Where do I begin - Shirley Bassey

Love Story is a 1970 American romantic drama film written by Erich Segal, who was also the author of the best-selling 1970 eponymous novel. The film is considered one of the most romantic by the American Film Institute (number 9 on the list) and is one of the highest-grossing films of all time adjusted for inflation.

The main song in the film, '(Where do I begin?) Love Story' was a major success, particularly the vocal rendition recorded by Andy Williams. Shirley Bassey was quick to record her own version of the song. That version reached number 34 in the UK singles chart. The version by Williams peaked at number 4.

My collection: 7" single no. 7414
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Where do I begin' / 'For the love of him'

Tom Pillibi - André Popp

André Charles Jean Popp (19 February 1924 – 10 May 2014) was a French composer, arranger and screenwriter. During the 1950s, Popp created unique space-age instrumental recordings and by the early 1960s had built a strong reputation in the music recording industry, becoming a sought-after arranger. When the Sixties arrived he had to adapt to new trends. 

He worked almost exclusively with female singers during this period, preferably the Lolita types, such as Chantal Goya, but also with Françoise Hardy. In 1960 he composed 'Tom Pillibi' for Jacqueline Boyer, who won the Eurovision Song Contest with it. He felt the need to record the composition himself. Together with his own orchestra he recorded four tracks for this EP. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7413
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Tom Pillibi', 'La belle au bois' / 'Tique taque', 'San Marino'

Der Troubadour - Lenny Kuhr

Not only did I buy 'El Trovador' last week, I also found the German version of 'De troubadour'. Lenny recorded both versions after her Eurovision win in 1969. There's are also English, French and Italian versions of the song, but those are even harder to find than these two. 

Fortunately all versions can be found online, on this page. I'll keep looking for those missing versions on 7" vinyl in the meantime...

My collection: 7" single no. 7412
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Der Troubadour' / 'Mais non, monsieur'

El Trovador - Lenny Kuhr

Lenny Kuhr made the Netherlands proud when she was one of the four winners of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1969 with her song 'De troubadour'. It was quite astonishing that a young girl with a guitar and a song in Dutch could get that far. It was the last time that the Netherlands would win in Dutch, by the way.

In order to appeal to the international audiences Lenny recorded the song in several languages. And since the Eurovision Song Contest was held in Spain that year it seemed logical to make a Spanish version. 'El Trovador' is a charming version of a wellknown song.

My collection: 7" single no. 7411
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'El Trovador' / 'Oh no señor'

Það sem enginn sér - Daniel

Daníel Ágúst Haraldsson (born 26 August 1969) is an Icelandic singer. He has been part of the local and international music scene since he started his career with the Icelandic pop group Nýdönsk in 1987. In 1989, he participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 1989 for Iceland with the song 'Það sem enginn sér'. He finished in 22nd place, scoring no points.

The single has become a bit of a rarity. Online it isn't sold at all (at the moment), and at the record fair last week I could only buy the single for a bit of an inflated price. Still, it's worth it, because the song appears on this disc both in Icelandic and English.

My collection: 7" single no. 7410
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Það sem enginn sér' / 'No one knows'

Fernando en Filippo - Milly Scott

Although I already own a single of Milly Scott's 'Fernando en Filippo' (for 15 years, in fact!) I recently discovered that there are two different studio versions of the song. The other one is known as the 'slow' version, and this one is known as the 'quick' version. 

Comparing the two, it is certain that this version is quicker than the other one, and the instrumentation is different too. Quite why there are two versions, I don't know. But I guess the quicker version was recorded to make it more appealing. Or the slow one. I don't know.

My collection: 7" single no. 7408
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Fernando en Filippo' / 'Graag of niet'

Io si, tu no - France Gall

France Gall represented Luxembourg with 'Poupée de cire, poupée de son' at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1965, and won. She went on to record the song in various languages. So far, I've been able to find the Japanese and German versions, and now there's the Italian version too.

This one comes in a  generic record company sleeve, but on the plus side: it's a promotional single. It's always a surprise to hear an artist sing in another language, and I think France does it well. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7407
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Io si, tu no' / 'Se agli amici dirai'

Weit, da wo der Strom beginnt - Robert Cogoi

I already have two singles of Robert Cogoi's 'Près de ma rivière': a regular 7" single and an EP. Both come with a picture sleeve featuring the same photograph of the singer. But he also recorded his song in German, and of course: that single also shows the singer in the same pose.

'Weit, da wo der Strom beginnt' is curiously hidden away on the B-side of this single; the A-side is actually 'Nur noch einmal nach Haus'. Sometimes record companies want to profit from a moment of fame (hence the red lettering on the sleeve) but they put unknown songs on the A-side.

My collection: 7" single no. 7405
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Nur noch einmal nach Haus' / 'Weit, da wo der Strom beginnt'

Aurinko laskee länteen - Viktor Klimenko

Viktor Savvich Klimenko (born 24 November 1942) is a singer who made himself known as the 'Singing Cossack'. He was born in Karelia, to a Russian Kuban Cossack father, Savva Klimenko, and a Russian mother, Olga Glotova. A few years after his birth, his family moved to Finland. There, he became a musician and appeared in several films, mostly appearing as himself. The Eurovision Song Contest 1965 was his first appearance outside of Finland; his song didn't earn any points in the competition.

It's a shame, because it is really a beautiful song. Of course the language is a bit impenetrable, but that shouldn't have kept the juries from actually listening. Maybe you can't blame them to go for the most catchy tune, but sometimes more effort is rewarded. 

This single comes in a transparent Philips sleeve, which is a rare thing to behold.

My colllection: 7" single no. 7404
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Aurinko laskee länteen' / 'Lapin taikarummut'

Sing Sang Song - Les Humphries Singers

Back in 2014 I bought 'Sing sang song', the Eurovision entry by the Les Humphries Singers from 1976. That was the original German version, and as I found out recently, there's also an English version. 

That one comes in an attractive picture sleeve, featuring the full line-up of the band - all thirteen of them! This edition comes from Spain, but the version was apparently released in various European countries.

My collection: 7" single no. 7403
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Sing Sang Song [English version]' / 'Just sit down at the old piano'

L'amore va - Françoise Hardy

French star Françoise Hardy represented Monaco at the Eurovision Song Contest with 'L'amour s'en va' in 1963. Although she didn't win the contest, the song still became a bit of a standard. She also recorded the song in German as 'Die Liebe geht' and in Italian - which is the version I bought last weekend. 

'L'amore va' comes in an entirely different sleeve and I bought it from the same dealer from whom I bought the German version a year ago. That's why I love record fairs: sometimes you find people you can count on, and they always come up with the best goods.

My collection: 7" single no. 7402
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'L'amore va' / 'Il tuo migliore amico'

Dors, mon amour - André Claveau

'Dors, mon amour' was the first Eurovision song to be won by a male soloist. André Claveau (29 December 1911 – 4 July 2003) was a popular singer in France from the Fourties to the Sixties. Winning at the age of 46 years and 76 days made him the oldest winner of the contest until 1990, being the first and only winner prior to 1990 to triumph in their forties.

This EP presents four tracks by the singer, plus a picture sleeve. The French were quite quick to embrace picture sleeves, which makes this early Eurovision singles quite a nice thing to collect.

My collection: 7" single no. 7401
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Dors, mon amour', 'Helena' / 'Le coeur en platre', 'Aie mon coeur'

Piove - Lars Lönndahl

Lars Gunnar "Lasse" Lönndahl (19 August 1928 – 26 December 2022) was a Swedish singer and actor. He was considered the most well-known Swedish singer of the Fifties and Sixties with nicknames including "The Swedish Frank Sinatra" and "World's Oldest Teenager".Even though by the mid-Seventies his career had slowed down, he was still considered arguably Sweden's most popular singer of all time and was long a very popular figure in media. 

In 1959 he recorded a Swedish-language cover of 'Piove', the Eurovision song by Domenico Modugno. This EP features four songs by Lars, including a version of Li' per li', another popular song from the San Remo festival.

My collection: 7" single no. 7400
Found: Discogs.com, received 7 November 2024
Tracks: 'Piove', 'Den enda i världen' / 'Li' per li', 'Pa en regnig gata'

Alla andra får varann – Östen Warnerbring

In 1960 Siw Malmkvist represented Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Alla andra får varann'. The song was written by John Watson, a schoolmaster who had published a handful of songs up until that point. However, Siw never recorded the song in the studio.

During the Swedish national final for Eurovision, Östen Warnerbring also performed this song. And he did get into the studio to record the song. It's that single which I found online recently. It's a nice acquisition, especially since the song is very nice.

My collection: 7" single no. 7399
Found: Discogs.com, received 7 November 2024
Tracks: 'Alla andra får varann' / 'Vårens första flicka'

Liefde is leven - Arie Ribbens & Nathalie

One artist I never thought would feature on this blog is Arie Ribbens. Yet, here we are, the party singer from Eindhoven made it. The singer, known for carnival squatters such as ‘Polonaise Hollandaise’ and ‘Brabantse nights are long’ recorded this single in 1989 together with an unknown female called Nathalie. 'Liefde is leven' ('Love is life') is in fact a Dutch version of 'Vivo cantando', the Spanish entry for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1969. And that, of course, changed things for me. 

Another surprise on this single: the Dutch text was written by Pierre Kartner, also known as Father Abraham, one of the Netherlands' most successful songwriters, who also wrote two wellknown Eurovision entries for the Netherlands. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7398
Found: Discogs.com, received 30 October 2024
Tracks: 'Liefde is leven' / 'Ik koop een heel groot hemelbed'

Un banc, un arbre, une rue - Helmut Zacharias

The impact of the Eurovision Song Contest was much bigger, perhaps, when it was much younger. Winning songs were often covered by many artists, both in vocal and instrumental versions. An example of this is this single: 'Un banc, un arbre, une rue' by the German violinist Helmut Zacharias. 

Helmut (born 20 January 1920 in Berlin, Germany) first played violin at the age of two and played in public four years later. He was also known for the pseudonym Charly Thomas. After working at the Conservatory, he turned to pop music as well as, occasionally, jazz.More than 50 LP's bearing his name were released between 1950 and now. He died on 28 February 2002 in Brissago, Switzerland.  

My collection: 7" single no. 7397
Found: Discogs.com, received 30 October 2024
Tracks: 'Un banc, un arbre, une rue' / 'Love story'

We'll meet again - José Cid

José Cid represented Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1980 with 'Um grande, grande amor'. Besides the original Portuguese version, he also recorded the song in French, and also in English. The amusing thing is that the English version is presented in a sleeve that doesn't reference Eurovision at all, in contrast to the other two versions. It was released by Jupiter Records, owned by Eurovision legend Ralph Siegel, who founded the label in 1973. 

The English version is just as disco-informed as the other two versions, but (obviously) with English lyrics. It's a nice curiosity for any Eurovision fan. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7396
Found: Discogs.com, received 30 October 2024
Tracks: 'We'll meet again' / 'Barbara'

Wir wollen morgen auch so glücklich sein wie heut - Belle & Horst

The German duo Belle Schnetzler and Horst Hornung released one single in 1971, a cover version of 'In this world we live in', a song previously recorded by the Italian duo Remo & Josie. The German version received the lengthy title 'Wir wollen morgen auch so glücklich sein wie heut'. 

The real attraction on this single is the B-side. It's a German version of 'Jungle Jim', a song originally written by Ronnie Scott and Marty Wilde. Of course, this is the reason why I bought this single. I was especially pleased to receive it from a Dutch seller in mint condition. That's pretty impressive for a single that's 53 years old.

My collection: 7" single no. 7395
Found: Discogs.com, received 30 October 2024
Tracks: 'Wir wollen morgen auch so glücklich sein wie heut' / 'Jungle Jim'

In the clouds - All about Eve

Owning two versions of the 7" single and the original version of the 12" single and was obviously not enough for a completist like me: I also had to have All about Eve's 'In the clouds' on the re-released 12" single. And with good reason: this 12" single features an extended version of the song, plus an extra track on the B-side.

Eventually the extended version of 'In the clouds' appeared on the re-released double CD version of the band's eponymous debut album in 2015. But that was a long time after I bought this disc.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: [unknown], 1989
Tracks: 'In the clouds [extended version]' / 'She moves through the fair', 'Calling your name'

King ghost - Steven Wilson

Steven Wilson's album The Future Bites is a fantastic record, and I was very glad when I received the deluxe edition of that album on CD. Unfortunately I missed out on this 7" single, which was coupled with an edition of the magazine Electronic Sounds.

However, these singles sometimes pop up on unexpected places, and so I suddenly saw it and didn't have to think twice. This 'limited edition coloured vinyl seven-inch single by Steven Wilson' features extended remixes of two tracks from the album, and it's pressed on red vinyl. It puts my mind at ease when I find a gem like this.

My collection: 7" single no. 7394
Found: Flashback Records, London, 21 October 2024
Tracks: 'King ghost (extended remix)' / 'Eminent sleaze (extended remix)'