Snart är du gammal - Kun aika kuluu

While doing research for Finnpicks I have often found a song that I have never heard, but after hearing it for the first time, want listen to it again and again. This only shows how big is the treasure chest of the forgotten musical gems of the past. This "Kun aika kuluu" (As time goes by) is one of those gems. Jouko ja Kosti recorded it in 1973. It was the flipside of the earlier Finnpick, "Mama Loo" (see here) and the philosophical lyrics were done by lyrics master Juha Vainio. The original song "Snart är du gammal" (Soon you will be old) was penned by Benny Andersson in his pre-Abba days, and it was originally performed by Norwegian singer Jan Höiland, who was active both in Norway and in Sweden. BTW, Jan was the guy who made a Norwegian version of Marion's 1962 ESC song "Tipi-tii". This "Snart är du gammal" became a hit in Sweden in 1973.

Here's the pair:

Only A Fool Breaks His Own Heart - Muisto vain jää

The vocal duo Jouko ja Kosti recorded "Muisto vain jää" (Left with just a memory) on their first single in 1968 (the B-side finnpicked earlier, see here) It turned out to be a number one hit for them and launched a successful, yet short career. The song was originally recorded by US jazz singer Arthur Prysock in 1965. This version got some airplay but didn't chart. In the following year the tune was picked up by Jamaican musicians Mighty Sparrow and Byron Lee and made it hit in Jamaica and later also in UK, where it surfaced with first ska wave. In 1968 Tom Jones recored it for his album "Delilah", and I guess that's how it found it's way to Finland. There's an insteresting story of the song's origin, here. The song is often errornously credited to Slinger Francisco (Mighty Sparrow’s real name), and apparently he hasn't always been very particular in correcting this information ;-) We present here the Arthut Prysock version (although it's not the original, but re-recorded in the 80's) and the SECOND version by Mighty Sparrow and Byron Lee.

Here's the triplet:

Mama Loo - Mama Loo

Jouko & Kosti (see earlier entry) recorded "Mama Loo" in 1973 when the new European Disco sound was breaking. After couple of less succesful singles this was sort of a come-back. The original "Mama Loo" was big European hit for Les Humphries Singers in 1973. The Les Humphries Singers was formed in Hamburg, Germany by the English born Les Humphries. The group consisted of a large number of singers of diverse ethnic origin, one of them being Liz Mitchell, who later fronted Boney M. This "Mama Loo" - a Les Humphries composition - was based on "Barbara Ann" by The Beach Boys. The group represented Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1976 with the Ralph Siegel song "Sing Sang Song", reduced to only six singers (usual line-up was at least 20 singers), and came in 15th place.

Here's the pair:

Many the Memories - Parhaimmat muistot

Today is the First Anniversary of Finnpicks. Close to 300 posts has been posted. To celebrate the day I have chosen "Parhaimmat muistot" (Best of memories) to be today's Finnpick. Becouse that's what the year has done to me - brought back some of my best memories. I hope something like that has happened to you, too. Jouko and Kosti (see previous entry) recorded "Parhaimmat muistot" in 1970 and it was only a minor hit for them. But the song has some staying power. The original was done by an Irish showband called The Real McCoy. The song reached #4 in Irish charts in 1969. The band was one of Ireland's first true "pop" bands scoring two hit singles in 1968. In mid-1969, they added trumpet player, Dave Coady to the lineup to both fill out the sound and strengthen their vocal sound. Their first release with Dave on lead vocals was this "Many The Memories".

Here's the pair:

Bussa Il Vento - Tahdon takaisin sen mikä meni pois

Jouko & Kosti (see previous entry) recorded "Tahdon takaisin sen mikä meni pois" (I want back what went away) in 1968. It was the B-side of their first single "Muisto vain jää". The original was called Bussa Il Vento (The Wind knocks) and it was performed by Armando Savini, an Italian singer. He started his recording career in 1967 and in 1968 he had couple of hits of which this is one fine example. Armando never made it really big, but he's still performing in the Italian dance clubs with his own group.

Follow The Bouncing Ball - Sillä lailla pallo pomppii

This was a tough song to get by - I mean the original version of course. Our old friends Jouko & Kosti recorded "Sillä lailla pallo pomppii" (That's the way the ball bounces) in 1971. It was the flip side of "Sisäinen kauneus" (see entry here), and was a modest hit for the boys. The original was recorded by another duo - Steve & Albert and was titled "Follow The Bouncing Ball". The song wasn't a hit and in fact I hadn't heard it until a couple of days ago. which is a shame, becouse the song is an irresistibly catchy pop piece. No wonder it caught the ear of some Finnish recording business people. The "Steve" was Steve Rowland and the "Albert" was Albert Hammond. Steve was an US actor and musician that found his way via Spain into UK in the 60's and ended up producing thirteen Top Ten hits for Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich. He also discovered Peter Frampton and The Herd, and with "Way Of Life" had UK Singles Chart hit with his own group, The Family Dogg, in which Albert was also a member. Steve and Albert had already been singing together in Spain and before Family Dogg they even tried as a duo. And that's when "Follow The Bouncing Ball" was recorded. In later years Albert Hammond made a very succesful career as a solo singer and songwriter. I guess we will meet him in the future Finnpicks ...

Here's the pair:

You and the looking glass - Sisäinen kauneus

Jouko & Kosti (see previous entry) recorded "Sisäinen kauneus" (Inner beauty) in 1971. It was b-side of a single and didn't get much attention at the time. But there's something in the song that calls for repeated listening. It grows on you - perhaps there's some "inner beauty" in it, too. The tune is composed by famous songwriters Alber Hammond and Mike Hazlewood, and performed originally by Irishman Joe Dolan (see earlier entry), who has recorded several songs written by Hammond -Hazlewood team. It was released as a single but was not one of Joe's biggest hits. However, the song is very well worth to listen to, and perhaps to listen to again and again ...

Here's the pair:

A Good Thing Going - Menee mikä menee

The brothers whose first names vere Jouko and Kosti and family name Saari made their breakthrough in 1968 when their first single was a big hit. Their second single in 1969 was "Menee mikä menee" (What goes, goes). The singing style of the brothers was not far from other popular duos of the 60's - Walker Brothers and our Swedish neighbours Tom & Mick. It was quite unique in Finland those days and the Saari Brothers had considerable success in the end of 60's and in the beginning of 70's. Also a third brother Paavo joined them for awhile. However, the popularity diminished and they stopped gigging and recording in 1979. The original tune "A Good Thing Going" was an obscure track from Engelbert Humperdinck (b. Arnold George "Gerry" Dorsey). Gerry was born in India, but migrated to UK in the 40's. He started his recording career already in the 50's but rose to fame in 1967 when manager George Mills adviced him to adopt a more showy name of the famous German opera composer Engelbert Humperdinck as his stage name.

Here's the pair: