Hooked On A Feeling - Pahuksen tunteet

Leo Luoto recorded "Pahuksen tunteet" (Damn these feelings) in 1974. For some reason it remained only an album track on the "Leo Luoto" LP. The first Finnish version was done a year ealier by Dave, but that recording I don't have. So we listen to Leo's interpretation, which is no bad at all. The Finnish lyrics were written by Chrisse Johansson. The original song was named "Hooked On A Feeling" and it was a smash hit on two occasions. In 1969 the original version performed by B. J. Thomas (b. Billy Joe Thomas)  reached number 5 in Billboard Top 100 chart. The song featured the distinctive sound of the electric sitar. In 1971, the Englishman Jonathan King  produced his own version, adding the famous "ooga chaka" chants. King described it as "a reggae rhythm by male voices". His version reached number 23 on the UK Singles Chart. In 1974, the Swedish pop group Blue Swede (with Björn Skifs as lead singer) did a cover, which included their own version of King's "ooga chaka" introduction, and their version reached number 1 in the US. BTW, the song was written by Mark James, who also wrote such monster hits as "Suspicious Minds", "Moody Blue" and "Always On My Mind".

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65 Finnpicks to go.

Here's the bunch:

The Black Eyed Boys - Rautainen klaani

Leo Luoto recorded nearly 60 songs, but never really broke through. Which is kind of of odd considering the quality of his singing, and the material wasn't so bad either. This is one of the better ones, "Rautainen klaani" (Clan of iron), that was released as a single in 1975. The original song was called "The Black Eyed Boys" and it was a 1974 UK hit for Paper Lace. The band chose their name from lace products created from a special grade of high quality paper manufactured in Nottingham, their hometown. The song was written by fathers of many hits, Peter Callander Robin and Mitch Murray. You can see Paper Lace perform it in Top of The Pops, here.
82 Finnpicks to go.

Here's the pair:

Pinewood Rally - Kimma kaasun avaa

Let's hear another Björn Skifs cover. Leo Luoto recorded the oddly named "Kimma kaasun avaa" (The girl twists the throttle) in 1974, and it was released on his album "Leo Luoto". The Finnish lyrics (about motorcycling girlfriend) were done by Raul Reiman.  Björn Skifs & Blåblus released the original song "Pinewood Rally" in 1973 on the B-side of their Top Ten US hit "Never My Love", which was the follow-up to their number one hit "Hooked On A Feeling". As yesterday's finnpick, this too was written by Björn Skifs together with producer Bengt Palmers.

Here's the pair:

Jet - Jet

We have three previous Finnpicks entries for Leo Luoto; the fist one you can find here. In 1974 he recorded "Jet" for his "Leo Luoto" album. It remained only an album track. For some reason it was not seen as a potential single, even if the original song was world hit. The original "Jet" was the single by The Wings, culled from their famous 1973 album "Band On The Run". The song was of course written by Paul McCartney, in collaboration with his wife Linda. It has been said that the song was inspired by McCartney's Labrador Retriever puppy. If so, it's not the first time McCartney wrote about a dog: when with The Beatles, he wrote the song "Martha My Dear" about his sheepdog. Well, the lyrics are a bit odd, and leave much room for speculations, some think that this song was about David Bowie and John Lennon. Bowie allegedly called John as "Jet" ... The Finnish lyrics told about jet airliner named "Jet". Might be the only Finnish pop song devoted to an aeroplane.:-)

Here's the pair:

My Coo Ca Choo - Mun lauantai

Leo Luoto (see earlier entry) recorded "Mun lauantai" (My Saturday) in 1974. As was the case with majority of Leo's recordings at the time, it sadly sunk without a trace. Even if the original was a big hit, in Top 20 also in Finland. The original "My Coo Ca Choo" was released under the name Alvin Stardust and it launched a short but glamorous career for one Shane Fenton (b. Bernard Jewry). He had couple of minor hits in the 60's with his group the Fentones, the most memorable of which was "I'm A Moody Guy". Shane/Alvin was really designed to be 'moody guy' with his menacing looks, side-burns and black leather suit and gloves. The man behind Alvin's records was Peter Shelley, so much so that he wrote, produced and even sang this first one. He didn't want to be Alvin Stardust as he recorded other kind material under his own name, and subsequently Shane step into Alvin's boots, just in time to present the hit single in BBC's Top of the Pops -TV show. You can see it, here.

Here's the pair:

Well Hello - Katos vaan

Leo Luoto (see earlier entry) never really made it to the premier league of Finnish pop singers. But nevertheless he recorded many nice songs and cover versions in particular. This "Katos vaan" (Well, I never) from the year 1973 is one of those. The lyrics were written by Chrisse Johansson. The original song was called "Well Hello" and it was performed and written by Steve Voice and Peter Yellowstone (b. Peter Papini), known simply as Yellowstone and Voice. The duo was formed in 1972 in London. Their minor hits were “Philosopher", “Grandmother Says” and this "Well hello", neither of which was hit in Finland. Their career as a group lasted only for an album and a couple of singles. They continued as songwriters, most notable writing the famous Kelly Marie hit “Feels like I’m in Love”. Steve Voice later formed the band Revolver and Peter Yellowstone wrote or co-wrote several hits for Joe Dolan.

Here's the pair:

Live Is Life - Villi yö

Songs of Austrian origin are very rarely covered in Finland (or anywhere else for that matter). We had one example of those in earlier Finnpicks (here), and here is another. Leo Luoto recorded "Villi yö" (Wild night) in 1985- Altogether 6 (!) Finnish versions were made of this same song on that year. Leo's was the only one released as a single. Leo was in the group Kalmar Union in the 70's, and later cut also some solo recordings. He's still actively performing. The original song - called "Live Is Life" - was written and performed by group called Opus. Opus is an Austrian pop-rock group from Graz which was formed in 1973, and is still active today. The band is fine example of 'one hit wonders'. In 1985 they released "Live Is Life" which topped the charts in many countries, and a live recording of the song even made the Top 40 in the USA. Thereafter ... nothing. We present here the live version.