Experience - Diana Ross

Released in 1985, 'Experience' was a single by Diana Ross that went by almost unnoticed, even if the song was written by the Bee Gees and remixed by François Kevorkian - big names. The track was not released as a single in the USA, but even where it was released, it didn't manage to get to the top 10. Ireland was the most generous, with its highest chart placing at no. 14, but in Australia and the UK  the single finished at number 64 and 47 respectively.

That's not to say it's a bad track: I actually quite enjoy this. It's the B-side that seems to be a throwaway track, although even that one appears, like the A-side, on the album 'Eaten Alive'.

My collection: 7" single no. 6297
Found: Plato, Leiden, June 30, 2020
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Experience' / 'Oh teacher'

Love is a lonely harbour - Fra Lippo Lippi

Although most people will remember 'Shouldn't have to be like that' as Fra Lippo Lippi's only achievement, they actually released several albums and singles. Their album 'Songs' (from which 'Shouldn't have to be like that' was taken) remains their best in my opinion, but 1989's 'The colour album' is a recent discovery and can almost compete with it.

This single, 'Love is a lonely harbour' is one of the best tracks on that album. With inspiring lyrics and beautiful music it grabbed me from the first listen. It begs for an extended version, but unfortunately, that doesn't exist.

My collection: 7" single no. 6286
Found: Discogs.com, received May 23, 2020
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Love is a lonely harbour' / 'Shouldn't have to be like that (live)'

Everyday I write the book - Elvis Costello and the Attractions

I recently re-discovered Elvis Costello's 'Everyday I write the book', a song that was regularly on TV back in 1983 and 1984, when MTV didn't yet exist in Europe and we still had the great Sky Channel and Music Box to provide us with daily doses of music videos. I was always waiting for my favourites to show up, so this video kindof got in the way of that.

I don't know, exactly, how this song suddenly crawled its way up from the dark corners of my memory, but I am glad it did. It's one of Elvis' finest pop songs. His career has taken many turns since then but the early pop stuff never loses its charm.

My collection: 7" single no. 6285
Found: Discogs.com, received May 23, 2020
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Everyday I write the book' / 'Heathen town'

Främling - Carola Haggkvist

Although I realise that I already had the A-side track of this single on the B-side of 'Je ogen hebben geen geheimen' by Carola, I couldn't resist buying the original Swedish release of her 1983 Eurovision Song Contest entry. With a different sleeve and the original Swedish version of 'Life' (on the B-side of 'Love isn't love') the set is now complete. Well, almost, because there is also the multi-language 12" version, which I am still looking for.

The song was a good success in various countries, thanks to the English (and Dutch!) version, but the original Swedish version remains the most charming one. Of course, Carola went on to win Eurovision by the end of the decade - but with a much less charming song.

My collection: 7" single no. 6284
Found: Discogs.com, received May 23, 2020
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Främling' / 'Liv'

Ka' du se hvad jeg sa'? - Kirsten & Søren

After Det' lige det in 1984 and Sku' du' spørg fra no'en? in 1985, Kirsten & Søren returned to the Eurovision stage in 1988 with 'Ka' du se hvad jeg sa'?', another breezy Danish pop tune in their all too familiar style. It was their most successful attempt, finishing in third place.

I was quite surprised to find that I did have the single Who is wrong and who's right, featuring both the English and French versions, but the original Danish version was still lacking. I was lucky to find this single with the same dealer who was selling Brandenburger Tor, which eased the pain of having to shell out postage from Finland a little.

My collection: 7" single no. 6279
Found: Discogs.com, received April 23, 2020
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Ka' du se hvad jeg sa'?' / 'Lullaby (Sang til Kaj)'

No estas solo - Patricia Kraus

Patricia Kraus was born on January 4, 1964 in Milan, Italy as the daughter of Alfredo Kraus, a Spanish tenor. She was selected to represent Spain during the Eurovision Song Contest in 1987 with 'No estas solo'. As you can hear, the song is a bit messy and really doesn't go anywhere. No wonder, then, that it finished in 19th place in a field of 22 competitors.

Kraus released her first self-titled album shortly after her Eurovision appearance. Further albums followed, including two of experimental electronica in collaboration with Daniel Assante, which were critically well-received although modest sellers. In 1999 she formed the group Waxbeat with Juan Belda and Juan Gómez Acebo, and two albums were released. Kraus, along with Assante and Italian musicians Enrico Barbaro and Gherardo Catanzaro, is currently working under the name of Vintage Club Band.

My collection: 7" single no. 6274
Found: Discogs.com, received April 8, 2020
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'No estas solo' / 'With love'

No more lonely nights - Paul McCartney

Even a music legend can't get it right every time. Paul McCartney has been a victim of ridicule for his single 'We all stand together', the syrupy duet 'Ebony and ivory' and even his treatment of his deluxe editions of past albums, where digital files were sometimes favoured over physical releases.

A more personal example of failure for me is the extended version of 'No more lonely nights'. It is one of my favourite McCartney tracks, but the ballad version - present here on the B-side - is many times better than the so-called 'playout version'. And then there's the extended version... what a mess! I wanted to hear this version, which was my reason for buying this 12" single, but it turned out to be a disappointment. It will probably be up for sale soon. Any takers?

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, January 24, 2020
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'No more lonely nights (extended version)' / 'Silly love songs', 'No more lonely nights (ballad)'

The woman and the girl in me - Kate

I already bought the original Norwegian version of 'The woman and the girl in me' by Kate, titled 'Mitt liv', six month ago. But while ordering some singles this German pressing turned up and I couldn't resist buying this.

So what happened to Kate after Eurovision? She performed the song 'Welcome to Lillehammer' at the 1994 Winter Olympics. Then in 1998, Jørn Hansen's 'Med gullet for øyet' was the official song for the Paralympic Winter Games in Nagano in Japan in 1998.
 
She was previously married and took the surname Gulbrandsen Syversen. The couple had one child together and separated in 2006.

My collection: 7" single no. 6269
Found: Discogs.com, received March 25, 2020
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'The woman and the girl in me' / 'Touch my fantasy'

Liebe gibt und nimmt - Corinne Hermès

In 1983, Luxembourg managed to win the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Si la vie est cadeau', performed by Corinne Hermès. I remember seeing the programme live - it was one of the first times that I was allowed to stay up until the end - and wondering why this song, out of all the songs that were performed that night, was rewarded with the prize.

This single presents the song in German and English. It is a nice curiosity, but listening to these two versions I am strengthened in my opinion that this really isn't a good composition. It's hard to listen to the cold, emotionless vocals of Hermès and the lyrics do little to improve the song. If it were me, any of the runners up would have been better winners.

My collection: 7" single no. 6272
Found: Discogs.com, received March 25, 2020
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'Liebe gibt und nimmt' / 'Words of love'

Sensitive - Mick Karn

I already owned a 7" single and a 12" single of 'Sensitive' by Mick Karn, but this latest addition is a recent discovery. Much to my surprise, this Dutch pressing of the single features a remix version of the track - a different remix from the one that appeared on the 12", surprisingly enough. While the 12" version has a duration of 4 minutes and 15 seconds, this single version is half a minute shorter and also appears to have been released some time after the single's original release. And of course, it has a slightly different sleeve!

You can understand this was the latest addition to my ever expanding 'Wilde' collection, because both sides of this single were produced and mixed by Mick Karn and Ricky Wilde.

My collection: 7" single no. 6266
Found: Discogs.com, received March 19, 2020
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Sensitive (remix)' / 'The sound of waves'

Boogaloo - Lotta Engberg

I bought '4 bugg & en coca cola' last year, fully aware that there was another version of this song as well. 'Boogaloo' was released shortly after that single, after the Eurovision officials decided that using a trademark name was not allowed on their stage. And so, not only the title of the song was changed, but also some of the lyrics.

The result is heard on this single: 'Boogaloo', released in time for the 1987 Eurovision Song Contest. The song ended up in twelfth place in Eurovision, in a field of 22 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 6265
Found: Discogs.com, received March 19, 2020
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Boogaloo (English version)' / 'Boogaloo (Swedish version)'

Burn it up (Mr. DJ) - Risqué

Although I already own a 12" single of Risqué's 'Burn it up (Mr. DJ)', there was still another one worth seeking out. This one is the original 12" single, released in the Netherlands when the single was released. And the remix is created by Dutch remix legend Ben Liebrand.

Fans will have been disappointed by the sleeve of this record, because it doesn't come in the same picture sleeve as the 7" single. But I do know that Risqué fan Jos will be excited by this extended version nonetheless.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received February 28, 2020
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Burn it up (Mr. DJ) [extended]' / 'Burn it up (Mr. DJ) [extended instrumental]'

Where do I go - Private Lives

I already own quite a few releases by Private Lives, a band from the UK which I discovered back when 'Living in a world (turned upside down)' was a minor hit in the UK and on Dutch pirate radio. Indeed I thought I had all of their singles by now, but I discovered what was probably their debut single recently.

'Where do I go' was released in 1980 on the WEA label, two years before they released their first of many singles on Chrysalis/EMI. It doesn't sound as polished as their later work, but that does give it a certain charm as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 6259
Found: Discogs.com, received February 13, 2020
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Where do I go' / 'On your own'

Chenko (tenka-io) - Red Box

I don't really buy a lot of 12" singles anymore: most of the extended remixes of my favourite artists have been released on cd - and that has become the preferred format in my household. That, and 7" singles, of course. 12" singles simply take up too much space. But then every once in a while I find a 12" that actually contains a rare remix.

Take for instance this 12" of 'Chenko (Tenka-io)'. Released in 1987, it was a re-release of an early single with a new remix on the 12". Amazingly, none of the 12" mixes of Red Box have ever been released on cd, and as you can hear on this one, there have been some great ones. This disc presents both a new remix of 'Chenko' and the extended version of the previous single 'Heart of the sun'. Both are pretty wonderful and would certainly warrant a cd release. Until then, I'll have to keep this in my collection.

Red Box actually released a new cd last year, which is certainly worth checking out. 

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, January 24, 2020
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Chenko (tenka-io) (No Reservations mix)' / 'Speeches', 'Heart of the sun (Slash and burn)'

The freeze - Spandau Ballet

I thought I already owned all Spandau Ballet singles, but somehow this one stayed under my radar until now. 'The freeze' was the band's second single release, peaking at number 17 in the UK singles chart in early 1981. Taken from their debut album 'Journeys to glory', it has a cold, hard sound that was the band's trademark at the time.

The single also features a nice alternative version of the track on the B-side, a trick they would employ a few more times in later singles. I was glad to find a fine UK pressing of this single.

My collection: 7" single no. 6249
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, January 24, 2020
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'The freeze' / 'The freeze (version)'

Volare - Rosario e i Giaguari

This is the Belgian pressing of 'Volare' by Rosario e i Giaguari, and it differs from the other one. Not only because the sleeve says '45 extended mix', but also because both the tracks on the single are... shorter. Confusing? I should say so.

This version of 'Volare' was not a hit, but it will probably have served a certain amount of dance and/or Italo afficionados in discotheques back in 1989. I can't say that I dreamed of having these singles, but they're a nice curiosity nonetheless.

My collection: 7" single no. 6248
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, January 24, 2020
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Volare (radio version)' / 'Volare (dub version)'

Volare - Rosario e i Giaguari

There's no information about Rosario e i Giaguari anywhere, so there really isn't much to say about this band. All I know is that they released one album called 'Maccaroni & Pizza' in 1989, and it featured three singles that were released around that time.

The first of those singles was 'Volare', a 1989 version of the classic Eurovision song by Domenico Modugno. It contains all the hallmarks of the dance tracks from around that time, including the worn out James Brown sample. It is an interesting addition to my collection of Eurovision singles, simply because I love cover versions - and 'Volare' has been covered by half the world.

My collection: 7" single no. 6247
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, January 24, 2020
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Volare (radio version)' / 'Volare (dub version)'

If there is one thing that's forever - Nino de Angelo

Nino de Angelo represented Germany during the 1989 Eurovision Song Contest with a song written by Dieter Bohlen and Joachim Horn-Bernges, entitled 'Flieger'. Despite the star quality of both Bohlen (one half of Modern Talking) and Nino de Angelo, the song ended up in 14th place in a field of 22 competitors.

The song was also recorded in English as 'If there is one thing that's forever'. Dieter Bohlen made this version without the help of Horn-Bernges, so presumably Bohlen had more faith in his own capabilities when it came to writing songs in English.

My collection: 7" single no. 6245
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, January 24, 2020
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'If there is one thing that's forever' / 'Flieger'

Dag efter dag - Chips

I already owned 'Day after day', the English version of this single, but as a Eurovision collector it was worth picking up the original Swedish version of the single as well. This single presents the original Swedish version 'Dag efter dag' along with a B-side called 'Här kommer solen' ('Here comes the sun'), which is not, as you might expect, a cover of the Beatles song.

Chips was founded by Kikki Danielsson and Lasse Holm in 1979.In 1980 they released their self-titled debut album, followed by 'Having a party' in 1982. This album included the two versions of 'Dag efter dag': in English and in Swedish. That album sold over 100.000 copies in Sweden. They toured the northern parts of Europe and had a successful 1982. However, the group split in 1983, due to limited success outside Sweden and Norway, and also because both members had solo careers.

My collection: 7" single no. 6239
Found: Discogs.com, received January 22, 2020
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Dag efter dag' / 'Här kommer solen'

J'veux d'la tendresse - Elton John

I don't know if many people know that Elton John recorded a French song. 'J'veux d'la tendresse' was written by Jean-Paul Dréau and released by the female singer Janic Prevost in 1980. While on holiday in St. Tropez, Elton heard the song and asked his lyricist Gary Osborne to write English lyrics to the melody. That song became 'Nobody wins'.

However, Elton also recorded the song with the original French lyrics. I didn't know this myself until it recently popped up during a search in the database of the same dealer that sent me 'Rock and roll crazy'. It's always better to buy more than one single if you're paying for postage anyway, so I did. And I do think this version is better than the English one.

My collection: 7" single no. 6234
Found: Discogs.com, received January 8, 2020
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'J'veux d'la tendresse' / 'Fools in fashion'