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AUTOGRAPH (AVTOGRAF)

Crossover Prog • Russia


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Autograph (Avtograf) picture
Autograph (Avtograf) biography
Founded in Moscow in 1979 - Disbanded in 1990 - One-off reunion in 2005 and again in 2012

AUTOGRAPH was one of the cornerstone of progressive rock movement in former Soviet Union. The band was founded in May 1979 by guitarist Alexander Sitkovetsky (ex-VISOKOSNOE LETO). Three other members of initial line-up were Leonid Goutkin (bass, bassoon), Leonid Makarevich (keyboards) and Andrej Morgunov (drums).

A month later some changes were done: Vladimir Yakushenko became a new drummer, the former VISOKOSNOE LETO keyboardist Kris Kelmi joined AUTOGRAPH and Sergey Brutyan became a lead-singer. Most of band members were professional musicians, so AUTOGRAPH became one of the most professional rock bands in Russia in the end of the 70-s.

After 6 months (the band still played in local dancings and didn't play a real live show at all) AUTOGRAPH participated in the first largest rock-fest in former USSR (''Tbilisi-80'' in Georgia). Being one of the few bands with professional musicianship (while the majority of others were more concentrated on lyrics), they shared the second prize with GUNESH from Turkmenistan. ''Tbilisi-80'' festival had good press and its winners became well known all around the country. Whenever not so socially critical as other Soviet rock bands, they even were contracted with State Concert Agency. It opened them bigger mass media possibilities (whenever at that time there were only government mass media in USSR), they became first established art-rock band. AUTOGRAPH popularity began to grow up and they started to play not only at universities' clubs, but often at hockey arenas. Several band's songs were used in a popular movie, it was the beginning of AUTOGRAPH "golden period".

In May 1982 Sergey Brutyan left the band. Artur Mickheev "Berkut" became a new vocalist. Some fans were disappointed with this change, but Berkut progressed as a singer very fast. In the end even die-hard fans accepted him. Complex (but sometimes raw) instrumental compositions were their signature in sound. Lyrics (most of them were written by Margarita Pushkina, well-known rock poet in Russia till now) told of personal feelings, of searching individual's own way of life and, often as a compromise with official ideology, of the danger of war. Typical love theme presented in some songs as well, but it never dominated in AUTOGRAPH repertoire.

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AUTOGRAPH (AVTOGRAF) discography


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AUTOGRAPH (AVTOGRAF) top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.13 | 66 ratings
Автограф / Autograph
1986
3.46 | 27 ratings
Kamenniy kray / Stone Land
1989
2.15 | 17 ratings
Tear Down The Border
1991

AUTOGRAPH (AVTOGRAF) Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.04 | 13 ratings
25 лет спустя. Юбилейный концерт / 25 Years After. Jubilee Concert (CD)
2005

AUTOGRAPH (AVTOGRAF) Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

4.85 | 7 ratings
25 лет спустя. Юбилейный концерт / 25 Years After. Jubilee Concert
2005

AUTOGRAPH (AVTOGRAF) Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.46 | 16 ratings
Autograf 1 / Автограф 1980-82
1996

AUTOGRAPH (AVTOGRAF) Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

4.14 | 9 ratings
Autograph / Автограф
1981
4.00 | 1 ratings
Храни / Stay Safe
2020

AUTOGRAPH (AVTOGRAF) Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Autograf 1 / Автограф 1980-82 by AUTOGRAPH (AVTOGRAF) album cover Boxset/Compilation, 1996
4.46 | 16 ratings

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Autograf 1 / Автограф 1980-82
Autograph (Avtograf) Crossover Prog

Review by Rune2000
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

4 stars I've got this album during my one day trip to Tallinn, Estonia last year. It's safe to say that we sure love our cruises here in Sweden.

At the time I knew nothing about Autograph or their sound but looking at the band picture on the album cover it just had prog written all over it! Thanks to my iPhone's web capabilities I was easily able to locate the band on Prog Archives and after reading Prog-jester's passionate review I was able to make my decision right on the spot.

The album starts off with a very proggy instrumental titled Fasten Your Seat Belts which, in retrospect, might not have been all that representative of the rest of material but it did put my doubts to rest about the band's prog tendencies. The music here seems to be highly inspired by the '70s music scene but with slight touches of '80s synthesizer sounds here and there. The instruments and especially the drums remain unaffected by the excessive studio production, which probably had more to do with the lack of proper studio equipment than any personal preference on the band's part. The sound is non-the-less excellent and it made me wish that more of the progressive rock giants would have backed off the gated drum and most of the other nice little new features that were made available in the beginning of that prog-forsaken decade.

Many of the compositions here are ballads where some remind me of Genesis but with a vocalist singing in Russian. Overall I did enjoy the vocals because some of the arrangements sounded pretty new and original to my ears but it might just be that I know very little of the Russian music scene of that time.

Let me sum up by saying that this album is an excellent introduction to Autograph and should definitely be considered a true relic of the Soviet progressive rock scene!

***** star songs: Fasten Seat Belts (3:18) The Rainstorm (6:32) Ireland, Ulster (4:05) An Old Ballad (6:46)

**** star songs: 2000 Years (6:54) A Trail Of Days (4:29) Yesterday (4:00) Day And Night (5:28) Monologue (4:38) Martian Chronicles, Pt I (8:57) Martian Chronicles, Pt II - The Return (3:55) Blues 'Caprice' (4:26) The Ship (6:14)

 Tear Down The Border by AUTOGRAPH (AVTOGRAF) album cover Studio Album, 1991
2.15 | 17 ratings

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Tear Down The Border
Autograph (Avtograf) Crossover Prog

Review by Marty McFly
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

2 stars OK, you got me. From the title cover I though that this could be good story about dissolution of CCCP. Sadly, only thing which is happening is average rock and not much more. Only thing keeping me from giving this one star is that one star is deserved for extremely horrible things and this is not the case, this is just grey average without any suprising moments.

Title track "Tear the Border" is quite a melodic one with parts sung in Russian language (is it?), next track "How Can I..." has saxophone inside. But that's just not enough. I'm very disappointed by mediocrisity of this album. It has not interesting moment for me, almost no reason to listen to it (except when I ... no, there is even no exception).

Big mistake in their music. Could be so great, so far it's just appaling. 2 stars.

 Tear Down The Border by AUTOGRAPH (AVTOGRAF) album cover Studio Album, 1991
2.15 | 17 ratings

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Tear Down The Border
Autograph (Avtograf) Crossover Prog

Review by NotAProghead
Special Collaborator Errors & Omissions Team

2 stars Road to nowhere

Second half of the 80s became a hard time for bands like AUTOGRAPH and DIALOG. Both changed their direction, both made the same mistakes and, in the end, disbanded. Due to perestroyka new generation of bands, often less professional as musicians but more actual lyrically, with songs about social problems, found their way to wide audience. From other hand, lots of Western music (including bands like BON JOVI, CINDERELLA, DEF LEPPARD) became available and popular in Soviet Union.

So AUTOGRAPH changed direction and started playing mainstream rock. First step on this way was the album "Stone Land". Old fans like me were disappointed, but at least the band found some new fans. Then, on the wave of interest to everything coming from the USSR, AUTOGRAPH extensively toured abroad and recorded the album ''Tear Down The Border'' in English (only the title track, which is a reworked version of ''World Inside'' from the previous album, combines English and Russian lyrics). The result is an average album made by professional musicians. There are tons of such albums around, even recognizable voice of Arthur Berkut can't save it from being mediocre.

''Tear Down The Border'' did not make AUTOGRAPH famous in Europe and States. And when musicians returned home after long touring they found out that they are almost forgotten in their native country. No wonder that soon AUTOGRAPH disbanded. The road to international success was the road to nowhere.

If you'd like to listen to AUTOGRAPH's best, try to find ''Autograph 1'' CD with their prog records from 1980 - 82 or get the band's excellent reunion jubilee concert ''25 Years After'', available both on CD and DVD. I can recommend ''Tear Down The Border'' only to die hard fans. 2 stars.

 Autograph / Автограф by AUTOGRAPH (AVTOGRAF) album cover Singles/EPs/Fan Club/Promo, 1981
4.14 | 9 ratings

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Autograph / Автограф
Autograph (Avtograf) Crossover Prog

Review by NotAProghead
Special Collaborator Errors & Omissions Team

4 stars It's just the beginning!

Very important record in AUTOGRAPH career.

It was 1980, USSR, iron curtain, Soviet ideological machine is quite strong and still working. Most rock bands are in underground, no airplays, no TV appereances, no legal records. Only concerts, sometimes semi-legal, and, if some band was lucky to find the more or less good studio, tape records copied countless times by rock fans. But it was the year of Olympic Games - 80 in Moscow, and it became necessary to show the world that Soviet democracy is not worse, but even better, than any other democracy, that we have everything, including rock music.

Thus rock festival ''Tbilisi-80'' - one of the key events in the whole history of Soviet rock music - took place in spring 1980 in the capital of Soviet Georgia. It was called festival, but it was also a competition. AUTOGRAPH shared then second prize with another band presented on PA, GUNESH from Turkmenistan. Prize-winners were allowed to play concerts legally and even record an official EP or even LP. Let me remind you that the only one record label, ''Melodiya'', existed in former Soviet Union. The label had its own factories in most of big cities.

While in Western world the beginning of the 80's was not a finest hour for good old rock, in the USSR, due to the iron curtain, big British and American names of the 70's still had legendary status, punk and new wave were not so popular. Yes, disco was all around, ABBA and BONEY M were household names, but more or less serious young music fans wanted to listen to rock. When small ''Autograph'' EP appeared in music stores, rock fans were really shocked. It seemed unbelievable that domestic rock band, singing in Russian, can play rock according to the best world standards. No need to say, this EP helped the band a lot, AUTOGRAPH started to play not only at universities' clubs, but often at hockey arenas.

Ireland, Ulster, as it follows from its title, is a song, dedicated to political events in Ireland. Lyrics, like in most band's songs, have been written by Margarita Pushkina, well-known female rock poet till now. Memorable melody, good guitar and keyboard work and incredible speed of singing. Band's fans still wonder how Sergey Brutyan could sing so many words in such a short time.

Instrumental Fasten Seat Belts is on of the most known AUTOGRAPH tunes. Again strong guitar work by Alexander Sitkovetsky, excellent keyboards playing by Leonid Makarevitch, one of the best Soviet rock keyboardists, inventive bass lines by Leonid Gutkin and solid drumming. Unfortunately the final section was edited due to time restrictions of EP. Complete version was published on one of V/A compilations and later, in 1996, when the band did not exist, on ''Autograph - 1'' CD.

Blues 'Caprice' is, obviuosly, blues, but played by art-rock band. Great Sergey Brutyan's vocals, memorable melody, good job of all instrumentalists. Lyrics, written this time by Sitkovetsky himself, are simple and slightly erotic. One of the band's hits.

Even with these 3 songs it became clear that original rock band was born (the term ''progressive'' rarely used then in Russia, in concerts Alexander Sitkovetsky usually told that AUTOGRAPH play art-rock). Influences of 70's rock giants like YES, DEEP PURPLE and others are evident, but AUTOGRAPH have their own sound.

4 stars for this good, but short record, proving to many (including me) that good prog rock can exist in the former Soviet Union. Though you don't need to search for this EP. All its songs can be found on ''Autograph - 1'' CD (unfortunately rare item now) and, very close to original versions, on much easier to find 2005 reunion ''Jubilee Concert'' CD or DVD.

 25 лет спустя. Юбилейный концерт / 25 Years After. Jubilee Concert (CD) by AUTOGRAPH (AVTOGRAF) album cover Live, 2005
4.04 | 13 ratings

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25 лет спустя. Юбилейный концерт / 25 Years After. Jubilee Concert (CD)
Autograph (Avtograf) Crossover Prog

Review by Rivertree
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Band Submissions

4 stars Great respect for a splendid retrospect ...

Two words for a summary first - awesome concert! The band invited former members and guests for this event and delivered a fabulous performance. Remarkable for the sound are the permanent changes between symphonic (sometimes ELP-like) and groovy rocking parts.

If they are already looking back at a history of 25 years (as the title offers) I wonder why it took so long until they released their debut in 1986. Vocals are totally in russian and of course this is somewhat unfamiliar to me. It doesn't matter. The important thing is you can listen to a very good melange of Symphonic and Art Rock.

Leaving the electronic intro it all starts very relaxed. Yesterday (the day before? I'm not sure about the english translations of the cyrillic titles) is a minimalistic keyboard dominated song associated with excellent vocals by Arthur Berkut. And then the band hurries up with Fasten seat belts - an instrumental with great guitar licks and a mix of symphonic and jazzy keyboards. I don't want to describe every song but there's one promise - this release is a musical revelation (despite of one or two exceptions). City is a super groover with saxophon attendance and Requiem from their first and selftitled debut is also to point out. Imitating a spinet and suddenly getting tempo which remembers at ELP (Fanfare For The Common Man) - a fantastic song!

Second Disc starts with a little suite combining three songs in a very different mood - the centerpiece IMO. The opener is a very melancholic and spacy thing, a part of Martian chronicles which then glides into 2000 Years, another wonderful grooving song with Chris Kelmi on organ and Sergei Brutijan on the lead vocals. Third part is Clouds a nice ballad with clarinet played by the former band member Sergei Mazaev. Ireland, Ulster against is an interesting mix of symphonic keyboards and a funky groove. Dizziness is mainly used for the band introduction and Oh, my boy for rocking the crowd.

'25 Years After' is a great mixture of AUTOGRAPH songs and gives an excellent overview of their work. You don't have any russian band release with vocals in native language? Try this!

 Tear Down The Border by AUTOGRAPH (AVTOGRAF) album cover Studio Album, 1991
2.15 | 17 ratings

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Tear Down The Border
Autograph (Avtograf) Crossover Prog

Review by Rivertree
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Band Submissions

2 stars The Border to Mainstream Rock?

The provocative cover and the promising album title lets you get very curious but what follows is innocent though. I'm aware of that - the band released the album at a time of great political changes - the disbanding of the Soviet Union. They are good musicians without any doubt and the production is professional. But this is not more than a mediocre Rock album - far away what I'm expecting from Art Rock.

There have been produced hundreds (thousands?) of efforts like that and I cannot find anything exciting and really unique. So it sounds like the band had decided to make a tribute album to rock bands like POCO, BON JOVI, TOTO and similar. Simple guitar riffs and keyboard patterns, perfect english vocals (with some exceptions f. e. on Tear down the border) - are this ingredients for reaching the charts?

Only the opener Coming Back To Find You is a good one, a very interesting ballad compared to the other songs. Better tracks are also the following How Can I Call It Love - dedicated to Poco fans, Judgement Day with a shouting refrain and Play With Fire which has a nice groove.

A russian band produces american mainstream rock with a provoking album cover and title. Not very straightaway - surprising anyway - convincing noway ...

 25 лет спустя. Юбилейный концерт / 25 Years After. Jubilee Concert by AUTOGRAPH (AVTOGRAF) album cover DVD/Video, 2005
4.85 | 7 ratings

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25 лет спустя. Юбилейный концерт / 25 Years After. Jubilee Concert
Autograph (Avtograf) Crossover Prog

Review by Prog-jester
Prog Reviewer

5 stars "Despite few weak tracks, the whole concert is amazing. I wish I had a DVD of it."

That's what I wrote few months ago.I have it now!!!

The curatin is drawn.Artur Berkut sings "The Day Before" ballad.Then curtain falls down and the whole band crashes with "Fasten Seat Belts" instrumental,energetic and powerful (imagine YYZ combined with ELP!!!)."Heavy Rain"(CloudBurst) begins as a ballad but later turns into magnificient rock suite with awesome soloing from Sasha Sitkovetsky.Before playing "The City" Sasha announces that there will be NO new songs and they will play only their best ones this evening.Former AUTOGRAF sax-player Sergey Mazaev joins them,and they play "The City" and "Pilgrim"(about Christ' wonderings) together."Monologue",another early classic,is met with enthusiasm.After "Time,Forward!"(Soviet composer Sviridov's piece arranged by the band) "Requiem" follows - tribute suite to John Lennon (shiver down the spine and goose bumps attached).John's face appears on the scene's background on the giant screen,lights go down...awesome...Check it in free steaming player here to get the full impression.

Spacy instrumental "Martian Chronicles" opens the second part of the show."2000 years" is performed with a help from former AUTOGRAF members - Sergey Brutjan (first singer) and Kris Kelmi (first keyboardist, he was with Sasha in VISOKOSNOE LETO band even before AUTOGRAF). Powerful 7/8 track in early IQ's vein,mafically catchy when played live!Atmospheric "Clouds" lead to nervous instrumental "S.O.S" (laser show attached!).Just like right from the 80s - AUTOGRAPH haven't lost a bit of its power and masterity! Good Lord I want them to reunite for a new album! Again mild-tempo "Stone" followed with legendary "Ireland.Olster" rocky hit and unescapable "Blues "Caprice"(girls going crazy!).I know few PROG bands that ROCK like this one,really! More Pomp-rock songs like "Dizziness" and "Oh my Boy" are preparing ground for epical "The Ship" - another early-days highlight.Show closing with "The World in Ourselves",we-are-the- world-like legendary ballad supplied with band's chronoicles on the background screen...

Great show,nice additional credits (sadly,only in Russian) and my favourite phrase permanently repeated by all band's members - "That's all for now...though never say never" ;-)

A Must for every ART-ROCK fan and Russian Prog appreciator.DVD is avalaible worldwide, and if you miss it you risk to miss the whole epoch in Russian music...there's a chance to understand us.

 Kamenniy kray / Stone Land by AUTOGRAPH (AVTOGRAF) album cover Studio Album, 1989
3.46 | 27 ratings

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Kamenniy kray / Stone Land
Autograph (Avtograf) Crossover Prog

Review by Prog-jester
Prog Reviewer

3 stars AUTOGRAPH...Rush mixed with Floyd...kinda...

3.5 stars actually.This one is usually loved by Hrad/Pomp-rock fans,but for Art-Rock lovers it contains some hidden masterpieces like STRANNIK ("The Stranger") and KOLOKOL ("The Bell").Released by MUSEA (as long as I know), it is recommended for those who already listened to classical AUTOGRAPH and AUTOGRAPH 1albums.But for beginners I'd recommend to start with recent DVD release - the set of the very best composed by the band, a must for any Art-Rock and Russian Prog fan!

 Autograf 1 / Автограф 1980-82 by AUTOGRAPH (AVTOGRAF) album cover Boxset/Compilation, 1996
4.46 | 16 ratings

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Autograf 1 / Автограф 1980-82
Autograph (Avtograf) Crossover Prog

Review by Prog-jester
Prog Reviewer

5 stars Once again we are meeting the Classic of Russian Art Rock.Incomparable band,which had no equal ones in Soviet times in both music and stage show sides,managed to release the archive of early recordings only after splitting up - sad,indeed?Remastered but no way RE- RECORDED material is astonishing - just take a listen to nervous "Ireland,Olster"(5th track),wonderful ballad "Rain"(2nd track) or "Martian Chronicles" epic divided into two separate songs(tracks 9 & 10).Such semi-epics like "2000 Years"(3rd),"An Old Ballad"(12th) and "The Ship"(13th) show band's mature professionaliosm and unquestionable genius of Alexandr Sitkovetsky,lead composer and guitar player.Oh boy,I don't want the Legend die!!!I hope,the immense success of Reunion Tour in 2005 (just give a spin to DVD,which contains the last show of the tour!) shall make the guys think of reunion to make an album!!!Long Live Russian Prog!!!
 25 лет спустя. Юбилейный концерт / 25 Years After. Jubilee Concert (CD) by AUTOGRAPH (AVTOGRAF) album cover Live, 2005
4.04 | 13 ratings

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25 лет спустя. Юбилейный концерт / 25 Years After. Jubilee Concert (CD)
Autograph (Avtograf) Crossover Prog

Review by Prog-jester
Prog Reviewer

4 stars Despite few weak tracks, the whole concert is amazing. I wish I had a DVD of it.

Strong musicianship, exciting lasershow, legendary tracks from 80s. Berkut now works in ARIA, a true legend of Russian Heavy-Metal and his voice became much heavier. Sitkovetsky is a Master of Guitar, he plays the right things in right time: stunning music and great experience for those who was on their shows during the Anniversary tour.

Lord, I wish they'd have a reunion; that would be just awesome! I'd recommend this CD to EVERYONE; just come and get'em!. The DVD version, I guess, is much more amazing.

Thanks to ProgLucky for the artist addition. and to NotAProghead for the last updates

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