Panaya mou - Mariza Koch

Some countries are currently boycotting the Eurovision Song Contest because Israel is embroiled in a war against Palestinians. They seem to think that this is the best way to deal with issues these days. Back in the Seventies countries handled this differently: when Greece participated in the 1976 edition they simply wrote a song protesting the invasion of Cyprus by Turkey. And so, 'Panaya mou' was performed live on stage. 

The organizers informed Mariza Koch that they were not responsible for her safety, as there were threats that armed Turks would be present at the venue and shoot her on stage. She signed a waiver stating that she would sing at her own risk. I can't imagine things like this happening next year. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8415
Found: Discogs.com, received 29 August 2026
Tracks: 'Panaya mou' / 'Kato apo tin vrohi'

Avant de partir - Roch Voisine

Roch Voisine had only one hit in the Netherlands ('On the outside' in 1991) but in the French-speaking world he is better known. He has released 29 albums (including a few Christmas albums) and many more singles. 

'Avant de partir' was released in 1990 and I found this mint copy for just 50 eurocents, so I decided to check out the song. It's not a spectacular piece, but a nice song nonetheless.

My collection: 7" single no. 8414
Found: Soundcheck, Kaiserslautern (Germany), 22 August 2026
Tracks: 'Avant de partir (nouvelle version)' / 'Avant de partir (instrumental)' 

Sam - Olivia Newton-John

Whenever I am in a city I check out the local record shops and I am rarely disappointed. Last week I was in Kaiserslautern and the local record shop was tiny but filled to the brim with cd's and lp's. Fortunately they also had a few boxes with 7" singles at just 50 eurocents each, so I had to check them all out. One of the items I snatched was this German pressing of Olivia's 'Sam'. 

Of course, I bought an American promotional single of 'Sam' in 2000, but contrary to that one, this one has a picture sleeve and a different B-side. I can't pass up on a cheap Olivia single, so here we are...

My collection: 7" single no. 8412
Found: Soundcheck, Kaiserslautern (Germany), 22 August 2026
Tracks: 'Sam' / 'Changes'
 

Når jeg går tur med dig i by'n - Johnny Reimar

The Danish singer Johnny Reimar was born on 12 June 1943 in Odense, Denmark. He was an actor, singer and writer and released dozens of albums and more than 70 singles. He passed away on 4 April 2026 in Copenhagen, Denmark. 

In 1970 he released his single 'Hvis jeg var sheik'. This release was extra special because the B-side featured a cover of a Marty Wilde song. 'Når jeg går tur med dig i by'n' was credited to Manston (Wilde's pseudonym) and Gellar, with a Danish text by Bent Thøger Olesen. Now, I am sure I've heard this melody before, but I haven't been able to identify the original by Marty Wilde. If you can help, please comment below. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8411
Found: Discogs.com, received 15 August 2026
Tracks: 'Hvis jeg var sheik' / 'Når jeg går tur med dig i by'n'

Once bitten twice shy - Vesta Williams

Mary Vesta Williams (1 December 1957 – 22 September 2011) was an American singer-songwriter. Originally credited as Vesta Williams, she was simply known as Vesta beginning in the 1990s. 

Although Williams never had any albums certified gold nor any top 40 hits on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, she became internationally known for the song 'Once bitten twice shy', released in 1986. It reached number 14 in the UK singles chart and number 11 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 8410
Found: Walk-in, Zutphen, 15 August 2026
Tracks: 'Once bitten twice shy' / 'My heart is yours' 

Ravel's Bolero - Thijs van Leer

The movie 10, featuring Bo Derek, was quite sensational in 1979. On the tones of Ravel's Bolero, sensual scenes create a minor controversy in cinemas and the press. 

Another controversy ensued when Dutch musician Thijs van Leer recorded a version of the composition. The choir is from the world-famous Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. The track was recorded at the 10CC Strawberry studio in Manchester. Producer Eddy Ouwens turned it into a disco version and before they knew it, they had a Dutch Top 40 hit on their hands. The single reached number 29, but then the heirs of Ravel protested and the single was quickly pulled from the market. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8409
Found: Walk-in, Zutphen, 15 August 2026
Tracks: 'Ravel's Bolero (Disco version)' / 'Ravel's Bolero (Classical version)'

High under the moon - Tambourine

Tambourine was a short-lived, 1960s revival, Dutch pop band formed in 1987. The main bandmembers were: Jac Bico (guitar), Bart van Poppel (bass) and Saskia van Oerle (vocals). I never noticed them myself, until Puck pointed them out to me some time around the turn of the century. 

'High under the moon' was their biggest hit, reaching number 21 in the Dutch Top 40. Tambourine disbanded in 1992.

My collection: 7" single no. 8408
Found: Walk-in, Zutphen, 15 August 2026
Tracks: 'High under the moon' / 'Cherry baby'