Björn Nils Olof Skifs was born on April 20, 1947 in Vansbro, Dalarna, Sweden. He formed his first musical group Slam Creepers in 1962. Slam Creepers split in 1969 and Skifs went on to form a new band, Blåblus, in 1972. As Blue Swede, the band had a number 1 hit on Billboard Hot 100 in 1974 with a cover of 'Hooked on a feeling'. Björn Skifs left the band in 1976 to pursue a solo career. He recorded the duet 'Med varann' with Anni-Frid Lyngstad for his 1975 album 'Schiffz'. Skifs appeared as The Arbiter on the original studio album for Chess, released in 1984. Skifs also recorded several demos for the album, including 'One night in Bangkok', later performed by Murray Head.
In 1981 he represented Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Fångad i en dröm'.
This was the second time that Björn Skifs had represented Sweden in the contest, having previously entered the contest for Sweden in 1978 with the song 'Det blir alltid värre framåt natten'. Like in 1978, Skifs was the last performer of the night. At the close of voting, the song ended up in 10th place in a field of 20 competitors.
My collection: 7" single no. 5678 Found: Discogs.com, received December 9, 2014 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'Fångad i en dröm' / 'Stackare, stackare'
I don't know why, but the 1986 Spanish entry for the Eurovision Song Contest always stuck out in my memory as one of the best Spanish entries ever. I had a lot of trouble finding a copy of the single ever since I started looking out for it some 20 years ago. Even online, because whenever I found a copy the seller was asking way too much for it.
That's why I was happy to finally spot a copy on Discogs.com last month for a reasonable price, and from a seller who had more interesting Eurovision singles on offer. After all these years, I finally have this single. And how did this song perform in 1986? At the close of the voting had received 51 points, placing 10th in a field of 20 competitors.
My collection: 7" single no. 5677 Found: Discogs.com, recieved December 9, 2014 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'Valentino' / 'Tahiti'
Bert Gustav Tommy Körberg was born in Norsjö (Sweden) on July 4, 1948. In 1988, he represented Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Stad i ljus', a beautifully orchestrated ballad.The song finished 12th in a field of 21 competitors.
The single peaked at number 8 at the Swedish singles chart. On the single, the song appears sung in Swedish and in English. In 2013 Körberg tried to reach the Eurovision Song Contest one more time as part of he group Ravaillacz. They ended up in 10th place in the Swedish national final.
My collection: 7" single no. 5676 Found: Discogs.com, received December 12, 2014 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'Stad i ljus' / 'Unchained light'
Swedish singer Harpo is best known for his worldwide hit 'Moviestar', which was a hit in 1975. He followed that single up with this one: 'Motorcycle mama', a song with a lyric that mentions various Sixties phenomena, such as Woodstock, Jimi Hendrix, Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band and Ravi Shanker. Still, it only charted in Sweden and Denmark, peaking at number 8 and 9 respectively.
This single is memorable (or should be) because of the B-side, as it gives us a Christmas song, and one that hasn't been played to death. 'Beautiful Christmas' was written by Harpo himself. You won't find it on most of the Christmas compilation albums, so I consider this to be a rather exclusive Christmas experience. Enjoy!
My collection: 7" single no. 5399 Found: unknown Tracks: 'Motorcycle mama' / 'Beautiful Christmas'
One of the best known Christmas songs of all time, 'Last Christmas' was originally released in 1984 but re-released almost every year since then. I already wrote about the 1989 re-release on this blog five years ago, but this time I'd like to present to you two re-releases that I bought earlier this year.
The 1985 edition featured 'Blue (live in China)' on the B-side and came in the same sleeve that was used every year since then. My copy, pictured above, was created in the UK and comes in the kind of thick cardboard sleeve that is so uniquely British.
The 1988 edition, pictured below, was made in Holland and inevitably looks cheaper. There is also an interesting mistake on the back cover, as it promises 'Everything she wants (live in China)', but apparently this is caused by them using the 1985 sleeve and simply replacing the line 'Blue' but leaving the line with 'live in China' intact.
I could of course have written two entries, but I'm sure this is more efficient. After all, we all have some Christmas duties to perform these days...
My collection: 7" single no. 5668 & no. 5471 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 23, 2014 & Kringloop Hebbes, Den Haag, July 25, 2014 Cost: 1 euro each Tracks: 'Last Christmas' / 'Blue (live in China') & 'Last Christmas' / 'Everything she wants'
Ronnie Carroll returned in the Eurovision Song Contest the year after he appeared with 'Ring-a-ding girl'. 'Say wonderful things' was the song he competed with in 1963, and just like in 1962 he finished fourth. The single was considerably more successful in the UK singles chart, peaking at number 6.
The most popular version of the song in the United States was recorded by Patti Page, as the title song of her first album for Columbia Records. Page's record peaked only at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100 but was more successful in Australia, continental Europe and in Asian territories such as Hong Kong and Japan.
My collection: 7" single no. 5675 Found: Discogs.com, received December 2, 2014 Cost: 1 pound Tracks: 'Say wonderful things' / 'Please tell me your name'
Ronnie Carroll was born as Ronald Cleghorn on August 18, 1934 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He scored his first hit in 1956 with 'Walk hand in hand'. Having taken part in the 1960 UK Eurovision selection contest with the song 'Girl with a curl', he returned to win the selection and be Britain's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1962.
The song 'Ring-a-ding girl' received 10 points, placing 4th in the field of 16 competitors. The single reached number 46 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 5674 Found: Discogs.com, received December 2, 2014 Cost: 1 pound Tracks: 'Ring-a-ding girl' / 'The girls in their summer dresses'
'Damned if I do' is a single taken from the Alan Parsons Project's 1979 album 'Eve'. The focus of the songs on this album is on the strengths and characteristics of women, and the problems they face in the world of men.
The lead vocal on this single is performed by Lenny Zakatek. He was born just prior to Karachi becoming part of Pakistan and moved to London at the age of thirteen. The single was successful in the USA and Canada, where it peaked at number 27 and number 16, respectively, but it failed to chart in Europe.
My collection: 7" single no. 5673 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 23, 2014 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Damned if I do' / 'You lie down with dogs'
Hot Eyes was the name adopted for international acts by the Danish singing duo known in their home country as Kirsten and Søren. It was formed by Kirsten Siggard (born 7 September 1954 in Slagelse) and Søren Bundgaard (born 4 March 1956 in Glostrup). In 1984 they participated in the Eurovision Song Contest as Kirsten and Søren with Det' lige det, but in 1985 they participated as Hot Eyes with 'Sku' du' spørg' fra no'en?' ('What business is it of yours?'). At the close of voting, this song had received 41 points, placing 11th in a field of 19 competitors. The duo would return to the Contest in 1988 with the song 'Ka' du se, hva' jeg sa'?', again as Kirsten & Søren.
One single by Hot Eyes then. I found this copy at a cheap German dealer's stall at the record fair in Utrecht, much to my surprise. It features the English version of their 1985 Eurovision song, with the original Danish version on the B-side.
My collection: 7" single no. 5669 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 23, 2014 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Catch me if you can' / 'Sku' du spoerg' fra no'en'
Mariella Farré (born 1963 in Thurgau as Gabriella Filomeno) is a Swiss singer of Italian descent, best known for her participation in the Eurovision Song Contests of 1983 and 1985.
Farré's first attempt at Eurovision came in 1981 when, as a newcomer, she entered the Swiss selection heat, only for her song "Una cosa meravigliosa" to finish sixth and last. She was to have more luck in 1983 with 'Io così non ci sto' ('I don't like it this way'), which won the selection and went forward to the Eurovision Song Contest, where it finished in a disappointing 15th place of the 20 entries.
This single is a good example of how expensive online dealers can be: while this single was offered on Discogs.com for €3.50 by some Dutch dealer, I picked it up for a fraction of that price at the recent record fair in Utrecht. But then, Dutch online vendors are not generally known for their generosity.
My collection: 7" single no. 5664 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 23, 2014 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Io così non ci sto' / 'Soli'
Ireen Sheer was born on February 25, 1949 in Basildon, Essex, England. She has competed in several Eurovision Song Contests over the past four decades. She married another musician, Gavin du Porter, in 1976.
'Feuer' ('Fire') was the German entry in the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest. This was Sheer's second Eurovision entry, in 1974 she had represented Luxembourg with Bye Bye I Love You, then singing in French.
The song was performed thirteenth on the night. At the close of voting, it had received 84 points, placing 6th in a field of 20 competitors.
My collection: 7" single no. 5663 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 23, 2014 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'Feuer' / 'Oh, mon amour'
Released as the first single from Chris Rea's 1984 album 'Wired to the moon', 'Bombollini' was a bit of an eccentric choice. Clocking in at 6 minutes and 10 seconds, the track bares some resemblance to his later hit single Nothing to fear (1991).
Almost unsurprisingly, 'Bombollini' didn't become a hit, just like the other two singles from the album. Still, this single is worth a spin or two, because it shows the craftmanship of Chris Rea like no other single from that point in time in his career. Great melody lines and skillful guitar solos, that's the way we like it.
My collection: 7" single no. 5655 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 23, 2014 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'Bombollini' / 'True love'
'Diese Welt' ('This world') was the German entry in the 1971 Eurovision Song Contest, performed in German by Katja Ebstein. This was Ebstein's second consecutive Eurovision entry; she had represented Germany at the 1970 contest with 'Wunder gibt es immer wieder', which finished 3rd in a field of 12 competitors.
At the close of voting, this song had received 100 points, placing 3rd in a field of 18 competitors.
The song deals with the wonder of the world, with Ebstein singing that it 'is a gift which life gave us' and reminding her listeners that what becomes of it is up to its inhabitants. Ebstein also recorded the song in English (as 'River run, river flow'), French ('Une autre rivière') and Spanish ('Este mundo').
My collection: 7" single no. 5639 Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received August 29, 2014 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Diese Welt' / 'Alle Menschen auf der Erde'
Arlette Zola was born as Arlette Jaquet in the city of Fribourg on 29 April 1949. She started her singing career in the Sixties, releasiung more than twenty albums between then and now. In 1982 she represented Switzerland during the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Amour on t'aime'.
The song was performed as 7th on the night. At the close of the voting, it had received 97 points and placed 3rd in a field of 18 competitors.
My collection: 7" single no. 5635 Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received August 29, 2014 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Amour on t'aime' / 'Tant que tu existeras'
Jürgen Marcus was born as Jürgen Beumer on 6 June 1948 in Herne, Germany. The schlager singer was most successful during the Seventies, when he had 14 chart hits in Germany. He is also known for his participation on behalf of Luxembourg in the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest.
'Chansons pour ceux qui s'aiment' ('Songs for those who love each other') was performed fifth on the night. At the close of voting, it had received 17 points, placing 14th in a field of 18 competitors. By the later Seventies, Marcus' recording success had declined and he parted ways with his record company in 1979. Following a last minor hit in 1981, plans and collaborations came to nothing and Marcus largely dropped from sight. His first album for over 20 years ('Ich glaub an die Welt') was released in 2004, followed by a Christmas collection in 2006. Another album of new material ('Für immer'), his last to date, came out in 2008.
My collection: 7" single no. 5634
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received August 29, 2014
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Chansons pour ceux qui s'aiment' / 'Kinder die auf Regen warten'
'Red' Vincent Hurley was born on September 11, 1949. He's one of Ireland's
most enduring popular singers whose career has spanned several decades
from the Seventies to the present day. He is principally known as a
solo artist, although he has performed with various bands and pop groups,
most notably, 'The Nevada', with whom he enjoyed his first series of
number one records at the beginning of his career.
He represented Ireland in the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'When'. The song was performed seventh on the night. At the close of voting, it had received 54 points, placing 10th in a field of 18 competitors.
My collection: 7" single no. 5629 Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received August 29, 2014 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'When' / 'Just a little love'
Vicky Leandros competed in the 1972 Eurovision Song Contest for Luxembourg with Apres toi. The single was a big hit in Europe, and even managed to chart in the UK. This was helped by the fact that Leandros recorded an English version of her song, entitled 'Come what may'. It appears on this single, along with another English-language track on the B-side.
She turned out to be quite the language wizard, as she also recorded the song in Italian ('Dopo te'), German ('Dann
kamst du'), Spanish ('Y despues'), Greek ('Mono esi') and Japanese
('Omoide ni ikiru'). I'm still looking for those singles, though...
My collection: 7" single no. 5598 Found: Discogs.com, received August 5, 2014 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Come what may' / 'Takes a little time'
'Satellit' ('Satellite') was the Swedish entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1979, performed in Swedish by Ted Gärdestad.
Gärdestad's first four albums were produced by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA, featured backing vocals by Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, and were released on the Polar Music label.
This song, which was arranged and produced by guitarist Janne Schaffer, features a guitar and bass riff influenced by Toto's 1978 hit 'Hold the Line', and four of the band members - Jeff Porcaro, Steve Porcaro, David Hungate and Steve Lukather - were in fact among the musicians playing on Gärdestad's preceding album Blue Virgin Isles, recorded in Los Angeles, and released in late 1978. The English-language version of the track, 'Satellite', was included on subsequent editions of the album, which was issued in both Europe, Australasia and Japan.
The song was performed as entry number fifteen on the night. At the close of voting, it had received 8 points, placing it 17th in a field of 19 competitors, making it Sweden's second lowest placing in the contest at that point in time. Despite this, the Swedish version of the song was a Top 10 hit on the singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 5561
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 23, 2014
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Satellite' / 'Blue virgin isles'
What makes a Eurovision Song Contest cliche? Listen to Kirsten & Søren's 1984 Eurovision song 'Det' lige det' and you hear what Eurovision sounded like for much of the Eighties. There was nothing really remarkable about the song, there were synths everywhere and while trying to sound modern, the song still felt old-fashioned anyway.
At the close of voting, it had received 101 points, placing fourth in a field of 19 competitors.
The song is sung from the perspective of a woman waiting for her lover to come to her. She tells him that his presence brightens the day considerably and that he shouldn't be afraid of loving her, as he appears to be.
As part of their performance of this song in the Danish national selection, the female half of the duo (Kirsten Siggard), pushed the male half (Søren Bundgaard) into a swimming pool. This act, while unable to be repeated at the Contest itself, earned the song the Danish nickname 'The Swimming Pool Song'.
My collection: 7" single no. 5659 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 23, 2014 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'Det' lige det' / 'Nostalgi'
Rare singles come in many gueses, but I always get a weird feeling when I get my hands on a single that was made of 50 years ago. I wasn't even born in 1960, but the Eurovision Song Contest was already celebrating its fifth edition and François Deguelt represented Monaco with the beautiful song 'Ce soir-là', included in this delightful little EP.
'Ce soir-là' is in the chanson style popular in the early years of the Contest. Deguelt describes the first night he spent with his lover and explains to her that he realised then that 'Life would never have attraction for me / Far from you'. It appears from the lyrics, however, that his lover has left him since then, which has resulted in his perpetual waiting for her return in order to relive 'that night'.
At the close of voting, this song had received 15 points, placing third in a field of 13 competitors.
Also check out the swinging 'Linda' on this disc - it is very different and very enjoyable.
My collection: 7" single no. 5643 Found: eBay.co.uk, received September 2, 2014 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'Ce soir-là', 'Jean' / Linda', 'Sur la piste (plus loin)'
