He's So Fine - Siis jos vain

Lea Laven released "Siis jos vain" (So, if only) on her album "Lea Laven" in 1987. The Finnish lyrics were provided by Chrisse Johansson. It's quite a mystery why this classic had not been covered before. Well - a couple of years later it was finnpicked again, by The Clifters. They performed it on their "Sexi on in" album under the title "Ou Lenita" (Oh Lenita) to new Finnish lyrics by Jaana Rinne. The original song was one of the most famous pop songs "He's So Fine" originally made by all-girl vocal group The Chiffons (finnpicked earlier, see here, see also the "My Sweet Lord" entry). It topped the Billboard Hot 100 Chart in the spring of 1963. The Tokens (of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" fame) produced the song and played on the backing track. 

Here's the triplet:

One Track Mind - Latva Bee

Once again it's time for The Clifters (see earlier entry). The group recorded "Latva Bee" (approximate translation: Class B brain) in 1987. It was a track on their album "Kuningas". The street-talk lyrics were done by Jaana Rinne. It wasn't single material, but the performance compares very well with the original. Which was a song called "One Track Mind" performed by a lesser known US group The Knickerbockers. The band was formed in 1962 but they didn't break until they had a Top 20 hit in 1966 with "Lies." This song has been said to be "the most accurate early-Beatles imitation". It boldly imitated John Lennon on the lead vocal and the Paul McCartney-style vocal whoops before the guitar solo and later in the song. The follow-up to the "Lies" was this "One Track Mind" and it was "nearly a hit", reaching number 46 in Billboard chart.

Here's the pair:

I Can't Explain - En tahdo selittää

Now is the time to re-open the treasure box of covers of the group Clifters (see earlier entry), . In 1987 they recorded "En tahdo selittää" (I don't want to explain). It was on their album "Kuningas" (The King). The original rocker was "I Can't Explain", the first single of the legendary mod and rock group The Who. They had released singles ealier (as the High Numbers), but this was their first as The Who. And it was a great success and breakthrough for them.

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:

Do You Know How Much I Love You - Tahdon tänään saada

The final entry of our Armi Aavikko -series is "Tahdon tänään saada" (I will get some today). It was also recorded in 1981 and released as a single together with a version of "My Boy Lollipop". Armi's version is quite different from the original. But much more different is another Finnish cover of this same song - made in 1987 by a group called Honey B and the T-Bones. They are both good versions so both deserve to be presented here. The original song was made in the 60's bya a Danish teen boy band The Lollipops. They had tremendous success in Scandinavia in those days, and they were the first teen pop group to break through. The group consisted of brothers Torben and Jörgen Lundgreen, and Poul Petersen. They started in 1960 when they were in their very early teens and when they gained the big success in 1965 they were just around 15. What is remarkable that the brothers Lundgreen wrote most of the bands music, like they did with this "Do You Know How Much I Love You".

Here's the triple:

Come vorrei - Kuuleeko Yö

Let's now take 3 in a row from Paula Koivuniemi (see previous entry). "Kuuleeko yö" (Does the night hear) was released as a single in 1987, and has since secured a permanent place in her repertoire. It has become one of Paula's classics. The original song "Come vorrei" (As I Would Want) was performed by the famous Italian singing group Ricchi & Poveri (The Rich & The Poor). The group was formed in 1967 by Franco Gatti, Angela Brambati, Angelo Sotgiu and Marina Occhiena. Marina left the group in 1981, after which they continued as a 3-piece. The group has had several mega-hits in Italy and Europe and they have sold over 20 million records.

Here's the pair: