Tzeinerlin - Käyköön niin tai näin

Our old friend Robin recorded "Käyköön niin tai näin" (Will it be it as it may) in 1970. It was released on the B-side of his minor hit "Jäähyväiset" (finnpicked here). The Finnish lyrics were made this time by Robin himself. The original song was of French origin and called "Tzeinerlin". It wa written by André Popp, the famous French composer and arranger, and it was a continental hit in 1970 for Les Compagnons de la Chanson. They were a French vocal group from Lyon, founded during World War II. Their most known song is the "'Les trois cloches' (The Three Bells) (yet to be finnpicked) that they recorded in 50's together with Edith Piaf. The version that Robin covered was the one by Herman's Hermits. They had a international hit with it under title "Years May Come, Years May Go".

Here's the triplet:

My Name Is Jack - Kustaa

This is the final "Finnpicks for the Kids", for now. Robin released "Kustaa" as a single in 1968. although the song that he covered was a hit, Robin's version was not. Perhaps the lyrics by Juha Vainio did not touch the hearts of wider (grown.up) audience. The original song was written by legendary record producer John Simon and he also performed it. The song was on the soundtrack of a hippy 1967 rockumentary movie of Peter Yarrow's (of Peter, Paul and Mary) called "You Are What You Eat". Nor the movie nor the song did cause much commotion, but Manfred Mann picked up this "My Name Is Jack" and made it later that same year a smash hit.

Here's the triplet:

Durham Town - Jäähyväiset

Robin had a small hit with the "Jäähyväiset" (Goodbyes) released as a single in 1970. The orginal was written and performed by British Roger Whittaker (born in Kenya). He is best known for his baritone singing voice and trademark whistling ability. This "Durham Town" became Whittaker's first Top 20 hit in Britain in the spring of 1970.

Divshare
Here's the pair:

The Letter - Pienet Kirjeet

"Pienet Kirjeet" was the B-side of the 1967 single of Robin. The A-side was earlier finnpicked (see it here) "Ei se pelaa joka pelkää". The A-side was a big hit, but this flipside is long forgotten. The original song "The Letter" was written by Wayne Carson Thompson, an American country musician, songwriter and producer. But the song is not a country tune, but as a superb pop rock piece made by the group Box Tops. It was released in 1967 and reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The record, produced by Dan Penn, sold over four million copies and even received two Grammy awards nominations. The band Box Tops was headed by then-16-year-old Alex Chilton . The composer Thompson played guitar on the recording and he didn't like the Chilton's singing, believing the lead vocal was too husky ... You can see and hear the husky Alex here.

Here's the pair:

Simon Says - Simo sanoo sen

Now we move from lollipop to bubblegum. Robin recorded "Simo sanoo sen" (Simo says that) in 1968. It was on the b-side of his single "Mua onnitelkaa" (see it finnpicked, here) The original song "Simon Says" was a huge bubblegum pop hit for American group 1910 Fruitgum Company. It was their first successful single, reaching number 4 in the US charts, and subsequently becoming one of the bubblegum anthems. "Simon says" is actually a classic children game. One of the people is "it" (i.e. Simon). The others must do what Simon tells them to do when asked with a phrase beginning with "Simon says". If Simon says "Simon says jump", the players must jump (players that do not jump are out). However, if Simon says simply "jump", without first saying "Simon says", players do not jump; those that do jump are out. Well, it's not exactly rare, in action movies, to hear the bad guy saying "I didn't say 'Simon says'" and "outing "the victim ...

Here's the pair:

Russian Spy And I - Salainen asiapoika

Robin - our Finnpick veteran - recorded "Salainen asiapoika" (Secret errand boy) in 1967. It was the B-side of his "Riders In The Sky" -cover "Aaveratsastajat". Neither of these was a hit. The original song wasn't a hit in Finland, either. But it was quite interesting early specimen of Dutch pop/rock that usually was not known, let alone covered in Finland. It was originally called "Russian Spy And I" and performed by a band called The Hunters. This single released in 1966 became The Hunters' most famous song, recieving much radio airplay. The virtuoso guitar lick brought lead guitarist Jan Akkerman instant recognition all over Holland. At the time he was only 18. In 1970 he formed the famous Focus and some years later, Akkerman was awarded by the UK pop publication, Melody Maker, as the "Best guitarist in the world"!

p,s. The unintentional(?) humour of this Finnpick seves as a introduction to Finnpick Humour Week. Stay tuned ...

Here's the pair:

Okay! - Okay!

Now it's time for requested posting - request that has been long overdue. Robin (see previous entry) recorded "Okay" in 1971. It was a sizeable hit for him.. Undoubtedly the slavic influences in the song helped. The original song by the same name was done by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich. They were one the United Kingdom's top pop bands of the mid-'60s. Performing songs by their managers Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley, the group scored several Top Ten U.K. hits. Formed as Dave Dee & the Bostons, DDBM&T were led by vocalist Dave Dee (b. David Harman), an ex-policeman. He had been at the scene of the automobile accident that took the life of American rocker Eddie Cochran and injured Gene Vincent in April 1960 - rescuing Cochrans guitar.

Here's the pair:

Save Your Heart For Me - Aika näyttää sen

Robin (see previous entry) released "Aika näyttää sen" (Time will tell) as a single in 1969. It was a beautiful song, but perhaps the time wasn't right, becouse it wasn't a hit. But one of Robin's best. It wasn't the first Finnish version of this song, becouse Pekka Loukiala recorded it already in the year 1965. But that version I don't unfortunately have. The original song was called "Save Your Heart For Me" and it was first performed by Brian Hyland in 1963, as a b-side of a single. Teen idol Hyland scored his first and biggest hit single at the tender age of 16 in 1960, "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini", But the hit version of "Save Your Heart For Me"" was made by Gary Lewis and the Playboys. It was released as a single in the summer of 1965, peaking at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Lewis, son of the comedian Jerry Lewis, credited the success of the record to both producer Snuff Garrett and to the short length of the song. Since it was less than two minutes duration, it was played everywhere.

Here's the triple:

Prima Ballerina - Prinsessa

Robin (see previous entry) won the Finnish Battle of the Bands in 1965 as the vocalist of Cary and The Teasers. As a result he got a recording contract, and his first record was the cover of the Beatles' "Girl". However it was never released. But later in the 60's Robin recorded many hits, and one of the biggest ones was "Prinsessa" (Princess) in 1969. The original song was the German entry in that ýears Eurovision Song Contest and called "Prima Ballerina" (placed 9th). It was performed by a famous Swedish singer Siw Malmkvist. Siw's breakhrough in Sweden took place in 1959, when she won the singing contest 'Melodifestivalen'. She soon became hugely popular singer in Scandinavia and especially in West Germany. She also played in various movies and TV Shows. Siw Malmkvist has recorded about 600 songs in 10 different languages. She is still an active entertainer in Sweden.

Here's the pair:

Congratulations - Mua onnitelkaa

As this is the Independence Day of Finland, and the 91st birthday of Finland, it's time for congratulations. Robin (real name Esa Simonen) was a gym teacher but also pop singer. He sometimes combined both by performing while standing on his head. He recorded "Mua onnitelkaa" (Congratulate me) in 1968, gaining moderate success with it. The original was the English entry in that years Eurovision Song Contest "Congratulations" presented by Cliff Richard.

Here's the pair: