Eurovision '69 - Various artists

The Spanish record company Belter released this promotional EP featuring three Eurovision songs in 1969 and called it Eurovision '69. Fair enough - but why did they also include three other tracks on the B-side? Probably to promote their other repertoire as well, but it is a kind of baffling combination.

 The nice thing about this EP is the fact that they included Spanish versions of Eurovision classics, and so  'Un jour, un enfant' becomes 'Un dia, un niño', 'Jedan dan' becomes 'Saludos al mundo' and 'Primaballerina' becomes, er, 'Primaballerina'. I'm not  so sure about the other three tracks, but I guess recipients of this promotional disc had no right to complain. It was probably a freebie anyway.

My collection: 7" single no. 7236
Found: Discogs.com, received 26 June 2024
Tracks: 'Un dia, un niño' (Frida Boccara), 'Primaballerina' (Siw Malmkvist), 'Saludos al mundo' (Ivan &M's) / 'Lala' (Michel), 'Mil veces volverias' (Madalena Iglesias), 'Bajo el cielo de Moscu' (Michel)

Eurovisão 80 - Various artists

If you were living in Portugal in 1980 and you wanted to have a generous collection of Eurovision Song Contest songs from that year, your cheapest option would be this LP. 'Eurovisão 80' presented twelve of the nineteen entries, starting with the winning song 'What's Another Year'. 

However, only a very small logo in the bottom right corner would tell you that these are cover versions. The artists who performed these songs were all uncredited, so if any of them dreamed of seeing their names printed on the sleeve, that dream would never come true. The versions of these songs are actually quite decent, and so it is still a nice album to have if you're a Eurovision fan.

My collection: LP [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received 4 February 2023
Tracks: 'What's another year', 'Just nu', 'Non so che darei', 'Cinema', 'Quedate esta noche', 'Love enough for two' / 'Amsterdam', 'Theater', 'Euro-vision', 'Taenker altid paa dig', 'Flute-man', 'Samiid aednan'

Eurovision '69 - Various artists

In 1969, the Eurovision Song Contest was organized in Spain, after Massiel's controversial win in 1968. The Spanish record company Belter did a lot to promote the event: various entries were released in attractive themed sleeves (See this one, for instance) and this EP is further evidence. 

A few things are interesting about this EP: all four songs are in Spanish. Ivan & M's (a.k.a. M4) and Frida Boccara recorded these Spanish versions themselves - and they were also released on separate singles - but since there was no Spanish version of 'Desfolhada Portguesa' by Simone, it was recorded by a certain Madalena Iglesias, a Portuguese actress and singer who actually represented her country in 1966 with the song 'Ele e ela'. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6438
Found: Discogs.com, received 12 August 2021
Cost: 4 euro
Tracks: 'Vivo cantando' (Salomé), 'Desfolhada Portuguesa' (Madalena Iglesias) / 'Un dia, un niño' (Frida Boccara), 'Saludos al mundo' (Ivan & M's)

Perfect day - Various artists

'Perfect day' was written by Lou Reed in 1972. The song was originally featured on his 1972 album 'Transformer'. The song's lyrics are often considered to suggest simple, conventional romantic devotion, possibly alluding to Reed’s relationship with Bettye Kronstadt (soon to become his first wife) and Reed’s own conflicts with his sexuality, drug use and ego.

In 1997 the track was used by the BBC in a lengthy promotion clip of its diverse music coverage which was broadcast on BBC channels and in cinemas. In reference to the license fee, the film ended with the message 'Whatever your musical taste, it is catered for by BBC Radio and Television. This is only possible thanks to the unique way the BBC is paid for by you. BBC. You make it what it is.' Prompted by a huge public demand the track was released in November as a charity single for Children in Need. It went number one in the UK, selling over a million copies in 1997.

The track was performed by an impressive array of performers, including (but not limited to) Lou Reed, Bono, David Bowie, Elton John, Emmylou Harris, Tom Jones and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

My collection: 7" single no. 2927
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 13, 1997
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Perfect day' / 'Perfect day (Female version)', 'Perfect day (Male version)'

The best of the Top 40 of the year - Various artists

I don't know what the occasion was, but I remember I got this double lp in the summer of 1979. The way I remember it, it was the first lp that was my own, because this one was bought in the shop as opposed to earlier lp's I got, previously owned by my parents. This album contains no less than 32 hits of the year 1978 and although I was at first a bit disappointed at the track listing (I missed my favourite artists of that time, Kate Bush and Abba and others), I played these two discs a lot. Now that I've listened to it again I can hear that it hasn't survived the years too well.

Some sounds of that lp have become etched in my memory forever. I will always define 1978 by tracks like 'Dancing in the city', 'Follow me', Windsurfin'' and 'Let's all chant'. I consider this to be the actual start of my obsession with pop music - and records.

My collection: LP no. 7

Found: as a present, 1979

Cost: -

Tracks:

Side 1: Let's all chant (Michael Zager Band) / Dancing in the city (Marshall Hain) / Red Hot (Robert Gordon) / Every 1's a winner (Hot Chocolate) / Only a fool (Mighty Sparrow) / Ragtime Piano Joe (Peter Straker) / Malibu (Patricia Paay) / Copacabana (Barry Manilow)

Side 2: Nutbush city limits (Ike & Tina Turner) / Boogie Oogie Oogie (A taste of honey) / You and I (Rick James) / Fool (Chris Rea) / If I had words (Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley) / For a few dollars more (Smokie) / If you can't give me love (Suzi Quatro) / It's raining (Darts)

Side 3: Three times a lady (Commodores) / Follow me (Amanda Lear) / Angel of the morning (Guys & Dolls) / Put your love in me (Hot Chocolate) / More than a woman (Tavares) / Baker street (Gerry Rafferty) / Windsurfin' (The Surfers) / Hold on (Bolland & Bolland)

Side 4: I put a spell on you (Dee Dee) / Wet day in September (Pussycat) / Realite (Next One) / Rosita (George Baker) / She was too young (The Cats) / Round in circles (Highlight) / It's only a matter of time (Breeze) / Floral Dance (Brighouse & Rastrick Band)

Download: Disc One, Disc Two