MUST BE THE DEVIL / GREASY KIDS' STUFF

This was the first release of this band, and the music here sounds exactly same as the material of BLUESSECTION, from which WIGWAM had just evolved. These songs are not very progressive, but more like carefully recorded 60's pop songs with slight psychedelic features. There are several layers of vocals from the composer JIM PEMBROKE here, and the overall feeling is glad and youthful. "Must Be The Devil" appeared also on the Love Records compilation "Reunion" from year 1970, and the whole single was re-released at year 2000 on "Fresh Garbage" double CD. The original single is of course quite pricy, and only for the serious collectors.

let's get one thing straight, wigwam were the best prog band outside the uk ever and far better than most of the ones inside it, this single however precedes their prog era, it is though a classic piece of late 60's psychedelic whimsy and is an early indication of jim pembrokes genius. the b-side has a chorus that could be sung with gusto at every west ham united home game, those of you who have heard this song and know your football will know what i mean. i love this single, but it's true to say that wigwams amazing music really took off shortly afterwards when the 17 year old keyboard maestro jukka gustavson joined the band. both sides are available on the fresh garbage cd, don't miss out !

20-Year Chronological Run-Through pt. Seven: 1969.

Finland's most legendary prog band Wigwam was practically (but not directly) born from the ashes of a groundbreaking band called Blues Section, which featured the British vocalist Jim Pembroke and drummer Ronnie Österberg. In order to prevent Pembroke return to England, Otto Donner, the leader of Love Records, had offered him some office work. On the other side of the corridor was a recording studio. According to Pembroke,"the studio was often empty, so I used to play grand piano there and develop some ideas".

It was Österberg who founded Wigwam. When he, guitarist Nikke Nikamo and bassist Marts Hulden were searching for a vocalist, Ronnie put the Blues Section album on and that was settled. The debut single came out in March 1969. It was produced by guitarist Hasse Walli, another Blues Section member. Both songs were written by Pembroke.

'Must Be the Devil' is rather straightforward and psychedelically flavoured song which could have as well been by Blues Section. 'Greasy Kids' Stuff' is a naiive pop song about blowing soap bubbles. I'm not fond of either of them, to be frank. The real Wigwam was born the following summer when the young organist-vocalist Jukka Gustavson, at the time in a band called The Roosters, was persuaded to join in.