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 The original song was one of the most famous pop songs "He's So Fine" originally made by all-girl vocal group The Chiffons (finnpicked earlier, see here, see also the "My Sweet Lord" entry).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:

Last Train to Clarksville - Nouse Joensuussa junaan

We are still staying in Tennessee... The Saari brothers Jouko, Kosti and Paavo recorded "Nouse Joensuussa junaan" (Board the train in Joensuu) in 1977 for their album "Jouko, Kosti ja Paavo". The Finnish lyrics were provided by Pertsa Reponen. The song was not released as a single. Maybe becouse it was released some 10 years after the original hit tune. "Last Train to Clarksville" was the debut single by The Monkees, released in August 1966.The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 on November 1966. Though the Clarksville in the song's title appears to refer to the city of Clarksville, Tennessee, co-writer Bobby Hart states that this is just a coincidence. The plot comprises a phone call from a military person to his wife / girlfriend, requesting that she 'get the last train to Clarksville' in order to have one last night together before he has to leave on his morning train. He doesn't know when he will return, so this may be a long or dangerous assignment. This day's bonus is later (1989) Finnish version by Clifers, called "Go Go Kake".
Updated on 23.10.2011: Added the first Finnish version (1967)  "Lähde pois" (Go away) by Harri Haka.
Here's the bunch:

Baby It's You - Janoinen suu

Afer a long break we meet again The Clifters . The group recorded "Janoinen suu" (Thirsty mouth) in 1990 for their album "Humala on jumala". It was also released as a single, on the B-side of their Foudations' "Baby Now That I've Found You" cover called "Kreivi". The lyrics were, as always on their cover tunes, provided by Jaana Rinne.. The original song "Baby It's You" was composed by Burt Bacharach and producer Luther Dixon (credited as Barney Williams) and lyrics were penned by Mack David (the older brother of another famous lyricist Hal David). The legendary girl group The Shirelles had a hit with the song, reaching number 8 on the Billboard charts in February of 1962. "Baby It's You" was later recorded by The Beatles on their debut LP Please Please Me.

Here's the pair:

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: