Can The Can - On ja ei

Now it's the time for our second Finnpicks Chinnichap Week. We explore the Finnish covers of songwriting duo Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman. The first week was dedicated to The Sweet, now enter Suzi Quatro and Mud. Lea Laven recorded "On ja ei" (It is and it isn't) in 1973 and it was released as a single. And it was a minor hit for her. The lyrics were, as nearly always in Lea's songs at the time, by Chrisse Johansson. The original song "Can The Can" was the second single and the breakthrough hit for Suzi Quatro. The somewhat agressive lyrics tell the girls to put their man in cage, so that other girls won't get him. You can see Suzi perform the song, here.

Here's the pair:

Poppa Joe - Pappa Joe

Eddy (see earlier entry) recorded "Pappa Joe" in 1972 and scored a Top 20 hit with it. The original "Poppa Joe" was ChinniChap's 4th UK Top 40 hit in a row for The Sweet. The song bears some Caribbean influences. It topped the cahrts in at least 8 countries, including Finland. You can see Sweet perform the song, here.

Here's the pair:

48 Crash - Kun oot 52

Muska (see earlier entry) is the kid sister of Kirka Babitzin. She had several hits in the 70's and she was the first successful Finnish female rock singer. One of her first hits was this "Kun oot 52" (When you're 52) in 1973. It was written by ace UK songwriter duo Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman (a.k.a. Chinnichap) and the original gutsy interpretation was done by Suzi Quatro (b. Susan Kay Quatrocchio). Suzi was born is USA, but moved to London in 1971 and made a stunning career under the wings of producer Mickie Most and Chinnichap songwriters. This "48 Crash" was her second hit. I often wondered what the song was all about. Well, now I know ;-). It is about male menopause, which is a condition that can occur in men around age 48 where they experience many symptoms of female menopause (hot flashes, fatigue), as well as sexual dysfunction. You can see Suzi perform this song, here, or alternatively, here.

Here's the pair: