Die schönsten Blumen blühen auf dem Land - Michèle Torr

Michèle Torr certainly knew her languages. When she represented Monaco at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1977 with 'Une petite Française', she wasted no time in recording different versions of the song with completely different lyrics. The English title became 'I'm just (a simple country girl from France)', and for the German market she recorded 'Die schönsten Blumen blühen auf dem Land'. 

The German lyrics were provided by Werner Schüler-Steger, a German bassist, songwriter, producer and founder of Daxhill Studio in Munich, Germany. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8350
Found: Discogs.com, received 20 July 2026
Tracks: 'Die schönsten Blumen blühen auf dem Land' / 'Le mal de mal'

Voodoonight - Boney M

'Voodoonight' was a track from the Boney M album Nightflight to Venus. It was released as a single in Japan only (although a South African single also exists, with the A- and B-sides flipped). The single also features the album track 'Heart of gold', which is a cover version of the Neil Young song. 

The sleeve of this single proudly proclaims 'Disco No. 1 hit!!', but I have no way to verify this claim. Perhaps it was indeed such a big hit in Japan, but more probably it was a way to promote this single to buyers.

My collection: 7" single no. 8347
Found: Discogs.com, received 16 July 2026
Tracks: 'Voodoonight' / 'Heart of gold' 

Sunny - Boney M

Bobby Hebb wrote 'Sunny' and recorded it in 1963. Hebb wrote the song after his older brother, Harold, was stabbed to death outside a Nashville nightclub. Hebb was devastated by the event and many critics say it inspired the lyrics and tune. According to Hebb, he merely wrote the song as an expression of a preference for a "sunny" disposition over a "lousy" disposition following the murder of his brother.

Boney M turned the song into a disco hit in 1976. It became a huge hit all over Europe, But it also made the charts in Australia, New Zealand and Argentina. Whether the song was a hit in Japan I don't know, but the single was released there with a totally different sleeve.

My collection: 7" single no. 8346
Found: Discogs.com, received 16 July 2026
Tracks: 'Sunny' / 'New York City' 

Save your kisses for me - Brotherhood of man

The United Kingdom won the Eurovision Song Contest a few times, but the best known song is probably Brotherhood of Man's 'Save your kisses for me', which provided the country's victory in 1975. The UK pressing of the single can be found in thrift shops all over Europe, but this Japanese single is pretty rare.

In an interview the band explained: 'We wanted something cheerful, it had to be catchy, and thematically, of course, it had to be something everyone could identify with. Lee came up with the melody quite quickly, but what should the lyrics be about? We could sing about animals; everyone loves animals, right? But then we decided to make it about a child, and that decision was probably the right one.’ 

My collection: 7" single no. 8344
Found: Discogs.com, received 16 July 2026
Tracks: 'Save your kisses for me' / 'Let's love together' 

What do I do - Sandra & Andres

I got 'What do I do' in 2000 as a present from Puck, and since I had all the other versions of 'Als het om de liefde gaat' I wrote that I probably wouldn't post any other Sandra & Andres singles on this blog anymore because I had all the versions after I bought 'C'est pour demain' in 2021.

But of course, I didn't know then that 'What do I do' had already been released in Japan. And Japanese singles, as we all know, are in a league of their own. Of course, I had to order this copy.

My collection: 7" single no. 8343
Found: Discogs.com, received 16 July 2026
Tracks: 'What do I do' / 'Gypsy man' 

愛のおとずれ - Katja Ebstein

Katja Ebstein represented Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1970 with 'Wunder gibt es immer wieder'. While I was searching for some Japanese singles online, I found this Japanese copy on red vinyl. It was beautiful, if slightly on the expensive side. I had it on my wish list for a year or so, and recently I found a French seller who had a copy. Well, the shipping costs are certainly lower than if I'd ordered it from Japan.

I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that this single contains the Japanese version of the song. (This is actually shown on the sleeve, in the green banner - but unfortunately my Japanese isn't good enough that I could read 'Japanese versions' in those characters.) Katja certainly made an effort: she also recorded the song in English, French, Italian and Spanish. The first three will probably appear on this blog at some point.

My collection: 7" single no. 8342
Found: Discogs.com, received 16 July 2026
Tracks: '愛のおとずれ' / 'Der draht in der Sonne (Wichita Lineman)'

You light up my life - Debby Boone

Debby Boone was born in Hackensack, New Jersey, the third of four daughters born to singer-actor Pat Boone and Shirley Foley Boone, daughter of country music star Red Foley. When Boone was 14 years old, she began touring with her parents and three sisters: Cherry, Lindy, and Laury. The sisters first recorded with their parents as The Pat Boone Family and later as the Boones or Boone Girls. They primarily recorded gospel music, although the sisters also released singles that were remakes of secular pop music featuring Debby as the lead vocalist.

With her older sisters married and younger sister Laury in college, Boone was actively encouraged by producer Mike Curb to launch a solo career. Boone released her first solo effort, 'You light up my life' (which had been featured in the film of the same name), in 1977. The song became the biggest hit of the Seventies, lasting ten consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart – longer than any other song in the Hot 100 history to that point. The B-side of the single features a cover version of the Abba song 'Hasta mañana', which was the main reason for me to buy this single. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8341
Found: Gaga Music, Goch (Germany), 15 July 2026
Tracks: 'You light up my life' / 'Hasta mañana' 

The runner - Three Degrees

'The Runner' was taken from the album New Dimensions by the Three Degrees. The single would be their penultimate hit in the Netherlands: only 'The heaven I need' in 1985 would reach the Dutch Top 40 after this. 

 

One of the members of the trio, Sheila Ferguson, wrote 'The Runner', together with Giorgio Moroder, who also produced the track. The German single came in this colourful picture sleeve.

 

My collection: 7" single no. 8335
Found: Gaga Music, Goch (Germany), 15 July 2026
Tracks: 'The runner' / 'Woman in love' 

A-ba-ni-bi - Izhar Cohen & the "Alpha-Beta"

It's not difficult to find a copy of 'A-ba-ni-bi' in the Netherlands. It seems that thousands of copies have been left in record shops and thrift shops all over the country, in that simple sleeve containing just the title and artist. 

The version that was made in Germany is a lot harder to find. I think I've only seen it a couple of times through the years - but never for the 1 euro that I paid for it this week. This version is, of course, attractive because of the picture sleeve, on which you can actually see Izhar Cohen's face. The song remains the same: I don't think a Hebrew version was ever released on record.

My collection: 7" single no. 8333
Found: Gaga Music, Goch (Germany), 15 July 2026
Tracks: 'A-ba-ni-bi' / 'Illusions' 

The fool on the hill - Shirley Bassey

In 1970 Shirley Bassey released this cover version of the Beatles' 'The fool on the hill'. In his authorised biography, Many Years from Now, Paul McCartney says he first got the idea for the premise from the Dutch design collective the Fool, who were the Beatles' favourite designers in 1967 and told him that they had derived their name from the Tarot card of the same name. According to McCartney, the song possibly relates to a character such as Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the Beatles' meditation teacher. 

'"Fool on the Hill" was mine and I think I was writing about someone like Maharishi. His detractors called him a fool. Because of his giggle, he wasn't taken too seriously. It was this idea of a fool on the hill, a guru in a cave, I was attracted to ... I was sitting at the piano at my father's house in Liverpool hitting a D 6th chord, and I made up "Fool on the Hill"'.

Shirley Bassey's version peaked at number 48 in the UK singles chart.  

My collection: 7" single no. 8332
Found: Gaga Music, Goch (Germany), 15 July 2026
Tracks: 'The fool on the hill' / 'What are you doing the rest of your life'

Cross your heart - Tina

I bought Tina's 'Cross your heart' in 2014, in a downright ugly sleeve. I was glad to have the opportunity to buy a better version this week; the German pressing of the single with a colour picture sleeve.

Tina was born Philomena Quinn and won a talent contest in Butlins Skegness. She then sang with the Mexican showband between 1966 and 1968. Ireland was a poor country with bad roads, and Tina was involved in two serious traffic accidents that nearly meant the end of her career. In 1972, Tina made her first attempt to participate in the Irish national selection by singing 'Don't Need Your Sympathy', but she finished in a tie for third place behind Sandie Jones. The winner of the 1974 national final, in which Tina sang all the songs, was 'Cross Your Heart', written by Paul Lyttle. 'Cross Your Heart' was a big hit in Ireland. Expectations were high when she arrived in Brighton. In the end, she ended up in seventh place.

My collection: 7" single no. 8331
Found: Gaga Music, Goch (Germany), 15 July 2026
Tracks: 'Cross your heart' / 'What would I be' 

Let me be the one - The Shadows

Originally, the BBC asked then-superstar Gary Glitter to represent the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. He was willing to comply on the condition that he would write his own song. This went against the wishes of the BBC, which wanted to rely on experienced songwriters. Apparently, requests were also made to David Essex and the band Slade, who refused. And so they turned to The Shadows. The band had broken up in 1968 but reunited shortly thereafter. For their Eurovision performance, original members Hank Marvin, Bruce Welch, and Brian Bennett were joined by John Farrar, who took the place of John Rostill, who had died on November 26, 1973.

It wasn't the first time the British entry finished in second place – and it certainly wouldn't be the last. I bought the French pressing of 'Let me be the one' in December 2009. This week I added the German one!

My collection: 7" single no. 8325
Found: Gaga Music, Goch (Germany), 15 July 2026
Tracks: 'Let me be the one' / 'Stand up like a man' 

 

Hooray! Hooray! It's a holi-holiday - Boney M

With the intense heatwave we've had this week it makes sense to post some Boney M today, especially when it's a summery tune like 'Hooray! Hooray! It's a holi-holiday', complete with steel drums and a catchy chorus. The song and its B-side, 'Ribbons of Blue', were taken from the movie Disco Fever, billed as 'the first feature movie by Boney M' in 1978.  

The film soundtrack also included 'Rivers of Babylon', 'Rasputin', 'Dancing in the streets' and other performances by Eruption, La Bionda and Teens. If you don't remember this movie, you're not alone: it wasn't a big success. This picture disc, however, is a keeper.

My collection: 7" single no. 8319
Found: Discogs.com, received 18 June 2026
Tracks: 'Hooray! Hooray! It's a holi-holiday' / 'Ribbons of blue'

Touch the wind - Wheeler St James

The Spanish group Mocedades had great success with their 1973 Eurovision song 'Eres tu'. So much so, that they recorded several versions of the song and there were many cover versions by other artists of this song!

The English version of 'Eres tu' was called 'Touch the wind', and this version was covered by Wheeler St. James, an English pop group consisting of Shirley Bagnall, Johnny Wheeler and Shirley's husband Mel James. It was released in 1974, but this single didn't chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 8316
Found: Discogs.com, received 18 June 2026
Tracks: 'Touch the wind' / 'Listen to me' 

 

Save me - Silver Convention

Silver Convention was a vocal girl trio performing disco tracks produced by the German duo Michael Kunze and Sylvester Levay. Their first single 'Save Me' was originally recorded with session singers doing the sparse lyrics.

Three German girls, Ramona Wulf - a former child star wanting a change of image - Penny McLean, and Jackie Carter formed the very first line-up. Carter, however, was quickly replaced with Linda G. Thompson after just a few TV-appearances. Their debut album, also titled 'Save Me' in some territories, featured a very saucy sleeve. Compared to that, this single sleeve is very modest. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8310
Found: Record Mania, Amsterdam, 1 June 2026
Tracks: 'Save me' / 'Save me again'

The baby, she's on the street - Jona Lewie

Jona Lewie started his solo career in 1976 with the single 'Cherry Ring', which was followed by this single, 'The baby, she's on the street'. The track almost had a trademark Stiff sound, the record label that became famous because of Madness and Kirsty MacColl. Although the song is never mentioned on his biographies, it is catchy as hell, but it didn't chart. He would have his first hit in 1980, the inimitable 'You will always find me in the kitchen at parties'. 

I found this single during a random visit to Leiden and I felt it was interesting enough to buy it. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8303
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 May 2026
Tracks: 'The baby, she's on the street' / 'Denny Laine's valet'

Profiles in gold, album 1 - Abba, Spinners, Firefall, England Dan and John Ford Coley

In 1978, Burger King and the Coca-Cola Company in the USA conspired to release two EP's called Profiles in gold, featuring two tracks each from four different acts. The first one is probably the most collectable, since it features two tracks by Abba (and I would think that there are more Abba fans in the world than there are of other acts on this and the other EP). 

Playing at roughly 33rpm, this disc manages to fit in eight tracks in total. I would think that the A-side is the most interesting one, with the two Abba tracks and two cracking tunes by the Spinners, while the very American-sounding other side is standard radio far, with the most interesting song lyrics-wise is Firefall's second track. It says that if the world has crumbled, you're feeling lonely and have been abandoned by almost everyone, "Just remember I love you". That should make everything alright, then.

My collection: 7" single no. 8293
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: 'Fernando', 'Waterloo' (Abba), 'I'll be around', 'One of a kind (love affair)' (Spinners) / 'You are the woman', 'Just remember I love you' (Firefall), 'Gone too far', 'We'll never have to say goodbye again' (England Dan and John Ford Coley) 

Fernando / Dancing queen - Abba

The label BR Music specialized in releasing singles with hits from earlier decades. In 1986 they released this Abba single - a few years before Abba would be re-evaluated and re-appreciated thanks to the Abba Gold compilation album. As far as I know, it's one of very few singles released by a different record company than their own (Polydor or Epic). 

The single has become rare. In fact, I've seen it a couple of times at previous record fairs and the last one with one dealer who was asking 30 euros for it. Fortunately this time there was also another dealer who asked much less for this single - and so I snapped it up.

My collection: 7" single no. 8292
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: 'Fernando' / 'Dancing queen' 

Waterloo - Abba

Now this is a special one. I've been searching for the Japanese single of Abba's 'Waterloo' for some years now, ever since I bought a few lesser known Eurovision songs on Japanese vinyl. But unfortunately, when you would order this single online, combined with shipping, you're bound to lose close to 100 euros, which I think is a bit steep.

I was really happy to find a copy of this single during the weekend's record fair. Best of all, I also managed to haggle about 20% off the stated price. And so here it is: a near mint copy of Abba's winning Eurovision song from 1974 on Japanese vinyl. It's an item that not many people in Europe own, I'm sure.

My collection: 7" single no. 8278
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: 'Waterloo' / 'Watch out' 

Wir glauben an Morgen - Mary Roos

Karina represented Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1971 with 'En un mundo nuevo'. She also recorded the song in German as 'Wir glauben an Morgen'. 

It gets better: the German version of the song was also recorded by Mary Roos, who got her own shot at Eurovision fame the next year with 'Nur die Liebe läßt uns leben' - a song she also recorded in English and French. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8276
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: 'Wir glauben an Morgen' / 'Komm, komm, komm'