The Day I Met Marie - Kun taas tavattiin

Erkki Pohjanheimo (see earlier entry) recorded "Kun taas tavattiin" (When we met again) in 1967. but, sadly, no hit for Erkki. The original song "The Day I Met Marie" was a hit in 1967 for Cliff Richard. It reached number 10 in the UK Singles Chart and some consider it to be the quintessential summer hit, due to its summery nature. Cliff has told that this is one of his own favourites. It's written by Shadows guitarist Hank Marvin. You can see Cliff perform the song, here.

69 Finnpicks to go.

Here's the pair:

Big Ship - Sinutko saan

It's been a long time since we last presented Sammy Babitzin. Today he's making his Finnpicks come-back. Sammy recorded "Sinutko saan" (Will I get you) in 1969 and it was released as a single, but it sunk without a trace. Sammy's success was still a year away. The original song was titled "Big Ship" and it was written by Raymond Froggatt, a singer and songwriter from Birmingham, England. It was a Top Ten hit for Cliff Richard in 1969. The lyrics (also by Froggatt) make no sense at all, but the core message becomes clear: "Love is like a big ship, following me".

Here's the pair:

Go 'Way From My Window - Mene ikkunani luota

As today is the 70th birthday of Cliff Richard, we present a finnpick bunch that includes a contribution from Sir Cliff. One of the most loved songs of Päivi Paunu's folk days is "Mene ikkunani luota" (Go away from my window) that she recorded for her first single in 1966. The beautiful lyrics were provided by folk-compatriot Pertti "Pertsa" Reponen. The song that Päivi obviously covered was Joan Baez's version "Go 'Way From My Window" on her 1964 album "Joan Baez/5". The song is a traditional American folk song originally called "One Night As I Lay On My Bed", which is recorded under many different titles. Perhaps the most famous one is the heartbreaking delivery and arrangenment by legendary folklorist and singer John Jacob Niles, who recorded it with the title "Go 'Way From My Window" on his 1958 album "I Wander As I Wander". I was truly surprised as I found another Finnish version of this song, recorded BEFORE Päivi Paunus's version. Lasse Liemola recorded "Nyt ikkunasta katson" (Now I'm looking out the window) for the B-side of his 1963 single "Taas kerran". The inspiration for this recording must have come from Cliff Richard's version "I'm Looking Out the Window". This song was released in the UK in November 1962, and rose to the Top 10 in early 1963. You can see Cliff perform the song, here. Funny thing is, that in Finland (at least), Päivi's version is labeled as 'traditional', and Lasse's version is credited to John Jacob Niles. Well, it's definetely the same song, as you yourself can hear ...

Here's the bunch:

I Ain't Got Time Anymore - Ei Aikaa Enempää

Let's continue with another classic 70's pop ballad. Danny recorded "Ei aikaa enempää" (No more time) in 1970 to the lyrics by Pertsa Reponen. Also the group Agents ft. Jorma Kääriäinen has made a good Finnish version of the song. The original one "I Ain't Got Time Anymore" was written by famous British arranger and producer Mike Leander and performed by Cliff Richard, who had a hit with it in UK in 1970. Perhaps the most known version, however, is by an American group called The Glass Bottle. This song about about bitterness and heartbreak reached Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in September 1971. Band's producer had an advertising deal with a PR firm that was trying to save the glass industry from losing soda pop clients to plastic bottles. Therefore he named the group "The Glass Bottle".

Music samples removed due to alleged copyright infringement.

Summer Holiday - Toiveloma

Today's Finnpick honors the start of my summer vacation (tomorrow). And it means that there will be no new posts for a long while. Lasse Liemola (see previous entry) recorded "Toiveloma" (Ideal holiday) in 1963. It was not a big hit but the single was somewhat extraordinary becouse both sides were covers of the same artist's songs and also the song writer was the same on both. "Toiveloma" was cover of "Summer Holiday" and the other side of the single "Tanssikengät" was cover of "Dancing Shoes". Both were originally done by Cliff Richard & Shadows and both were penned by Shadows band member Brian Bennett, the former with Bruce Welch and the latter with Hank Marvin. Additionally, both songs were featured in the "Summer Holiday" music film released in February 1963 The film was the debut direction of Peter Yates. "Summer Holiday" was one of Cliff's biggest hits and it still one of the epitomes in summer records.

Have a nice summer (holiday) you all ...

Here's the pair:

I'm the lonely one - Olen yksinäinen

Ann Christine released "Olen yksinäinen" (I'm lonely) in 1964 on the flip side of a former Finnpick "Odota en" (see previous entry). The tune has become very popular and versioned many times since. The original song was performed by Cliff Richard. "I'm The Lonely One" gave Cliff a Top 10 success in 1964. Gordon Mills, songwriter and later also succesful manager, wrote the song.

Here's the pair:

Congratulations - Mua onnitelkaa

As this is the Independence Day of Finland, and the 91st birthday of Finland, it's time for congratulations. Robin (real name Esa Simonen) was a gym teacher but also pop singer. He sometimes combined both by performing while standing on his head. He recorded "Mua onnitelkaa" (Congratulate me) in 1968, gaining moderate success with it. The original was the English entry in that years Eurovision Song Contest "Congratulations" presented by Cliff Richard.

Here's the pair:

L'edera - Constantly - Päivin öin

One of the most successful Finnish beat groups has been Agents. It was established in 1979. It was playing strictly beat music and guitar pop, and 'by the book'. i.e. in the style it was played in the beginning of 60's, by the Shadows and others. Agents was first purely instrumental group, but since 1981 it has made succesful co-operation with three solo singers. At first with Rauli "Badding" Somerjoki, then with Topi Sorsakoski and until recently, Jorma Kääriäinen. Jorma has also made it as a solo artist. This song "Päivin öin" (Daily nightly) was recorded by Agents & Jorma in 1997. It's a mystery why this fine song hasn't been covered before. The original called "L'edera" (The ivy) was made in Italy and performed by Nella Pizzi in 1959. The song won the song contest "Canzonissima" in that year. It was medium size hit for Cliff Richard in 1964 and was then called "Constantly". I haven't get hold of the Italian original song, but as soon as I do, I put it here.

Updated on 21.02.2010: added the original version

Here's the triplet:

A Girl Like You - Tuollainen tyttö

One can say that Timo Jämsen (real name Keijo Ahola) was the first successful Finnish Rock'n'Roll singer. He had a success in the 'Rock King of Finland' contest in 1959 (but didn't win). He recorded several solo singles before joining in the guitar group Esquires in 1963. Timo's legendary single was "Kohtalon tähti " b/w "Tuollainen tyttö" (That kind of girl) in 1961. The A-side was Elvis -cover (I guess it will be a 'finnpick' in the very near future) and this b-side was Cliff Richard -cover. And very competent covers they were! Cliff Richard's single "A Girl like You" came out also in 1961. It was written by Jerry Lordan, the same guy who wrote 'Apache' for the Shadows.

Here's the pair: