Kalemegdan Disk - ROCK FROM EASTERN EUROPE

Supraphon Release Information

Breakthrough album from 1970 on vinyl

The early 1970s were when our popular discoveries of the second half of the previous decade made their way to debut LPs. In addition to the previously common practice of crashing already released singles, it was possible to record real albums with attractive content and cover art. Helena Vondráčková’s “Ostrov” (Island) is an excellent example. The backing orchestra was still allowed to be called Golden Kids, Marta Kubišová still helped with the vocals, so there were no more dolis. The proven composers Zdeněk Marat, Jindřich Brabec and Bohuslav Ondráček were joined by guitarist Ota Petřina. Another skilful Zdeněk, namely Rytíř, supplemented the proven lyricist Zdeněk Borovec several times.

Five cover versions were added to the own repertoire, and not just any versions. The Frenchman Legrand, the Brit Donovan or the American Nilsson seemed to be very diverse, and yet the album is coherent in listening. The singer was provided with arrangements of big tunes mostly for large orchestra and managed to sing, for example, the tenderly folky “Laléňa” (Lelaina) and the overseas ballad “Jsem Bůh i ďábel” (Without Her) with exceptional nuance. A consummate professional in an interesting repertoire at the beginning of the next phase of her still unending musical development.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Můžeš zůstat, můžeš jít (The Windmills of Your Mind) 4:52
2. Pochval strom za zelený listí (Little Green Apples) 3:58
3. Laléňa (Lelaina) 3:42
4. Provazochodci 6:00
5. A kapky kapou 3:06

Side B

1. Klášterní zvon 4:33
2. Jsem Bůh i ďábel (Without Her) 3:01
3. Pojď jen blíž 2:52
4. Raděj snad pláč mi dej (Canto triste) 4:18
5. Ostrovy pokladů 5:21