I have a dream - Abba

Perfect for that end-of-year melancholy feeling, 'I have a dream' was released a few weeks before Christmas 1979. The song was written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus circa March 1979 and was taken from the album Voulez-Vous. Anni-Frid Lyngstad sang the lead vocals. The recording includes a final chorus by 28 children from Stockholm International School. The track is also notable for the extensive use of an electric sitar, an unusual instrument in Abba's recordings. 

The B-side featured a live recording of 'Take a chance on me', recorded at Wembley in London. 

This edition is a picture disc released as part of a series accompanying the re-release of the album Voulez-Vous in 2019. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7320
Found: Discogs.com, received 4 September 2024
Tracks: 'I have a dream' / 'Take a chance on me [live]'

Does your mother know - Abba

Some were surprised when the song 'Does your mother know' featured lead vocals by Björn Ulvaeus, after so many singles with female lead vocals. The subject matter was quite different too: the song was roughly about cross-generational flirting in big city night clubs. The inspiration for the lyrics came from a newspaper article, whilst the title was a phrase Ulvaeus had seen in a book or magazine. The demo featured his guide vocal and it was decided to keep this during the recording process.

While a top 10 hit in several countries, 'Does your mother know' only topped the charts in Belgium. 

This edition is a picture disc released as part of a series accompanying the re-release of the album Voulez-Vous in 2019. Although this single features one of the best photographs of the group, the quality of this picture disc leaves a bit to be desired, unfortunately: the faces look almost unrecognizable.

My collection: 7" single no. 7313
Found: Abba Fanclub, received 3 September 2024
Tracks: 'Does your mother know' / 'Kisses of fire'

Chiquitita - Abba

One of the songs recorded by Abba during sessions for their album Voulez-Vous was the syrupy ballad 'Chiquitita'. It's one of those songs you either love or hate, and for me, it's always tended towards the latter. However, the last few seconds of the song are great, which is kindof a weird twist.

'Chiquitita' was a charttopper in Belgium, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, Mexico, South Africa and Rhodesia. It was a top 5 hit in ABBA's native Sweden, the United Kingdom, Australia, West Germany and Norway. These sales makes it the most successful single from the album Voulez-Vous in terms of global charts and one of the more famous charity songs ever. To this day, 50% of the proceeds from the song go to UNICEF in recognition of the 'International Year of the Child' in 1979. 

This edition is a picture disc released as part of a series accompanying the re-release of the album Voulez-Vous in 2019. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7321
Found: Discogs.com, received 4 September 2024
Tracks: 'Chiquitita' / 'Lovelight'

Wild hearted woman - All About Eve

I haven't mentioned All About Eve's 'Wild hearted woman' since the 7" single in 2009. While I bought that single for just 1 guilder (0,45 euro in this day and age), the 12" singles I bought were considerably more expensive. Actually I don't really remember how much I paid for the 'original' 12" single, because it was a very long time ago. I am sure, however, that it was a second hand copy. There's a little bit of sticker residue on the back cover to remind me of that fact.

The 12" single features an extended version as well as two B-sides, adding 'Like Emily' to the 'Appletree man' which already appears on the 7" single. Both tracks appear on the band's debut album, released the same year.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: [unknown], 1989
Tracks: 'Wild hearted woman [extended]' / 'Appletree man', 'Like Emily'

$1 one vote - The The

'$1 one vote' is a single by The The, released last year as a strictly limited 7" single. According to Matt Johnson: “It is a song that has been percolating – in various versions – for a number of years. For some reason I was always having trouble finding the right words to finish it off. But the nascent dystopia of the last couple of years has certainly opened eyes, sharpened minds and clarified thoughts.”

It's no surprise that Johnson issues criticism on today's society, having done the same on his albums 'Infected' and 'Mind Bomb' three decades ago. It's good to have The The back - the new album Ensoulment was released two days ago.

My collection: 7" single no. 7316
Found: Discogs.com, received 3 September 2024
Tracks: '$1 one vote' / 'Mrs Mac'

Honey Honey - Abba

'Honey Honey' was released as the second single from Abba's second studio album, Waterloo, after the success of the title track at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest. Although some people believe that the group was instantly successful all over the world, this single was actually not the huge success that 'Waterloo' was. It reached the top 10 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, but in other countries it fared less well. Some assumed that the Swedish group would be a one hit wonder.

This edition is a picture disc released as part of this year's 50th anniversary celebrations, along with the album Waterloo. It's the last of three picture disc 7" singles.

My collection: 7" single no. 7305
Found: Sounds, Delft, 31 August 2024
Tracks: 'Honey Honey' / 'King Kong song'

Waterloo - Abba

While Abba performed 'Waterloo' in English at the Eurovision Song Contest, it was originally performed in Swedish at the national final for Eurovision. This Swedish version was also released as a single in Sweden, where it was very popular. 

Meanwhile, 'Honey honey' was the last official recording by the group in their own Swedish language, and was released as the B-side of the 'Waterloo' single. 

This edition is a picture disc released as part of this year's 50th anniversary celebrations, along with the album Waterloo. It's the second of three picture disc 7" singles, but the only one featuring a colour picture.

My collection: 7" single no. 7306
Found: Sounds, Delft, 31 August 2024
Tracks: 'Waterloo (Swedish version)' / 'Honey Honey (Swedish version)'