Une petite Française - Michele Torr

'Une petite française' was the Monegasque entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1977, performed in French by French singer Michèle Torr. The song was composed by Olivier Toussaint and Paul de Senneville, a very successful team whose compositions were recorded by major French singers such as Michel Polnareff, Christophe, Dalida, Petula Clark, Claude François and Mireille Mathieu all through the 60s and 70s.

'Une petite française' is a mid-tempo ballad, with Torr describing herself as an average Frenchwoman, rather than the cosmopolitan types more commonly associated with that country. She confides that she is no Marilyn, she never reads about her own life in the magazines, she doesn't own a Rolls, she doesn't consider herself an idol, she hasn't read Pascal, she rarely visits Paris, she hasn't changed her name, she leads a quiet provincial life with her children - she just happens to be country girl from Provence who likes to sing. She asks her audience to be the judge of whether she should have left her home for a career in music. Despite her peculiar voice, the jury apparently thought so, because she ended up in 4th place in a field of 18 contestants.

My collection: 7" single no. 5185
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Une petite Française' / 'Le mal de Mai'

Eyes - Donna Summer

'Eyes' is the third and final single from the album 'Cats without claws' by Donna Summer. Edited in length from the original version on the album, the single did not achieve chart success.

The song was mixed by the then very popular John ´Jellybean´ Benitez.

My collection: 7" single no. 5167
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Eyes' / 'It's not the way'

I've gotta get a message to you - Bee Gees

'I've gotta get a message to you' is a song recorded by the Bee Gees in 1968, which became their second number 1 single in the UK singles chart. The song is about a man who, awaiting his execution in the electric chair, begs the prison chaplain to pass a final message on to his wife.

Robin Gibb, who wrote the lyrics, said that the man's crime was the murder of his wife's lover. He came up with the idea following a quarrel with his wife and originally conceived the song with Percy Sledge in mind to record it. In fact, Sledge did record it in February 1970.

My collection: 7" single no. 5137
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I've gotta get a message to you' / 'Kitty can'

Let your love flow - Bellamy Brothers

'Let your love flow' was written by Larry E. Williams, a former roadie for Neil Diamond, and made popular by the American country music duo The Bellamy Brothers. It was offered to Neil Diamond first, but he turned it down.

The single reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 6 in the Dutch Top 40. In 2008 the song was used in an advert in the United Kingdom for Barclaycard (right - 'Let your money flow'...). Subsequently, the song re-entered the UK Singles Chart and peaked at number 21.

My collection: 7" single no. 5134
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Let your love flow' / 'Inside my guitar'

I won't let the sun go down - Nik Kershaw

'I won't let the sun go down' was Nik Kershaw's debut single, released in 1983. The song was written during the latter part of the Cold War period when nuclear war between the two superpowers of the USSR and USA was still a very real concern, and the lyrics reflect a satirical view of politics and the threat of war with lines such as: 'old men in stripey trousers, rule the world with plastic smiles', and: 'forefinger on the button, is he blue or is he red?'

Originally the single only reached number 47 in the UK charts. However, the follow up single from the same album, 'Wouldn't it be good', reached the top five and on the back of that success 'I won't let the sun go down' was re-released and soared to number 2. It was also subsequently a major hit in several other countries and was responsible for bringing Nik Kershaw to greater public attention.

My collection: 7" single no. 5147
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I won't let the sun go down' / 'Dark glasses'

Something got me started - Simply Red

'Something got me started' was the first single released from what would become Simply Red's biggest selling album, 'Stars'. The single eventually made number 11 in the UK and German charts, number 23 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

In 2005, 'Something got me started' was one of the eight previously released Simply Red songs re-recorded for the album 'Simplified'. It also became the second single release from the album, as a double A-side with a new cover of the Leon Russell song 'A song for you'. This made it the only Simply Red song to date to be released as a single twice.

My collection: 7" single no. 5150
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Something got me started' / 'A new flame'

Get it - Stevie Wonder & Michael Jackson

'Get it' is one of Michael Jackson's lesser known duets. The track was taken from Stevie Wonder's album 'Characters' and released as its second single. Jackson worked with Wonder eight years earlier for the song 'I can't help it' for his album 'Off the wall', which was written by Wonder and former Supremes member Susaye Greene, while Wonder worked with Jackson on his top-selling 'Bad' album for the song 'Just good friends'.

The song features Wonder and Jackson talking about how to treat a lady, alongside what does a woman wants, needs, and respect from her lover. The single reached number 80 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 5161
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Get it' / 'Get it (instrumental)'

Gimme some kinda magic - Dollar

'The Dollar Album' was Dollar's third album and the duo's most successful one. No less than five singles were drawn from the album, of which 'Gimme some kinda magic' was the last one.

It was the least successful of the five in the UK, peaking at number 34. It did better in Ireland, where the single reached number 12, overtaking both 'Hand held in black and white' and 'Videotheque', the first and fourth single from the album.

My collection: 7" single no. 5163
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Gimme some kinda magic' / 'You made me love you'

Desire - Andy Gibb

'Desire' was released as the first single from Andy Gibb's 1980 album 'After dark'. The song was originally recorded in 1978 by the Bee Gees during sessions for their album Spirits Having Flown, and intended for release on that album. When it was rejected by the band, it was instead released expressly as an Andy Gibb song, having Andy recording a new lead vocal in 1979 replacing his brother Barry's.

The single reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 5143
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Desire' / 'Waiting for you'

Blame it on the boogie - The Jacksons

You don't hear the word 'boogie' anymore. Back in the Seventies, is was the buzzword for having a good time, dancing around and generally going out of your mind. And the Jacksons, Michael included, had one of their biggest hits with 'Blame it on the boogie' in 1978.

The first promotional music video by the Jacksons was created for 'Blame it on the boogie', thus marking Michael Jackson's video debut. The video, featuring the group's members dancing on a black background, relied heavily on vintage electronic trail effects, created at Image West, Ltd. using then-cutting edge equipment: the Scanimate analog computer system and a Quantel DFS 3000 digital framestore.

My collection: 7" single no. 5156
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Blame it on the boogie' / 'Do what you wanna'

Could it be happiness - Ann Christy

Ann Christy's 1975 entry for the Eurovision Song Contest, 'Gelukkig zijn', was released in two versions: the original Dutch (Flemish) version, and this English translation. Both singles are considered a rarity, extremely hard to find, and so I was lucky to find both on one day.

Although the original title means 'Being happy', the title 'Could it be happiness' was chosen for this English version.

My collection: 7" single no. 5182
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Could it be happiness' / 'This world is full of pain'

Wired to the moon - Chris Rea

Chris Rea released his sixth album 'Wired to the moon' in 1984, keeping up his 'one album per year' tempo without any problem, it seemed. A whopping five singles were drawn from the album, although only the first one, 'I don't know what it is but I love it', reached the UK singles chart.

The title track was the fifth single, and like the previous three, it didn't chart. All this despite the fact that it's actually a lovely sort of lullaby.

My collection: 7" single no. 5171
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Wired to the moon' / 'True love'

Gelukkig zijn - Ann Christy

Ann Christy was born as Christianne Leenaerts on 22 September 1945 in Antwerp, Belgium. She began a singing career with The Adams Orchestra. She later married the drummer, Marc Hoyois. Her first solo recordings met with little success. In 1968 she won the Knokke Cup singing contest.

Her first attempt to represent Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest came in 1970 with the song 'Le temps, le vent'. She also tried the next year with 'Dag vreemde man', which finished second in the national final. A third attempt in 1973, when each of five chosen acts performed two songs, ended in third place for 'Bye Bye'. She finally had success in 1975 when 'Gelukkig zijn' ('Being happy') was chosen to represent Belgium in Stockholm. Christy sung the first half of the song in Dutch and the second half in English, and although the song had been tipped to do well, it ended the evening in a very disappointing 15th place out of 19 entries.

Christy was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 1982, and died on 7 August 1984, aged 38.

My collection: 7" single no. 5181
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Gelukkig zijn' / 'Er is zoveel verdriet in de wereld'

Sad song - Ellen Foley

'Sad song' was released as the third single from Ellen Foley's debut album 'Night out'. It featured Ellen's trademark voice, which was used to so much effect on Meat Loaf's 'Paradise by the dashboard light'.

Contrary to the previous two singles 'We belong to the night' and 'What's a matter baby', the single was not a commercial success.

My collection: 7" single no. 5173
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Sad song' / 'Stupid girl'

You surround me - Erasure

'You surround me' was released as the second single from Erasure's fourth studio album 'Wild!'. Upon release, it became Erasure's tenth consecutive Top 20 hit on the UK singles chart, peaking at number 15. It reached number 10 on the Irish singles chart, and number 38 in Germany.

The track, a love song, was written by Erasure members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell and is a heavily-synthesized ballad with a dramatic chorus featuring Bell's falsetto. Clarke has stated that this song was his attempt at writing a James Bond film theme. Also included on the single as a B-side is '91 Steps', an instrumental with complex synthesizer programming and unusual time signature. The track utilizes repeating cycles in which the first seven bars use a 7/4 time signature, followed by one bar in 3/4 time.

My collection: 7" single no. 5132
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'You surround me' / '91 Steps'

Nights on Broadway - Bee Gees

'Nights on Broadway' is a track from the Bee Gees' 1975 album 'Main course'. The second single release from the album, it immediately followed their number one hit "Jive Talkin'". The song introduced Barry Gibb's falsetto voice in the chorus. It was a turning point in Bee Gees style, as they progressed through their disco era writing songs mostly sung in falsetto by Barry. He did not know of his special "talent" until producer Arif Mardin asked someone within the group to try to do some kind of screaming during the main chorus.

'Nights on Broadway' reached number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and number 8 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 5136
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Nights on Broadway' / 'Edge of the universe'

Cold love - Donna Summer

'Cold love' is the second single from the Donna Summer album The Wanderer. Although the song did not gain as much success as its predecessor, it did receive a Grammy nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.

Vocally, this song contrasts with the just previous 'The Wanderer' single release - it is very reminiscent of her 1979 'Hot Stuff' - power belt and hard rock approach. Personally, I prefer the B-side, the very intriguing 'Grand illusion'.

My collection: 7" single no. 5166
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Cold love' / 'Grand illusion'

Victor should have been a jazz musician - Grace Jones

Nile Rodgers and Grace Jones produced 'Victor should have been a jazz musician', a track taken from her 1986 album 'Inside story'. As the song title suggests, it saw Jones exploring new musical territories and the spoken opening line even refers to one of the late and greats of jazz: "I went to a Nina Simone concert...". The horns on the track were played by Lenny Pickett, Stan Harrison, Steve Elson, and Mac Gollehon under the collective name The Borneo Horns.

The single reached number 35 in the Dutch Top 40, but failed to chart in other territories.

My collection: 7" single no. 5176
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Victor should have been a jazz musician' / 'Crush'

You've got it - Simply Red

In the autumn of 1989, 'You've got it' was released as the fourth and final single from Simply Red's third album 'A new flame'. The previous three singles had been top 20 hits in the UK, but this single wasn't as successful, peaking at number 46 only.

The B-side of this single features a live acoustic version of their biggest hit, 'Holding back the years', recorded in Australia in August 1989.

My collection: 7" single no. 5174
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'You've got it' / 'Holding back the years (live acoustic version)'

Rendez-vous - Pas de deux & Big Band

Pas de Deux (Walter Verdin, Dett Peyskens and Hilde van Roy) were a Belgian band, best known for their participation in the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest, and the controversy surrounding their selection as that year's Belgian representatives. 'Rendez-vous' consisted of just one line of quasi-nonsensical lyric ('Rendez-vous, maar de maat is vol en m'n kop is toe') repeated over a quirky, rhythmic instrumental track while Peyskens and van Roy danced barefoot, and seemed to baffle the conservative audience.

'Rendez-vous' proved unsuccessful, finishing in 18th place of the 20 entries, having received points from only the UK, Spain and Portugal. The single reached the Belgian top 30, but a follow up single, 'Manimeme', went unnoticed and the group soon disbanded. When I bought this single, a search of almost 28 years came to an end. In the shop they told me second hand copies of this single came in every so often, and it was never there for long. It's still very much sought after, apparently.

My collection: 7" single no. 5187
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'Rendez-vous' / 'Rendez-vous (mix)'