Tom Pillibi - André Popp

André Charles Jean Popp (19 February 1924 – 10 May 2014) was a French composer, arranger and screenwriter. During the 1950s, Popp created unique space-age instrumental recordings and by the early 1960s had built a strong reputation in the music recording industry, becoming a sought-after arranger. When the Sixties arrived he had to adapt to new trends. 

He worked almost exclusively with female singers during this period, preferably the Lolita types, such as Chantal Goya, but also with Françoise Hardy. In 1960 he composed 'Tom Pillibi' for Jacqueline Boyer, who won the Eurovision Song Contest with it. He felt the need to record the composition himself. Together with his own orchestra he recorded four tracks for this EP. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7413
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Tom Pillibi', 'La belle au bois' / 'Tique taque', 'San Marino'

Der Troubadour - Lenny Kuhr

Not only did I buy 'El Trovador' last week, I also found the German version of 'De troubadour'. Lenny recorded both versions after her Eurovision win in 1969. There's are also English, French and Italian versions of the song, but those are even harder to find than these two. 

Fortunately all versions can be found online, on this page. I'll keep looking for those missing versions on 7" vinyl in the meantime...

My collection: 7" single no. 7412
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Der Troubadour' / 'Mais non, monsieur'

El Trovador - Lenny Kuhr

Lenny Kuhr made the Netherlands proud when she was one of the four winners of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1969 with her song 'De troubadour'. It was quite astonishing that a young girl with a guitar and a song in Dutch could get that far. It was the last time that the Netherlands would win in Dutch, by the way.

In order to appeal to the international audiences Lenny recorded the song in several languages. And since the Eurovision Song Contest was held in Spain that year it seemed logical to make a Spanish version. 'El Trovador' is a charming version of a wellknown song.

My collection: 7" single no. 7411
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'El Trovador' / 'Oh no señor'

Það sem enginn sér - Daniel

Daníel Ágúst Haraldsson (born 26 August 1969) is an Icelandic singer. He has been part of the local and international music scene since he started his career with the Icelandic pop group Nýdönsk in 1987. In 1989, he participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 1989 for Iceland with the song 'Það sem enginn sér'. He finished in 22nd place, scoring no points.

The single has become a bit of a rarity. Online it isn't sold at all (at the moment), and at the record fair last week I could only buy the single for a bit of an inflated price. Still, it's worth it, because the song appears on this disc both in Icelandic and English.

My collection: 7" single no. 7410
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Það sem enginn sér' / 'No one knows'

Fernando en Filippo - Milly Scott

Although I already own a single of Milly Scott's 'Fernando en Filippo' (for 15 years, in fact!) I recently discovered that there are two different studio versions of the song. The other one is known as the 'slow' version, and this one is known as the 'quick' version. 

Comparing the two, it is certain that this version is quicker than the other one, and the instrumentation is different too. Quite why there are two versions, I don't know. But I guess the quicker version was recorded to make it more appealing. Or the slow one. I don't know.

My collection: 7" single no. 7408
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Fernando en Filippo' / 'Graag of niet'

Io si, tu no - France Gall

France Gall represented Luxembourg with 'Poupée de cire, poupée de son' at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1965, and won. She went on to record the song in various languages. So far, I've been able to find the Japanese and German versions, and now there's the Italian version too.

This one comes in a  generic record company sleeve, but on the plus side: it's a promotional single. It's always a surprise to hear an artist sing in another language, and I think France does it well. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7407
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Io si, tu no' / 'Se agli amici dirai'

Weit, da wo der Strom beginnt - Robert Cogoi

I already have two singles of Robert Cogoi's 'Près de ma rivière': a regular 7" single and an EP. Both come with a picture sleeve featuring the same photograph of the singer. But he also recorded his song in German, and of course: that single also shows the singer in the same pose.

'Weit, da wo der Strom beginnt' is curiously hidden away on the B-side of this single; the A-side is actually 'Nur noch einmal nach Haus'. Sometimes record companies want to profit from a moment of fame (hence the red lettering on the sleeve) but they put unknown songs on the A-side.

My collection: 7" single no. 7405
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Nur noch einmal nach Haus' / 'Weit, da wo der Strom beginnt'