Never give up - Frizzle Sizzle

My first find at today's record fair in Utrecht was this single from the Dutch girl group Frizzle Sizzle. I thought I had them all, but obviously more singles were released than I was aware of - although this should really be the last one if various website sources are to be trusted.

'Never give up' was released in June 1986 as the follow-up to their Eurovision hit 'Alles heeft ritme' / 'Everything has rhythm' and would become one of the tracks on the girls' debut album 'First date' in 1987. This single did not become a hit.

My collection: 7" single no. 5222
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Never give up' / 'Never give up (extended instrumental version)'

Why do boys - Frizzle Sizzle

Marjon Keller, Mandy Huydts en de the sisters Karin and Laura Vlasblom were selected for the children's choir Kinderen Voor Kinderen in the early Eighties. After recording an album and some TV specials with the choir, they decide to continue as a group. They are coached by Mandy's father Jan Huydts.

Working as The Sweet Society at first, they change their name to Frizzle Sizzle in 1985 and record their debut single 'Why do boys'. Produced by Peter Schön and Victor Heeremans, the single sounds a bit like a demo and does not reach the Dutch Top 40. In 1986 the quartet participates in the Eurovision Song Contest and find fame under the guiding hands of producers Fluitsma and Van Tijn.

My collection: 7" single no. 4885
Found: Markplaats.nl, received May 22, 2010
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Why do boys' / 'Modern times'

Around and around - Frizzle Sizzle

'Around and around' was another unsuccessful single by Frizzle Sizzle, which failed to reach the Dutch charts when it was released in September 1988. The song was written and produced by the Dutch duo Van Tijn and Fluitsma.

Frizzle Sizzle broke up in 1990, after releasing a terrible football-related single. The girls remained active in the entertainment business.

My collection: 7" single no. 4144
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 7, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Around and around' / 'Around and around (instrumental)'

Daddy - Frizzle Sizzle

Frizzle Sizzle continued releasing singles until the end of 1988, although their last hit single was 'Second chance', released in August 1987. 'Daddy' was the follow-up to that one, but it did not chart at all.

Lyrically, the song is about divorce from the perspective of a couple's child. In a way, this puts the girl group firmly back to their roots, as they were previously members of a Dutch children's choir.

My collection: 7" single no. 4143
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 7, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Daddy' / 'Look at the stars'

Second chance - Frizzle Sizzle

The Dutch girl group Frizzle Sizzle had their last hit with this single, 'Second chance'. It was only a minor hit, reaching number 38 in the Dutch Top 40. Subsequent singles 'Treat me good' and 'Around and around' did not reach the chart at all.

My collection: 7" single no. 4025
Found: Vinylfabriek, Haaksbergen, September 14, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Second chance' / 'Top of my list'

Everything has rhythm - Frizzle Sizzle

I've had the single of Frizzle Sizzle's 1986 Eurovision entry 'Alles heeft ritme' for more than 10 years now. Since I bought this Dutch version in London, it's only fair that I should find the English version of the single in the Netherlands. Well, guess what: I did.

I wasn't even sure an English-language single existed, even though I was aware of an English version being recorded. 'Everything has rhythm' went the same way a lot of Eurovision singles abroad did: right to the discount bin, never into the charts in other countries. It is a nice version, with all the naivity that only young girls can put into their vocals.

My collection: 7" single no. 3906
Found: Songs for sale, Rotterdam, July 31, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Everything has rhythm' / 'Alles heeft ritme'

Treat me good - Frizzle Sizzle

Time for some bubblegum pop, written by Jochem Fluitsma and Ed van Tijn, the songwriting duo that was responsible for a lot of bubblegum pop hits from the Eighties onwards. Although this song was no different from a lot of their other stuff - or perhaps because of that! - this single didn't become a hit. It signalled the beginning of the end for Frizzle Sizzle: after a few more unsuccessful singles they broke up.

My collection: 7" single no. 3740

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Treat me good' / 'Stand in your way'

Talk it over - Frizzle Sizzle

After representing the Netherlands during the 1986 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Alles heeft ritme', Frizzle Sizzle continued their pop career with songs in English. Their first attempt 'Never give up' was not successful, but the next single 'Talk it over', released in January 1987 was an immediate success. It peaked at number 14 in the Dutch Top 40, which made it a bigger hit than their Eurovision song.

Unfortunately it went downhill from there: the next single stalled at number 38 and further singles did not chart. In 1990, Frizzle Sizzle broke up.

My collection: 7" single no. 3698

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, May 5, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Talk it over' / 'Talk it over (instrumental)'

Alles heeft ritme - Frizzle Sizzle

Sisters Karin and Laura Vlasblom and their friends Mandy Huydts and Marjon Keller debuted in 1981 on 'Kinderen voor kinderen', a Dutch television programme and LP featuring songs by a children's choir. In 1984 the girls appeared on the fifth annual show to tell that they formed a girl group. Naming themselves Frizzle Sizzle they were selected to represent the Netherlands in the 1986 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Alles heeft ritme'. They ended up 13th in the contest in a field of 20 contestants. In the Dutch Top 40, the song peaked at number 21.

I found this single, amazingly, in a Record Exchange in London, in the basement of the Goldhawk Road shop. I think it's the only time I bought a Dutch language record abroad.

My collection: 7" single no. 3090

Found: Record Exchange, London, May 12, 1999

Cost: 20p

Tracks: 'Alles heeft ritme' / 'Eenmaal jong'

Download: here