Showing posts with label Groovy Eyes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Groovy Eyes. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Helge Tallqvist & Groovy Eyes - Plays George 'Harmonica' Smith

Year: 2005
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:57
Size: 120,2 MB
Styles: Harmonica blues
Scans: Full

1. Hawaiian Eye (3:14)
2. Traveling South (4:12)
3. Soul Feet (2:45)
4. Tight Dress (2:55)
5. Telephone Blues (4:32)
6. Blues In The Dark (3:02)
7. Good Things (3:19)
8. You Don’t Love Me (3:07)
9. Loose Screws (2:39)
10. Nobody Knows (6:07)
11. I Want A Woman (2:52)
12. Misty In C (2:50)
13. Conversation With Geroge Smith (5:18)
14. Blues For The Reverend King (5:01)

Helge Tallqvist, a seasoned harmonica player from Finland, admired the harmonica playing of George Smith since before Smith came to play in Finland in the winter of 1982. By the summer of 1982, Helge traveled to California and continued his friendship with Smith, and was even more inspired by Smith's chromatic harmonica playing. Smith remained such a strong influence on Helge's playing that he decided to make a tribute album to Smith.

So twenty plus years after meeting Smith, Helge teamed up with another Finnish band, Groovy Eyes, and they began to practice for this CD. He also teamed up with Sidekick Johnny, a guitar player he had played with for over 10 years. This made an early-bird team for the two of them. His good friend, Pepe Ahiqvist, shares the harmonica playing with him in two numbers, as well as some vocals. Jussi Jo Raulamo also sings some vocals. So after the two warm-up numbers, Helge plays his interpretation of George Smith. He is a talented amplified harp player and blows his chromatic harp with feeling and power.

Out of the fourteen tracks, Helge plays six songs that George Smith wrote or co-wrote. A few songs are instrumentals where Helge's harp is a vital force. People like Doug MacLeod who knew Smith personally and musically felt that Smith would be proud of this CD. The packaging is most unusual with a tin box. Helge's portrait can be seen in black and grey dots by turning the box sideways. There is also a 24-page booklet full of pictures, letters and stories from the meetings with George. /Maria Bainer

Note: Track 13 was recorded at George Smith's home in Los Angeles 05.08.1982

Plays George 'Harmonica' Smith mc
Plays George 'Harmonica' Smith gofile

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Groovy Eyes - 2 albums: High Flyin' But No Foolin'/Tuberadio Broadcast

Album: High Flyin' But No Foolin'
Year: 2000
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:33
Size: 92,8 MB
Styles: Blues, R&B and more
Scans: Full

1. High Fly (2:54)
2. Let's Have Some Fun (2:53)
3. Blue Mood (2:59)
4. Gulf Coast Mambo (2:06)
5. Foolish Woman (1:59)
6. Li'l Red Wagon (3:17)
7. Texas Boogaloo (2:22)
8. Organ Grinder's Swing (4:46)
9. No Foolin' (3:23)
10. I've Seen You Somewhere (4:01)
11. The Return Of The Prodigal Son (5:10)
12. My Sweetheart (4:38)

Groovy Eyes are a four piece band from Finland. Over recent years we have reviewed a variety of acts from both Sweden and Denmark, all of whom favour authentic sounding blues played on genuine 50’s/60's gear and with a flair for capturing that period sound and style. Scandinavians take their music seriously! That’s not to say they don’t groove and have fun, though, they sure do! Groovy Eyes live up to the promise of their name ..

The opening cut is a fine swing with tasty guitar and honking tenor. What’s more, like five other cuts, it was written by lead guitarist Jussi Raulamo. (Raulamo actually plays his guitar through a 1950s valve radio creating a very rich tone). He has good T-Bone Walker-ish style on these early 40s sounding cuts. “Let’s Have Some Fun” is in the same vein and, yes, they do have fun!. By track 4 they’re in a Louisiana mood as is track 5. The mix on these cuts was a little harsh to my ears. Then track 6 heads in a country direction (well, western swing, at any rate) and definitely to the Lone Star State for “Texas Boogaloo” where Raulamo shows he has just the right guitar licks for yet another genre. Hammond organ fleshes this one out nicely. From here on it’s a different sounding album, with extra musicians and a bigger sound. They loose a little of the space that let Raulamo shine through beautifully on the early cuts, though the overall feel becomes a little funkier. Another Raulamo original, “No Foolin'” sits well here. The final cut, Roy Milton’s “My Sweetheart” brings the dynamics back down, and with brushed drums, Raulamo takes the sentimental vocal and makes a good job of it and plays neat guitar, though the tone is a little harsher than the opening cuts. These guys are good. “High Flyin’ But No Foolin'” has already been well received in Europe and the States and hopefully Jussi Raumalo is working on the follow up!

"What the hell's going on in Finland? It seems like every act I hear from there in amazing and now the jump-blues & swing of Tampere, Finland's Groovy Eyes!" /Dan Forte,Vintage Guitar Magazine, USA (2002)

"You can't find a better band from California or not even from the whole USA! Those guys really can cook!" /Junior Watson, Los Angeles, USA (2001)

High Flyin' But No Foolin' mc
High Flyin' But No Foolin' zippy

Album: Tuberadio Broadcast
Year: 2003
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:02
Size: 98,5 MB
Styles: Blues, R&B and more
Scans: Full

1. Intro (0:24)
2. Mr. High Fly (3:46)
3. Whatever You Do (3:03)
4. Soul Strut (4:12)
5. Won't You Have Yourself A Ball (4:07)
6. Penquine (3:01)
7. Blue Honk (3:03)
8. Waitin' For You (4:02)
9. Lowdown Rumble (3:25)
10. Well-A-Feelin' Good (4:24)
11. Spanish Turkey (4:15)
12. Hawaiian Walk (5:13)

In 2003, Groovy Eyes celebrated 10 years of the band's musical journey on the road. Garnered a high level in today's roots-music scene all over - in fact they are in their own league - mixing afro-american music styles. This has simply being achieved by deep & broad devotion to the music and purposefully hard work with lots of free-spirited talent. Their second CD, Tuberadio Broadcast, continues following the path of their unique, earthly & fearless 2-track live-recording tradition. The natural, unconditional & wide open vibrating way of making records is the only way this band ever wants to do records which was the case also of their highly worldwide acclaimed debut High Flyin' But No Foolin'. With this CD the band has succeeded again in a very hard field that most bands only dream of. They have captured the same spontanity, energy, intensity, soulfulness and joy of life as they are serving live on stage. These 100% original tunes are worldclass in their professionalism played with immediately irresistable groovy sound and personality. The tone and feel of this band combined with brilliant songs makes it very special. This time they have cooked up musical "gumbo" which includes spices from Swing, Be Bop, Jump Blues, New Orleans Rhythm & Blues, Rock 'n' Roll, Soul, Twangy Surf, Down Home & Hoodoo Blues, Hawaiian/Western Swing and even Flamenco. The CD is deliciously fresh with "raw-stuff" adopting a "no artificial flavour added-policy".

The name of the CD comes from Groovy Eyes singer/guitar player/songwriter Jussi "Jo' Buddy" Raulamo's "sensational" Finnish made Salora '53 tuberadio guitar-amplifier, which he has used through out the band's 10-years history. Due to this "character's" original and outstanding sound with his archtop-guitar/tuberadio-thing the U.S. Blues Revue & Vintage Guitar-magazines have written articles about it. In other words - You are going to hear a timelessly rich, powerfully swinging and down to earth musical firework, which won't leave listeners cold, except with cold chills. A good feeling is guaranteed! This is something you rarely hear nowadays!

"The Best rhythm section I have heard for a long time, my next tour in Finland, I wanna play with those guys!" /Bob Brozman, USA (2003)

"Nowdays I can't hear any other band that sounds like Groovy Eyes in Europe or neither in the USA. You guys in Finland are CRAZY!" /Kim Wilson, USA (2003)

Tuberadio Broadcast mc
Tuberadio Broadcast zippy