Vera Spinarova Andromeda

Long-playing Prague debut of a great Ostrava singer

Vera spinarova had to wait until 1972 for her first album. The little lady with the big voice had already had a few hits, but as was the custom at the time, without a strict genre focus, the turn of the sixties and seventies sounded like this. Her energetic delivery was given some excellent opportunities, but it also helped the songs she covered to be at times more vital than the original.

This album is similarly conceived. In her search for the best, spinarova retained Ivo Pavlik’s band, but she was suitably supported by radio big bands at some of the recordings. Among the authors are D. Volejnicek, P. Hannig, B. Ondracek, V. Popelka or Olympic P. Janda. Lyricists V. cort, E. Krecmar, Z. Borovec, M. Prostejovsky, V. Postulka, Z. Rytir or the exceptional J. Werich (“Summertime”) undoubtedly benefited.

The opening medley, led by Music-box, was joined by songs from domestic sources of the quality of “My adie”, but also by the imports “Mame maj” (Wight Is Wight), Den a noc (She’s not there) and Volej, volej (Soley, soley). There was a considerable stylistic range from fine pop to rock pieces to insistent bubble-gum. It is a lasting testament to the singer’s vocal sovereignty. She would have been only 70 in December...