Fiumi di parole - Jalisse

As far as I know, this is the only 7" vinyl release of Jalisse's 'Fiumi di parole': an Italian promotional single featuring a track by Paola & Chiara on the other side. These Italian singles featuring two tracks from two different artists have been a 'thing' since the Seventies, but it was still a bit of a surprise to find this particular one. 'Fiumi di parole' was Italy's last Eurovision entry in the last century. The country actually disappeared from the contest for 14 years: they returned in 2011 after their protracted absence. 

Jalisse is a duo consisting of spouses Alessandra Drusian (born 18 May 1969) and Fabio Ricci (born 5 September 1965). After achieving fourth place in Eurovision, they continued to make music until now. They also released a new version of 'Fiumi di parole' in 2005 - alas, that version was only released on a CD-single and not on vinyl.

My collection: 6581
Found: Discogs.com, received 30 December 2021
Cost: €8
Tracks: 'Fiumi di parole' (Jalisse) / 'Amici come prima' (Paola & Chiara)

Christmas lights - Coldplay

'Christmas Lights' was originally released on 1 December 2020 as a digital download single. According to lead singer Chris Martin, it was written in December 2008. This blue vinyl 7" single was released ten years later to mark the song's tenth anniversary. The band's version of 'Have yourself a merry little Christmas' was recorded during a live session for BBC Radio 1. Another physical release happened this year: single was re-released on black recycled vinyl.  

The cover of the single was designed by Yu Matsuoka Pol, a Japanese artist who was born in 1978 and lives and works in Brussels (Belgium).

My collection: 7" single no. 6487
Found: Amazon, received 21 October 2021
Cost: €8
Tracks: 'Christmas lights' / 'Have yourself a merry little Christmas'

Jinge bells - Dag Kolsrud

Fresh from creating an album with One 2 Many (I would presume), Dag Kolsrud released this Christmas single entitled 'Jingle Bells'. It was his first solo release, with many more to follow during the Nineties - including two Christmas themed albums called 'December' (1990) and 'December II' (1991).  

However, this single, released near the end of 1988 was a one-off. It appeared in the UK and Germany only and failed to reach the charts. After his solo work he joined the band 'Guys in disguise' in 1994. This band only released one album. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6240
Found: Discogs.com, received 22 January 2020
Cost: €2
Tracks: 'Jingle bells' / 'Stina (instrumental)'

Angelique - Dario Campeotto

I actually already own a copy of Dario Campeotto's 'Angelique', but that's a rather ordinary single, with just two tracks. This EP features four different tracks and, here's the best part, it's pressed on blue vinyl. It's one of those things I just can't resist.

On this EP, Dario shows off his family heritage. Although he was born in Copenhagen, his parents were Italian and three songs on this disc are actually sung in Italian. The title track, 'Angelique', still appears in the original Danish version. It would have been interesting to hear an Italian version of the song!

My collection: 7" single no. 6579
Found: Discogs.com, received 17 December 2021
Cost: €3
Tracks: 'Angelique', 'Libero' / 'Nella bella cita', 'Un Italiano innamorato'

Volare - Umberto

It's time for another version of 'Volare'! Umberto Marcato was born in Padua (Italy) in 1936. He started his career at the age of 18, when he became the singer of the Casamatta Orchestra, led by Luciano Viani. With the orchestra, he toured in Italy and later on, in the rest of the Europe. In 1957, during a successful tour in Scandinavia, the orchestra signed a contract with the Swedish Karusell, and recorded four songs: 'Maruzella', 'Lazzarella', 'Guaglione' and 'Chella Ilà'. These songs were successful in Sweden, but also in Finland. This EP featuring 'Volare' followed quickly.  

This particular copy of the EP looks a bit strange: there are 'bubbles' in the vinyl and when you listen to the track you can hear it actually affects the sound. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6578
Found: Discogs.com, received 17 December 2021
Cost: €3
Tracks: 'Volare', 'Pueblo' / 'Biundulella', 'Autumn concerto'

Piove - Bruno Martino and his Orchestra

Bruno Martino was born in Rome on 11 November 1925. His debut as a jazz piano player was already in 1940, when he was only fifteen, playing, in secret, in a student jazz little orchestra. In 1944 he joined RAI, as a piano player for Piero Piccioni's Orchestra. Then he gained great success abroad, particularly in Northern Europe, experimenting with a mix of jazz, Neapolitan songs and his own pieces. When he came back to Italy in 1958, he composed songs for Caterina Valente, Renato Rascel and Wilma De Angelis. A fortuitous event launched him also as an interpreter, when he replaced his orchestra's singer. 

This Norwegian single, pressed on red vinyl, features a cover version of Domenico Modugno's 'Piove (Ciao ciao bambina)', performed at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1959. This single does not mention any year but it is assumed to be released in the same year. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6577
Found: Discogs.com, received 17 December 2021
Cost: €4
Tracks: 'Piove' / 'Li per li'

Festival i Cannes - Brita Borg

Brita Borg participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1959, representing Sweden, with the song 'Augustin'. The same year she also released this EP, featuring her versions of four other Eurovision songs. The A-side consists of Swedish versions of ''n Beetje' and 'Oui oui oui oui', the B-side presents a version of 'Piove' and 'Uh, jeg ville ønske jeg var dig'. 

It's not unusual for Eurovision artists to record cover versions of other Eurovision songs, just think of Cliff Richard's 'Marianne' and Matt Monro's 'Walk away'. But this EP was released quite quickly after Brita Borg's own Eurovision adventure, and that makes it a rather special collection of songs.

My collection: 7" single no. 6575
Found: Discogs.com, received 17 December 2021
Cost: €4
Tracks: 'Om våren', 'Oui oui oui oui' / 'Piove', 'A ifall jag vore du ända'