Kalemegdan Disk - ROCK FROM EASTERN EUROPE

Supraphon Release Information

OPSO: Set of first four albums + bonuses

This line-up marks the debut release of four albums by one of the world’s most treasured classical jazz orchestras. In addition, the first vinyl appears here for the first time ever in CD form. From the very beginning, artistic director Pavel Klikar (65 this year) directed the OPSO towards authentic performances of first American and instrumental, but gradually also domestic and sung music at the border between jazz and popular music, especially from the 1920s and 1930s.

A perfectionist, Klikar devoted absolute effort to making the recordings as authentic as possible, be it in terms of the arrangements, the instruments used, the instrumental performances or the vocal delivery of Ondřej Havelka (also born in 1954), but also in terms of the way the sound recording was made. First-class musicians played in an acoustically extraordinary environment, microphones were sourced all over Europe and the recording engineers had to show absolute professionalism and imagination in capturing this music.

The selection of the bonus tracks, the supervision of the remastering from the tapes and the entire 4CD design was directly managed by the bandleader Klikar. The sound editing was carried out in a highly professional and fan-like manner by Pavel Bukovský, who was present at the creation of a substantial part of the recordings at the time of their original release. The cover and booklet were graphically prepared by his son Přemysl. Everything was created in contact with the once again vital OPSO, under the patronage of P. Klikar, which is reviving the tradition of live playing, most often in Prague’s “Malostranská beseda”.

The four CDs are in separate cardboard sleeves replicating the original LP covers. The booklet contains an extensive text about the history of the band and the albums, all comes in a fold-out paper digipak. A joy for all memorabilia, a source of knowledge and entertainment for young listeners with a desire to discover immortal music in a top quality performance. The Great Gatsby and Christian would have cheered!

Tracklist

CD 1 Originální Pražský Synkopický Orchestr – ℗ 1980

1. Oriental 2:17
2. Rock Bottom 2:24
3. Love Found You for Me 2:49
4. I’m not Worrying 3:17
5. Ghost of the Blues 2:39
6. Up the Country Blues 3:17
7. Chinaman Blues 3:21
8. Mama’s Gonna Slow You down 2:43
9. Kansas City Man Blues 2:24
10. Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue 2:33
11. Bombay 3:03
12. Navigátor (Why Can’t You) 2:48
Bonus:
13. Everybody Loves Somebody – ℗ 1977 2:55
14. Bass Ale Blues – ℗ 1977 2:34
15. Dancing Dan – ℗ 1977 3:05
16. Chattanooga – ℗ 1977 2:48
17. Bohemia Rag – ℗ 1976 2:58
18. Champagne Rag – ℗ 1976 3:37

CD 2 Stará, natoč gramofon... a další písně z historie české a slovenské populární hudby – ℗ 1982

1. Jedu nocí 2:56
2. Mám život hrozně rád 2:48
3. Dívko v modrém 3:17
4. Zpívám květům 4:09
5. Stará, natoč gramofon 2:59
6. Vendelíne, co děláš (Uns’re Tante Henriett’ hat im Bett Flundern) 3:04
7. Jen pro ten dnešní den 3:54
8. Nespím, nespím 4:01
9. Haló, dobrý večer, slečna! 2:52
10. Saigon 3:05
11. Jaj Zuzka, Zuzička 1:54
12. Milá moja 2:30

CD 3 Jazz & Hot Dance Music 1923-31 – Recorded 1983, ℗ 1984

1. Sweet Little You 2:47
2. Mama’s Gone, Goodbye 2:58
3. Black Maria 2:49
4. He’s the Last Word 2:39
5. I Ain’t Got Nobody 3:26
6. Dusky Stevedore 2:52
7. One O’Clock Blues 2:53
8. I Got Rhythm 2:25
9. Reaching for Someone 3:22
10. I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Falling 3:06
11. My Blackbirds Are Bluebirds now 2:53
12. She’s Funny that Way 3:25
13. Sophomore 2:48
14. You Call It Madness 3:38

CD 4 Sám s děvčetem v dešti – ℗ 1989

1. Já líbám ručku vám, madam (Ich küsse Ihre Hand, Madame) 2:57
2. My Golden Baby 2:36
3. Houpy hou 3:29
4. Kdyby to tak bylo možný 2:05
5. Stonožka 2:36
6. Slunečnice 3:44
7. Bel ami 2:52
8. Sám s děvčetem v dešti 3:25
9. Flašinetář 2:59
10. Sám já chodívám rád 3:15
11. Ráda zpívám hot 2:27
12. Vyděšené strašidlo 3:01
13. Prosinec a sníh 3:13