High noon / Jezebel - Frankie Laine

'High Noon', also known as 'The Ballad of High Noon', was the theme song of the 1952 movie High Noon, starring Gary Cooper. In the movie the song was performed by Tex Ritter, but the American singer Frankie Laine also recorded a version of the song. It actually became the bigger hit of the two.

However, I bought this single because of the other side, an original version of the song 'Jezebel', later also recorded by Marty Wilde. In Laine's words, the song uses "flamenco rhythms to whip up an atmosphere of sexual frustration and hatred while a guy berated the woman who'd done him wrong." The song ends with Laine shouting 'Jezebel!' at the woman who has destroyed him.This is still done by Wilde during his live concerts, to great effect.

My collection: 7" single no. 7694
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 15 June 2025
Tracks: 'High Noon' / 'Jezebel' 

Autobahn - Kraftwerk

The Kraftwerk album Autobahn celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, and so it is very cool that I managed to buy the single of the same name exactly this year. I already own a UK copy, of course, but this German edition with a picture sleeve is the real deal!

Curiously this single advertises with the banner 'From the U.S. Top LP', but it is rather wellknown that Kraftwerk was always more successful outside of Germany than it was within the country. Hence the decision to record their albums both in German and English after this one. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7685
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 15 June 2025
Tracks: 'Autobahn' / 'Morgenspaziergang' 

So long - Abba

Abba released four new picture disc 7" singles of the songs associated with their self-titled album from 1975. Abba was their third album, and the first single to be taken from that album was 'So Long', a rockier track than usual from the quartet. The single was released in most of Europe and in Australia and New Zealand in November 1974. Spain and Japan followed suit in early 1975. 

The B-side of this picture disc, 'I've been waiting for you' was actually also released as a single back in 1975, but only in Australia and New Zealand. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7680
Found: Platenzaak.nl, received 15 June 2025
Tracks: 'So long', 'I've been waiting for you' 

Wichita lineman - Glen Campbell

Somehow I can vaguely recall hearing this song on the radio when I was much younger. It's one of those songs that you fail to identify until many years later. I think I really 'got into' this song when it was performed by Glenn Gregory during some live concert in London which I attended maybe ten years ago.

Glen Campbell recorded the song back in 1968 and it reached number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. I stumbled on a copy by chance, and remembering the song almost instantly after having forgotten all about it once again, I snapped it up.

My collection: 7" single no. 7684
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 15 June 2025
Tracks: 'Wichita lineman' / 'Back in the race' 

What the hell just happened? - Remember Monday

This year's Eurovision Song Contest has come and gone, and some physical releases have arrived over the past few weeks. The latest is the pink vinyl 7" single of the UK entry 'What the hell just happened?' by Remember Monday. 

I'm sorry to say that while I quite liked the song with all its tempo changes - recalling early Queen songs - at first, but the more I heard it, the more grating it become. Especially the title of the song, which is repeated in shrill exclamations by the three singers, becomes a bore after two or three times. And it is repeated almost a dozen times. No wonder, then, that this song didn't score much at the Eurovision Song Contest. And, get this: they even do this on the B-side. Bring back Sam Ryder!

My collection: 7" single no. 7679
Found: Remember Monday website, received 13 May 2025
Tracks: 'What the hell just happened?' / 'What the hell just happened? (karaoke version)'

Karusell - Kirsti Sparboe

Kirsti Sparboe (born on 7 December 1946) was just 18 years old when she represented Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Karusell', a song that was written by Jolly Kramer-Johansen. He composed music for several Norwegian films, including De vergeløse from 1939, Bastard from 1940, Tørres Snørtevold from 1940, Den farlige leken from 1942, and Bustenskjold from 1958. 

The song ended up in 13th place in a field of 18 competitors. It didn't deter her from trying again: in 1967 she participated again with 'Dukkemann' (I'm still searching for that single!) and in 1969 she tried for the third and last time with 'Oj, oj, oj, så glad jeg skal bli'. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7678
Found: Discogs.com, received 13 May 2025
Tracks: "Karusell' / 'Med lokk og lur'

Maman - Louane

Last week was all about the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, and it was the usual mix of beautiful ballads, hyped up loud noises, ridiculousness and the odd scandal. As usual I like to focus primarily on the good songs, and fortunately this year there were a few. One of the best was France's entry, even if it bordered on the sentimental.

At least Louane's performance of 'Maman' was sincere and executed well. Frankly it's a scandal that the song ended up in seventh place, because in the past this would have easily won. Unfortunately the French language seems to be some kind of handicap these days, as Luxembourg and Switzerland (those countries also sent in some fine songs and performances) are sure to agree. 

This single was originally released as a limited edition, which I missed out on, but fortunately a second edition, pressed on purple vinyl, was released a few weeks later. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7677
Found: Official Louane website, received 12 May 2025
Tracks: 'Maman (original version)' / 'Maman (instrumental version)'