Walk With Me - Päivän vain

Anki Lindqvist recorded "Päivän vain" (For only a day) for her album "Sateen jälkeen" in 1967. For some reason the song was never released as a single. Two other Finnish versions of the same song were released in that same year. But none of those became a hit. The Finnish lyrics (used by all three) were provided by Juha Vainio. The original song "Walk With Me" was written by singer-songwriter and producer Tom "Dusty's Brother" Springfield. The Seekers had a big hit with it in 1966. It peaked at 10 in the UK and at 31 in Australia in October of 1966. In January 1967 The Seekers achievements were recognised at the highest level in their homeland when they were named Australians of the Year, becoming the first popular musicians to be so honoured.

37 Finnpicks to go.

Here's the pair:

A Teenager Sings The Blues - Teinitytön blues

Anki Lindqvist's second single (see the first one finnpicked, here) was this "Teinitytön blues" (Teenage girl blues). It was released in 1963, and Anki was 17 at the time. The lyricist who tried to depict teenager's problems was a 35 year old man Sauvo "Saukki" Puhtila. The artist, who Anki covered was the same that she covered with her first single, Helen Shapiro. Helen's "A Teenager Sings The Blues" was on her 1962 EP. Also the 3rd and 4th singles by Anki were Shapiro covers ("No Trespassing" and "Fever" respectively). The record company really tried to make Anki to Finland's Helen Shapiro!

Here's the pair:

500 miles - Viimeinen vihellys

Well, the numbers keep getting bigger and bigger. This time we keep an old promise. On the flip side of the 1964 single "Sitruunapuu" (see earlier entry) by vocal trio Anki, Bosse and Robert, was the song "Viimeinen vihellys" (The last whistle). It was a cover of the well-known country classic "500 Miles". The first version was recorded by an US vocal group called The Journeymen. The group consisted of John Phillips, Scott McKenzie and Dick Weissman. Their version of "500 Miles" went nowhere, even if the group got some potential; John Phillips was the future Mamas & Papas leader, and Scott McKenzie was of course the 'San Francisco' -man six years later. The song has been successfully covered many times, most notably by Peter, Paul & Mary and Bobby Bare. The song was written by Hedy West, a folksinger and songwriter. This was her most famous song, and was put together from fragments of a melody she had heard her uncle sing to her back in Georgia . She copyrighted the resulting patched song, and the rest is history ...

Little Miss Lonely - Neiti yksinäinen

In the early 60's when Anki Lindqvist (see earlier entry) was starting her singing career, the record company decided to make her a teen starlet. For that purpose, the songs for her first single in 1962 were chosen accordingly. "Neiti yksinäinen" (Miss Lonely) was cover version of the hit (number 8 in UK chart) by England's own teen sensation of the time, Helen Shapiro. Her "Little Miss Lonely" hit the charts in 1962 and told story of a teenage girl crying over being left alone by his boyfriend. Teenage angst at its best ...Helen was only 15 years old at the time, but her voice sounded like a mature woman. BTW, on the flipside of Anki's single was a cover of another Shapiro song, "I Don't Care". When I get hold of that, I will of course present it here.

Here's the pair:

Meu limão, meu limoeiro - Lemon tree - Sitruunapuu

Anki (see ealier entry), Bosse & Robert (see arlier entry) released "Sitruunapuu" (Lemon tree) as a single in 1964. On the crest of the blooming folk music wave it became a hit, together with the cover of another classic "500 miles" on the flip side (we will present that later). It is not generally known that the song is of Brazilian origin. This old folk song was called "Meu limão, meu limoeiro" (My lemon, my lemon tree) and it was recorded first time in Brazil in the 30's. In some sources US writer and lyricist Will Holt appears as writer of the song but he only made the English lyrics. He also recorded it himself (with Dolly Jonah) in 1960. The song was made popular by Peter, Paul and Mary on their hugely successful debut album in 1962. The most known version is of course the one in 1965 by Trini Lopez. Now we proudly present the first original recording of the song made by Jorge Fernandes in 1937, and the first popular English language version by Peter, Paul & Mary.

Here's the triplet:

Dream a Little Dream of Me - Elän yhä muistoissain

Anki (see previous entry) recorded "Elän yhä muistoissain" (I still live in my memories) in 1969. It was released as a single but didn't get much attention. Anki's solo career as a folk singer in the 60's was waning and she soon joined in the highly succesful group Cumulus. The original song was done in the USA already in the beginning of 1930's. It was called "Dream a Little Dream of Me" and it is said to be one of the 100 most important American musical works of the 20th century. The first recording of the song was made by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra with vocals by Ozzie himself, in 1931. Ozzie Nelson was famous orchestra leader but he is best known for the popular TV series 'The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet' ... and for being the daddy of Ricky Nelson. The song was later recorded by such artists as Frankie Laine, Doris Day, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald. But of course the best known version was done by "Mama" Cass Elliot of The Mamas & the Papas, in 1968, which sold over a million copies. And undoubtedly this was the version that Anki covered.

Here's the triple:

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!

Summer Nights - Ne kesäyöt

After doing some successful co-operation in the folk music scene with Österberg brothers, Bosse & Robert, Anki Lindqvist (real name Agneta Elisabeth Lindqvist) went to solo. At first she used her whole name, but eventually it was shortened to just "Anki". One of the songs she is best remembered by, is "Ne kesäyöt" (Those summer nights). The original song was done by Marianne Faithfull, and it was published as a single in August 1965. It was no wonder that this beautiful melodic tune was soon picked up by Finns.

Here's the pair: