Rocking Cosmonauts, vol. III

Hello, everybody, hi all!

April 12 is coming, so I found the time to make another "Rocking Cosmonauts" show. Besides the birthday of "Rock Around the Clock" this year is a 50th Anniversary of Yuri Gagarin flight to space. And here you can find a song dedicated to him.

This space compilation includes artists from UK, Finland, Russia, Belgium, Spain, Poland, Bulgaria, Denmark, Netherlands, Italy, France and Yugoslavia. Enjoy and don't hesisitate to write down your impressions. By the way, I just realized, that you have to be a member of blogspot to leave any comments here.

Winifred Atwell was born in Trinidad, had studied the piano since she had been a small child. By the late 1940s moved to London where she worked at clubs. By 1950 she began recording with Decca. Her music worked well on TV where she made regular appearances. She would normally start her act by playing a classical piece on a grand before transferring herself to what she called 'my other piano' which was an old 'honky tonk' upright. "Spaceship Boogie" was recorded together with trio: electric guitar, double bass and drums.

Harmony Sisters are three sisters: Vera, Maire and Raija. During their formative years the swing music loving girls performed only in English, until they met their new conductor and manager in 1937, George de Codzinsky, an emigrant musician, from St. Petersburg. Godzinsky was also a piano player, and had a chance to play for Fyodor Shaliapin. It’s Godzinsky and Saukki who’s credited for Finnish lyrics and arrangment for “Rock Around the Clock”.

The title “Baby Luna” is just another name given by journalists for Russian Sputnik-1. In the late 1950s there were even cafés named “Baby Luna” in Italy. I have no info about Carlo Genovesi who sings together with backing vocal group, so if you can put some light on this – let me know. I also have no info on 3 Kleine Kleuters & De Joffers en De Jonkers (“Grandpa’s Rock’n’Roll”), Maia Golovnja (“Silver Rocket”), vocal ensemble of Bulgarian radio (“Trip to Cosmos”) and vocal ensemble “Meteory” (“At the Cosmodrome”).

The Lollipops is a beat group of three young boys. The band won a children talent contest in Copenhagen in 1960 when they were 9, 10 and 12 yo. The band members were two brothers Torbenand and Joergen and older Poul. In 1961-62 they played in Sweden and got a recording contract with Karusell Records. Their first record was a cover version of Connie Francis’ “Lollipop Lips”. But quickly the boys showed that they had talent for writing own catchy songs. However, “I Got a Rocket In My Pocket” is also a cover version.

A few words about other performers. The Spoetniks were formed by singer and rhythm-guitarist Danny Fisher is 1958. The quartet had a big success on a Youth Festival in Bruxelles in 1961. This track has no space title, but the band has!

Vocal ensemble “Problem” sings Italian song called “Yuri Rock”. The songs was originally recorded by Johnny Mondo (Gianni Sismondio). N. Kalogjera made arrengements, M. Markuš wrote the lyrics. Backing by beat group Atomi.

Filippo Carletti has Italian origins. He moved to Spain and became popular there as a successful leader of quartet. The song in Spanish is about green Martian with one big eye who dances rock’n’roll.

In the early 1960s young French singer Jean Renard took the pseudonim Big Twist and recorded a few EPs. “Rocket-Bye-Bye” is from his first EP released in October 1961. Jean wrote music and lyrics by himself.

Winifred Atwell and Her Piano with Rhythm Spaceship Boogie (UK, 1957)
Harmony Sisters ja Triola-Yhtye Tunnista toiseen (Rock Around the Clock) (Finland, 1955)
Carlo Genovesi Baby Luna (Italy, 1960)
3 Kleine Kleuters met De Joffers en De Jonkers Opa's rock en roll (Netherlands, 1957)
The Lollipops I Got a Rocket In My Pocket (Denmark, 1964)
The Spoetniks Brigitte (Belgium, 1962)
Grupa Wokalna “Meteory” Na kosmodromie (Poland, 1965)
Maia Golovnja Serebristaia strela (Russia, 1965)
Vokalni Kvartet “Problem” Jurij Gagarin (Yuri Rock) (Yugoslavia, 1963)
Vocal Ensemble of National Bulgarian Radio Puteshestvie v kosmos (Bulgaria, 1965)
Filippo Carletti y Su Cuarteto Mr. Marciano (Purple People Eater)(Spain, 1961)
Big Twist Rocket-Bye-Bye (France, 1961)

Trip to Cosmos

Rocking Cosmonauts, vol. II

Hello everybody, hi all, this is Karel and Radio Manzerock is on the air.

12th of April is coming, and so it's time for Rocking Cosmonauts. On this day, Bill Haley recorded “Rock Around the Clock” and Yuri Gagarin orbited the Earth!

I just noticed that shortly after the first “Rocking Cosmonauts”, The European Space Agency (ESA) started an interesting competition. They asked young people from all over Europe to suggest the most suitable playlist for the astronauts living on the International Space Station.

After two months, the winner was chosen. It was Therese Miljeteig, 14 yo girl from Norway. Here’s Teresa’s playlist: Here Comes The Sun – Beatles, Come Fly With Me – Frank Sinatra, Rocket Man – Elton John , Up Where We Belong – Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes, Imagine – John Lennon, Flashdance – What A Feeling – Irene Cara, Walk of Life – Dire Straits, Fly – Celine Dion, Rockin' All Over The World – Status Quo, I Believe I Can Fly - R Kelly.

Other national winners mentioned on the web-site are: Aricia Planchenault from Belgium, Luisa di Valvasone from Italy, Sebastiaan Van Doornik from Netherlands, Lucìa Aparicio from Spain, Frederik Heimark from Denmark, Adam Viaud from France, Erik Guenther from Germany, Jean-Philippe Green from Sweden and Andrew Hale from Switzerland.

I dedicate this sampler to all the ESA winners, maybe some day they will be cosmonauts!

First track is simply called “Spoutnik”. This little gem was written by Belgian accordeon player Hector Delfosse, and recorded by Hector himself with two unknown (to me yet) musicians on lead and rhythm guitar in the late 1957.

Hector Delfosse was a successfull composer, he played with his ensemble, accompaniate to Belgian and French singers, received several golden discs, toured all over Europe, especially in France.

The second track is called “Teach You to Rock”. It was written by Freddie Bello, an Italian-American singer. Freddie recorded it in 1958 with his band The Bellboys.


The same year the song was recorded on the other side of Pacific by Peppino Di Capri and his band Rockers. Note space guitar solo by Mario Cenci in the middle of the song!

“Red Sputnik Rock (Red Planet Rock)” arrived from Great Britain. It was written and recorded by Don Lang in late 1957.

Don’s real name is Gordon Langhorn. When Rock’n’Roll movement has started, he was already a professional jazz musician.

After touring over Europe he decided to form his own combo. In 1956, Don Lang and His Frantic Five were chosen to be one of the cornerstones of the BBC teenage show “The Six Five Special”. And for two years they appeared as resident accompanist and in their own right.

Instrumental number called “Orbit” was recorded in 1963 by The Hurricane Strings – four-piece big-beat band from Rotterdam. Very nice melody with spacewomen backing vocal.


Russian “Rocket” was recorded by Aleksandr Vladimirtsov orchestra from Leningrad and written by K. Martiyanov, as it states on the EP sleeve from 1961.

Vladimirtsov formed his first orchestra in the early 1940s, and in the 1960s became official band leader of the Leningrad Radio orchestra. “Rocket” is an instrumental orchestra number, with cute swingin’ flavour.

The song “Satelliitti Kahdelle” (“A Satellite for Two”) has Finnish roots. It was recorded by established singer Kai Lind for Finnish National Final in the early 1964. As you know, the winner of the National Final would proceed for Eurovision contest.

However this song received only the 2nd place in National Final. But, if it was a Spacevision contest, I guess it will proceed ;-)

Serbian big-beat band Detlići (translated as “Woodpeckers”) play driving “Moonshot”. Originally , it’s a “Gunshot” written by The Fireballs. Thanks to The Spotnicks, this track became known as “Moonshot”. Detlići’s version was recorded for Novi Sad radio in 1965.

Next moon track comes from Spain. Gelu sings the song called“La Luna, el Cielo y Tú” (“Moon, Heaven & You”). Being written by Italian-Spanish composer Torrebruno in 1961, it first appeared in a movie “Horizontes de Luz” (“Horisonts of Light”).

Looks like the song became popular in Latin world soon, as I have more versions, like Brazilian. But I like Gelu’s version most of all – outstanding vocal, arrangement, lyrics. Everything is here in one bottle, err… rocket.

When it comes to romantic songs, one of my favorites is a Czech song “Orion” (you can see these stars if you’re in equator). It is about girl who’s talking to the stars. Female singer Judita Čeřovská recorded it in 1962.

Another romantic song is “Kosmos–Maa” (“Cosmos–Earth”) comes from Estonia. It was written by composer Alex Rasmussen and Estonian songwriter Heldur Karmo, who’s been writing both for jazz and light music. Vocals are by experienced musician and singer Kalju Terasmaa, and female singer Anu Anton-Õunapuu. The song was recorded for radio in 1966. Accomponiation by Emil Laansoo ensemble.

“Echo Boogie” was written and recorded by Danish guitarist Joergen Ingmann in 1961. It’s interesting, that the A-side of this 7” inch is “Apache” – a version that appeared to be a competitor to the Shadows "Apache" back in those days.

Joergen was one of the first and famous Danish electric-guitar players. He was also popular on the pop-scene, but I like his instrumental solo-works most of all.

And last, but not least, French girl Dani (or Danièle Graule, as her real name) sings a song called “Partir Pour la Lune”.

Have a space week!

Space Intro (Manzerock)
Hector Delfosse Spoutnik (Belgium, 1957)
Rockin' Intro (Manzerock)
Peppino Di Capri Teach You To Rock (Italy, 1958)
Don Lang and His Frantic Flive Red Sputnik Rock (Red Planet Rock) (UK, 1957)
Hurricane Strings Orbit (Netherlands, 1963)
Aleksandr Vladimirtsov et son Orchestre Raketa (Russia, 1961)
Kai Lind Satellitti kahdelle (Finland, 1964)
Detlići Moonshot (Yugoslavia, 1965)
Gelu La Luna, el Cielo y tú (Spain, 1961)
Judita Čeřovská Orion (Czechoslovakia, 1962)
Anu Anton-Õunapuu ja Kalju Terasmaa Kosmos-Maa (Estonia, 1966)
Jørgen Ingmann Echo Boogie (Denmark, 1961)
Dani Partir pour la Lune (France, 1965)

Beep-Beep!

P.S. Big thanks to Misha, Dima, Max, Andrej, Si for the big help with this show.

Rocking Cosmonauts

Hello everybody, hi all, this is Karel, and Radio Manzerock is on the air.

12th of April 54 is the day when Bill Haley recorded his all-time hit «Rock Around the Clock». And 12th of April 61 is the day, when Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space. So, todays programm is dedicated to these historical events: rocking and space, hence the name - Rocking Cosmonauts!

Electron is one of the first Russian instrumental bands, started back in 57 as an instrumental guitar quartet.
In the early 60s two guitarists (V. Prikazchikov and E. Gusev) formed a new quartet with rhythm section and found the name Electron (see the picture on the right). Instrumental number «Sputnik» is from a flexi released by Russian music journal «Krugozor» in 66.

Peter Karus is German singer and actor, was very popular in Germany in the late 50s. And still is.

The next track is «Sputnik Rock and Roll» by Swedish rock star Rock-Krister and His Cristals. It was recorded back in the ealry 58. See the EP sleeve on the left. It is a cult song, even modern Swedish rockabilly bands have it in their repertoire.

Metro is one of the most popular Hungarian beat bands. This instrumental number is from their ealry single. On the photo below you can see one of the early Metro gigs.


Bergendi együttes is another famous Hungarian band. They were formed as a dance and accompaniation ensemble. Later they released some cool jazz records. "Üstökös" means "Comet" is Hungarian.

Die Sputniks is an East Germany big-beat band formed in 63. This instrumental tarck is from 64.

Miroslav Kefurt is a czech guitarist, played with jazz combos during the 50s and formed his own band in 60. The band recorded some interesting instrumental tracks in the 60s, and also accomponiated for czech pop stars, like Eva Pilarova or Jiří Popper. Here's an instrumental track called "Vostok", dedicated to the the first human spaceflight.

Another czech gem, «Pozdrav Astronautovi» was written in 61 by J. Hnilička and P. Pácl. Gustav Brom Orchestra was founded by Gustav Frkal (who changed his name due to the WWII stormy events after a chemical element, Bromine) signed up for their first professional engagement in June 40. Since that time Gustav Brom’s big-band’s name has appeared on more than 576 music records, of both local and foreign origin.
This song was recorded by Gustav Brom Orchestra with Gustav taking vocals by himself.

Rocke-Pelle (real name Per Harald Hartvig) was one the first Norwegian rock stars.
The song «Good Rockin' Baby» is from the 58 EP. It's originally Sid King & The Five Strings song from 56.
He was was very popular, even Norwegian painters used his name in their satiric pictures. I just found a funny Norwegian postcard from the 50s (see the picture below).
It shows a young man who's invited to shake hands with his girlfriend's father.
It reads:
— Are you Rockefeller?
— No, Rockepelle!


The Beatniks was a Norwegian big-beat band. This instrumental track was recorded in 63.

Edith Pierha started to sing in the early 56 with vocal ensemble "Droujba" (translated as "Friendship"). Soon, they won the first prize at the 6th Youth Festival in Moscow in 57, toured all over Europe. Edith can sing songs in many European languages. "Valentina Twist" was sang in Polish and dedicated to Valentina Tereshkova — the first woman to fly in space. Originally this song was recorded by Polish vocal ensemble Filipinki.

And last, but not least, great Swedish instrumental band called The Spotnicks.

The track-list:

L'ensemble Electron Sputnik (Russia, 65)
Peter Kraus Rock Around the Clock (West Germany)
Rock-Krister Sputnik Rock and Roll (Sweden, 58)
Metro együttes Kozmosz (Hungary, 63)
Bergendi együttes Üstökös (Hungary, 65)
Die Sputniks Sputnik-Thema (DDR, 64)
Miroslav Kefurt se svou skupinou Vostok (Czechoslovakia, 62)
Gustav Brom Pozdrav Astronautovi (Czechoslovakia, 61)
Rocke-Pelle Good Rockin' Baby (Norway, 58)
The Beatniks Mars One (Norway, 62)
Edith Pierha avec l'ensemble Droujba Valentina Twist (USSR, 64)
The Spotnicks Space Walk (Sweden, 65)

Let's Space Rockin'!