A1 Kooli-prii “Päikeselaik” 1981

Music by Bob Wilson
Estonian lyrics by Märt Hunt
Vocals – Kadri Hunt, Kersti Raig, Tiina Kalle, Signe Tükk

Before the girl band of young classmates changed their name to Elektra, they gave a few performances under the name Kooli-prii. One of their surviving recordings from that time is called “Päikeselaik” (“Sunspot”) which is actually a rendition of the gospel soul song “Light the Light” by the band Seawind from Hawaii. The head of the band Märt Hunt wrote the Estonian lyrics.

A2 Kristi Tammik “Haldjalaul” 1974

Music by Raivo Tammik, lyrics by Kristi Tammik
Ensemble – Raivo Tammiku ansambel

Raivo Tammik can be considered to be one of the two best Estonian jazz pianists of the 1960s and 1970s. His band released two modal jazz 7’’ singles under Melodija. In addition to jazz, Tammik also wrote pop music for several famous singers and the lyrics for his songs were always written by his wife Kristi Tammik. Fortunately, the Tammiks also recorded a few songs together. Even though Kristi had never received any tuition, her singing is beautiful and sincere.

A3 Sven Kullerkupp “Fiesta” 1990

Music by Sven Kullerkupp
Percussion – Mati Põllu
Roland D-20, Roland D-50, Yamaha DX7, piano – Sven Kullerkupp

Sven Kullerkupp is a younger generation piano player who was founding member of Villu Veski’s ensemble, which later changed its name to Avicenna. The band was the first one to record the Latin-American influenced jazz-rock piece “Fiesta” in 1987. This Balearic smooth jazz version is from the year 1990, played together with Mati Põllu who proposed the idea to record this song.

A4 Salamander “Kui mu kõrval käid” 1986

Music and lyrics by Enn Vain

The only bits of information available about the most authentic Estonian yacht rock band Salamander are a couple of recordings in the Estonian radio archive with the names of the authors.

B1 Eesti Raadio estraadiorkester “Ma ootan sind” 1979

Music by Leon Ware, Arthur Ross
Arranged by Gato Barbieri
Conductor – Paul Mägi
Saxophone – Lembit Saarsalu

The Estonian Radio pop music orchestra was the group consisting of professional musicians working under Estonian Radio which recorded compulsory material. The jazz musicians in the band used this opportunity to also record music of their own liking. Under the guidance of the best saxophonist in Estonia Lembit Saarsalu, they recorded this version of Marvin Gaye’s song “I Want You”. Saarsalu actually found the song on a Gato Barbieri album “Caliente!”

B2 Tornaado “Seitse” 1979

Music by Karl Bartos, Ralf Hütter
Estonian lyrics by Mart Telliskivi

Tornaado has become a legend with its instrumental cycle “Regatt” but the band also recorded several vocal songs. The most intriguing of these is a rendition of the song “Das Model” by the German electro group Kraftwerk. As the story goes, the bass player Mart Telliskivi wrote the Estonian lyrics to the song and played the melody at a rehearsal. The group then proceeded to make a reggae version based on this, without the other band members ever having heard the original. They did not have any synthesisers or drum machines so Mart sang the song through the phaser pedal to create a cosmic effect.

B3 Tiit Aunaste “Valgusesse” 1986

Music by Tiit Aunaste
Recorded by Igor Garšnek

Tiit Aunaste became interested in electronic music very early on and he was one of the first people in Estonia who composed music on a computer. He met Igor Garšnek who lent him his synthesiser Korg Polysix. Experimenting on it resulted in the song “Valgusesse“ (“Into the Light“). Igor invited him to the Estonian Radio II studio where they recorded the song on an 8-track recorder. A few years later, the two friends started the band Data.

B4 Radar “Kui mind kutsud sa” 1977

Music by Sergei Pedersen, lyrics by Heldur Karmo
Vocals – Sergei Pedersen

The group Radar, which became famous due to its instrumental fusion LPs in the 1980s, was brought together by the famous singer Jaak Joala. The group recorded its first songs in 1977 for the New Year’s show to welcome the year 1978. Sergei Pedersen’s jazz-pop song “Kui mind kutsud sa“ (“When You Call Me“) was sang by the composer himself. Later on, Joala decided to rerecord the song, adding a piano accompaniment and singing it himself. This is the song which made it to Radar’s first 7” but the first version has never been released. By the way, the synthesiser which can be heard in the song was home-made because factory-made instruments were not locally available at the time.