Alaska country - Alaska country

The end stop in our Grand Tour of USA is the northern-most state. Lea Laven recorded "Alaska country" in 1972 for her album "Vuosikertaa". The arrangement was in the the capable hands of Veikko Samuli and the Finnish lyrics were from the pen of Chrisse Johansson. The original "Alaska Country" was a track on Shocking Blue's second album "Scorpio's Dance" released in 1970. The album was partly recorded in New York and continues the band's exploration of Americana and country music. Alaska Country" was one of the most obvious references to America. Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It was purchased from the Russian Empire in 1867.

Here's the pair:

California Here I Come - Sinustakin apua ois

Yes, it's "both Sides Now" again. Today we present the flipside to yesterday's finnpick "On miten on". Chrisse Johansson wrote the (somewhat obscure) Finnish lyrics for this "Sinustakin apua ois" (You could be of some help). Lea Laven's interpretation is quite good, but went unnoticed at the time. The original Shocking Blue song was called "California Here I Come" and it was on the excellent second SB album "At Home" released in 1969. It was the their first album recorded with lead vocalist Mariska Veres.

Here's the pair:

Shocking You - On miten on

Lea Laven has recorded more Shocking Blue covers than any other Finnish artist, maybe more than ANY artist. Its' such an irony that she have never had a charted hit with those covers. Lea's voice had same kind of output and tone than Mariska Veres had, so that may explain the multitude of her Shocking Blue finnpicks. In 1972 Lea released a single with Shicking Blue song on both sides. Today we present "On miten on" (It is what it is). And it's among the best of Lea's covers. The original was called "Shocking You" and it was a hit for SB in 1971. You can see the band perform the song, here.

Here's the pair:

Blossom Lady - Vuosikertaa

The Queen of Covers in 70's, Lea Laven recorded "Vuosikertaa" (Vintage) in 1972. Arrangement was done by future master arranger and songwriter Veikko Samuli. And this was one of the 8 (!) Shocking Blue covers that Lea did in that year. There are altogether 12 Robert H. J. Van Leeuwen -written songs covered in Finland and of those, Lea has done three out of four. Perhaps her voice has some similarity to Mariska Veres'. I bet we hear more of these in the future Finnpicks. Well, this "Vuosikertaa" was Shocking Blue's 1971 hit "Blossom Lady". This Dutch band was formed in 1967 by the guitarist Robbie van Leeuwen. The band's name was inspired by an Eric Clapton track called "Electric Blue". The lead vocalist Mariska Veres' vocal style was quite different from most female singers of the day. Mariska was half-Hungarian and half-German, and had often sung with her father, who played violin in a gypsy orchestra.

Take Me High - Moi moi vain

We start by saying "Moi moi vain". Which is what Finns usually say when they meet. Meaning something like 'Just saying Hello'. It was also the title of the single by a popular Finnish female singer Taiska (real name Hannele Suominen) in 1976.
The original was "Take Me High". the first (and only) solo hit single for Mariska Veres, whom we all know as the lead singer of Shocking Blue. She recorded it in 1975.

Here's the pair: