THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD
1,434) The Rebels — “Šípková Růženka”/”Sleeping Beauty”
A gorgeous baroque pop masterpiece by the Rebels (see #1,324), the title song of “one of the most famous records of Czech big beat” (https://www.blackpoint.cz/rebels-sipkova-ruzenka-lp-cd/ (courtesy of Google Translate)). But, be warned, this is not your uncle Walt’s Sleeping Beauty! Check out the lyrics:
Of the LP, 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.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GIPJLYjoM2Y&pp=ygUaVGhlIFJlYmVscyBIcm5lxI1rdSwgVmHFmSE%3D
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
Pay to Play! The Off the Charts Spotify Playlist! + Brace for the Obscure 60s Rock Merchandise
Please consider helping to support my website/blog by contributing $6 a month for access to the Off the Charts Spotify Playlist. Using a term familiar to denizens of Capitol Hill, you pay to play! (“relating to or denoting an unethical or illicit arrangement in which payment is made by those who want certain privileges or advantages in such arenas as business, politics, sports, and entertainment” — dictionary.com).
The playlist includes all the “greatest songs of the 1960’s that no one has ever heard” that are available on Spotify — now over 900 songs. The playlist will expand each time I feature an available song.
All new subscribers will receive a Brace for the Obscure 60s Rock magnet. New subscribers who sign up for a year will also receive a Brace for the Obscure 60s Rock t-shirt or baseball cap. See pictures on the Pay to Play page.
When subscribing, please send me an e-mail (GMFtma1@gmail.com) or a comment on this site letting me know an e-mail address/phone number/Facebook address, etc. to which I can send instructions on accessing the playlist and a physical address to which I can sent a magnet/t-shirt/baseball cap. If choosing a t-shirt, please let me know the gender and size you prefer.
Just click on the first blue block for a month to month subscription or the second blue block for a yearly subscription.
Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! / Off the Charts: 60s Rock Revelations😊 