Love is stronger than death - The The

This single really isn't much to look at, but it does complete the set of singles from the The The album 'Dusk'. As 7" singles became increasingly rare in the Nineties, only 'Dogs Of Lust' got a decent commercial release in the UK. The next single, 'Slow emotion replay' was only ever released as a Spanish promotional 7" single, and this single of 'Love is stronger than death' was released in the USA. 

'Dusk' was the last 'big' album by The The. After the Hank Williams tribute 'Hanky Panky' their contract with the Epic label ended and Matt Johnson devoted himself increasingly to soundtracks and independent releases. Sometimes I wish the days of the 'old' The The could continue.

My collection: 7" single no. 6757
Found: Discogs.com, received 9 August 2021
Cost: €3
Tracks: 'Love is stronger than death' / 'Infected (live)'

Hey hey rise up - Pink Floyd featuring Andriy Khlyvnyuk

In February 2022, the Ukrainian singer Andriy Khlyvnyuk, who had abandoned a US tour by his band BoomBox to serve in the Ukrainian military in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, recorded an a capella version of the first verse of the Ukrainian anthem 'Oh, the Red Viburnum in the Meadow', a Ukrainian patriotic march.Due to the song's association with the Ukrainian people's aspiration for independence, singing of the song was banned during the period in which Ukraine was a Soviet Republic (1919-1991). Nevertheless, it was sung by Ukrainian patriots, with defiance; anyone caught singing it was jailed, beaten, and even exiled.

Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour was shown the Instagram post by the Ukrainian artist Janina Pedan, who is married to his son Charlie, and was inspired to record something in support of Ukraine in the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War. Together with drummer Nick Mason he recorded this track, released as a single to raise money for humanitarian efforts in the region.

This blog is not politically involved, but it does need some clarification that Pink Floyd have always released beautiful music and the fact that they use their name and reputation to raise awareness about this horrible Russian crime - which is still continuing as I'm writing this - is something anyone of sane mind should applaud. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6755
Found: Amazon, received 18 July 2022
Cost: €8
Tracks: 'Hey hey rise up' / 'A great day for freedom 2022'

If we only have love - Paul Andrews

Who is Paul Andrews? Try as you might, you will not get an answer to this question, because the web lists a lot of Paul Andrews-es, but not this one. He released two singles: 'My Girl Maria' (1970) and this one, 'If we only have love' (1972), a cover version of Jacques Brel's 'Quand On N'a Que L'amour'.

But it's the B-side I was really interested in: it features a cover version of Marty Wilde's song 'Lullaby', which appeared on his 1969 album 'Diversions'. That album is fabulous and 'Lullaby' is one of the more gentle and touching tracks on it. This single was released in Angola, and so this marks the first time I ever bought a single that was pressed in that country. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6750
Found: Discogs.com, received 13 July 2022
Cost: €8
Tracks: 'If we only have love' / 'Lullaby'

Moitié-moitié - Carol Rich

The synthesizer became increasingly popular during the Eighties, and although it took a little while, the Eurovision Song Contest also caught on. During the second half of the decade many entries were so synth-heavy that the records almost couldn't cope with the walls of sound that were built. And this single is a good example.

Anne-Lyse Caille (stage name: Carol Rich) represented Switzerland in 1987 with a song called 'Moitié-moitié', which means either 'so so', 'half half' or 'fifty-fifty'. It highlights the good and bad aspects of love. All the synthesizers couldn't really help the song: it ended up in 17th place in a field of 22 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 6756
Found: Ebay, received 21 July 2022
Cost: €6
Tracks: 'Moitié-moitié' / 'Fou dans la tête'

The first day of love - Anne-Karine

Norway was an unlucky country when they participated in the Eurovision Song Contest. Although they started competing in 1960, their songs only made it to the top 3 once, in 1966. But they kept on trying, and by 1974 they depended on one man for their success: Arne Bendiksen delivered the majority of their songs during the 1970s. 

Anne-Karine Strøm was one of the Bendik Singers, who performed 'It's just a game' in 1973, and in 1974 she was back as a solo artist (with the other three members acting as her backing singers!). 'The first day of love' was performed in English.

My collection: 7" single no. 6754
Found: Discogs.com, received 15 July 2022
Cost: €4
Tracks: 'The first day of love' / 'Harmony'

Der Sommer ging vorüber - Grethe & Jørgen Ingmann

When Grethe & Jørgen Ingmann won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1963 with 'Dansevise', it was the first time a Scandinavian country went away with the prize. The duo recorded two versions of their song in other languages: 'I loved you' in English and this one, 'Der Sommer ging vorüber' in German.

It's interesting that only the German version came with a colour picture sleeve. The B-side is a cover of the song 'The end of the world', written by Sylvia Dee and Arthur Kent and originally recorded by Skeeter Davis.

My collection: 7" single no. 6752
Found: Discogs.com, received 15 July 2022
Cost: €4
Tracks: 'Der Sommer ging vorüber' / 'Das Ende der Welt'

Look good tonite - ABC

ABC haven't had a vinyl single out since 1991, and that's why I almost jumped out of my seat when I saw the announcement of Electronic Sound magazine, that their latest issue would feature a free gold vinyl 7" of two unreleased ABC tracks. To be fair, 'Look good tonite' was released as a digital download for one day - which by chance I managed to download back then - but a digital release is not a release in my book.

And so, after waiting a couple of weeks, I received the magazine with the single from the UK. It is a real pleasure to have a new ABC single, and the two tracks are rather fabulous. I'm just waiting for them to release 'The Lexicon Of Love III'. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6751
Found: Electronic Sounds magazine website, received 13 July 2022
Cost: £11.99 (with magazine)
Tracks: 'Look good tonite' / 'Sixty seconds later'

Genghis Khan - 5 Carat

5 Carat is a rather anonymous Japanese act that only ever released two singles. This is one of them: a cover version of the song Dschinghis Khan, performed at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1979 by the group of the same name. The song was composed by Ralph Siegel.

For this version, an arrangement was apparently made by Tachio Akano, a Japanese composer best known as the composer of the Machine Robo series. As a cover version it is quite accomplished. The lyrics are a mix of Japanese and English.

My collection: 7" single no. 6748
Found: Discogs.com, received 11 July 2022
Cost: $4
Tracks: 'Genghis Khan' / 'Genghis Khan (instrumental)'

Tubular bells - Mystic Sounds

When the movie 'The Exorcist' was released in 1973, it was quite a sensation. Despite initial mixed critical reviews, audiences flocked to it, waiting in long lines during winter weather and many doing so more than once. Some viewers suffered adverse physical reactions, fainting or vomiting to scenes in which the protagonist undergoes a realistic cerebral angiography and later violently masturbates with a crucifix. Even heart attacks and a miscarriage were reported.

This single was released in 1974, featuring a version of the Mike Oldfield composition 'Tubular Bells', performed by Mystic Sounds, an unidentified act who were able to replicate the original recording quite well. To me it's unclear if this version was also used in the movie - I haven't seen it in a long time.

My collection: 7" single no. 6747
Found: Discogs.com, received 11 July 2022
Cost: $3
Tracks: 'Tubular bells' / 'Iraq'

Looking high, high, high - David Hughes

'Looking high, high, high' was the song with which Bryan Johnson represented the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1960. It was a remarkable upbeat song that also included the line 'I shall die, die, die ('cause I love you so)'. \

English popular singer and operatic tenor David Hughes also released ‘Looking High, High, High’ as a single around the same time as Bryan Johnson. His version was not a hit. My copy comes in the original Top Rank record company sleeve!

My collection: 7" single no. 6742
Found: Discogs.com, received 9 July 2022
Cost: £2
Tracks: 'Looking high, high, high' / 'Mi amor'

You - Geraldine

Buying singles online can sometimes be a disappointing experience. But I am not totally sure, in this case, if I wouldn't have had the same disappointment if I'd bought this single in a real shop. The disc looks absolutely fine, but playing it it's hard to even hear the music. That's why I only recorded the A-side from this single - I already had the French version on another single. 

The Irish singer Geraldine represented Luxembourg with the song 'Toi', and she recorded the song also in English as 'You'. That version was obviously released in Ireland, but this is the Portuguese pressing with a slightly unflattering photograph of the singer on the front cover.

My collection: 7" single no. 6741
Found: Discogs.com, received 7 July 2022
Cost: €4
Tracks: 'You' / 'Toi'

Dai li dou - Gemini

Gemini was a Portuguese band from the Seventies. The members were Fatima Padinha, Teresa Miguel, Tozé Brito and Mike Sergeant.  In 1977 they participated in the Portuguese national final in order to represent the country in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Portugal no coração'. The song won. However, every song was sung by two performers, and the audience preferred Os Amigos over Gemini. 

In 1978 they tried again and won the national final with the song 'Dai li dou'. This time they were allowed to go to Paris for the international competition. However, they only reached the 17th position. Teresa and Fatima would represent Portugal once more in 1982 in the band Doce.

My collection: 7" single no. 6740
Found: Discogs.com, received 7 July 2022
Cost: €5
Tracks: 'Dai li dou' / 'Gente lá da minha rua'

La novia / Al di la - Tony Dallara

I already owned one cover version of 'Al di la' by Emilio Pericoli, and here's another one, also in a Japanese sleeve: Tony Dallara recorded his version on the B-side of the single 'La novia'. 

Dallara was born as Antonio Lardera on 30 June 1936. After working as barman and clerk, he began his musical career in the band Rocky Mountains; his singing style was inspired, in particular, by American singers such as Frankie Laine and Tony Williams. In 1957, he signed a contract as singer with the Italian label Music, where he was working as delivery man. His first single 'Come prima' was published in December 1957 and sold 300,000 copies, becoming the biggest selling single in Italy up to that point. 'La novia' was released in 1963, two years after Betty Curtis represented Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Al di la'.  

My collection: 7" single no. 6739
Found: Discogs.com, received 24 June 2022
Cost: $3
Tracks: 'La novia' / 'Al di la'

Some day - Tommy Nilsson

I've always been rather fond of Sweden's 1989 entry to the Eurovision Song Contest, 'En dag', performed by Tommy Nilsson. There's something about the powerful vocals, the repetitive chorus and the hopeful lyrics that drew me to this song - and it still does.

When I found out there was a 12" version of the song - I think about a year ago - I put it on my wantlist, but it was quite difficult to get hold of a copy, due to the rather extreme postage rates and the prices some online dealers dare to ask for it. After all, it's just a 12" single in a black generic sleeve. I finally found a cheap copy with cheap postage from a dealer in... Lithuania! Sometimes good things come from far away.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, 1 July 2022
Cost: $5
Tracks: 'Some day [12" version]' / 'En dag', 'Some day'

Nocturne / Un jour, un enfant - Paul Mauriat

Although this single does not specify a year of release, it is safe to assume that Paul Mauriat released this in 1969, when Frida Boccara was one of the winners of the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Un jour, un enfant'. Like the previous year, Mauriat delivered an instrumental version of a Eurovision song with his orchestra, although this time it was actually a winning song. 

Curiously though, this single features the self-composed track 'Nocturne' on the A-side. Perhaps Mauriat felt that he couldn't make a worldwide hit of his version, like he did with 'L'amour est bleu' in 1968.

My collection: 7" single no. 6737
Found: Discogs.com, received 24 June 2022
Cost: $3
Tracks: 'Nocturne' / 'Un jour, un enfant'

Valentine's day - ABC

I always thought that ABC's album 'Lexicon of love' spawned four singles, but it turns out that another song was released as a single - in Japan. 'Valentine's day' is certainly a track worthy of a single release, even if this didn't happen in the rest of the world.

The B-side features 'part 3' of 'The look of love', one of the other singles from the same album. Parts 1 and 2 can be found on the single of 'The look of love', whereas part 4 appears on the album. And then there is of course the remix version, originally released in the USA, which is often called part 5. You will find that one on the limited edition double single package of 'Be near me'. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6735
Found: Discogs.com, received 24 June 2022
Cost: $3
Tracks: 'Valentine's day' / 'The look of love (part 3)'

Slipping through my fingers - Abba

One of the tracks on Abba's 1981 album 'The Visitors' was 'Slipping through my fingers'. It was never released as a single - except in Japan, where it was released as a 'Coca Cola super record'. According to the blurb on the back of this sleeve (in Japanese), the song was recorded "just for you", which of course wasn't entirely true.

The record is actually a picture disc, featuring a photograph of the band complete with signatures on one side (without any music on that side) and a red playable side with the Coca-Cola logo on it. After looking for this item for some time, I am glad to finally own this particular single.

My collection: 7" single no. 6732
Found: Discogs.com, received 24 June 2022
Cost: $10
Tracks: 'Slipping through my fingers'

Napoleon und Josephine - Kirsti

Kirsti Sparboe represented Denmark at the 1969 Eurovision Song Contest with the song with the remarkable title 'Oj, oj, oj, så glad jeg skal bli'. I was happy to find a copy just two months ago - and that was before I knew that she also recorded a German version!

This single, 'Napoleon und Josephine' presents that version on the B-side. On the sleeve it is announced as 'Oi, oi, oi', but she doesn't even sing these words. The song is actually called 'Eins, zwei, drei' and is translated by Kurt Hertha, a German songwriter and composer, who also added German lyrics to songs like 'Stupid Cupid' ('Sexie Hexy') and 'Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport' ('Halt Das Känguruh Fest'). 

My collection: 7" single no. 6728
Found: Discogs.com, received 16 June 2022
Cost: €3
Tracks: 'Napoleon und Josephine' / 'Eins, zwei, drei'

Die Nacht, in der ich mich verlor - Wencke Myhre

I could write a piece about 'Die Nacht, in der ich mich verlor', but that is not the song that caused me to buy this single. More interesting is the B-side: 'Autostop', a cover version of the Greek entry to the Eurovision Song Contest in 1980. The original version, performed by Anna Vissi, was never released as a single, although some demo copies were pressed and I recently saw a copy at a record fair... the dealer wanted €250 for it. That's crazy of course, and I wonder what kind of maniac pays that much for a single. 

But anyway, this single features a cover of the song with German lyrics provided by Werner Schüler and Bernd Meinunger. The Bernd Meinunger, I should add, because he, together with Ralph Siegel, actually wrote many songs that were performed on the Eurovision stage. And so this B-side becomes less of a weird instance, since both Meinunger and Myhre were Eurovision fans, so to speak.

My collection: 7" single no. 6729
Found: Discogs.com, received 16 June 2022
Cost: €3
Tracks: 'Die Nacht, in der ich mich verlor' / 'Autostop'

L'amour est bleu / A taste of Vicky - Vicky Leandros

I already had the Japanese single of Vicky Leandros' 'L'amour est bleu', but it turns out that the Japanese also released this EP, entitled 'A taste of Vicky'. Unusually for a Japanese single, it is presented in a regular sleeve instead of the company sleeve with a separate piece of paper to accompany it - if you've seen them you know what I mean. 

What's interesting about this EP is that it adds a track in Japanese and a cover of the familiar Bee Gees hit 'Massachusetts'. And of course, there is the attraction of it being a pretty rare Japanese disc.

My collection: 7" single no. 6726
Found: Discogs.com, received 11 June 2022
Cost: £5
Tracks: 'L'amour est bleu', 'Le soleil a quitté ma maison' / 'Machi-Kutabireta Nochiyobi', 'Massachusetts'