Boom bang-a-bang (spanish version) - Lulu

In 1969, four artists won the Eurovision Song Contest. This was due to there being not enough rules in case of a draw. Since then, the rules - and the voting system! - have changed so this is not likely to ever happen again.

One of the winners that year was Lulu with her song 'Boom bang-a-bang'. Such was the success, that she recorded the song in German, Italian, French and Spanish. Wikipedia casts some doubts about the existance of a Spanish version sung by Lulu, but I think the listener has to decide whether this is Lulu or not. She certainly pronounces her Spanish very bueno!

My collection: 7" single no. 5901
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 14, 2018
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Boom bang-a-bang (cantado en espanol)' / 'Morning dew'

Jesus he knows me - Genesis

Genesis had a good run of hit singles after the release of 'We can't dance', their last album with Phil Collins. The album was a far cry from their experimental-folkrock-psych beginnings, sounding more poppier than they ever had.

'Jesus he knows me' was the fourth single from the album, a satire of televangelism as performed by people like Jimmy Swaggart, Robert Tilton and Jim Bakker. It was a hit in most countries where it was released, peaking at number 20 in the UK, number 23 in the USA and number 11 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 5900
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 14, 2018
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Jesus he knows me' / 'Hearts on fire'

C30 C60 C90 go - Bow wow wow

This is the debut single of Bow wow wow, released in July 1980. Initially it was only released as a cassette single (the world's first ever cassette single, in fact), but a few weeks later this single appeared. With a black label and the lyrics of the song on the sleeve it was an attractive design but pretty anonymous.Who were these people?

The band was put together by Malcolm McLaren, after persuading Matthew Ashman, David Barbarossa and Leigh Gorman to leave Adam & the Ants. 13-year-old Annabella Lwin was recruited as the band's singer. The band's debut single reached number 34 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 5899
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 14, 2018
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'C30 C60 C90 go' / 'Sun sea and piracy'

Fall at your feet - Crowded House

Crowded House have consistently released great singles throughout their career. I never became interested in their albums, but those singles stand the test of time. A recent discovery was 'Fall at your feet', a song which I ignored when it was released, but when I heard it on Kim Wilde's radio show recently it struck me as a beautiful song with a beautiful melody.

The song was taken from the band's 1991 album 'Woodface'. It peaked at number 17 in the UK. The B-side of this single is the earlier hit 'Don't dream it's over'. 'Fall at your feet' has been covered by James Blunt, English pop punk band Busted, and flamenco guitarist Jesse Cook with singer Danny Wilde.

My collection: 7" single no. 5898
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, June 14, 2018
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Fall at your feet' / 'Don't dream it's over'

Portugal no coração - Os Amigos

Now that I own pretty much all of the 'obvious' Eurovision 7" singles, I am heading towards the more obscure - and usually more expensive - releases. It is an art to spend as little as possible while also getting more and more Eurovision entries on 7" vinyl.

Who remembers the Portuguese entry from the 1977 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest? I would guess not many people do, but the sleeve of this single is a joy to watch - especially when it is in such good shape. I bought it from a Portuguese dealer at the record fair in Utrecht last Saturday, who promised more when he comes to the next edition in November. Here's hoping he'll help me find more great rarities.

'Portugal no coração' reached 14th place in the contest. The song is a ballad in praise of Portugal itself. The song is about freedom, brotherhood and hope. Many of the verses of the lyrics are acclamations of the end of the dictatorship that lasted for 48 years, and the end of the wars that the Portuguese people had been forced to fight on the African colonies by that dictatorship. It's also a love hymn from Portuguese people to their ex-colonies people, whom they had fought.

My collection: 7" single no. 5896
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 14, 2018
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'Portugal no coração' / 'Cantiga de Namorar'

Falling - One-eyed Jacks

I am currently re-watching Twin Peaks, after having been consumed by the third season of this epic series last year. The story is bewildering, the music is enchanting. With Julee Cruise on vocals, 'Falling' became the soundtracks of the time, but several other acts had a go at this song and being the collector that I am, I wanted to get them as well.

So far, this single eluded me. I did find a cd-single some time ago, but to have it on vinyl is of course best. This version of 'Falling' includes a George Michael-style loop, and substandard vocals. But anyway, this is a 'nice to have'.

My collection: 7" single no. 5895
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 14, 2018
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Falling (Log Lady mix - short version)' / 'Falling (The Ronette Pulaski mix)'

Please please please let me get what I want - Dream Academy

I am pretty pleased and surprised when I find a single I never saw before of a band I know and love - and with this one it was a case of 'well, it's cheap, I may as well check it out'. Most people know the Dream Academy for their mid-Eighties hit Life in a Northern town only, but I checked out a few other singles by them and I was never disappointed.

This particular single was released in 1985, pretty soon after The Smiths released the song as a B-side to their 1984 single 'William, it was really nothing'. The single reached number 83 in the UK singles chart. A later cover version by Slow Moving Millie in 2011 was more successful: it peaked at number 31.

My collection: 7" single no. 5894
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 14, 2018
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Please please please let me get what I want' / 'In places on the run'