De do do do de da da da - The Police

The Police recorded their nonsensical 1980 single 'De do do do de da da da' in two languages other than English: in Japanese and Spanish. It's not easy to find a good copy of this single in mint condition, so I was rather stunned to find one in the centre of Den Haag during today's record fair.

Unusually for an American 7" single this copy has a small centre hole. And it has to be said, hearing Sting sing in Japanese is an interesting experience, although Japanese readers of this blog would have to say whether his pronounciation is good enough. I would also venture that the Japanese version is better than the Spanish one.

My collection: 7" single no.  6059
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 4, 2019
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'De do do do de da da da (Japanese)' / 'De do do do de da da da (Spanish)'

Jerusalem - The Divine Comedy

This single features three different bands, but my reason for buying was undoubtedly the band featured on the A-side: The Divine Comedy. I own most of their albums (the earliest one are still hard to find) and most of their singles (again, the earliest ones are hard to find) so this is a nice addition. 'Jerusalem' also appeared on the Divine Comedy's debut mini album 'Europop'.

The other bands on this EP are A House and The Frank And Walters, also signed to the Setanta label. The two tracks on the B-side didn't grab me much - but perhaps you like them.

My collection: 7" single no. 6058
Found: Discogs.com, received May 3, 2019
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Jerusalem' (The Divine Comedy) / 'I lied' (A House), 'Daisy chain' (The Frank And Walters)

Ready boy & girls? - Tears for fears

Strangely enough, 'Ready Boy & Girls?' is the only new release by Tears for fears this decade. This is as much a statement of fact as it is a prediction. A new album by Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal has been awaited for the last few years, but nothing seems to be forthcoming. They are performing live, but if we were to believe Curt Smith on Twitter, the partnership is hanging by its fingernails right now - he almost didn't come along on tour this year.

So here it is, a white vinyl 10" vinyl record, featuring three cover versions done in Tears for fears style, released in a limited edition of 3000 for Record Store Day 2014. The songs on this record were originally recorded by Animal Collective, Arcade Fire and Hot Chip respectively. It took me five years to get this record, because Record Store Day releases are infamous for their ridiculous prices and their limited availability - especially since the region where I live has no record shops anymore. But lo and behold, I found a good copy for a reasonable price.

My collection: 10" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received May 2, 2019
Cost: 9 pounds
Tracks: 'My girls' / 'Ready to start', 'And I was a boy from school'

Som en dröm - Östen Warnerbring

In 1967, Sweden was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest by Östen Warnerbring, the kind of artist you wouldn't find in the contest these days anymore. He started out as a jazz musician but over the years, he became known as a singer of popular music, schlager music, and of Swedish poetry put into music by himself.

His first record was released in 1952. His talents as a singer were discovered by Arne Domnérus in the mid-1950s, and in 1964 he started touring folkparks. His major breakthrough came in 1965, when he sang 'En röd blomma till en blond flicka', a Swedish version of 'Red Roses for a blue lady'. In 1967, on the Eurovision stage, he sang 'Som en dröm' ('Like a dream'). At the close of voting, it had received 7 points, placing eighth in a field of 17 competitors.


Warnerbring died in San Augustin, Canary Islands on January 18, 2006.

My collection: 7" single no. 6056
Found: Discogs.com, received April 30, 2019
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Som en dröm', 'En valsfan' / 'En serenad till dej', 'Tänk ej mer pa mej'

Tom tom tom - Marion

'Tom tom tom' was the Finnish entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1973, performed in English by Marion Rung. This was Rung's second Eurovision entry, in 1962 she had made her debut in the Contest as a 16-year-old with 'Tipi-tii', which finished in 7th position. 'Tom tom tom' was performed first on the night and ended up in sixth place in a field of 17 contestants.

Marion went on to perform at the Polish Sopot festival in 1974 and 1980. During the Seventies and Eighties she had numerous TV shows. In 1995 she had a tour celebrating her 50th birthday. As one of the most popular Finnish female singers, Marion is still active. In 2000 she had a successful tour in Finland together with Katri Helena, Paula Koivuniemi and Lea Laven, three other popular Finnish female artists.

My collection: 7" single no. 6055
Found: Discogs.com, received April 30, 2019
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Tom tom tom' / 'My son John'

Man gratuliert mir - Cliff Richard

In 1968, Cliff Richard sang the UK's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest, 'Congratulations', written and composed by Bill Martin and Phil Coulter. He came second behind Spain's infamous winning song 'La La La'. Nevertheless, 'Congratulations' was a huge hit throughout Europe and Australia, and another number 1 hit for Cliff in April 1968.

Cliff Richard also recorded his Eurovision song in German: the lyrics in German for 'Man gratuliert mir' were written by Klaus Fleming. The song was only released in Germany, which makes this single a bit of a one-off.

My collection: 7" single no. 6054
Found: Discogs.com, received April 30, 2019
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Man gratuliert mir' / 'Ich kann treu sein'

If I could choose - Sean Dunphy

In 1967, Ireland was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest by Sean Dunphy, who was 29 years old at the time. Born on November 30, 1937, he became famous in his home country as lead singer with The Hoedowners, a showband led by trumpeter Earl Gill. Between 1966 and 1973, fourteen singles by Sean Dunphy and The Hoedowners entered the Irish Charts including, in 1969, two number ones: 'Lonely Woods of Upton' and 'When The Fields Were White With Daisies'.

'If I could choose' narrowly missed winning the Contest in 1967, finishing in second place behind Sandie Shaw's 'Puppet on a string'. Dunphy went on to have two further hits as a solo artist. He died at his home in Baldoyle, County Dublin on May 17, 2011.

My collection: 7" single no. 6053
Found: Discogs.com, received April 30, 2019
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'If I could choose' / 'Yellow bandana'