THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD
1,324) The Rebels — “Hrnečku, Vař!”/”Mug, Boil!”
From “one of the most famous records of Czech big beat” (https://www.blackpoint.cz/rebels-sipkova-ruzenka-lp-cd/ (courtesy of Google Translate)), comes a grand and magical baroque pop retelling (with orchestra) of a Czech fairytale about a mug that can make endless cups of porridge. This is not your Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Apprentice!
Of the LP — Šípková Růženkax/Sleeping Beauty— blackpoint says (courtesy of Google Translate):
It was recorded by the original cast of the [Rebels] consisting of Jiří Plíva, Jiří Korn, Svatopluk Čech and Anatoli Kohout plus the Václav Zahradník Orchestra. Lyricist Michael Postějovský provided fairy tales set to music, the other side of the record consisted of . . . pieces [taken] from the repertoire of The Mammas and Papas. At that time, the Rebels had already won the 1st Czechoslovak Championship beat festival (1967) and third place in the Beat Cup ’67 competition for vocal performance. . . . With the first single “Five Ravens” from the summer of 1967, the band secured its popularity . . . .
Josef Rauvolf adds (courtesy of Google Translate):
When the members of The Rebels went to record their only album [of the 60s] in the summer of 1968, it was a double risk. The band was accompanied by a full-blooded orchestra . . . . The collaboration between band and orchestra was unheard of in our country . . . . With the exception of two tracks on the album, the songs were not written by the musicians, but were created for them by the tandem of Václav Zahradník and Michael Prostějovský . . . .
Michael Prostějovský himself sets the record straight (courtesy of Google Translate):
At the end of 1967, I filmed in the studio Čs. broadcast two songs with the Rebels and as a band, with the titles Mamas and Papas, and released Vašek Zahradník. We both agreed that they sing great and their voices go extremely well together . . . . But Vašek had reservations about the quality of their playing. That’s why we agreed with them to record the single “Five Ravens” and “The Definitive End”, which we also wrote for them. And that accompanied by a studio orchestra. (After August 1968, both compositions were banned because they were said to evoke the entry of five armies.) The single was successful, and that led us to the idea of recording the Sleeping Beauty LP. . . . Originally, we expected that the LP would be sold on the Mamas nad Papas songs. And we wrote those fairy tales as if for fun and our own pleasure. We were both budding authors, and in addition, we also gave the guys from Rebels a role in them as authors. Right after filming, however, it was clear that fairy tales are what should be mainly presented. That’s why we adapted the packaging and “marketing” to it. And for information, only Korn, Plíva and Sváťa čech sing on the LP.
As to the Rebels, Mickey Vznik writes (courtesy of Google Translate):
Josef Plíva played the first guitar. Jiří Korn played second guitar and Svatopluk Čech played bass. The organ was operated by Bořek Kadlec and Jiří Šilder was on drums, who was later replaced by Karel “Káša” Jahn. . . . . The group became absolutely famous for their performance in flower hippie outfits at the 1st Czechoslovak Beat Festival in January 1967. The performance and their entire repertoire was a mixture of Mamas & Papas, Turtles, Hollies, Byrds and Beatles. . . . In 1968, an important record was released in Czechoslovakia. It was called BEAT – LINE SUPRAPHON 1968. . . . The Rebels had two tracks on there on the . . . “English side”. They sang “Creque Alley” from the Mamas & Papas repertoire and then cut “Words” by the Gibb brothers . . . . [I]n 1968 they recorded . . . Sleeping Beauty. Michal Prostějovský . . . got the idea to cover Czech fairy tales, and in the end, the old pros found straight guys who sang it just for the fact that they recorded songs from . . . Mamas & Papas repertoire on the other side . . . . The music was arranged and recorded by Václav Zahradník with his orchestra. . . . [T]he Rebels disbanded mainly because their lead singer Josef Plíva emigrated to Canada. But the manager was the capable Franta Janeček . . . and he knew “… the crown is good, but the brand is better…” and so The Rebels added Jiří Juraček from The Rogers Band, Jiří Helcl from George & Beatovens, Bořek Kadlec on bass and Anatoli Kohout on drums. The band . . . immediately started playing from one pub to another . . . . In Germany, however, they had to change to a harder repertoire. From gentle vocal outpourings, they went hard to bluesy and hard rock material. . . . But playing in dance halls and bars is no fun. . . . [Y]ears later, Juracek stated: “… seven hours on Friday, eight hours on Saturday and nine on Sunday!” Anatoli Kohout was the first one who couldn’t stand it. Once during a break in playing he told the band he was going to the toilet and then they didn’t see him for two years! . . .
https://historieceskoslovenskehobigbeatu.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-rebels.html
Here is “Hrnečku, Vař!” (courtesy of Google Translate):
A widow and her daughter Maruška lived in the cottage. They were very poor, so their cottage was old and shabby. The widow went to help in the forest in the winter and worked in the fields the rest of the year. Maruska helped her mother as much as she could. In addition, she went to collect forest fruits, which she then sold in the market. But one day the widow fell ill and Maruška had to go to work in the forest instead of her. She took a slice of dry bread and went. Suddenly an old woman in ragged clothes appeared in front of her. She looked like a beggar. “Little girl,” the old woman said in a distressed voice, “I’m barely able to stand on my feet because I’m hungry, would you mind giving me a piece of bread?” Although Maruska only had a piece of bread, and it had to be enough for her for the whole day, she broke up with her grandmother anyway. “You are very kind, little girl,” the old woman thanked her. “I will repay you well for having such a good heart! I’ll give you my mug. When you command him: Cup, boil! he will cook you as much porridge as you want. When you’ve had enough of the porridge, you order him: Cup, enough!” Maruska respectfully thanked him. As suddenly as the old woman appeared, she disappeared. When Maruška came home from work in the evening, she hurried to show her mother the mug. At home, she put it on the table and commanded: “Mug, boil!” The porridge began to boil in the mug. She was getting more and more. When the mug boiled the porridge for exactly two plates, Maruska ordered: “Mug, enough!” The porridge was good, sweet. The next day, Maruška had to go to the forest again. But this time she had much more work to do. When she didn’t come back for a long time, her mother was already very hungry, so she wanted to cook the porridge herself. She put the mug on the table and, like Maruska before, ordered: “Mug, boil!” Porridge started to boil in the mug. Mom filled her plate, but the porridge continued to cook. She filled the second plate as well, but the mug was still boiling. Mom wanted him to stop, but she forgot what to tell him. The porridge was increasing rapidly. She had already filled all the pots and mugs, bowls and bowls, but the mug didn’t stop. In no time the mess was full of the living room, the barn and the backyard. It flowed from the backyard to the road and from the road to the trailer. Maruška was already approaching the house. “Mug, enough!” she shouted from afar. He stopped the mug, but the porridge did not disappear. Therefore, all the people of the village had to take spoons and eat until all the porridge was eaten. But because the porridge was really excellent, they remember it fondly to this day.
A video:
In English:
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