Laura - Nick Heyward

Although my latest visit to London was a bit of a disappointment with respect to record hunting, I still managed to get hold of one double single. Ahh, the double single... it's a feast to behold. Often these were housed in luxury gatefold sleeves, with extra artwork and, if you were very lucky, even a booklet.

This double single is less lavish: it's a regular sleeve with two discs crammed in, and a rather blunt sticker on the front. Still, the sticker served its purpose, otherwise I would not have noted the remix version of 'Favourite shirts' enclosed in this package - and that's why I bought it. Quite a good deal actually: disc one isn't half bad.

My collection: 7" single no. 5644
Found: Alan's Records, London, September 9, 2014
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Laura' / 'Over the weekend (part one)' // 'Favourite shirts (remix)' / 'Calling captain autumn (remix)'

The eve of the war - Jeff Wayne

I have quite an interesting Jeff Wayne collection, consisting basically of two singles: 'The eve of the war' and 'Forever autumn'. I am adding yet another one to it with today's entry. This is the Spanish version. As you can see, the song is titled 'La vespera de la guerra', and although a Spanish translation of Jeff Wayne's concept album 'War of the world' exists, this is just the regular English version. And the original version at that, with Chris Thompson doing vocal duties.

As you can see, the picture used here was also used for the 1989 re-release of Forever autumn. The picture was not used on other European versions of Eve of the war, as you can see in this example. This is what makes collecting vinyl so interesting: there are always new surprises around the corner.

My collection: 7" single no. 5413
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'The eve of the war' / 'The red weed'

Naa moette traawe - De Strangers

The Strangers are a Belgian band, hailing from Antwerp. They became famous for singing satirical lyrics on wellknown hits. The band was formed on May 8, 1952 by Gust Torfs, Alex Boeye, Pol Ballansee and John Dewilde. In the early days they would perform in standard Dutch, but they soon moved to performing in Antwerp dialect.

Some of their hits were derived from Eurovision hits, and I recently managed to buy several of those... in Antwerp, of course. The first of these is 1976's 'Naa moette traawe', a version of Eurovision winner Brotherhood of Man's 'Save your kisses for me'. The B-side was their version of that year's runner-up 'Un deux troi' by Catherine Ferry. This single reached number 17 in the Belgian singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 5615
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerp, August 10, 2014
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Naa moette traawe' / 'Een twee drij'

Keep it comin' love - KC and the Sunshine Band

'Keep it comin' love' is the quintessential disco song, recorded in 1977 by KC and the Sunshine Band. It appeared on their 1977 album 'Part 3'. The song, like its predecessor 'That's the way (I like it)', became widely successful due to its sexual double entendres.

The single peaked at number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and reached number 1 in Canada.It was also a top 10 hit in most of Europe, but amazingly only got to number 31 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 5426
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'Keep it comin' love' / 'Baby I love you'

Stool pigeon - Kid Creole and the Coconuts

I featured Stool Pigeon five years ago on this very blog, but the version featured here actually predates that one. That one was a remix of this one. What's more, this single also features another hit, 'I'm a wonderful thing, baby'. The former reached number 7 in the UK singles chart, whereas the latter got to number 4.

This copy was actually in very bad shape when I got it, with dirty stains on the vinyl. Cleaned it up with some dishwashing liquid, and the result is a pretty clean piece of vinyl.

My collection: 7" single no. 5473
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'Stool pigeon' / 'I'm a wonderful thing baby'

Sing children sing - Lesley Duncan

'Sing children sing' was originally released in 1971 as on Lesley Duncan's album of the same name. The song was re-recorded in 1979 by Lesley Duncan with Pete Townsend, Phil Lynott, Madelaine Bell, Joe Brown, Vicky Brown, Paddy Bush and Kate Bush as a charity single, with all proceeds going towards the United Nations' International Year Of The Child, helping children in need.

I recently bought this single, realising that although my collection of Kate Bush singles is becoming rather complete, this guest spot was still missing - although I do have a recording of this track on a CD somewhere. Time to get it, and so now I have it.

My collection: 7" single no. 5651
Found: eBay.co.uk, received October 18, 2014
Cost: 4 pounds
Tracks: 'Sing children sing' / 'Rainbow games'

Words of friendship - Britt Synnøve

'Venners nærhet' was the Norwegian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1989, performed in Norwegian by Britt Synnøve Johansen. The song is a ballad, with Synnøve singing about the power that friendship can have, even when the rest of the world is against the friends in question. The song was performed eighth on the night, and ended up 17th in a field of 22 competitors at the close of voting.

This single, released in Germany, puts the English version, 'Words of friendship' on the A-side, and the original Norwegian version on the B-side.

My collection: 7" single no. 5637
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received August 29, 2014
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Words of friendship' / 'Venners nærhet'

The ballad of Go Go Brown - Heaven 17

This 1988 single by Heaven 17 is, frankly, puzzling. Having established themselves as synth pioneers and having been quite successful with their electronic sound, this single, the first from their 1988 album 'Teddy Bear, Duke & Psycho', featured - gasp - guitars and a very American influenced sound. Also, no promotional video was created for the single. A performance of the track was shown on the British TV show Get Fresh, along with a performance of the following single 'Train of Love In Motion'.

Probably trying to broaden their musical horizons, this effort was not rewarded by the record-buying public: the single stranded on number 91 in the UK singles chart and failed to chart everywhere else.

My collection: 7" single no. 5405
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'The ballad of Go Go Brown' / 'I set you free'

Touch me - The Doors

'Touch Me' is a song by The Doors from their album 'The Soft Parade'. Written by Robby Krieger, it is notable for its extensive usage of brass and string instruments (including a solo by featured saxophonist Curtis Amy). Ray Manzarak played harpsichord and organ on the song. The song also borrowed the guitar riff from the 1967 Four Season's 'C'mon Maryann' and used it on keyboards.

The single was released as a single in December 1968 and reached number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. The single also did well elsewhere, peaking at number 1 in Canada. It is by far the most melodic and beautiful single by the Doors... but that's my opinion of course. I'm very glad to have found a reasonable copy for a reasonable price.

My collection: 7" single no. 5392
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'Touch me' / 'Wild child'

Rebel Yell - Billy Idol

I have posted some duplicates on this blog since it started, and this is another one. I already owned the gatefold sleeve version of Rebel Yell when I came across this one. That one was the 1985 re-release, this one is the original 1984 release. I bought it mainly for the beautiful sleeve which is glossy and in mint condition.

Billy Idol's output in the first half of the Eighties is nothing short of legendary, since he and his guitarist Steve Stevens churned out catchy tunes almost non-stop.

My collection: 7" single no. 5451
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'Rebel yell' / 'Crank call'

Tom Tom Tom - Marion

'Tom Tom Tom' was the Finnish entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1973, performed in English (the first occasion that Finland had not performed entirely in Finnish) by Marion Rung. This was Rung's second Eurovision entry, in 1962 she had made her debut in the Contest as a 16 year old with 'Tipi-tii', which finished in 7th position.

'Tom Tom Tom' was performed first on the night and reached 6th place in a field of 17 contestants. This would be Finland's most successful Contest appearance until 2006, when heavy metal band Lordi won with 'Hard Rock Hallelujah'.

My collection: 7" single no. 5641
Found: eBay.co.uk, received September 2, 2014
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Tom tom tom' / 'My son John'

Is it love - Mr. Mister

'Is it love' was released as the third single from Mr Mister's 1985 album 'Welcome to the Real World'. The song hit number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and number 32 in the Dutch Top 40, but only got to number 87 in the UK singles chart.

When you compare this single to its predecessors 'Broken wings' and 'Kyrie', you can hear it's a more pedestrian pop/rock effort. Nice song, nonetheless.

My collection: 7" single no. 5456
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'Is it love' / '32'

They all run after the carving knife (See how they run) - New Musik

Although They all run after the carving knife has already been featured on this blog once before, it returns here because of this rare alternative version. The tracks are identical, but this sleeve seems to be rather rare. It isn't even listed on Discogs.com! Both versions share the same catalogue number and disc, it is just the front sleeve that is totally different.

I wrote before that all I am looking for now is a copy of the band's final single 'Warp', but if more alternative sleeves come up, I may have to expand my New Musik collection even further.

My collection: 7" single no. 5457
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'They all run after the carving knife' / 'This world of Walter'

Je suis l'Enfant-soleil - Anne Marie David

I already wrote about Anne Marie David's 1973 winning Eurovision song Tu te reconnaitras (and the German version Du bist da and the English version Wonderful dream) on this blog, but there's more to this lady. She represented Luxembourg in 1973, but returned to Eurovision in 1979, representing her native France with the song 'Je suis l'Enfant-soleil'.

Anne Marie David did not win this time around, but finished in third place behind Hallelujah and Su canción. She recorded the song in German and Italian as well. Whether those versions will appear on this blog in future, time will tell...

My collection: 7" single no. 5600
Found: Discogs.com, received August 5, 2014
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Je suis l'Enfant-soleil' / 'Just like loving you'

God's great banana skin - Chris Rea

Chris Rea released a stream of singles during his career that weren't always successful in the charts. Many of his single releases did not chart at all or scraped into the lower reaches - under the top 40 that is.

'God's great banana skin' the title track of his 1993 album, was reasonably successful, as it reached number 31 in the UK singles chart. It repeats that old mantra: 'Don't you ever think no-one's better than you'. It's a thought many people I know should get into their heads.

My collection: 7" single no. 5462
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'God's great banana skin' / 'I saw you coming'

Breaking us in two - Joe Jackson

'Night and day' was Joe Jackson's fifth album and, in my humble opinion, his best. It contained the great hit singles Real Men and Steppin' out as well as the rather monumental A slow song, but also this 'should have been a bigger hit single' 'Breaking us in two'.

It reached number 59 in the UK singles chart and a rather good number 18 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, but did not chart in Europe, which was rather surprising as it was the kind of music that usually did rather well in European charts. A demo version of this track was released in 2003 on a 'Deluxe edition' of the album 'Night and day'.

My collection: 7" single no. 5423
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'Breaking us in two' / 'El Blanco'

The vermillion pencil - The Nits

The Nits have become very famous for their arty pop songs, especially in the Nineties after 'In the Dutch mountains' had become a hit in various countries. Since then, their songs became ever more peculiar.

Compared to their later output, 1983's 'The Vermillion pencil' is a relatively straightforward pop song. The single was taken from their fifth album 'Omsk', which had already given them a hit single in the shape of 'Nescio'. This single, however, did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no.5458
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'The Vermillion pencil' / 'Clean shirt in Paris'

Rock the Casbah - The Clash

'Rock the Casbah' was released by the Clash in 1982 as the third single from their fifth album, 'Combat Rock'. The song is a fictional story of a ban on rock music by the king being defied by the population, who proceed to "rock the casbah." The King orders jet fighters to bomb any people in violation of the ban. The pilots ignored the orders, and instead played rock music on their cockpit radios. It was inspired by ban on Western music in Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The song reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US. It is the band's highest charting single worldwide, and their biggest hit in the Netherlands until a re-release of 'Should I stay or should I go' in 1991 was propelled into the top 10 thanks to a successful ad campaign using that song.

My collection: 7" single no. 5378
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'Rock the casbah' / 'Long time jerk'

Parlez-vous Français? - Baccara

Right, so this is where things start to become a little confusing. The Spanish duo Baccara competed in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1978, representing Luxembourg, with a song called 'Parlez-vous Français?', which appears here in the English version. Confusingly, the title is still 'Parlez-vous Français?', although most of the lyric is in English - although it has to be said that the Spanish girls do not necessarily pronounce everything correctly.

During the contest they ended up in seventh place, partly thanks to full marks from Italy, Portugal and Spain. The song was a commercial success in most of Europe. Baccara competed for another appearance in Eurovision in 2004, when they appeared in the Swedish national finals. However, they lost out to local star Lena Philipsson.

My collection: 7" single no. 5638
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received August 29, 2014
Cost: 1,5 euro
Tracks: 'Parlez-vous Français?' [english version] / 'You and me'

Behind a painted smile - Isley Brothers

'Behind a painted smile' is a song written by Ivy Jo Hunter and Beatrice Verdi.

It was recorded in 1967 by The Isley Brothers appearing on their album 'Soul on the rocks' and released as a single that reached number five in the UK singles chart and number 26 in the Dutch Top 40.

Dutch singer Mathilde Santing released a cover version of the song in 1982.

My collection: 7" single no. 5422
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'Behind a painted smile' / 'One too many heartaches'