Close (to the edit) - Art of Noise

The song takes its title from the fifth studio album Close to the edge (1972) by the band Yes. Its working title was 'Close to the edge". Paul Morley said: 'We created the music through editing, and so changed the title. Being perverse and provocative I put the brackets in.' The song also samples the 1983 songs 'Leave it' and 'Owner of a lonely heart' by the same band, both of which were produced by Trevor Horn. The single heavily features the recorded sample of a car, a Volkswagen Golf owned by a neighbour of band member J. J. Jeczalik, stalling and restarting. The short spoken-word vocal and the "Hey!" sample was the voice of Camilla Pilkington-Smyth. Jeczalik's girlfriend at the time taught at a girls' school in Ascot and brought Pilkington-Smyth, one of her pupils, to his attention. The sample of her voice was recorded by Jeczalik in a chapel using a Revox A77 tape recorder. 

This single is a US promotional pressing with a sleeve which is very different from the UK version. The track appears on both sides, as per usual on many promotional 7" singles.

My collection: 7" single no. 8362
Found: Discogs.com, received 21 July 2026
Tracks: 'Close (to the edit)' / 'Close (to the edit)' 

Jezebel / Your cheatin' heart - Frankie Laine

I ended up buying this 'wall of fame' single featuring 'Jezebel' by Frankie Laine, mainly because I forgot I already had this song on a different single: 'High noon / Jezebel', which I bought last year. How quickly we forget. 

Fortunately, the other side contains another cracking song by the American singer, who was born as Francesco Paolo LoVecchio in Chicago on 30 March 1913. 'Your cheatin' heart' was written by Hank Williams, who passed away just before Frankie Laine recorded his version. He ended up having a hit with the song. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8361
Found: Discogs.com, received 21 July 2026
Tracks: 'Jezebel' / 'Your cheatin' heart' 

Dreamin' - Cliff Richard

Cliff Richard has released more than 100 singles during his career, so it's only logical that one wouldn't remember each and every one of them. I had totally forgotten about 'Dreamin'' until I heard it on the radio recently. 

The single was released in 1980. It was composed by Alan Tarney with lyrics by Leo Sayer. When recording the song, Richard was concerned that it was pitched too high for his range. However, Tarney told him "it was fantastic and asked [him] to try to sing it in this key". The single reached number 8 in the UK singles chart and number 12 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 8360
Found: Discogs.com, received 21 July 2026
Tracks: 'Dreamin'' / 'Dynamite' 

San Remo 59 - Bruno Martino

In december 2021 I bought a single by Bruno Martino featuring a cover version of 'Piove'. Of course, while I was ordering some singles this month I had forgotten all about it and when I saw this great EP I ordered it instantly. Well, at least this one has a picture sleeve and two extra tracks.

His first recording, 'Mocambo Bongo' was released on a 78rpm shellac record. He continued to release music until the early Nineties, and passed away on 12 June 2000. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8356
Found: Discogs.com, received 21 July 2026 
Tracks: 'Piove', 'Li per li' / 'Sempre con te', 'Un bacio sulla bocca'

Piove - Los Españoles

The five members of Los Españoles were Manuel Perez ("Lito") on saxophone, clarinet, guitar and violin; José Luis Muñoz on guitar and bass; Marcelino López ("Candelas") on drums, trumpet, and violin, all from La Coruña; Miguel Laiz on piano and accordion, from León; and Antonio Moldes, on trumpet, guitar, violin, and bass, from Pontevedra.

Together they released a handful of albums during the Sixties and Seventies, as well as 50 singles and EP's. This EP was released in 1959, shortly after Domenico Modugno participated in the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Piove'. That song appears as the final track on this EP, but obviously this was the reason why I bought it.

My collection: 7" single no. 8355
Found: Discogs.com, received 21 July 2026
Tracks: 'Sevilla mambo', 'S'agapó (Ti ein avtó pou to lene agápi)' / 'La paloma', 'Piove (Ciao ciao bambina)' 

I've been waiting for you - Joan Ellis

If this title seems familiar to you, then you're a true Abba fan. I am not, because the only reason I found this single is that I was looking for 'Ulvaeus' in the sales collection of a Discogs seller. It's a habit, of course, because I like to find Abba cover versions, but this one was unexpected. 

Joan Ellis was born as Annemarie van Splunteren in Amsterdam in 1952. This single was her debut. Famous Dutch musician and presenter Jan Rietman arranged and produced it. Joan released three singles in three years, then released her debut album Not the first mistake in 1981. Her take on the Abba song is admirable, but not as refined as the original.

My collection: 7" single no. 8357
Found: Discogs.com, received 21 July 2026
Tracks: 'I've been waiting for you' / 'Nobody knows' 

Merci Cherie - Ray Anthony

Ray Anthony (born Raymond Antonini on 20 January 1922) is an American retired bandleader, trumpeter, songwriter and actor. He is best known for his tenure as a member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra, from 1940 to 1941, and later for successfully leading his own big band. Anthony continued to tour around the United States in big bands before retiring in 1998. At the age of 104, he is the last living member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

Back in 1966 he recorded this instrumental cover version of 'Merci Cherie', the famous song by Udo Jurgens. And that is, of course, a great way to end up in my record collection.

My collection: 7" single no. 8354
Found: Discogs.com, received 21 July 2026
Tracks: 'Merci Chérie' / 'Goodbye my love (Il silenzio)'