She looked me in the eye - Poogy

The band Poogy was named after the nickname of its drummer. They participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 with a song called 'Natati la khaiai' in Hebrew. Typically for the band, the lyrics are full of unusual imagery. With humour and irony, the song deals, at least in part, with the power of love and its failure, as in lines such as 'if she refused / there's no hope', and 'Someone says that his sky is ending / When there’s enough air for a nation or two'. It has been first suggested, and since confirmed by band member Danny Sanderson, that the song also contained a veiled political protest against then-prime minister Golda Meir, and in favour of the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

The song ended up in seventh place. The band recorded the song in English as 'She looked me in the eye (I gave her my life)'. I ordered the single from a German seller, and it was delivered within a week!

My collection: 7" single no. 7514
Found: Discogs.com, received 2 December 2024
Tracks: 'She looked me in the eye (I gave her my life)' / 'Morris and his turtle'

Live and let die - Paul McCartney & Wings

One of the singles I've been after for a couple of years now is 'Live and let die', the theme song of the 1973 James Bond film of the same name. Originally, the movie's producer Harry Saltzman was interested in having Shirley Bassey or Thelma Houston perform it instead of Wings. George Martin said McCartney would allow the song to be used in the movie only if Wings was able to perform the song in the opening credits. The recording contract specified that McCartney would "perform the title song under the opening titles".

After the release of the single, it reached number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 9 in the UK singles chart. Amazingly, it only reached number 27 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 7470
Found: Discogs.com, received 28 November 2024
Tracks: 'Live and let die' / 'I lie around'

Love her madly - The Doors

Band guitarist Robby Krieger wrote 'Love her madly' during the period of Jim Morrison's trial in September 1970. He composed the music while experimenting on a twelve string guitar, and he was inspired to write the lyrics from his troubles and fights with his then-girlfriend and later-wife Lynn. Ray Manzarek has said that the song's title was taken from Duke Ellington's line 'We love you madly', a catchphrase which he used to utter to the audience at the end of his concerts.

The B-side of the single, '(You need meat) Don't go no further', is the only studio recording released by the Doors during Jim Morrison's tenure with the group to feature a lead vocal by keyboardist Ray Manzarek. It is also one of only three non-album B-sides by the Doors, the other two being 'Who scared you?' (B-side of 'Wishful sinful') and the relatively rare post-Morrison track 'Treetrunk' (B-side of 'Get up and dance'). '(You need meat) Don't go no further' met its first official album release on the compilation album Weird scenes inside the gold mine. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7469
Found: Discogs.com, received 28 November 2024
Tracks: 'Love her madly' / '(You need meat) Don't go no further'

Have a cigar - Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd became one of the most famous bands in the world because of the album Dark side of the moon, released in 1973. After this, they continued making remarkable records, and 'Have a cigar' appeared on the next album Wish you were here. 

In some markets, the song was issued as a single. English folk-rock singer Roy Harper provided lead vocals on the song. In his book Pigs Might Fly: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd, author Mark Blake recounts that Gilmour had been unwilling to sing the lead vocal as he did not share Waters' opinions, as expressed in the lyrics, on the nature of the music industry. Waters has since said he dislikes Harper's version, saying he would have liked it to emerge 'more vulnerable and less cynical', adding that Harper's version was too parodic while Gilmour loved Harper's vocal delivery and called it the 'perfect version'. I'm inclined to take Gilmour's side, since Waters has since proved to be a lunatic.

My collection: 7" single no. 7468
Found: Discogs.com, received 28 November 2024
Tracks: 'Have a cigar' / 'Shine on you crazy diamond (part 1)'

ABBA hits in Hindi - Various artists

Having hunted Abba singles throughout this year, I thought I'd seen most of them by now, but then I found myself bumping into this rarity. 'ABBA hits in Hindi' is an EP featuring four cover versions of Abba songs, but in Hindi. This single was actually made in India but somehow copies made it into the rest of the world, as evidenced by the 12 copies that are available online even right now. 

The artists on this EP are all from India, obviously, and the tracks sound like those radio stations you could bump into on the AM or FM band back in the day. But it's weird rarities like this that really excite me. Also, I wonder if they got permission to print that photograph on the sleeve.... I would hazard a guess that nobody cared back then.

My collection: 7" single no. 7455
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, 16 November 2024
Tracks: 'Abhi Nahin (Honey Honey)', 'Hasta Mastana (Hasta Mañana)' / 'Na jaane mere dil mein (Move on)', 'Mil mil sapnon mein aake (Ring Ring)'

Sevince - Nazar

'Sevince' ('When I'm in love') was the Turkish entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1978 in Paris, performed by Nilüfer & Nazar in the country's first appearance since 1975. The song is an up-tempo number about the power of love and the song talks about love and how it is good when we are loved by someone.  

Nazar included Olcayto Ahmet Tuğsuz who went on to compose Turkey's Eurovision entries in 1982 and 1987 and San Marino's entries in 2016 and 2019. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7449
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Sevince' / 'Darling'

Posle tebe - Lola Novakovic

After Vicky Leandros won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1972 with 'Après toi', several artists recorded cover versions of that song. None was more remarkable than the Yugoslavian cover, recorded by Lola Novakovic. 

Released on the state-run Radio-Televizija Beograd label, this EP features 'Posle tebe', a Serbian version of the song. I saw this single online quite a few times and even wanted to order it from somewhere, but I'm glad I didn't - I bought a copy for just a few euros at the record fair last week. Saves a lot of shipping costs!

My collection: 7" single no. 7444
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Znam Zašto Živim', 'Posle Tebe (Après Toi)' / 'Malo Tražim', 'Kao Ljubičice (Come Le Viole)'

Walkin' in Lee Jeans - Claire Torry

In 1975 it was Ann Christy's turn to represent Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest. She did this with the song 'Gelukkig zijn', written by Mary Bouduin. Ann also recorded the song in English, titled 'Could it be happiness'.

Those exact words also appear in the song 'Walkin' in Lee Jeans', a single that was also released in 1975 and a promotional vehicle for, you guessed it, Lee Jeans. Bouduin explained that she originally wrote the song for this commercial, and then wrote Dutch lyrics for Ann Christy. Since the Eurovision rules stipulate that songs need to be original in order to enter, one has to wonder if this entry was entirely in line with the regulations!

My collection: 7" single no. 7442
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Walkin' in Lee Jeans' / 'Mean jeans'

Guarda tus besos para mi - Los Mismos

Brotherhood of Man won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1976 with 'Save your kisses for me'. Two guys and two girls was a success formula introduced by Abba in 1974 and it would continue to be a success in later years as well (just think of Bucks Fizz, for example). 

Los Mismos was a Spanish trio, featuring two guys and one girl. (Perhaps they couldn't find a second girl!) They recorded a cover version of 'Save your kisses for me' in Spanish: 'Guarda tus besos para mi'.

My collection: 7" single no. 7437
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Guarda tus besos para mi' / 'Tiene tu cuerpo tres amantes'

Dès qu'un enfant chante - Bruno Guillain

Betty Missiego represented Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1979 with 'Su canción'. It was a big success: the song finished in second place, behind Israel's 'Hallelujah'. 

The French singer Bruno Guillain (born 9 January 1961) was born in Tizi Ouzou (Algeria).After a childhood in the Parisian suburbs, in Savigny-sur-Orge, he enrolled in 1977 at the Cours Cochet. In 1978, he landed a role in Michel Lang's film L'Hôtel de la plage. At the same time, he performed the songs 'Génération 78' and 'Ça me fait rêver' as a duet with Dalida. In 1979, he began a solo career with Dalida's authors and composers (Michel Jouveaux, Jeff Barnel, Tony Rallo, etc.) and the Petits chanteurs d'Asnières. 'Dès qu'un enfant chante' was his version of 'Su canción'. 

Struck by lung cancer, he succumbed to the consequences of his illness on 14 December 2011, aged 50.

My collection: 7" single no. 7436
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Dès qu'un enfant chante' / 'Je leur dis'

S.O.S. - Abba

The Swedish supergroup Abba is back on this blog, with a Japanese single no less. This is an interesting one, because it couples 'S.O.S' with 'I do, I do, I do, I do', two songs that were released as individual singles in other territories.

The attractive thing about Japanese singles is the impeccable quality and, more often than not, unique sleeves. This particular sleeve features a group photo that I've never seen on any other Abba single release. And so, a very nice rarity.

My collection: 7" single no. 7418
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'S.O.S.' / 'I do, I do, I do, I do, I do'

Where do I begin - Shirley Bassey

Love Story is a 1970 American romantic drama film written by Erich Segal, who was also the author of the best-selling 1970 eponymous novel. The film is considered one of the most romantic by the American Film Institute (number 9 on the list) and is one of the highest-grossing films of all time adjusted for inflation.

The main song in the film, '(Where do I begin?) Love Story' was a major success, particularly the vocal rendition recorded by Andy Williams. Shirley Bassey was quick to record her own version of the song. That version reached number 34 in the UK singles chart. The version by Williams peaked at number 4.

My collection: 7" single no. 7414
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Where do I begin' / 'For the love of him'

Sing Sang Song - Les Humphries Singers

Back in 2014 I bought 'Sing sang song', the Eurovision entry by the Les Humphries Singers from 1976. That was the original German version, and as I found out recently, there's also an English version. 

That one comes in an attractive picture sleeve, featuring the full line-up of the band - all thirteen of them! This edition comes from Spain, but the version was apparently released in various European countries.

My collection: 7" single no. 7403
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Sing Sang Song [English version]' / 'Just sit down at the old piano'

Un banc, un arbre, une rue - Helmut Zacharias

The impact of the Eurovision Song Contest was much bigger, perhaps, when it was much younger. Winning songs were often covered by many artists, both in vocal and instrumental versions. An example of this is this single: 'Un banc, un arbre, une rue' by the German violinist Helmut Zacharias. 

Helmut (born 20 January 1920 in Berlin, Germany) first played violin at the age of two and played in public four years later. He was also known for the pseudonym Charly Thomas. After working at the Conservatory, he turned to pop music as well as, occasionally, jazz.More than 50 LP's bearing his name were released between 1950 and now. He died on 28 February 2002 in Brissago, Switzerland.  

My collection: 7" single no. 7397
Found: Discogs.com, received 30 October 2024
Tracks: 'Un banc, un arbre, une rue' / 'Love story'

Wir wollen morgen auch so glücklich sein wie heut - Belle & Horst

The German duo Belle Schnetzler and Horst Hornung released one single in 1971, a cover version of 'In this world we live in', a song previously recorded by the Italian duo Remo & Josie. The German version received the lengthy title 'Wir wollen morgen auch so glücklich sein wie heut'. 

The real attraction on this single is the B-side. It's a German version of 'Jungle Jim', a song originally written by Ronnie Scott and Marty Wilde. Of course, this is the reason why I bought this single. I was especially pleased to receive it from a Dutch seller in mint condition. That's pretty impressive for a single that's 53 years old.

My collection: 7" single no. 7395
Found: Discogs.com, received 30 October 2024
Tracks: 'Wir wollen morgen auch so glücklich sein wie heut' / 'Jungle Jim'

School's out - Alice Cooper

During the Eighties, I listened to the radio and every now and then this song would come up. Certainly being at the age of having to go to school every day during the week, this became a bit of a rebellious anthem. 

Alice Cooper has said he was inspired to write the song when answering the question, "What's the greatest three minutes of your life?". Cooper said: "There's two times during the year. One is Christmas morning, when you're just getting ready to open the presents. The greed factor is right there. The next one is the last three minutes of the last day of school when you're sitting there and it's like a slow fuse burning. I said, 'If we can catch that three minutes in a song, it's going to be so big."    

Big it was: the song peaked at the top of the UK singles chart and number 6 in the Dutch Top 40. This copy isn't much to look at, but for 50p, I can't really complain.

My collection: 7" single no. 7389
Found: Music & Video Exchange, London, 20 October 2024
Tracks: 'School's out' / 'Gutter cat'

Them heavy people - Kate Bush

When Kate Bush released the On Stage EP, promotional singles were made for 'Them Heavy People', which was the lead track of the EP. This promotional single omits the two tracks on the B-side, and simply presents the two tracks from the A-side of the EP as this single's A and B-side.

The story could end there, but it is quite interesting how difficult it is to find a good copy of this single. Of course, it's a release from 1979 which makes it a bit antique, but it is amazing how many of these singles have been mutilated: the middle has often been dinked. People are still asking a lot of money for those mutilated copies, of course. So I was lucky to find a copy that was both cheap and intact. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7386
Found: Discogs.com, received 19 October 2024
Tracks: 'Them heavy people' / 'Don't push your foot on the heartbrake'

Clean clean - Bruce Woolley

I knew 'Clean clean' as a song by the Buggles, but I wasn't aware that it was a cover version of a song originally recorded by Bruce Woolley. 

His version was released as a single on 2 November 1979. The song was actually written by Woolley with Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes, so it isn't really a surprise that the song would turn up on the Buggles' debut album The age of plastic. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7382
Found: Discogs.com, received 8 October 2024
Tracks: 'Clean clean' / 'Flying man'

Rock bottom - Lynn Thomas & Paul Clark

Nobody knows who Lynn Thomas and Paul Clark were, but they recorded a cover version of 'Rock bottom', the song with which Lynsey de Paul and Mike Moran represented the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1977. 

The B-side of this single, which was released in Portugal only, is a cover of the Leo Sayer song 'You make me feel like dancing'. And so this single perfectly captures the music scene of 1977.

My collection: 7" single no. 7381
Found: Discogs.com, received 8 October 2024
Tracks: 'Rock bottom' / 'You make me feel like dancing'

Fernando - Abba

Like I wrote recently, the French do things differently, and that applies to this release of Abba's 'Fernando' as well. The Dutch and German versions of the single had 'Tropical Loveland' on the B-side, some other territories went for 'Hey hey Helen', but the French went for 'Dance (while the music still goes on)'. It is actually a better song than the other two in my opinion, so kudos to the French for this release.

In France, 'Fernando' reached number 2 in the singles chart, which was in line with most other countries, where it ended up either peaking at number 2 or topping the chart. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7376
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 5 October 2024
Tracks: 'Fernando' / 'Dance (while the music still goes on)'