Dead End Street - Pieleen!

Well, let's make this weekend to a Kuju Weekend, by presenting another of Kai "Kuju" Hyttinen's classic covers from the 60's. He recorded "Pieleen" (Missed!) in 1967. It was released as Kai's 4th single following up the "Susi Pekka", yesterday's finnpick. It was a modest hit, but Kai's career really boomed following year when he recorded more schlager-type material. The original "Pieleen" was Kinks' big hit "Dead End Street" in 1966. This song is about the hopelessness of the British unemployed lower class, and the difficulty for many of getting away from the desperate situation they find themselves in. You can see a rare promotional film of the song, here.

Here's the pair:

Set Me Free - Et mua saa

There are over 300 Finnpicks presented already and we haven't heard of the legendary covers band The Clifters yet. We correct that shameful omission now and present "Et mua saa" (You can't have me) from the year 1987. The Clifters was formed in 1979 with lead singer and guitarist Jiri Nikkinen as the driving force. Their first single was released in 1984 and first album "Kuningas" (The King) in 1987. This and the following album "Kuningatar" included some cover songs but the great breakthrough came in 1989 with "Sexi on in" (Sex is in) -album that contained nothing but covers. Clifters copied the original sound and performance very carefully, but the lyrics made by Jaana Rinne, were far from the original ones. These odd little stories written in peculiar 'street language' brought the band the street credibility they otherwise may never have gained as a covers band. This "Et mua saa" was one of their first covers and originally written as "Set Me Free" by Ray Davies. And his band Kinks released it as their 7th single in 1965.

Here's the pair:

Celluloid Heroes - Paperitähdet

Juice Leskinen (b. Pauli Matti Juhani Leskinen) was a contemporary and friend of yesterdays Finnpick Mikko Alatalo. They both were in the University of Tampere in the 70's and eventually co-worked in a couple of bands. Later Juice and Mikko went separate ways and both made a highly succesful career as pioneers of Finnish rock. Especially Juice is considered to be THE initiator of original Finnish rock and rock sung in Finnish language. Juice was fore and foremost a poet. His lyrics were groundbreaking, often gross, often bold but often tender, too. He was also a potent composer and arranger. He very rarely did covers, but this "Paperitähdet" (Paper stars) is an excellent exception. The lyrics tell about Finnish celebrities (naming the names) and their treatment in the media. It was recorded for "Tauko 1" -album released by Juice and his band Slam in 1978. The original song "Celluloid Heroes" was written by Ray Davies of the Kinks. It was included in their 1972 album "Everybody's in Show-Biz". The central theme of the songs lyrics is the inhumane manner in which the Hollywood movie industry exploits its stars.

Here's the pair:

You Really Got Me - Paha tyttö

Anki (see previous entry) recorded "Paha tyttö" (Bad girl) in 1964. Anki was in those days in close collaboration with Österberg Brothers, Bosse and Robert (see previous entry), and the Finnish lyrics in this song are by Bosse. The song is quite different from the original, with an exciting arrangement and magical performance by Anki, which is miles away from her folk song offerings. The original was the first smash hit for The Kinks , "You Really Got Me" . It was released as the group's third single, in August 1964, and reached Number 1 on the UK singles chart. This song was heavily influential on later rock and roll musicians, particularly in the heavy metal genre. It even has been said that this track "invented heavy metal".

p.s. this is FINNPICK number 200!

Jack The Idiot Dunce - Jerry Cotton

After parting ways with the group Virtanen, Mauri 'Moog' Konttinen put up his own group Kontravirtanen, but after one EP the name was shortened to Kontra. Contrary (;-)) to Virtanen, Kontra did mostly cover versions with the their inimitable style and with Moog's inimitable lyrics. Their secong single, and Kontras's biggest hit, in 1978 was "Jerry Cotton". It told about the FBI agent Jerry Cotton, whose escapades were read in eponymous kiosk magazine by every Finnish schoolboy in the 60's. This fictional character was born in print in Germany in 1954 and was very popular in German speaking countries. There were even 8 movies made of Jerry. The main character was played by American actor George Nader, whose name is mentioned in Kontra's song. There was also a hint about Jerry's sexual tendencies ("I care about women just formally, it's much nicer with Phil Decker"), that in a way turned out to be true - George Nader was gay ...
The original song was picked up from an underrated Kinks album 'Schoolboys In Disgrace' (1975). This Ray Davies -written concept album - and this song - told about a naughty schoolboy, who eventually would grow up to be Mr. Flash (the villain in The Kinks' rock opera, Preservation: Acts 1 & 2).

Here's the pair: