Co-Co - Kaikki mukaan

The Finnpicks ChinniChap Week's day two introduces us to a new Finnpick artist; Keijo Minerva. Keijo started his career in the late 60's and released his first record in 1971. He worked as a solo artist and as a member in several pop groups (e.g. earlier finnpicked Gulliver), but never really made it. This "Kaikki mukaan" (Come on everybody) was recorded in 1972. The lyrics were provided by Vexi Salmi and arrangements by Rauno Lehtinen. The original song was called "Co-Co" and it was second hit single for The Sweet, and fared better than the first one ("Funny Funny") reaching number 2 in the UK charts. The first album by Sweet, "Funny How Sweet Co-Co Can Be", was uncharted in UK, but was number one in Finland for three weeks in February 1972.

Here's the pair:

Funny Funny - Meillä hyvin on

This marks the start of Finnpicks ChinniChap Week (volume 1, there will be others ...). ChinniChap is the abbreviation for the songwriter duo Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman. Since we move on in chronological order, this first week is eventually Finnpicks Sweet Week ;-). Johnny recorded "Meillä hyvin on" (We've got it alright) in 1972. It was released on the B-side of his big hit single "Amarillo" (see earlier Finnpick, here) The original ChinniChap tune was called "Funny Funny" and it was the first in long line of their hits for the British pop and rock group The Sweet, reaching number 13 in the UK charts.

Here's the pair:

Get Out of the Kitchen - Alahan tulla

Well. this is a requested song, and I'm happy to be of help. Kisu recorded "Alahan tulla" (Come on) in 1971. It was released on his album "Sinulle" as well as a single, but it went unnoticed, The original song "Get Out of the Kitchen" was a minor hit in 1970 for Peter Gordeno (b. Peter Godenho), who was born in Rangoon, Burma (presentt day Myanmar)., but made his career in Great Britain. He was a dancer, singer and actor but most successful as a choreographer. This "Kitchen" song was written by famous songwriting duo Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood.

Here's the pair:

Union Silver - Kuulen laulun

During my Finnpicks research I've often come up with a song that has made me wonder why haven't I never before heard this beautiful song. This is an example of those songs. Eija Sinikka (see earlier entry) recorded "Kuulen laulun" (I hear a song) for her eponymous album in 1975. Chrisse Johansson was the the lyricist. The original song was called "Union Silver" and it was a lesser known hit by the Scottish pop group Middle Of The Road. Their enigmatic lead vocalist on this and on all their hits was Sally Carr.

Here's the pair:

End Of The Line - Oolrait

The fun loving pop group Vilperin Perikunta (see earlier entry) recorded "Oolrait" (Alright) for their 1992 debut album "Gloria vilperum". This modern classic pop song was originally performed by Vilperin Perikunta's namesake Traveling Wilburys and written by the whole group (here's the official composer list: Dylan Robert - Harrison George - Lynne Jeff - Orbison Roy Kelton - Petty Thomas Earl). It features all the Wilburys, except Dylan, as lead singers; Harrison, Lynne and Orbison sing the chorus in turn, while Petty sings the verses. It was released as a single, eventually peaking only at number 63 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Here's the pair:

Old Spinning Wheel - Vanhan kartanon kehräävä rukki

We have not presented 50's songs for a long time. Well, here's one - very popular in Finland at the time. Seija Lampila recorded "Vanhan kartanon kehräävä rukki" (Spinning wheel in the old mansion) in 1958. Seija studied ballet dancing, but turned into singing at the start of the 50's. She had couple of hits in that decades but she quit singing at the turn of the 60's. Lampila was not the first one to cover this song - Georg Malmsten had done it already in the 30's. The lyrics were provided by the legendary Finnish singer and songwriter Martti Jäppilä. "Old Spinning Wheel" (a.k.a "There's An Old Spinning Wheel In The Parlor") was the title of the original song. It was written by American composer William "Bill" J. Hill in 1930. The first popular recording was done by English bandleader Ray Noble in 1934 whose version hit the number one in U.S. charts at the time. After the WW II, Slim Whitman's version was another big success.

Here's the pair:

Oh Lady Mary - Voi pikku Meeri

Simon Scott (real name Veikko Salonen) was an aspiring new singer talent at the start of 70's. Following the tracks of Tapani Kansa, Markku Aro etc., he tried to establish himself as a pop star. Well, he got the voice and the looks, but he never succeeded. One of his single releases was this "Voi pikku Meeri" (Oh little Meeri) in 1971, sung to the lyrics of Chrisse Johansson. The covered song "Oh Lady Mary" was made popular in Europe by a Dutch-born singer named David Alexandre Winter (b. Leon Kleerekoper), who - under the name John van Doorn - was once a DJ at legendary pirate station Radio Veronica. After moving to France his debut single, "Oh Lady Mary", sold over million copies and it was number one for five weeks in 1969. Winter sung for Luxembourg at the 1970 Eurovision Song Contest (The song, "Je suis tombé du ciel", came last with zero points).

Updated on 26.08.2010: added the original 1967 Turkish song "Samanyolu" (Milky Way) performed by Berkant.

Here's the triplet:

Fattie Bum Bum - Lihava on lämmin

More of the reggae style ... Easy was a short-lived Finnish soft rock group in the latter part of 70's. It was led by singer and songwriter Roni Kamras, who'se first band was Musakatit. Musakatit made a couple of singles and they were re-recorded along with some other songs and made to an album called "Easy" in 1979. This "Lihava on lämmin" (Fat is warm) was one of those Musakatit singles (from 1976), but the version here is from that "Easy" album. It's an excellent piece of laid-back reggae and should have been a big hit. The lyrics were done by Juha Vainio. The song was at first offered to Petri and Petterson Brass, but they turned it down, and in fact was one of the reasons why Petri decided to leave Brass and concentrate start solo career with totally different kind of music. The original version of this song was done by a Jamaican reggae singer and percussionist Carl Malcolm, who also wrote it. It was called "Fattie Bum Bum" and reached number 8 on the UK Singles Chart in 1975. It was the only chart success for Malcolm.

Here's the pair: