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'

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'

The entertainer - Marvin Hamlisch

'The entertainer' is a 1902 classic piano rag written by Scott Joplin. It was sold first as sheet music in Missouri and in the 1910s as piano rolls that would play on player pianos. The first recording was by blues and ragtime musicians the Blue Boys in 1928, played on mandolin and guitar.

As one of the classics of the ragtime genre, it returned to international prominence as part of the style revival in the 1970s, when it was used as the theme music for the 1973 Oscar-winning film The Sting. Composer and pianist Marvin Hamlisch's adaptation reached number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 25 in the UK singles chart. As you can see on the sleeve of this single, it was proclaimed 'Alarmschijf' in the Netherlands and went on to reach number 6 in the Dutch Top 40 in the summer of 1974.

My collection: 7" single no. 8406
Found: Walk-in, Zutphen, 15 August 2026 
Tracks: 'The entertainer' / 'Solace'

Histoire d'O - Pierre Bachelet

Histoire d'O is an erotic novel written by French author Anne Desclos under the pen name Pauline Réage, with the original French text published in 1954 by Jean-Jacques Pauvert. Desclos did not reveal herself as the author until 1994, 40 years after the initial publication. Desclos stated she wrote the novel as a series of love letters to her lover Jean Paulhan, who had admired the work of the Marquis de Sade. The novel shares with the latter themes such as love, dominance, and submission.

French director Henri-Georges Clouzot wanted to adapt the novel to film for many years, which was eventually done by director Just Jaeckin in 1975 as Histoire d'O, produced by Eric Rochat and Gérard Lorin, starring Corinne Cléry and Udo Kier. The music of the film was performed by Pierre Bachelet and released as an album. This single features two tracks from that album, most importantly the main theme of the film, which is a beautiful melody.

My collection: 7" single no. 8402
Found: Vinylparadijs, Geesteren, 12 August 2026
Tracks: 'Histoire d'O' / 'O' et la rencontre' 

Love story - Nino Tempo & April Stevens

Nino Tempo & April Stevens (Antonino and Carol Vincinette LoTempio) were a brother and sister singing act from Niagara Falls, New York. They signed as a duo in the early sixties. Their biggest hit was the song 'Deep purple' in 1963, for which they earned a Grammy award.

In 1972 they released 'Love Story', a song based on the melody Francis Lai composed for the movie of the same name. Although this song wasn't a hit in the US, it reached number 5 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 8398
Found: Variaworld, Utrecht, 12 August 2026
Tracks: 'Love story' / 'Hoochy coochy-wing dang doo'

Can't help falling in love - Stylistics

You could say that 'Can't help falling in love' is an overly familiar song, as it has been recorded by everyone from Elvis Presley to UB40. But the version of the Stylistics is quite unique, as it adds a certain uptempo soul touch to it. 

The single peaked at number 4 in the UK singles chart, but only managed to get to number 7 in the Tipparade, just outside the Dutch Top 40. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8394
Found: Variaworld, Utrecht, 12 August 2026
Tracks: 'Can't help falling in love' / 'Jenny' 

Swing your daddy - Jim Gilstrap

'Swing Your Daddy' was a single by singer Jim Gilstrap. It became a hit for him in 1975, charting in various countries around the world. It was a track from his album, also titled Swing your daddy. The single reached number 1 in the Dutch Top 40.

Although Gilstrap didn't have many hits, he appeared in the charts more often than you might think. For example, he sang on Stevie Wonder's 'You are the sunshine of my life', and his voice can also be heard on several songs by Boz Scaggs. He is primarily heard in soul-style numbers, though an outlier is his vocal part on an LP by The Who's drummer Keith Moon. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8393 
Found: Variaworld, Utrecht, 12 August 2026
Tracks: 'Swing your daddy (part 1)' / 'Swing your daddy (part 2)'

 

Daddy's home - Jermaine Jackson

'Daddy's home' is a song by American doo-wop group Shep and the Limelites. The song was written by the three members of the band, James "Shep" Sheppard (1935–1970), Clarence Bassett (1936–2005) and Charles Baskerville. 

Jermaine Jackson covered the song for his 1972 debut solo album, Jermaine, and it was released as the second single from the album. His version featured the rest of the Jackson 5 on backing vocals. The single peaked at number 9 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 8 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 8392
Found: Variaworld, Utrecht, 12 August 2026
Tracks: 'Daddy's home' / 'Take me in your arms (Rock me for a little while)' 

I'll kiss your memory - Barry Gibb

Although the Bee Gees mainly recorded together, the members of the group also had some solo recordings with medium success. 'I'll kiss your memory' was Barry Gibb's first solo single, released in 1970 as a track from his intended debut solo album The Kid's No Good, but the album remained unreleased as it was decided to focus on a new Bee Gees album instead. 

'I'll kiss your memory' was released worldwide, but only charted in the Netherlands, where it peaked at number 16 in the Dutch Top 40. The song features an orchestra arrangement by Bill Shepherd. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8388
Found: Variaworld, Utrecht, 12 August 2026
Tracks: 'I'll kiss your memory' / 'This time' 

Tiger - Promises

Promises was a girl trio that recorded three singles on the CBS label in 1976 and 1977. They debuted with 'The old fashioned way', a cover version of the famous Charles Aznavour song. Their last single was a song called 'Love attack'. But before that, they released this single.

'Tiger' is a cover version of an early Abba song. The sleeve of this promotional single confidently proclaims that a chart placing is almost certain, but the single didn't chart.  

My collection: 7" single no. 8386
Found: Discogs.com, received 7 August 2026
Tracks: 'Tiger' / 'Cry baby' 

We don't talk anymore - Cliff Richard

Alan Tarney wrote 'We don't talk anymore' in 1979, planning to use it on an album with the Tarney/Spencer Band. However, Tarney played a demo of the song to Bruce Welch during a break in recording sessions for Where to Now by Charlie Dore (which the two were producing). Welch instantly knew it was going to be a hit and phoned up Richard's manager Peter Gormley, as he believed "there was only one person who could record it — Cliff Richard". It was then quickly recorded in May 1979.

It was released as a stop-gap single between his albums Green Light and Rock 'n' Roll Juvenile. However, it wasn't meant to be included on Rock 'n' Roll Juvenile, as Cliff Richard didn't think it was appropriate for "an energy packed album of progressive rock 'n' roll". However, his record label EMI were insistent on including it after it became a massive hit and Richard reluctantly conceded. 

Funnily enough, two different versions of the single's sleeve exist. The 'blue' one was released in the Netherlands, whereas the 'red' one was released in Germany and adds the 'No. 1 hit Engeland' logo (although a version without it also exists). I decided to buy both.

My collection: 7" single no. 8377 & 8378
Found: Parkstad Record Shop, Kerkrade, 29 July 2026
Tracks: 'We don't talk anymore' / 'Count me out'

 

Star - Earth, Wind & Fire

'Star' was a single taken from Earth Wind & Fire's 1979 studio album I Am. The song was written by Maurice White, Allee Willis and Eduardo Del Barrio. The single reached number 64 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 16 in the UK singles chart and number 9 in the Dutch Top 40.

Back in 1979, when this single was released, Earth Wind & Fire were the biggest they'd ever been. They were featured on television so regularly that I got sick of the band. Fortunately their music proves to be almost timeless. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8374
Found: Parkstad Record Shop, Kerkrade, 29 July 2026
Tracks: 'Star' / 'You and I' 

This is my life - Shirley Bassey

I already bought 'This is my life' in 2010, but I didn't buy this single for that song. I didn't buy it for the tittillating cover either. The B-side of this single is 'Anyone who had a heart', a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for Dionne Warwick in 1963. In the UK, it was executed to perfection by Cilla Black. But Shirley Bassey does a fine version of this song too, even if it is hidden on a B-side. 

An amusing list of big names performing the song is found on the "Anyone Who Had a Heart" Olympics. It's amusing because the writer writes off a lot of the versions - even the good ones.

My collection: 7" single no. 8373
Found: Parkstad Record Shop, Kerkrade, 29 July 2026
Tracks: 'This is my life' / 'Anyone who had a heart'

Rivers of Babylon / Sunny - Boney M

I bought the 'Original Double Hit' single featuring 'Ma Baker' and 'Baby do you wanna bump' three years ago, and found myself pleasantly surprised when I found this one recently. It features a photograph from Boney M's Love For Sale album and two other big hits from the group: 'Rivers of Babylon' and 'Sunny'.

It's not an essential purchase by any means, but as one great philosopher once said: 'Gotta catch 'em all'. And so I did. As far as I know, no other 'Original Double Hit' single by Boney M exists.

My collection: 7" single no. 8372
Found: Parkstad Record Shop, Kerkrade, 29 July 2026
Tracks: 'Rivers of Babylon' / 'Sunny' 

Sweet Lui-Louise - Ironhorse

I heard 'Sweet Lui-Louise' on the radio recently and when I heard it, I thought it was a track by Bachman Turner Overdrive, because of the similarities with 'You ain't seen nothing yet'. I was not wrong: the Canadian band Ironhorse was founded by Randy Bachman, who left BTO in May 1977. Together with Tom Sparks (vocals, guitars), John Pierce (bass), and Mike Baird (drums) he recorded an album, also titled Ironhorse.

'Sweet Lui-Louise' was released as a single and reached number 36 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 60 in the UK singles chart and number 23 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 8371
Found: Parkstad Record Shop, Kerkrade, 29 July 2026
Tracks: 'Sweet Lui-Louise' / 'Watch me fly' 

Amateur hour - Sparks

After the Sparks enjoyed international success with 'This town ain't big enough for both of us', they released 'Amateur hour' as the second single from their album Kimono My House. The single peaked at number 7 in the UK singles chart and made it into the German and Irish charts as well. Despite a rousing performance in the Dutch TV show Toppop, the single didn't make it into the Dutch Top 40. 

In 1997 they made a new recording of the track for their 17th album Plagiarism. This new version was given a complete electronic synth-pop overhaul and was performed with Erasure.

My collection: 7" single no. 8370
Found: Parkstad Record Shop, Kerkrade, 29 July 2026
Tracks: 'Amateur hour' / 'Lost and found'

 

Equinoxe 4 - Jean Michel Jarre

It's pure coincidence that I found this single just days after I found a different version of 'Magnetic fields' -this time it's a different version of 'Equinoxe'. I found this single while scouring a shop in Heerlen, which is quite far away from where I live! I expected to find lots of cheap singles (since they advertised having thousands of them), but unfortunately they were all priced. So this was only one of three singles I bought there.

It was, of course, worth it. This 'version inédite' is an edit of the album version, cutting it to half its length. The B-side is also two minutes shorter than its album counterpart. I've never come across this single before, so it was worth picking up.

My collection: 7" single no. 8367
Found: Didi's Record Shop, Heerlen, 29 July 2026
Tracks: 'Equinoxe part 4' / 'Equinoxe part 3' 

Fernando - Abba

I was lucky to buy a few Austrian pressings of Abba singles last year while I was in Vienna, but I was very surprised to find one online in the inventory of a French seller. These singles are usually sold for high prices, but in this case the seller only wanted three euros for it. It was an easy decision to grab this one. 

The design of this sleeve is quite wonderful. It uses the same photograph used on many European sleeves, but with a different 'Abba' logo and a colourful background. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8365
Found: Discogs.com, received 25 July 2026
Tracks: 'Fernando' / 'Tropical loveland'

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

After the German pressing of 'A-ba-ni-bi', featured recently on this blog, I found myself confronted with the French one, which features another picture sleeve, featuring a photograph of Izhar Cohen. It has to be said: the design of this sleeve is even better. 

The back of the sleeve (not shown here) contains a photograph of the complete group, taken during the national final in Israel in 1978, shortly before they won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1978. It was a sensational win for the country, making Izhar Cohen a national hero right then and there.

My collection: 7" single no. 8364
Found: Discogs.com, received 25 July 2026
Tracks: 'A-ba-ni-bi' / 'Illusions'