Peacemaker - Rauhanhieroja

Seppo Närhi released the album "Närhi" in 1975. One of the tracks was this "Rauhanhieroja" (Peacemaker). Probably record company doubted its potential as a single and it remained only an album track. The original "Peacemaker" was the work of British singer-songwriter Albert Hammond.  The song was on the 1973 album "Free Electric Band", whose title track was finnpicked here.  You can see Albert perform the song live in television studio, here.

Here's the pair:

Mary Ann - Mary Ann

One more ESC finnpick after last nights ESC 2011 ... Seppo Närhi recorded "Mary Ann" for his album "Vieraat huoneet" in 1979. It wasn't released as a single and it is one of the lesser known Närhi songs. The Finnish lyrics were provided by Juha Vainio. The original "Mary Ann" was the British entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1979, performed by pop group Black Lace. It placed 7th in a field of 19. The writer of "Mary Ann", Peter Morris wanted the group to sound like chart-topping band Smokie. And obviously they did, because Smokie's publishers, RAK Music, insisted that Mary Ann was a rip-off of Smokie's song "Oh Carol" and threatened to take legal action. You can see Black Lace's ESC performance, here. 


Here's the pair:

Do Wah Diddy Diddy - Do Wah Diddy Diddy

Just prior to breaking through with "Tango Pelargonia" in 1964 Kari Kuuva (see earlier entry) recorded this "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" with the group Islanders (Danny's backing group) using the obvious name Kari & The Islanders. The song was on the B-side of their cover of Searchers' "Don't Throw Your Love Away". The Finnish lyrics were written by Kari himself. In 1977 Seppo Närhi did another cover with different lyrics using the title "Meikäläinen makaa niinku petaaki" (I lie in my bed as I have made it). The original "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" was written by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich and originally recorded in 1963 by the American vocal group The Exciters. They are best remembered for their Top 10 hit "Tell Him" (US number 4)in 1962. (finnpicked here) The "Diddy" song was monster hit for Manfred Mann when they covered it in 1964. You can see them perform it, here.

Here's the triplet:

You're In My Heart - Oot suonissain

Seppo Närhi recorded "Oot suonissain" (You're in my veins) for his 1978 album "Vieraat huoneet". It was also released as a single (B-side to "Vieraat huoneet", cover of "It's A Heartache"), The A-side was a minor hit, but this flipside did not get much attention. Even if the original song was quite a big hit all over the world. It was "You're In My Heart " and performed in 1977 by Rod Stewart. It was also written by Rod himself and the lyrics mention Stewart's favorite football team in the phrase "Celtic United". You can see Rod perform the song in 2004 in Royal Albert Hall , here, with a lots of audience participation.

Here's the pair:

Queen of 1964 - Prinsessa 65

Seppo Närhi (see earlier entry) recorded "Prinsessa 65" (Princess of 65) in 1975. It was released as a single., but despite of getting a lot of radio plays. it didn't reach the top positions in the charts. The smart lyrics were done by Heikki Harma (i.e. Hector). The original somg was a lesser known tune "Queen of 1964" by Neil Sedaka, written of course by Sedaka himself and his songwriting partner Hovard Greenfield. Both the Finnish and original versions told about an old groupie, 'Stage-Door-Jenny', as she's called in the original lyrics. In the Finnish lyrics Hector has updated Elvis Presley to David Bowie.

Here's the pair:

If You Can't Give Me Love - Kuulut taivaalle vain

Seppo Närhi (see previous entry) recorded "Kuulut taivaalle vain" (You just belong to the sky) in 1979 on his 4th album "Vieraat huoneet" (Strange rooms). It was also released as a single in the same year, however failing to hit the top of the charts. The original song "If You Can't Give Me Love" was performed by Suzi Quatro (b. Susan Kay Quatrocchio). Suzy is Detroit-born singer-songwriter, musician, radio personality and actress. In the 60's she played bass in the all-female bands Pleasure Seekers and Cradle with her sisters. In 1971, after being discovered in Detroit by record producer Mickie Most, Quatro moved from USA to the UK. After teaming up with songwriters Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman she finally made big breakthrough with the song "Can The Can" in 1973. "If You Can't Give Me Love" was a sort of come-back in 1978 after two flopped singles. BTW, I bet you didn't know that Suzi is aunt of the actress Sherilyn Fenn ...

Here's the pair:

Arms of Mary - Naisen verran

Seppo Närhi recorded "Naisen verran" (Womanful) in 1977 on his album "Enkelit on harvinasta riistaa" (Angels are a rare game). We have heard one finnpick from that album already (see this entry). The lyrics were written by another Finnish singer Irina Milan (see this entry). The original song was written by Scotsman Iain Surherland and performed by the group Sutherland Brothers and Quiver. Sutherland Brothers (Gavin and Iain) originally performed as a folk-rock duo in the early 1970s, In an effort to diversify and expand their folk based sound, they joined forces with a Scottish rock band known as Quiver. This song "Arms of Mary" was their most succesful offering and came from their 1975 album "Reach for the Sky". The song reached number 10 in UK charts. I'd like to add that this song is one of my personal all-time favourites.

Here's the pair:

Third Rate Romance - Ekan luokan randevuu

Seppo Närhi released "Ekan luokan randevuu" (First class reindezvous) as a single in 1976. It was a medium size hit for him. The witty lyrics were again done by Hector (see previous entry) like with our previous Närhi -entry. The original song was called "Third Rate Romance" and performed by country rock band Amazing Rhythm Aces, and written by band member Russell Smith. Aces were an American band that has characterized their music as "American Music" — rock, country, blues, folk, reggae and Latino. This song might be categorized as 'latino-country-rock'. It came from their debut album "Stacked Deck", released in 1975, and as a single it was crossover (rock and country) hit.

Here's the pair:

Silver Moon - Minä sekä toi kuu

Närhi (real name Seppo Närhi) entered show business in the 70' as a member of a dance band doing rearurant gigs. In 1975 he started solo career as a recording artist and had couple of pop hits. Due to health problems he had to withdraw, but his daughter Laura Närhi has had great success in recent years as a lead singer in the group Kemopetrol. One of Närhi's hits was "Minä sekä toi kuu" (Me and the moon) in 1976. The lyrics to this song were done by Hector (see this entry). The original 'moon' -song was written and performed by Michael Nesmith in 1971 with the title "Silver Moon". This ex-Monkee had a quite successful solo career, and his extraodinary 'Nesmith Country' -music has won many hearts - in Finland, too.

Here's the pair: