One of Israel's most famous singers Ofra Haza competed in the 1983 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Hi'. Although the song title means 'Alive' in Hebrew, it was translated into English as 'High' and into German as 'Frei'.
This German version was released on the Jupiter Records label, owned by Ralph Siegel, who has written loads of songs for the Contest. The label has released many Eurovision-related singles through the years.
My collection: 7" single no. 5085 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Frei' / 'High'
In 1986, after Dollar reformed for the first time, they released the single 'Haven't we said goodbye before' on Arista records. The lack of success of this single and its predecessor 'We walked in love' had them looking for another record contract the next year.
The song, however, is nice enough. The B-side of this single, however, is a contender for the title 'worst B-side ever'.
My collection: 7" single no. 5083 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Haven't we said goodbye before' / 'Platinum rap'
'Passengers' was released in 1984 as the second single from Elton John's album 'Breaking hearts'. It reached number 5 in the UK singles chart and number 9 in Australia.
The song was written not only by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, who write most of John's material, but in collaboration with Davey Johnstone and Phineas McHize.
My collection: 7" single no. 5082 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Passengers' / 'Lonely boy'
On his album 'New light through old windows' (1988) Chris Rea re-recorded the tracks that made him famous in the Eighties. They were not always better versions, but I guess the man felt the need to do these songs once again.
The album spawned three singles, of which 'I can hear your heartbeat' was the last one. It was the least successful one, too: it only reached number 74 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 5081 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'I can hear your heartbeat' / 'Loving you again (live version)'
When I visited the record fair in Utrecht a year ago, I saw the single 'Never turn away' and thought I already owned it. I was very dismayed upon my arrival home to find that I didn't. So a year later, back at the record fair, I found that same single with a different dealer... and snapped it up.
'Never turn away' was released as the fourth and final single from the band's 1984 album 'Junk culture', the one that spawned better known hits 'Locomotion', 'Talking loud and clear' and 'Tesla girls'. This single only reached number 70 in the UK singles chart and number 29 in Ireland.
My collection: 7" single no. 5080 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Never turn away' / 'Wrappup'
'Shine' was released in 1986 as a single by Mike Oldfield, featuring Jon Anderson on vocals. It barely scraped the UK singles chart, reaching number 100, but peaked at number 31 in the German singles chart.
The music video for 'Shine' features use of computer graphics, such as a computer generated game of chess. Oldfield plays a Gibson SG guitar in the video.
My collection: 7" single no. 5079 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Shine' / 'The path'
'California blue' was written by Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty. The latter two worked with Orbison on what was to become his last album, 'Mystery girl'. The album was released briefly after he died in December 1988, since the lead single 'You got it' had already become a hit while he was still alive.
The song was released as the third single from the album in the spring of 1989. It wasn't a hit, stalling at number 77 in the UK singles chart and sinking without a trace in most European countries.
My collection: 7" single no. 5078 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'California blue' / 'Blue Bayou (live)'
Phil Collins' debut solo single 'In the air tonight' was re-released in 1988 as a remix. The remix was made by Phil Collins and Hugh Padgham, although a more accomplished remix by Ben Liebrand existed (and was included on 12" and cd-single versions of this single).
The re-release could not give the song a higher chart placing than the original release from 1981, but still it did well: peaking at number 4 in the UK singles chart and at number 3 in the German singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 5077 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'In the air tonight ('88 remix)' / 'I missed again'
'Sisters are doin' it for themselves' was written by Eurythmics members Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart. It was intended as a feminist anthem. They recorded the track together with American soul/R&B musician Aretha Franklin and released as a single by RCA Records in October 1985. It was featured on both Eurythmics' 'Be yourself tonight' and Franklin's 'Who's zoomin' who?' albums.
The single reached number 18 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and number 9 in the UK Singles Chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 5076 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Sisters are doin' it for themselves' / 'I love you like a ball and chain'
Back in 1992, they were presented as a modern day Abba, the Swedish quartet Ace of base. And they certainly started out promising: 'All that she wants' quickly became a number one hit in Denmark, the UK and Australia. The single was certified Platinum in the United States, where it peaked at number 2. It is one of the highest-selling #2 songs of all time in the States: it stayed in the top three songs on Billboard Hot 100 list for three months, but never actually reached the peak position.
Although the band still exists, both female members have left the group a few years ago and have been replaced. Their albums were all less successful than its predecessor: debut album 'Happy nation' selling 21 million copies worldwide, while the 2002 album 'Da capo' only sold half a million copies.
My collection: 7" single no. 5075 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'All that she wants (radio edit)' / 'All that she wants (Banghra version)'
'Love so right' is a R&B/pop ballad released by the Bee Gees in 1976. The single hit number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It peaked at number 2 in Canada, but was less successful in Europe: in the UK the single only reached number 41, and in Germany it reached number 38.
It was the second single from their 1976 album 'Children of the world'. A year later they would be much more successful with the original soundtrack of the movie 'Saturday night fever'.
My collection: 7" single no. 5074 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Love so right' / 'You stepped into my life'
'It's my life' was the first collaboration between Mark Hollis and Tim Friese-Greene, members of Talk Talk. It was released as the band's first single from the album of the same name in January 1984. It reached number 46 in the UK charts, but did better in other countries: number 31 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 30 in Canada and Netherlands, number 33 in Germany, number 32 in New Zealand, number 25 in France and number 7 in Italy.
I didn't have this original single before, so it was interesting to finally buy it. This version features the album track 'Does Caroline know?' on the B-side, whereas the Brazilian single I bought in 1990 features the extended version of 'It's my life'.
My collection: 7" single no. 5073 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'It's my life' / 'Does Caroline know?'
I've seen the Belle Stars, or at least, three of them, during those Here & Now tours at the beginning of this century in the UK, and one of the staples in their set was their version of 'Iko iko'. I never found the single of that track, but here it is... a reissue of the song because, apparently, it was used in the movie 'Rain man'.
Originally, the track was released six years earlier, in 1982. It reached number 35 in the UK singles chart. This re-release gave them a number 14 peak position in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and a number 7 peak position in Australia. The single also re-charted in the UK... peaking at number 98.
My collection: 7" single no. 5072 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Iko iko' (Belle Stars) / 'Leaving Wallbrook / On the road' (Hans Zimmer)
Puck recently informed me that all Carpenters tracks are in fact very depressing. Given this knowledge, it's hard to reconcile that with an upbeat track like 'Sweet, sweet smile', in which the protagonist says that she wants to always see someone's sweet smile.
The track was composed by Otha Young and Juice Newton. The track features drummer Ronnie Tutt who regularly backed Elvis Presley. Released as the third single from the album 'Passage', the single reached number 44 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 40 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 5071 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Sweet sweet smile' / 'I have you'
Donna Summer's 1987 album 'All systems go' spawned the hit single 'Dinner with Gershwin', but the other singles from the album were less successful. 'Only the fool survives', a duet with Mickey Thomas, only reached number 40 in Canada, and this single, the title track from the album, only charted in the UK, peaking at number 54.
'All systems go' - the song - is a repetitive affair, particularly at the end where it seems the lyricist simply ran out of ideas. Donna Summer repeats the title of the track ad nauseum.
My collection: 7" single no. 5070 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'All systems go' / 'Bad reputation'
Buying records can be a bit like hunting in the wild. (Not that I ever did the latter, but anyway.) You see a prey, it escapes, you wait for it... and wait for it... and when you see it again, you snap it up. It's a bit like this with this single. My sister bought this limited edition with a poster bag way back in 1987 during a holiday in London. I didn't buy it at the time for lack of money, and then of course this edition never showed up again...
...until now. The good thing is, because of a little damage on the front it wasn't sold for a fortune, and so I could actually get it for very little money. The benefits of waiting 24 years, I guess.
My collection: 7" single no. 5067 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'If I was your girlfriend' / 'Shockadelica'
Commenting on the track in interview, Stevie Nicks says that 'Sara' is about her best friend Sara Recor Fleetwood, the wife of Mick Fleetwood. Nicks had an affair with Mick Fleetwood in early 1978 while he was married to Jenny Boyd. Then her best friend, model Sara Recor, fell for Fleetwood and began an affair with him whilst Nicks and Fleetwood were still together. The pair ultimately moved in together, and were subsequently married. Nicks felt very betrayed, but Recor and Fleetwood were undeniably in love. Sara claims that Nicks was never upset with her, only with Fleetwood.
The song originally had many more verses and ran for 16 minutes in demo form, according to Nicks, and referenced all Fleetwood Mac band members. The song was a commentary on all the tangled relationships and love affairs that were occurring in 1977-1978, but the final recorded version omitted most of this and focused on the triangle between Nicks, Fleetwood and Recor. The song remains one of the standout track of the band's 1979 album 'Tusk' and although I didn't have this single until now, I've always wanted to have it!
My collection: 7" single no. 5066 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Sara' / 'That's enough for me'
Released as a single from their 1987 album 'E.S.P.', 'Angela' was not the Bee Gees' most inspired song, nor was it very successful: released exclusively on mainland Europe, it only reached number 52 in the German singles chart.
However, if this song didn't turn you on - which I have to admit, it did me - the single was worth getting for the B-side: an extended version of the album's standout track 'You win again'. This remix was previously released on the 12" single of 'You win again' (which was released as the first single from 'E.S.P.') but obviously a 7" single was a lot cheaper... and it certainly was now.
My collection: 7" single no. 5065 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Angela' / 'You win again (extended version)'
There is no information on this single about the year of release, but several internet sources put this single in the year 1977. It makes sense: at the height of the disco era, pretty young girls were coupled to cheesy disco anthems or disco covers of wellknown songs. In this case, it's the latter: a version of a song originally recorded by Abba.
'Nina pretty ballerina' was written by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus and recorded by the Swedish pop group in 1973. Released as a single in France and Austria only, it reached number 8 in Austria. This cover version was less successful: as far as I could find out, it didn't chart. However, the girls did make an appearance in the German music show Musikladen...
My collection: 7" single no. 5064 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Nina, pretty ballerina' / 'Sweet night of love'
'Love to hate you' was released as the second single from Erasure's 1991 album 'Chorus'. It is one of Erasure's most successful singles on the UK singles chart, peaking at number 4. It also reached number 19 in the German singles cra tand number 4 in Sweden.
It is one of those singles that has been missing from my collection for inexplicable reasons. At the time, I bought the cd-single, and in subsequent years I never realised I never bought the 7" vinyl version. It's always nice to make good on such an omission.
My collection: 7" single no. 5063 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Love to hate you' / 'Vitamin C'
One of Israel's most famous singers Ofra Haza competed in the 1983 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Hi'. Although the song title means 'Alive' in Hebrew, it was translated into English as 'High' and into German as 'Frei'.
