Popcorn - Tom Spencer

Tom Spencer was one of many people who recorded a cover version of the Gershon Kingsley tune 'Popcorn', but he is the only one - as far as I know at least - who can claim to have recorded the 'Deutsche Originalversion', in other words: the German original version. Which in itself seems like a lie, because the original version of 'Popcorn' was certainly not German.

As for Tom Spencer, he is an unknown artist who released only this single and a single called 'Ghostrider (Riders in the sky)', both in 1972.

My collection: 7" single no. 6281
Found: Discogs.com, received May 12, 2020
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Popcorn' / 'Moog March'

Tattoo - Mike Oldfield

I guess I should save this single for December because of its seasonal B-side, but heck, this is Mike Oldfield and this is Tubular Bells, so I couldn't really wait that long. 'Tattoo' was released in 1992 and charted in - you guessed it - December of that year, peaking at number 33 in the UK singles chart.

It was one of three single releases taken from his album 'Tubular Bells II', a different take on his classic 1970's album. Years later, he would also make 'Millennium Bells' and 'Tubular Bells III', and we're all still waiting for 'Tubular Bells IV', which is rumoured to be an interactive thing. We can't wait.

My collection: 7" single no. 6280
Found: Discogs.com, received May 12, 2020
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Tattoo (edit)' / 'Silent night'

Ka' du se hvad jeg sa'? - Kirsten & Søren

After Det' lige det in 1984 and Sku' du' spørg fra no'en? in 1985, Kirsten & Søren returned to the Eurovision stage in 1988 with 'Ka' du se hvad jeg sa'?', another breezy Danish pop tune in their all too familiar style. It was their most successful attempt, finishing in third place.

I was quite surprised to find that I did have the single Who is wrong and who's right, featuring both the English and French versions, but the original Danish version was still lacking. I was lucky to find this single with the same dealer who was selling Brandenburger Tor, which eased the pain of having to shell out postage from Finland a little.

My collection: 7" single no. 6279
Found: Discogs.com, received April 23, 2020
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Ka' du se hvad jeg sa'?' / 'Lullaby (Sang til Kaj)'

Brandenburger Tor - Ketil Stokkans Pop Band

The Eurovision Song Contest suffered a bit after the Berlin Wall came down in 1989. Suddenly songs about freedom and happiness ran rampant, and every country wanted to profit from the glee that suddenly engulfed Europe. This is how we got 'Keine Mauern mehr', 'Frei zu leben' and the terrible winner of 1990, 'Insieme'.

Even Norway went along: they sent in Ketil Stokkan with the shameless song, dedicated to that famous Norwegian landmark 'Brandenburger Tor'. But at least, this was a rather funny song. At least, it sounded funny because Norwegian is hard to understand, so the only surviving lyric for foreign ears was that very title. It didn't help matters much: at the close of voting, Ketil ended up in a shared last place in a field of 22 competitors. The single, meanwhile, is incredibly rare, so I was glad to get my hands on a copy.

My collection: 7" single no. 6278
Found: Discogs.com, received April 23, 2020
Tracks: 'Brandenburger Tor (Norsk version)' / 'Brandenburger Tor (English version)'

Kids in America - Lawnmower Deth

I was familiar, of course, with the cover version of 'Kids in America' by Lawnmower Deth, released in 1991. I bought the cd single somewhere in the 1990's and even bought the album 'Billy' with the same track on it. This 7" single, however, is a recent discovery. For all this time I believed the track was never released on this format. So when I spotted it online recently, I got hold of it rather quickly, thanks to a Belgian seller.

It is amusing to note that this version is Kim Wilde's own favourite, and she went on to record 'F U Kristmas' with the band a few years ago, as well as performing live with them. Their loud music is offset by the fact that they don't really take themselves very seriously.

My collection: 7" single no. 6277
Found: Discogs.com, received April 18, 2020
Cost: 8 euro
Tracks: 'Kids in America' / 'Bone yank blisters'

Frank Boeijen - Twee gezichten

The last few vinyl singles by Frank Boeijen have become rare oddities. Released in 1992, this is one of them. 'Twee gezichten' ('Two faces') was released in Belgium in an edition of a few thousand copies, and they're almost impossible to get hold of nowadays.

I actually own the Dutch pressing of this single, but this one is special for the fact that it has a different sleeve and a live cover of Leonard Cohen's 'Suzanne' in Dutch. Frank's version was recorded for the Dutch TV programme Rotland, broadcast a few months before the release of this single. Confusingly, that track also appears on the B-side of the Dutch single 'Ze geeft om mij'.

My collection: 7" single no. 6276
Found: Discogs.com, received April 8, 2020
Cost: 10 euro
Tracks: 'Twee gezichten' / 'Suzanne (live)'

Eurovision medley - Esperanto

With an ever growing Eurovision collection, it is inevitable to stumble upon some strange and rare oddities. This single represents a Nineties take on various Eurovision classics, with all the hallmarks of a cheap Nineties production. The Belgian ensemble seems to consist of M. Lossso, D. Huppermans and R. Marino, who remain rather anonymous.

The songs included in this medley are 'Insieme (1992)', 'Waterloo', 'Puppet on a string', 'Non ho l'eta', 'Hold me now', 'Poupée de cire, poupée de son', Hallelujah', 'Merci chérie', 'Ein Bisschen Frieden', 'Apres toi', 'Save all your kisses for me' and 'J'aime la vie'.

My collection: 7" single no. 6275
Found: Discogs.com, received April 8, 2020
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Eurovision medley' / 'Get up and dance'

No estas solo - Patricia Kraus

Patricia Kraus was born on January 4, 1964 in Milan, Italy as the daughter of Alfredo Kraus, a Spanish tenor. She was selected to represent Spain during the Eurovision Song Contest in 1987 with 'No estas solo'. As you can hear, the song is a bit messy and really doesn't go anywhere. No wonder, then, that it finished in 19th place in a field of 22 competitors.

Kraus released her first self-titled album shortly after her Eurovision appearance. Further albums followed, including two of experimental electronica in collaboration with Daniel Assante, which were critically well-received although modest sellers. In 1999 she formed the group Waxbeat with Juan Belda and Juan Gómez Acebo, and two albums were released. Kraus, along with Assante and Italian musicians Enrico Barbaro and Gherardo Catanzaro, is currently working under the name of Vintage Club Band.

My collection: 7" single no. 6274
Found: Discogs.com, received April 8, 2020
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'No estas solo' / 'With love'

Wuthering heights / The man with the child in his eyes - Kate Bush

There's not much to write about Kate Bush that hasn't already been written a thousand times. She is undoubtedly one of the most talented women to have appeared on the music scene in the last century and her music is likely to last for decades to come.

Old Gold was quick to realize this when they released this double A-sided single featuring her first two hit singles in 1983, just five years after they were originally released. 'Wuthering heights' and 'The man with the child in his eyes' appear on this disc in their original single versions, which for the latter is quite unique, as that version has rarely appeared on a physical format since.

My collection: 7" single no. 6154
Found: Discogs.com, received August 9, 2019
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Wuthering heights' / 'The man with the child in his eyes'

No more lonely nights - Paul McCartney

Even a music legend can't get it right every time. Paul McCartney has been a victim of ridicule for his single 'We all stand together', the syrupy duet 'Ebony and ivory' and even his treatment of his deluxe editions of past albums, where digital files were sometimes favoured over physical releases.

A more personal example of failure for me is the extended version of 'No more lonely nights'. It is one of my favourite McCartney tracks, but the ballad version - present here on the B-side - is many times better than the so-called 'playout version'. And then there's the extended version... what a mess! I wanted to hear this version, which was my reason for buying this 12" single, but it turned out to be a disappointment. It will probably be up for sale soon. Any takers?

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, January 24, 2020
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'No more lonely nights (extended version)' / 'Silly love songs', 'No more lonely nights (ballad)'

No more winds to guide me - Maywood

In 1990, the Dutch duo Maywood participated in the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Ik wil alles met je delen'. It was their attempt to win back some of the popularity they had in the first half of the Eighties. Although the international audience probably didn't understand the sentimental and frankly trite lyrics, it didn't do the song any favours.

This English version of the song, 'No more winds to guide me' at least features better lyrics. The single was released internationally, but didn't achieve chart success. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6273
Found: Discogs.com, received March 25, 2020
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'No more winds to guide me' / 'I was born to love you'

Popcorn - Jam

This single is actually quite exciting for me, because it is the first time that I bought a single on the BASF label. We all know this manufacturer of tapes and such, but I've never actually seen a 7" single with a BASF label.

And then there is the track: another cover version of Gershon Kingsley's 'Popcorn'. There are so many versions of this single, and I just love adding to my collection for some reason.

Then there is the artist. According to the sleeve, this is 'the big hit from France'. Knowing that Kingsley was a German-American composer, we have to assume that Jam is a band from France. Assume, because there is no information about Jam. Just that this is one of only two singles they released. The other one? 'Jingle bells'....

My collection: 7" single no. 6270
Found: Discogs.com, received March 25, 2020
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Popcorn' / 'Ecco'

The woman and the girl in me - Kate

I already bought the original Norwegian version of 'The woman and the girl in me' by Kate, titled 'Mitt liv', six month ago. But while ordering some singles this German pressing turned up and I couldn't resist buying this.

So what happened to Kate after Eurovision? She performed the song 'Welcome to Lillehammer' at the 1994 Winter Olympics. Then in 1998, Jørn Hansen's 'Med gullet for øyet' was the official song for the Paralympic Winter Games in Nagano in Japan in 1998.
 
She was previously married and took the surname Gulbrandsen Syversen. The couple had one child together and separated in 2006.

My collection: 7" single no. 6269
Found: Discogs.com, received March 25, 2020
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'The woman and the girl in me' / 'Touch my fantasy'

Liebe gibt und nimmt - Corinne Hermès

In 1983, Luxembourg managed to win the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Si la vie est cadeau', performed by Corinne Hermès. I remember seeing the programme live - it was one of the first times that I was allowed to stay up until the end - and wondering why this song, out of all the songs that were performed that night, was rewarded with the prize.

This single presents the song in German and English. It is a nice curiosity, but listening to these two versions I am strengthened in my opinion that this really isn't a good composition. It's hard to listen to the cold, emotionless vocals of Hermès and the lyrics do little to improve the song. If it were me, any of the runners up would have been better winners.

My collection: 7" single no. 6272
Found: Discogs.com, received March 25, 2020
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'Liebe gibt und nimmt' / 'Words of love'

Popcorn - Orchester Volkmar Schmidt

Now that many countries are in some form of isolation, either self-isolated or instructed by their respective governments, there may be some sense of what people in the German Democratic Republic were going through for some decades after World War II. Despite their disappearance behind the iron curtain, music penetrated the country, either as performed by the original artists or as a cover version.

This single, released by state record company Amiga features a cover version of the popular Gershon Kingsley tune Popcorn, as performed by the Orchester Volkmar Schmidt. It was one of the singles I received in a package of six today. I'm glad that despite all the quarantines, international mail is still functioning.

My collection: 7" single no. 6270
Found: Discogs.com, received March 25, 2020
Cost: 3 euro

Tracks: 'Popcorn' (Orchester Volkmar Schmidt) / 'Eine neue Liebe ist wie ein neues Leben' (Peter Albert & Orchester Günter Gollasch)

Kiss me - Marty Wilde

I've already got a lot of singles by Marty Wilde - you have seen them on this blog no doubt - but there are still some missing. For instance, this one. 'Kiss me' was released in 1964. After having been signed to Philips for years, he switched labels in the early Sixties, for an unsuccessful run of singles on the Columbia label.

Unsuccessful in terms of chart success, because artistically these songs stand the test of time very well. Both sides of this single were written by Wilde himself, and recorded with his own backing band, the Wild Cats.

My collection: 7" single no. 6267
Found: Discogs.com, received March 20, 2020
Cost: 7 pounds
Tracks: 'Kiss me' / 'My what a woman'

Sensitive - Mick Karn

I already owned a 7" single and a 12" single of 'Sensitive' by Mick Karn, but this latest addition is a recent discovery. Much to my surprise, this Dutch pressing of the single features a remix version of the track - a different remix from the one that appeared on the 12", surprisingly enough. While the 12" version has a duration of 4 minutes and 15 seconds, this single version is half a minute shorter and also appears to have been released some time after the single's original release. And of course, it has a slightly different sleeve!

You can understand this was the latest addition to my ever expanding 'Wilde' collection, because both sides of this single were produced and mixed by Mick Karn and Ricky Wilde.

My collection: 7" single no. 6266
Found: Discogs.com, received March 19, 2020
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Sensitive (remix)' / 'The sound of waves'

Boogaloo - Lotta Engberg

I bought '4 bugg & en coca cola' last year, fully aware that there was another version of this song as well. 'Boogaloo' was released shortly after that single, after the Eurovision officials decided that using a trademark name was not allowed on their stage. And so, not only the title of the song was changed, but also some of the lyrics.

The result is heard on this single: 'Boogaloo', released in time for the 1987 Eurovision Song Contest. The song ended up in twelfth place in Eurovision, in a field of 22 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 6265
Found: Discogs.com, received March 19, 2020
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Boogaloo (English version)' / 'Boogaloo (Swedish version)'

Kun olen yksin - Tomi

Tom Jones recorded 'All I can say is goodbye', written by Marty Wilde and Ronnie Scott, on his 1968 album 'Help yourself'. That track was not released as a single - but it should have been - but other artists have had a go at the song, and Finnish singer Tomi was one of them.

He released 'Kun olen yksin' in 1969. The lyrics were translated by Finnish musician, producer and songwriter Reino Bäckman (1937-1990), who also translated the B-side: a version of 'Through the eyes of love', made famous by Engelbert Humperdinck that same year. When you listen to 'Kun olen yksin', you can almost hear Tom Jones in this version, but I doubt Tom Jones has ever recorded a song in Finnish...

My collection: 7" single n. 6264
Found: Discogs.com, received March 12, 2020
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'Kun olen yksin' / 'Toinen tie'

Jezamine - Tommy Körberg

As a fan of Marty Wilde's songwriting, I have made a point of collecting cover versions of his songs whenever I get a chance to buy a copy for a not-too-ridiculous amount. Tommy Körberg's version of 'Jezamine' certainly qualifies as one of the more interesting ones, since it is sung in Swedish; the lyrics were translated by producer, lyricist and lyrics translator Per-Anders Boquist (1931-2014). The musical accompaniment was provided by Lars Samuelson's Orchestra.

And if you think the B-side, 'En som du' sounds familiar, it is the song 'Red red wine', written by Neil Diamond and made famous during the 1980's by UB40.

My collection: 7" single no. 6263
Found: Discogs.com, received March 12, 2020
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Jezamine' / 'En som du'

Burn it up (Mr. DJ) - Risqué

Although I already own a 12" single of Risqué's 'Burn it up (Mr. DJ)', there was still another one worth seeking out. This one is the original 12" single, released in the Netherlands when the single was released. And the remix is created by Dutch remix legend Ben Liebrand.

Fans will have been disappointed by the sleeve of this record, because it doesn't come in the same picture sleeve as the 7" single. But I do know that Risqué fan Jos will be excited by this extended version nonetheless.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received February 28, 2020
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Burn it up (Mr. DJ) [extended]' / 'Burn it up (Mr. DJ) [extended instrumental]'

Someday I'll find you - Shola Ama & Craig Armstrong / I've been to a marvellous party - The Divine Comedy

This single was taken from 'Twentieth-Century Blues: The Songs of Noël Coward', an album curated by Neil Tennant from the Pet Shop Boys. Profits from the album were donated to the Red Hot AIDS Charitable Trust. The single reached number 28 in the UK singles chart.

Both tracks on this single were among the strongest contributions. Shola Ama's take on 'Someday I'll find you' was made more compelling by the Massive Attack-alike instrumentation by Craig Armstrong, and The Divine Comedy contributed a decidedly stomping version of 'I've been to a marvellous party'. You have to wonder what Noël Coward would have thought of these modern interpretations.

My collection: 7" single no. 6262
Found: Discogs.com, received February 27, 2020
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Someday I'll find you' (Shola Ama & Craig Armstrong) / 'I've been to a marvellous party' (The Divine Comedy)

Before - Pet Shop Boys

During the bleak Nineties, the 7" single format was given up by record companies in favour of cd-singles. We all know what happened next: the music industry collapse under the pressure of cd copying and illegal downloading and reinvented itself with the even more worthless digital single, so that most singles aren't even released on a physical format anymore.

So all hail the 7" single. It seems there was a lively industry of so-called 'jukebox singles', so that this single by the Pet Shop Boys, 'Before', released in 1993 as the first single from their album 'Bilingual', was only available as one of those, and not with a pretty picture sleeve. I actually have a few of these 'jukebox singles' by the Pet Shop Boys, and only one is now missing: their cover version of 'Somewhere'. I'm sure it will turn up somewhere.

My collection: 7" single no. 6261
Found: Discogs.com, received February 27, 2020
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Before' / 'The truck driver and his mate'

Be my next ex-girlfriend - La muñeca de sal & Anthony Reynolds

La muñeca de sal is a Spanish band, which formed during the 1990's, releasing their debut album 'Ultra-Realidad' in 1997. Welsh singer Anthony Reynolds joined them on this EP with the appealing title 'Be my next ex-girlfriend', released in 2010.

The pull of this EP was a cover version of Colin Vearncombe a.k.a. Black's 'Wonderful life', but rather surprisingly, it is the weakest track of this three track EP. Probably because the execution of this perfect song is a bit shoddy for my taste. The instrumental 'Luto', however, is beautifully atmospheric and the A-side track, 'Be my next ex-girlfriend', is a solid pop song. Sometimes singles can surprise you.

My collection: 7" single no. 6260
Found: Discogs.com, received February 13, 2020
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Be my next ex-girlfriend' / 'Wonderful life', 'Luto'

Where do I go - Private Lives

I already own quite a few releases by Private Lives, a band from the UK which I discovered back when 'Living in a world (turned upside down)' was a minor hit in the UK and on Dutch pirate radio. Indeed I thought I had all of their singles by now, but I discovered what was probably their debut single recently.

'Where do I go' was released in 1980 on the WEA label, two years before they released their first of many singles on Chrysalis/EMI. It doesn't sound as polished as their later work, but that does give it a certain charm as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 6259
Found: Discogs.com, received February 13, 2020
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Where do I go' / 'On your own'

I feel for you - Prince

Utter the words 'I feel for you', and most people who are into Eighties music will immediately respond with the name Chaka Khan. For it was her who made the song immortal, with the stuttering 'Ch-ch-chaka khan' intro provided by rapper Melle Mel, and its funky sound effects. But the song was written by Prince - and not only that, he recorded the song on his eponymous second album, released in October 1979.

Prince passed away in 2016, and since then, his famous 'vault' has been used to release several albums and singles. This single is the most recent release, pressed on purple vinyl (how appropriate) and presenting for the first time a demo he recorded for the song. It is an interesting release, because you can clearly hear that it was recorded on cassette and it runs for over four minutes, longer than the eventual album version. The fact that the sleeve is pretty beautiful too makes this an interesting package for Prince fans and music lovers everywhere.

My collection: 7" single no. 6257
Found: Prince website, received February 5, 2020
Cost: 10 euro
Tracks: 'I feel for you (acoustic demo)' / 'I feel for you'

Chenko (tenka-io) - Red Box

I don't really buy a lot of 12" singles anymore: most of the extended remixes of my favourite artists have been released on cd - and that has become the preferred format in my household. That, and 7" singles, of course. 12" singles simply take up too much space. But then every once in a while I find a 12" that actually contains a rare remix.

Take for instance this 12" of 'Chenko (Tenka-io)'. Released in 1987, it was a re-release of an early single with a new remix on the 12". Amazingly, none of the 12" mixes of Red Box have ever been released on cd, and as you can hear on this one, there have been some great ones. This disc presents both a new remix of 'Chenko' and the extended version of the previous single 'Heart of the sun'. Both are pretty wonderful and would certainly warrant a cd release. Until then, I'll have to keep this in my collection.

Red Box actually released a new cd last year, which is certainly worth checking out. 

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, January 24, 2020
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Chenko (tenka-io) (No Reservations mix)' / 'Speeches', 'Heart of the sun (Slash and burn)'

Nothing compares 2 u - Prince

Since Prince's death in April 2016, his estate has been rather generous in releasing music from his personal vault. Several compilations of his unreleased work were released during the past three years, and this single, released in 2018, also contains a previously unreleased track.

'Nothing compares 2 u' was made famous by Sinéad O'Connor in 1990. This version, recorded by Prince and featuring saxophone by Eric Leeds and backing vocals by Susannah Melvoin and St. Paul Peterson, is actually the weaker of the two. You can't help wondering if this is why Prince never released this recording - and why it was released now. Still, it is a nice peek into the man's work.

My collection: 7" single no. 6256
Found: Amazon.co.uk, received January 31, 2020
Cost: 4 euro
Tracks: 'Nothing compares 2 u (edit)' / 'Nothing compares 2 u (full length version)'

Muzika i ti - Tereza Kesovija

Several years after releasing Doći Ćeš Sam - the EP that included a Eurovision cover - Tereza Kesovija made it to the Eurovision stage herself. She represented Yugoslavia during the 1972 edition with 'Muzika i ti' ('Music and you'), a pleasant little song in which Kesovija sings that music and her lover are the two things in which she has found happiness.

At the close of voting, the song had received 87 points, placing 9th in a field of 18 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 6255
Found: Discogs.com, received January 24, 2020
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'Muzika i ti' / 'Prvi cvijet'

Addio, addio - Claudio Villa

'Addio, addio' ('Goodbye, goodbye') was the Italian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1962, performed Claudio Villa (born January 1, 1926). With music by Domenico Modugno and lyrics by Franco Migliacci (the same duo had collaborated on Modugno's previous entry 'Nel blu dipinto di blu (Volare)'), the song is a ballad, in which Villa attempts to deal with the end of a relationship.

At the close of voting, it had received 3 points, placing 9th in a field of 16 competitors. The comparatively high place for a low-scoring song is partly explained by the fact that four entries at this Contest failed to record a point.

In 1967, Villa would return to the Eurovision stage with 'Non andare più lontano'. He died on February 7, 1987.

My collection: 7" single no. 6254
Found: Discogs.com, received January 24, 2020
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'Addio, addio' / 'Quando il vento d'aprile..'

Dan ljubezni - Pepel in kri

'Dan ljubezni' ('A day of love') was the song entered into the 1975 Eurovision Song Contest by Yugoslavia. It was performend by the band Pepel in kri (credited on TV as 'Ashes and blood'). At the close of voting, it had received 22 points, placing 13th in a field of 19 competitors.

The song calls for a day of love in the whole world that never ends. Little did they know that Yugoslavia would be embroiled in a war that would cost many lives just two decades later.

My collection: 7" single no. 6253
Found: Discogs.com, received January 24, 2020
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'Dan ljubezni' / 'Tvoj prvi rock 'n roll'

Doći Ćeš Sam - Tereza Kesovija

I haven't suddenly developed an interest in folk music from Yugoslavia, although this single certainly serves up some of the Balkan nation's loudest and most unnerving tracks. The title track, 'Doći Ćeš Sam' isn't very friendly to these Western European ears, but that isn't why I bought this EP anyway.

Track one on side B is called 'Još Mnogo Jače' and is a cover version of 'Bien plus fort', the Monegasque entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1966. I was interested to get this one as part of a bigger online order from Serbia. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6252
Found: Discogs.com, received January 24, 2020
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Doći Ćeš Sam', 'Tad Podimo' / 'Još Mnogo Jače', 'Madre mia'

Colorado - Xandra

Sandra Reemer renamed herself Xandra for the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest, singing 'Colorado'. I already owned the Dutch version of 'Colorado' and the English version of 'Colorado'. So when I saw this single, it was mainly the different sleeve that attracted me. The english version, announced on the sleeve, wasn't new to me, but I loved the sleeve variation, so I quickly decided to pick this single up.

I got home, looked at the singles a little closer, and suddenly I noted the other side of the sleeve, announcing a "deutsch. Version". And so I ended up buying a different version of this Eurovision song without really knowing it!

My collection: 7" single no. 6250
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, January 24, 2020
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Colorado (English version)' / 'Colorado (Deutsche Version)'

The freeze - Spandau Ballet

I thought I already owned all Spandau Ballet singles, but somehow this one stayed under my radar until now. 'The freeze' was the band's second single release, peaking at number 17 in the UK singles chart in early 1981. Taken from their debut album 'Journeys to glory', it has a cold, hard sound that was the band's trademark at the time.

The single also features a nice alternative version of the track on the B-side, a trick they would employ a few more times in later singles. I was glad to find a fine UK pressing of this single.

My collection: 7" single no. 6249
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, January 24, 2020
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'The freeze' / 'The freeze (version)'

Volare - Rosario e i Giaguari

This is the Belgian pressing of 'Volare' by Rosario e i Giaguari, and it differs from the other one. Not only because the sleeve says '45 extended mix', but also because both the tracks on the single are... shorter. Confusing? I should say so.

This version of 'Volare' was not a hit, but it will probably have served a certain amount of dance and/or Italo afficionados in discotheques back in 1989. I can't say that I dreamed of having these singles, but they're a nice curiosity nonetheless.

My collection: 7" single no. 6248
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, January 24, 2020
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Volare (radio version)' / 'Volare (dub version)'

Volare - Rosario e i Giaguari

There's no information about Rosario e i Giaguari anywhere, so there really isn't much to say about this band. All I know is that they released one album called 'Maccaroni & Pizza' in 1989, and it featured three singles that were released around that time.

The first of those singles was 'Volare', a 1989 version of the classic Eurovision song by Domenico Modugno. It contains all the hallmarks of the dance tracks from around that time, including the worn out James Brown sample. It is an interesting addition to my collection of Eurovision singles, simply because I love cover versions - and 'Volare' has been covered by half the world.

My collection: 7" single no. 6247
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, January 24, 2020
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Volare (radio version)' / 'Volare (dub version)'

Puisque tu l'aimes dis-le lui - Raffaella Carra

Another purchase that is explained by the artwork only. This French edition of Raffaella Carra's biggest hit, 'A far l'amore comincia tu' swaps the two sides to present the French version as the A-side track. Both the disc and the sleeve were made in France.

Raffaella Maria Roberta Pelloni was born on June 18, 1943 and became successful as a singer, dancer, TV presenter and actress. After her boom in the Italian market of the early 1970's, she moved to Spain, doing television and releasing records in the Spanish language. This led her to move to South America, where her records had been heard for some years. In 1979, she established her headquarters in Buenos Aires, which was under a military dictatorship. Raffaella Carrà was one of the figures of the ATC, the official television network of Argentina.

My collection: 7" single no. 6246
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, January 24, 2020
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Puisque tu l'aimes dis-le lui' / 'A far l'amore comincia tu'

If there is one thing that's forever - Nino de Angelo

Nino de Angelo represented Germany during the 1989 Eurovision Song Contest with a song written by Dieter Bohlen and Joachim Horn-Bernges, entitled 'Flieger'. Despite the star quality of both Bohlen (one half of Modern Talking) and Nino de Angelo, the song ended up in 14th place in a field of 22 competitors.

The song was also recorded in English as 'If there is one thing that's forever'. Dieter Bohlen made this version without the help of Horn-Bernges, so presumably Bohlen had more faith in his own capabilities when it came to writing songs in English.

My collection: 7" single no. 6245
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, January 24, 2020
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'If there is one thing that's forever' / 'Flieger'

Winds of chance - Stephanie

Stéphanie Marie Elisabeth Grimaldi, or princess Stephanie of Monaco as she is better known is a regular appearance on this blog, because she had a nice little music career in the second half of the 1980's and the beginning of the 1990's. Her last single 'You don't die from love' was featured here in 2016, and now I have found the last missing single, the equally ill-fated 'Winds of chance'.

Produced by Michael Verdick and Ron Bloom, this song reveals the rather thin voice of the princess, and some auto-mutant drum beats that do little to improve the song. Certainly not her best effort.

My collection: 7" single no. 6244
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, January 24, 2020
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Winds of chance' / 'Winds of chance (instrumental)'

T'en vas pas - Esther Ofarim

Exactly eight months after my last visit to Antwerp's Chelsea Records, I went there again. It's an amazing record store, stacked up to the ceilings with boxes of singles and albums. As usual, I checked out the Eurovision boxes first, and to my delight I found a copy of Esther Ofarim's 'T'en vas pas' within the first two minutes.

Almost three hours later, when the time had come to check out, the shop owner looked at the single and said this was a lovely single, and hard to find. I agreed - I actually bought one online a few months ago but although the sleeve was lovely it contained the wrong single ('Non je regrette rien' by Edith Piaf, to be exact). 'A rewarding visit then', he concluded. And I couldn't agree more.

Ofarim represented Switzerland in 1963 with this song. At the close of the voting, the song had received 40 points, placing 2nd in a field of 16 competitors. The winner that year? 'Dansevise' - admittedly a more legendary Eurovision song.

My collection: 7" single no. 6243
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, January 24, 2020
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'T'en vas pas' / 'La cité de mon coeur'

Dear Mr. Jones - Tommy Körberg

Back in 2014, I bought 'Judy min vän' by Tommy Körberg. I already wrote back then that there was also an English version of the single. It took me some time, but I have finally bought a copy of that one.

Featuring an entirely different photograph, but a similar layout, this single was released in Sweden. On the back of the sleeve we learn that Tom has released an album featuring cover versions of 'Jezamine' (the amazing Marty Wilde composition) and 'Nights in white satin'.

My collection: 7" single no. 6242
Found: Discogs.com, received January 22, 2020
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Dear mr. Jones' / 'Bird you must fly'

Det blir alltid värre framat natten - Björn Skifs

Two months ago, I bought 'When the night comes', the English version of 'Det blir alltid värre framat natten'. It was only a matter of time, of course, until I would get the original Swedish version as well - so here it is.

As you can see, the sleeve is virtually the same as the English version, however this single is made in Sweden and not in Germany like the other one. I ordered this single along with a few others from Norway.

My collection: 7" single no. 6241
Found: Discogs.com, received January 22, 2020
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Det blir alltid värre framat natten' / 'Part time love'

Dag efter dag - Chips

I already owned 'Day after day', the English version of this single, but as a Eurovision collector it was worth picking up the original Swedish version of the single as well. This single presents the original Swedish version 'Dag efter dag' along with a B-side called 'Här kommer solen' ('Here comes the sun'), which is not, as you might expect, a cover of the Beatles song.

Chips was founded by Kikki Danielsson and Lasse Holm in 1979.In 1980 they released their self-titled debut album, followed by 'Having a party' in 1982. This album included the two versions of 'Dag efter dag': in English and in Swedish. That album sold over 100.000 copies in Sweden. They toured the northern parts of Europe and had a successful 1982. However, the group split in 1983, due to limited success outside Sweden and Norway, and also because both members had solo careers.

My collection: 7" single no. 6239
Found: Discogs.com, received January 22, 2020
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Dag efter dag' / 'Här kommer solen'

I wanna change the score - Nik Kershaw & Tony Banks

Tony Banks is best known as founding member of the rock band Genesis. However, he is also a prolific solo artist, releasing six solo albums that range through progressive rock, pop, and classical music.

In 1991, he released his third solo album called 'Still'. On the album he collaborated with Fish from Marillion on one track, and with Nik Kershaw on two tracks. The song 'I wanna change the score' was released as a single from the album. Despite a fairly heavy promotional effort by Giant Records, the album and the single failed to sell well.

My collection: 7" single no.  6238
Found: Discogs.com, received January 22, 2020
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'I wanna change the score' / 'Hero for an hour'

Arabesque / Orphans - Coldplay

Released on October 24, 2019, 'Arabesque' and 'Orphans' are two tracks from Coldplay's eighth studio album 'Everyday life', released a month later. The album was divided in a 'sunrise' and 'sunset' part, and the single follows that pattern: 'Arabesque' is taken from the former and 'Orphans' from the latter.

The single wasn't the big hit that it might have been suspected to be: it only peaked at number 27 in the UK singles chart. It is a result, perhaps, of being labelled 'uncool' by many over recent years. Which is odd, because at the beginning of this century Coldplay was deemed to be the best invention since sliced bread. So you see, celebrity is a fleeting thing. Well, at least the band still knows how to make great music.

My collection: 7" single no. 6237
Found: Amazon.co.uk, received January 21, 2020
Cost: 5 pounds
Tracks: 'Arabesque' / 'Orphans'

Infernal machines - The Divine Comedy

Although I am a big Divine Comedy fan, I wasn't entirely convinced by their latest album, 'Office politics'. The idea of creating a themed album did appeal to me, but I haven't yet been able to get through the entire album. It isn't exactly easy listening.

Buying this single was a given, of course. And thankfully it contains two of the better tracks from the album: 'Infernal machines' (with a certain Depeche Mode vibe) and 'You'll never work in this town again', with all its "real instruments".

I have almost all of the Divine Comedy 7" singles, so this was a worthy addition. Now if I could only find the last few that I miss....

My collection: 7" single no. 6236
Found: Amazon.co.uk, received January 21, 2020
Cost: 6 pounds
Tracks: 'Infernal machines' / 'You'll never work in this town again'

Dreamland - Pet Shop Boys

The world would be a better place if there were more magazines like the German Musikexpress, which regularly offers a free 7" single with their monthly issues. After having bought their recent issue featuring the amazing single 'My computer' by Prince and Kate Bush, they managed to improve on that by including a Pet Shop Boys single with their current issue.

'Dreamland' was the first single from their album 'Hotspot', which is released this week. Since then we've had the single 'Burning the heather', which was released on 7" vinyl, but 'Dreamland' wasn't, until now. This exclusive 7" single features a live track on the B-side; a medley of 'Always on my mind' and 'The pop kids'. And it's pressed on blue vinyl, too! Even if you can't read German, you will buy this magazine if you collect Pet Shop Boys singles. Which probably is the point of all this, I guess.

My collection: 7" single no. 6235
Found: Musikexpress (Germany), received January 18, 2020
Cost: 10 euro
Tracks: 'Dreamland' / 'Always on my mind/The pop kids (live)'

J'veux d'la tendresse - Elton John

I don't know if many people know that Elton John recorded a French song. 'J'veux d'la tendresse' was written by Jean-Paul Dréau and released by the female singer Janic Prevost in 1980. While on holiday in St. Tropez, Elton heard the song and asked his lyricist Gary Osborne to write English lyrics to the melody. That song became 'Nobody wins'.

However, Elton also recorded the song with the original French lyrics. I didn't know this myself until it recently popped up during a search in the database of the same dealer that sent me 'Rock and roll crazy'. It's always better to buy more than one single if you're paying for postage anyway, so I did. And I do think this version is better than the English one.

My collection: 7" single no. 6234
Found: Discogs.com, received January 8, 2020
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'J'veux d'la tendresse' / 'Fools in fashion'

Rock and roll crazy - Zappo

I have been after this single for a long time, primarily because of the sleeve. I already have the two tracks on this single, thanks to the French edition that swapped the two sides. On this sleeve, you can see Marty Wilde - for it is him - wearing a Superman costume, complete with a 'glam rock' helmet... it is a priceless picture.

Both sides of this single were written and produced by Peter Shelley and Marty Wilde, who collaborated a lot during this time. Released in 1973, 'Rock and Roll crazy' wasn't a hit, even though it was a glam rock stomper if ever I heard one.

My collection: 7" single no. 6233
Found: Discogs.com, received January 8, 2020
Cost: 10 euro
Tracks: 'Rock and roll crazy' / 'Right on'

I will follow starlight - Katri Helena

Long before Katri Helena appeared on the Eurovision stage with the immortal 'Tule luo', she represented Finland in 1979 with the song 'Katson sineen taivaan'. She had actually participated in the Finnish national finals in 1969, 1972 and 1978, but this song made an impression and she went on to Israel with this song. 'Katson sineen taivaan' ended up in 14th place in a field of 19 competitors.

This single presents the English version of the song. 'I will follow starlight' was translated by Paul Fagerlund. The sleeve of this single isn't without its flaws - but for a rare single like this I am not complaining.

My collection: 7" single no. 6232
Found: Discogs.com, received January 7, 2020
Tracks: 'I will follow starlight' / 'Spring is around the corner'