In 1989, Leigh Jaeger sang a cover of Robert Palmer's 'Johnny & Mary'. The track was produced by Stephen Stewart-Short, but received an 'additional production and remix' treatment by Phil Harding and Ian Curnow for PWL. No wonder, then, that this track sounds suspiciously like a Stock/Aitken/Waterman production.
So who is Leigh Jaeger, actually? The internet fails to give any information about her, and her only claim to fame seems to be this single.
My collection: 7" single no. 5697 Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, January 16, 2015 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Johnny & Mary (remix)' / 'Johnny & Mary (instrumental)'
Well, the following could become complicated... Dries Holten was born on January 30, 1936 in Cimahi, Dutch East Indies. He represented the Netherlands as Andres in the Eurovision Song Contest alongside Sandra Reemer. Sandra en Andres, as they called themselves, performed Als het om de liefde gaat. They were a duo until 1975, when Andres said he wanted to work behind the scenes more.
Sandra went on to participate in the Dutch national final in 1976 and was surprised to learn that Andres had teamed up with Rosy Pereira to form Rosy & Andres. Together they sang 'I was born to love', the song that is presented on this single. They were unsuccessful: Sandra won the national final with The party's over and went on to represent the Netherlands in The Hague.
My collection: 7" single no. 5596 Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, January 16, 2015 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'I was born to love' / 'Why don't you phone me'
In the early Nineties, vinyl singles were becoming increasingly scarce. For some reason, singles from that era have become rather collectible. As a result, a single like this commands prices upwards of 8 euros on the internet. If they are offered at all, that is. Imagine my surprise when I found this copy in a big store filled with singles at 1 euro!
Sarah Bray represented Luxembourg in 1991 with 'Un baiser volé', a song composed by Patrick Hippert with lyrics by Mick Wersant and Linda Lecomte. At the close of voting, it had received 29 points, placing 14th in a field of 22 competitors.This single presents both the French and English versions.
My collection: 7" single no. 5595 Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, January 16, 2015 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Un baiser volé' / 'One stolen kiss'
Frida Boccara used the melody of Vivaldi's Concerto for two mandolins in G major for 'Les quatres chemins de l'amour', a single released in 1970. It was the year after her impressive Eurovision win with 'Un jour, un enfant', one of the most melancholy Eurovision winners ever.
It's never fun and games with Frida Boccara, so this song sounds almost upbeat in comparison. Classical music can lend itself to modern interpretations, and this one is a good example.
My collection: 7" single no. 5693 Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, January 9, 2015 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Les quatres chemins de l'amour' / 'La croix, l'étoile et le croissant'
After Vulcano participated in the Dutch national final of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1983, finishing second with Een beetje van dit, they were hopeful the next year, participating once again. They participated with the song '1 2 3', which, if you understand Dutch, has a very strange lyric for a Eurovision song. It's all about a party where things are a bit 'strange'. The song then progresses into a happy chorus, which seems to describe the joys of a swingers club.
The band wasn't successful: they lost out to Maribelle, whose Ik hou van jou represented the Netherlands in the 1984 Eurovision Song Contest. Vulcano, meanwhile, split up in 1986, only to reform 20 years later - without ever releasing any new records, focusing on live performances instead.
My collection: 7" single no. 5892 Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, January 9, 2015 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: '1, 2, 3' / 'Ik wil je in een hokkie'
Diana Ross is one of the true female superstars in the history of pop. She could be criticized for not writing her own material, but no one ever does. 'No one gets the prize' was the second single taken from her 1979 album 'The Boss', released as a single after the title track. Both were actually written by Ashford and Simpson (the duo that would become famous in the Eighties with their own hit single 'Solid').
'No one gets the prize' was almost a prophetic title: the single didn't become a hit. It only charted in the UK, where it peaked at number 59.
My collection: 7" single no. 5690 Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, January 3, 2015 Cost: 0,25 euro Tracks: 'No one gets the prize' / 'Never say I don't love you'
'Right in the socket' was the third and last single taken from Shalamar's 1979 album 'Big fun'. While the album was Shalamar's third album, it was the first to feature the band's 'classic' line-up of Jeffrey Daniel, Howard Hewett and Jody Watley. Hewett had replaced Gerald Brown early on in 1979 after conflicts over lack of payment from Dick Griffey and Solar Records.
This single was only a minor hit in the UK, peaking at number 44 in the singles chart. It isn't entirely inconceivable to interpret the lyrics in a sexual manner, but that's all up to the listener of course.
My collection: 7" single no. 5689 Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, January 3, 2015 Cost: 0,25 euro Tracks: 'Right in the socket' / 'Girl'
