T.L.C. - Gemini

I already own a few singles by Gemini, the duo formed by Karin and Anders Glenmark. What's interesting about this duo is that they worked intensively with Björn and Benny from Abba. Even more interesting is the fact that this didn't lead to commercial success. And to top it off, the songs aren't actually very catchy. 

I wanted to try out this single when I saw it online, but I have to say that I do understand that this single didn't become an international hit. I'm not sure about those vocals, they sound a bit weird. Sometimes a record buyer experiments a bit, but not always with positive results. I guess that sums up my opinion about this single. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7226
Found: Discogs.com, received 19 June 2024
Tracks: 'T.L.C.' / 'Nearly there'

Voi Voi - Nora Brockstedt

In 1960, Norway debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest with a song called 'Voi Voi', performed by Nora Brockstedt (born 20 January 1923). The song was written by Georg Elgaaen. The lyrics set the scene of a little valley lit by the midnight sun in the distant north of Norway and tell of a song that the performer hears. Brockstedt then takes on the persona of a young Sámi woman who awaits her lover to come down from the tundra. The title ‘Voi Voi’ is a well-known sign of exclamation in Sámi. 

I was very lucky to finally find a copy of this legendary single online. It's pretty rare and usually commands very high prices. This time around, not so much. 

Nora’s career spanned more than 60 years. She passed away on 5 November 2015, aged 92. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7223
Found: Discogs.com, received 19 June 2024
Tracks: 'Voi Voi', 'Lilla Lilli-Ann fran Lillesand' / 'Ett Sommaräventyr', 'En dröm är allt'

Les aveux - Elton John & France Gall

While Elton John was recording what would become his 1980 album 21 at 33, he recorded about a dozen extra songs. Five of them would appear on his next album, The Fox. Two other songs were French-language songs as duets with the French singer France Gall. 'Les aveux' and 'Donner pour donner' appear on this single, released in France

I'd never heard of this release, but when I saw this single it intrigued me enough to want to buy it. It turns out that 'Les aveux' actually made the Dutch Tipparade, peaking at number 4, just missing out on the Dutch Top 40. Personally I think the B-side is better...

My collection: 7" single no. 7222
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, 1 June 2024
Tracks: 'Les aveux' / 'Donner pour donner'

House of fun - Madness

The European sleeve of Madness's 'House of fun' looks suspiciously like a picture disc... and it's probably because it is based on one. This picture disc should be seen as proof.

'House of fun' was released as a one-off single on 14 May 1982 and reached number one in the UK singles chart, spending nine weeks in the charts. The song was re-released in 1992, reaching number 40. It is the band's only number one single in the UK and in 2015 the British public voted it as the nation's 8th favourite 1980s number one in a poll for ITV.

The song is about coming of age. The lyrics tell the story of a boy on his 16th birthday attempting to buy condoms at a chemist. The UK age of consent is 16, and he makes a point of stating that he is "16 today and up for fun". However, the boy is misunderstood by the chemist, as he asks for the condoms using slang euphemisms, such as "box of balloons with a featherlight touch" and "party hats with the coloured tips". The confused chemist behind the counter eventually informs the boy that the establishment is not a joke shop, and directs him towards the "House of Fun". 

My collection: 7" single no. 7221
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, 1 June 2024
Tracks: 'House of fun' / 'Don't look back'

Walkin' in the rain with the one I love - Love Unlimited

'Walkin' in the rain with the one I love' is a 1972 single from the soul trio Love Unlimited, a studio group created by singer/producer Barry White. The main vocalists were female singers Glodean James, her sister, Linda James, and their cousin Diane Taylor. Glodean would eventually become White's wife in 1974; the couple would split up in 1988, though they never divorced. 

The song is notable for White's vocal appearance as a voice on the telephone. The lush sound and romantic atmosphere led to this becoming Love Unlimited's first hit record, eventually rising to number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and in the UK singles chart. 

The song is a bit too sugary sweet, but a classic nonetheless.

My collection: 7" single no. 7218
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, 1 June 2024
Tracks: 'Walkin' in the rain with the one I love' / 'I should have known'

Supernatural love - Donna Summer

'Supernatural love' is the second single from Donna Summer's twelfth studio album, Cats Without Claws (1984). The song was released on 23 October 1984. It was written by Summer, Michael Omartian and Bruce Sudano, and produced by Omartian. The typically 1980s synthesized song was remixed for its release as a single and became a minor hit in the US, peaking at number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

It was accompanied by a very colourful video again featuring Donna and husband Bruce Sudano as a star-crossed couple chasing each other through time when he is abducted by an evil enchantress—from the stone age into current 1980s New Wave, where Donna pursues the enchantress in order to save him. The edited remix done by Juergen Koppers was used in the video. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7217
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, 1 June 2024
Tracks: 'Supernatural love' / 'Suzanna'

My mystery man - Jerney

After Earth & Fire fell apart, lead singer Jerney Kaagman started a solo career. That solo career could never match the success that the band had during the Seventies and early Eighties, but it started out okay with the minor hit 'All right here I am'. Other singles never reached the Dutch Top 40.

'My mystery man' was the only other single that would nearly get in there, reaching number 9 in the so-called Tipparade, the chart of 30 singles that aspired to be a Top 40 hit. It is a nice piece of pop, but nothing earth shattering. In the end, Jerney would have more success as president of the Dutch musicians' union BV Pop. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7216
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, 1 June 2024
Tracks: 'My mystery man' / 'Misery'

Imagination - Belouis Some

I don't know how many versions of 'Imagination' by Belouis Some have been released through the years, but this one I was certainly unaware of. It's a double single, featuring the original single of 'Imagination' and a second disc featuring a live version of 'Imagination' and a version of 'Target practice'. Wait a minute... isn't that the exact content of this single of 'Target practice'? Yes, indeed. Even the artwork was partly borrowed for this double single.

Well, anyway, I could never resist a double single and so here it is, in all its glory. After all the releases of 'Imagination' during the mid-Eighties, the track finally reached number 17 in the UK singles chart in 1986.

My collection: 7" single no. 7209
Found: Discogs.com, received 28 May 2024
Tracks: 'Imagination' / 'Have you ever been in love' // 'Imagination (live)' / 'Target practice (remix)'

(Tans mit mir) Oliver - Anita Skorgan

Anita Skorgan's 1979 Eurovision entry 'Oliver' was recorded in a handful of languages. I already bought the English version and the Swedish version, and now here is the German version. (Oddly, this Norwegian singer never recorded a Norwegian version of the song!)

'Oliver' reached number 6 in the Norwegian singles chart, but it is not known whether this German version reached a chart placing in Germany. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7214
Found: Discogs.com, received 29 May 2024
Tracks: '(Tanz mit mir) Oliver' / '(Dance with me) Oliver'

Man gewöhnt sich so schnell an das Schöne - Nora Nova

Strictly speaking, I already owned 'Man gewöhnt sich so schnell an das Schöne' on 7" vinyl, but that was on a various artists EP from 1964. 

This single is the original release, with Nora Nova on the cover and the funny B-side 'Schöne Männer haben's schwer' ('Beautiful man have a hard time'). Until this year, 'Man gewöhnt sich so schnell an das Schöne' was the longest song title in Eurovision Song Contest history, beaten last month by the Estonian entry, '(Nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi'.

My collection: 7" single no. 7211
Found: Discogs.com, received 29 May 2024
Tracks: 'Man gewöhnt sich so schnell an das Schöne' / 'Schöne Männer haben's schwer'

You got the style - Athlete

The band Athlete doesn't seem to exist anymore, which is a shame. During their career they managed to record a whole array of catchy songs, of which 'You got the style' was one of the first. This 10" single presents two versions of the song, plus a bonus track on one side, and a bit of etching on the other side.

'You got the style' was released as the band's first major label single in June 2002. It reached number 37 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 10" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received 24 May 2024
Tracks: 'You got the style', 'A few differences', 'You got the style (remix)'

It's alright - Pet Shop Boys

Although 'It's alright' is not my favourite ever Pet Shop Boys track, I still couldn't resist buying this 10" single, featuring a lengthy remix of the track, running well over 10 minutes. And fortunately it's a good remix. What's more, this 10" single survived the decades, with the poster still intact. 

On this 10-inch single there are additional lyrics with Tennant singing, "there's a boy standing by a river /  there's a girl lying with her lover / there's a statesman standing at a crossroads / there's a soldier polishing his gun". 

My collection: 10" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received 28 May 2024
Tracks: 'It's alright (alternative mix)' / 'It's alright (extended dance mix)'

Belfast child (edit) - Simple Minds

Can it really be 13 years since I last bought a Simple Minds single? I guess so, but this time I felt it was quite necessary. I bought 'Belfast child' back in 1989, right after it came out, as it's probably one of the band's best ever songs. While I was selecting some singles from an online seller, I came across this promotional 7" featuring an edit of that song. 

Driven by curiosity, I had to buy this promo, because I really wanted to know how anyone could trim down this epic piece. I have to say it was done quite well: the lenghty intro was scrapped and near the end some slow bits were also edited out. All in all, this is still a five minute song - but it does constitute an edit, in this case. The B-side does have a playable groove, but it is all silent.

My collection: 7" single no. 7210
Found: Discogs.com, received 29 May 2024
Tracks: 'Belfast child (edit)'

Love comes quickly (live) - Pet Shop Boys

A nice surprise happened last week when I was on my break at work: an announcement of the newest issue of Electronic Sounds with a free Pet Shop Boys single, pressed on gold-coloured vinyl. I ordered it then and there, and later that day I found out the single was pressed in a limited edition of 1,000 - and it was already sold out!

A bit of a collector's item, then, this single featuring three live tracks from the Boys' concert at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen. The entire concert is due to be released on DVD later this year, so all is not lost if you've missed out on this single. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7208
Found: Electronic Sounds, received 25 May 2024
Tracks: 'Love comes quickly (live)' / 'Paninaro & Always on my mind (live)'

Dizzy - Olly Alexander

The Eurovision Song Contest took place earlier this month, and one of the most eyepopping performances came from the United Kingdom. Not entirely in a good way, apparently, because the viewing public only gave Olly Alexander zero points. 

That's not to say that 'Dizzy' is a bad song: the performance was perhaps a bit too, er, explicit. Halfnaked men in boxer shorts in what looked like a bathroom spinning around and toppling all over eachother probably made a lot of voters dizzy - opting to vote for other, sometimes worse, songs instead. Fortunately the song was released on this beautiful red vinyl 7" in an inner and outer sleeve. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7207
Found: Recordstore UK, received 24 May 2024
Tracks: 'Dizzy' / 'Dizzy (extended)'

Vitam vitr v udoli - Karel Gott

In 1968 Karel Gott represented Austria at the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Tausend Fenster', a song written by Udo Jürgens. Since Karel was a Czech singer, it shouldn't be too surprising that he also recorded the song in is mother tongue. And so, 'Tausend Fenster' became 'Vitam vitr v udoli', a lyric that is totally unintelligible for most world citizens.

However, the song was released by the Czechoslovakian record label Supraphon, and this is the single I finally got to buy recently. This is one of the pleasures of Discogs, the worldwide market place: you would never find a single like this in a western European record store, or even a record fair!

My collection: 7" single no. 7206
Found: Discogs.com, received 22 May 2024
Tracks: 'Vitam vitr v udoli' / 'Neverim'

Popmuzik - M

After 'Popmuzik', 'Popmuzik', 'Popmuzik', 'Popmuzik' and 'Popmuzik', I recently found out that there was a new release of 'Popmuzik' on a 10" single, pressed on pink vinyl. It was another one of those Record Store Day releases, with an interesting tracklisting, because it contained an 11 minute remix on the B-side. And so of course I had to order this one.

The disc doesn't disappoint. Of course I am familiar with the original 7" version, but the three other versions were new to me, and their diversity really surprised me. Maybe all the versions of 'Popmuzik' need to be brought together on a CD release one day. Although listening to all of them in one go is probably going to be slightly exhausting. 

My collection: 10" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received 18 May 2024
Tracks: 'Popmuzik (Original 7" version)', 'Popmuzik (Live Latin Performance Vancouver 2000)', ''Popmuzik (R&B 1978 Demo Version)' / 'Popmuzik (Second Sun Remix)'

Run - Snow Patrol

'Run' by Snow Patrol is easily one of the best songs of this century, but so far I haven't been able to buy a copy on 7" vinyl for a somewhat reasonable price. Which is why I was quite surprised to locate a copy of the 10" single for a more than reasonable price.

This clear vinyl 10" single is a bit crackly but it does present two remixes of 'Run'. One by Jacknife Lee, an 7 minute and 27 seconds epic, and a more modest four minute version by someone calling himself 'the freelance hellraiser'. It's sudden surprises like this which makes online shopping more fun.

My collection: 10" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received 18 May 2024
Tracks: 'Run (Jacknife Lee remix)' / 'Run (Freelance Hellraiser remix)'

Seal our fate - Gloria Estefan

'Seal our fate' was released as the second single from Gloria Estefan's album Into the light (1991). In the UK, the 7" vinyl single was released as a "Limited Edition Tour Souvenir Pack" with a few attractive photographs of the singer and a poster.

The single became a moderate success, peaking at number 24 in the UK singles chart and number 10 in the Dutch Top 40. I never bought the single because I felt the song was not really good enough, but this Tour Souvenir Pack was attractive enough for me to want to own it anyway. I do think that Estefan's output in the Nineties wasn't really that impressive, but anyway. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7201
Found: Discogs.com, received 14 May 2024
Tracks: 'Seal our fate' / 'Seal our fate (remix edit)'

Love & pride - King

If you were alive in the Eighties, you most certainly will have heard King's 'Love & pride', which dominated the music channels in 1984 and 1985. The original version of 'Love & pride' was already in my collection, as well as the re-release from 1985 with a poster sleeve.

I didn't know, however, that at the same time a limited edition double single was released, featuring a second disc with two live versions. The versions were recorded for BBC Radio One, but there's no indication of venue and date. It doesn't matter much to me, but one has to wonder why record companies are always so uninformative when they release live versions.

My collection: 7" single no. 7200
Found: Discogs.com, received 14 May 2024
Tracks: 'Love & pride' / 'Don't stop' // 'Love & pride (live)' / 'I kissed the spikey fridge (live)'