Puppet on a string - Al Hirt

Back in the Sixties and Seventies, trumpet players had a good time. They had an instrument that was very popular with casual record buyers and instrumental versions of big hits were all the rage. Bert Kaempfert made a nice living releasing album upon album with such tracks. Lesser gods like Piet Knarren and Eddie Calvert didn't have any money problems either.

I must confess I'd never heard of Al Hirt before, but it turns out he did very well for himself too. He received 21 Grammy nominations during his lifetime, including winning the Grammy award in 1964 for his version of 'Java'. This single features his version of the Eurovision classic 'Puppet on a string', and of course I bought it. It was only 1 euro after all.

My collection: 7" single no. 7611
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 1 March 2025
Tracks: 'Puppet on a string' / 'Big honey'

 

Llámame - Victor Balaguer

This single spent a long time on my wantlist, and when I ordered it online I didn't pay enough attention to the description, otherwise I would have known that I would receive this single in a record company sleeve instead of the picture sleeve. Oh well, at least it is the original record company sleeve.

'Llámame' was the song performed by Victor Balaguer for Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1962. It was a rather traditional Spanish-style song, which was not out of the ordinary at the Contest around that time. It wasn't a very successful song: it finished in shared last place (with Belgium, the Netherlands and Austria) with zero points. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7587
Found: Discogs.com, received 22 February 2025
Tracks: 'Llámame', 'Serenata' / 'Leccion de Twist', 'Dile tu'

Ice in the sun - Status Quo

Although I already had a single featuring 'Ice in the sun' on the B-side of 'Pictures of matchstick men' on an unsightly 'old gold' release, I always wanted to have the original single as well - but for a fair price. When I finally saw one I snapped it up. 

'Ice in the sun' was written by Marty Wilde, of course, together with Ronnie Scott. They created many songs during the Sixties, but this was one of the better known ones. 'Ice in the sun', reached number 8 in the UK and number 24 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 7565
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Ice in the sun' / 'When my mind is not live'

Crying in the rain - Everly Brothers

'Crying in the rain' was composed by Carole King with lyrics by Howard Greenfield, originally recorded by American duo the Everly Brothers. Their version was released as a single in December 1961, peaking at number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in February 1962.

The song was a collaboration between Greenfield and King, both of whom worked for music publisher Aldon Music at the time. On a whim, two Aldon songwriting partnerships decided to switch partners for a day; King's regular lyricist and then-husband Gerry Goffin partnered with Greenfield's frequent collaborator Jack Keller, leaving King and Greenfield to pair up.

For younger listeners, the song is best known in a version by A-ha.

My collection: 7" single no. 7570
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Track: 'Crying in the rain' / 'That's old fashioned (That's the way love should be)'

I just don't know what to do with myself - Dusty Springfield

'I just don't know what to do with myself' is a song written by Burt Bacharach and lyricist Hal David. The song was first recorded by Chuck Jackson in 1962. The song was recorded by Dusty Springfield and it reached number 3 on the UK singles chart in 1964. 

Production was credited to Philips Records owner Johnny Franz - although Springfield later stated her solo Philips tracks were self-produced - and arranged by Ivor Raymonde who conducted his orchestra. Springfield, whose first solo recordings had included covers of the Bacharach/David compositions 'Anyone who had a heart' and 'Wishin' and hopin'' - had brought back 'I just don't know what to do with myself' from an overnight trip to New York City where she met up with Bacharach in February 1964. Two years later, the song was also recorded by Dionne Warwick.

My collection: 7" single no. 7567
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'I just don't know what to do with myself' / 'My colouring book'

Zijn eigen wonder - Willeke Alberti

Dutch singer Willeke Alberti had profited from the Eurovision Song Contest before, having recorded 'Uno per tutte' with her father Willy in 1963. Six years later she went at it on her own, recording a version of Frida Boccara's moving chanson 'Un jour, un enfant' - but in a Dutch translation.

Cees Nooteboom provided the lyrics for this song. The Dutch novelist, poet and journalist used to write lyrics for his then-partner Liesbeth List, but later made a name for himself as a writer. The book 'Rituelen' became an international success and he was even mentioned recently as a candidate for the Nobel Prize in literature. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7572
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Zijn eigen wonder' / 'Happy, happy, happy'.

Pictures of matchstick men - Status Quo

Although I already had 'Pictures of matchstick men' in my collection, it was an unsightly 'old gold' release, without a picture sleeve. Fortunately I now own an original release of that song, courtesy of a seller who didn't charge a ridiculous price for it.

According to Francis Rossi, who wrote the song: 'I wrote it on the bog. I'd gone there, not for the usual reasons... but to get away from the wife and mother-in-law. I used to go into this narrow frizzing toilet and sit there for hours, until they finally went out. I got three quarters of the song finished in that khazi. The rest I finished in the lounge.' So basically we know where the song was written, but not what it's about.

My collection: 7" single no. 7564
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Pictures of matchstick men' / 'Gentleman Jim's sidewalk cafe'

As tears go by - Marianne Faithfull

Marianne Faithfull passed away recently, on 30 January. I bought her debut single just 11 days earlier and I really wanted to post this single earlier but I just didn't have the time. So here it is, still: quite a bit of history in this 61 year old disc. The song was written by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Rolling Stones' manager Andrew Loog Oldham. Marianne Faithfull recorded and released it as a single in the United Kingdom in 1964. Her song peaked at number 9 on both the UK and Irish singles charts. 

It was actually Marianne's re-recording from 1987 which made me quite fond of the song. It adds a layer of nostalgia which is abent on this early recording. Marianne actually said it herself: "Forty is the age to sing it, not seventeen".

My collection: 7" single no. 7566
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'As tears go by' / 'Greensleeves'

Es war keine so wunderbar wie du - Cliff Richard und die Shadows

Back in 1964 Cliff Richard had a hit with 'I could easily fall in love with you'. It isn't easy to find a good copy of a single that old, but I managed it five years ago.

And then, here's the German version of that same song, in the same unscathed condition! In this case, the song is credited to 'Cliff Richard und die Shadows'. I can't find out whether this version was a hit in Germany, but I would assume it was. It is a great version.

My collection: 7" single no. 7534
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Es war keine so wunderbar wie du' / 'Es könnte schon morgen sein'

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)'

God only knows - The Beach Boys

This is a classic song and the single is very hard to find. I can't remember when I first heard the song, and I think it didn't even make much of an impression on me back then, but as the years went by, I grew to appreciate it more and more. When I finally decided I wanted to own this single, I couldn't find it anywhere, obviously. Thank god there's online sellers now - even if they tend to charge too much for their wornout singles.

Many songwriters, including Paul McCartney and Jimmy Webb, have cited 'God only knows' as their favorite song of all time. They're not wrong: it's a beautifully crafted piece of music.

My collection: 7" single no. 7481
Found: Discogs.com, received 30 November 2024
Tracks: 'God only knows' / 'Wouldn't it be nice'

Let it be me - Hep Stars

It has become common practice for me, when I buy singles online, to search for 'Ulvaeus', because you never know when you might pick up some obscure Abba release, or a cover version. But this time the Hep Stars turned up, thanks to the B-side of this single. I knew the title 'Let it be me' somehow, but I didn't really know the song. And so I listened to it online - and that's when I remembered that song from very long ago. Obviously I had to have it. 

'Let it be me' was released in 1968, and it was based on 'Je t'appartiens', which was written in by Gilbert Bécaud and his frequent collaborator, lyricist Pierre Delanoë. Delanoë reportedly wrote the lyrics for Bécaud as an apology for missing one of the singer's performances at the Olympia in Paris. The most famous version was recorded by the Everly Brothers in 1959 - but the Swedish band were actually a year earlier! So which version did I know? I can't recall. Lovely song, though.

My collection: 7" single no. 7463
Found: Discogs.com, received 21 November 2024
Tracks: 'Let it be me' / 'A flower in my garden'

Magical Mystery Tour - The Beatles

For a few years I have been checking out this double 7" single package of the Beatles called 'Magical Mystery Tour'. Most people know the tracks on this collection of songs, but the packaging is what makes the difference here. It's essentially a booklet of photographs with two EP's thrown in for extra enjoyment. It is the soundtrack to the Beatles television film of the same name. 

I got a little frustrated when I saw a few copies at the record fair in Den Bosch last month, and they were all tattered and torn - and dealers were still asking high prices for it! So I gave up, and I ordered a copy online. Luckily, this one is in "very good plus" shape, and when I received it, it exceeded my expectations. I don't really collect Beatles singles - you've got to draw the line somewhere - but this one is simply too good to let it pass.

My collection: 7" single no. 7462
Found: Discogs.com, received 21 November 2024
Tracks: 'Magical mystery tour', 'Your mother should know' / 'I am the walrus' // 'The fool on the hill', 'Flying' / 'Blue Jay way'

Love at first sight - Sounds Nice

Most people will be familiar with 'Je t'aime... moi non plus', the sensual single by Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin. This single presents a different version of that song, as it's an instrumental take.

Sounds Nice is an instrumental group consisting of organist Tim Mycroft with the arranger Paul Buckmaster and a host of session musicians. Besides the sighing and moaning on the original, it is the melody that impresses, and this version does take it centre stage. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7452
Found: Discogs.com, received 12 November 2024
Tracks: 'Love at first sight' / 'Love you too'

Sprattelgumma - Siw Malmkvist

The song 'Puppet on a string' by Sandie Shaw won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1967, and what followed was a tsunami of cover versions in many different languages. It's quite interesting how many versions there are - and some of them have appeared on this blog already.

Siw Malmkvist's version is performed in Swedish, just like the other three tracks on this EP. It also features a version of 'Downtown', which was another big hit in 1967. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7446
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Sprattelgumma', 'Nanting fanigt' / 'Arvid', 'Downtown'

Nee, nee laat dat - The Strangers

In 1964 the Antwerp group The Strangers released this 4 track EP featuring a cover version of Gigliola Cinquetti's 'Non ho l'eta', the winning song of that year's Eurovision Song Contest. Titled 'Nee, nee laat dat', it was rewritten by Lex Colman in Antwerp dialect. 

As far as I can gather, this is the oldest Eurovision cover by the Strangers. The group started in 1952. Their first performance took place on 7 January 1953 in Hoboken. By 1965 they had already performed 1000 times. They owed their popularity mainly to the fact that everyone could hum along to the original melodies and their translations were more understandable to most Flemish people than the original languages ​​in which the hits were sung. Yet their songs were never literal translations, but always completely new lyrics about often completely different subjects.

My collection: 7" single no. 7441
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'De nieuwe tram', 'Nee, nee laat dat' / 'Reutenkenteut', 'Georgette'

Elle était si jolie - Rika Zaraï

Rika Zaraï was 25 years old when she recorded this EP. It features four tracks and it included a version of the French entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 1963, 'Elle était si jolie'. 

The beautiful colour picture sleeve of this EP is intact, but unfortunately the disc comes with its flaws. Fortunately 'Elle était si jolie' can be played on this, otherwise I would have been very disappointed.

My collection: 7" single no. 7439
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Tournez manèges', 'Elle était si jolie' / 'Demain c'est dimanche', 'Pourquoi je t'aime'

Que bueno, que bueno - Los Sirex

Los Sírex is a Spanish rock band founded in 1959 in Barcelona and active until 1972. In 1977 they got together again and were active until 2012. It was initially formed by three members: Guillermo Rodríguez Holgado, Antonio Miers and Manuel Madruga (Manolo), then briefly joined by the vocalist Santi Carulla in 1960. By the end of 1960, the band consisted of Antoni Miquel Cerveró ("Leslie" or "L'Anxoveta") as lead vocalist, Lluís Gomis (Lluís Gomis de Prunera, 1944-2012) on the drums, Josep Fontseré Portolés (Pepe or Pep, Barcelona, 1945) on the rhythm guitar, Guillermo Rodríguez Holgado on the bass and Manolo Madruga on the lead guitar. They named the band after a component of eyeglasses: Guillermo worked at his father's glasses factory, where they used a filament called Sírex to adjust the lenses to the frames of the glasses.

In 1965 they recorded a version of that year's Spanish entry for the Eurovision Song Contest: 'Que bueno, que bueno', originally performed by Conchita Bautista. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7438
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Que bueno, que bueno' / 'Chao chao (Downtown)'

Bara sexton år - Gitte

With 'Lille dukke' I thought I had the oldest Eurovision cover version by Gitte Haenning, but she was already active in 1961, at the age of fifteen. This EP features four tracks, and the last one is a version of 'Allons, allons, les enfants', the entry of Monaco at the Eurovision Song Contest that year.

Gitte recorded the song with Swedish lyrics by Bo Eneby: 'Bara sexton år' ('Only sixteen years'). It's a charming piece of music, adding something that wasn't there in the original version.

My collection: 7" single no. 7435
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Varje stjärna i det blå', 'Borta bra, hemma bäst' / 'Gör vad du vill', 'Bara sexton år'

Lille dukke - Gitte Haenning

Throughout her career Gitte Haenning has been associated with the Eurovision Song Contest. She appeared on the Eurovision stage once, with 'Junger Tag', but she also recorded her share of covers of Eurovision songs. One of those cover versions appeared on this blog before: 'La, la, la' from 1968. 

This single predates that cover version by three years. 'Lille dukke' is a version of 'Poupée de cire, poupée de son', with Danish lyrics by Thøger Olesen.

My collection: 7" single no. 7434
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Lille dukke' / 'Hvorfor tænke på i morgen'