Mr. Blue Sky - Electric Light Orchestra

Growing up in the Seventies, I have rather vivid memories of my sister playing records to me. She's six years older than me and so she had a record collection while I was still dreaming of having one, one day. 'Mr. Blue Sky' was one of the songs she played a lot back in 1978, when it was in the charts. Ten years later I bought a copy of the single, and twenty years after that I bought the album 'Out of the blue' which is quite a fascinating album.

However, last weekend I found this new copy of 'Mr. Blue Sky', pressed on blue vinyl. I didn't think much about it: I simply had to have it. It's still one of the most fabulous songs I know.

My collection: 7" single no. 5258
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Mr. Blue Sky' / 'One summer dream'

For everyone - Wind

The German band Wind entered the Eurovision Song Contest three times, but their debut took place in 1985, when they represented Germany with the song 'Für alle'. They finished second in a field of 19 competitors.

The band recorded the song in three other languages: French ('Pour tout le monde'), Swedish ('Så många människor' and English ('For everyone'). This single features the English version. The B-side of the original German single, 'Feuer und eis' also appears in an English version here as 'Fire and ice'.

My collection: 7" single no. 5255
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'For everyone' / 'Fire and ice'

19 (German version) - Paul Hardcastle

Paul Hardcastle had a surprise hit with '19' in 1985, a song about America's involvement in the Vietnam war and the effect it had on the soldiers who served, using sampled dialogue from an American television documentary about the post-traumatic stress disorder suffered by veterans. He quickly recorded versions in French and German as well.

While I knew about these versions, I never realised a 12" version might also exist. But here it is: an extended remix of the German version of '19', featuring sampled dialogue entirely in German.

My collection: 12" single no. 607
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 4 euro
Tracks: '19 (German version) (12" mix)' / '19 (German version) (7" mix)', 'Eat your heart out'

Your love is so good for me - Diana Ross

'Your love is so good for me' was released in 1978 as a single from Diana Ross's 1977 album 'Baby it's me'. The album was produced by Richard Perry and the single was written by Ken Peterson. The album also contained songs written by Stevie Wonder and Bill Withers, but for some reason those were not selected for a single release.

This slightly repetitive song reached number 49 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. This pressing comes from France, but unfortunately I have no information what the single did in the charts in that country.

My collection: 7" single no. 5227
Found: Record fair, utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Your love is so good for me' / 'Baby it's me'

Miss you much - Janet Jackson

Here's another good example of the Puck-trick I employed so successfully last Saturday. In April I spotted this promotional 7" single of Janet Jackson. Interesting, since I've become a bit of a Janet Jackson collector lately. But I already owned the 'normal' single of 'Miss you much', so I wasn't prepared to spend 3 euros on this one.

But fortunately the same dealer returned this month, with a special discount on all of his 7" singles. Now the single had become very cheap, and it was still the collector's item I wanted to have. It's mine now!

My collection: 7" single no. 5233
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Miss you much' / 'You need me'

Who do you wanna be - Luv'

'Who do you wanna be' was the eighth single by Dutch girl group Luv', released in the autumn of 1979 by Philips/Phonogram Records. This song was taken from the group's debut album 'With Luv'' and released as a contract-fulfilling single just before they left the label and switched to CNR/Carrere Records. The single was only released in the Netherlands.

The girl group didn't promote the song as they focused on their new releases with Carrere, which is why it failed to reach the chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 5264
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Who do you wanna be' / 'I.M.U.R.'

It could happen to you - Robert Palmer

'It could happen to you' was released in 1989 as the sixth and last single from Robert Palmer's 1988 album 'Heavy Nova'. His first album for EMI Records after a 15-year association with Island Records (both with Vinegar Joe and as a solo artist), it followed Palmer's very popular album 'Riptide'. The name Heavy Nova derives from Palmer's love of both heavy metal and bossa nova rhythms.

The single only reached number 71 in the UK singles chart, but was not released in other territories.

My collection: 7" single no. 5262
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'It could happen to you' / 'Change his ways'

I can't escape from you - Act

'I can't escape from you' was written by Claudia Brücken and Thomas Leer. It was the fourth and final single from Act. ZTT Records withdrew the previous single 'Chance' and hurriedly released 'I can't escape from you' on 7 March 1988. The single only managed to reach number 90 in the UK singles chart.

A 12" single and cd-single also appeared, featuring a cover of the Smiths' single 'Heaven knows I'm miserable now'.

My collection: 7" single no. 5259
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I can't escape from you' / 'Dear life'

Don't drop bombs - Liza Minelli

'Don't drop bombs' was released as the second single from Liza Minelli's 1989 album 'Results'. Like the album, the single was produced by the Pet Shop Boys and Julian Mendelssohn. The track was written by the Pet Shop Boys and featured background vocals by Tessa Niles. The single was a club favourite, but stalled at number 46 in the UK singles chart.

This limited edition of the single features a poster sleeve. Disappointingly, the same photograph was used for the poster, but it's still a collector's item. And you know how much I love those.

My collection: 7" single no. 5257
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Don't drop bombs' / 'Don't drop bombs (instrumental)'

Do re mi - Jahn Teigen

Jahn Teigen is known as a three time representative for Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest, in 1978, 1982 and 1983. For some reason, the adjective 'unsuccessful' always seems to spring to mind, but in fact, his last attempt was quite successful. 'Do re mi' was written by Teigen with his wife Anita Skorgan and ended up in ninth place at the Contest.

Although Teigen appeared in the Eurovision Song Contest three times, he participated in no less than fourteen(!) Norwegian national finals: in 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1996 and once again as late as in 2005. In addition to this, Teigen has been the host of Melodi Grand Prix and provided the interval act of the Melodi Grand Prix on a number of occasions. He has also acted as commentator for Norwegian television in 1991 in Rome, together with Jon Andreassen.

My collection: 7" single no. 5256
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 6 euro
Tracks: 'Do re mi (English version)' / 'Do re mi (Norwegian version)'

Ring ring - Dollar

Released in 1982, 'The very best of Dollar' was a compilation album released by the duo's first label Carrere at a time when the duo was successful with Trevor Horn-produced singles on the WEA label. The old tracks were repackaged and re-released, with Carrere probably hoping for similar success.

Such schemes rarely work, and this case was no exception. 'Ring ring', recorded in 1979, was re-released as a single in 1982, and failed to reach the UK singles chart. Even if the B-side, 'Star control', is an intriguing piece of work, clocking in at 6 minutes.

My collection: 7" single no. 5252
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Ring ring' / 'Star control'

Jet - Paul McCartney & Wings

'Jet' is a song by Paul McCartney & Wings from their album Band on the Run. The song peaked at number 7 in both the British and American charts in 1974. Whereas most of the album was recorded in Lagos, Nigeria, 'Jet' was recorded entirely at EMI Studios in London after the group's return.

Reviewers have reported that the subject of the song is McCartney's Labrador Retriever dog named 'Jet'. However, in a 2010 interview on the UK television channel ITV1 for the program Wings: Band on the Run (to promote the November 2010 CD/DVD re-release of the album) McCartney explained that 'Jet' was the name of a pony he had owned, although many of the lyrics bore little relation to the subject.

My collection: 7" single no. 5251
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 0,8 euro
Tracks: 'Jet' / 'Let me roll it'

Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond

'Sweet Caroline' was written and performed by Neil Diamond and released in September 1969. In a 2007 interview, Diamond revealed the inspiration for "Sweet Caroline" was President John F. Kennedy's daughter, Caroline Kennedy, who was eleven years old at the time.

The song reached number 4 on the Billboard chart and eventually went platinum for sales of one million singles. In the UK singles chart, the single reached number 8 in 1971.

My collection: 7" single no. 5250
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 0,8 euro
Tracks: 'Sweet Caroline' / 'I am the lion'

Instant replay - Dan Hartman

'Instant Replay' is a disco song performed by Dan Hartman from the album of the same name. The single reached number 29 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1978. In the UK, the song peaked at number 8.

The single was successfully covered in 1990 by the UK pop duo, Yell!, who reached number 10 in the UK Singles Chart with it.

My collection: 7" single no. 5249
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 0,8 euro
Tracks: 'Instant replay' / 'Instant replay (replayed)'

Disco queen - Hot Chocolate

Released in early 1975, 'Disco queen' was Hot Chocolate's first big hit since 'Emma', released a year earlier. Three singles were released in the mean time, of which only 'Cheri babe' managed to reach the UK and Dutch top 40.

'Disco queen', written about the most popular music genre of those days, reached number 11 in the UK singles chart and number 28 in the US Billboard Hot 100 - their second American hit since 'Emma'. Later in the year Hot Chocolate would immortalise themselves with the single 'You sexy thing'.

My collection: 7" single no. 5248
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 0,8 euro
Tracks: 'Disco queen' / 'Bump and dilly down'

Say you do - Janet Jackson

'Say you do' was the third single from Janet Jackson's self-titled debut album 'Janet Jackson' (1982). There are three versions of the song: an edit of 3'48, an album version of 5'20 and the 12" remix version, which clocks in at 6'49.

Janet performed this song live for the first time during her 2008 'Rock Witchu tour'.

My collection: 12" single no. 606
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Say you do [extended version]' / 'You'll never find (a love like mine)'

For America - Red Box

When Red Box released 'The circle and the square' as their debut album on WEA records, it was critically acclaimed. The record company worried about the lack of mainstream appeal of the band's material and was further provoked by the song 'For America', written by Simon Toulson-Clarke after WEA's request for something to appeal to American radio.

The lyric lambasted what he saw as the style-over-content approach of the American media. The song also alluded to the American military involvement in Grenada and Nicaragua. The song was not a hit in the USA, though it did worldwide outsell the previous single 'Lean On Me', reaching number one in six countries and the top ten in several others including the UK, where it spent twelve weeks in the chart including two at number nine.

My collection: 7" single no. 5253
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'For America' / 'R 'n A'

One more chance - Diana Ross

'To love again' is a 1981 compilation album by Diana Ross, produced by Michael Masser. Following the success of 1980's 'Diana', produced by Chic, the set was released in early 1981 and consisted of old and newly recorded love songs by the Motown diva. Two of the three new recordings were issued as singles.

The first of them, 'One more chance' was the only one of the two to reach the charts, although it wasn't a very big hit. It reached number 79 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 49 in the UK singles chart. 'To love again' was to be Ross' last album of new material for Motown (before her return in 1989) after signing a $20 million contract with RCA.

My collection: 7" single no. 5246
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 0,8 euro
Tracks: 'One more chance' / 'After you'

Trouble - Heaven 17

Heaven 17 had their biggest success with their first three albums, 'Penthouse and pavement' (1981), 'The luxury gap' (1983) and 'How men are' (1984). When they released 'Pleasure One' in 1986, their popularity seemed to have vanished. The first single, 'Contenders' only reached number 80 in the UK singles chart and 'Trouble', the second and last single from the album, peaked at number 51.

A promotional video was created for the single, becoming one of the band's last music videos to date.

My collection: 7" single no. 5245
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 0,8 euro
Tracks: 'Trouble' / 'Move out'

Till I can't take love no more - Eddy Grant

Although this song sounds remarkably like 'I don't wanna dance', the song that became a hit for Eddy Grant in 1982 and was taken from his third album 'Killer on the rampage', it was actually released a year later and the first single from the fourth album 'Going for broke'.

This similarity probably also explains why 'I don't wanna dance' was a number one hit in several countries, and this single only managed to reach number 42 in the UK and number 26 in Germany. This German pressing is part of a limited edition on red vinyl.

My collection: 7" single no. 5244
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 0,8 euro
Tracks: 'Till I can't take love no more' / 'California style'