Papa Pingouin - Sophie & Magaly

The Eurovision Song Contest certainly divides opinions. Some feel it's the best event of the year, whereas others criticize it for its naffness and the opinion that music comes second to shows and effects.

One song that was always an example for the latter category was Sophie & Magaly's 'Papa Pingouin'. During their performance a man in a penguin suit danced across the stage. It looked quite ridiculous, but to be fair, the song was catchy and stayed in your head once you heard it. It's a televised event, after all, so I would say it's just these kind of gimmicks that entertain.  

My collection: 7" single no. 8395
Found: Variaworld, Utrecht, 12 August 2026
Tracks: 'Papa Pingouin' / 'Tous les enfants du monde' 

Can't help falling in love - Stylistics

You could say that 'Can't help falling in love' is an overly familiar song, as it has been recorded by everyone from Elvis Presley to UB40. But the version of the Stylistics is quite unique, as it adds a certain uptempo soul touch to it. 

The single peaked at number 4 in the UK singles chart, but only managed to get to number 7 in the Tipparade, just outside the Dutch Top 40. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8394
Found: Variaworld, Utrecht, 12 August 2026
Tracks: 'Can't help falling in love' / 'Jenny' 

Swing your daddy - Jim Gilstrap

'Swing Your Daddy' was a single by singer Jim Gilstrap. It became a hit for him in 1975, charting in various countries around the world. It was a track from his album, also titled Swing your daddy. The single reached number 1 in the Dutch Top 40.

Although Gilstrap didn't have many hits, he appeared in the charts more often than you might think. For example, he sang on Stevie Wonder's 'You are the sunshine of my life', and his voice can also be heard on several songs by Boz Scaggs. He is primarily heard in soul-style numbers, though an outlier is his vocal part on an LP by The Who's drummer Keith Moon. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8393 
Found: Variaworld, Utrecht, 12 August 2026
Tracks: 'Swing your daddy (part 1)' / 'Swing your daddy (part 2)'

 

Daddy's home - Jermaine Jackson

'Daddy's home' is a song by American doo-wop group Shep and the Limelites. The song was written by the three members of the band, James "Shep" Sheppard (1935–1970), Clarence Bassett (1936–2005) and Charles Baskerville. 

Jermaine Jackson covered the song for his 1972 debut solo album, Jermaine, and it was released as the second single from the album. His version featured the rest of the Jackson 5 on backing vocals. The single peaked at number 9 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 8 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 8392
Found: Variaworld, Utrecht, 12 August 2026
Tracks: 'Daddy's home' / 'Take me in your arms (Rock me for a little while)' 

Let me change your mind tonight - Johnny hates Jazz

After the recent death of Calvin Hayes, a member of Johnny hates Jazz, it's appropriate to post one of their singles. The Eighties were kind for this band, but the Nineties... not so much. Lead singer Clark Datchler had left the band and the two other members, Hayes and Mike Nocito, went on with their friend Phil Thornally. However, Thornalley and Calvin Hayes were involved in a car accident in 1991 just before the album's release, which left Hayes seriously injured. He spent nearly two years in the hospital, inclduing one year in a full body cast, and required longterm rehabilitation treatment. The album Tall Stories, which coincided with the car accident, was commercially unsuccessful and attracted little attention.

'Let me change your mind tonight' was equally unsuccessful, stalling at no. 101 in the UK singles chart. Still, this single is worth checking out, especially since the instrumental B-side is really catchy!

My collection: 7" single no. 8391
Found: Variaworld, Utrecht, 12 August 2026
Tracks: 'Let me change your mind tonight' / 'Breaking point' 

Mega hit mix - Fun Fun

After they had a couple of hits in the first half of the Eighties, Fun Fun seemed to have disappeared altogether. And yet, in 1987 they returned with this 'Mega Hit Mix' - a medley of exactly those hits. 

It brings together 'Happy Station', 'Colour my love', 'Baila bolero' and 'Give me your love' in a snazzy megamix fashion that lasts for almost six minutes. It brought them back into the Dutch Top 40 in the first weeks of 1988, peaking at number 5. Of course, this was also their last hit.

My collection: 7" single no. 8390
Found: Variaworld, Utrecht, 12 August 2026
Tracks: 'Mega hit mix' / 'Gimme some lovin''

Goin' home - Tower

I wrote about Tower a long time ago, during the first few months of this blog, when I wrote about their biggest hit, 'See you tonight'. All these years later I've bought their second biggest hit, the single 'Goin' home'. 

When you compare the two songs you notice that 'Goin' home' is almost a carbon copy of 'See you tonight': the same sounds, the same simple chorus and even a few lines of 'ooooh'. It's not a bad song, it's just not too original.

My collection: 7" single no. 8389
Found: Variaworld, Utrecht, 12 August 2026
Tracks: 'Goin' home' / 'Spaceman'