Rockin' Robin - Michael Jackson

'Rockin' Robin' was written by Leon René under the pseudonym Jimmie Thomas, and recorded by American singer Bobby Day in 1958. 

In 1972, Michael Jackson released his own version of the song, which was released as a single from his gold-certified solo album titled Got to be there as a follow-up single to the song of the same name. It was the biggest hit from the album, hitting number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 3 on the UK singles chart. It was also Michael's second solo single, while he was still a member of the Jackson Five  too.

My collection: 7" single no. 7531
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Rockin' Robin' / 'Love is here and now you're gone'

My life - Billy Joel

Coincidentally, the last Billy Joel single I bought was 'My life', back in 2011. I'm not excatly collecting Billy Joel records, but this Japanese pressing of that same single was just too irresistible. For some reason, Japanese singles have become significantly cheaper recently, and so I just wanted to take this one with me, although it doesn't contain any other music than that other single I bought 14 years ago.

My collection: 7" single no. 7530
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'My life' / '52nd street'

Je t'aime (moi non plus) - Judge Dread

Most people are familiar with 'Je t'aime... moi non plus', the French songs with lots of excited whispering and panting. I don't know if the song has been covered a lot, but I found this single and I just couldn't resist.

It's a version of the song in reggae style by Judge Dread, released in 1974. However, if you expect a rehash of the original, you're quite wrong: in this version things are decidedly less steamy. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7529
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Je t'aime (moi non plus)' / 'The belle of Snodland Town'

Say it again - Precious

Back in 2017 I bought the 7" single of 'Say it again' by Precious. It was an almost superfluous acquisition since I already had the tracks on a cd-single. However, I recently found out that several remixes of the track were only ever released on a 12" single! 

The remixes on this disc come from James Lavonz and Master Stepz. And like many remixes of the Nineties, it is questionable whether these remixes were ever meant to be enjoyed at home - it is mainly club fodder, to be honest. But I'll let you make up your mind. Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received 15 January 2025
Tracks: 'Say it again (James Lavonz full vocal mix)', 'Say it again (James Lavonz Ruffa dub mix)' / 'Say it again (Master Stepz Trouble mix)', 'Say it again (Master Stepz Smooth dub mix)'.

Look at you now - OMD

The latest single by OMD is 'Look at you now', taken from their most recent album Bauhaus Staircase. This single was pressed on pink vinyl. The song was announced as 'the final single' from the album.

'Look at you now' is not the strongest track from the album, but it is a pleasant enough track to be released as a single. The B-side, 'Tomorrow is today', is a new track.

My collection: 7" single no. 7526
Found: OMD website, received 7 December 2024
Tracks: 'Look at you now' / 'Tomorrow is today'

Epica Oxygene - Jean Michel Jarre

The French synth wizard Jean Michel Jarre returns to his epic work 'Oxygene' every once in a while, and whenever he does, it's always interesting. This particular version comes from a live performance at the palace of Versailles, and it's a rework that breathes some new life into the composition.

The single, pressed on green vinyl, was released along with Electronic Sounds magazine in the UK. The magazine keeps coming up with interesting releases from time to time, and whenever they do, I'm there to order a copy!

My collection: 7" single no. 7539
Found: Electronic Sounds magazine website, received 28 December 2024
Tracks: 'Epica Oxygene' / 'Equinoxe 7'

C'est d'la faute a pas d'chance - Colette Deréal

Nora Nova represented West-Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1964 with 'Man gewöhnt sich so schnell an das Schöne'. The song wasn't very successful: it ended up in a shared last place, along with the entries from Portugal, Yugoslavia and Switzerland.

Still, the French actress and singer Colette Deréal deemed the song interesting enough to make a cover version. Translated into French, the song became 'C'est d'la faute a pas d'chance', and it was released on this EP.

My collection: 7" single no. 7540
Found: Discogs.com, received 31 December 2024
Tracks: 'Je serai la', 'Reviens l'ami' / 'C'est d'la faute a pas d'chance', 'Moi (qui n'ai plus rien)'

Sen eläisin uudelleen - Gugi & Titta

Al Bano & Romina Power represented Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1976 with 'We'll live it all again', a love song that was inspired by their own love story. Although they recorded the song in French and Spanish, Finnish was just a step to far for the Italian duo.

Cue Gugi & Titta, who recorded their own version of the song - in Finnish! Their version is called 'Sen eläisin uudelleen', which means 'I would do it again in a heartbeat'. Slightly different, then, but a reasonably good translation. The single came without a sleeve, unfortunately, but it plays well nonetheless.

My collection: 7" single no. 7541
Found: Discogs.com, received 3 January 2025
Tracks: 'Sen eläisin uudelleen' / 'Pedron maa'