Volare - Umberto

It's time for another version of 'Volare'! Umberto Marcato was born in Padua (Italy) in 1936. He started his career at the age of 18, when he became the singer of the Casamatta Orchestra, led by Luciano Viani. With the orchestra, he toured in Italy and later on, in the rest of the Europe. In 1957, during a successful tour in Scandinavia, the orchestra signed a contract with the Swedish Karusell, and recorded four songs: 'Maruzella', 'Lazzarella', 'Guaglione' and 'Chella Ilà'. These songs were successful in Sweden, but also in Finland. This EP featuring 'Volare' followed quickly.  

This particular copy of the EP looks a bit strange: there are 'bubbles' in the vinyl and when you listen to the track you can hear it actually affects the sound. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6578
Found: Discogs.com, received 17 December 2021
Cost: €3
Tracks: 'Volare', 'Pueblo' / 'Biundulella', 'Autumn concerto'

Piove - Bruno Martino and his Orchestra

Bruno Martino was born in Rome on 11 November 1925. His debut as a jazz piano player was already in 1940, when he was only fifteen, playing, in secret, in a student jazz little orchestra. In 1944 he joined RAI, as a piano player for Piero Piccioni's Orchestra. Then he gained great success abroad, particularly in Northern Europe, experimenting with a mix of jazz, Neapolitan songs and his own pieces. When he came back to Italy in 1958, he composed songs for Caterina Valente, Renato Rascel and Wilma De Angelis. A fortuitous event launched him also as an interpreter, when he replaced his orchestra's singer. 

This Norwegian single, pressed on red vinyl, features a cover version of Domenico Modugno's 'Piove (Ciao ciao bambina)', performed at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1959. This single does not mention any year but it is assumed to be released in the same year. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6577
Found: Discogs.com, received 17 December 2021
Cost: €4
Tracks: 'Piove' / 'Li per li'

Festival i Cannes - Brita Borg

Brita Borg participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1959, representing Sweden, with the song 'Augustin'. The same year she also released this EP, featuring her versions of four other Eurovision songs. The A-side consists of Swedish versions of ''n Beetje' and 'Oui oui oui oui', the B-side presents a version of 'Piove' and 'Uh, jeg ville ønske jeg var dig'. 

It's not unusual for Eurovision artists to record cover versions of other Eurovision songs, just think of Cliff Richard's 'Marianne' and Matt Monro's 'Walk away'. But this EP was released quite quickly after Brita Borg's own Eurovision adventure, and that makes it a rather special collection of songs.

My collection: 7" single no. 6575
Found: Discogs.com, received 17 December 2021
Cost: €4
Tracks: 'Om våren', 'Oui oui oui oui' / 'Piove', 'A ifall jag vore du ända'

Sol och vår - Inger Berggren

Inger Berggren was born in Stockholm (Sweden) on 23 February 1934. She began her vocal career with Thore Swanerud's orchestra, and later sang with Thore Ehrling, Simon Brehm, and Göte Wilhelmsson. Berggren represented Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 1962 in Luxembourg with the song 'Sol och vår' which finished in seventh place in a field of 16 competitors.

Some of her singles were Swedish versions of American rock 'n' roll hits. Her most popular period was during the Sixties. In 1979 she released one more album called 'En helt vanlig kvinna', featuring Swedish versions of 'A natural woman' and Janis Ian's 'At Seventeen'. Inger Berggren died on 19 July 2019 at the age of 85.

My collection: 7" single no. 6574
Found: Discogs.com, received 17 December 2021
Cost: €5
Tracks: 'Sol och vår' / 'Och flicka spann...'

Augustin - Brita Borg

Whatever happened to the sleeve of this single, I don't know exactly, but its slightly dismal state has to explain the lower price of this rather rare and very old single. By contrast, the actual single is in a very good state, as you can hear.

'Augustin' was the Swedish entry for the Eurovision Song Contest back in 1959. It was actually performed by Siw Malmkvist at the Swedish national final (Melodifestivalen) but it was Brita Borg who took to the international stage. Unfortunately the song only got 4 points and finished in 9th place in a field of 11 competitors. 

The B-side of this single features a monologue by a Swedish comedian (at least, I think that it has to be a comedian of some sort since the audience is laughing) which drags on for six minutes. Perhaps it's funny when you're Swedish but I couldn't understand anything of this.

My collection: 7" single no. 6573
Found: Discogs.com, received 17 December 2021
Cost: €3,5
Tracks: 'Augustin', 'Dags igen att vara kära' (Brita Borg) / 'Ester' (Martin Ljung)

Romancing the stone - Eddy Grant

Although I've had the 12" single of Eddy Grant's 'Romancing the stone' for 27 years, I never actually bought the 7" single. High time to rectify that oversight. I ordered this copy earlier this month and received it rather swiftly, together with a few other singles which you've already read about. And of course, I selected the limited edition red vinyl version. If you've followed this blog you'll know that I've already got quite a few Eddy Grant singles on red vinyl - all from Germany.

This wasn't a very big hit but it does take me back to 1984, the year that gave me a lot of favourite pop songs that have stayed with me for decades.

My collection: 7" single no. 6572
Found: Discogs.com, received 13 December 2021
Cost: €2
Tracks: 'Romancing the stone' / 'My turn to love you'

Volare (Nel blu dipinto di blu) - Enzo Mondi

Although this version of 'Volare' was released almost 30 years after the original, it stays rather true to the original arrangement, although it does update the soundtrack considerably. Enzo Mondi had his take on the classic sonig released on yellow vinyl - although this is not announced on the sleeve of this single, strangely enough.

Enzo Mondi didn't become a great name in music: the only known recordings he made are included on this single. According to the Discogs website he never released any other tracks and other sources never mention him at all either. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6571
Found: Discogs.com, received 13 December 2021
Cost: €2
Tracks: 'Volare (Nel blu dipinto di blu)' / 'Guardami'

Volare - Peter Rafael

Peter Rafael (Real name: Hans Peter Bauer) is a German singer, born in Neunkirchen (Germany) on 17 July 1965. He started his professional career in music in the mid-Eighties, with a series of singles. His debut album 'Die Erste' ('The first') was released in 1990. Some of those earlier singles were included on the album, such as 'Sangria im Glas' and 'Tanz Lambada'. The B-side of this single, 'Sonne, Wind und Sterne' was also included, but the A-side, oddly, wasn't, even though this single was also released in 1990.

It is a German cover version of the classic 'Nel blu dipinto di blu', better known as 'Volare'. It is one of many cover versions of this song, and in these days of online shopping it is easy to find them. And if they're not too expensive, I'll always add them to my collection! 

Peter Rafael died on 22 February 2008 in Bad Ems, Germany. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6569
Found: Discogs.com, received 13 December 2021
Cost: €2
Tracks: 'Volare' / 'Sonne, Wind und Sterne'

Bye bye I love you (Deutsche originalaufnahme) - Ireen Sheer

'Bye bye I love you' was originally performed in French. Ireen Sheer represented Luxembourg when she participated with this song in 1974. A month ago I found the English version of this song, and now here's the German version, which, of course, is called 'Deutsche originalaufnahme'. 

This single actually completes the series: although more pressings were made with varying sleeves, Ireen only recorded three versions of the song. Alas, no versions of this song in Spanish, Italian or Hungarian, then.

My collection: 7" single no. 6568
Found: Discogs.com, received 13 December 2021
Cost: €3
Tracks: 'Bye bye I love you (Deutsche originalaufnahme)' / 'Rosenbaum Boulevard'

Mata Hari - Anne-Karine

Those who paid attention last May remember that there was a song at this year's Eurovision Song Contest called 'Mata Hari'. It was a nice enough song, but the idea was not new: already 45 years ago someone else performed a song called 'Mata Hari' at the Eurovision Song Contest. It was Norwegian singer Anne-Karine Strøm, representing Norway. 

Anne-Karine was no stranger to the Contest: she'd already performed on the Eurovision stage in 1973 as part of the Bendik Singers, singing 'Å for et spill' and in 1974 singing 'Hvor er du'. 'Mata Hari' placed last of the 18 participating songs in 1976. Prior to the contest the song was expected to do well, but it was suggested afterwards that Strøm's rather odd outfit and performance on the night may have cost votes. In the late 1970s Strøm began performing in musical cabarets with Øystein Sunde and her then husband Ole Paus. She released three albums between 1978 and 1986, which reflected a move towards a more serious style of music.

My collection: 7" single no. 6567
Found: Discogs.com, received 13 December 2021
Cost: €8
Tracks: 'Mata Hari' / 'Please don't go away'

Accordeon Potpourri no. 39 - The 3 Jacksons

I found a single by the 3 Jacksons just eight days ago: Potpourri nr. 62 featuring their take on the Marty Wilde classic 'Abergavenny'. My subcollection of Marty Wilde cover versions was happy. 

Imagine my surprise when my eyes fell on this single, 'Accordeon Potpourri no. 39', featuring the 3 Jacksons' version of 'Nel blu dipinto di blu', Domenico Modugno's immortal Eurovision song from 1958. It is a worthy addition to my subcollecton of Eurovision covers, and more specifically, covers of the song that became best known as 'Volare'. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6566
Found: Rataplan Kringloop, Den Haag, 12 December 2021
Cost: €0,50
Tracks: 'Veel bittere tranen / La Paloma / De verloren zoon' / 'Nel blu dipinto di blu / Love letters in the sand / Colonel Bogey'

On the beat - Brooklyn, Bronx & Queens Band

I recently found a little journal of mine from the 1980's in which I mentioned this song. I had totally forgotten about it, but apparently I was pretty enthousiastic about it back in 1981. It was a big hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 13 in October of that year. Strangely the band had less success in the UK: 'On the beat' only reached number 41 and their biggest hit over there was 'Dreamer', released in 1986 and peaking at number 35.

Jacques Fred Petrus, together with Mauro Malavasi, brought together a group of musicians to form the BB&Q Band. They released a total of four albums and a number of compilation albums. With the mysterious death of producer Jacques Fred Petrus in 1987, the band also came to an end.

My collection: 7" single no. 6565
Found: Rataplan Kringloop, Den Haag, 12 December 2021
Cost: €0,50
Tracks: 'On the beat' / 'Don't say goodbye'

 

Arcade - Duncan Laurence

Two weeks ago it was Black Friday, and for some reason this prompted various record companies to release limited edition records on vinyl. My recent purchase of 'No time to die' was one of them, and this 10" single is another one. 

This disc presents four different versions of Duncan Laurence's triumphant Eurovision song 'Arcade' - the one that gave him victory two years ago. Besides the two versions already on the 7" single, this disc presents a duet version with a certain Fletcher (no, I'd never heard of her either, but it appears she is an American singer/songwriter) and a remix by Sam Feldt (who the hell...?). 

My collection: 10" single [unnumbered]
Found: 33|45 Records, Den Haag, 1 December 2021
Tracks: 'Arcade', 'Arcade (acoustic version)' / 'Arcade (feat. Fletcher)', 'Arcade (Sam Feldt remix)'

Heimcomputer - Kraftwerk

The story of this single is an interesting one. It was released as a bonus disc with the June 2021 issue of Musikexpress, a German magazine. I discovered this in August and decided to order the magazine from their official website. Within a week I received a letter with a note, thanking me for my order. I e-mailed them, saying that I'd like to get the magazine itself too... No reply. Another e-mail in October got replied to: they would resend the magazine. Nothing happened. Last week I decided to send another e-mail. Two days ago I got the answer: they would resend the magazine.

Imagine my surprise when I actually found it in my mailbox today! Well, I'm happy that it finally worked. And the single itself is a beauty: pressed on yellow vinyl, and with just one track - the B-side is empty. I would think this will be a collector's item in due time.

My collection: 7" single no. 6564
Found: Musikexpress website, received 8 December 2021
Cost: €10 (with magazine)
Tracks: 'Heimcomputer'

Hope in a hopeless world - Paul Young

Released in 1993, 'Hope in a hopeless world' was, for a change, not a cover version but an original song performed by Paul Young. The track was taken from his album 'The Crossing', after the lead singer 'Now I know what made Otis blue'. While that single was a reasonably big hit for Paul, this single was less successful: it only reached number 42 in the UK singles chart and number 51 in Ireland.

Paul wasn't as popular as he'd been during the Eighties. 'The Crossing' was the first not to be certified gold (or more) in the UK, and while this album reached number 27 in the albums chart, subsequent releases wouldn't reach this height anymore. However, he still is quite active in the live circuit these days.

My collection: 7" single no. 6529
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, 25 November 2021
Cost: €1
Tracks: 'Hope in a hopeless world' / 'Half a step away'

Rumours - Hot Chocolate

The career of Hot Chocolate took off slowly, with a handful of hits in the UK. It was only when they released 'Emma' in 1974 that they became successful in other territories - and landed their first silver certification within the UK. 

The single that preceded 'Emma' was 'Rumours', a song penned by the band members Errol Brown and Tony Wilson. The single peaked at number 44 in the UK singles chart and would be the last of eight non-album singles the band released until their debut album 'Cicero Park' in 1974. \

My collection: 7" single no. 6525
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, 25 November 2021
Cost: €2
Tracks: 'Rumours' / 'A man needs a woman'

Je suis tombé du ciel - David Alexandre Winter

David Alexandre Winter was born as Leon Kleerekoper on 4 April 1943 in Amsterdam. He and his parents – of Jewish background – survived different German concentration camps, and were reunited in 1945 at the war's end in the Netherlands. From 1966 to 1968 Winter was the lead singer for The Hague-based band Daddy's Act. Under the name Johnny van Dooren, he was a DJ at Radio Veronica and later at Radio 227. In early 1968 while living in London he represented England at the Innsbruck Song Festival in Austria, where he obtained first prize and the coveted prix de press. 

In 1970 he was asked to represent Luxembourg at the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Je suis tombé du ciel'. The song wasn't exactly successful: it received no points at all and ended up in the last of 12 places. Listening to both sides of this single, I would have to say that the word 'subtle' isn't exactly in David Alexandre's dictionary. Both songs are quite loud, and mostly because of the vocals.

My collection: 7" single no. 6563
Found: Discogs.com, received 7 December 2021
Cost: €4
Tracks: 'Je suis tombé du ciel' / 'Isabelle mon amour'

Potpourri nr. 62 - The 3 Jacksons

When I mention this band named the 3 Jacksons, your thoughts immediately drift towards Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5. But nothing could be further from the truth... Dutch accordion players Piet Koopmans, Harry van de Velde & Piet van Gorp met in 1940 and started this trio. They started releasing records in 1946 and continued right up until 1971. During this time they released no less than 65 different potpourri's, i.e. medleys of usually six different songs, performed on their beloved instruments. They were very successful in the Netherlands and also had many gigs abroad. Harry van de Velde died in 1970, which meant the end of the trio.

Their 62nd potpourri caught my eye and that's because of one reason only: the fact that it includes Marty Wilde's classic song 'Abergavenny'. As such, this single belongs in my ever growing collection of cover versions of Wilde songs. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6562
Found: De elpeezaak, Den Haag, 4 December 2021
Cost: €1
Tracks: 'Ich bau dir ein Schloss / Ik kan geen kikker van de kant afduwen / Moest dat nou' / 'Abergavenny / Costa Brava / Callow la Vita'

Never the end - Kari Kuivalainen

Kari Kuivalainen was primarily a composer rather than a singer, and in 1986 he submitted his song 'Päivä kahden ihmisen', which was originally intended for singer Kaija Koo. However, she declined the chance to participate, so Kuivalainen decided to perform the song himself at the Finnish national final, where he was the choice of the jury (by a margin of only one point over former Eurovision participant Kirka) to go forward to represent Finland at the 31st Eurovision Song Contest.

Prior to the contest, Kuivalainen changed some of the lyrics to the song, and although it was sung in Finnish, the title was changed to 'Never The End', which appeared on screen on the night of the contest and is the name by which the song is commonly known. The song finished in 15th place in a field of 20 competitors. This single features the English version of the song rather than the Finnish one, hence the title... 'Never the end'. Kuivalainen subsequently became a member of band Menneisyyden Vangit, alongside another Eurovision veteran, Vicky Rosti.

My collection: 7" single no. 6561
Found: Ebay, received 3 December 2021
Tracks: 'Never the end' / 'Sailing away with my dreams'

Schon wieder macht mein Herz bump bump - Fredi & Friends

Earlier this year, on 23 April, Matti Kalevi Siitonen passed away. He was known professionally as Fredi and he represented Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest on two occasions. His second and last appearance happened as part of the group Fredi & Friends with the song 'Pump Pump' in 1976. 

When I bought that single, I didn't know there was also a German version of the song. I was only made aware of this a few weeks ago. And as luck would have it, I found this copy a few weeks after that. Admittedly the sleeve is a bit damaged (with a stamp on the front) but it doesn't detract from the vinyl itself. And so I am quite satisfied with this little addition.

My collection: 7" single no. 6560
Found: Ebay, received 3 December 2021
Tracks: 'Schon wieder macht mein Herz bump bump' / 'Zeig mir bei Nacht die Sterne'

Brasil - Baby Doll

These days we've grown accustomed to people looking like Christmas trees, all dolled up and with bells and baubles on, but back in 1991 it was quite a shock to see a certain Baby Doll performing 'Brasil' on the Eurovision stage. 

She represented Yugoslavia, just before the country de facto ceased to exist later that year. The song only gained one point (awarded to the song by the Maltese jury), which saved her from last place and got her to the 21st position in a field of 22 competitors. Baby Doll (real name: Dragana Šarić) continued her career in music and certain reality television shows in Serbia. In 2015, she married American-born Serbian professor of philology and Russian language Aleks Todorović and has allegedly changed her name to Danica Todorović.

My collection: 7" single no. 6559
Found: Ebay, received 3 December 2021
Tracks: 'Brasil' / 'Control'

 

Could it be - Georgina & Paul Giordimaina

Exactly twenty years after Joe Grech, who was responsible for Malta's debut at the Eurovision Song Contest with a jazzy, swinging song, Georgina & Paul Giordimaina were responsible for the return of Malta on the Eurovision stage after an absence of 16 years. And they came with a song that was the absolute opposite of 'Marija L-Maltija': a syrupy, sticky, almost nauseating ballad. At least, that's how I qualified this song back in 1991. 

Listening to it now, it is a bit of a middle of the road affair, but the nauseating effect has worn off a bit. Still, it wasn't the best of what that year had to offer - although I wasn't exactly thrilled by the winning song either ('Captured by a lovestorm' by Carola, that was). The duo recorded their song both in English and in Maltese, and both versions appear on this 7" single, which is a bit of a rarity too: after 1991, no Maltese songs would ever be released on 7" vinyl again.

My collection: 7" single no. 6557
Found: Ebay, received 3 December 2021
Tracks: 'Could it be' / 'Sejjah u ssbni'

Marija L-Maltija - Joe Grech

Although I would have preferred to get a copy with the picture sleeve, this is impossible, and so I settled for this one in a generic white sleeve. And 'this one' is a single of Malta's first ever entry in the Eurovision Song Contest. 

Joe Grech was responsible for this debut performance, sung entirely in Maltese and ending up in last place. 'Marija L-Maltija' was composed by Joe Grech himself, and the lyrics were written by Charles Mifsud.Listen to it now and you're transported back to a time when chansons were popular and this jazzy, slightly noisy track probably fell out of place a bit. But it's not a bad track, I quite enjoyed listening to this one.

My collection: 7" single no. 6558
Found: Ebay, received 3 December 2021
Tracks: 'Marija L-Maltija' / 'In-Nassab'

C'est la chanson de mon amour - Veronique Muller

Veronique Muller was born in Morat (Switzerland) on 9 February 1948. Before starting her own musical career, she worked as Petula Clark's secretary. She also spent time in England where she was a pupil of Freddie Winrose, who was the producer of Shirley Bassey. 

She represented Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1972 with the song 'C'est la chanson de mon amour' ('This the song of my love'), where she finished in 8th place. She later co-wrote Switzerland's entry in the 1980 contest, 'Cinéma', performed by Paola. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6556
Found: Ebay, received 3 December 2021
Tracks: 'C'est la chanson de mon amour' / 'Quand le printemps revient'

Wherever I lay my hat (That's my home) - Paul Young

In 1991, the compilation album 'From Time to Time' was released, featuring all the hits by Paul Young from the preceding decade.A few singles were released to promote this album, and 'Wherever I lay my hat (That's my home)' was one of them. 

Quite why the record company thought it was a good idea to release this single, I don't know, because it had already sold many copies in 1983 and not a lot of people would consider buying it again since loads of those singles were widely available in second hand shops. And so the single flopped mercilessly and copies of it are pretty hard to come by, since there weren't a lot of them made I guess. Still, it has a nice cover and the live version on the B-side is worth a spin - although there's no information on the date and venue of this live recording. A bit of a careless release, I would say.

My collection: 7" single no. 6530
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, 25 November 2021
Cost: €2
Tracks: 'Wherever I lay my hat (That's my home)' / 'Wherever I lay my hat (That's my home) (live)'

Ich hol' Dir gerne vom Himmel die Sterne (Abergavenny) - Ilja Richter

Ilja Richter was born on 24 November 1952 in East Berlin. His parents moved to West Berlin a year later, where Ilja was stimulated to became an actor by his mother Eva, a former actress herself. During the 1970's he became the presenter of the German TV show Disco, a music show filmed before a young live audience in which he also performed in sketches.

Before that, however, he also had a career in music. Between 1969 and 1983 he released about a dozen singles, one of which was 'Ich hol' Dir gerne vom Himmel die Sterne'. You wouldn't guess it, but it's a German version of Marty Wilde's 'Abergavenny'. The song was recorded together with the orchestra of Roberto Delgado, a famous German bandleader, arranger and composer. It's an interesting take on a classic song.

My collection: 7" single no. 6498
Found: Discogs.com, received 12 November 2021
Cost: €8
Tracks: 'Ich hol' Dir gerne vom Himmel die Sterne (Abergavenny)' / 'Da da, njet njet njet'

Ljubim te pesmama - Extra Nena

While Yugoslavia was being torn apart in a huge and violent civil war, they still managed to send a representative to the Eurovision Song Contest. Extra Nena would be the country's last participation as a union (although it was already reduced to Serbia and Montenegro): from 1993 onwards the various ex-Yugoslavian countries would participate separately (and exchange points for some reason).

Extra Nena, real name Snežana Berić, performed 'Ljubim te pesmama' in Serbian and managed to collect 44 points, placing 13th in a field of 23 competitors. This single features the French version on the other side; English and Italian versions also exist.

My collection: 7" single no. 6555
Found: Ebay, received 3 December 2021
Tracks: 'Ljubim te pesmama' / 'Je t'embrasse par mes chansons'

Hajde da ludujemo - Tajči

This 7" single is the companion piece to the 12" single 'Let's go crazy', which I bought just three months ago. It features two tracks that can't be found on that one, i.e. the original versions of 'Hajde da ludujemo' and 'Let's go crazy'. 

It isn't easy to find a copy of this single, but there are some sellers online who offer it. When they do, it isn't usually cheap - but I managed to get a good deal for this and seven other discs. And so, here it goes... Let's go crazy!

My collection: 7" single no. 6554
Found: Ebay, received 3 December 2021
Tracks: 'Hajde da ludujemo' / 'Let's go crazy'

No time to die - Billie Eilish

One 7" single of 'No time to die' was not enough. Coinciding with the cinema release (finally, after almost two years!) of the latest James Bond movie and the strange event that is called Black Friday came this limited release of 'No time to die'. Billie Eilish mumbles her way through two alternative versions of her James Bond song: one recorded live at the Brit Awards earlier this year, and the other is the 'original demo'. 

It's remarkable how this girl never manages to pronounce any words clearly, as if she's afraid to let us hear the lyrics of her songs. The sleeve follows her lead: there is almost no contrast. The track names are printed dark grey on black, and this is what we have to work with. What on earth were they thinking? Well, at least here's another addition to my subcollection of James Bond themes.

My collection: 7" single no. 6553
Found: 33|45 Records, Den Haag, 1 December 2021
Cost: -
Tracks: 'No time to die (live at the Brit awards)' / 'No time to die (original demo)'

From Russia with love - Matt Monro

'From Russia with love' is one of the great forgotten Bond themes, performed in 1963 by Matt Monro. It was named after the second James Bond movie, based on Ian Fleming's Cold War thriller. I have always loved the old Bond theme songs, because they were so beautifully orchestrated and sung by classic artists.

I rediscovered this song, actually, when it was performed live by Colin Vearncombe a.k.a. Black, not long before his sudden and untimely death in 2016. (One of these performances can be enjoyed on YouTube.) 

It certainly isn't easy to get hold of all those early Bond songs, but I came across this pristine copy and it was an opportunity I couldn't pass on.

My collection: 7" single no. 6552
Found: 33|45 Records, Den Haag, 1 December 2021
Cost: €3
Tracks: 'From Russia with love' / 'Here and now'

Emotional rescue - The Rolling Stones

The Bee Gees did it, Prince would also do it, and Mick Jagger tried his hand at it too: singing in falsetto. The song is notable as one of the earliest songs by the group to show the growing rift between Jagger and Richards. Although Richards plays guitar and added backing vocals towards the end of this track, he is believed to have disliked the disco-like direction in which Jagger was trying to take the band, although this may have been exaggerated by the media.

Jagger said the song was about "a girl who's in some sort of manhood problems", not that she was going crazy but she's "just a little bit screwed up and he wants to be the one to help her out". The song became a fairly big hit for the Stones, peaking at number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100, number 9 in the UK singles chart and number 8 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 6551
Found: 33|45 Records, Den Haag, 1 December 2021
Cost: €3
Tracks: 'Emotional rescue' / 'Down in the hole'

De speeldoos - De Selvera's

The Selvera's were a Dutch duo from Weert that repeatedly reached the top of the Dutch charts in the Fifties and Sixties and sold more records than many rock and roll artists. The Selvera's consisted of the sisters Mieke (1937-2000) and Selma Jansen (1931-2019). 

In 1963 they released this cover version of the song 'Speeldoos', originally performed by Annie Palmen. Unlike previous singles 'Twee reebruine ogen' and 'De postkoets', which were immensely popular in 1956 and 1957 respectively, this single failed to capture the imagination of the record buying public. Mieke turned to acting quite quickly after this release, Selma tried to continue the Selvera's with other partners but this didn't reverse the career downturn. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6550
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received 30 November 2021
Cost: €1
Tracks: 'De speeldoos' / 'Dans met mij' 

'n Beetje - Sonja Oosterman

A single that is credited to 'Sonja Oosterman, Cees Vanos, vocals with the Festival Five, under direction of Dick Schallies' demands some further explanation. All four tracks appear to feature the Festival Five under direction of Dick Schallies - they provide the music. The vocals are provided by Sonja Oosterman on three of the four tracks, whereas 'Who knows why' is sung by Cees Vanos. 

''n Beetje' was chosen to represent the Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest when this single was created, hence the "Nr. 1 Dutch finale Eurovision Song Contest 1959" which you can read on this sleeve. The song would, of course, go on to win the Contest. The one and only mystery remains: why was  this single, aimed at the Dutch market and even part of a "Dutch Fono Club" made in Germany? Answers on a postcard please... (or below)

My collection: 7" single no. 6549
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received 30 November 2021
Cost: €1
Tracks: ''n Beetje', 'Ied're dag met jou' / 'Ja of nee', 'Who knows why'

Le chant de Mallory - Les compagnons de la chanson

Les Compagnons de la chanson were a French vocal group from Lyon, France, founded during World War II. Before 1946, they were part of a larger choir, the Compagnons de la musique. In 1946, they recorded a French language song, 'Les trois cloches' along with Edith Piaf. Rewritten in English as 'The three bells', they managed to reach the UK singles chart in October 1959, peaking at number 21. 

This EP features a cover of the French entry to the 1964 Eurovision Song Contest, 'Le chant de mallory', originally performed by Rachel. Through the years I've seen this single numerous times, but I never saw it this cheap. It was part of an online order of singles which were only €1 each - a price you can't beat.

My collection: 7" single no. 6548
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received 30 November 2021
Cost: €1
Tracks: 'Le chant de Mallory', 'Le refuge de tes bras' / 'Belle petite ville', 'En d'autres mots'

Volare - Frank Valentino

Everyone and their mother has recorded a version of 'Nel blu dipinto di blu', better known as 'Volare'. Originally performed by Domenico Modugno at the 1958 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, the song never won the Contest but is arguably the best known - and most covered - song to ever come forth from this event.

Frank Valentino tried his hand at the song in 1991. The Belgian singer was born on 3 September 1957. His biggest success has been in the early 1990s, doing vocals on a dance remake of the song 'Stand by me'. His take on 'Volare' isn't even that bad; it has been given a 'modern' twist (or whatever went for 'modern' back in 1991 anyway!) The single actually entered the Belgian chart on 3 August 1991 and peaked at number 31 during a 6 week chart run. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6547
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received 30 November 2021
Cost: €1
Tracks: 'Volare' / 'Afscheid'

Notre amour de vacances (Dansevise) - Patricia Robert

I consider 'Dansevise' to be one of the most beautiful songs to ever win the Eurovision Song Contest, so every cover version of that song is bound to be almost equally beautiful. This version by Patricia Robert is performed in French, and also features a cover version of 'T'en va pas', the song performed by Esther Ofarim during the same edition in 1963.

Alas, Patricia Robert herself remains unknown. She only released two singles: this one, and a song called 'Souvenir de ma jeunesse' in 1962. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6546
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received 30 November 2021
Cost: €1
Tracks: 'Notre amour de vacances (Dansevise)' / 'T'en va pas'

Küsse von dir - Rex Gildo

The Brotherhood of Man's 'Save your kisses for me' was covered by various artists, Peter Silver's version appeared on this blog just recently. Together with that single I bought this one: a version by German singer Rex Gildo.

He was born in Straubing (Germany) on 2 July 1936 and started a career in television and film in his twenties, as well as performing as a singer, most famously duetting with Danish singer Gitte Haenning as Gitte & Rex. During the Eighties and Nineties, Gildo's popularity decreased.[4] His appearances were mainly at folk festivals, shopping centres and other similar venues; he was also reported to have problems with alcoholism. His final performance, on the day of his suicide attempt, was in front of more than 3000 people at a furniture shop outside Frankfurt. Gildo died on 26 October 1999, aged 63, having spent three days in an artificially-induced coma after attempting suicide by jumping from the window of his apartment building. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6545
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received 30 November 2021
Cost: €1
Tracks: 'Küsse von dir' / 'Hab' ich dich nur geträumt?'

Boom bang-a-bang - Heidi Brühl

After covering the song 'La la la' in 1968, Heidi Brühl continued the next year with another winning Eurovision song: her version of 'Boom bang-a-bang'. The song was given a German lyric by Elisabeth Bertram née Merkels, also known as Lilibert.Heidi Brühl, of course, appeared in Eurovision herself in 1963 with the song 'Marcel'. 

In 1970, Brühl moved to the United States where she appeared in Las Vegas and in episodes of such television series as Columbo. She returned to Germany to play in two further Immenhof sequels in 1973–1974, The Twins from Immenhof and Spring in Immenhof. Brühl and Halsey divorced in 1976, and she returned to live in Germany the following year. She did dubbing work on films such as 'The NeverEnding Story' and 'Look Who's Talking Too', and her last roles were in television serials such as Ein Fall für zwei and Praxis Bülowbogen. She died of breast cancer in Starnberg on 8 June 1991, aged 49.

My collection: 7" single no. 6544
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received 30 November 2021
Cost: €1
Tracks: 'Boom bang-a-bang' / 'Der Himmel weint Freudentranen'

Veronica vrij - Ben Cramer

This single is an interesting one. I think I saw it many times without realizing that the B-side, 'Aan het mooie Noordzeestrand', is actually a version of 'De oude muzikant', the song with which Ben Cramer represented the Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1973.

Perhaps it's no surprise, then, that this single was released in the same year. The single actually appeared in the Dutch Top 40 while 'De oude muzikant' was still descending the same chart. The song was based on the 'Song of Olympia', written by Hans Blum, who incidentally took part as a songwriter and conductor in the Eurovision Song Contest on four occasions between 1965 and 1986.

Veronica, of course, was a pirate radio station, broadcasting from the North Sea and being rather successful with it among young listeners. The station was led by Rob Out and Bull Verweij, who appear on this sleeve alongside Ben Cramer. 'Veronica vrij' was released in time for a rally in The Hague, which was due to take place on 18 April 1973. The Dutch government was drawing up anti-pirate legislation, which would make Radio Veronica illegal and would force them off air. Cramer was perfect for the single: his emotion-laden, slightly bombastic performance, perfectly appealed to the sentiments of young people that Veronica should always exist. The benefit of hindsight tells us that the broadcast of 31 August 1974 should perhaps really have been the last, but the broadcaster re-emerged before the end of 1975 and made great programmes for about 15 years or so. After this, the name was used and misused by various owners. These days, Veronica still exists in name but it can't compare to the free-spirited broadcaster it once was.

My collection: 7" single no. 6543
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received 30 November 2021
Cost: €1
Tracks: 'Veronica vrij' / 'Aan het mooie Noordzeestrand'

Spaar al jou kusjes - Peter Silver

Peter Silver may have been a minor player in the Dutch music scene, since he never had any hits, but he still managed to release a dozen singles between 1982 and 1992. One of them was a cover version of a Eurovision song: 'Spaar al jou kusjes' was a Dutch-language version of 'Save your kisses for me', made famous by Brotherhood of Man.

I can't help thinking this might have been successful in certain circles in the Netherlands if it had been released in 1976 instead of 1987. And one more thing I noticed was the spelling error in the title: in Dutch it should be 'jouw kusjes' instead of 'jou kusjes'. But I doubt the fans of Peter Silver would know the difference.

My collection: 7" single no. 6542
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received 30 November 2021
Cost: €1
Tracks: 'Spaar al jou kusjes' / 'Met een beetje liefde om jou heen'

La la la - Claire Lepage

Claire Lepage is a popular singer of the late Sixties. She was born in Lachute (Canada) on 9 November 1945.

This single by her presents two versions of the song 'La la la', the song that won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1968. This single does not have a picture sleeve, and unfortunately the record company also went missing. The good news is: there was no picture sleeve for this release, and this is actually the Canadian pressing.

My collection: 7" single no. 6541
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received 30 November 2021
Cost: €1
Tracks: 'La la la (He gives me love)' / 'La la la (Version Française)' 

Uno per tutte - Marino Marini e il suo quartetto

Here's another version of 'Uno per tutte', the song that was performed by Emilio Pericoli at the 1963 Eurovision Song Contest when he represented Italy. This version is performed by Marino Marini, an Italian musician who achieved international success in the 1950s and 1960s. 

 Marini's recordings in the late 1950s and early 1960s included covers of Domenico Modugno's 'Volare' and 'Ciao ciao bambina' and Rocco Granata's 'Marina'. He retired from performing in 1966 but continued to compose. He died in March 1997.

My collection: 7" single no. 6540
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received 30 November 2021
Cost: €2
Tracks: 'Uno per tutte' / 'Non costa niente'

Em Aranjuez come tue amor - Amalia Rodrigues

Amália da Piedade Rebordão Rodrigues GCSE, GCIH (23 July 1920 – 6 October 1999), better known as Amália Rodrigues  was a Portuguese fadista (fado singer) and actress. Known as the 'Rainha do Fado' ("Queen of Fado"), Rodrigues was instrumental in popularising fado worldwide and travelled internationally throughout her career. Amália remains the best-selling Portuguese artist in history.

This single presents two rather impressive songs: a track derived of the 'Concerto de Aranjuez' and a cover version of 'La, la, la', the song with which Massiel won the 1968 Eurovision Song Contest for Spain. I bought the single for the B-side, but if I'm honest, the A-side was actually better!

My collection: 7" single no. 6539
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received 30 November 2021
Cost: €1
Tracks: 'Em Aranjuez come tue amor' / 'La, la, la'

Speeldoos - Sandy Fort

Sandy Fort was born as Jopie Sandifort in Rotterdam in 1931. She was part of the duo Sandy & Max, who released a version of 'Moon river' in 1962. Sandy subsequently released a few singles as a solo artist, of which this 'Speeldoos' was the last one, in 1963.

'Speeldoos' was originally performed by Annie Palmen, who represented the Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest with this song. Sandy Fort's version was quickly released to profit from the national sentiments surrounding Eurovision, however these sentiments disappeared when the song got zero points from the international juries.

My collection: 7" single no. 6538
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received 30 November 2021
Cost: €1
Tracks: 'Speeldoos' / 'Stel je toch 'es voor'

Dio come ti amo - José Guardiola

José Guardiola was born on 22 October 1930 in Barcelona. He performed and recorded mostly Spanish versions of foreign songs and reached his maximum fame in Spain and Latin America in the early 1960s with versions of songs like 'Sixteen tons', 'Mack the knife' and 'Ya Mustafa'. He also represented Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 1963. 

Three years later he released this single, featuring a cover version of Domenico Modugno's 'Dio come ti amo'. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6536
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received 30 November 2021
Cost: €1
Tracks: 'Dio come ti amo' / 'La vida es asi'

La, la, la -Gitte Hænning

Gitte Hænning is no stranger to the Eurovision Song Contest: she represented Germany in 1973 with the song 'Junger Tag'. She also attempted to represent her own country Denmark in 1962 with 'Jeg snakker med mig selv', but was disqualified because the composer, Sejr Volmer-Sørensen, had whistled the song in the canteen of the Danish Broadcasting Corporation.

Inbetween, she released this single. It features not one, but two cover versions: both from the 1968 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. The A-side features the winning song, 'La, la, la', while she also covers Cliff Richard's song 'Congratulations', which controversially ended up in second place. The Danish lyrics of 'Ønsk mig tillykke' were provided by Thøger Olesen.

My collection: 7" single no. 6535
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received 30 November 2021
Cost: €1
Tracks: 'La, la, la' / 'Ønsk mig tillykke'

Waarom toch, waarom - Dick Rienstra

Dick Rienstra (Assen, 1941 – 2021) was a Dutch singer and actor. He began his musical career in a local group, The Double S Combo, where he sang and played guitar, clarinet, and saxophone. In 1960 he debuted on the radio, and in 1962 on the TV, in a talent show. He moved to Amsterdam in 1963 and got a job in a musical comedy production as a singer and an actor in skits and revues. He was a contender in the preliminaries for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1977, and after that performed in the theater and in minor roles on television. 

This single features his cover version of Udo Jürgens' 1964 Eurovision entry 'Warum nur, warum' with Dutch lyrics.

My collection: 7" single no. 6534
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received 30 November 2021
Cost: €1
Tracks: 'Waarom toch, waarom' / 'Adios my darling'

Dikke Lou - De strangers

The 1984 Eurovision winners the Herreys delivered the nonsensical song 'Diggi loo diggi ley' and somehow went away as the winners of that edition. This wasn't the only time in the Eighties and Nineties that the international juries had taken leave of their senses.

Anyway, in Dutch the song would be paraphrased in a variety of naughty ways, but the Belgian Strangers kept it relatively clean, by singing about 'Dikke Lou' ('Fat Lou'). It is only one of their many Eurovision cover versions - and my collection of these is growing every time I visit Belgium.

My collection: 7" single no. 6519
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, 25 November 2021
Cost: €1
Tracks: 'Dikke Lou' / 'De zonnebank'

Rock bottom - Brothers of the world

If you didn't want to fork out 10,000 Italian lira (or whatever the price of a vinyl single was at that time) for the original version of 'Rock bottom' by Lynsey de Paul and Mike Moran, you could always buy the cheaper version by the Brothers of the world in Italy. At least, I think this must have been a cheaper single, because it was performed by uncredited studio musicians. 

The Brothers of the world struck the previous year with a version of 'Save your kisses for me', and this was their second and last single. Both singles were only released in Italy.

My collection: 7" single no. 6533
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received 30 November 2021
Cost: €1
Tracks: 'Rock bottom' / 'A little bit more'

Oui oui oui oui - Les Djinns

This EP actually features four different songs, but it is their cover of 'Oui, oui, oui, oui' (originally performed by Jean Philippe) that caused this particular purchase. Upon playing the entire EP, I had to conclude that I wouldn't probably listen to all the other tracks much. 

Les Djinns were a French choir with a distinctive singing style, composed of sixty girls between the ages of nine and eighteen years, conducted by Paul Bonneau. In 1959, the French government organized a 'Master School' for the instruction of girls in musical subjects in order to ensure a supply of performance talent for the country's radio and television industry. The Master School set a course of study where the girls followed a curriculum of standard academic subjects in the morning hours, then musical courses in the afternoons consisting of scales, vocal techniques, harmony and choral vocalizing. Upon graduation, each girl was accepted into Les Djinns. Within six weeks of the group's founding, Les Djinns were awarded the Grand Prix of the Academy of Records in France, and their popularity began to proliferate with stage appearances in France and tours in other European countries. Eventually, a total of 88 tunes were recorded, including a Christmas album and an album of American favorites sung in French, and released on the ABC-Paramount label. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6532
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received 30 November 2021
Cost: €1
Tracks: 'Une rose rouge', 'Oui, oui, oui, oui' / 'Balade Irlandaise', 'L'ames des poètes'