Sofia Rotaru

Artist: Sofia Rotaru

LP: Sofia Rotaru

Song: "My Birthplace" 
[ listen ]

I've been hanging onto this terrific 1970s (probably?) Russian pop record for years without being able to read a single word printed on the label. Today I pointed my trusty new Google Translate app at it and voilá! Unlike Japanese, the Russian language requires no highlighting of text. As soon as I point my phone's camera at the label, the words I see just switch from Russian to English. It's like magic! I thought maybe 'CTEPEO' was the name of the singer, so I translated that first: 'STEREO'. Well, okay. I next pointed my camera at the label on side one of the record and it told me everything I needed to know. The singer's name in English flickered back and forth between "Sofia Novel," "Sofia Battalions," and "Sofia Rotaru," but a quick Google search told me which of those I was listening to.

Sofia Rotaru was born on August 7, 1947 in the Romanian-speaking village of Marshyntsi in Ukraine, near the Romanian border. She learned music from her older sister, Zina, performed in choirs at church and school, and then found early success as a folk singer after appearing in a musical film in 1966. Her husband encouraged her to switch to pop music, which caused Sofia's popularity to grow. Despite rumors in the late '70s that her voice was a product of computers, unaffected by political tensions between Ukraine and the Soviet Union, in spite of her legions of fans clamoring to know which nationality Rotaru most identifies with, and even following a brief stint in a nunnery, today Sofia Rotaru remains as popular as ever. She was the highest paid celebrity in Ukraine in both 2008 and 2010. There's lots more to read about Sofia Rotaru on Wikipedia here, and you can find this CTEPEO record's labels in both Russian and English (sort of) included below.

[ Sofia Rotaru ]

Eavesdroppings

Overheard when: 7:09pm on Monday, November 9, 2015
Overheard where: Front dining area at Ruzhen Mongolian Grill in the University District — 4523 University Way NE in Seattle, WA [map]
Overheard who: Two handsome, typical-looking 19-year-old University of Washington college students having dinner together at the table next to mine. Both had short black hair, neatly combed, with dark complexions—possibly of South Asian or Middle Eastern descent, though they spoke with American accents.
Overheard what: 
Student #1: "Dude, I can't believe I'm going to be a radio show host!"
Student #2: "That's cool. My friend had a radio show he hosted last year called Am I Masturbating? where he would talk about a bunch of topics, just talk about whatever, and people had to call in and try to guess if he was actually masturbating or not. He would make random noises and stuff and people would have to guess. Then they'd have to wait until the next week to find out if he was masturbating or not."
Student #1: "Did he ever actually masturbate?"
Student #2: "He told me that he did."

Siedah Garrett

Artist: Siedah Garrett

LP: 7" single

Song: "Everchanging Times" 
[ listen ]

As the purging from the record collection continued this afternoon, I came across this single by multi-talented singer-songwriter Siedah Garrett. It's the theme from BABY BOOM, a 1987 Diane Keaton vehicle in which she plays a successful, tough-as-nails New York City businesswoman who is suddenly thrust into the role of motherhood when an excruciating toddler is plopped into her lap by the wacky hands of fate. "Everchanging Times" is so incredibly and mind-bogglingly unremarkable that it's fascinating. I haven't heard a movie theme as lifeless and completely without personality or pizzazz since this tranquilizer was released back in 1983. If "Everchanging Times" had even an ounce of the zip displayed by the acid-washed, braided and bejeweled ensemble Ms. Garrett threw together for the picture sleeve photo, this single wouldn't be atop my vinyl 'discard' pile today. 

Siedah Garrett has worked with the likes of Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Madonna, The Pointer Sisters and Jennifer Hudson; she's helped write hits like "Man In the Mirror" and "Love You I Do" and has labored in the music business for nearly 40 years. You can read lots more about her here. She certainly deserves a better theme song to showcase her musical talents. Hell, even Diane Keaton deserves a better theme song than this. The neverchanging blandness of "Everchanging Times" helped catapult it onto the Adult Contemporary singles chart (contemporary adults have notoriously awful taste in music, but even they could only drag it up to #30); the song failed to appear on singles charts of any other sort. How this record ended up in my collection I'd like to know. I'm pretty sure it was sabotage.

[ Siedah Garrett with Mr. Jackson in 1983 ]

The Dramatics

Artist: The Dramatics

LP: A Dramatic Experience

Song: "The Devil Is Dope" 
[ listen ]

This is the only song I can think of where the singers realize at the start that they've suddenly arrived in Hell. You can read more about The Dramatics here and go here to find information on Ellis Chappell, the artist responsible for all the cool and creepy images—including the obligatory chicken-with-the-head-of-a-dog routine—on this terrific 1973 Volt Records release. Happy Halloween! 

[ The Dramatics ]

Anthony More

Artist: Anthony More

LP: 7" single

Song: "World Service" 
[ listen ]

This neat 1981 British single I picked up earlier this year was released on the independent Do It Records label, which also housed early recordings by Adam & the Ants. More's single has the look and maybe even the sound of some of the best of the early 7" releases on my favorite British indie label, 4AD. According to Wikipedia, Anthony More (aka. Anthony Moore—no relation to Roger or Demi that I could come up with in my genealogy lab) began his career with something called Slapp Happy in the '70s, then released a handful of solo LPs in the '70s and '80s (including "World Service" in 1981 from which this single is taken), after which he went on to contribute lyrics to a couple of albums by Pink Floyd. "Diving Girls" is the b-side.

Hiroshi Wada & Mahina Stars

Artist: Hiroshi Wada & Mahina Stars

LP: Enchanted Chorus - 3rd Collection [10" EP]

Song: "Kojonotsuki" 
[ listen ]

Everything's different now! After more than 43 minutes of diligently searching the web for English-language details or information regarding artist, song titles, etc for this 1958 Japanese 10-inch EP and some other one from Korea, I finally threw up my hands in frustration—and by that I mean I actually vomited and my hands came flying out of my mouth. Then I remembered someone at work mentioning some science-fiction mumbo-jumbo about how you could point your cell phone at a foreign language and your phone would automatically translate the text and tell you what the words meant in plain, bold-faced English. So I downloaded some app, pointed my phone at my Japanese record, and voilá—song titles! 

By simply highlighting the photographed text with my finger, I was able to translate all the lyrics to the song "Kojonotsuki," track three on side two. 

Of course the lyrics don't entirely make sense, but we all know how super poetic and metaphorical Japanese people get when they start to sing. I'm sure my magical translation device is 100% accurate. Here are the entire "Kojonotsuki" song lyrics in English: 

—Kojonotsuki—

Feast of spring lofty building of flower

Pointing over cup shade

It was Chiyo of Matsugae Wakei

Once upon a time of light now where

The color of the frost of fall camp

Show me the number of squeal go wild goose

The Resona stone shine in sword sell planting

Once upon a time of light now where

 
This formerly mysterious Japanese record with the gorgeous cover—I'd even call it stunning—is one that was formerly part of the David Lloyd Whited collection.

 

[ Hiroshi Wada & Mahina Stars ]

The Great Gavioli

Artist: The Great Gavioli

LP: Holland's Most Famous Barrel Organ

Song: "Gavioli Galop" 
[ listen ]

I can't believe I've only ever posted one famous Holland street organ record in all the seven years I've been putting stuff on this blog. It's high time for another, so here it is. From Capitol Records' Capitol of the World series in 1960, it's "the Big Daddy of Dutch street organs"—De Grote Gavioli!

[ Amsterdam ]

Jane

Artist: Jane

LP: 7" single

Song: "Love Song" 
[ listen ]

This 1978 single from popular German prog rockers Jane sounds like something from The Traveling Wilburys when it begins, but then Joy Division suddenly appears in the studio halfway through when the strings come in. Interesting. You can read more than you've ever wanted to know about the splits, splinters, drama and lineup changes Jane's been involved in since their 1970 inception on Wikipedia here.

[ Jane in 1980 ]

B.J. Thomas

Artist: B.J. Thomas

LP: Most of All

Song: "Circle 'Round the Sun" 
[ listen ]

Song: "Rainy Night In Georgia" 
[ listen ]

While weeding through my LP collection today to try to make more room, I was pretty sure this 1970 B.J. Thomas record I came across was one I'd be throwing into the discard pile. Sure, B.J. Thomas is super good-looking; you could even call him a heartthrob. But I've just been burned too many times by sexy men in fringe jackets and sunglasses—all razzle-dazzle and fizz with nothing on the inside. At my age it's hard not to judge. But I'm glad I threw it on the turntable to give it a listen first. It's gorgeous, like B.J.'s jawline. I'm even considering adding suede fringe to my wardrobe. It's that good!

Joanie Sommers

Artist: Joanie Sommers

LP: Sommers' Seasons

Song: "Autumn Serenade" 
[ listen ]

Song: "Autumn In Rome" 
[ listen ]

Song: "Early Autumn" 
[ listen ]

It's super blustery and wet here in Seattle today, with gusty winds and sudden bursts of rainy downpours. I just returned from a glorious walk to Top Pot for some coffee and a glazed pumpkin spice doughnut. I'm still on my delirious autumn-lovin' kick, obviously. It's interesting that Joanie Sommers is shown coupled with a handsome (and well-hung too, I'm sure) gentleman in all but one of the season-themed photos on the cover of her 1963 "Sommers' Seasons" LP. Joanie is alone in autumn and she's looking wistful, her eyes yearning. Trust me, Joanie—all you need in autumn is a warm cup of coffee, some wind, and a glazed pumpkin spice doughnut.

Born in Buffalo, NY in late winter of 1941, Joanie was once dubbed "The Voice of the '60s" with her 1962 hit "Johnny Get Angry," her Pepsi ad spots...she even managed to produce a Northern Soul single that now fetches over $500 each time it changes collectors' hands. You can read more about Joanie Sommers' life and career on Wikipedia here; album notes and photos are included below. 

Joanie Sommers on YouTube:
[ "Don't Pity Me" ]

[ Joanie Sommers, alone in autumn. ]

Aboriginality

The most interesting thing about the last guy I dated was his abscessed tooth.

side one:
01. You Need Satan More Than He Needs You - Future of the Left
02. I'm Casting a Lasso Towards the Sky - Slim Whitman
03. Wedding Hotel - Rowland S. Howard and Nikki Sudden
04. Survival - Red Beat
05. Weekend In Paris - Sheena Easton
06. Stage or Screen - Unknown Mortal Orchestra
07. Ella Megalast Burls Forever - Cocteau Twins
08. Frenesi - Lucho Gatica
09. Dressed In White She Walks Through the Door - Serena Maneesh
10. Problèmes d'Amour - Alexander Robotnick
11. Editions of You - Roxy Music
12. Flickor Och Pojkar - Dungen
13. Read the Bible Every Day - Sons of the Pioneers
[ listen ]

side two:
01. Light of Love - Music Go Music
02. Safe and Sound - Swan Dive
03. Conform to the Rhythm - Material
04. I Love America - Patrick Juvet
05. En Automne—Op. 36, No. 4 - Moritz Moszkowski (piano: Ilana Vered)
06. The First Time - Richard Swift
07. Let Jesus Lead You - Edna Gallmon Cooke
08. Song About a Rose - Pearls Before Swine
09. Sed Knife - U.S. Girls
10. Early Autumn - Joe Harnell, His Piano and Orchestra
11. So Good Together - Andy Kim
12. Tel Que Tu Es - Charlotte Gainsbourg
13. Here Comes the Rain, Baby - Wilma Burgess
14. A Taste of... - The Younghearts
[ listen ]