Wednesday 28 January 2015

Sandy - John Travolta

Singing actors... there is plenty of evidence that it is not a good idea. Bruce Willis, Don Johnson and (shudder) Meryl Streep have all proved that they were better on the screen than they are on vinyl. With the exception of the latter of course, as she cannot even act.

This single by John Travolta was, of course, released at the time of 'Grease', one of the biggest 'musical films' of all time. I wasn't impressed with this song when it was a hit, and hearing it now, I still am not. But the fact that this single was the only 'Grease' release my collection was lacking, and the fact that this was pressed on clear vinyl were great reasons to acquire this record anyway.

My collection: 7" single no. 5686
Found: Flea market, Leidschendam, December 28, 2014
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Sandy' / 'Rainbows'

Baby makes her blue jeans talk - Dr. Hook

Statistics! That's what makes big collections interesting. Here's one for you: this single represents one of the biggest gaps between two singles from the same artist I ever bought. 'Sylvia's mother', also by Dr. Hook, was number 304 in my collection, bought on June 30, 1985. This one, number 5685, became mine almost thirty years later.

'Baby makes her blue jeans talk' was the first single from Dr. Hook's tenth studio album 'Players in the dark'. It peaked at number 2 in the Dutch Top 40. The B-side is worth a spin too, because it's just very funny. With lyrics revolving around a certain three letter word it would have been very risqué in that day and age. Which is probably why it was relegated to a B-side and cryptically entitled 'The turn on'.

My collection: 7" single no. 5685
Found: Flea market, Leidschendam, December 28, 2014
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Baby makes her blue jeans talk' / 'The turn on'

Windforce 11 - Nadieh

Dutch singer Nadieh had a hit with her second single 'Windforce 11', taken from her debut album 'Land of Tá'. Peaking at number 23 in the Dutch Top 40, it had a lasting impression on the general public. The album was awarded music prizes in 1987.

Nadieh would continue to make music until the early Nineties, but then retreated from the stage and concentrated on writing songs for other (Dutch) artists instead. On April 5, 1996, Nadieh died after a battle with cancer.

My collection: 7" single no. 5684
Found: Flea market, Leidschendam, December 28, 2014
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Windforce 11' / 'Does it really matter'

Tuesday 27 January 2015

BBC-TV's Song for Europe 1965 - Kathy Kirby

Kathy Kirby was born as Kathleen O'Rourke on October 20, 1938. She is best known for her cover version of Doris Day's 'Secret Love' and for representing the United Kingdom in the 1965 Eurovision Song Contest, finishing in second place.

Her song 'I belong' was chosen during a television broadcast on January 29, 1965. All six songs feature on this EP, although 'I belong' was rearranged for the performance at the Eurovision Song Contest in Naples on March 20. While Kirby performed a very contemporary hit song, she was beaten by France Gall who performed an even more modern tune.

My collection: 7" single no. 5681
Found: Discogs.com, received December 9, 2014
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'I'll try not to cry', 'Sometimes', 'My only love' / 'I won't let you go', 'One day', 'I belong'

Thursday 22 January 2015

Voltarei - Dora

Portuguese singer Dora (full name: Dora Maria Reis Dias de Jesus) represented her country twice: in 1986 with 'Não sejas mau para mim' and in 1988 with this song, 'Voltarei'. Like many Portuguese entries at the Eurovision Song Contest, they weren't very successful. The former ended up in 16th place, and the latter finished in 18th place.

The single features both the Portuguese version and the English translation, 'I'll come back'.

My collection: 7" single no. 5682
Found: Discogs.com, received December 9, 2014
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Voltarei' / 'I'll come back'

Songs for Europe - Kenneth McKellar

Scottish singer Kenneth McKellar was born on June 23, 1927 and studied forestry at the University of Aberdeen, then trained at the Royal College of Music as an opera singer. He went on to sing traditional Scottish songs.

In 1965, the BBC selected him to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest. This EP features all five songs that were performed during the national final. The song 'A man without love' was chosen for him to perform at Eurovision. It finished ninth in a field of 18 competitors, which was actually the UK's worst placing for a long time - until 1978. McKellar died of pancreatic cancer on April 9, 2010.

My collection: 7" single no. 5683
Found: Discogs.com, received December 12, 2014
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'As long as the sun shines', 'Country girl', 'A touch of the Tartan' / 'A man without love', 'Comes the time'

Wednesday 31 December 2014

Sue (Or In a season of crime) - David Bowie

I started this year with an entry about David Bowie, so I thought it would be appropriate to end the year with Bowie as well. He surprised everyone - again - with his latest offering, 'Sue (Or In a season of crime)'. The single was released on 10" vinyl only, so no cd-singles, 7" or 12" at all. The track also appeared on his latest compilation, 'Nothing has changed'. But does the world really need yet another Bowie compilation album? I guess record companies still like to cash in with old stuff.

'Sue' is a weird offering, as it sounds a lot like jazz and it can seem a bit tedious, being such a long track. But repeated listening is rewarding. Bowie keeps changing, even if nothing much has changed.

My collection: 10" single [unnumbered]
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 23, 2014
Cost: 8 euro
Tracks: 'Sue (Or In a season of crime)' / ''Tis a pity she was a whore', 'Sue (Or In a season of crime) (edit)'

Saturday 27 December 2014

Komm' heut zu mir - Chocolate Menta Mastik

Chocolate, Menta, Mastik ('Chocolate, mint, gum') was an Israeli female musical trio, active in the Seventies, composed of Yardena Arazi, Ruthie Holzman and either Tami Azaria (1972-1973) or Leah Lupatin. The trio performed both in Israel and Internationally, especially after being the 1976 entry to the Eurovision Song Contest in The Hague with 'Emor Shalom'.

Founded in 1948, Israel was a 28-year-old country in 1976, giving the line "I've been alone for almost thirty years" an extra meaning- since it gained independence Israel was isolated in the Middle East, surrounded by hostile Arab countries (Egypt and Jordan signed peace agreements with Israel since then). At the close of voting, it had received 77 points, placing 6th in a field of 18 competitors. This single presents the German and English versions of their song.

My collection: 7" single no. 5680
Found: Discogs.com, received December 9, 2014
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Komm' heut zu mir' / 'Say hello'

Du bist Musik - Blue Danube

Blue Danube was an Austrian band that has represented their country in the 1980 Eurovision Song Contest. Their song 'Du bist musik' ('You are music') was filled with names of famous composers and certain types of music. The band consisted of Marty Brem, Wolfgang 'Marc' Berry, Sylvia Schramm, Rena Mauris and Wolfgang Weiss.

'Du bist Musik' received 64 points, placing 8th in a field of 19 competitors. The group split up after Eurovision, but Marty Brem reappeared solo on the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest, representing Austria with 'Wenn du da bist'.

My collection: 7" single no. 5679
Found: Discogs.com, received December 9, 2014
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Du bist Musik' / 'Du bist Musik (instrumental)'

Fångad i en dröm - Björn Skifs

Björn Nils Olof Skifs  was born on April 20, 1947 in Vansbro, Dalarna, Sweden. He formed his first musical group Slam Creepers in 1962. Slam Creepers split in 1969 and Skifs went on to form a new band, Blåblus, in 1972. As Blue Swede, the band had a number 1 hit on Billboard Hot 100 in 1974 with a cover of 'Hooked on a feeling'. Björn Skifs left the band in 1976 to pursue a solo career. He recorded the duet 'Med varann' with Anni-Frid Lyngstad for his 1975 album 'Schiffz'. Skifs appeared as The Arbiter on the original studio album for Chess, released in 1984. Skifs also recorded several demos for the album, including 'One night in Bangkok', later performed by Murray Head.

In 1981 he represented Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Fångad i en dröm'. This was the second time that Björn Skifs had represented Sweden in the contest, having previously entered the contest for Sweden in 1978 with the song 'Det blir alltid värre framåt natten'. Like in 1978, Skifs was the last performer of the night. At the close of voting, the song ended up in 10th place in  a field of 20 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 5678
Found: Discogs.com, received December 9, 2014
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Fångad i en dröm' / 'Stackare, stackare'

Valentino - Cadillac

I don't know why, but the 1986 Spanish entry for the Eurovision Song Contest always stuck out in my memory as one of the best Spanish entries ever. I had a lot of trouble finding a copy of the single ever since I started looking out for it some 20 years ago. Even online, because whenever I found a copy the seller was asking way too much for it.

That's why I was happy to finally spot a copy on Discogs.com last month for a reasonable price, and from a seller who had more interesting Eurovision singles on offer. After all these years, I finally have this single. And how did this song perform in 1986? At the close of the voting had received 51 points, placing 10th in a field of 20 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 5677
Found: Discogs.com, recieved December 9, 2014
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Valentino' / 'Tahiti'

Stad i ljus - Tommy Körberg

Bert Gustav Tommy Körberg was born in Norsjö (Sweden) on July 4, 1948. In 1988, he represented Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Stad i ljus', a beautifully orchestrated ballad.The song finished 12th in a field of 21 competitors.

The single peaked at number 8 at the Swedish singles chart. On the single, the song appears sung in Swedish and in English. In 2013 Körberg tried to reach the Eurovision Song Contest one more time as part of he group Ravaillacz. They ended up in 10th place in the Swedish national final.

My collection: 7" single no. 5676
Found: Discogs.com, received December 12, 2014
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Stad i ljus' / 'Unchained light'

Friday 26 December 2014

Motorcycle Mama - Harpo

Swedish singer Harpo is best known for his worldwide hit 'Moviestar', which was a hit in 1975. He followed that single up with this one: 'Motorcycle mama', a song with a lyric that mentions various Sixties phenomena, such as Woodstock, Jimi Hendrix, Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band and Ravi Shanker. Still, it only charted in Sweden and Denmark, peaking at number 8 and 9 respectively.

This single is memorable (or should be) because of the B-side, as it gives us a Christmas song, and one that hasn't been played to death. 'Beautiful Christmas' was written by Harpo himself. You won't find it on most of the Christmas compilation albums, so I consider this to be a rather exclusive Christmas experience. Enjoy!

My collection: 7" single no. 5399
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'Motorcycle mama' / 'Beautiful Christmas'

Thursday 25 December 2014

Last Christmas - Wham!

One of the best known Christmas songs of all time, 'Last Christmas' was originally released in 1984 but re-released almost every year since then. I already wrote about the 1989 re-release on this blog five years ago, but this time I'd like to present to you two re-releases that I bought earlier this year.

The 1985 edition featured 'Blue (live in China)' on the B-side and came in the same sleeve that was used every year since then. My copy, pictured above, was created in the UK and comes in the kind of thick cardboard sleeve that is so uniquely British.

The 1988 edition, pictured below, was made in Holland and inevitably looks cheaper. There is also  an interesting mistake on the back cover, as it promises 'Everything she wants (live in China)', but apparently this is caused by them using the 1985 sleeve and simply replacing the line 'Blue' but leaving the line with 'live in China' intact.

I could of course have written two entries, but I'm sure this is more efficient. After all, we all have some Christmas duties to perform these days...

My collection: 7" single no. 5668 & no. 5471
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 23, 2014 & Kringloop Hebbes, Den Haag, July 25, 2014
Cost: 1 euro each
Tracks: 'Last Christmas' / 'Blue (live in China') & 'Last Christmas' / 'Everything she wants'

Tuesday 23 December 2014

Say wonderful things - Ronnie Carroll

Ronnie Carroll returned in the Eurovision Song Contest the year after he appeared with 'Ring-a-ding girl'. 'Say wonderful things' was the song he competed with in 1963, and just like in 1962 he finished fourth. The single was considerably more successful in the UK singles chart, peaking at number 6.

The most popular version of the song in the United States was recorded by Patti Page, as the title song of her first album for Columbia Records. Page's record peaked only at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100 but was more successful in Australia, continental Europe and in Asian territories such as Hong Kong and Japan.

My collection: 7" single no. 5675
Found: Discogs.com, received December 2, 2014
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Say wonderful things' / 'Please tell me your name'

Ring-a-ding girl - Ronnie Carroll

Ronnie Carroll was born as Ronald Cleghorn on August 18, 1934 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He scored his first hit in 1956 with 'Walk hand in hand'. Having taken part in the 1960 UK Eurovision selection contest with the song 'Girl with a curl', he returned to win the selection and be Britain's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1962.

The song 'Ring-a-ding girl' received 10 points, placing 4th in the field of 16 competitors. The single reached number 46 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 5674
Found: Discogs.com, received December 2, 2014
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Ring-a-ding girl' / 'The girls in their summer dresses'

Damned if I do - Alan Parsons Project

'Damned if I do' is a single taken from the Alan Parsons Project's 1979 album 'Eve'. The focus of the songs on this album is on the strengths and characteristics of women, and the problems they face in the world of men.

The lead vocal on this single is performed by Lenny Zakatek. He was born just prior to Karachi becoming part of Pakistan and moved to London at the age of thirteen. The single was successful in the USA and Canada, where it peaked at number 27 and number 16, respectively, but it failed to chart in Europe.

My collection: 7" single no. 5673
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 23, 2014
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Damned if I do' / 'You lie down with dogs'

Catch me if you can - Hot Eyes

Hot Eyes was the name adopted for international acts by the Danish singing duo known in their home country as Kirsten and Søren. It was formed by Kirsten Siggard (born 7 September 1954 in Slagelse) and Søren Bundgaard (born 4 March 1956 in Glostrup). In 1984 they participated in the Eurovision Song Contest as Kirsten and Søren with Det' lige det, but in 1985 they participated as Hot Eyes with 'Sku' du' spørg' fra no'en?' ('What business is it of yours?'). At the close of voting, this song had received 41 points, placing 11th in a field of 19 competitors. The duo would return to the Contest in 1988 with the song 'Ka' du se, hva' jeg sa'?', again as Kirsten & Søren.

One single by Hot Eyes then. I found this copy at a cheap German dealer's stall at the record fair in Utrecht, much to my surprise. It features the English version of their 1985 Eurovision song, with the original Danish version on the B-side.

My collection: 7" single no. 5669
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 23, 2014
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Catch me if you can' / 'Sku' du spoerg' fra no'en'

Io così non ci sto - Mariella Farré

Mariella Farré (born 1963 in Thurgau as Gabriella Filomeno) is a Swiss singer of Italian descent, best known for her participation in the Eurovision Song Contests of 1983 and 1985. Farré's first attempt at Eurovision came in 1981 when, as a newcomer, she entered the Swiss selection heat, only for her song "Una cosa meravigliosa" to finish sixth and last. She was to have more luck in 1983 with 'Io così non ci sto' ('I don't like it this way'), which won the selection and went forward to the Eurovision Song Contest, where it finished in a disappointing 15th place of the 20 entries.

This single is a good example of how expensive online dealers can be: while this single was offered on Discogs.com for €3.50 by some Dutch dealer, I picked it up for a fraction of that price at the recent record fair in Utrecht. But then, Dutch online vendors are not generally known for their generosity.

My collection: 7" single no. 5664
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 23, 2014
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Io così non ci sto' / 'Soli'

Feuer - Ireen Sheer

Ireen Sheer was born on February 25, 1949 in Basildon, Essex, England. She has competed in several Eurovision Song Contests over the past four decades. She married another musician, Gavin du Porter, in 1976.

'Feuer' ('Fire') was the German entry in the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest. This was Sheer's second Eurovision entry, in 1974 she had represented Luxembourg with Bye Bye I Love You, then singing in French. The song was performed thirteenth on the night. At the close of voting, it had received 84 points, placing 6th in a field of 20 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 5663
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 23, 2014
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Feuer' / 'Oh, mon amour'

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