Jennifer Jennings - Louis Neefs

Not so long ago, I acquired the French version of 'Jennifer Jennings' by Louis Neefs. Only two more versions to go, I wrote back then, and I was lucky enough to find the German version recently - and for a low price too! Obviously I had to order a couple more singles to make the postage worthwhile, but this was a very good catch. Certainly when it was described as 'very good', which on a scale towards 'very good +', 'near mint' and 'mint' is not something to write home about. Imagine my surprise when I actually received this one: it is nearly flawless! Okay, so there's a name and address written on the back of the sleeve, but it's the front of the sleeve that counts - and obviously the disc itself which is in a very good state, as you shall hear. 

Only one more version to go! Oh, those Italians... I hope there will be a generous one out there.

My collection: 7" single no. 6820
Found: Discogs.com, received 31 December 2022
Tracks: 'Jennifer Jennings (deutsch gesungen)' / 'I love you'

If you need me now - Alan Sorrenti

I bought the single 'Non so che darei' back in 2010, as part of my subcollection of Eurovision singles. Little did I know that the song was actually released on a 12" single as well. 

This 12" single was released in France only, and featured extended versions of both the English and Italian versions of the song. 'If you need me now' is the English version of 'Non so che darei' and appears on the A-side of this 12" single.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received 18 August 2022
Tracks: 'If you need me now [extended version]' / 'Non so che darei [extended version]'

Where are you - Imaani

Truth be told, I don't really like the 12" single format. I have sold a lot of them through the years just to make space for other things and generally I think it's much more efficient to have the same tracks on a CD-single, which takes up a lot less space. 

But sometimes tracks don't appear on that format, and I have to buy the 12" single anyway. These two remixes of Imaani's 'Where are you' never appeared on CD and so this 12" single is the only way to acquire them. They are relevant, of course, because 'Where are you' was the Eurovision song for the UK in 1998 and I just happen to love remixes of Eurovision tracks. When they are done right - and these are done just about right.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, 3 August 2022
Tracks: 'Where are you (Blue Icon's vocal club mix)' / 'Where are you (Blue Icon's lost piano mix)'

Destination - DT8 feat. Roxanne Wilde

It's not the first time that 'Destination' features on this blog - I bought a 12" single of this track many years ago and it was posted here twelve years ago. However, several different 12" singles of 'Destination' exist, each with their own remixes of the track. 

This particular one is a white label 12", featuring the original version of the track as well as remixes by Woody van Eyden and Trinity X. Even if dance music isn't your thing, the vocals of Roxanne Wilde - sister of Kim - truly lift this track up. 

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received 3 August 2022
Tracks: 'Destination (Original)' / 'Destination (Woody van Eyden remix)', 'Destination (Trinity X remix)'

The man with the child in his eyes - Kate Bush

If the sleeve of this single looks unfamiliar to you, you might not be familiar with the phenomenon of 'different sleeves for different countries'. This copy of Kate Bush's 'The man with the child in his eyes' comes from Poland, and the record company Tonpress decided on a completely different sleeve design in comparison to its Western European colleagues.

I ordered this single especially because of this different sleeve. I've been aware of it for years, but singles like this command unusually high prices. Fortunately, this particular copy was not as ridiculously priced.

Interestingly, the same photograph was used on the sleeve of the Yugoslavian pressing of the accompanying album, 'The Kick Inside'. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6819
Found: Discogs.com, received 24 December 2022
Tracks: 'The man with the child in his eyes' / 'Moving'

Genghis Khan - Genghis Khan

The German group Dschinghis Khan was very successful with their song of the same name. So much so that they created an English version called 'Genghis Khan'. 

What I didn't know was that they also released an extended version of this English version. What's more, this extended version was only released in Australia. It took me a while to find a copy at a half-decent price, but I finally managed to find one - but it still had to be flown in from Australia. The 12" version adds a couple of choruses and comes in a standard record company sleeve. It should have been an Astor record company sleeve, but I'll take the CBS one as a beautiful substitute.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received 10 December 2022
Tracks: 'Genghis Khan' / 'Desert land'

Przyda Się Do Kartoteki - Izabela Trojanowska & Stalowy Bagaż

The Polish rock band Stalowy Bagaż was founded at the beginning of 1981 in Wrocław. They disbanded in 1983. In 1981 they recorded this EP together with Polish singer Izabela Trojanowska. She would go on to record the single 'Brylanty' the next year, which I thought was a bit more sophisticated than this collection of straight rock songs. But then, I've always had a thing for keyboards.

This EP completes the set of Polish singles I received from my friend in Poland. It was an interesting ride and I've discovered quite a few things about Polish music that I didn't know. My favourite of the eleven discs has to be the one by Kombi. Which is hardly a surprise, as this one is the most futuristic sounding. For the early Eighties, that is.

My collection: 7" single no. 6818
Found: Received 21 November 2022
Tracks: 'Przyda się do kartoteki', 'Na bohaterów popyt minął' / 'Pieśń o cegle', 'Czysty zysk'