Si la vie est cadeau - Corinne Hermes

The 1983 Eurovision Song Contest was won with the song 'Si la vie est cadeau', performed by Corinne Hermes. She was born on November 16, 1961 and is a French singer. She represented Luxembourg on this occasion and finished just six points ahead of Israel's Ofra Haza with 'Hi'. The song received zero points from two of the twenty participating countries, but also received the maximum twelve points from five - mostly Mediterranean - countries.

Personally, I was not pleased with this winner. I preferred more eclectic tracks like Norway's 'Do re mi' by Jahn Teigen, Sweden's Carola with 'Främling' or even Spain's Remedios Amaya with 'Quien maneja mi barca?'. It took me 25 years to buy this single, and only because of my recent decision to want to buy all the Eurovision winners on single.

My collection: 7" single no. 3507

Found: Record Mania, Amsterdam, December 27, 2008

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Si la vie est cadeau' / 'Pour un jour de toi'

Download: here

Baby's in the mountains - Peter Godwin

It's never clear to me why some singles are not a bigger success. Peter Godwin's 'Baby's in the mountains' is a good example. It's a catchy song, it's got most of the electronic sounds that were popular in 1983, and yet, it didn't sell.

Peter Godwin has recently been writing lyrics for Steve Winwood. These tracks appear on his 2008 album, 'Nine lives'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1452

Found: All that music, Leiden, June 18, 1991

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Baby's in the mountains' / 'Soul of love'

Download: here

Echo beach - Martha and the Muffins

This single is one of the big mysteries of my life. I bought it in 1980, not long after it came out. Then, some months later, it simply disappeared. I know I had it, but it was gone. To this day I suspect my brother, who nicked singles whenever and wherever he could when we lived at our parents's house. The single never reappeared. I bought this copy in 1994. In a way, I was satisfied: it was an English pressing after all. But the mystery was never resolved.

'Echo beach' is one of the best tracks of that year, 1980. Recorded by the Canadian band Martha and the Muffins, it was elected the 35th greatest Canadian song of all time in 2005 by CBC Radio One. Although Mark Gane was not aware of a real Echo Beach when he wrote the song in 1978, several people wrote to him asking if it was about a beach in their local area. However, Echo Beach, as mentioned in the song, does not refer to a real beach but is rather a symbolic notion of somewhere the narrator would rather be, somewhere 'far away in time'. The song was covered later by Dimestars, the band of Kim Wilde's sister Roxanne, and by Toyah.

My collection: 7" single no. 2178

Found: House of Rhythm, London, September 27, 1994

Cost: 1,2 pounds

Tracks: 'Echo beach' / 'Teddy the dink'

Download: here

Hide and seek - Five Star

I got to know 'Hide and seek' by Five Star thanks to this box set, which I'd bought in London in 1987. I was a bit surprised when I found this 12" single, not realising that the track had actually been a single. It was actually their debut single, if you don't count their unsuccessful real debut 'Problematic' (1983).

'Hide and seek' was the first single from their millionselling debut album 'Luxury of life'. It was written by Gary Bell and Anne Dudley. The track was later covered by New Edition as part of their 1984 album 'New Edition'.

My collection: 12" single no. 401

Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 1999

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Hide and seek (extended dance mix)' / 'Hide and seek (dub)', 'I'm gonna make this a night you will never forget'

Download: here

Ten American girls - Bolland

'Ten American girls' was Bolland's last single to make the Dutch bubbling under chart. The two brothers Rob and Ferdi Bolland didn't stop recording albums, but they were released as 'Bolland Project' or similar other names. The video of this single was on Dutch television regularly, and that is how I got to know it. When you see it now, it is typical eighties fare, but at the time it was a nice and humorous departure from the more serious videos back then.

I bought the single for discount price some time after it was out. Normally I'm not big on Dutch acts, but sometimes even I make an exception.

My collection: 7" single no. 451

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1985

Cost: 1,95 guilders

Tracks: 'Ten American girls' / 'Night of the shooting stars'

Download: here

Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! - Abba

'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!' was written by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus as a new track for the compilation album 'Greatest Hits vol. 2'. It was also released as a single to promote this new compilation. The release coincided with Abba's live tour of North America and Europe.

Originally, Abba had recorded another song, 'Rubber Ball Man', which was planned as a single. However, they felt that 'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!', with its disco sound, would be a better choice, and thus 'Rubber Ball Man' remained nothing more than a demo. 'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!' was a number one hit in Belgium, Finland, France, Ireland and Switzerland, and became a top 10 hit almost everywhere else.

My collection: 7" single no. 31

Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1979

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!' / 'The king has lost his crown'

Download: Album 'Voulez-vous', including both tracks

Rough boy - ZZ Top

At the beginning of 1985, ZZ Top visited the Dutch top 40 with three singles: 'Legs', 'Gimme all your lovin'' and 'Sharp dressed man'. I thought all three singles, plus the accompanying videos, were all extremely irritating. It was interesting, therefore, to find out that they released a ballad on their new album 'Afterburner' that year. The single came with a rather futuristic video that was a departure from the 'leggy women with hot cars' videos that irritated the hell out of me. Unlike the other singles, this one was very hard to find, and so I only bought my copy in 1991.

My collection: 7" single no. 1542

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, October 27, 1991

Cost: 4 guilders

Tracks: 'Rough boy' / 'Delirious'

Download: Album 'Afterburner', including both tracks

A sorta fairytale - Tori Amos

As far as I know, 'A sorta fairytale' was the last single by Tori Amos to be released on 7" vinyl. It was taken from her first album for Epic records, 'A scarlet walk', and played the same track on both sides.

Having collected Tori Amos singles ever since she rose to prominence with 'Silent all these years', I bought this single as soon as I saw it. Even if her albums got increasingly patchy, her singles have always been strong tracks.

My collection: 7" single no. 3366
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, October 2002
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'A sorta fairytale (single version)' / 'A sorta fairytale (single version)'
Download: here

Part-time lover - Stevie Wonder

'Part-time lover' was released as a single in 1985 and was taken from Stevie Wonder's album 'In square circle'. The song reached number one in America, number three in the UK and number 11 in the Netherlands. The song featured R&B singer Luther Vandross humming at the end of Stevie's verses.

I bought the 12" single mostly out of curiosity how the eight minute extended version would sound. The single was infectious enough, but the 12" single is a decent effort.

My collection: 12" single no. 482

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, 2002

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Part-time lover [extended]' / 'Part-time lover (instrumental)'

Download: here (password: Flash in Flash)

Eleven faces - Rupert Hine

I don't know what caused my sister to buy this single, but it was through her that I got to know the phenomenon that is Rupert Hine. He is famous as a producer of artists like Howard Jones, Tina Turner, The Fixx and Noa, but as a solo artist, he's never been able to make the charts.

The single 'Eleven faces' was a double a-side in my opinion: the title track was an exciting uptempo track, whereas the b-side, 'Dark windows' was a slower song with creepy sounds of a thunderstorm.

My collection: 7" single no. 2104

Found: Record fair, Leiden, May 28, 1994

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Eleven faces' / 'Dark windows'

Download: here

No doubt about it - Hot Chocolate

For a while in the eighties, dance remixes of old classics were selling very well. In 1987, Hot Chocolate, the band that folded in 1984, had chart hits with remixes of 'You sexy thing' and 'Every 1's a winner', songs that were originally a hit a decade earlier. This remix 12" of 'No doubt about it' should have followed in their footsteps, but instead it did nothing. As far as I know, it was only released in Germany. The 'Tequila-mix' of 'No doubt about it' was made by Frank Mono, not a very big name in DJ-land. The sleeve also suggest that an album would be forthcoming: 'Greatest hits (The dance remixes)'. This album never surfaced.

My collection: 12" single no. 481

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, 2002

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'No doubt about it (Tequila-mix)' / 'No doubt about it (Little Tequila-mix)', 'I gave you my heart (Didn't I)'

Download: here

Island of lost souls - Blondie

'Island of lost souls' was Blondie's last hit single before they broke up. After having performed punkrock, new wave and even rap tracks, this reggae-oriented single was yet another change in direction for the American band. It was the first single from their album 'Hunter' (1982), which was unable to revive the success of its predecessor, 'Autoamerican' (1980). Chris Stein then fell ill and Debbie Harry took time out to take care of him. The band split up, only to be reunited more than a decade later.

My collection: 7" single no. 3506

Found: Record Mania, Amsterdam, December 27, 2008

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Island of lost souls' / 'Dragonfly'

Download: Album 'Hunter', including both tracks (password: babakazoo.blogspot.com)

Ti amo - Umberto Tozzi

In 1977, Italian singer Umberto Tozzi released one of his most famous songs, 'Ti amo'. It stayed at number one on the Italian charts for seven months, outselling every other record, and went on to become an international success throughout continental Europe. It also made some inroads in the Americas and Australia, primarily in discotheques.

My collection: 7" single no. 3469

Found: Empire Records, December 11, 2008

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Ti amo' / 'Dimentica, dimentica'
Download: here

Thriller - Michael Jackson

The title track from the album 'Thriller' was released as the fifth single. 'Thriller' is one of Jackson's signature songs, in no small part because of its music video, a 14 minute epic which features extra parts of acting and lots of impressive crowd dance scenes.

This single was pressed on red vinyl and is part nine of a limited edition nine disc set released in 1983. The singles 'P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)' and 'Human nature' were not included in this package.

My collection: 7" single no. 3530

Found: eBay, January 6, 2009

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Thriller' / 'Things I do for you (live)' (The Jacksons)

Download: here

Wanna be startin' somethin' - Michael Jackson

'Wanna be startin' somethin'' was the fourth single taken from the album 'Thriller'. It was originally intended for the album 'Off the wall' but was not recorded until the sessions for 'Thriller' in 1982. The song was written by Michael Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones. The song ends with a chorus repeatedly singing 'Ma ma-se, ma ma-sa, ma ma-coo-sa', which is an African chant. This chant was later re-used in Rihanna's 2007 single 'Don't stop the music'.

This single was pressed on red vinyl and is part eight of a limited edition nine disc set released in 1983.

My collection: 7" single no. 3529

Found: eBay, January 6, 2009

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Wanna be startin' somethin'' / 'Rock with you (live)' (The Jacksons)

Download: here

Beat it - Michael Jackson

The third single from 'Thriller', 'Beat it', won two Grammy Awards for 'Record of the year' and 'Best male rock vocal performance'. Eddie Van Halen guested for the guitar solo on this track, which was again produced by Quincy Jones. The lyrics are an immediate, frightful warning to avoid fighting and violence at all costs, especially when honor seems to be at stake.

This single was pressed on red vinyl and is part seven of a limited edition nine disc set released in 1983.

My collection: 7" single no. 3528

Found: eBay, January 6, 2009

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Beat it' / 'Burn this disco out'

Download: here

Billie Jean - Michael Jackson

Released as the second single from his album 'Thriller', Michael Jackson met international acclaim with 'Billie Jean'. The groundbreaking video and the exciting music caused critics to be overwhelmingly positive. Jackson started writing the first demo of the song in his home in 1981. When he presented the song to his co-producer Quincy Jones, Jones had problems with the title and wanted to call the song 'Not My Lover'. He thought when audiences heard it they would assume Jackson was referring to tennis superstar Billie Jean King.

This single was pressed on red vinyl and is part six of a limited edition nine disc set released in 1983.

My collection: 7" single no. 3527

Found: eBay, January 6, 2009

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Billie Jean' / 'It's the falling in love'

Download: here

The girl is mine - Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney

This duet by Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney was the first single taken from the album 'Thriller'. Following its release, some observers assumed 'Thriller' would only be a minor hit album. At the time of recording, Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney were still on speaking terms. This would change some years later, when Michael acquired the rights over Beatles songs.

This single was pressed on red vinyl and is part five of a limited edition nine disc set released in 1983.

My collection: 7" single no. 3526
Found: eBay, January 6, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'The girl is mine' / 'Can't get outta the rain'
Download: here

She's out of my life - Michael Jackson

'She's out of my life' was the fourth and final single taken from Michael Jackson's 1979 album 'Off the wall'. Unlike the previous singles, this song was a slow ballad. The song was written by Tom Bahler after Karen Carpenter broke up with him upon discovering he had fathered a child with another woman.

At the end of the song, Jackson appears to break down in tears. He tried many takes of the last few minutes of the song, but always ended the same way – breaking down in tears. Producer Quincy Jones finally decided to leave the recording 'as is'.

This single was pressed on red vinyl and is part four of a limited edition nine disc set released in 1983.

My collection: 7" single no. 3525
Found: eBay, January 6, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'She's out of my life' / 'Push me away' (The Jacksons)
Download: Album 'Off the wall', including 'She's out of my life'

Rock with you - Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson's third single from 'Off the wall' was written by Rod Temperton. It was one of the last big disco hits by Jackson, since in 1980, disco was starting to lose its appeal to the general public in favour of punk rock and new wave. The song was produced by Quincy Jones. It would later appear on one of his own albums, 'Jook joint' in a cover version by singer Brandy in 1995.

This single was pressed on red vinyl and is part three of a limited edition nine disc set released in 1983.

My collection: 7" single no. 3524

Found: eBay, January 6, 2009

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Rock with you' / 'Get on the floor'

Download: Album 'Off the wall', including both tracks