ANNA MULLE LOVEE

Very rarely a record company stands out as a defining factor when I talk of an album, but I've noticed that when I review some Finnish vintage prog, it's difficult NOT to mention LOVE RECORDS (if it's the label of the album - as it is very often). I don't know how largely its reputation has travelled abroad, maybe the international fame concerns more likely certain artists individually. In prog there's of course TASAVALLAN PRESIDENTTI and WIGWAM, both well represented in this 4-cd compilation. Eetu has done a decent job summarizing the box from prog's point of view, so I try to give a broader picture. Seeing thru the name list makes one wonder if ALL notable Finnish rock of the 70's had that LR label! (Of course not, but it's hard to think of a 'big' name who didn't.)

Finnish rock/pop history's outstanding names include e.g. JUICE LESKINEN - who was the key figure in bringing Finnish language into rock, and who died this winter - ; singer/songwriter HECTOR; PIIRPAUKE who made 'World Music' before the term was used; HURRIGANES from the traditional rock'n'roll school; PELLE MILJOONA, the key figure in Finnish punk era; popular singers such as KIRKA - who also died recently -, RAULI "Baddind" SOMERJOKI and PEPE WILLBERG; plus dozens of other bands and artists ranging from numerous styles of rock and vocal music. Some made instrumental arty rock/ jazz-rock, such as PEKKA POHJOLA or FINNFOREST, some concentrated completely in Finnish language (classic songs like 'Salty Dog', 'The Boxer', 'Streets of London' or Carole King's 'Child of Mine' are here sung in Finnish) and some recorded English language songs.

So, I see this box as a very very big slice of the Finnish popular music history of the late 60's and the whole 70's, almost like "Who-Is-Who in Finnish Rock" encyclopedia. If you want to concentrate on the prog side of it, there are also "LOVE PROGE" compilations.