Under Fire - Retkussa on meidän Meikkis

Mona Carita recorded the song with an odd name, "Retkussa on meidän Meikkis" (Our Meikkis is tied up in love), in 1980 and it was released as a track on her "Soita mulle" album. The Finnish lyrics were from the pen of Raul Reiman, and the arrangement of the song was in the capable hands of Veikko Samuli. The original song was called "Under Fire" and it was a 1979 Euro -hit for the South African all-girl band Clout.  The song was written by songwriting duo Brian Robertson and Terry Britten. Robertson did some succesful records as a singer under name B. A. Robertson and Britten wrote some of the Tina Turner's biggest hits. You can see Clout perform "Under Fire", here.

42 Finnpicks to go.

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Delta Queen - Tule kotiin

Jetit (see earlier entry) recorded "Tule kotiin" (Come home) in 1973. It was released on the flipside of their cover of Seals & Crofts "Funny Little Man". This "Tule kotiin" clearly had some hit potential, but it never realized. The Finnsih lyrics were done by Vexi Salmi. The original song was called "Delta Queen". It was first recorded by a South African group called Proudfoot. I don't know if it ever was a hit for them outside South Africa, but the song, sounding not unlike the 1971 smash hit 'Mamy Blue', was at least moderate hit in Germany (see it here), and in France (see it here) in local cover versions. Well, the song could have another "Mamy Blue", but wasn't ... 

58 Finnpicks to go.

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Without Love - Lapsuuskesät

One of the hidden treasures of Katri Helena can be found on the B-side of her smash hit "Katson autiota hiekkarantaa" in 1979. There was this song "Lapsuuskesät" (The summers of childhood). Besides Katri, there were two Veikko's involved: Veikko Samuli did the arrangement and Veikko "Vexi" Salmi the Finnish lyrics,  The original "Without Love" was weitten by South African musicisan John Kongos, who had a couple of worldwide hits as an artist in the 70's - e.g. "Tokoloshe Man". Today's finnpick was performed by another South African act, Clout. They were an all-girl pop/rock combo, who had several hits in Europe in the end of 70's.

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Raising My Family - Ihanaa Elämää

Anita Hirvonen (see previous entry) did her share of Finndisco. One fine example is "Ihanaa Elämää" (Wonderful life) recorded in 1982. It was somewhat different performance than the original one, done in Anita's own style. The original "Raising My Family" was made to worldwide hit in 1980 by singer songwriter Steve Kekana. Steve, born in 1958 in South Africa, lost his sight at age five, but with over twenty albums to his credit, has been a consistent force in the South African music scene since the early 1980’s.

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