Kari Peitsamo

KARI PEITSAMO

Kari Peitsamo ja Ankkuli: Jatsin syvin olemus (1977)

Vedestä nousee kasvi (1978)

Kari kolmas - Puinen levy (1978)

Kari Peitsamo ja Ankkuli (1979)

Kari Peitsamo: Pölypilleri (1979)

Kultakuoriainen / Lentokone talon yllä (1979)

Levylaulaja (LP) (1980)

Levylaulaja (CD) (1980)

Greatest Hits (1981)

Greatest Hits / Vallankumous (1981)

Gulliverin retket (1981)

Kari Peitsamo Revival: Jytäorkesteri tulee taas / Jos vain valon nähdä saan (1982)

Jokivarren jytäorkesteri (1982)

Pieni suuri show (1983)

Rokkiletti (1984)

Kari Peitsamo: Kadonnutta aikaa etsimässä (1984 / 1989)

Älä koskaan laula kantria (1985)

Kari Peitsamon Skootteri: Kari Peitsamon Skootteri (1985)

Amatöörirakastaja (1986)

The 10th Anniversary Album (1987)

Vedestä nousee hai (1988)

Hämeen nopein (1988)

Rankat ankat (1989)

Hellsinkin' (1990)

Groovers' Paradise (1990)

Plays Wigwam (1991)

Sergeant Rocker Rides Again (1991)

Kari Peitsamo: The Fool (1992)

Kari Peitsamon Skootteri: Natural Boogie (1993)

Kari Peitsamo: I'm Down (1994)

How I Won the War (1994)

Kari Peitsamo & Aku Ankkuli: Dr. Rockfinger & Outlaw Boys (1994)

Kari Peitsamo: Before They Make Me Run (1995)

Good Vibrations - The 20th Anniversary Album (1997)

Peace, Love & Understanding - The Xmas Album (1997)

Kari Peitsamo & Hirttämättömät: Bubblegum Warriors in Faded Jeans (1998)

Brono Starr's Rock'n'Roll Roadside Attraction (1999)

Retkibanaani feat. Kari Peitsamo: Blitzkrieg Boogie - Highway 61 Revisited (2000)

Kari Peitsamo: Pelle Show (2001)

Taistelu on alkanut / Liityn SKP:hen (2002)

On uuden vasemmiston aika / Vedestä nousee kasvi (2003)

Peace & Love / Viiala (2003)

Taistelujen tiellä (2004)

Kari Peitsamo & Freud Marx Engels & Jung: Amerikkalaisia unelmia (2005)

Kari Peitsamo: No Mercy (2005)

Kari Peitsamo & Aku Ankkuli: Für Elise (2006)

Kari Peitsamo: The 30th Anniversary Album (2007)

Kari Peitsamo & Risto: Gotta Build a Railroad, Gotta Build a Train (2007)

The Second Coming of Mr. Jesus H. Christ (2007)

Kari Peitsamo: From Toijala With Love (2008)

Kari Peitsamon Skootteri: Liskon laki (2008)

Kari Peitsamo: Takaisin Itä-Saksaan (2009)

Kari Peitsamo (2009)

Black Album (2010)

Kari Peitsamo & Straight Perverts: The Unparalleled Adventures of One Hans Pfaall (2010)

Kari Peitsamo Road Hogs: In Memory of Rigger Dan (2011)

Kari Peitsamo: Se on vain rokkia (2011)

Kari Peitsamo Road Hogs: Rautahepo (2012)

Kitarani haluaa rakastella äitiäsi rajusti (2012)

Pahat pojat ovat jälleen täällä (2013)

Kari Peitsamo: Jankku Boogie (2015)

Maan alla (2016)

Englanninkieliset tekstit ovat FinnArctic-esittelyitä:

How many artists in the world manage to put out more than 50 albums during their career? Especially in a country as small as Finland?

Singer, songwriter and guitarist Kari Peitsamo was born in Nokia (near Tampere) in 1957, and twenty years later the whole country was playing and humming his debut single "Kauppaopiston naiset", a Jonathan Richman-type simple and innocent pop/rock tune.

Peitsamo had had a number of small school bands merely for the sake of having a band. Even the setlist was based on records by Hurriganes and the like. Peitsamo tried to get the bands to play his own songs, but they were dismissed as too childish. Ultimately the boys in the band found themselves stuck in a rut and decided to record a bunch of Peitsamo's songs on tape, and then ship them off to a booking agency called Tam-Tam, hoping that it would result in some gigs. Rock star Juice Leskinen, who happened to be a part of Tam-Tam's roster, heard the tape, and brought it to Love Records, who contacted the band and offered Kari Peitsamo & Ankkuli a deal.

Ankkuli was a non-permanent band with a frequently changing lineup. Usually it had Harri Siirtola on bass and Yrjö Majamaa on drums. Peitsamo's brother Heikki also played occasional drums and sang backing vocals.

Of the bunch of songs recorded on tape, "Kauppaopiston naiset" was selected as the most potential hit, and on the single it was backed by "Soft Ice". The follow-up was an 8-track EP that included covers of "Bony Moronie" and CCR's "Walk on the Water".

JATSIN SYVIN OLEMUS

Later in 1977 the first album "Jatsin syvin olemus" saw the light of day. Side A was filled with all ten previously released songs, and side B included ten new ones. The style was naive pop/rock that occasionally hinted at a more serious side of Peitsamo. Despite the album being credited to KP & Ankkuli, the only song that deserves this credit is "Tänä iltana: Ankkuli". The rest of the songs were played by members of Juice Leskinen's current backing band.

"Jatsin syvin olemus" displayed many sides of Peitsamo that later became very apparent: first of all, his love for The Beatles ("Uskon Beatleksiin") and Creedence Clearwater Revival ("Ankkuli", cover of "Walk on the Water"), and his love for comics ("Tuhatkaunon tapaus" is the Finnish title of a Tintin album, "Ahmed Ahne" is about the French character Iznogoud). There's a story about the album cover that tells another side of his personality. Peitsamo had used a drawing of three ducks playing various instruments, to promote his gigs. The artist, cartoonist-journalist Juho Juntunen suggested various options for the album cover, but Peitsamo definitely wanted the drawing in full 12-inch size on the front, nothing more. Juntunen, fearing about betraying the public and losing royalties, had his own ideas, and started working on an oil painting using the same motif. Peitsamo dismissed the idea entirely, and Juntunen got angry because so much work had gone to waste. Eventually a compromise was reached where the oil painting was used on the back cover in small format.

Alla leike Soundin numerosta 2/1978, jossa on Juho Juntusen monisivuinen artikkeli levykansitaiteen historiasta - siinä hän kertoi myös tästä väännöstä Peitsamon kanssa tämän Jatsin syvin olemus -levyn kannen tekemisen aikana:

Peitsamo has indeed proven to be difficult to work with because of his firm artistic vision - a fact he readily admits. But this has also resulted in a musical career that is purely reflective of his personality, and thus thoroughly successful artistically. Of the 46 full-length albums of new material, very few - if any - can be classified as records that shouldn't have been done.

"Jatsin syvin olemus" oozes with charm, and it's good for putting you in a light and relaxed mood. However, the true masterpieces were still ahead...

Synnyinkotini levyhyllyyn kuului Love Recordsin kokoelma Rokkikesä, jolla oli mukana Kauppaopiston naiset. Radiosta olin kuullut Peitsamolta muutaman muun kappaleen - kuten Jaana S. ja Country-hai. Kuulosti kivalta, joten ostin Jatsin syvin olemus -CD:n joskus 1995 Helsingin City-Käytävän levykaupasta. Rakastuin levyyn nopeasti, eikä kulunut paljoa aikaa, ennen kuin mieli alkoi tehdä lisää samanlaista. Tiesin, että Vedestä nousee kasvi -levyllä on vain muutama rokkibiisi ja muu on akustista, mutta ostin sen silti alkuvuodesta 1996. Tykkäsin Kasvista yhtä paljon kuin Jatsista, ja se oli sitten alkusysäys pikkuhiljaa alkaneelle Peitsamo-keräilylle. Tosin Kari Kolmannen tyydyin ensin vain lainaamaan Kauniaisten kirjastosta, ja nauhoitin siitä parhaat laulut kasetille. Ajattelin, etten osta levyä kun siinä on se kauhea Puinen levy. Ennen pitkää ostin kuitenkin.

Kari Peitsamo ja Ankkuli -tuplan ja Pölypillerin CD-versioita odotin malttamattomana, ja ostin ne välittömästi kun tulivat kauppoihin. Muistaakseni kävin kaupungilla elokuvissa samana iltana kun ostin Pölypilleri-CD:n, ja siinä sitten katsoessani leffaa mietin, että pääsisipä jo kotiin kuuntelemaan levyä.

VEDESTÄ NOUSEE KASVI

In early 1978 Kari had become disillusioned with a musician's life on the road, and made his first of many public announcements that he would quit music business. The EP "Peitsamon jälkeenjääneet nauhat" was intended as a farewell record, but later in the year he returned with a new 20-song album, "Vedestä nousee kasvi". The LP marked a switch away from band sounds to a simple acoustic troubadour style. Only the first two and last two songs were made by the trio Peitsamo-Siirtola-Majamaa, the other songs represent the man-and-guitar style Kari would keep for several years and return to frequently during the course of his career.

Here we get to delve deeper into his vivid imagination. "Hippi kasvihuoneessa" is one of the centerpieces, a wonderful story about a hippie boy living in the country, and his demanding father who wants his son to help out on the field rather than listen to stupid rock'n'roll records. "Nokia By Night" is a moving depiction of loneliness, and "Äiti, isä ja poika" is the first of many songs that reflect the shock Peitsamo felt when his mother passed away a year or so before his recording career started.

The EP "Peitsamon jälkeenjääneet nauhat" was added to the CD release. A hodgepodge 7-song collection of experimental ideas (on "Punahilkka" he apparently played all the instruments himself, including drums and violin), a minimalistic guitar instrumental ("Pöllö"), self-reflective songs, covers and straightforward rockers.

KARI KOLMAS

With Peitsamo's third album, naturally titled Kari kolmas (Kari the Third) we get to delve deeper into his imagination. Everything is kept simple and basic: just Kari and his acoustic guitar, performing 24 short songs in his trademark one-take-only attitude. The story goes that recording these albums took less time than it takes listening to them, because on the finished product there are gaps added between the tracks.

The songs range from thoughtful and serious to utterly hilarious - "Kirjoitan modernia runoa" is a good example of the latter. Then there are ideas like "Setä Ben ja hänen lentävät syntetisaattorinsa" and "Mekaaninen susi", which are strokes of pure genius.

Peitsamo's love for The Beatles is expressed in the opener, "Tiellä rakkauden", which is a cover of a song written by John Lennon for a Ringo Starr solo album. He also liked to write songs about objects ("Kristallinen pienoiselefantti", "Fetsi").

The album cover was originally just a passport photo in 12" x 12" format, but on the CD it's reduced to a small size with an added tracklisting. The CD also adds Peitsamo's next record, a 12" EP called "Puinen levy" (Wooden Record). It's an experimental, all-instrumental record where Peitsamo plucks on his guitar, screeches a violin and bangs on a piano. In other words, a record that anyone can do, but it takes a man like Peitsamo to actually realize his idea. Understandably, "Puinen levy" caused a shock at the time, but it's become a cult favourite over the years.

En pysty kuuntelemaan Puista levyä, vaan painan stop-nappulaa aina Puutarhan alla -kappaleen jälkeen.

KARI PEITSAMO JA ANKKULI

Despite being deep into his solo acoustic period, Peitsamo still insisted on using the Ankkuli band name on his records. "Kari Peitsamo ja Ankkuli" was the simple title of his next effort, a glorious double album with 42 magnificent songs to experience! This one reportedly took a long time to finish (three days), and Peitsamo himself called it a little scattered. Personally, apart from the piano instrumental "Kolme pianoa" (a leftover from the "Puinen levy" sessions perhaps?) which I always skip, I regard this as his masterpiece.

This is the definitive trip into Peitsamo's vivid imagination, with more songs about objects, relatives, death and old age, infants, hot summer days, hiking trips in the wilderness, mat patterns, dogs, pinball machines, the moon, the wind, animals, performing dancers, rock'n'roll bands and just about anything you could imagine!

Naturally there's a Beatles cover here too ("Glass Onion" or "Läpinäkyvä herne"), and "Kaunis äiti" is another song about Peitsamo's deceased mother. Some riffs from earlier songs get recycled (the totally outrageous laugh-riot "Perseitä, perseitä, perseitä" borrows a bit from "Toinen balladi Kari Peitsamosta" from his previous album, "Eno" borrows from "Kitaraani näppäilen") and a couple of songs are sequels ("Karhujen talo" = "Karhujen talon paluu", "Country-hai" = "Kantrivarpunen"). Little brother Heikki had a hand in doing some of the tunes.

If you haven't experienced this joyride yet, do so immediately!

PÖLYPILLERI

"Pölypilleri" (1979) was the culmination of Peitsamo's stripped-down period. There's absolutely nothing redundant here: the album isn't credited to the Ankkuli band anymore, Heikki Peitsamo is absent, the song titles are extremely short (usually just one word long), and it's just one single LP with 20 songs.

Still the album manages to present a whole lot of favourites, like "Jane" (catchy), "Liikenne" (great whistling solo!), "Pääsiäinen" (which sets a new record in drowsiness), "Rotta" (fun!), the title song (mysterious), and "Meri" (soothing).

The only sad thing about "Pölypilleri" is that it was the last LP released by Love Records before the label went bust. Love Records' risky policy was to spend all the profits on new records and new acts to sign, instead of concentrating on keeping the company afoot. Inevitable bankruptcy was the result, but it produced an enviable catalogue that's for many years been faithfully released on CD almost exclusively by Siboney. Here they added the 1979 EP "Sian raato kääntää hitaasti kasvonsa valoon päin" (A Pig Carcass Slowly Turns Its Face Towards the Light) as bonus - originally 7" of green vinyl, mixing two band recordings and four acoustic songs into yet another dose of Peitsamo brilliance, perhaps a bit more artistic than before.

Joskus 90-luvun puolessavälissä (1996, epäilemättä) lainasin Pölypillerin vinyylinä Leppävaaran kirjastosta ja kuuntelin Espoon Mäkkylässä äidin ja isäpuolen luona, eli oli tämä jo tuttu levy kun se CD:nä tuli.

LEVYLAULAJA

"Pölypilleri" (1979) was Kari Peitsamo's ultimate achievement in simplifying his music, so in "Levylaulaja" he took a step towards a more complex direction - i.e. the song titles are generally a little longer this time :)

"Record Singer" crammed 22 songs on one LP, and despite Peitsamo's switch to Johanna Records after the demise of Love Records, nothing else is really changed here. There's surreal imagery, ponderous, slightly melancholy songs, imaginative stories, highly personal songs, funny songs and yet another song about his mother ("Ensimmäinen tuska").

The wildly satirical "Loistohotelli" was probably inspired by Peitsamo's job in a restaurant in Helsinki. Great lyrics, but the song is a bit too fast - you can hear that he has difficulties in singing all the words. "DM", on the other hand, ranks as one of his most mysterious songs. Listen and see what you can make of it.

The CD version adds two demos performed with a band. To be honest, dropping the band and switching to purely acoustic arranging was a good decision, because the band versions don't work. They sound too aggressive. "Lentokone talon yllä" is a minimalistic guitar instrumental that originally appeared on the b-side of the single "Kultakuoriainen" (1979), Peitsamo's first release for Johanna. The single version was cut at the five-minute mark, but here you hear the tune in its full 9:50 glory.

Kiva oli palata joskus 00-luvun alkupuoliskolla Nosturissa pidetyiltä levymessuilta sekä huippukuntoinen Levylaulaja-LP että hieman rahiseva mutta aivan soittokelpoinen Kultakuoriainen-sinkku mukanani. Levylaulajan olin jo kuunnellut aiemmin Töölön kirjastossa - sitä ei vissiin saanut lainata.

CD-version Levylaulajasta ostin Asematunnelin Anttilasta osana "2 levyä yhden hinnalla" -kampanjaa. Poimin ensin Anssi Tikanmäen Maisemakuvia Suomesta -CD:n ja pähkäilin jonkin aikaa, minkä otan sen lisäksi. Pitkän miettimisen jälkeen valitsin Levylaulajan - ajattelin, että kai nuo bonuksena olevat demotkin pitää Peitsamo-kompletistilla olla.

GREATEST HITS

Next we have an album that still awaits a CD release. "Greatest Hits", despite its title, presents 14 new songs and sees Peitsamo switching back to performing with a band. Mostly the mood on this record is very relaxed despite the plugged arrangement, in my opinion this culminates in the two songs in the middle, "Postikortti" and "Mystiikkaa", which offer a good cure against any tired and stressed-out feelings.

A surprisingly large number of the songs are covers. J. J. Cale's "Cocaine" tells about a taxi driver, and JeeJee Kale gets another distinction with "Hei Päivi", aka "Hey Baby" (I actually dated a girl named Päivi once, and I played this song for her :) )

Jethro Tull's "Living in the Past" and Chuck Berry's "You Can't Catch Me" are two other good tunes that get treated here. CCR's "Born on the Bayou" became Peitsamo's second Creedence cover - he re-recorded "Synnyin rokkaamaan" for a later album that I'll post soon.

Regrettably I have to announce that the song "Mystiikkaa" is credited entirely to Peitsamo. It's actually a note-to-note cover of John Mayall's "Dream With Me" from his 1971 double LP "Back to the Roots". You can hear Mayall's version on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqC11bgugzw

"Voima" is another surprise. A very content-heavy, deeply religious eight-minute song about the Creation, the birth of mankind, the stupidity of man and other such things. A bit of a tough nut to crack, but very thought-provoking and rewarding.

One more side note: we don't know yet what Peitsamo thought about another Nokia-born naivistic songwriter named Esa Toivonen, whose style was a little TOO similar to Peitsamo's. Toivonen recorded four songs for the Various Artists album "Rokit: Pistä Paremmaksi" and a five-song EP "Sinikantinen vihko" (I have it too, I could very well post it soon). Here, the song "Beatnik" includes a mention of Esa Toivonen, but I'm not sure if it reveals what Peitsamo thought of this copycat.

I added the single "Kultakuoriainen / Lentokone talon yllä" as bonus. The a-side is another band number. I'm looking for a word to describe it, but I can't think of one. At least it's very powerful, artistic and a bit experimental - and definitely memorable. A top effort. I've already mentioned the b-side - the music continues right to the fade-out groove, hence the abrupt ending.

Perehdyin John Mayallin tuotantoon, ja vuonna 1971 julkaistua Back to the Roots -levyä kuunnellessani huomasin yhtäläisyyden Mystiikkaa-biisin ja Mayallin Dream With Me'n välillä, mutta ohi meni vuoden 1969 Empty Rooms -albumin kappaleen "Thinking of My Woman" ja Täytyy mennä Viikiin -biisin samanlaisuus. Sen tajusin vasta kun vuosi-pari sitten luin netistä Peitsamon haastattelun, jossa hän tunnusti seikan.

Greatest Hits kuulostaa erilaiselta Rocketin CD:llä. Ei vinyylillä mielestäni ole noin älyttömästi kaikua Peitsamon äänessä. Albumi kuulostaa kovin runsaalta ja mahtipontiselta tuon kaiun takia. Jopa Postikortti ja Mystiikkaa kadottavat näin osan charmistaan.

GULLIVERIN RETKET

MMMMMmmmmm... If the double album "Kari Peitsamo ja Ankkuli" (1979) is to be considered Peitsamo's masterpiece, then how about "Gulliverin retket" (1981)? OK, this one is just as good, because I don't think anyone has created an album with such an intense mood. "Gulliver's Travels" is perfect to listen to on a hot, lazy summer day. Just open your window to let some warm, fresh air into your stuffy apartment, put your headphones on, set this record to play, make yourself all relaxed and comfortable - and enjoy!

Peitsamo plays all by himself once again, using a tremolo guitar whose swaying, quivering sound works perfectly, increasing the mood.

"Käkikello" - "A rare song in my oeuvre, in the way that it's based on actual events and moods. The cuckoo clock as an image has always fascinated me: a dead object made out of a living tree, picturing a bird in a house."

"Volkswagen" - "Sex."

"Anna vielä aikaa" - "Again a house, only a bigger one this time. I have no idea who the people in this song are, and who is this little Rafael. This is one of the most successful and amusing songs on this record."

A long song that clocks in at 7:15. Listen how Peitsamo deliberately skips one strum on his guitar in order to increase the mood to maximum. Brilliant!!!

"Huomenta rock'n'roll" - "Hail hail rock'n'roll! As eternal as oil."

"Kivi metsässä" - "Here, for the first time, we get to see the hot summer sun that vibrates over the whole record. The landscape bears influences from the Kylmänoja brook in Nokia. Greetings to Arto Melleri."

"Takaisin Siuroon" - "Wish I was back on the bayou rollin' with some Cajun Queen."

"Hae lakkaa satamasta" - "The inspiration and impetus for this song is from [the song "Lady Marmalade"] (probably by LaBelle). The lyrics are - in my opinion - successful, and very personal."

Yes, "Lady Marmalade" was by LaBelle indeed. The title refers to the popular wordplay "Hae lakkaa satamasta, ennenkuin lakkaa satamasta" (Fetch varnish from the harbour, before it stops raining).

"Kesäpäivä Kangasalla" - "My personal favourite on the whole record. The mood is from John Lennon's song "Well Well Well", and the verse "I took my loved one to a big field". I also remember sitting on a bar in Kangasala once. We were supposed to meet Juuso Nordlund, or something."

"Gulliverin retket" - "Distant influences from the titular book. I especially recalled the part, where Gulliver snuffed out the fire in the Lilliputian queen's bedroom - guess how."

"Tuhkimo Tukiainen" - "Two years earlier I still wouldn't have believed I would eventually sing songs like this."

"Talo maalla" - "Based on fact. Nothing happened, however."

"Albert" - "A filler song, which perhaps became the most exciting song on the whole record. Personal in the same way as "Hae lakkaa satamasta". Both songs could be interpreted as telling about life and creativity, or vitality, or something."

"Mississippi" - "Creedence Clearwater Revival, vocals by Huckleberry Finn."

Above quotes by Peitsamo himself, published in music magazine Soundi (issue 5/1981).

Mielestäni Gulliverin retket on Peitsamon toinen mestariteos Kari Peitsamo ja Ankkuli -tuplan ohella.

VALLANKUMOUS

"Vallankumous" (1981) is generally not regarded as one of Peitsamo's best efforts. It's another band album, but the songs on it weren't necessarily suitable for drums-and-bass treatment, and the album becomes a little heavy-going as a result. Besides that, Peitsamo throws in two very long songs, "200.000 heinäsirkkaa" and the title tune. The former consists of a long list of seemingly incoherent and unconnected phrases spouted at regular intervals over a fast, monotonous shuffle beat. The heavily political and opportunistic title song paints a panorama view over the then-current state of the world, and plods along slowly for ten minutes while Peitsamo shouts his angry lyrics.

In contrast, there are lighter moments like the songs about photography (a new-found hobby for Peitsamo, perhaps?). "Camera obscura" is a particularly fascinating set-piece - pay attention to the lyrics here. However, songs like "Kun tuomio julistetaan" and "En osaa tanssia" reveal what's wrong with this album: It's clear that Peitsamo had walked the path he started with his debut single "Kauppaopiston naiset" right until the end, and had come to a crossroads where two new paths waited for him. No more naivistic songs, it was time to grow up.

P.S. I tried to acquire a vinyl copy of "Vallankumous", but failed. A cassette rip has got to do until I can find this on vinyl.

JOKIVARREN JYTÄORKESTERI

After the slight failure of "Vallankumous", Peitsamo decided it was time to change his style and do something rockier. Making an entire album of CCR covers proved just the right thing.

"Jokivarren jytäorkesteri" (Hard-Beating Orchestra of the Riverside) contains 13 well-chosen Fogerty tunes that Peitsamo wisely hasn't translated as such, but instead switched the surroundings to his own hometown and its area: Nokia, Siuro, Tampere... OK, the Kylmänoja brook and the Vellamo boat are no match for Green River and Proud Mary, but they're functional. Willie and the Poor Boys are schoolboys and hooligans playing in the Hervanta suburb, and only "Lodi" - that is, "Tähtirumpali" - takes us to Helsinki so that a miserable tale about the rise and disillusionment of a star drummer can be told. Overall, the lyrics make you feel like you're on a sightseeing tour with this man.

The record is unfortunately ruined by thin sound, and I'm not particularly fond of the idea of putting so much echo behind Peitsamo's voice. Still, a generally successful album with lots of classics. "Onnenpoika" even became Peitsamo's biggest hit, rising up to the #1 slot in the summer of 1982.

Strangely, "Jokivarren jytäorkesteri" hasn't been transferred to CD in its entirety. There's a compilation that includes selections from all three Kari Peitsamo Revival LP's, titled "Jytäorkesteri tulee taas". Plug in the gaps and dig in to these posts!

Harmittaa, että olen hukannut mp3:t yhdestä Revivalin livekeikasta vuodelta 1982 tai 1983. Ei tainnut olla montaa biisiä, ehkä viisi tai kuusi. Nimimerkki Jack jakeli niitä vuonna 2008 omassa Bleeding Ear -musiikkiblogissaan, ja imuroin ne sieltä. En tainnut polttaa niitä koskaan CD-R:lle.

Revivalin ohjelmistossa oli enemmänkin CCR-käännöksiä kuin mitä levytettiin. Ainakin Hämärää, eli Feelin' Blue. Näin kerrottiin Soundissa vuonna 1982.

PIENI SUURI SHOW

In "Pieni suuri show" the little insecurities that plagued "Jokivarren jytäorkesteri" had vanished, and the band rocks along real nicely. The sound is meatier, and the material now consists of a mixture of CCR, Status Quo and a few choice cuts by other bands, which makes for a more varied album. Peitsamo has grown into a real ace rock'n'roll guitarist, and he really carries out his task with admirable skill. That's not to say there aren't problems... well, if you can consider it a problem that "Little Big Show" is a curiously serious LP. "Valtatie" ("Blue Highway" by George Thorogood & The Destroyers) is downright depressed, and the CCR songs are generally selected from their gloomier oeuvre.

"Käki" alias Kari Mäki from pop band Lizards played guitar on one single, "Rokaten ympäri maailman / Caroline", and since those songs serve as openers on this album, he appears on the front cover behind the shoulders of the other guys.

ROKKILETTI

"Rokkiletti" was the last gasp for KPR - 10 Status Quo songs done well, but the lyrics are merely functional and not up to Peitsamo's highest standards. Neither were they on "Pieni suuri show", come to think of it. No singles were culled from the LP, but it's still a nice album that foreshadows Peitsamo's later, long list of albums with his power trio Skootteri. More about them some other time...

KADONNUTTA AIKAA ETSIMÄSSÄ

The breakup of Revival left Kari Peitsamo in a depressed state, and he expressed it by recording his most difficult album, "Kadonnutta aikaa etsimässä" (Looking For a Lost Time). Unfortunately, the new label Pyramid Records he had just signed to, didn't think very favorably about the material Peitsamo presented them with, and asked him to come up with something easier. A new recording session produced the space-themed album "Älä koskaan laula kantria" (Never Sing Country Music). Pyramid agreed to release it, and "Kadonnutta aikaa etsimässä" remained sitting on the shelf for four years.

"Kadonnutta aikaa etsimässä" is not a depressed record, only difficult and hard to get into. The most off-putting factor about it is the electric guitar that sways and quivers annoyingly. The tremolo guitar in "Gulliverin retket" produced a uniquely intimate mood, but here the effect just grates.

Peitsamo's song subjects pretty much move in the same territory as his earlier solo albums, I can't think of any running theme or style that would mark this record. One notable song, however, is "Mursu" (Walrus). Obviously a heavily symbolic song about John Lennon (and/or George Harrison?) that runs for over ten minutes and is either the most brilliant or the most annoying song here, depending on how you think of the guitar sound.

In contrast, faster songs like "Tekokuu" and "Tuhma koi", and the peaceful, soothing closers "Kuumailmapallo" and "Bastiljiin, otaksun" lighten this album.

ÄLÄ KOSKAAN LAULA KANTRIA

"Älä koskaan laula kantria" is entirely space-themed. We get to meet interesting characters like the Checked Boy and the Three-Headed Friend. We also get to hear songs about UFO girls and UFO men, space mopeds and UFO repair shops - and the beautiful rings of Saturn.

What more is there to say - hop on a fun ride into space with Peitsamo!

KARI PEITSAMON SKOOTTERI

Skootterin 80-luvun levyt ovat niin tasalaatuisia, ettei minulla ole mitään huomauttamista eikä paljoa erityisesti esiin nostettavaakaan. Kuuntelen mielelläni kaikki putkeen Hellsinkin'-levyyn asti, ja oloni on sen jälkeen vähän uupunut, mutta tyydytetty. Oma suosikkini on kuitenkin Hämeen nopein. Sen ensimmäiset viisi kappaletta ovat hurjinta Skootteria mitä löytyy. Bändi on niillä todella kovassa vedossa. Ja kun jatkosta löytyvät mainiot Apulaissheriffiä ei pompoteta, Oliivinvihreä Dodge Dart vm. -75 ja Honolulu Baby, niin kyllähän Hämeen nopein ykköseksi kohoaa.

PLAYS WIGWAM (1991)

Peitsamo's misstep. His poor pronounciation of English and basic playing-arranging only ruin these great Wigwam songs.

Saatu huhtikuussa Huuto.netistä 56 eurolla.

SERGEANT ROCKER RIDES AGAIN (1991)

Tired routine effort by Skootteri. Shallow song subjects. Some synth sprinkled here and there. Hilarious closing track, not what you'd expect from this man, or...?

Turkulainen Kane Records kauppasi tätä joskus vuosia sitten, ja tilasin.

THE FOOL (1992)

Peitsamo obviously was in a depressed state when making this simple troubadour album. Even the lighter songs ("Soutuveneellä Kiinaan", "Lisää oikeuksia hiirille") sound sad.

Kesäkuussa Huuto.netistä 35 eurolla.

VI SKALL SPELA ROCK (1993)

An album in Swedish. Poor pronounciation and frequent language errors = a fun little record. Kudos to the man for this brave attempt!

Tästä levystä minulla on toistaiseksi vain kirjastokappaleesta siirretty kopio.

I'M DOWN (1994)

Not quite as down as in "The Fool", thank goodness.

Maaliskuussa Hakaniemen Levykauppa Äxästä.

HOW I WON THE WAR (1994)

Yet another man-and-his-guitar album.

Maaliskuussa 2014 Amazon.co.uk:sta lontoolaismyyjältä!

DR. ROCKFINGER & OUTLAW BOYS (1994)

Aku Ankkuli is a group who basically lives on covering Peitsamo songs and paying tribute to him, so naturally they had to cooperate with him at least once (twice: "Für Elise" in 2006).

Tästäkin on vain kirjaston CD:stä siirretty kopio.

(EDIT 10.10.2019: Oikea CD saatu Huuto.netistä!).

BEFORE THEY MAKE ME RUN (1995)

Peitsamo himself adds harmonica and synth to his usual guitar playing. The result is an album with a unique mood.

Toukokuussa 2016 Music Hunterista löysin tämän ja Natural Boogien.

GOOD VIBRATIONS, BUBBLEGUM WARRIORS IN FADED JEANS, HOODOO

Good Vibrations saatu Levykauppa Kanelta vuosia sitten. Bubblegum Warriorsia kauppasi imatralainen Sumashop.fi, sain levyn heiltä viime maaliskuussa. Hoodoosta minulla on pelkkä kopio.

Tämän levykolmikon aikana Peitsamo ylsi vielä yhteen lyhyeen taiteelliseen huippukauteen. Hoodoo varsinkin on komealta kuulostava levy monin paikoin. Brono Starrin biisivarasto Bubblegum Warriorsilla oli vahvaa kamaa kauttaaltaan, Peitsamolle teki varmasti hyvää saada tällainen levy aikaiseksi, pelkästään jonkun muun kappaleista - ja hyvistä sellaisista - koostuva albumi. Siksi onkin harmillista että Peitsamo luotti vain omiin biiseihin ja muutamaan coveriin toisella Hirttämättömät-levyllä Brono Starr's Rock'n'Roll Roadside Attraction. Se levy on vaisuhko, keskikastia Peitsamon tuotannossa.

Jakelin Skootterinkin levyjä FinnArcticissa. Minulla ei itselläni ollut tuolloin (2007-2009) muita Peitsamo-vinyylejä kuin Kultakuoriainen-single, Levylaulaja ja Pieni suuri show. Loput LP:t ja osa CD:istäkin piti lainata kirjastoista. Nehän eivät sitten olleet kunnoltaan ihan parasta, joten rippauksista tuli usein vähän rahisevia ja muutama paha naarmukin aiheutti lisätyötä, kun en halunnut vinyylisiirtoihini jäävän skippejä. Peitsamon levyjä oli paljon blogissa jaettaviksi, ja vinyylien haaliminen kirjastoista ja niiden rippaaminen vei niin paljon aikaa, että välillä tuntui, ettei ole lainkaan aikaa toteuttaa muita levytoiveita, mitä blogini seuraajat minulle esittivät. Sitten halusin vielä kääntää Peitsamon sanoituksia englanniksi niille mahdollisille kiinnostuneille, jotka eivät osanneet suomea.

Pirate Bayn puolella jakeli suomimusaa nimimerkki Melodika. Hän toivoi kovasti mp3:sia Kadonnutta aikaa etsimässä -albumista ja oli malttamaton, joten senkin takia halusin saada Peitsamo-projektini mahdollisimman nopeasti päätökseen. Sain muuten Melodikalta luvan jaella FinnArcticissa niitä samoja vinyylisiirtoja, joita hän PB:ssä jakeli, ja sitä myös ehdin tehdä vähän ennen kuin ÄKT:n Antti Kotilainen pisti stopin koko musiikinjakelulle.

Minulta löytyvät Peitsamon sanoitus- ja runokirjatkin. Muut pojat lahjaks saivat lennokin (1979) sisältää Kari Peitsamo ja Ankkuli -tuplan, Sian raato kääntää hitaasti kasvonsa valoon päin -EP:n ja Pölypillerin sanoitukset. Vain aurinko on kuumin seuranaan (1981) kattaa Kultakuoriaisen, Levylaulajan, Greatest Hitsin ja Gulliverin retket. Ostin nämä Myyrmäki-hallin kirpputorilta, sama nuorehko pariskunta jolta ostin kaksi Jona Lewie -LP:tä kauppasi näitäkin.

Viime vuoden tammikuussa vasta tajusin tilata loputkin kirjat, Taas koirat nuo nään kävelyllä ja Maan alla Antikvaari.fi -sivuston kautta.

Tunnustan, että vuodesta 2004 kaikki Peitsamon levyt ovat jääneet minulla yhteen kuuntelukertaan. Olen ostanut ne velvollisuudentunnosta, kuunnellut kerran ja antanut sitten kerätä pölyä. Ajattelin, että Peitsamo on sellainen artisti jolta haluan kerätä täydellisen kokoelman. Mutta kun mies meni kouluttautumaan teologiksi, teki uskonnollisia lauluja sisältävän Sokea Joe -levyn, alkoi käyttäytyä ja puhua kuin huru-ukko, hajottaa bändejään muutaman keikan ja yhden levyn jälkeen, olla äärimmäisen vaikea yhteistyökumppani, olla joka paikassa esillä, tehdä välillä käsittämättömiä levyjä kuten Jankku Boogie ja Maan alla, ja jatkaa kaiken ohella kiivasta levytystahtia... minä kyllästyin häneen.

Ostin Jankku Boogie -singlen ja Maan alla -tuplan, koska ajattelin niiden olevan tulevia huippuharvinaisuuksia. Maan alla -tuplaa en ole kertakaan varsinaisesti kuunnellut siinä mielessä, että olisin tökännyt levyn soittimeen ja kuunnellut sitä. Kerran kopioin koko levyn tietokoneen kovalevylle. Sitten, kun kuuntelin muuta kovalevyllä olevaa musiikkia VLC Media Playerilla, sujautin sopiviin kohtiin muutamia summamutikassa valittuja raitoja Maan alla -levyltä VLC-soittolistaan - enkä pitänyt kuulemastani. Eli en ole edes kuunnellut kaikkia raitoja, vaan vain muutamia.

Sitten on vielä tämä juttu, jonka myötä sain miehestä lopullisesti tarpeekseni.



En jaksa enää kerätä Peitsamon uusia levyjä. Vanhoja puuttuvia etsiskelen vielä. Vi skall spela rock ja Hoodoo pitäisi vielä löytää.



Artikkeliskannaukset:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1adUOFYRXmT-5LXmiuqTsewmPaw6F14s_