VA - 12 tähteä

VARIOUS ARTISTS

12 tähteä

Satsanga SATLP 1032
1977
Compilation LP






12 tähteä (12 stars) is one of the countless compilations Satsanga and other labels released during the 1960s and 1970s. Usually these compilations were about songs only released as singles or other compilations. The best track on this one, Anita Hirvonen's "Älä tule myöhään" (don't come home too late) is released on this compilation only. Although the voice of Anita Hirvonen have always given me a little creeps, On the other hand, I still can't pretend I don't like this funky disco track, it's really cool. The catchy chorus was even sampled to a Finnish rap song years ago. Another slightly decent track is Anita Virta's "Ja silti rakastan" (and I still love). Rest of the tracks are humppas, schlagers and other non interesting stuff.


Anita Hirvonen - Älä tule myöhään

Inga Sulin - Rakkaustaika

INGA SULIN

Rakkaustaika / On yö, tehkää tilaa

Decca SD 5811
1974
7"






Inga Sulin started her singing career in the mid 1960s when she attended the auditions of the Pohjoismainen Sähkö Oy (PSO). She succeeded pretty well and her first single was released in 1965. And then almost ten years later this single was released. "Rakkaustaika" (lovespell) on side a is a really beautiful ballad with a quite melancholic beats. "On yö, tehkää tilaa" (it's night, make some space) on side b is more uptempo song with some flutes and jazzy beats. Both songs are written by Johan Simelius, arranged by Nacke Johansson and backed by Nacke Johansson's orchestra.


Rakkaustaika


On yö, tehkää tilaa

Charles Williams - Funky music

CHARLES WILLIAMS

Just as long / Funky music

Decca SD 5842
1976
7"






I consider this one to be Finnish music although Charles Williams was an American soul singer who lived in Finland only few years in the 1970s. It was only released in Finland and Williams was living in Finland at that moment, that's enough for me. So what we have here then? This 45 is a nice northern soul double sider with two great funky uptempo dancefloor fillers. "Just as long" on the a side and "Funky music" on the b side. It is maybe not as popular and in demand as his first single, "Standing in the way" but it's still a good one. And quite hard to find too.


Just as long


Funky music

Lea Laven - Sano suoraan

LEA LAVEN

Soley soley / Sano suoraan

Columbia 5E 006-34515
1972
7"






Another groover from Lea Laven with two good ones. On side a there's "Soley soley", a cover of "Soleil Soleil" as written by Fernando Arbex and first recorded by Middle of the road in 1971. The better one can be found on side b. "Sano suoraan" is Lea Laven's own composition with arrangements by Kaj Backlund. It's a funky uptempo beat track that suits for the dancefloors anytime and in my opinion it's one of the best Laven ever did.

Jukka Kuoppamäki - Sä kanssain leikit vaan

JUKKA KUOPPAMÄKI

Rakkaus on sininen / Sä kanssain leikit vaan

Blue master BLU 677
1968
7"






I have never been too big fan of Jukka Kuoppamäki's voice, but I have to bring this 45 up anyways. While the side a song "Rakkaus on sininen" is a pretty basic but quite powerful schlager ballad, the better one is on side b. "Sä kanssain leikit vaan" is a cover of the big Supremes hit "You keep me hanging on" originally written by the legendary songwriting and producing team Holland–Dozier–Holland. It's a very nice uptempo soul song although the vibrating vocals of Jukka Kuoppamäki disturb me a little.

Gitte - Tämä maa

GITTE

Tämä maa / Stormy weather

His Master's Voice 45-TJ 228
1961
7"






I have no idea why Danish singer Gitte Hænning-Johansson recorded a song in Finnish. She don't pronounce Finnish too well and the dialect sounds actually quite funny. The song itself however is quite nice early 1960s jazz-schlager. And we do talk about the side a song "Tämä maa" (this land) here. It's a cover of "La terre" by Jo Moutet and it's backed by Jørn Grauengårds Orkester. Side b song "Stormy weather" is quite ok song too. A curiosity 45 I must say.


Tämä maa

Sirkka Keiski - Ei vieläkään

SIRKKA KEISKI & SOULSET

Mä heräsin / Ei vieläkään

Sonet T6523
1969
7"






Sirkka Keiski started her singing career in the early 1960s as a vocalist of a local dance ensemble. She released only three 45s in the 1960s. In 1969 she recorded her last 45 with the legendary Finnish soul/funk group Soulset. After this 45 she quit her musical career and started her studies. Later she graduated as an interior designer and doctor of arts. Both of the songs in this 45 are covers of the legendary female soul group The Supremes. Side a song "Mä heräsin" is a cover of the "The happening", a Billboard #1 hit from the 1967 that was also a theme song of the movie The happening. Side b song "Ei vieläkään" is a cover of the propably most well known Supremes hit "Baby love" that was also a Billboard #1 hit in 1964.


Mä heräsin


Ei vieläkään

Matthews - Tulivuori

MATTHEWS

Se oli hän / Tulivuori

Sonet T6586
1974
7"






Matthews was a short lived band from Tampere, that released one single in 1969 and after some line-up changes two more in 1974. From the ruins of the Finnish rock band Alwari Tuohitorvi rose this new line-up where several well known Finnish musicians were involved. Musicians included Seppo Tammilehto (drums), Hannu Latva-Hakuni (keyboards), Olli Juhani Kivistö (bass), Rale Koivisto (vocals) and Matti Järvinen (guitar). After the breakup of Matthews Latva-Hakuni, Kivistö and Tammilehto went to form another funky rock group Kummitus.

This third and at the same time their last single was the most funkiest of them all. While they started their career playing Cream-styled rock, "Tulivuori" (a volcano) have clearly some strong elements of funk. It's a nice vocal funk rock number with a drum-guitar break at the start. A side song "Se oli hän" is a regular pop'ish rock number.

Taru Hallama - Taru Hallama

TARU HALLAMA

Taru Hallama

Just KPLP 106
1982
LP






This self titled album of singer Taru Hallama was released in 1982. It's about half and half covers and original compositions. Covers include quite wide variety of different artists and styles. "Sovinnon aika" is a cover of Beatles' "We can work it out", "Auta minut aamuun" is a cover of Donna Summer's "I believe in Jesus", "Kasvamaan" is a cover of Eric Clapton's "Let it grow" and "Huuda mua" is a cover of "I'll be right there (call on him)" by Sherlie Matthews. The best track however is "Näen vapauden", a cover of Syreeta's "To know you is to love you" written by Syreeta Wright and Stevie Wonder. It's a nice modern soul track with some slightly disturbing electric guitars at the end..