Valentino - Teen niin kuin teen

This Finnpick should have published yesterday, as a part of Frederik Friday -series. But I didn't have time to post it, so here it is somewhat belated. Frederik recorded "Teen niin kuin teen " (I'll do as I please) in 1978 for his album "Tuu jo tangoon". The Finniah lyrics - taylor-made for Frederik - were provided by Chrisse Johansson. The original song was also performed by Frederik, i.e. a Belgian–Italian singer Frederic Francois (b. Francesco Barracato), who wrote and sang "Valentino" in 1978. You can see him perform the song, here.

44 Finnpicks to go.

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All We Need Is Love - Voitko rakastaa

One of the forgotten and overlooked Katri Helena songs is this "Voitko rakastaa" (Can you love) that was released as a single in 1978. On the flipside was Katri-Helena's cover of the Monegasque entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1978. This "Voitko rakastaa" really deserved to be a hit (but wasn't). The Finnish lyrics were done by Pertsa Repoonen. The original song "All We Need Is Love" was written by our old friends Roberto Danova and Peter Yellowstone. And it was performed by British disco songstress Kelly Marie (of the  1977 "Feels Like I'm In Love" fame). We have finnpicked Kelly Marie before, see here.  For some reason this "All We Need Is Love" was released only in France and Germany, not in UK. You can see Kelly Marie  perform this song live, here.

85 Finnpicks to go.

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You Gotta Move - Kas kas, niin niin

Paula Koivuniemi recorded "Kas kas, niin niin" (Well, well so, so) in 1978. It was released on her album "Sinulle vain" and it was also released as a single, but didn't get the success it deserved. The original song "You Gotta Move" was an Europeen disco hit for Etta Cameron (b. Ettamae Louvita Coakley). Etta was born in Bahamas, but made her carerr in Denmark and Germany. The German Goldfinger songwriter and producer Ralph Siegel wrote today's finnpicked song.

95 Finnpicks to go.

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Shadow Dancing - Anna aikaa

The fourth Disco Week song is "Anna aikaa" (Give me time) released by Markku Aro in 1978 on an eponymous album.  The Finnish lyrics were again written by Chrisse Johansson.  The song was released as a single but the more popular side was "Rakkautta vain" (cover of "Love Is In The Air") on the flip.  The original song was called "Shadow Dancing" and it was smash hit for Andy Gibb in 1978. The song was written by Andy himself, together with his famous brothers Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb. You can see Andy perform the song live in an interesting clip (in TV Show together with Abba and Olivia Newton-John), here.

96 Finnpicks to go.

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Johnny Angel - Johnny Angel

On the B-side of Mirumaru's 1978 disco single "Sun vain oon" (finnpicked before, see here) was this "Johnny Angel". The Finnish lyrics were written by Pertsa Reponen. The original "Johnny Angel" was co-written by Lee Pockriss - an American, who wrote or co-wrote many smah hits in the end of 50's and in the 60's most notably "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini". This teen ballad about "Johnny Angel" was number one hit for TV actress and singer Shelley Fabares (b. Michele Ann Marie Fabares) in  1962. The song premiered on an episode of Fabares' popular sitcom, The Donna Reed Show. Another famous singer Darlene Love with her group, the Blossoms, sang backing vocals on this. You can see the afore-mentioned Donna Reed Show -clip, here. However, Shelley wasn't the first to record the song. It was originally recorded (in 1962) by musch less-known singer named Georgia Lee. Let's hear her version, too.

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Sail on - Muisto kaunis jää

Tuulikki Eloranta started her recording career in 1968. In the 70' she joined record company Love Records, famous for producing Finnish rock and progressive music. In this company, Tuulikki, however was some kind of oddball. She sang mostly schlagers and chansons. In 1978 she released album called "Niin lähellä" and one of it's tracks was this "Muisto kaunis jää" (A beautiful memory stays on). The original tune was called "Sail On" and it was written and performed by Warren Harry, a British songwriter and frontman of the group called Yum Yum Band. He had never hit with this beautiful song (or any other song for that matter), but some of his songs were hits for other artists, notably for Bucks Fizz. 

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Whole Wide World - Nuori poika

Eppu Normaali was and still is one of the most popular Finnish rock bands. They started with the punk wave, but later moved to more mainstream rock and pop. However, always retaining their originality. They rarely did any covers, but this "Nuori poika" (Young boy) is one example of those. It was released as a single B-side (A-side was "Jee Jee") in 1978. The original song was written and performed by Englishman Eric Frank Goulden, better known as Wreckless Eric. Goulden wrote the song in 1974, and recorded it in 1977. Additional musicians on the record were his Stiff record label stable mates Nick Lowe on guitar and bass and Ian Dury on drums. It was never a chart hit, but nevertheless has become a classic. You can see Eric perform the song, here.   

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California Dreaming - Kalajoen hiekat

Tapani Kansa recorded "Kalajoen hiekat" (The sands of Kalajoki) in 1978, at the time that everything was discofied. This was the disco version of the original that - for some inexplicable reason - never before had been covered in Finnish. The Finnish lyrics that depicted the fun and sun in the sands of Kalajoki were done by Tapani himself. Kalajoki, in the western coast of Finland, has been named "The Riviera of the North". The original song was the classic "California Dreaming", the 1965 song by Mamas & Papas. The song was written by the group members John and Michelle Phillips already in 1963. You can see Mamas & Papas perform thes song here,   , but here in Finnpicks we present the first recoded version done by Barry McGuire (of "Eve of Festruction" fame), a good friend of the group. Mamas & Papas are doing the bacground vocals on this. You can read the background of "California Dreaming", here. 

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Okie From Muskogee - Torron Zorro

From Kansas to Oklahoma ... The brothers Mika and Turkka Mali (see earlier entry) recorded "Torron Zorro" (Zorro from Torro) in 1978 for their debut album "Runkomäen iltamat". The hilarious Finnish lyrics were made by Turkka Mali. Torro is a village near Forssa, where the brothers Mali originate from. The original song was called "Okie From Muskogee" and it was a huge country and cross-over hit for Merle Haggard in 1969. It was written by Haggard and Roy Edward Burris (drummer for Haggard's backing band, The Strangers) during the height of the Vietnam War. The song depicts small-town life, where conservative values were the norm. The singer states how proud he is to hail from Middle America, where its residents were patriotic, and didn't smoke marijuana, take LSD, wear beads and sandals, burn draft cards or challenge authority. Muskogee is a city in Muskogee County, Oklahoma. "Okie" is denoting a resident or native of Oklahoma. You can see Merle perform the "Okie" -song, here


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Another Funny Honeymoon - Ei musta hullu tullutkaan

Juhamatti (real name Jussi Mäkelä) (see earlier entry) recorded "Ei musta hullu tullutkaan" (I didn't go crazy after all) in 1978 for his album "Fanny Fanny". The Finnish lyrics were written by Pertsa Reponen. The song remained only an album track. The original song was called "Another Funny Honeymoon" and was written and performed by British singer and songwriter Dave Dundas. It became his second, lesser hit, after the biggie "Jeans On" (finnpicked, see here) in 1977. The record was produced by our old friend Roger Greenaway. You can see Dave perform the song, here.

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L'amour c'est la musique de la vie - Leikin tein

Let's listen to a second Shuky & Aviva cover in a row. Tuulikki Eloranta (see earlier entry) recorded "Leikin tein" (I made it to a play) in 1978 for her album "Niin lähellä". The lyrics were made by veteran wordsmith Sauvo Puhtila. The original Shuky & Aviva song was titled "L'amour c'est la musique de la vie" (Love is the music of the life), and it was co-written by Shuky Levy. The duo made also an english version called "Love Is Like", but it went nowhere. They also tried to be big in Japan and made a Japanese´version (You can hear it here).

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Sister Golden Hair - Voi mua poika rukkaa

The group Gulliver (see earlier entry) recorded "Voi mua poika rukkaa" (Oh, me the poor boy) in 1978 for their album "Gulliver ou jee". Not releasd as a single, though it might have had the hit potential. The lyrics were provided by Vexi Salmi. The original song was written by Gerald Beckley, who was the founder member of the group America. They had a number 1 hit in USA in 1975 with this "Sister Golden Hair". With another band member, Dewey Bunnell, Beckley still continues touring worldwide as "America". The title of the song was initially inspired by the mothers of all three members of the group, all of whom were blondes. You can see the band perform the song, here.

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Israelites - Mistä sais

Reijo Karvonen is a Finnish singer and musician who was active in recording business from the mid 70's to early 80's. He recorded a solo album called "Tulossa" in 1975 and in 1978 another one with his backing group Ikaros. On this latter album "Ikaros" was this song "Mistä sais" (Where would I get (a job)). This was one of many reggae-style recordings Reijo made. The lyrics were written by band's keyboardist Anssi Tikanmäki, who later became famous as musician, arranger and songwriter in his own right. The original song "Israelites" was written and performed by a Jamaican singer and songwriter Desmond Dekker (b. Desmond Adolphus Dacres). It was released in 1968 and topped the UK Singles Chart, and it was the first reggae hit to do so. The song combined the Rastafarian religion with Jamaican rudeboy concerns on unemployment. "The Israelites" is a Rastafarian concept of black race being the Lost Children of Israel. You can see Desmond perform the song, here.

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It's Your Life - Siitäs sait

Brother and sister duo Kirka ja Anna (Babitzin) released one album, in 1978. "Siitäs sait" (There you have it) was one of the album tracks, and it was also released on the B-side of their single "Sinut haluan vain" (finnpicked earlier, see here) The Finnish lyrics were written by Pertti "Pertsa" Reponen. The original song "It's Your Life" was Smokie's follow-up single to "Lay Back ..." and became another UK Top 10 hit in summer of 1977. You can see Smokie perform the song here.

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Push Push Man - Pus-pus mies

Seitsemän Seinähullua Veljestä (see earlier entry) released the album "Sinne sun tänne ja takaisin" in 1978. It wastheit best-selling album and it aslo produced two hit singles. This "Pus-pus mies" (Kiss-kiss man) was one of the popular album tracks. The lyrics about the 'super-kisser' were crafted by Pertsa Reponen. The original song was called "Push Push Man" and it was a big disco hit for a group called Mafia. It ws most probably a German studio combo, becouse I have not found any information on them, and there were no further hits. The composer of the song was Howard Carpendale,, South African -born singer who made a very successful career in Germany as a schlager singer in the 60's and 70's.

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You're In My Heart - Oot suonissain

Seppo Närhi recorded "Oot suonissain" (You're in my veins) for his 1978 album "Vieraat huoneet". It was also released as a single (B-side to "Vieraat huoneet", cover of "It's A Heartache"), The A-side was a minor hit, but this flipside did not get much attention. Even if the original song was quite a big hit all over the world. It was "You're In My Heart " and performed in 1977 by Rod Stewart. It was also written by Rod himself and the lyrics mention Stewart's favorite football team in the phrase "Celtic United". You can see Rod perform the song in 2004 in Royal Albert Hall , here, with a lots of audience participation.

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Whodunit - Hei kuka

Yesterday we had three Finnish brothers singing, today we have brother ans sister duo Anna & Kirka Babitzin. They recorded an album called "Anna & Kirka" in 1978. "Hei kuka" (Hey, who?) was one of the album tracks. As with yesterday's finnpick, the lyrics were written by Pertsa Reponen. The original song was co-written by Frederick "Freddie" Perren, who was a famous American songwriter, record producer, arranger, and orchestra conductor. In the mid and late 70s, Perren found big success writing and producing such mega-hits as "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor and this "Whodunit" by the Tavares (number 1 R&B hit in 1977). Tavares was an American soul band founded already in 1963. It consisted of 5 Tavares bothers Feliciano, Arthur, Perry, Antone and Ralph. You can see the band perform this song, here. The word "whodunit" (for "Who['s] done it?") is derived from the world of detective stories. "Whodunit" is a complex, plot-driven variety of the detective story in which the puzzle is the main feature of interest. Ellery Queen (USA) and Olavi Susikoski (Finland), famous detectives in their respective countries, are referred in the songs lyrics.

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Nighttime (I'm A Lover) - Öiseen aikaan

Kirka recorded several songs with his brothers and sisters. Together with his kid sister Anna Babitzin he recorded an album "Anna & Kirka" in 1978. One of the tracks was "Öiseen aikaan" (At nighttime). The lyrics were by Pertsa Reponen and the arrangement by Kalervo "Kassu" Halonen. The original song "Nighttime (I'm A Lover)" was made popular by American pop-rock group Tommy James (b. Thomas Gregory Jackson) and The Shondells . The band was initially formed in 1959 as Tom and the Tornadoes, with the then only 12-year-old Tommy Jackson as lead singer. In 1963, Jackson re-named the band The Shondells because the name "sounded good". "Nighttime" was on their 1968 album "Mony, Mony", whose title track was monster hit for the group.

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U.O.Me - Sun vain oon

Mirumaru (see earlier entry) recorded "Sun vain oon" (I'm only yours) in 1978. It was on their eponymous album and was released as a single, but didn't hit the charts. Lyrics were written by Pertsa Reponen. The original song "U.O.Me" was the third single, and first real mainstream success for Dutch girl group Luv', released in 1978. This record is also credited as "U.O.Me (Theme from Waldolala)", becouse it was originally composed (by producer Hans Hemert) as a theme for a popular Dutch TV series "Het is weer zo laat" (a.k.a Waldolala). You can see the group perform the song, here. Luv' has been finnpicked twice before, see here and here.

Here's the pair:

Tell Her/Him - Minun on hän

Today we continue the series Both Sides Now. On the flipside of yesterday's Gulliver finnpick was this song "Minun on hän" (She's mine). It's a good cover of a good song and the lyrics again were provided by Vexi Salmi. The original song was called "Tell Her" and it was written by a pioneer of sixties rock and soul, Bert Berns. It was first interpreted by American r&b singer Gil Hamilton. Gil later changed his name and rode high in 1963 on Billboard chart (number 4) with "Loop De Loop" under the name Johnny Thunder. The the hit version of "Tell Her" was done by the American vocal group The Exciters in 1962 with the slightly updated title "Tell Him" (becouse the singer was a woman; lead singer Brenda Reid). This was Exciters' first hit record. It was produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and reached number 4 in US pop charts. It also remained their only hit, making them one of the 'One Hit Wonders'.

Updated on 18.09.2010: added the first Finnish version "Sano hänelle niin" (Tell him so) by Katri Helena.

Here's the bunch: