Free 4 track solid EP - Various artists

British magazine Record Mirror would give away 7" vinyl singles with their issues from time to time, sometimes containing exclusive content. These singles are being sold on the second hand market these days, for varying amounts. This copy was not too expensive, and since it contains two of my favourite artists, I quite liked to buy it.

The Pet Shop Boys offer their early track 'In the night', whereas Depeche Mode make an appearance with the album track 'Dressed in black'. Unfortunately the B-side of this EP contains nothing more than some random rapping over boring beats. You can't win them all.

My collection: 7" single no. 6011

Found: Discogs.com, received March 12, 2019
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Dressed in black' (Depeche Mode), 'In the night' (Pet Shop Boys) / 'Slow and low' (Beastie Boys), 'Dangerous' (LL Cool J)

Well, did you evah! - Deborah Harry & Iggy Pop

In 1990 the album Red Hot & Blue raised money for Aids research. The album contained Cole Porter songs covered by pop artists. Miss Otis regrets was a single from the album, featuring a version by Kirsty MacColl and The Pogues.

This single was another release from the album: 'Well did you evah', covered by Deborah Harry and Iggy Pop. I didn't really like this song a lot at the time, so I never bought the single, but during a recent online shopping spree I found this single and didn't mind picking it up. Personally I still prefer the B-side: 'Who wants to be a millionaire' by the Thompson Twins.

My collection: 7" single no. 6018
Found: Discogs.com, received March 19, 2019
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Well did you evah' (Deborah Harry & Iggy Pop) / 'Who wants to be a millionaire' (Thompson Twins)

Danube - M

You wouldn't be far off the mark if you associated the letter M with that one hit single, Popmuzik, from 1979. Personally I always preferred Moonlight and muzak, a track taken from the same album 'New York London Paris Munich', but that's as far as the general public's recall of Robin Scott's work goes.

After three albums M was dropped by his label. At this point Robin Scott signed to Stiff Records and released the single 'Danube', featuring his girlfriend Brigit Novik on vocals. The single was released on yellow vinyl with a transparent sleeve on which a blue M was printed. With the single in it, this M turned green in parts - what a nice effect. High marks for the novelty effect!

My collection: 7" single no. 6019
Found: Discogs.com, received March 19, 2019
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Danube' / 'Neutron'

Word up - Melanie G

After the Nineties were taken over by the Spice Girls, the group fell apart as quickly as they'd appeared in the charts and the members all went solo. Melanie G - who was previously called Melanie B, but changed that last letter after her marriage with Jimmy Gulzar - released a cover version of Cameo's 'Word up' in 1999. Interesting fact: 'Word up' was actually her only release as Melanie G. In 2000 she released her debut album 'Hot' as Melanie B. That's how brief her marriage was...

This jukebox release features the song in the radio edit and a remix version. I wasn't particularly intent on owning this single but as part of a bigger mail order I didn't mind getting it, especially since it wasn't that expensive.

My collection: 7" single no. 6020
Found: Discogs.com, received March 19, 2019
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Word up (radio edit)' / 'Word up (Tim's dance mix)'

Menina do alto da serra - Tonicha

Tonicha was born as Antónia de Jesus Montes Tonicha on 8 March 1946, in Beja, Alentejo, Portugal. She represented Portugal in the Eurovision Song Contest 1971, with the song 'Menina do alto da serra' ('Girl from the country mountain'). She finished on ninth place in a field of eighteen competitors.

'Menina do alto da serra' is a classic Eurovision song, the kind you don't get to hear anymore these days. It's beautiful and melodious. This copy comes straight from Portugal, where I ordered it, and despite its age it looks almost like new.

My collection: 7" single no. 6012
Found: Discogs.com, received March 13, 2019
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Menina do alto da serra' / 'Mulher'

Midnight - Coldplay

Coldplay has become, for some, the epitome of uncool. Still the band manages to release some cool songs from time to time - although I must say that I lost track of them in recent years. I couldn't resist buying this single, though: it was released for Record Store Day in 2014, and limited to just 3000 copies. The B-side contains no music - it just has an etching which frankly isn't even that beautiful. 'Midnight' was taken from the band's album 'Ghost stories', also released in 2014.

I found this single while shopping in Delft, in a real 'bricks and mortar' record shop. 'Support your local record shop' a huge banner inside screamed. 'I would love to', I thought, 'but where I live there are no more record shops'. Still I didn't mind supporting this record shop because they did have a good selection: I also bought two cd's together with this single. It was a good day. It felt good buying music in a real record shop. Shit, I'm getting old.

My collection: 7" single no. 6017
Found: Sounds, Delft, March 16, 2019
Tracks: 'Midnight'

Leyla - Vayta

Vayta was born as Seid Memić on March 8, 1950. He was the vocalist for the Yugoslav rock band Teška Industrija between 1975 and 1979. In 1981, he was selected to represent Yugoslavia with the song 'Leyla'. The song ended up in 15th place in a field of 20 competitors, despite its noticeable dramatic qualities. This single is a Portuguese copy, which isn't surprising because it came from a Portuguese seller from whom I ordered quite a few singles.

Vayta went on to present a children's programme throughout the Eighties. In 2007, Teška Industrija reunited and released a new album, 'Kantina'. They continued to released new albums, their most recent being 'Selfie' (2016).

My collection: 7" single no. 6014
Found: Discogs.com, received March 13, 2019
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Leyla (Yugoslavian version)' / 'Leyla (English version)'