Edith Pierha — Dozhdik (1960)

I already introduced ensemble Droujba and singer Edith Pierha before and here I go again. The song "Dozhdik" ("A Little Rain" or "A Little Summer Rain") was recorded for Leningrad TV in 1960.

Originally this is a Polish song "Deszczowy Fokstrot" ("Rain Foxtrot"). Music written by Andrzej Markiewicz and Jerzy Mart, words by Bogusław Choiński and Jan Gałkowski.

Edith sings this song in two languages: Polish and Russian. Russian text was written by Aleksander Bronevitsky, the piano player and leader of Droujba ensemble.

This song is a pretty good example of harmonising performance.


Dozhdik (21 MB)

Posledniy Zhulik (Rīgas Kino Studija, 66)

I like this film very much. It is one of the most outstanding Russian comedys. It has some mystery around it and beautiful music by Mikael Tariverdiev.

The film was released in 66, and you can feel the spirit of the time here, in the picture and in the music.

The film is about a burgular Petya (actor Nikolay Gubenko), who after having been spended a lot of time in prison, finally is free (because the city of the future doesn't need prisons anymore :) In the city he met a pretty girl and fell in love with her.





The soundtrack was recorded by Eric Tyazhov ensemble together with vocal ensemble, which Eric originally formed for the VIO-66 jazz band.

Instrumental ensemble features, among others, Yuri Muhin on electric guitar, G. Melnikov on double bass, and D. Bekkerman on drums.

Music from this film was released on vinyl EP in 67 (Melodia Records, 18311-2). The lyrics for the final song were written by Russian poet Vladimir Vysotskij. The song was performed by Nikolay Gubenko himself.

Wish there were more such pictures!

Melodia 18311-2 EP

Operation 'Y' (Mosfilm, 1965)

Another Russian movie that I like very much - 'Operation 'Y' and Other Shurik's Adventures'.

The picture devides into three parts, three short novels. The main hero of all three novels is a young student Alex (or Shurik in Russian). Famous comedy artists starring here with the talented (the girl Lida is also very beautiful) young actors.

The first novel's called 'Naparnik' ('Helper') and it tells a story about middle-aged hooligan who changed his mind on hooliganism after joining Shurik's brigade. It is the most funny one for me!

The second novel is called 'Navazhdeniye' ('The Delusion'), you can see a title shot at the beginning of the article and screen shots from that novel below). This novel is based on a funny story from some Polish magazine. It is about students, who are going to pass their exams and beacuse of that are hardly see what is going on around. It is a love story and the most beautiful novel.

The 3rd novel is a story about three burgulars who decided to rob a shop. Offcourse, Shurik catched them.






When director of the film Leonid Gaidai asked unknown at the time composer Alexander Zatsepin to write music for this picture he wanted to get some modern and catchy melodies. Zatsepin was the 100% satisfaction. He wrote music which fits very well with the film scenes. It's modern (for the early 1960's offcourse :), funny, dancable, lyrical. Everything is here.

I like this music a lot (as well as the picture). Here's a soundtrack (stereo) that was released the same year on EP on Russian Melodiya label. Alexander Zatsepin formed an ensemble to record the music and also played accordeon by himself.

Here's the track list from the EP:

1. Après des examens
2. Réunion
3. Sauvage
4. Marché
5. Promenade dans l'autobus

Melodiya Records D 15943-4 EP

The Amphibian Man (Mosfilm, 61)

This is a nice film and one of my favorites. It is called "The Amphibian Man" based upon a novel of sci-fi writer Alex Belyayev.

The great cast including Anastasiya Vertinskaya, Vladimir Korenev, Mikhail Kozakov... Great underwater signs, nice atmosphere and, offcourse, the music.

The music was written by Andrew Petrov, young composer, who was unknown at the time. The producer asked him to write a sci-fi soundtrack. And Petrov came up with the fantastic music that was so nice and wonderful! Sometimes I still hear it on radio and TV.

I love this short soundtrack. It was released on a 33 RPM vinyl shortly after the pciture release, and here's only music, no singing. Just great music.

Vadim Ludvikovsky Orchestra

Well, here's another place to share various music archives of mine. Expect a lot of European retro music & other oddities from near and there. I'll try to bring the best possible quality.

OK, let's start tonight with Vadim Ludvikovsky Orchestra.


For those, who don't know, Vadim Nikolaevitch Ludvikovsky is the bandleader and composer. He was born on on 23 April 1925, and like many other children he started to play piano and later clarinet. His musical talent leds him to condact Army ochestra in Belorussia when he was only 19 y.o.

He was a good arranger and after the war he became a condactor in National Jazz Orchestra. Meanwhile he tried to gather his own group. Since the 50's his orchestra (sometimes called Ensamble of Soloists) has been releasing 78 RPM's, and later EP's and LP's, playing concerts all over USSR. They were rather popular.

He wrote for musicals, mition pictures and soon his orchestra was among the best jazz orchestras in USSR. Some of the best Soviet musiciants played in this orchestsa, like Georgiy Garanyan (sax), Konstantin Baholdin (trombone), Boris Frumkin (piano), just to name a few.

In the early 1970's the orchestra disbanded.

Here's a sample of their music: theme from the motion picture "Lubite'" (63), music by by Mikael Tariverdiev.