Pop corn - Gershon Kingsley and the Moog

So here it is, finally.... the original version of 'Popcorn', the synth-pop instrumental composed and performed by Gershon Kingsley. You have seen and heard many cover versions of this tune on this blog, but the original was only released on 7" vinyl in a few countries. This is the Spanish single, ordered last week from Spain.

Composer Gershon Kingsley (born on October 28, 1922 and apparently still alive) first recorded 'Popcorn' for his 1969 album 'Music to Moog By'. In 1971 the track was re-recorded by Kingsley's band 'First Moog Quartet', later he released a version under the name of The Popcorn Makers, this was the version that was the most successful in the charts.

My collection: 7" single no. 6028
Found: Discogs.com, received April 10, 2019
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Pop corn' / 'For Alisse Beethoven'

Vita vidder - Family Four

In 1971 Sweden was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest by Family Four. With the song 'Vita vidder' they managed to get to sixth place in a field of 18 competitors.

Family Four consisted of Berndt Öst, Marie Bergman, Agnetha Munther and Pierre Isacsson. They went on to represent Sweden again the next year, with the song 'Härliga sommardag'. Marie Bergman was no stranger to Eurovision after this: she returned to the Eurovision stage together with Roger Pontare in 1994.

My collection: 7" single no. 6027
Found: Discogs.com, received March 28, 2019
Cost: 2 euro 
Tracks: 'Vita vidder' / 'Heja mamma'

Ein Hoch der Liebe - Wencke Myhre

Wencke Myhre was born on February 15, 1947 in Kjelsås, Norway, and became a popular singer after signing her first recording contract at the age of 13. In 1964 and 1966 she participated in the Norwegian national finals for Eurovision, but in the end she appeared on the international Eurovision stage for Germany with the song 'Ein Hoch der Liebe' ('A toast to love'). The song ended up in sixth place in a field of 17 competitors.

After her Eurovision appearance, she managed to have four more top 10 hits in Germany between1969 and 1978. Myhre tried her luck in Norwegian national finals again in 1982 and 1983, and finally in 2009.

My collection: 7" single no. 6025
Found: Discogs.com, received March 28, 2019
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Ein Hoch der Liebe' / 'Jägerlatein'

Popcorn - Hot Butter

My copy of 'Popcorn' by Hot Butter, described on this blog ten years ago, wasn't very interesting to look at for its lack of a picture sleeve. I think I have compensated for that now.

I recently ordered a promotional 7" single of Kim Wilde's 'View from a bridge' from Japan (Do I really have to describe all my Kim Wilde singles on this blog? I have decided not to) and found this Japanese copy of 'Popcorn' for just a few dollars extra. I decided to buy this one as well, just because my 'Popcorn' collection is something I am particularly proud of. It may not be a complete collection, but this single is rare enough to want to own it.

My collection: 7" single no. 6023
Found: Discogs.com, received March 28, 2019
Cost: $3
Tracks: 'Popcorn' / 'At the movies'

4 bugg & en coca cola - Lotta Engberg

Lotta Engberg was born on March 5, 1963 and represented her country Sweden in 1987 with the song 'Boogaloo'. The song was originally called '4 bugg & en coca cola', but international advertising rules meant that the name of the song had to be changed. The song was a hit in Sweden and peaked at number 19, and it ended up in twelfth place in Eurovision, in a field of 22 competitors.

She appeared in national finals for Eurovision in 1984, 1988, 1990, 1996, 2002 and 2012, but failed to return to the international Eurovision stage. Together with her husband Anders she formed Lotta & Anders Engbergs orkester in 1989. Lotta left the band five years later to form her own Lotta Engbergs orkester. This band fell apart in 2002. Lotta has also been a successful TV host, presenting Lotta på Liseberg and Bingolotto on Swedish television.

My collection: 7" single no. 6026
Found: Discogs.com, received March 28, 2019
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: '4 bugg & en coca cola' / 'En helt ny dag'

Colorado (international version) - Xandra

On June 6, 2017 Sandra Reemer passed away following a long battle with breast cancer. She had a long and interesting career, not least because she appeared at the Eurovision Song Contest three times, representing the Netherlands. The last of her appearances was the 1979 song Colorado, which I bought as a single in 2002.

That single featured the Dutch version. The single featured here today was also released at the time, featuring a version in English. Like the Dutch version, this one was written and produced by the brothers Rob and Ferdi Bolland.

My collection: 7" single no. 6024
Found: Discogs.com, received March 28, 2019
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Colorado' / 'Stranger in town'

Refrain - Lys Assia

It doesn't happen very often that I buy a single that I have been looking for for years, but today is such a day. I started collecting Eurovision Song Contest winners a few years ago, and I managed to buy them all on vinyl - at least until they stopped releasing winning songs on vinyl in 1995. The only one I was still missing was the very first winner of the Contest: Lys Assia's legendary 'Refrain'.

That is, until today. I found a copy on Discogs from a Belgian dealer, and after haggling just a little bit I managed to get my hands on this one. It may not be the best copy ever - the pushout centre is missing and there is no picture sleeve, although I suspect this one was released in a record company sleeve anyway - but it is mine.

My collection: 7" single no. 6021
Found: Discogs.com, received March 21, 2019
Tracks: 'Refrain' / 'Arrivederci Roma'

Free 4 track solid EP - Various artists

British magazine Record Mirror would give away 7" vinyl singles with their issues from time to time, sometimes containing exclusive content. These singles are being sold on the second hand market these days, for varying amounts. This copy was not too expensive, and since it contains two of my favourite artists, I quite liked to buy it.

The Pet Shop Boys offer their early track 'In the night', whereas Depeche Mode make an appearance with the album track 'Dressed in black'. Unfortunately the B-side of this EP contains nothing more than some random rapping over boring beats. You can't win them all.

My collection: 7" single no. 6011

Found: Discogs.com, received March 12, 2019
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Dressed in black' (Depeche Mode), 'In the night' (Pet Shop Boys) / 'Slow and low' (Beastie Boys), 'Dangerous' (LL Cool J)

Well, did you evah! - Deborah Harry & Iggy Pop

In 1990 the album Red Hot & Blue raised money for Aids research. The album contained Cole Porter songs covered by pop artists. Miss Otis regrets was a single from the album, featuring a version by Kirsty MacColl and The Pogues.

This single was another release from the album: 'Well did you evah', covered by Deborah Harry and Iggy Pop. I didn't really like this song a lot at the time, so I never bought the single, but during a recent online shopping spree I found this single and didn't mind picking it up. Personally I still prefer the B-side: 'Who wants to be a millionaire' by the Thompson Twins.

My collection: 7" single no. 6018
Found: Discogs.com, received March 19, 2019
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Well did you evah' (Deborah Harry & Iggy Pop) / 'Who wants to be a millionaire' (Thompson Twins)

Danube - M

You wouldn't be far off the mark if you associated the letter M with that one hit single, Popmuzik, from 1979. Personally I always preferred Moonlight and muzak, a track taken from the same album 'New York London Paris Munich', but that's as far as the general public's recall of Robin Scott's work goes.

After three albums M was dropped by his label. At this point Robin Scott signed to Stiff Records and released the single 'Danube', featuring his girlfriend Brigit Novik on vocals. The single was released on yellow vinyl with a transparent sleeve on which a blue M was printed. With the single in it, this M turned green in parts - what a nice effect. High marks for the novelty effect!

My collection: 7" single no. 6019
Found: Discogs.com, received March 19, 2019
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Danube' / 'Neutron'

Word up - Melanie G

After the Nineties were taken over by the Spice Girls, the group fell apart as quickly as they'd appeared in the charts and the members all went solo. Melanie G - who was previously called Melanie B, but changed that last letter after her marriage with Jimmy Gulzar - released a cover version of Cameo's 'Word up' in 1999. Interesting fact: 'Word up' was actually her only release as Melanie G. In 2000 she released her debut album 'Hot' as Melanie B. That's how brief her marriage was...

This jukebox release features the song in the radio edit and a remix version. I wasn't particularly intent on owning this single but as part of a bigger mail order I didn't mind getting it, especially since it wasn't that expensive.

My collection: 7" single no. 6020
Found: Discogs.com, received March 19, 2019
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Word up (radio edit)' / 'Word up (Tim's dance mix)'

Menina do alto da serra - Tonicha

Tonicha was born as Antónia de Jesus Montes Tonicha on 8 March 1946, in Beja, Alentejo, Portugal. She represented Portugal in the Eurovision Song Contest 1971, with the song 'Menina do alto da serra' ('Girl from the country mountain'). She finished on ninth place in a field of eighteen competitors.

'Menina do alto da serra' is a classic Eurovision song, the kind you don't get to hear anymore these days. It's beautiful and melodious. This copy comes straight from Portugal, where I ordered it, and despite its age it looks almost like new.

My collection: 7" single no. 6012
Found: Discogs.com, received March 13, 2019
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Menina do alto da serra' / 'Mulher'

Midnight - Coldplay

Coldplay has become, for some, the epitome of uncool. Still the band manages to release some cool songs from time to time - although I must say that I lost track of them in recent years. I couldn't resist buying this single, though: it was released for Record Store Day in 2014, and limited to just 3000 copies. The B-side contains no music - it just has an etching which frankly isn't even that beautiful. 'Midnight' was taken from the band's album 'Ghost stories', also released in 2014.

I found this single while shopping in Delft, in a real 'bricks and mortar' record shop. 'Support your local record shop' a huge banner inside screamed. 'I would love to', I thought, 'but where I live there are no more record shops'. Still I didn't mind supporting this record shop because they did have a good selection: I also bought two cd's together with this single. It was a good day. It felt good buying music in a real record shop. Shit, I'm getting old.

My collection: 7" single no. 6017
Found: Sounds, Delft, March 16, 2019
Tracks: 'Midnight'

Leyla - Vayta

Vayta was born as Seid Memić on March 8, 1950. He was the vocalist for the Yugoslav rock band Teška Industrija between 1975 and 1979. In 1981, he was selected to represent Yugoslavia with the song 'Leyla'. The song ended up in 15th place in a field of 20 competitors, despite its noticeable dramatic qualities. This single is a Portuguese copy, which isn't surprising because it came from a Portuguese seller from whom I ordered quite a few singles.

Vayta went on to present a children's programme throughout the Eighties. In 2007, Teška Industrija reunited and released a new album, 'Kantina'. They continued to released new albums, their most recent being 'Selfie' (2016).

My collection: 7" single no. 6014
Found: Discogs.com, received March 13, 2019
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Leyla (Yugoslavian version)' / 'Leyla (English version)'

Both sides now - Clannad & Paul Young

After a successful album campaign for 'From time to time', a collection of Paul's hits since he went solo, he recorded 'Both sides now' with those Irish folk giants Clannad. The track was created for the motion picture 'Switch'. The single wasn't very successful; it peaked at number 74 in the UK singles chart. At the same time, it was the first time that Clannad appeared in the Canadian singles chart. No wonder: 'Both sides now' was a cover of a song by their beloved Joni Mitchell.

The B-side of this single features 'Broken man', a track taken from Paul's debut album 'No parlez'.

My collection: 7" single no. 6008
Found: Discogs.com, received March 9, 2019
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Both sides now' / 'Broken man'

Matador - Jeff Wayne

People who know me, know that any activities involving sports or anything associated with sports turn me off big time. So it's quite ironic that I should buy this single - a theme tune for the 1982 World Cup. In my defence: this is a Jeff Wayne single and since I am slightly obsessed with Jeff Wayne this single qualified as a nice-to-have in my book.

It was one of Jeff's first single releases since the very successful 'War of the worlds' campaign and it is an interesting instrumental piece. The B-side is named 'Henry Higgins', presumably titled after the English bullfighter who lived between 1944 and 1978. 'Matador' reached number 57 in the UK singles charts in the summer of 1982.

My collection: 7" single no. 6010
Found: Discogs.com, received March 12, 2019
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Matador' / 'Henry Higgins'

Bravo tu as gagné - Mireille Mathieu

I wonder how many Abba fans are aware that this track happened. I don't recall any news items about this back in 1981, but it is pretty astounding that Benny, Björn and Frida contributed backing vocals to 'Bravo tu as gagné', a French cover version of their then-recent hit 'The winner takes it all', recorded by Mireille Mathieu. The back cover of this single even shows a photograph of the four in the studio. Why Agnetha wasn't present, I don't know - she was probably sulking at home somewhere.

The song was actually produced by Benny and Björn as well, which makes it almost an Abba single. I found this single while shopping online. It was a big surprise for me, especially since the single wasn't particularly expensive. You'd think that any rare Abba track would fetch a lot of money.

My collection: 7" single no. 6009
Found: Discogs.com, received March 9, 2019
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Bravo tu as gagné' / 'Viens chanter pour le Bon Dieu'

Die Roboter - Kraftwerk

Kraftwerk singles are pretty rare, so whenever I see one for an affordable price I leap at the chance to own it. Even if, in this case, the state of the sleeve is a bit questionable. 'Die Roboter' is the original German version of the track better known as 'The robots' in English speaking countries, and it was released in 1978.

Taken from the album 'Die Mensch Machine', the single reached number 25 in the German singles chart and number 23 in Austria. The track was remixed for the album 'The Mix' in 1991 and got to number 18 in Germany then.

My collection: 7" single no. 6006
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, March 2, 2019
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Die Roboter' / 'Spacelab'

Bang-a-boomerang - Sven & Charlotte

Svenne Hedlund and Charlotte Walker met in 1967 when Svenne was the vocalist in the band Hep Stars, which also included Benny Andersson who would go on to form Abba. They spent time together during the Swedish leg of Lotta's concert tour with the American band the Sherrys. Upon Lotta's return to America, the pair missed each other so greatly that Lotta soon travelled back to Sweden; this time with her three children. Seeking parental approval, Lotta also brought her mother to meet Svenne.

After the Hepstars broke up and Abba became a phenomenon  after winning the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, Sven and Charlotte competed in the Swedish national finals for the Contest in 1975 with 'Bang-a-boomerang'. The song was composed by the male members of Abba, who didn't want to represent Sweden a year after having won the contest, so they gave the duo the song instead. It became a big hit in Scandinavia. Abba recorded the song as well, but from a Scandinavian perspective, this is primarily a Seven & Charlotte hit.

My collection: 7" single no. 6005
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, March 2, 2019
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Bang-a-boomerang' / 'Roly-poly girl'

The best things in life are free - Luther Vandross & Janet Jackson

The movie 'Mo' Money' featured this track by Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson, 'The best things in life are free'. The 12" version presents six versions of that track. It can become a bit of a monotonous affair to listen to these remixes one after another, despite the fact that two different remixers have done their thing.

The first two tracks on the B-side were created by David Morales and Frankie Knuckles, whereas the three other remixes were made by CJ Mackintosh. The whole thing was produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who were also responsible for Janet Jackson's other output at the time.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received March 2, 2019
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'The best things in life are free (LP version)', 'The best things in life are free (CJ's UK 12" with rap)', 'The best things in life are free (CJ's Mackapella)' / 'The best things in life are free (Classic 12" with rap)', 'The best things in life are free (Def version)', 'The best things in life are free (CJ's UK dub 1)'