Debated whether to buy this album for a buck, since I know next to nothing about Polish pop music, but ultimately I was swayed by the clothing and hairstyles, which needed no translation:
Would you be stunned to learn that this album was released in 1969? There are some surprisingly contemporary sounds amongst these songs – fascinating to see which elements of Western culture were able to penetrate “The Iron Curtain” at that time.
Yes, this group is named for the singer on the front cover:
How interesting to find that this album predates the extensive list of Rodowicz’s recordings on Discogs that begins in 1970 and continues through 2011 (likewise Wikipedia). I found one track in particular, “Za Gorami” (“Over the Hills“), to be rather evocative of its time:
[Pssst: Click on the triangle above to play “Za Gorami” by Maryla Rodowicz]
The same year as this album’s release, Billboard‘s Roman Waschko would identify Rodowicz as an artist to watch in a ‘Talent Report From Around the World‘ piece entitled “Poland – Younger Generation’s Year” for the November 1, 1969 edition:
Excerpt —
Ballads are only now gaining in popularity, as evidenced by the tremendous success of the song “Mowily Mu (They Used to Say to Him)” by Maryla Rodowicz. After she sang the song with her two accompanying guitarists at the Opole Festival, it shot to No. 1 in the charts and attracted the interest of foreign publishers. Robert Kingston of Southern Music offered to buy the copyright and later recorded Miss Rodowicz in London.
One year following the album’s release, Rodowicz would be voted Artist of the Year, in a pop poll organized by Polish Radio. 1970 would also see Rodowicz win the International Song Festival held in Sopot, Poland, as reported Billboard‘s November 20, 1971 edition:
Sopot Festival Winner Tours
LENINGRAD – Maryla Rodowicz, the contest winner of 1970 International Song Festival in Sopot, Poland, was here in October-November on her first concert tour of Russia, starring Polish gala show. Rodowicz’s hit song “Wozy Kolorowy,” which won in Sopot last year, is still a tremendous success in Russia. Maryla Rodowicz has already released albums in Poland, Czechoslovakia and England and there is a strong possibility for her album to be released by Melodiya shortly.
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LINK to Folk Music
