New artists and Vamvakaris !

Επικαιρότητα
1

Ti kanete,

Here in Sydney, all we ever hear is the radio, TV and DJ’s continually playing such plastic posers as Safkianakis, Alkaios etc. Unfortunately there is really only one small club that plays anything resembling rebetika.
So I would like some names and releases of contemporary groups/singers that currently perform or have released CD’s in Greece that are in the style and spirit of something similar to rebetika. Not a direct copy, but a development from the classic rebetika without the over production, sugary lyrics and instrumentation of the abovementioned performers. There must someone still playing with that spirit!!
I know that these artists may be a little obscure but either I will scour the internet or I have an uncle who is going to Greece in a few months. Unfortunately I cannot make it to Greece until 2002.
Also would someone be able to give me the name/s me to a good quality sounding compilation of Vamvakaris’ songs with him singing them preferably (not the many cheap CD’s I have seen released). Unfortunately the cassette that I found in my fathers car which I played incessantly has been worn out.

Your help would be greatly appreciated.

Dionysios

2

You might want to check out a few of the CD Reviews’s at:

http://www.rebetikorow.com/

Hopefully you will find what you’re looking for.

3

DEAR PETER
I wrote some lyrics for the “American” scene of the “Rembetiko” play. I know that my English is not so good, and worst, I tried to imitate the black-blues language. So please, check for me the next message, if there are any mistakes (I’m sure there are).
Thanks again
Costas

4

MAXWELL STREET BLUES

I have something to say and I got nothing to lose.
I better say it now before I get the blues.

Down here in Maxwell Street
people drifting around
I’ll go back to New Orleans
‘cause I’m a home-bound.

You’re my angel but you make me treat you evil.
Was it you I met in the Crossroad
or was it the devil?

I’m goin’home where I have my own street to roam.
I know the blues will run after me
till I get home.

Lord, you promised me a resurrection
so I’ll be back some day.
But I need to have a good time
here and there and everyday.

You’re my angel but you make me treat you evil.
Was it you I met in the Crossroad
or was it the devil?

Have you ever been mistreated,
so you know what I’m talkin’ about,
I just had a little love,
and she now kicks me out.

Oh lord, my lord, you don’t treat me right.
I earn some money in the morning,
and I lose it by the night.

You’re my angel but you make me treat you evil.
Was it you I met in the Crossroad
or was it the devil?

If I had the money to buy me a home
The time to get it done the money would be gone.

I better go home now before I find me some excuse.
Sorry to have made you sad, I only got the blues.

You’re my angel but you make me treat you evil.
Was it you I met in the Crossroad
or was it the devil?

5

Costas
Ta Anglika sou enai poly kalitero ap ta Elinika pou milaw ego. Ta elinika mou ena ola skoupithia tora ! Lipon na ta, Ta South Side Chicago Blues. VERY simplified version !

I got something to say to you baby
with nothing left for me to lose
So I’m gonna tell you my story angel
cause I’m feeling those down - home blues.

Down here on this Maxwell Street
with folks just driftin round
I got to get back to New Orleans
‘cause I ain’t nothin, but homeward bound.

You know your my angel baby,
but you make me treat you mean.
Was it you I met at the Crossroad
or the Devil just doing his thing ?

I’ve got to get me back sweet mama
where the street is mine to roam.
cause I know my blues will ruin me
till I find a way to get home.

Lord, you promised to resurrect me
so I might be back some day.
But I need to have a good time
now and in every way.

You know your my angel baby,
but you make me treat you mean.
Was it you I met at the Crossroad
or the Devil just doing his thing ?

Have you ever been mistreated,
you know what I’m talkin’ bout ?
I really need that girls sweet lovin,
but she wants to through me out.

Oh lord, oh lord, why can’t you see
why don’t you treat me right.
I earned some money this mornin,
but you make me lose at night.

You know your my angel baby,
but you make me treat you mean.
Was it you I met at the Crossroad
or the Devil just doing his thing ?

You know If I had me some money
to buy you a home today
I’d buy you a Diamond Castle
before the money has gone away.

I best be getting on home now,
before I find a way
to give you some sad story
to make you pay and pay.

I’m sorry to have made you unhappy,
I’m sorry to see you cry
but these blues won’t let me smile
till it’s time for me to die.

You know your my angel baby,
but you make me treat you mean.
Was it you I met at the Crossroad
or the Devil just doing his thing ?

1, In the Deep South, the city of New Orleans is always pronounced as one word. “Nuolins”, with a strong accent on the O.

2, Where is Nick Gravinitis when we need him? Hey Nikos, Po esa vre !

6

Whoops
I forgot to sign my “Lyrics”

Blind Lemon Androutsos

7

Thanks a lot, Blind Lemon Anderson! It was perfect. I only missed a little the line “you promised me a resurrection”, was it so wrong?
Anyway, I’m making a reference to your name, so to… avoid to pay you any royalties!!!
This song will probably be sung by Dimitris Poylikakos, an overaged hippie of the Greek blues-rock scene.
Ascheto: Some years ago, Katy Gray made a video on her “modernized laiko” song “Mia gynaika mono xerei”, wearing black glasses. So we geve her two surnames: John-Lee Gray, and Katy Hooker!
Costas

8

Hi Dionysi,

Here are some names of good laika singers: Andreatos, Mbasis,Malamas and the somewhat older Lidakis, Papazoglou and Makedonas. They are OK. Unfortunately I don΄t remember all their first names.

As for more rebetic sound you should try Goles and Agathonas. Howerer they mostly copy old songs and really don’t add anything new.

When it comes to Vamvakaris I would recomend you to by Rounders release “Vamvakaris: The patriark of the bouzouki”. Its an excelent CD with a combination of known and rare songs. The sonic restoration is like nothing you will find in greek releases. Rounder also have other CD:s on authentic rebetica which you should try. Go to treir site on the net: Rounder.com. Be patient when you go through treir katalog-“system”, strangely its a bit confusing and unpractical. But the CD:s are there.

9

Does anyone knows were I can get lyrics from greek songs in latin words? type those sung By Sotiria Bellou as Sinesfias-me-ni Kiriaki! They are jus too much and sing together the other as Ma aeropla k΄vaporia,kesariani would be great!! Thanks

10

Have a look at this page:

www.kithara.gr

Here you can get lyrics from greek songs, but only in greek. Try it.
Here are over 4250 greek songs …( "Synefasmeni Kyriaki and “M΄aeroplana kai Baporia” includet )

aegeos