Polish Bands in the GDR

In 1970 the band “Czerwone Gitary” (Red Guitars) gave their first concert in the GDR. One year previously, in January 1969, they had been awarded a prize for the bestselling LP in Poland at the “Midem” in Cannes, at that time the largest music fair in the world. (The Beatles were awarded the prize in the same year for their bestselling record in Great Britain.) The prize for the “Red Guitars” also made them a name in the GDR. In 1970 the GDR label AMIGA brought out their LP “Warszawa”. The cover was simultaneously a sort of birth certificate in Germany, for next to the name “Czerwone Gitary” was the German translation of the name of the band “Rote Gitarren” in large letters.

From then onwards the rock and pop music group appeared under the name “Rote Gitarren” in German-speaking countries. It was not long before they became stars in the GDR. Soon they were singing in German. It was a real piece of luck for the band that they were able to work with the songwriter Ingeburg Branoner, whose brilliant German translations of the Polish texts made them eminently singable. The AMIGA label placed great value on correct pronunciation and insisted that the musicians practice German phonetics. This was not easy even though it proved worthwhile in the end. After the success of their album “Warszawa”. ALBA brought out the next “Roten Gitarren” album just one year later in 1971. The disc was called “Consuela” and was in German. The musicians were enthusiastically greeted by their German fans. Their concerts were sell-outs and the band was a popular act in GDR television. Twice in succession the “Roten Gitarren” won the main prize in the show “Once Year”, a cult programme in the GDR – in 1970 with the song “The Mountains and Woods are Burning” (Płoną góry, płoną lasy) and in 1973 with “White Boat” (Trzecia miłość - żagle). This song was to become one of the band’s best-known songs and a “must” at every show.

Along with the album “Rote Gitarren” (AMIGA 1978) the band sold over a million records and cassettes in the GDR in the 1970s and early 1980s. In the 80s, however, things quietened down around the band, at least in the GDR, but in Poland they remained as active and creative as before. That said, the alleged closeness of some of the musicians to Lech Wałęsa and Solidarność caused the staff of the GDR artists’ agency to call upon the Polish artists’ agency to prevent any future recordings by the “Rote Gitarren” from being released in the GDR. Since 1957 the state agency “Pagart” had been managing all Polish artists, handling all contracts, determining fees, and also deciding which artists would be allowed to play abroad. Without the backing of “Pagart” it was impossible for Polish musicians to have an international career. And if you fell out of favour with “Pagart” you soon came under fire in Poland. There was a similar agency in the GDR called “The GDR Artists’ Agency”. Both agencies were still collaborating in the 1990s until they finally collapsed with the dissolution of “real existing Socialism”.

Although the GDR ceased to exist after the fall of the Wall the “Red Guitars” continued to flourish. Even when the singer Seweryn Krajewski left the band they still remained a major force in Poland because they found a worthy successor in Mieczysław Wądołowski, and succeeded in revitalising themselves. In Germany the band remained as active as ever, as shown by the sell-out concerts in the East. In 1996 their album “The best of” (Wodini / BuschFunk) was issued in Germany. This was followed in 2005 by “The Major Successes” (Sechzehnzehn / BuschFunk), in 2009 by “White Boat -  their Greatest Hits” and once more in 2009 their first album with new songs in German, called “Lost Heart”

In 2007 appeared a comprehensive collection entitled “60 Years AMIGA”. One of the three CDs in volume 10 contains the “Red Guitars” album “The Major Successes”. The other two CDs featured two other Polish stars in the GDR: Maryla Rodowicz and “The Skalds” (polnisch: Skaldowie).

“Maryla Rodowicz” was the title of the LP issued in 1974 by AMIGA featuring the Polish singer Maryla Rodowicz. The album contained her greatest hits and catchy tunes, even sung in German, including “Maria” (Małgośka) and “Run, my Horses” (Wio koniku). In the same year she was awarded the prize for the best foreign artist by the GDR Ministry of Culture. Like the “Red Guitars” Maryla Rodowicz was also an extremely popular guest on East German television. Her shows were always sell-outs and she still has many German fans today.

“The Skalds” also released their first German album at the start of the 1970s. In 1971 AMIGA brought out their LP with German songs and a Polish title “Skaldowie Kraków”. This contained many of the bands hits including “The Postman is Coming” (Medytacje wiejskiego listonosza) and “So many Trains are Arriving” (Na wszystkich dworcach świata). The band recorded many singles for AMIGA. The GDR label published quite a few of them on several samplers. In 2008 the CD “The Greatest Successes” appeared on the AMIGA label with a selection of songs by “The Skalds”. Under this name the CD also appeared in the collection “60 Years AMIGA” (Vol. 10): it can still be bought separately. In this connection it is interesting to note that other albums appeared in Poland including in 2001,“Karlstad - Live 1975” (Label: Koch Poland), in 2012, “Live in Germany 1974” (Label: Kameleon) and in 2013 “Live in Germany 1972” (Label: Kameleon), all of which are still regarded as milestones in European rock music:. The last two concerts were recorded by WDR in Cologne thanks to the studio editor Hilmar Bachor. The same goes for the live recordings in Göttingen (1977), Frankfurt (1977), Neckargemünd (1978), Cologne (1979) and Marburg (1980), that were later published on Polish labels, thus proving that the band was not only popular in the GDR but also in the West.

Another Polish musician achieved fame in both West and East Germany in the 70s and 80s. This was Czesław Niemen. In 1973 his recordings appeared almost simultaneously in the GDR (“Niemen” / AMIGA) and in the FRG (“Russische Lieder” / CBS). There followed many concerts in Western Europe, in the FRG and GDR (here too “DT- 64 Konzerte”) as well as appearances at the “Festival of Political Song”. Between 1971 and 1973 Czesław Niemen worked with the Polish rock band SBB (Silesian Blues Band, later also known as “Szukaj, Burz, Buduj” (Search, Break & Build”) around the great musician Józef Skrzek. This band also released recordings in both parts of Germany: “SBB” (1977 / AMIGA / DDR), “Follow My Dream” (1978 / Spiegelei / Intercord / BRD), “Slovenians Girls” (1979 / Omnibus / Arcum / BRD), and “Welcome” (1979 / Spiegelei / Intercord / BRD).

 

Adam Gusowski, February 2016

 

Brief information:

CZERWONE GITARY / ROTE GITARREN /RED GUITARS

Founded: 1965

Musicians in the first lineup: Jerzy Kossela, Krzysztof Klenczon, Henryk Zomerski, Bernard Dornowski, Jerzy Skrzypczyk. Henryk Zomerski left in 1965 and was replaced by Seweryn Krajewski.

 

Diskography (Selection):
 

1966 – To właśnie my (Pronit)

1967 – Czerwone Gitary (2) (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1968 – Czerwone Gitary (3) (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1970 – Na fujarce (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1971 – Spokój serca (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1971 – Consuela (AMIGA / DDR)

1974 – Rytm Ziemi (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1976 – Dzień jeden w roku (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1977 – Port piratów (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1978 – Rote Gitarren (AMIGA / DDR)

1991 - Czerwone Gitary (1) (Alcom)

1991 - Czerwone Gitary (2) (Alcom)

1994 - Ballady (Digiton)

1995 - Koniec (Tra-la-la)

1996 - The best of (Wodini/BuschFunk / BRD)

1999 – ...jeszcze gra muzyka (Rubicon)

2005 – O.K. (EMI)

2009 – Herz verschenkt (BRD)

MARYLA RODOWICZ

born on 8 December 1945

Career breakthrough: 1967, Grand Prix at the Przegląd Piosenki Studenckiej (Festival of Student Song) in Lublin. Her repertoire includes over 2000 songs, and she has brought out over twenty discs.

 

Discography (Selection):
 

1970 - Żyj mój świecie (Muza)

1972 - Wyznanie (Pronit)

1972 - Maryla Rodowiczova (Supraphon / ČSSR)

1973 - Maryla Rodowicz (Amiga / DDR)

1974 - Rok (Pronit)

1976 - Sing-Sing (Pronit)

1978 - Wsiąść do pociągu (Pronit)

1979  - Cyrknocą (Pronit / Wifon)

1982  - Święty spokój (Muza)

1983 - Maryla Rodowicz (Melodia / UdSRR)

1984 - Był sobie król (Polton)

1986 - Gejsza nocy (Muza)

1987 - Polska Madonna (Muza)

1991 - Full (Polton)

1992 - Absolutnie nic (Muza)

1994 - Marysia biesiadna (Tra-La-La)

1995 - Złota Maryla (Tra-La-La)

1996 - Antologia 1 (Tra-La-La / PolyGram Polska)

1996 - Antologia 2 (Tra-La-La / PolyGram Polska)

1996 - Antologia 3 (Tra-La-La / PolyGram Polska)

1997 - Tribute to Agnieszka Osiecka: Łatwopalni (Tra-La-La / PolyGram Polska)

1998 - Przed zakrętem (PolyGram Polska)

1999 - Karnawał 2000 (Universal Music)

2000 - Niebieska Maryla (Universal Music)

2001 - 12 najpiękniejszych kolęd (Universal Music)

2002 - Życie ładna rzecz (Universal Music)

2003 - Sowia Wola (Eulen Willen Studio)

2003 - Maryla i przyjaciele (Polskie Radio S.A.)

2003 - Nejvetši hity (Universal Music / ČR)

2008 - Jest cudnie (Sony BMG)

2010 - 50 (Universal)

2012-2013 - Antologia Maryli Rodowicz (2012-2013) (Universal)

 

SKALDOWIE / DIE SKALDEN

Founded: 1965

Original lineup: Andrzej Zieliński, Jacek Zieliński, Zygmunt Kaczmarski, Janusz Kaczmarski, Feliks Naglicki, Jerzy Fasiński.

 

Discography (Selection):
 

1967 - Skaldowie (Pronit)

1968 - Wszystko mi mówi, że mnie ktoś pokochał (Pronit)

1969 - Cała jesteś w skowronkach (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1970 - Od wschodu do zachodu słońca (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1971 - Ty (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1971 - Skaldowie Kraków (Amiga / DDR), deutschsprachig

1972 - Krywań, krywań (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1973 - Wszyskim zakochanym (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1973 - Skal’dy (Melodija / UdSSR)

1976 - Stworzenia świata druga (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1976 - Szanujmy wspomnienia (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1979 - Rezerwat miłości (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1980 - Drogaludzi (Pronit)

1989 - Nie domykajmy drzwi (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1991 - Greatest Hits Vol. 1 (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1992 - Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1995 - Ballady (Digiton)

1996 - Podróż magiczna (Digiton)

1999 - Krywań Out of Poland (Wydawnictwo 21), Live recordings 1972 / 73 in the USSR und DDR

2000 - Antologia (Pomaton)

2001 - Złota kolekcja (Pomaton)

2003 - 45 rpm: Kolekcja czwórek (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

2006 - Harmonia świata (Polskie Radio)

2007 - 60 Jahre AMIGA Box Nr. 10 (Amiga), in German. Re-released in 2008 as “Die großen Erfolge”

2007 - Ciska krzyczy (Wydawnictwo 21), Live from Leningrad 1972

2008 - Na dwa fortepiany (Fonografia)

2010 - Progressive Rock Years (1970 - 1973) (Enigmatic)

2010 - Z biegiem lat (Polskie Radio), 2-CD album

2010 - Oddychać i kochać (Fonografia)

2011 - Pieśń nad pieśniami, czyli ballada człowieka o miłości (Polskie Radio)

2015 - Skaldowie 50 Lat (Kameleon Records)

SBB

Founded: 1969

Original lineup: Józef Skrzek, Antymos Apostolis, Jerzy Piotrowski

 

Discography (Selection):
 

1974 - SBB (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1975 - Nowy Horyzont (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1976 - Pamięć (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1977 - Ze Słowem Biegnę do Ciebie (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1978 - SBB (Supraphon / ČSSR)

1977 - Jerzyk (Wifon)

1978 - Follow My Dream (Spiegelei-Intercord)

1978 - SBB (Amiga / DDR)

1979 - Welcome (Wifon)

1979 - Slovenian Girls (Omnibus BUS)

1980 - Memento z Banalnym Tryptykiem (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1994 - Live 1993 (Stuff)

1994 - Live in America '94 (Radio Katowice)

1999 - Absolutely Live '98 (Yesterday)

1999 - SBB w filharmonii: akt 1 i 2 (Yesterday)

2000 - Good Bye! (Moskito Records)

2001 - Nastroje (Jazz'N'Java)

2001 - Karlstad - Live 1975 (Koch Poland)

2001 - BudaiIfjusagi Park 1977 (Koch Poland)

2002 - Trio - Live Tournee 2001 (CD Silesia)

2002 - Nastroje

2002 - Freedom - Live Sopot 1978 (CD Silesia)

2003 - Wizje - Buch + CD (CD Silesia)

2004 - 22.10.1977 Göttingen, Alte Ziegelei (CD Silesia)

2004 - Anthology 1974 - 2004 (22 CD) (Metal Mind Productions)

2005 - Odlot - Live 2004 (CD Silesia)

2005 - New Century (Metal Mind Productions)

2005 - Lost Tapes, vol. 1 (Metal Mind Productions)

2005 - Live in Theatre 2005 (CD + DVD)

2006 - Lost Tapes, vol. 2 (Metal Mind Productions)

2006 - Sikorki

2007 - The Rock (Metal Mind Productions)

2007 - Four Decades

2007 - Complete Tapes 1974

2008 - Live in Marburg 1980. The Final Concert

2008 - Live in Neckargemünd 1978. Town called N.

2009 - Iron Curtain

2009 - Live in Theatre 2005

2009 - Live in Köln 1979. In the shadow of the Dom

2009 - Live in Opole 1974. Rok przez cały rok

2009 - Behind the Iron Curtain

2009 - Live in Frankfurt 1977. Follow My Music

2009 - Live in Sopot 1978. Extended Freedom

2009 - Live In Czechoslovakia 1980. Three Quarters

2009 - Malczewski

2010 - Blue Trance

2010 - Live In Opole 1976. A Late Night Recital

2012 - SBB

2013 - Jazz nad Odrą 1975

2014 - Buchholz – Międzyzdroje – Chicago

2014 - Warszawa 1980

 

CZESŁAW NIEMEN

Born on 16th February 1939 as Czesław Juliusz Wydrzycki, died on 17th January 2004.

Czesław Niemen began his career in the early 1960s with the band Niebiesko-Czarni (Blue-Black). He achieved a breakthrough as a solo artist in 1967 with his first LP and its title song, “Dziwny jest ten świat” (Strange is this World)

 

Discography (Selection):
 

1967 - Dziwny jest ten świat (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1968 - Sukces (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1969 - Czy mnie jeszcze pamiętasz? (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1970 - Enigmatic (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1971 - Niemen (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1972 - Strange is this World (CBS / GB)

1973 - Niemen (AMIGA / DDR)

1973 - Ode to Venus (CBS / NL)

1973 - Russische Lieder (CBS BRD)

1974 - Niemen Aerolit (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1975 - Mourner’s Rhapsody (CBS / GB)

1976 - Katharsis (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1978 - Idée Fixe (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1978 - Best of Niemen (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1980 - Postscriptum (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

1982 - Przeprowadzka (Rogot)

1989 - Terra deflorata (Veriton)

1995 -  Sen o Warszawie (Polskie Nagrania Muza)

2001 - Spod chmury kapelusza (Pomaton / EMI)