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:

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:

Da sprach der alte Häuptling der Indianer - Viimeinen Mohikaani

Lasse Liemola lost his pole position as pop idol in the wake of guitar bands in the first years of the sixties. But in 1961 he was still going strong. In the B-side of his big hit "No niin Mary Lou" (see this entry), was "Viimeinen Mohikaani" (The last of the Mohicans). The singing group Four Cats was helping Lasse on this one. I don't know if it was meant to be a childrens song, but it has since been a little folks favourite and that re-released in many childrens song compilations. The original song came from Germany. It was called simply "Da sprach der alte Häuptling der Indianer" (There spoke the old Indian Chief). The song was composed by a genuine German, Werner Scharfenberger, but it is performed by an US-born Gus Backus. Gus was drafted into the United States Air Force in 1956, and soon transferred to Germany, where he married and settled down. He was always interested in rock'n roll and even cut a couple of records in US, but they were not successful. Anyway, he found success in Germany, and in 1960 had a string of 3 huge hits sung in German language. This song is the second one of those. It is the simple story of "how the west was won", and what happened to Indians.

Here's the pair:

Hello Mary Lou - No niin Mary Lou

Lasse Liemola was actually the first Finnish pop singer. He started his career in the end of the 50's and was the first one to sing pop songs that were especially targeted to the young people. In 1961 he recorded the song made famous by the US teen star Ricky Nelson. The Finnish title for "Hello Mary Lou" was "No niin Mary Lou" (Well, Mary Lou). Becouse everybody has heard the original version by Ricky, let's hear a little bit different version by the composer of the song, Gene Pitney. This version was cut in 1962.

Here's the pair: