The Ballad Of The Green Berets - Balladi punaisista bareteista

The vocal group Kivikasvot was formed when the members met while serving in the army, so it's only natural that they should do this particular cover. They recorded "Balladi punaisista bareteista" (The ballad of the red berets) in 1966. It was releasd as a single but in popularity it came second to it's flipside, the cover of Beach Boys' "Barbara Ann". The lyrics were provided by Sauvo "Saukki" Puhtila. The color of the berets was changed from the original green into red, becouse at the time there were no green berets in military use in Finland. In the 60's, the berets were just introduced, the first ones being red (actually maroon), and they were handed out to Parachute Troopers after their first jump. The original song "Ballad Of The Green Berets" told about the Special Forces of US Army. In addition to being the headdress of the Special Forces, "Green Berets" is also a well known nickname of the organization. The song was co-written and performed in 1966 by Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler. It became a fast-selling single, reaching number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The recording was encouraged by writer Robin Moore, author of the novel "The Green Berets". This book became a 1968 movie, "The Green Berets", starring John Wayne, with "The Ballad of the Green Berets" arranged in a choral version as the title song of the film.

Here's the pair:

Let's hang on! - Jos näin on

Kivikasvot (see earlier entry) released "Jos näin on" (If it is so) on the B-side of their Beatles cover single "Michelle" in 1966. The lyrics were provided by band member Ismo Sajakorpi. The original song was from the hit roster of Four Seasons. "Let's Hang On!" reached number 3 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1965. The popularity of the song has been attributed to the use of two fuzz guitars (one guitarist playing low notes, another playing high notes on a fuzz bass), a chorus loaded with hooks and sung in falsetto, and backing vocals giving counterpoint with Valli's lead vocals.

Here's the pair:

Juanita Banana - Juanita Banana

And now something out of the funny side of Finnpicks. Kivikasvot (see previous entry) often recorded novelty songs, as this one from 1966 "Juanita Banana". The prominent female vocals are done by Vuokko Piironen. The original was a great hit for a group called The Peels. The Peels, was a US studio group put together by the producer and the co-writer of the song, Tash Howard. The song that the heroine in the song, Juanita, is practising, is the aria Caro Nome from Verdi’s opera Rigoletto.

Here's the pair:

Eve Of Destruction - Tuhon partaalla

It's a New Years Eve. Since we're living times of ominious signs in economics, it might be appropriate to listen this song :-). Kivikasvot was a vocal group that was formed in 1965 while the members were all serving in the Finnish Army. It consisted of Ismo Sajakorpi, Ilkka Hemming, Matti "Fredi" Siitonen ja Georg Dolivo. It was not primarily a recording group, but a group of entertainers that could sing in harmony. They had very succesful TV Show in the beginning of 70's. All individual members have established solo careers, especially Fredi, who has many times been presented in Finnpicks (see for example this entry). The quartet recorded "Tuhon partaalla" (On the brink of disaster) in 1965. The original is the well-known "Eve Of Destruction" sung by Barry McGuire on the crest of the 60's folk- and protest movement. Barry had been in the singing group New Christy Minstrels and co-wrote their first and biggest hit single: "Green, Green." He left the group in 1965 and continued as a solo folk rock singer. His one and only big hit was "Eve of Destruction" that went to #1 on charts. According to McGuire, it was recorded in one take on a Thursday morning and then he got a call from the record company at 7:00 the next Monday morning, telling him to turn on the radio - his song was playing.