Tasavallan Presidentti Classic Rock 6 Items

Tasavallan Presidentti, along with Wigwam, were Finland’s top export act in the days of the first wave of progressive rock in the early seventies. Svart Records have, in co-operation with the band members, prepared new editions of these classic records on vinyl and CD, for the ages. Originally released on Love Records in 1974 and subsequently licensed to many foreign labels, Milky Way Moses was Tasavallan Presidentti’s last album of the classic seventies era, the band ending their career for the time being not long after. The Svart reissue expands the original jacket to gatefold, with full lyrics printed inside, and also adds a 12 page booklet with new interviews with the band plus rare photographs.

Tasavallan Presidentti's 1st incarnation with vocalist Frank Robson performed their last studio session at YLE Broadcasting Company in Helsinki, 1971. This session was, however, completely buried by time and forgotten, until Svart Records accidentally stumbled upon an archival copy.

This studio session recording from the autumn of 1971, found from the archives of the Finnish Broadcasting Company, is a sensational discovery in many ways. It is a studio live session which the band recorded just before parting ways with vocalist Frank Robson, which may be the reason why the tape was left unused.

Otto Donner, one of the three founders of Love Records, the band's current label, had become the head of the Finnish Broadcasting Company's entertainment unit, which produced this studio session. Perhaps he was planning to release it on Love Records?

The release features extensive liner notes by writer Petri Kuljuntausta, who provides background details which hint to the fact that had the band not decide to find a new vocalist a few months later, this tape could indeed have been the Tasavallan Presidentti album number three.

Tasavallan Presidentti's 1st incarnation with vocalist Frank Robson performed their last studio session at YLE Broadcasting Company in Helsinki, 1971. This session was, however, completely buried by time and forgotten, until Svart Records accidentally stumbled upon an archival copy.

This studio session recording from the autumn of 1971, found from the archives of the Finnish Broadcasting Company, is a sensational discovery in many ways. It is a studio live session which the band recorded just before parting ways with vocalist Frank Robson, which may be the reason why the tape was left unused.

Otto Donner, one of the three founders of Love Records, the band's current label, had become the head of the Finnish Broadcasting Company's entertainment unit, which produced this studio session. Perhaps he was planning to release it on Love Records?

The release features extensive liner notes by writer Petri Kuljuntausta, who provides background details which hint to the fact that had the band not decide to find a new vocalist a few months later, this tape could indeed have been the Tasavallan Presidentti album number three.

In 1973 progressive rock group Tasavallan Presidentti's career was going forward on a high note: the band had in 1972 released the critically acclaimed album Lambertland with their new vocalist Eero Raittinen, and the following year the band embarked on a successful UK tour.

In 1974 things would take a downward turn which ended in the band splitting up, but what this compilation offers you is a snapshot of the year 1973 when everything still seemed possible. The band were returning home from the fabled UK tour in March 1973 and played a show in Gothenburg, Sweden on the way home. The Swedish national radio were there to record the show with professional equipment, so sound quality is excellent. A high point of the show is a vocal version of Ramblin', which guitarist Jukka Tolonen recorded on his instrumental solo album in 1971.

This album also features two tracks culled from the Swedish TV show Opopoppa, which featured many legendary bands over the years. Tasavallan Presidentti performed in the same episode with Frank Zappa, whose performance has been circulated as a bootleg. Tasavallan Presidentti's material has never been bootlegged, but luckily this official recording was preserved in the Sveriges Radio archives.

In 1973 progressive rock group Tasavallan Presidentti's career was going forward on a high note: the band had in 1972 released the critically acclaimed album Lambertland with their new vocalist Eero Raittinen, and the following year the band embarked on a successful UK tour.

In 1974 things would take a downward turn which ended in the band splitting up, but what this compilation offers you is a snapshot of the year 1973 when everything still seemed possible. The band were returning home from the fabled UK tour in March 1973 and played a show in Gothenburg, Sweden on the way home. The Swedish national radio were there to record the show with professional equipment, so sound quality is excellent. A high point of the show is a vocal version of Ramblin', which guitarist Jukka Tolonen recorded on his instrumental solo album in 1971.

This album also features two tracks culled from the Swedish TV show Opopoppa, which featured many legendary bands over the years. Tasavallan Presidentti performed in the same episode with Frank Zappa, whose performance has been circulated as a bootleg. Tasavallan Presidentti's material has never been bootlegged, but luckily this official recording was preserved in the Sveriges Radio archives.

Svart Records proudly present Tasavallan Presidentti live at the Ruisrock festival in 1971!

Tasavallan Presidentti’s annual performances at Ruisrock in Turku, Finland during the festival’s early years were proof of the band’s rapid ascent from a local band to an internationally renowned group of top musicians. “Pressa” left a lasting mark on many a festivalgoer, and the most optimistic ones were hoping to get these performances on a live album, if recordings existed. They do exist, and what remains on tape of the first ever Ruisrock performance was released on Changing Times and Movements (Svart Records), and the show at Ruisrock 1971 is now coming out on this album.

Arriving in Turku 1971 “Pressa” had completely shed their skin and revamped their set list from the previous year. The group had evolved into something entirely new musically. The festival had a more progressive lineup this year, and Pressa got the chance to prove themselves as part of a well respected international lineup. Some of Ruisrock’s international talent in 1971 included The Jeff Beck Group, The Kinks, Fairport Convention, Canned Heat, Juicy Lucy, Hardin & York, Pete Brown & Piblokto!, Pink Fairies, Stefan Grossman, Niemen Enigmatic, Culpeper's Orchard, Fläsket Brinner and Fruit.

Another proof of the rapid renewal of Pressa’s set list is how they would perform songs under different names, until the final name was chosen when releasing the song on an album. Jukka Tolonen’s composition The Bargain is included twice on this live album. The earlier version is from Ruisrock 1971 and the latter from the Finlandia house in December the same year.

The Bargain was first performed as Better Move On with lyrics by Frank Robson. In the autumn of 1971 the piece was re-christened as Falling Deeper, and this unreleased studio version was discovered and released on The Lost 1971 Studio Session (Svart Records). This was the name the song got for a few months, and was registered with Teosto, the Finnish music copyright association with this title. For whatever reason the song was performed using its older name at the Finlandia house in December 1971. Then, when Eero Raittinen sang the song when Lambertland was recorded, Mats Huldén provided new lyrics and the song got its final name The Bargain. Ramblin’, a familiar tune from Tolonen’s solo career, was at first performed as Feel My Way Through with vocals by Robson. This early version is featured on this live album.

There’s been a lot of talk among fans about a certain cover tune by Tasavallan Presidentti and its discovery and release are long overdue. Well, here it is, King Kong by Frank Zappa, performed by Tasavallan Presidentti at Ruisrock 1971!