Get Down - O'le

We haven't finnpicked Fredi for a long time. So, lets ... During the first decade of his career Fredi did a lot of covers, but later almost exclusively his own material. In 1973 he recorded "O'le", which was an odd choice for a title ... The finnish lyrics were provided by Vexi Salmi and the song was released on Fredi's 1973 album "Rakkauden sinfonia". The original song was called "Get Down" and it was written and performed by Gilbert O'Sullivan, whose songs seemed to suit well for Fredi,as he covered several of those. This "Get Down" was a number one UK hit for Gilbert in 1973. You can see him perform the song live, here.

89 Finnpicks to go.

Here's the pair:

Ra-ta-ta - Ra-ta-ta

It's been a while since we last finnpicked Fredi. Well - now it's the time. He recorded a song named "Ra-ta-ta" in 1971. It was released on the B-side of his big hit "Rakkaustarina" (cover of "Love Story Theme"). Te Finnish lyrics were written by Fredi's friend and co-member in vocal group Kivikasvot, Georg Dolivo. The original "Ra-ta-ta" was a continental hit in 1970 for German studio group called Rotation. The composer of the song was Leipzig-born Chris Juwens (b. Uwe Stelzmann), who wrote a couple other light-weight hits for a.o. Joe Dassin. Some of those have been covered also in Finland, and maybe we can present them here one day ...

Here's the pair:

Kissing In The Back Row Of The Movies - Filmi päästä päähän suukotellaan

This is one of Fredi's lesser known covers. He recorded "Filmi päästä päähän suukotellaan" (Kissing the movie from end to end) in 1974. It was included in his album "Avaa sydämesi mulle". The Finnsih lyrics were wtitten by Vexi Salmi. The original song was called "Kissing In The Back Row Of The Movies" and it was a big European hit for the legendary vocal group The Drifters. The song was written by Roger Greenaway, but this time his songwriting partner was not Roger Cook, but another famous songwriter/producer Tony Macaulay. You can see the Drifters' immaculate performance of the song, here.

Here's the pair:

Herzen haben keine Fenster - Rakkaus

This song is again one of those forgotten gems I've come across while editing Finnpicks. Fredi recorded "Rakkaus" (Love) in 1976 for his album "Laula kanssain". The lyrics were provided by Chrisse Johansson. The same song was finnpicked by Kirka in 1981 sung with different lyrics, titled "Sinuun minä luotan (I trust you). The original song was of German origin. Composer Hans Meyer wrote the song and Austrian born songstress Elfi Graf (b. Elfriede Sepp) made it a big hit in Germany in 1974. You can see her perform "Herzen haben keine Fenster" (Hearts don't hve windows), here. Later in USA, Bobby Vinton got hold of the song and made a big US and international come-back hit with it under title "My Melody Of Love". Bobby, being of Polish origin, sings it partly in Polish. This same song titled as "Don't Stay Away Too Long" was a hit for duo Peters and Lee in UK.

Here's the triplet:

Can I Reach You - Voinko luottaa

It's not Frederik Friday, it's Fredi Friday - for a change. Fredi recorded "Voinko luottaa" (Can I trust) in 1980. It was released only as a single, and it was not a hit, so it it's become quite a rare collector's item. The song was put into Finnish words by Vexi Salmi. The original, called "Can I Reach You", was of German origin, as the name of the performer and composer Drafi Deutscher implies. Drafi however released this song under pseudonym Jack Goldbird. The song was hit in Euro-discos in 1978-79. Drafi has been finnpicked (and covered by Fredi) before, see here.

Here's the pair:

Too Late My Love - Liian myöhään

Fredi recorded "Liian myöhään" (Too late) in 1967 .It was released as a single, on the B-side of his Eurovision Song Contest entry "Varjoon suojaan". It's a shame that this fine piece of music has been shadowed by that contest song. The original song was called "Too Late My Love". It was also a B-side (far from being a hit), in 1965 for a British band called A Band Of Angels. They were a mid 1960s pop group, featuring Mike d'Abo on vocals. D'Abo also wrote this song. He subsequently moved to Manfred Mann, when lead vocalist Paul Jones was replaced by him in July 1966, So, Mike's singing lead on this finnpick.

Here's the pair:

My World Keeps Getting Smaller Every Day - Sun kanssas kohtaan huomisen

Fredi concludes our "time" -related mini series. He recorded "Sun kanssas kohtaan huomisen" (I'll face tomorrow with you) in 1970. It was released as a single on the B-side of "Sympatiaa" (see ealier entry). This beautiful ballad was put into words by Matti Siitonen, i.e. Fredi himself. The Master of Melody, Neil Sedaka (together with his songwriting partner Howard Greenfield), was responsible for the original song "My World Keeps Getting Smaller Every Day". It was written especially for Eydie Gorme, who took it to number 24 in the US Adult Contemporary Chart in 1070. But we present here Neil's own heartrending version.

Here's the pair:

United - Kun rakkaus voittaa

Today we start the countdown to Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow. We shall present 7 Finnish covers of past years Eurosongs. But - as a kick-off - we of course listen to the Eurovision theme song. Our frequent contributor Fredi recorded "Kun rakkaus voittaa" (When love conquers) in 1972. It was a vocal version of a prelude to baroque composition called "Te Deum, H. 146" written by French Marc-Antoine Charpentier in the end of 17th century. It is better known as the signature tune for the European Broadcasting Union, heard in the opening of the Eurovision Song Contest and other Eurovision events. However, the version that Fredi actually covered, was done by German singer Drafi Deutscher. He had several hits in Germany as a singer but he also composed several worldwide hits for Boney M and and Tony Christie.

Updated on 06.08.2010: added Miguel Rios' original English language version.

Here's the pair:

Piangi con me - Onhan päivä vielä huomennakin - Melodia - Se päivä tulee kerran

Yesterday was Friday, this day is Fredi Day. Even if for no other reason that here Fredi performs two songs with a word 'day' ('päivä' in Finnish) in its title. There are also other similarities; both are international hits and originate from Italy. "Onhan päivä vielä huomennakin" (There's a day tomorrow, too) was recorded in 1968 and "Se päivä tulee kerran" (The day will once come) in 1969. The first one was originally called "Piangi con me" (Cry with me) and performed by band called Rokes. They were a British band that moved to Italy in 1963 and became very popular there. The song is better known with its Englis title "Let's Live For Today" which was a big hit for US band Grass Roots. The second cover was originally performed by our old Italian friend Jimmy Fontana (see previous entry). But we remember it of course as "The Way It Used to Be" sung by Engelbert Humperdinck.

Here are the pairs:

Ha! Ha! Said The Clown - Oy sanoi hän

This is the 3rd song in a row with the word "hän" (he/she) in the Finnish title. Fredi (see previous entry) had his first big hit with "Oy sanoi hän" (Ltd said he) released in 1967. The somewhat peculiar lyrics are made by Juha Vainio, telling of some hazards that go with the consumption of alcoholic beverages. The original song was called ""Ha! Ha! Said The Clown"" and was written by UK songwriter Tony Hazzard and performed by Manfred Mann . The other mega success for Mann written by Hazzard was "Fox On The Run". Manfred Mann was one of the most successful British Beat, R&B and pop bands of the 1960s, named after their South African keyboard player and founder, who later led the successful 1970s follow-on group Manfred Mann's Earth Band. This ""Ha-Ha" -song was made after original vocalist Paul Jones had already left for solo career. With the new lead singer Mike d'Abo, the group pursued a soft acoustic pop sound, with a tinge of social comment and surrealism in the lyrics - as in this song.

Here's the pair:

Eve Of Destruction - Tuhon partaalla

It's a New Years Eve. Since we're living times of ominious signs in economics, it might be appropriate to listen this song :-). Kivikasvot was a vocal group that was formed in 1965 while the members were all serving in the Finnish Army. It consisted of Ismo Sajakorpi, Ilkka Hemming, Matti "Fredi" Siitonen ja Georg Dolivo. It was not primarily a recording group, but a group of entertainers that could sing in harmony. They had very succesful TV Show in the beginning of 70's. All individual members have established solo careers, especially Fredi, who has many times been presented in Finnpicks (see for example this entry). The quartet recorded "Tuhon partaalla" (On the brink of disaster) in 1965. The original is the well-known "Eve Of Destruction" sung by Barry McGuire on the crest of the 60's folk- and protest movement. Barry had been in the singing group New Christy Minstrels and co-wrote their first and biggest hit single: "Green, Green." He left the group in 1965 and continued as a solo folk rock singer. His one and only big hit was "Eve of Destruction" that went to #1 on charts. According to McGuire, it was recorded in one take on a Thursday morning and then he got a call from the record company at 7:00 the next Monday morning, telling him to turn on the radio - his song was playing.

Lonely Lovers Symphony - Sinfonia rakkauden

Let's continue the"Love theme". Fredi (see previous entry) recorded "Sinfonia rakkauden" (Symphony of Love) in 1973, and it was released as a single paired with his cover of David Bowie's "Starman". Perhaps deservedly, "Symphony" has outlived "Starman". Fredi's interpretation fits perfectly in this song and the melody is one of the most memorable ever. The tune is composed by none other than Ludwig van Beethoven and is better known as "Für Elise". But the version Fredi covered was done by one Giorgio Moroder in 1973. Moroder cut several singles as a solo singer under the name Giorgio during 1966-1975, and this was one of them. Giorgio Moroder is an Italian-born record producer, songwriter and performer, whose work with synthesizers during the 1970s and 1980s was a significant influence on new wave, techno and electronic music in general. Particularly well known are Donna Summer's disco hits produced by him. As a singer ... well let's say that it was a wise move of Giorgio to leave the singing to others and concentrate in the production. Judge yourself by listening to this "Lonely Lovers Symphony".

Here's the pair:

Sympathy - Sympatiaa

Fredi recorded the song "Sympatiaa" (Sympathy) in 1970 as b-side of a single. It wasn't a great success in those days but this haunting song is still a favourite of many. At the time Fredi was more and more writing his own lyrics - also with this song. The original "Sympathy" was a hit (their only one) in 1970 for an English group called Rare Bird. They were considered as a progressive rock band, but the styles of their songs ranged from heavy to almost jazz. The speciality of the group was to have two keyboard players in the line-up. One of them - Graham Field - wrote "Sympathy" and has called it "a sad little song, inspired by a tramp who cleaned my car by mistake".

Here's the pair:

Beautiful In The Rain - Kolmatta linjaa takaisin

One of the greatest hits of Fredi was "Kolmatta linjaa takaisin" (Back on 3rd lane again). It was recorded in 1968 and has become a Golden Classic. Not only becouse of Fredi's singing but also becouse of the witty lyrics by famous Finnish lyricist Juha Vainio. The original was an instrumental tune called "Beautiful In The Rain" composed and recorded by British orchestra leader Tony Hatch. The vocal version was done by Petula Clark, but for some reason never got the attention that it really deserved. That is - nowhere else but in Finland!

Here's the triple:

Quando m'innamoro - Milloinkaan en löydä samanlaista

Another hit for Fredi in 1968 was "Milloinkaan en löydä samanlaista" (I'll never find another one like you). It was a beautiful pop ballad - quite suitable for Fredi's voice, and it has become a classic. We all know the Engelbert Humberdinck's version of the song as 'The Man Without Love", but the original is again an Italian song with the title "Quando m'innamoro" (When I'm in love). It was a finalist in 1968 San Remo Music Festival (it placed in 6th), and was performed by both Anna Identici and the Sandpipers. Here I present the Anna's version.

p.s. As I later found also the Sandpipers version, I will put it here, too ...
p.s.2 I replaced Anna's version with a better sounding studio recording ...

Here's the triple:

La Bambola - Pieni nukke

Fredi (a.k.a Folk-Fredi, real name Matti Siitonen) began his career in '60s and is still going strong. He started as folk singer but soon changed into pop, and his specialty are the powerful pop ballads. "Pieni nukke" (A little doll) is one of those. It was recorded in 1968 and quickly became a hit. The original is an Italian song called "La Bambola" (The Doll), which was performed by deep-voiced Patty Pravo (real name Nicoletta Strambelli) in 1968.

Here's the pair: