Jak to dziewczyna - Varjojen yö

For his 1965 album "Lasse Mårtenson" Lasse Mårtenson recorded the song "Varjojen yö" (Night of the shadows). The excellent moody lyrics were done by Reino Helismaa. The original song was of Polish origin. It was called "Jak to dziewczyna" (Like a girl) and it tells a story about a poor piano player who one day created a girl out of the notes played on his piano, and fell in love with her. The song was made popular by singer and actor Jerzy Polomski (real name Jerzy Pajak), who scored many pop and schlager hits in Poland in the 60's and 70's. You can see a rare promotional film of the song, here. Another popular version was done by Polish songstress Irena Santor. You can see her perform the song, here. This dark eerie song has also been versioned several times in Finnish. Here is one popular one, performed by Topi Sorsakoski and Agents.

Here's the pair:

This Guy's in Love With You - Vain mies

It's again time for "Both Sides Now". The B-side to yesterday's finnpick of Lasse Mårtenson was this "Vain mies" (Only a man). The Finnish lyrics were by Lasse himself, made under pseudonym "L. Vaajakorpi". The arrangement was done Esko Linnavalli. The original song was a Burt Bacharach & Hal David -written hit for Herb Alpert. Alpert originally sang "This Guy's in Love with You" on a 1968 television show. In response to numerous viewer telephone calls, the song was released as a single and reached the number one spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in June of that year,

Here's the pair:

Little Green Apples - Vihreät omenat

Lasse Mårtenson recorded "Vihreät omenat" (The green apples) for his 1968 album "Lasse Mårtenson". It was also released as a single and gave him a minor hit. The lyrics were written by Lasse himself. The original song "Little Green Apples" was written by US songsmith Bobby Russell and first recorded in 1968 by singer and songwriter Roger Miller , best known for his honky tonk-influenced novelty songs. Later that same year it was released most successfully in a modified R&B version by O. C. Smith (b. Ocie Lee Smith). His rendition reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. "Little Green Apples" won Russell both the 1969 Grammy Award for Song of the Year and the Grammy Award for Best Country Song.

Here's the pair:

Up Up And Away- Hop hop ylöspäin

As today is Jimmy Webb's birthday. let's listen to a song written by this songwriter genius. Lasse Mårtenson recorded "Hop hop ylöspäin" (Hup hup upwards) in 1968. It was released on the b-side of his hit "Kuinka kaunista on" (cover of "What A Wonderful World"). Pertti Reponen put the Finnish words in the song. The original song "Up Up And Away" was popularized by the american vocal group The 5th Dimension. It became a major pop hit, reaching number 7 on the U.S. Pop Singles chart in 1967. The song, themed around images of hot air ballooning, won several Grammy Awards in 1968. You can see the group perform "Up Up And Away", here.

Here's the pair:

I'll Never Fall In Love Again - En koskaan aio rakastaa

Kristiina Hautala (see earlier entry) and Lasse Mårtenson (see earlier entry) collaborated often in performing and recording. In 1970 they recorded "En koskaan aio rakastaa" (I will never love again) for Lasse's solo album. It was never released as a single although it surely had some hit potential. The original song was written by famous Amercan songwriter duo Burt Bacharach and Hal David. It was originally written for the 1968 musical "Promises, Promises", and it soon became one of Bacharach and David's most enduring songs. It was nominated for Song of the Year in the 1969 Grammy Awards. "Promises, Promises" was a musical based on the 1960 Billy Wilder film "The Apartment". In the first stage version of the musical the leading roles were played by Jerry Orbach and Jill O'Hara. We present here the original cast version of the song sung by them. The first hit single version was done by Bobbie Gentry in 1969 and it reached number one on the UK Singles Chart. In the following year Dionne Warwick's version rode the US charts. I'm not sure which one of the many versions was inspired by Lasse and Kristiina, but let's now hear Bobbie's 'almost original' version.

Here's the triplet:

Ladybird - Leikiten - Leppäkerttu

Well, here's one true classic, covered many times all over the world. Lasse Mårtenson and Marjatta Leppänen were the first to cover this song in Finnish. They recorded "Leikiten" (Easy as a child's play) in 1968 and it was minor hit. Lasse we have met many times before but now we hear Marjatta's voice for the first time. She began her recording career already in 1961, had some hits in the 60's and 70's but she gradually turned more and more into performinmg in stage shows and doing televison work. The song was re-covered in 1989 when Anna Hanski (see previous entry) with Pekka Kaasalainen (singer/guitarist from the group Vilperin Perikunta) recorded it with different lyrics titled as "Leppäkerttu" (Ladybird). The original song "Ladybird" was written by Lee Hazlewood and performed by him and Nancy Sinatra. It was a smash hit for them worldwide even if the song stayed at number 20 in the US charts in 1967. As a bonus we present the 1993 version by Anna Hanski and Lee Hazlewood from their album "Gypsies And Indians".

Here's the bunch:

Making Memories - Näin tehdään muistoja

This could be the theme song for Finnpicks. Lasse Mårtenson (see earlier entry) recorded "Näin tehdään muistoja" (That's the way to make memories) 1967. It was not such a big success at the time, but it has become some sort of 'Mårtenson classic'. The lyrics were made by Lasse himself, using pseudonym 'L. Vaajakorpi'. There was also a popular TV Show of the same name, starring Lasse Mårtenson. The original song was a 1967 hit for 50's singer legend Frankie Laine. Frankie has been finnpicked before; look here and here. About this theme song thing - well, actually the theme of Finnpicks should be 'Remaking Memories' ;-).

Here's the pair:

Put Your Hand In The Hand - Uskon ihmiseen

Lea Laven recorded "Uskon ihmiseen" (I trust in mankind) in 1971. It was released as a single, but the song on the flip-side "Manolito" had more success. The positive lyrics were done by Chrisse Johansson and they tell about man searching his Creator. The original song was the smash hit called "Put Your Hand In The Hand" for a one-hit-wonder group named Ocean. Ocean was a Canadian gospel rock band formed in 1970. They are best known just for this record, that sold over one million copies at the time (1971). You can see the group performing the song, here. The song was penned by Gene MacLellan, a singer-songwriter, who was also a Canuck. Another well-known song of his is "Snowbird", made famous by Anne Murray.

Updated on 21.02.2010: added the other Finnish version by Lasse Mårtenson and Seija Simola, "Iske kourasi kouraan".

Here's the triplet:

Meu limão, meu limoeiro - Limon limonero

Lasse Mårtenson (see earlier entry) recorded "Limon limonero" in 1969 together with dance and vocal duo Koivistolaiset. It was a sizeable summer hit in that year. At those days few people realized that this song wass in fact based on the same Brazilian song "Meu limão, meu limoeiro" as yesterday's Finnpick 'Lemon Tree'. In Brazil the old song was given new life by Wilson Simonal who was a very successful Brazilian singer in the 60s and 70s. The song is credited to his producer Carlos Imperial, but as we have learned the roots of the song are deep in the Brazilian music tradition. Subsequently the Simonal's song found it's way in to Europe and it was a big hit, especially in Spain, in 1968, as the version performed by Henry Stephen. And I guess that's the one our Lasse covered. Henry August Stephen Pierre was one of the pioneers of rock in Venezuela, fronting the 'Los Impala' rock band, before launching solo career in 1966. "Mi Limon Mi Limonero" as his Spanish language version of "Meu limão, meu limoeiro" was called, was his biggest international success. You can see him perform it, here.

Here's the triplet:

Jackson - Mä lähden stadiin

Lasse Mårtenson (see earlier entry) teamed up with Carola (see earlier entry) in 1967 and they recorded "Mä lähden stadiin" (I'll go downtown). It was released as a single (Carola covered James Bond -theme "You only live twice" on the B-side). The record was a big success, as would be expected. The original was done Kingston Trio in 1963 on their album "Sunny Side!" The song called "Jackson" was penned by Billy Edd Wheeler with the help of veteran songsmith Jerry Leiber. Billy was inspired by the bickering couple in Edward Albee's play 'Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf', The song became worldwide hit when it was recorded by Johnny Cash & June Carter, and Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood. But now we present the rarely heard original "Jackson".

Updated on 15.01.2011: added the version that might be the true original one - by Billy Edd Wheeler and Joan Sommer.

Here's the bunch:

Green green grass of home - On ihmeen hyvä tulla kotiin

Lasse Mårtensson (see previous entry) recorded "On ihmeen hyvä tulla kotiin" (It's wonderfully good to come home) in the last days of 1966. He also wrote the Finnish lyrics, telling the story of a prisoner dreaming about his home-coming (similar theme as in the original song). It became a sizeable hit for him in 1967. The original was a country & western tune "Green Green Grass Of Home" composed by an American songwriter Claude "Curly" Putman. It was recorded by many, but became a massive worldwide hit when sung by Tom Jones in 1966. The first recording in 1965 was done by country & western singer Johnny Darrell. He established a trend of recording "lyrically adventurous" songs that would later become big hits for other artists. These were, in addition to "Green Grass", "Ruby (Don't Take Your Love to Town)" and "The Son of Hickory Holler's Tramp". How unlucky a man ...

Here's the pair:

Yeh Yeh - Yeh Yeh

Lars 'Lasse' Mårtenson was among the most popular Finnish pop- and jazz singers in the 1960's. He started his career in 1950's with the group Lasse Mårtenson Trio, in which he sang lead and played keyboards. Later he went solo and recorded several pop hits and appeared in many TV Shows. He represented Finland in Eurovision Song Contest 1964 performing his own composition "Laiskotellen". Since the 70's Lasse has concentrated in composing music for movies and television. In 1965 he recorded the jazzy "Yeh yeh" that suited very well for Lasse's laid-back singing style. The original - almost instrumental - tune was recorded in 1963 by Latin Jazz legend Ramón 'Mongo' Santamaria. It was written by Mongo's pianist Rodgers Grant in collaboration with saxophone player Pat Patrick. Jazz vocalist Jon Hendricks later added original lyrics and recorded the song at the Newport Jazz Festival 1963.In 1965 the song became international hit as a vocal version by British rhythm and blues and jazz singer Georgie Fame (real name Clive Powell).

Here's the pair: