Napoleon und Josephine - Kirsti

Kirsti Sparboe represented Denmark at the 1969 Eurovision Song Contest with the song with the remarkable title 'Oj, oj, oj, så glad jeg skal bli'. I was happy to find a copy just two months ago - and that was before I knew that she also recorded a German version!

This single, 'Napoleon und Josephine' presents that version on the B-side. On the sleeve it is announced as 'Oi, oi, oi', but she doesn't even sing these words. The song is actually called 'Eins, zwei, drei' and is translated by Kurt Hertha, a German songwriter and composer, who also added German lyrics to songs like 'Stupid Cupid' ('Sexie Hexy') and 'Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport' ('Halt Das Känguruh Fest'). 

My collection: 7" single no. 6728
Found: Discogs.com, received 16 June 2022
Cost: €3
Tracks: 'Napoleon und Josephine' / 'Eins, zwei, drei'

Die Nacht, in der ich mich verlor - Wencke Myhre

I could write a piece about 'Die Nacht, in der ich mich verlor', but that is not the song that caused me to buy this single. More interesting is the B-side: 'Autostop', a cover version of the Greek entry to the Eurovision Song Contest in 1980. The original version, performed by Anna Vissi, was never released as a single, although some demo copies were pressed and I recently saw a copy at a record fair... the dealer wanted €250 for it. That's crazy of course, and I wonder what kind of maniac pays that much for a single. 

But anyway, this single features a cover of the song with German lyrics provided by Werner Schüler and Bernd Meinunger. The Bernd Meinunger, I should add, because he, together with Ralph Siegel, actually wrote many songs that were performed on the Eurovision stage. And so this B-side becomes less of a weird instance, since both Meinunger and Myhre were Eurovision fans, so to speak.

My collection: 7" single no. 6729
Found: Discogs.com, received 16 June 2022
Cost: €3
Tracks: 'Die Nacht, in der ich mich verlor' / 'Autostop'

L'amour est bleu / A taste of Vicky - Vicky Leandros

I already had the Japanese single of Vicky Leandros' 'L'amour est bleu', but it turns out that the Japanese also released this EP, entitled 'A taste of Vicky'. Unusually for a Japanese single, it is presented in a regular sleeve instead of the company sleeve with a separate piece of paper to accompany it - if you've seen them you know what I mean. 

What's interesting about this EP is that it adds a track in Japanese and a cover of the familiar Bee Gees hit 'Massachusetts'. And of course, there is the attraction of it being a pretty rare Japanese disc.

My collection: 7" single no. 6726
Found: Discogs.com, received 11 June 2022
Cost: £5
Tracks: 'L'amour est bleu', 'Le soleil a quitté ma maison' / 'Machi-Kutabireta Nochiyobi', 'Massachusetts'

Al di la - Emilio Pericoli

I still haven't been able to locate a copy of Betty Curtis' version of 'Al di la', from the Eurovision Song Contest 1961, but the cover version in Dutch by Sandra Reemer, 'Al di la (Net als wij)' was a recent purchase. And now, here's Emilio Pericoli's version.

This Japanese single presents two songs from the motion picture 'Lovers must learn' (1962), in which a librarian (Suzanne Pleshette) goes to Italy "to learn about love," meets two men (Troy Donahue, Rossano Brazzi) and sees much lovely scenery. The score of the movie included 'Al di la', and this single presents the song in beautiful Japanese style.

My collection: 7" single no. 6727
Found: Discogs.com, received 11 June 2022
Cost: £4
Tracks: 'Al di la' / 'Rome adventure'

I've had enough - Wings

The Wings album 'London Town' featured a markedly softer-rock, synth-based sound than previous Wings albums. The single 'With a little luck' reached number 1 in the US and number 5 in the UK, but the second single from the album, 'I've Had Enough' fared much less well. It only reached no. 42 in the UK and no. 25 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

While I don't necessarily collect Wings singles, it is always fun to pick one up when it appears in front of me for a low price. And this copy popped up when I was browsing a stall with hundreds of UK pressings. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6723
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, 4 June 2022
Cost: €1
Tracks: 'I've had enough' / 'Deliver your children'

Someday - The Blue Diamonds

The song 'Morgen' was performed at the 1968 Eurovision Song Contest by Ronnie Tober. The English version was called 'Someday' and was also recorded by Tober - however that single still remains to be found by me. 

In the meantime, I did find this version of the song by the Blue Diamonds. History doesn't tell us if they were considered for the Dutch national final in 1968, but they did record this single, which didn't make the Dutch top 40. It still is a good version, and the B-side is a charming piece of music as well. The Blue Diamonds were best known in the Netherlands for their single 'Ramona', a huge hit that caused many Dutch parents to call their daughters Ramona as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 6725
Found: Discogs.com, received 9 June 2022
Cost: €4
Tracks: 'Someday (Morgen)' / 'Angelina (Liesje)'

I believe (in love) - Hot Chocolate

It's quite interesting how my collection of Hot Chocolate singles is coming together slowly. All the big hits are in there, but the early stuff is still a matter of searching well and waiting for the right price. This single, 'I believe (in love)' was actually a big hit without me knowing it. And that's not strange, because it didn't chart in the Netherlands.

In the UK, however, this single was their second top 10 hit, after 'Love is life' (1970), which reached number 6 in September 1970. This one peaked at number 8 in 1971. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6722
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, 4 June 2022
Cost: €1
Tracks: 'I believe (in love)' / 'Caveman Billy'