On January 13 this year, Teddy Pendergrass died as a result of colon cancer. He had a successful career in music throughout the Seventies and Eighties. He was originally a drummer for the Cadillacs, which soon merged with Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. His first solo album was released in 1977.
His biggest hit internationally was 1986's 'Hold me', a duet with Whitney Houston. The track featured on her debut album as well as Pendergrass's 1986 album 'Love language'. It reached number 22 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 44 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 4546 Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010 Cost: 0,1 euro Tracks: 'Hold me' / 'Love'
In 1986, old soul tracks had become a familiar sound on television, thanks to ad campaigns shamelessly using nostalgic feelings of the consumer. Levi's jeans advertised with a series of old songs, which in turn were re-released as a single and stormed up the charts. Sam Cooke's 'Wonderful world' was (mis)used for the Levi's 501, and subsequently reached number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 1 in the Dutch Top 40.
The song was originally written by Sam Cooke, Lou Adler and Herb Alpert and performed by Cooke with backing vocals by Lou Rawls. When the song was first released as a single in the spring of 1960, it reached number 12 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 27 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 4545 Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010 Cost: 0,1 euro Tracks: 'Wonderful world' / 'Chain gang'
Gilla was discovered by German producer Frank Farian who got her signed to Hansa Records in 1974. At first he tried to launch her as a German artist, singing songs in her native language only. Although she had some hits in Germany, her career started to fail pretty quickly.
Farian and Gilla decided to try and conquer the international market, releasing an international album in the summer of 1977. Entitled 'Help help', the album contained some original English material as well as English version of songs from her only German-language album, 'Zieh mich aus'. 'Gentlemen callers not allowed' (an English version of 'Herrn-Besuche nicht erlaubt') was released as a single and promoted with Boney M.'s charismatic male dancer Bobby Farrell on a few TV shows. It reached number 14 in the Dutch Top 40 but was a minor success in most other European countries.
My collection: 7" single no. 4544 Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010 Cost: 0,1 euro Tracks: 'Gentlemen callers not allowed' / 'Say yes'
Amanda Lear released her second studio album 'Sweet revenge' in 1978. She proclaimed in the liner notes: 'This album is the story of a girl who sold her soul to the Devil and won. A lonely child, disenchanted by the society she lives in, she has no friends until the day she listens to the tempting offer of the Devil who promises her anything she wants ('Follow Me'). Her first wish is for riches ('Gold'), and then for fame. After turning to her mother for help ('Mother look what they've done to me'), she runs away ('Run baby run') and retires into solitude and memories. Renouncing her selfish need, she offers her love to a man who really needs her, her sweet revenge over the Devil's offer...'
'Enigma (Give a bit of mmh to me)' was the follow-up single to the hugely successful 'Follow me'. It did not match that success, but still reached number 17 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 4543 Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010 Cost: 0,1 euro Tracks: 'Enigma (Give a bit of mmh to me)' / 'Run baby run'
'I remember yesterday' is the title track from Donna Summer's 1977 album. The song uses a 1940s-influenced sound (with both melody and instruments) and combines this with the disco sound that Summer had become associated with.
When the track was released as a single, it became a hit in Europe. Upon its release as a single it became a hit in Europe. It would be one of Summer's first singles in a long time that did not feature the trademark sensual moans and groans that had become associated with her. It reached number 24 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 14 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 4542 Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010 Cost: 0,1 euro Tracks: 'I remember yesterday (part 1)' / 'I remember yesterday (part 2)'
La Bionda was formed by Carmelo and Michelangelo La Bionda in the early Seventies. They had their biggest successes in the second half of the Seventies, at the height of the disco craze. 'One for you, one for me' was released in the summer of 1978 and reached number 6 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 54 in the UK singles chart.
The B-side, 'There for me', became a classic in its own right, having been covered by artists such as Sarah Brightman, Hayley Westenra and Paul Potts.
My collection: 7" single no. 4541 Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010 Cost: 0,1 euro Tracks: 'One for you, one for me' / 'There for me'
Foxy was formed in 1976 in Miami, Florida by Ish 'Angel' Ledesma, Richard Puente, Charlie Murciano, Arnold Paseiro and Joe Galdo. Carl Driggs contributed vocals/percussion and shared songwriting credits on the band's second album, Get Off.
Their biggest hit was 'Get off' in 1978, which peaked at number 9 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number and number 1 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 4540 Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010 Cost: 0,1 euro Tracks: 'Get off' / 'You make me hot'