs

Björn Nils Olof Skifs  was born on April 20, 1947 in Vansbro, Dalarna, Sweden. He formed his first musical group Slam Creepers in 1962. Slam Creepers split in 1969 and Skifs went on to form a new band, Blåblus, in 1972. As Blue Swede, the band had a number 1 hit on Billboard Hot 100 in 1974 with a cover of 'Hooked on a feeling'. Björn Skifs left the band in 1976 to pursue a solo career. He recorded the duet 'Med varann' with Anni-Frid Lyngstad for his 1975 album 'Schiffz'. Skifs appeared as The Arbiter on the original studio album for Chess, released in 1984. Skifs also recorded several demos for the album, including 'One night in Bangkok', later performed by Murray Head.

In 1981 he represented Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Fångad i en dröm'. This was the second time that Björn Skifs had represented Sweden in the contest, having previously entered the contest for Sweden in 1978 with the song 'Det blir alltid värre framåt natten'. Like in 1978, Skifs was the last performer of the night. At the close of voting, the song ended up in 10th place in  a field of 20 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 5678
Found: Discogs.com, received December 9, 2014
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Fångad i en dröm' / 'Stackare, stackare'

Valentino - Cadillac

I don't know why, but the 1986 Spanish entry for the Eurovision Song Contest always stuck out in my memory as one of the best Spanish entries ever. I had a lot of trouble finding a copy of the single ever since I started looking out for it some 20 years ago. Even online, because whenever I found a copy the seller was asking way too much for it.

That's why I was happy to finally spot a copy on Discogs.com last month for a reasonable price, and from a seller who had more interesting Eurovision singles on offer. After all these years, I finally have this single. And how did this song perform in 1986? At the close of the voting had received 51 points, placing 10th in a field of 20 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 5677
Found: Discogs.com, recieved December 9, 2014
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Valentino' / 'Tahiti'