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'