https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxdBV7Mhivs




Mind you I prefer the Hungarian version!

Nice one Paul! Kati had some great songs and a great voice. I love that track but the version I have is slightly different and it's on a compilation LP. It's still in Hungarian but a different recording, with phased vocals in the break - still really good. Check it out here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbymQJhbxVg


Another song of hers that I love is Sehnsucht and it's on the same "best of" comp LP. A great driving, rhythmic track with Moog. Check it out here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8VenJLKwEg

If you've got any other good Kati Kovacs song recommendations please fill me in!

Hi Richard

That's another German version (I think)- here's the Hungarian version-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_7w1lRq3dU

This can also be heard on the Well Hung Finders Keepers Cd which is a great introduction to Hungarian psych/prog. Listen to this-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abZlQVbmWww

There is a cd of Kati Kovacs- Die Großen Erfolge, but these are re-recordings in German (all be it from the 60/70s).

I also have her lp with Locomotiv Gt but I prefer their 1st lp which is a super blues/psych/prog mix

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uEa-mjTql0

Also virtually anything by the Illes (dubbed the Hungarian Beatles) is worth a listen.

Also Omega (who released one english language lp as Omega Red Star)-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGt-rTDkMcM

Oh yes, I guess that would make sense that the one from the Well Hung comp is in Hungarian. I don't know why I never put it together that the other versions were in German! ;) I think since I heard that German version on my comp LP first, I'm biased to like that one the best. However, I think both versions are outstanding.

Yes, I do love Illes. I have 3 of their LPs - Illések És Pofonok…, Add A Kezed & Ne Sírjatok Lányok! All great and unique albums but of those 3 I like Ne Sírjatok Lányok! the best. This track has always been one of my faves. A great groove and I just love those drum and bass breaks:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgjMbzLqdZ0

Here's another strange one from that album. Sort of middle eastern with weird Moog bits and great harmonies. Then the middle sounds like they ran the vocals through a wah wah pedal:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3Eb3k1pORk

And another one of my faves from that album. Crazy phased vocals with a soaring and pleasant vocal and organ melody mixed with a sort of choppy toytown piano riff:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_C8-ivcITY

You know, I tried getting into Omega but I'm not sure I started with their best album. Can you recommend their best albums? How is Red Star?

Thanks!

Best Omega is the third. It is clearly the only heavy one. Gold & black foc. The title is two horrendous-complex hungarian words.

Just listening to the fore mentioned Omega LP Wallace - got it a while ago but haven't listened to it until now- have you tried Bergendy. I think they would appeal to you as they are more proggy (but jazzy too). Omega Red Star isn't great IMHO (about 3 star)but I don't think the band were entirely happy with it either. There is a review in SFA (can't remember which issue) but I think I'd try their next too lps, Richard. I think I have all the Illes LPs (except the one they recorded in German)- you have got to respect any band from behind the iron curtain who released an album called "Human Rights"!


Also of interest is the 1st 2 LPs by Corvina and Neoton by Bolond Varos as well as the Metro LP. All these are available as original pressings at reasonable prices (at least compared to UK & US LPs) on Ebay etc, or hear them on the tube.

I think the Hungarian scene is characterized by some great albums -as long as you don't mind the lyrics not being in English.

From Éjszakai országút lp by Omega - Az éjszakai országúton

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCn6GMVz6e4

I have the LP on East Germany's Amiga label - 'Kati Kovacs with Hungaria & Juventus' and also the East German Amiga label 45 Katy Kovacs & Juventus – 'Sehnsucht' / 'Alles, Was Du Gern Has' both from 1974. The LP version of 'Sehnsucht' is different from the 45 version and I think 'Alles...' is non- album, though I might be wrong. The 'Well Hung' comp on Finders Keepers is excellent. Another excellent (though vinyl only I think) Hungarian collection is 'Paprikazz Fel!: the best of the Hungarian rock scene 1965-1971' on the Grey Past label. I'm can't recall off-hand if this is a double or triple LP set,, I must fish it out and check. It has 32 tracks anyway all but 3 dating from 1967-69.

Hi Paul,

that comp is a new one on me. Many Eastern European bands from other communist states recorded in German on the Amiga label. All the Hungarian bands seem to be related to each other and many of the rock bands backed different female stars for albums.


Worth looking out for is the Hallo series of comps- rather odd groupings of bands from several different countries with a poster but no track listing on the sleeve, a sort of an Rubble from the east. Some excellent music from eastern europe which wouldn't have seem the light of day made it onto these lps-

http://rockin-hood.blogspot.ie/2009/10/hallo-series-from-amiga-label.html

More on Hungarian music-

http://www.europopmusic.eu/Newsletters/Features/Kovacz_paprikazzfel.html

Thanks, I'll look those up. Ebay link for 'Paprikaz Fel' below It is a double LP but in tri-gatefold sleeve, it's a really nice item as well, thouhg the tiny picture in the ebay listing doesn't show it! loads of liners etc. and no filler

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Paprikazz-Fel-Best-of-the-Hungarian-Rockscene-65-71-LP-/370327719243

Sorolta Zalatnay is another great Hungarian femle singer that comes to mind. her 'best of' LP on Finders Keepers is well worth hearing too.

Paul

Paul - Is that ROckIN'-Hood Amiga comp post still live? How do you d/l the 44 songs? There doesn't seem any obvious pointer on the blogsite. It looks like a really interesting selection.

I note the second website is indeed titled 'Paperikaz Fel and advertsies the Lp at the bottom.

Paul

To be quite honest Paul - I haven't downloaded any tracks from that site - some of those download sites appear quite dodgy to me but I'm no expert. Mostly I've been listening to the couple of lps I got and the music is of quite a high standard. There is a vol 1&2 best of on cd which is rare and seems to go for big money for a cd.

Yea did notice that about the other website but it seems strange that there is no tracklist. I have been listening to LPs so some of the bands are unknown to me as they seem to have only released singles. I think I'd prefer to spend my money on original vinyl first.

I have the Sorolta Zalatnay cd - its excellent I agree but maybe lacking that killer track?

loads of Katis tracks on Spotify for those who want a listen before buying
also came a cross a finder keepers v/a album called WELL HUNG thats got some nice tracks on which is on Spotify in full

Paul - 'Paprikazz Fel' tracklist is on the 60s compilations data base on the Ugly Things website, here's the track list link:

http://comps.soybomb.com/compsproject/comptitle2.php?&scompid=3052&lifilter=4&lispeed=1

It is a thing of beauty.

Cheers
Paul

where can one get hold of Paprikazz Fel please?

Thanks for that Paul,

seems to be a few comps of Hungarian stuff-

http://comps.soybomb.com/compsproject/comptitle2.php?&lifilter=4&scompid=1157&scomptitle=Beat%20Legendak%20#1-CD&lispeed=1

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Fantastic-prog-psych-beat-collection-Hungary-1966-1970-LISTEN-near-mint-/161248502370?pt=Music_on_Vinyl&hash=item258b28e262


http://www.ebay.ie/itm/V-A-Rocklegendak-LP-Illes-Syrius-Omega-Locomotiv-Zalatnay-Bergendy-1983-EX-VG-/151246682305?pt=Music_on_Vinyl&hash=item23370138c1

Yes, seen those in the past but yet to hear them. It seems like Hungary was Eastern Europe's Netherlands when it came to the proliferation of bands. Czechoslovakia wasn't bad either. One album I have always found very emotive and enchanting is by the GDR band Team 4. Their second album 'Die Strass' (1968, and reissued at least once in 1991)is great, Light, but very well written songs.

Paul

Haven't heard Team 4 Paul but do have Svetska Slava Polni Trava

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pICaO3FX-uU

This is a great czech popsike record in a nice psych sleeve.

Also the Shtourtsite (try saying that after a few) Bulgarian LP which comes in 2 different sleeves is good -

http://www.discogs.com/%D0%A9%D1%83%D1%80%D1%86%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5-Shtourtsite/release/2065318

sort a strange mix of early Beatles/Hollies vocals with the rest of the band playing King Crimson.

Hey Paul, wow, that description of the Shtourtsite album sounds very interesting and right up my alley. Do you know how I could hear a digital version of that? Thanks for mentioning this!

Hi Richard - I may have made a mistake in that Щурците or Shturcite (The Crickets, I think) is the name of the band and Shtourtsite is the name of the Lp. But then my Bulgarian isn't what it should be I'm afraid. No CD reissue to the best of my knowledge

Although there is a CD of presumably later songs here:

http://www.discogs.com/Crickets-The-The-Crickets/release/4489305

But there are some songs on the tube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeiW9NYnX9A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PQF839L8W4

Well recommend this comp WELL HUNG LP/CD on Finders Keepers, use to have it in stock a few years back not much interest,took ages to sell but i loved it.
1. Anna Adamis & Gabor Presser – Ringasd el magad No.2
2. Omega Redstar – Egy lany nem ment haza
3. Metro – A penz
4. Hungaria – Vegallomas
5. Kati Kovacs – Add mar Uram az esot!
6. Corvina – A Tuz
7. Neoton – Nora
8. Tamas Somlo & Omega – Azt mondta az anyukam
9. Meteor & Demjen Ferenc – Kivanj te is nekem szep, jo ejszakat
10. Illes – A bolond lany
11. Omega – Kergeskezu favagok
12. Sarolta Zalatnay – Hadd mondjam el
13. Locomotiv GT – Megvarlak ma delben
14. Nemenyi Bela & Atlantis – Kinai fal
15. Katie Kovacs & Gemini – Nem biztos semmi
16. Piramis – Mondj egy meset
17. Skorpio – Szevasz haver
18. Omega – Felbeszakadt koncert
19. Illes – Nekem oly mindegy

http://www.finderskeepersrecords.com/shop/well-hung/