DARK BLUE WATER

Listen to DARK BLUE WATER by No To Co.

No To Co ('So What') was a folk/blues/rock outfit that stylized themselves as highland mountain folk rockers. That seemed to do the trick, as they became extremely popular in Poland, and made several international tours, including one to the United States.

I didn't know that when I bought their third, eponymous 1970 album, which turned out to be in English, save for one French number. All I knew was the cover: 7 dudes in mountain costumes arrayed in the classic rock group pose ("Ok, you two cross your arms... you two, hands on your hips... you, hands down... you one hand on the hip, but turn to the side... and you, pick up a piece of grass or something and fiddle with it... AND NOBODY SMILE!") à la Gilded Palace of Sin. As it turned out, this one could be judged by the cover. Folk costumes = folk tunes, rock pose = rock sounds. Sure, there are some awkward moments, but overall, the sound is cohesive. There's even a 7-minute cover of the Spencer Davis Group's "Gimme Some Lovin'", which almost riffs off into oblivion, but pulls back from the edge just in time.

So enjoy "Dark Blue Water" from No To Co, a group once (liberally) described as "the most original sound in the Central Europe". Uh, and about those first 8 seconds or so... just think of them as a wink!

That's it for me! Tomorrow Jason will be here, and then Bill is back.

Until next time!

Photo: Forest edge.

WRITE A LETTER

Listen to WRITE A LETTER by Grupa ABC.

Even though the borders were closed in the 1960's, ears were open. And somehow, Stax snuck in and blew them off. One of the bands started around the Memphis sound was Grupa ABC (whose original, and better I think, name was Grupa O!), who plodded around with a sax, organ and bass, but no real hook. Then came Halina Frąckowiak, whose dusky voice took them to the top.

Today's "Write A Letter" is the translated version of "Napisz, Prosze", which was a 1969 summer smash, and was followed by a string of other hits, all of which ended up on one album. And one album only. Inexplicably, they broke up in 1971, with the singer and drummer trying their luck in East Germany. By 1972, the curve had peaked, and they once again called it quits.

Classic Warsaw Soul!

Photo: Into the forest.

SAN FRANCISCO and MASSACHUSETTS

Listen to SAN FRANCISCO by Marek i Wacek.
Listen to MASSACHUSETTS by Marek i Wacek.

Speaking of the piano, if it ain't Chopin, it'd better be good on its own. And what's good is two tracks that, for their own reason, sound great together. (The whiz-kid in me wanted to combine today's tracks into one, but the 30-something in me couldn't figure out how to do it!).

And what's better is if the two tracks are played by two dualing pianists: Marek Tomaszewski and Wacław Kisielewski. Acive and very popular from the mid-60's to the early 80's (until Wacek's untimely death in a car crash) their greatest hits disc is still a staple in many tiny fiats, and is chock-a-block full of traditional pop and classical melodies sped up and double tracked in real time. Although at points it can sound like a 3-ring circus, it can occasionally do justice to an overworked pop standard. So, with a wink to Amigo Corbett, let's start out with John Phillips' 1967 songwriting hit "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)", and then follow with a nod to Amiga Amy with a Bee Gees hit, "Massachusetts", also from 1967.


Photo: forest.

ETUDE OP 25 NUMBER 4

Listen to ETUDE OP 25 NUMBER 4 by Leszek Możdżer.

Hello and Happy Memorial Day! John here. Bill has graciously turned over the keys to the blog to me for the next few days, and I hope not to let either him or you down. With that in mind, I'd like to peek into a corner of my music collection that I rarely have an opportunity to share, and present some tunes from Poland. I've spent quite a bit of time on that block and, always a sucker for cover art or crazy names, I've kissed a lot of toads, but found a few princes.

As for today... In a land with no shortage of national heroes, Frédéric Chopin casts a long shadow. He has been idolized, nationalized, and standardized. Airports, vodka, trains, and other things have all latched onto the brand. Perhaps because of this heavy identification with, or rather claiming of, a romantic composer whose piano works are admired around the world, the piano is Important To The Nation. Hence, it's de rigeur for pianists who do not recite Chopin normally to make the Chopin handshake album.

Jazz composer and star Leszek Możdżer did just that with his "Chopin Impressions" album, which opens with today's track. The original Etude 25 lends itself well to cover versions: contemplative minor key, good harmony...a dual hand octave barn burner. But Możdżer tempts fate by weaving a few bars of Charlie Parker into the mix. A nice new blend of old and older, or so I think.

Photo: hay stack.