Love detonator - Jona Lewie

Jona Lewie only ever had two big hits in the UK, but he released several more singles, as you can see on this blog. 'Love detonator' was released in 1983 and represents his penultimate single release on the Stiff label. 

During the 1990s, Lewie appeared with solo public performances on a 60-day UK tour as guest of the Blues Band, playing venues such as theatres and civic centres, while occasionally playing one-off gigs such as that at the Hackney Empire, London and taking part in occasional radio and television broadcasts.

My collection: 7" single no. 6889
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 4 March 2023
Tracks: 'Love detonator' / 'The baby, she's on the street'

Johnny Blue (English version) - Lena Valaitis

One of the nicest features of Eurovision Song Contest songs from the last century was the release of several versions of the song by the original artists. They recorded their song in several languages, and often they were released on separate singles.

'Johnny Blue' was of course Lena Valaitis' Eurovision song in 1981, and despite the title she performed it entirely in German on the night. But an English version was recorded and released on a separate single, and even the B-side 'Jeder Mensch hat seinen Traum' was translated into English. 

I was very fortunate to find this copy for 50 eurocents - finds like these are what make record fairs so great. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6888
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 4 March 2023
Tracks: 'Johnny Blue (English version)' / 'Everybody has a dream'

Every kinda people - Mint Juleps

The group Mint Juleps, named after an alcoholic drink, consisted of four sisters: Sandra, Debbie, Lizzie and Marcia Charles, who were joined by two school friends, Julie Isaac and Debbie Longworth. They released three albums between 1985 and 1993. Their second album from 1987 was produced, remarkably, by Trevor Horn, and the single 'Every kinda people', a cover of the Robert Palmer track, was taken from that album. 

I could say it was their biggest hit, although it only reached number 58. The other charting single, 'Only love can break your heart', released in 1986, only made it to number 62. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6887
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 4 March 2023
Tracks: 'Every kinda people' / 'Ain't seen nothin' yet'

Am I losing you forever - Mai Tai

After the Dutch trio Mai Tai had two big hits in the UK in 1985, they tried their luck with the ballad 'Am I losing you forever' in November of that year. Despite an attractive sleeve, this single didn't find favour with the British audience: it only managed to reach number 78 during a two week chart run. It effectively ended their UK adventure: two subsequent releases in the UK only reached similar lowly positions.

For me, this single was a bit of an impulse buy, based on the glossy cover. But I wasn't disappointed: the B-side is actually very enjoyable too.

My collection: 7" single no. 6886
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 4 March 2023
Tracks: 'Am I losing you forever' / 'The rules of love'

Step off - Junior Giscombe

Junior Giscombe had his biggest success with 'Mama used to say' and 'Too late' in 1982, but all the singles he released next landed outside of the UK top 40. Until, that is, in 1987 when his duet with Kim Wiled 'Another step (closer to you)' made it to number 6.

Junior eventually switched to Kim's record label and in 1990 he released this single, 'Step off'. He wrote the song himself, together with Gregg Smith, and it's another example of his brand of funky music. The B-side is unfortunately less inspired.

My collection: 7" single no. 6885
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 4 March 2023
Tracks: 'Step off ' / 'Step off (the boogie pella)'

A whiter shade of pale - Procol Harum

An old, familiar song like 'A whiter shade of pale' is an essential part of any music collection. I've had a single for many decades, but it was a slightly embarrassing reissue from the 1980's. 

This single is also a reissue, but from 1974. And best of all, it features a credible picture sleeve and the B-side 'A salty dog', which is another fabulous track from the band. It being on sale for just half a euro, I couldn't resist.

My collection: 7" single no. 6884
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 4 March 2023
Tracks: 'A whiter shade of pale' / 'A salty dog'

Chiquitita - Abba / Too much heaven - Bee Gees

This single is a nice curiosity, since it features two big hits from the year 1979: Abba's 'Chiquitita' and 'Too much heaven' by the Bee Gees. Both tracks feature on the album 'Music for Unicef concert: a gift of song', which was released in 1979. It was the album that accompanied the benefit concert of popular music held in the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on 9 January 1979. It was intended to raise money for UNICEF world hunger programs and to mark the beginning of the International Year of the Child. The concert was the idea of impresario Robert Stigwood, the Bee Gees, and David Frost, who originally conceived it as an annual event. Not all of the performances were truly live, with ABBA lip-synching their new song 'Chiquitita' and the Bee Gees lip-synching their song 'Too Much Heaven'. It's kindof ironic that these two songs were chosen for a single release.

The concert raised less than one million dollars at the time for UNICEF, although this figure did not include longer-term royalties from the songs and repeat performances. (The Bee Gees' song 'Too much heaven', for example, earned more than seven million dollars for UNICEF as of 2003). 

My collection: 7" single no. 6881
Found: Discogs.com, received 2 March 2023
Tracks: 'Chiquitita' (Abba) / 'Too much heaven' (Bee Gees)