The real me - Kiev Connolly

Although Ireland was very successful in the Eurovision Song Contest during the Eighties and Nineties, they also sent in some duds from time to time. At least, this is what the viewing public thought when they made the Irish entry end up somewhere near the bottom of the scoreboard. 

Kiev Connolly was born on 5 April 1956 and he formed his band The Missing Passengers during his stay in Germany from 1978 onwards. He also wrote 'The real me', which became Ireland's Eurovision entry for 1989. It finished in 18th place with 22 points. This was, at the time, Ireland's worst Contest result.

My collection: 7" single no. 7670
Found: Ebay, received 24 April 2025
Tracks: 'The real me' / 'Haze on Mizen Head'

Seninle bir dakika - Semiha Yanki

The very first Turkish entry for the Eurovision Song Contest was 'Seninle bir dakika' in 1975. The song was performed by Semiha Yanki, who was born on 15 January 1958.

Despite a strong performance, Semiha got only three points (from Monaco) and came in last place. There were also problems with the scoreboard, and even these three points did not appear, causing the host Karin Falck to say: "Could we have three points on the Turkey?"

My collection: 7" single no. 7672
Found: Ebay, received 24 April 2025
Tracks: 'Seninle bir dakika' / 'Love is the name of the game'

Sufi - MFO

Of course, I already have the 12" single of 'Sufi', but nothing is more desirable than the 7" single - at least, that's what I think. Like the 12" single, the 7" single was released by ZYX records, with the same sleeve. The English version appears on the A-side, and the original Turkish version on the B-side.

MFÖ’s career continued in the ensuing decades, with a lot of success, mainly in Turkey. They have participated in charity events especially on street animals, education, spinal cord paralysis. On 8 July 2023 member of the band Özkan Uğur died due to a relapse of the lymphoma cancer he had previously survived.

My collection: 7" single no. 7671
Found: Ebay, received 24 April 2025
Tracks: 'Sufi (English version)' / 'Sufi (Original version)'

 

Take him home - Jump the gun

Jump the Gun were an Irish pop and rock band, best known for competing in the Eurovision Song Contest 1988 with the song 'Take him home'. They finished eighth in the contest. The group consisted of Roy Taylor on lead vocals and bass guitar with Eric Sharpe on guitar, Peter Eades on piano and keyboards, Brian O'Reilly on drums, and Ciaran Wilde on saxophone. Wilde joined the group shortly before Eurovision 1988, the other members of the group had all been members of Irish show bands during the 1980s.  

Getting hold of this single wasn't easy: it was released on Monitor Records, which I guess was a small record company in Ireland, and copies are pretty scarce these days. So it was a pleasure to be able to order this one, along with a few other rare Eurovision singles.

Singer and bass player Roy Taylor died after a battle with motor neurone disease on 1 June 2023.

My collection: 7" single 7668
Found: Ebay, received 24 April 2025
Tracks: 'Take him home' / '(A little bit) closer'

I anixi - Sofia Vossou

Some Eurovision songs become legendary for different persons and for different reasons. I loved 'I anixi' ever since I first heard it, which was during one of those preview shows I guess, because I was already familiar with it before it was played in Rome during the evening of the Contest. Those who saw that performance will remember that a solo went horribly wrong, thanks to a member of the orchestra who was flown in at the last minute without having had any rehearsals. (But that we didn't know, as innocent viewers.)

Getting this single has been a problem, because its worth has soared in recent years. Fortunately I was able to find this one together with the original press map for an altogether reasonable price, which is quite amazing. 'I anixi' didn't get the placing it deserved in my opinion, but I'm glad I finally have it on disc.

My collection: 7" single no. 7674
Found: Ebay, received 24 April 2025
Tracks: 'I anixi' / 'Tell me'

Muistojeni laulu - Laila Halme

Laila Sinikka Halme was born on 4 March 1934. She represented Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1963 with 'Muistojeni laulu'. The song did not receive any points and ended up in joint last place with the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway.

In 1987 she hosted the Finnish national final for the Eurovision Song Contest, together with Lasse Mårtenson. Halme continued to sing and also tried her hand at acting in a handful of Finnish films. She passed away on 28 November 2021, aged 87.

My collection: 7" single no. 7666
Found: Discogs.com, received 23 April 2025
Tracks: 'Muistojeni laulu' / 'Olen mikä olen'

Vuelve otra vez - Mache

Very little is known about Mache. It seems to be a band, but Marcela Sánchez is mentioned as the only member, and it is certainly she who sings this song. Mache previously released the single 'Rompiendo mi corazón', which featured a cover of Sheena Easton's 'A little tenderness' in Spanish ('Un poquito de temura') on the B-side.

This single, 'Vuelve otra vez' is a Spanish version of Kim Wilde's 'Water on Glass'. And that's an interesting choice, considering most Kim Wilde cover versions are reserved for her first single, 'Kids in America'. And it gets even more interesting: Mache comes from Peru. Not the most obvious country to record a Kim Wilde cover, I would think.

This single was released in 1984. I was lucky enough to order a copy all the way from Peru, and it is in relatively good shape, considering its age!

My collection: 7" single no. 7675
Found: Discogs.com, received 29 April 2025
Tracks: 'Vuelve otra vez' / 'Vuelve otra vez (instrumental)'

Summer is over - Frank Ifield

Frank Ifield was an English-born Australian easy listening and country music singer known for his yodeling vocal style. His family emigrated to Australia in 1946. He returned to the UK in 1959 and in 1962 he had a major success with the song 'I remember you'. Throughout the Sixties he had a succession of hits which were mainly revivals of American country songs. 

This particular single features a version of 'Summer is over', a song made famous by Dusty Springfield. Her version was often used on Radio Veronica, during its broadcasts from a ship in the North Sea. This version is slightly less romantic, but it is still a stunningly beautiful melody. I bought my copy at the record fair last week, but it benefited from a little cleaning. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7652
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 12 April 2025
Tracks: 'Summer is over' / 'True love ways'

Klop klop hallo - Willeke Alberti

Although I'm not particularly a fan of Willeke Alberti, a few singles have ended up in my collection, and that's all because of her connection with the Eurovision Song Contest. Like her father, Willy Alberti, Willeke covered a handful of Eurovision songs, and it's quite interesting to hear her versions because they come with translated lyrics. Translated into Dutch, that is.

And so, in 1970, 'Knock knock who's there' became 'Klop klop hallo' and 'All kinds of everything' became 'Duizenden dingetjes'. Both songs were from the Eurovision Song Contest in 1970 (representing the UK and Ireland respectively) and they appear on this single from 1970. It's just a pity that this single was released on mono only. But it's a rare piece nonetheless: a copy without a picture sleeve commands at least 15 euro on Discogs!

My collection: 7" single no. 7665
Found: Easter market, Den Haag, 20 April 2025
Tracks: 'Klop klop hallo' / 'Duizenden dingetjes'

Vse rože sveta - Lado Leskovar

Lado Leskovar was born as Vladimir Leskovar in Ljubljana on 23 March 1942. He began his music career in the early Sixties. In 1967 he represented Yugoslavia at the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Vse rože sveta' ('All the flowers in the world'), finishing in eighth place.

Although he tried to further his singing career, he ended up working for Radio Televizija Slovenija. During the parliamentary elections in Slovenia in 2008 he was a candidate for the party Zares. Ten years later (2018) he ran for a seat in the National Assembly under the auspices of the Desus party.

An unexpected bonus on this EP is 'Jokal bom na dežju', a Slovenian version of the Everly Brothers song, 'Crying in the rain'.

My collection: 7" single no. 7664
Found: Discogs.com, received 14 April 2025
Tracks: 'Vse rože sveta', 'Orly' / 'Potraži me u predgradu', 'Jokal bom na dežju'

Lass mich dein Pirat sein (remix '91) - Nena

Although 'Engel der Nacht' was Nena's last single as a band, the record company decided to release a compilation album called Nena, die Band in 1991. In order to promote that album, this remix of 'Lass mich dein Pirat sein' was released as a single.

The remix does respect the original version of the song, fortunately, but adds some elements in order to make it sound a little more contemporary. Jens Kuphal was responsible for the additional programming, postproduction and mix.

My collection: 7" single no. 7663
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 12 April 2025
Tracks: 'Lass mich dein Pirat sein (remix '91)' / 'Du kennst die Liebe nicht (live version)'

Bang-a-boomerang - Abba

Surprisingly, I didn't already have 'Bang-a-boomerang' on a 7" single, and even more surprisingly, 'S.O.S.' is on the B-side of this single. It is a French release on the Vogue label, with a very colourful sleeve.

The song was written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson and at one point had the working title 'Stop and listen to your heart'. The lyrics compare the "message of love" with the returning boomerangs which the Aboriginal Australians developed. The song was originally written for Svenne & Lotta, who competed in the Swedish national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 1975 with it. The duo had a big hit with it in Sweden. Abba then recorded the song and released it as a single in France and included it on their Greatest Hits album in November 1975. It was never released as a single in Scandinavia.

My collection: 7" single no. 7662
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 12 April 2025
Tracks: 'Bang-a-boomerang' / 'S.O.S.'

Waterloo - Abba

What can I say about Abba's 'Waterloo' that hasn't been said already about a thousand times? Not much, I fear, and so I only need to explain why I bought this particular single. 

It's the Danish pressing of the single and it was released in 1974 in two different versions: with green lettering and red lettering. I'm not sure if I'm going to collect all versions of this single, because many different pressings exist, but this one was amusing and looked good too - and the price was right.

My collection: 7" single no. 7661
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 12 April 2025
Tracks: 'Waterloo' / 'Watch out'

Amiga Quartett - Fleetwood Mac

The last Amiga Quartett EP I bought last week at the record fair was this one by Fleetwood Mac. The band seems to be very popular these days; copies of their old LP's are selling like crazy. I think a new generation is discovering the band, which can only be a good thing because they made some amazing music.

This EP features some of their early Eighties tracks, including 'Hold me' and 'Gypsy', two singles that are among my favourites. The other two tracks are less familiar, but equally great.

My collection: 7" single no. 7660
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 12 April 2025
Tracks: 'Hold me', 'Eyes of the world' / 'Oh Diane', 'Gypsy'

Amiga Quartett - MIke Oldfield

Did I really need this MIke Oldfield EP? Sure I did, because I didn't have all the tracks on vinyl yet. 'Shadow on the wall' is a firm favourite, of course, as is 'Moonlight shadow', but I didn't yet own the other two tracks. 

'In high places' features guest vocals by Jon Anderson, and 'Foreign affiar' is a song I got to know via a cover version many years ago. All in all, another attractive package from those East German Amiga guys.

My collection: 7" single no. 7658
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 12 April 2025
Tracks: 'Moonlight shadow', 'In high places' / 'Shadow on the wall', 'Foreign affair'

Amiga Quartett - Elton John

This EP features four hit singles by Elton John, and I was quite surprised to find that I didn't already have them on 7" singles - with the exception of 'Rocket man' of course.

Of the four songs, 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' is my favourite. The lyrics, written by Bernie Taupin, contain autobiographical elements, referring to his childhood on a farm in Lincolnshire. The song expresses a desire to get back to one's "roots", a common theme of Taupin's early lyrics. In 2014, Taupin reflected, "It's been said many times, but Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is a cinematic album. The lyrics to the title track do say that I want to leave Oz and get back to the farm. I think that's still my M.O. these days. I don't mind getting out there and doing what everybody else was doing, but I always had to have an escape hatch."  In 2020, he added, "I don't believe I was ever turning my back on success or saying I didn't want it. I just don't believe I was ever that naïve. I think I was just hoping that maybe there was a happy medium way to exist successfully in a more tranquil setting. My only naïveté, I guess, was believing I could do it so early on. I had to travel a long road and visit the school of hard knocks before I could come even close to achieving that goal."

My collection: 7" single no. 7659
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 12 April 2025
Tracks: 'Rocket man', 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' / 'Crocodile Rock', 'Daniel' 

Amiga Quartett - Middle of the road

This Amiga EP features two songs by Middle of the Road that I already had on two other singles: 'Chirpy chirpy cheep cheep' and 'Soley, soley', plus two I didn't already have.

'Tweedle dee, tweedle dum' was released as a single in 1971 and reached number 2 in the UK singles chart. In the Dutch Top 40 it got to number 7. 'Sacramento' is a song I remember well from my childhood - my brother and sister were particularly fond of Middle of the Road and they played their singles regularly when I was young. 'Sacramento' only reached number 23 in the UK singles chart but was a big hit in Europe: it got to number 1 in Belgium, Germany, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands!

My collection: 7" single no. 7657
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 12 April 2025
Tracks: 'Chirpy chirpy cheep cheep', 'Soley, soley' / 'Tweedle dee, tweedle dum', 'Sacramento'

Gimme, gimme, gimme - Cantus-Chor

By chance I saw a German dealer at the record fair last week who had prstine looking Amiga singles. I bought a bunch, and this one was the first: a single by Cantus-Chor with cover versions of 'Gimme, gimme, gimme' and 'A walk in the park'.

Cantus-Chor was a German (GDR-) background-chorus, solo-choir and showgroup, founded in  December 1976 by Vlady Slezák. They released a handful of singles, two albums and appeared on a lot of compilation albums and EP's.

My collection: 7" single no. 7656
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 12 April 2025
Tracks: 'Gimme, gimme, gimme' / 'A walk in the park'

Delirious - Prince

'Delirious' was taken from Prince's third album '1999' and released as its third single. I missed out on it, because it was never released in Europe. Hence this simple single with a record company sleeve, I guess.

'Delirious' is a standard 8-bar blues number that tells how Prince is being driven crazy by a beautiful woman. The song teases the listener with sexual metaphors for cars and racing, hidden enough to avoid being censored. The track begins with a trademark Linn drum machine loop and a bit of synth bass before the synthesizer hook introduces the song. A rubbery bass guitar gives the track a rockabilly feel. The B-side to the track is "Horny Toad", which is very similar in rockabilly style and instrumentation. Some of the sexually charged lyrics were interpreted as sadistic at the time and were the source of some controversy. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7655
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 12 April 2025
Tracks: 'Delirious' / 'Horny toad'

Sag ihr, ich lass' sie grüssen - Richard Adam

Udo Jürgens represented Austria in 1965 with the song 'Sag ihr, ich lass' sie grüssen'. It reached fourth place in the competition, which inspired some artists to record their own versions of the song.

One of them was Richard Adam, a Czech singer who was born in Prague on 14 November 1930. He started his music career during World War II as a drummer in his brother's band, who was two years older. He achieved his greatest fame and popularity at the turn of the 1950s and 1960s. He also established himself abroad, and was very popular in the GDR and the Soviet Union. With the onset of normalization after 1968, he also faced a wave of bans, ostracisms, and political persecution. He has recorded approximately 330 songs, of which 250 were for the Czechoslovak Radio and 80 for the Supraphon publishing group. His most successful song was the song Tina Marie, which sold over one million records in the USSR alone. He sang on tour until he was eighty. He passed away on 14 October 2017.

My collection: 7" single no. 7654
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 12 April 2025
Tracks: 'Sag ihr, ich lass' sie grüssen' / 'Herr Schmidt, Herr Schmidt'