Blockbuster - Katujen uhka

Here's another Karma song and the second one of their ChinniChap & Sweet covers. They recorded "Katujen uhka" (Threat on the streets) in 1973. It was released as a single, but did not repeat the success of "Wig wam bam". The original song "Blockbuster" proved to be The Sweet's only British number 1; it stayed at the top for 5 weeks. This song featured an air-raid siren and in fact, "Blockbuster" was originally a World War 2 newspaper name for a large bomb, which had enough explosive power to destroy an entire city block. You can see The sweet perform the song in Top of the Pops, here.

Here's the pair:

Wig Wam Bam - Wig wam bam

Karma (see earlier entry) was a pop-rock/country-rock group formed in 1972. And their first single (1973) was "Wig wam bam". It wasn't their biggest hit, but very popular anyway. Vexi Salmi wrote the lyrics. The original "Wig Wam Bam" was the sixth consecutive ChinniChap hit for The Sweet. The first verse is about lovers Hiawatha and Minnehaha, who were fictional characters from the 1855 poem "The Song of Hiawatha" by famous American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The second verse is about Running Bear and Little White Dove from the popular 60's hit song "Running Bear". You can see Sweet perform "Wig Wam Bam", here.

Here's the pair:

Little Willy - Pikku veli

Kirka got a big hit with his recording of "Pikku veli" (Little brother) in 1972. The lyrics were provided by Pertsa Reponen. You can see Kirka in action, performing this song, here. The original "Little Willy" continued the ChinniChap line of hits for The Sweet. This was the first ChinniChap single the band actually played on. This was also their first big US hit. The lead vocals were - as always at the time - done by Brian Connolly. You can see Sweet 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:

Co-Co - Kaikki mukaan

The Finnpicks ChinniChap Week's day two introduces us to a new Finnpick artist; Keijo Minerva. Keijo started his career in the late 60's and released his first record in 1971. He worked as a solo artist and as a member in several pop groups (e.g. earlier finnpicked Gulliver), but never really made it. This "Kaikki mukaan" (Come on everybody) was recorded in 1972. The lyrics were provided by Vexi Salmi and arrangements by Rauno Lehtinen. The original song was called "Co-Co" and it was second hit single for The Sweet, and fared better than the first one ("Funny Funny") reaching number 2 in the UK charts. The first album by Sweet, "Funny How Sweet Co-Co Can Be", was uncharted in UK, but was number one in Finland for three weeks in February 1972.

Here's the pair:

Funny Funny - Meillä hyvin on

This marks the start of Finnpicks ChinniChap Week (volume 1, there will be others ...). ChinniChap is the abbreviation for the songwriter duo Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman. Since we move on in chronological order, this first week is eventually Finnpicks Sweet Week ;-). Johnny recorded "Meillä hyvin on" (We've got it alright) in 1972. It was released on the B-side of his big hit single "Amarillo" (see earlier Finnpick, here) The original ChinniChap tune was called "Funny Funny" and it was the first in long line of their hits for the British pop and rock group The Sweet, reaching number 13 in the UK charts.

Here's the pair: