Angelique - Dario Campeotto

In December 2021 I bought a blue vinyl EP of 'Angelique' by Dario Campeotto, the Danish entry for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1961. It was a nice addition to the 'regular' 7" single of 'Angelique' which I'd bought back in 2014. 

However, recently I found this red vinyl single of 'Angelique', which features one of the tracks of the EP on the B-side. It seems that the track was quite popular back in 1961, with all these different editions being released.

My collection: 7" single no. 7225
Found: Discogs.com, received 19 June 2024
Tracks: 'Angelique' / 'Nella bella cita'

T.L.C. - Gemini

I already own a few singles by Gemini, the duo formed by Karin and Anders Glenmark. What's interesting about this duo is that they worked intensively with Björn and Benny from Abba. Even more interesting is the fact that this didn't lead to commercial success. And to top it off, the songs aren't actually very catchy. 

I wanted to try out this single when I saw it online, but I have to say that I do understand that this single didn't become an international hit. I'm not sure about those vocals, they sound a bit weird. Sometimes a record buyer experiments a bit, but not always with positive results. I guess that sums up my opinion about this single. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7226
Found: Discogs.com, received 19 June 2024
Tracks: 'T.L.C.' / 'Nearly there'

Voi Voi - Nora Brockstedt

In 1960, Norway debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest with a song called 'Voi Voi', performed by Nora Brockstedt (born 20 January 1923). The song was written by Georg Elgaaen. The lyrics set the scene of a little valley lit by the midnight sun in the distant north of Norway and tell of a song that the performer hears. Brockstedt then takes on the persona of a young Sámi woman who awaits her lover to come down from the tundra. The title ‘Voi Voi’ is a well-known sign of exclamation in Sámi. 

I was very lucky to finally find a copy of this legendary single online. It's pretty rare and usually commands very high prices. This time around, not so much. 

Nora’s career spanned more than 60 years. She passed away on 5 November 2015, aged 92. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7223
Found: Discogs.com, received 19 June 2024
Tracks: 'Voi Voi', 'Lilla Lilli-Ann fran Lillesand' / 'Ett Sommaräventyr', 'En dröm är allt'

Les aveux - Elton John & France Gall

While Elton John was recording what would become his 1980 album 21 at 33, he recorded about a dozen extra songs. Five of them would appear on his next album, The Fox. Two other songs were French-language songs as duets with the French singer France Gall. 'Les aveux' and 'Donner pour donner' appear on this single, released in France

I'd never heard of this release, but when I saw this single it intrigued me enough to want to buy it. It turns out that 'Les aveux' actually made the Dutch Tipparade, peaking at number 4, just missing out on the Dutch Top 40. Personally I think the B-side is better...

My collection: 7" single no. 7222
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, 1 June 2024
Tracks: 'Les aveux' / 'Donner pour donner'

House of fun - Madness

The European sleeve of Madness's 'House of fun' looks suspiciously like a picture disc... and it's probably because it is based on one. This picture disc should be seen as proof.

'House of fun' was released as a one-off single on 14 May 1982 and reached number one in the UK singles chart, spending nine weeks in the charts. The song was re-released in 1992, reaching number 40. It is the band's only number one single in the UK and in 2015 the British public voted it as the nation's 8th favourite 1980s number one in a poll for ITV.

The song is about coming of age. The lyrics tell the story of a boy on his 16th birthday attempting to buy condoms at a chemist. The UK age of consent is 16, and he makes a point of stating that he is "16 today and up for fun". However, the boy is misunderstood by the chemist, as he asks for the condoms using slang euphemisms, such as "box of balloons with a featherlight touch" and "party hats with the coloured tips". The confused chemist behind the counter eventually informs the boy that the establishment is not a joke shop, and directs him towards the "House of Fun". 

My collection: 7" single no. 7221
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, 1 June 2024
Tracks: 'House of fun' / 'Don't look back'

Walkin' in the rain with the one I love - Love Unlimited

'Walkin' in the rain with the one I love' is a 1972 single from the soul trio Love Unlimited, a studio group created by singer/producer Barry White. The main vocalists were female singers Glodean James, her sister, Linda James, and their cousin Diane Taylor. Glodean would eventually become White's wife in 1974; the couple would split up in 1988, though they never divorced. 

The song is notable for White's vocal appearance as a voice on the telephone. The lush sound and romantic atmosphere led to this becoming Love Unlimited's first hit record, eventually rising to number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and in the UK singles chart. 

The song is a bit too sugary sweet, but a classic nonetheless.

My collection: 7" single no. 7218
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, 1 June 2024
Tracks: 'Walkin' in the rain with the one I love' / 'I should have known'

Supernatural love - Donna Summer

'Supernatural love' is the second single from Donna Summer's twelfth studio album, Cats Without Claws (1984). The song was released on 23 October 1984. It was written by Summer, Michael Omartian and Bruce Sudano, and produced by Omartian. The typically 1980s synthesized song was remixed for its release as a single and became a minor hit in the US, peaking at number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

It was accompanied by a very colourful video again featuring Donna and husband Bruce Sudano as a star-crossed couple chasing each other through time when he is abducted by an evil enchantress—from the stone age into current 1980s New Wave, where Donna pursues the enchantress in order to save him. The edited remix done by Juergen Koppers was used in the video. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7217
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, 1 June 2024
Tracks: 'Supernatural love' / 'Suzanna'