Sweet memory - Belle Stars

After the Belle Stars had a big hit with 'Sign of the times', they released this single: Sweet memory. They put 'Sign of the times' on the B-side for some reason, but it's just the regular version of that track.

The single reached number 22 in the UK singles chart and number 30 in Ireland, but didn't achieve any chart success in Europe. In fact, only the 1989 re-release of 'Iko Iko' would bring them success outside of the UK again.

My collection: 7" single no. 6896
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 4 March 2023
Tracks: 'Sweet memory' / 'Sign of the times'

So long - Abba

Do I really need more Abba singles? Well, no, not really, but some covers are just too beautiful to resist. This copy of 'So long' was made in France and they gave it a colourful sleeve that was much more stylish than the boring German one.

I remember that, as a child, I thought this song was pure hardrock. Not much later I got into the 'disco-rock' of Kiss, and a few years later again I discovered that hardrock was actually quite a bit harder. And louder. But 'So long' is, to me at least, still Abba's big hardrock moment.

My collection: 7" single no. 6892
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 4 March 2023
Tracks: 'So long' / 'I've been waiting for you'

Medley no. 40 - Draaiorgel "De Arabier"

Dutch barrel organs are a bit of cultural heritage that mostly cause irritation when they're on the street these days. Back in the Seventies and earlier, people weren't so involved in Walkmans, ipods or iphones, and a bit of music was more appreciated. So much so, that the sound of these barrel organs was even recorded and released on singles.

Some of these singles are of special interest to me, for there's a bit of Eurovision on them. This EP is a good example: it finishes (on side B) with a version of 'Non ho l'eta', the only good Italian Eurovision winner (unless you think Toto Cotugno or Måneskin actually contributed beautiful melodies to Eurovision history). 

My collection: 7" single no. 6895
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 4 March 2023
Tracks: 'De winter was lang / Zondag in Amsterdam / Gib mir dein Wort' / 'Vous permettez monsieur / Ik heb 't geluk besteld / Non ho l'eta'

Love detonator - Jona Lewie

Jona Lewie only ever had two big hits in the UK, but he released several more singles, as you can see on this blog. 'Love detonator' was released in 1983 and represents his penultimate single release on the Stiff label. 

During the 1990s, Lewie appeared with solo public performances on a 60-day UK tour as guest of the Blues Band, playing venues such as theatres and civic centres, while occasionally playing one-off gigs such as that at the Hackney Empire, London and taking part in occasional radio and television broadcasts.

My collection: 7" single no. 6889
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 4 March 2023
Tracks: 'Love detonator' / 'The baby, she's on the street'

Johnny Blue (English version) - Lena Valaitis

One of the nicest features of Eurovision Song Contest songs from the last century was the release of several versions of the song by the original artists. They recorded their song in several languages, and often they were released on separate singles.

'Johnny Blue' was of course Lena Valaitis' Eurovision song in 1981, and despite the title she performed it entirely in German on the night. But an English version was recorded and released on a separate single, and even the B-side 'Jeder Mensch hat seinen Traum' was translated into English. 

I was very fortunate to find this copy for 50 eurocents - finds like these are what make record fairs so great. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6888
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 4 March 2023
Tracks: 'Johnny Blue (English version)' / 'Everybody has a dream'

Every kinda people - Mint Juleps

The group Mint Juleps, named after an alcoholic drink, consisted of four sisters: Sandra, Debbie, Lizzie and Marcia Charles, who were joined by two school friends, Julie Isaac and Debbie Longworth. They released three albums between 1985 and 1993. Their second album from 1987 was produced, remarkably, by Trevor Horn, and the single 'Every kinda people', a cover of the Robert Palmer track, was taken from that album. 

I could say it was their biggest hit, although it only reached number 58. The other charting single, 'Only love can break your heart', released in 1986, only made it to number 62. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6887
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 4 March 2023
Tracks: 'Every kinda people' / 'Ain't seen nothin' yet'

Am I losing you forever - Mai Tai

After the Dutch trio Mai Tai had two big hits in the UK in 1985, they tried their luck with the ballad 'Am I losing you forever' in November of that year. Despite an attractive sleeve, this single didn't find favour with the British audience: it only managed to reach number 78 during a two week chart run. It effectively ended their UK adventure: two subsequent releases in the UK only reached similar lowly positions.

For me, this single was a bit of an impulse buy, based on the glossy cover. But I wasn't disappointed: the B-side is actually very enjoyable too.

My collection: 7" single no. 6886
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 4 March 2023
Tracks: 'Am I losing you forever' / 'The rules of love'