Fool's paradise - Rosie Vela

The strange thing about collecting records is that you always discover something new. I thought I had every track by Rosie Vela when I bought this 12" single of 'Fool's paradise', featuring a 'new 12" mix'. All the other tracks appeared on the album 'Zazu' and the singles never presented other versions. 

Behind this single, the 7" version of that 12" single. It presents a 'new version' on the B-side, which like the 'new 12" mix' is remixed by Eric Thorngren. This, of course, is the UK 7" single which is different to the German 7" single I bought in 2009. It looks like my work is finally done on this artist now.

My collection: 7" single no. 6993
Found: Discogs.com, received 31 May 2023
Tracks: 'Fool's paradise' / 'Fool's paradise (new version)'

Worlds apart - Cock Robin

'Worlds apart' is arguably Cock Robin's best single overall, eclipsing their biggest hit 'The promise you made' easily as far as I'm concerned. The strange thing about the late Eighties is that many acts that were so popular during the earlier years of that decade suddenly couldn't interest the general public anymore despite still making great music.

Anyway, I own that single obviously, but here's a Spanish promo edition that has a different sleeve, only one playable side and the full length version of the track (instead of the edit that appears on the commercial single). A must have single. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6992
Found: Discogs.com, received 31 May 2023
Tracks: 'Worlds apart'

La canzone Italiana 41 - Claudio Villa

'La canzone Italiana' is, apparently, a series of 50 EP's presenting Italian songs, all released in 1970 - the year of my birth, incidentally. Some of them are interesting because they contain Italian Eurovision entries, although not all of them are included in the original versions.

This EP is a good example. All four songs are performed by Claudio Villa, who is an accomplished singer, but it was not him who performed 'Corde della mia chitarra' at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1957; it was Nunzio Gallo. Still, I wanted this one because it's really hard to find Gallo's version on a 7" single. A cover version is better than nothing, I suppose!

My collection: 7" single no. 6991
Found: Discogs.com, received 12 May 2023
Tracks: 'Luna rossa', 'Addio, sogni di gloria!' / 'Serenata celeste', 'Corde della mia chitarra'

Promise - Voyager

It's time to give Australia some love. While the Finnish entry was certainly the winner and I quite liked some of the other songs, the Australian performance yesterday was awesome. The band Voyager staged an Eighties-themed show and added in some metal ingredients as well, while still presenting a very melodic song.

And then there's this very limited edition 7" single! Only 300 copies exist of this magenta-coloured vinyl (there's a black vinyl version, also limited to 300 copies as well). I managed to obtain number 30. The B-side, 'Dreamer', is pretty good as well. This is a band that impressed. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6990
Found: Band website, received 12 May 2023
Tracks: 'Promise' / 'Dreamer'

Burning daylight - Mia Nicolai & Dion Cooper

The Dutch duo Mia Nicolai and Dion Cooper have had so much filth thrown towards them in the Dutch media that I was wondering at some point why they even bothered going to Liverpool. They probably should have said to all those who were so critical that they should take their place. A little bit of support from your own country wouldn't be too much to ask for, wouldn't it?

The song was written by former Eurovision winner Duncan Laurence and his boyfriend Jordan Garfield, with additions by Loek van der Grinten and Mia & Dion themselves. Back in March the song reached number 21 in the Dutch Top 40, and that was just before all the mayhem started. We know how it ended now: the duo performed in the first semifinal and got a lousy seven points, ending up in 13th place in their semifinal against 15 competitors, finishing in 32rd place (against 37 competitors) overall.  

My collection: 7" single no. 6989
Found: Platenzaak.nl, received 12 May 2023
Tracks: 'Burning daylight' / 'Burning daylight (instrumental)'

Hawaii - PiL

The annual disappointment of an undeserving winner - in my opinion and most of the televoters I could say this year - has happened last night and the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 is history. But the whole thing actually already started with a disappointment!

It was announced, some months ago, that Public Image Limited, the band of ex-Sex Pistol John Lydon, would participate in the Irish national final. 'Hawaii' was a song dedicated to Lydon's wife who was suffering from Alzheimer's. It would have been quite fabulous to see PiL representing Ireland this year, but somehow the Irish chose for a middle of the road, 'once heard quickly forgotten' song by a young band. Well, at least there's this 7" single which presents the song in two versions. I didn't know Lydon was also a visual artist, but it was he who created the artwork. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6988
Found: Amazon, received 11 May 2023
Tracks: 'Hawaii' / 'Hawaii (edit)'

Because of you - Gustaph

Somewhere in the next few days (well, Thursday actually), Gustaph will perform in the second semifinal of this year's Eurovision Song Contest with 'Because of you'. Overused James Brown-samples aside, this is a decent song that deserves a place in the final, if you ask me.

I'm also impressed that finally, after many years, a Belgian entry has been released on a vinyl single again. It's time that record companies realize that Eurovision fans will buy any Eurovision track on a physical medium, and although only a handful of singles are being released these days, it is a promising sign that the Netherlands (yes, the Dutch song will also be released on 7"!) and Belgium are doing what they should. Hopefully there's more to come.

My collection: 7" single no. 6986
Found: Official website, received 4 May 2023
Tracks: 'Because of you' / 'Because of you (DJ edit)'