01	Introduction - You'll Be Back For More						06:17
	02	Obsolete Machine						03:57
	03	Who's Free						03:31
	04	I Love You Teddy Bear						03:41
	05	Crazy Thing Nr 1						00:46
	06	Drinking						03:16
	07	Crazy Thing Nr 2						00:13
	08	Driving Trough						04:34
	09	Ancient Mariner						03:24
	10	Wutu-Banale						06:42
	11	Woman Of The World						02:54
	12	Roll Over Yourself						02:25
	13	Thinking Back						03:06
	14	Solitary						03:46
	15	Deep Thinker						02:42

Album: Tasavallan Presidentti

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Introduction / You'll Be Back For More (Robson)
Obsolete Machine (Tasavallan Presidentti)
Who's Free (Robson)
I Love You Teddy Bear (Groundstroem, Robson)
Crazy Thing N:o 1 (Groundstroem, Tolonen)
Drinking (Groundstroem, Robson)

Crazy Thing N:o 2 (Tasavallan Presidentti)
Driving Through (Tasavallan Presidentti)
Ancient Mariner (Groundstroem, Robson)
Wutu-Banale (Groundstroem)
Woman Of The World (Robson)
Roll Over Yourself (Robson)
Thinking Back (Tolonen)

LP: Love Records LRLP 9 (1969)
CD: Love/Siboney LRCD 9 (1990) with bonus tracks (1970):
14. Solitary (Tolonen, Groundstroem, Robson),
15. Deep Thinker (Tolonen, Robson)
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Juhani Aaltonen, saxophone, flute
Vesa Aaltonen, drums
Mеns Groundstroem, bass, organ
Frank Robson, vocal, piano, organ
Jukka Tolonen, guitar, piano
Produced by Otto Donner
Engineered by Erkki Hyvцnen at Finnvox Studios
CD digital mastering by Pauli Saastamoinen at Finnvox Studios
Photos by Veikko Vatanen
Drawing by Ulla Groundstroem




Tasavallan Presidentti [Finland]
Tasavallan Presidentti (69), Tasavallan Presidentti (70), Lambert Land (72), Milky Way Moses (74)

The Tasavallan Presidentti of 1969-1971 was like a totally different group from the later outfit. The first (eponymous) album was recorded and released in 1969 by Love Records (LRLP-7S). In 1990, it was re-issued on CD (LRCD-7) by Siboney. This first album is sophisticated pop - with a hint of jazz - and more melodic (and, to my mind, far better) than the later "progressive" stuff. This LP (as well as the second one) features Frank Robson, a British expatriate, on keyboards and lead vocals. Robson is rumoured to have been a member of an early line-up of the Small Faces, but I never have been able to confirm this! However, it is certain that in 1968 he had replaced Jim Pembroke as the lead vocalist of Blues Section (another remarkable Finnish group) which split into Wigwam and Tasavallan Presidentti in late '68/early '69. After the Finnish album and a further single, the boys were taken interest in by the Swedish EMI/Columbia. This resulted in the second album also called Tasavallan Presidentti. This LP (Swedish Columbia 4E 062-34264) was recorded in August 1970 in Stockholm, Sweden, with Bob Azzam producing. The album included a couple of re-recorded songs from the Finnish album and singles, along with a bunch of brilliant new material from mainly Jukka Tolonen, Groundstroem and Robson. Somewhere in the process EMI and/or Azzam lost their interest and the album was given virtually no promotion. Too bad because I think it is their finest moment! The Columbia album has apparently never been re-issued and now easily fetches the equivalent of $250. Robson was eventually replaced by Eero Raittinen and the band went REALLY progressive (and almost conquered the world), but that's another story. -- Jari Hartikainen

This Finnish band features the good guitar work of Jukka Tolonen, as well as the sax and flute of Pekka Poyry. Showing jazzy/Canterbury (at least on Lambertland, the only album I have by this band) tendencies, Tasavallan Presidentti can be thought of as a guitar version of Soft Machine or, more accurately, Wigwam. As a matter of fact, Eero Raittinen's vocals remind me a bit of Jim Pembroke of Wigwam. Tolonen and Poyry guested on Wigwam's Fairyport (Poyry was also a guest (member?) on Being). There are no organs or other keyboards. One short song (3+ minutes) but most are in the 7-8 minute range so there is plenty of extended soloing from both Tolonen and Poyry. If you're looking for a guitar version of Wigwam or a fan of that general style, then I highly recommend this band. Canterbury/Soft Machine might also like this a good deal.

Jazzrock band featuring some of the leading lights of Finnish music: fusion guitarist Jukka Tolonen, the late jazz sax virtuoso Pekka Poyry. Milky Way Moses exudes a sort of Roxy Music feel with the raucous rock feel and heavy emphasis on sax. But Tasavallan Presidentti have a truly jazzy bent to them, centered mostly in Tolonen's fine guitar solos. Poyry blows a mean sax here and there, also adding flute and piano. Vocalist Eero Raittinen for the most part is a typically blustery rock belter, but always keeps his vocal intonations appropriate to the mood of the song. The wacky lyrics are by Wigwam mainstay Jim Pembroke. Very unconventional and lots of fun. -- Mike Ohman











Tasavallan Presidentti Tasavallan Presidentti (II) - their second album released in Sweden - Finland, 1971

This one of the most beautiful records was reissued on CD by EMI
in April 2002 with lyrics. Here you are...

Introduction (instrumental)

Deep Thinker

Changing times and movements, confusing talk I hear
Easily slips right past me, leaves an empty fear

Anger pops up from behind my eyes
I see red but don't see well
I have to use my patient and its breaking
Breaking a nerve and I feel like hell

Interchanging crossroads, no signs I see
Changing a right turn, I think I don't believe

I pass the final turn the ultimate remain
Then fear creeps up behind my door
I see a face that is broken
I wake up and the light is gone

Anger pops up...

Where is the dealer, I've reached a closing door
Noisily retreating, I reason all the more

I Love You Teddy Bear

Oh it was nice to see your face
When I woke up by your side
The autumn sun was glowing in your eyes
And the leaves drifting past my mind
The visions all seem so much brighter to me now
I feel much more confident to face a tougher world
You gave to me much more than your love
You gave to me the secret of your smile

(It's hard to think back to a better time
All the birds are singing just for me
The wind is gently playing with the trees
And our minds are deep in harmony
I used to go back years and shut you from my mind
And lock my door and play with all my little toys
And now I feel much more than a man
Now I have a purpose in this world)

And where were you two thousand years ago
When I needed someone desperately
The pain was almost too much to endure
And my life was empty and broken down
Now I think of everything and everything is you
You entered my life and my happiness renewed
I love you more than you'll ever know
Lie here with me ease my aching heart

Struggling For Freedom

Decided faces and unfriendly smiles
Staring with eyes that just cannot believe
Living in squalor they hardly exist
The fruits of their efforts are swallowed with tears

The past was good the older men say
Remember the life then those were the days
Riding through fantasies with carefree grace
Living was easy no worries to face
Now I'm searching for another escape
I wanna be free just to think and to write
No obstructions or people to hate
Freedom to wander with truth In my veins

Most of the people have given up hope
They strive for something they don't understand
Contented to watch the world pass them by
Not caring or hoping for love anymore

What of the younger people today
What do they think what do they wanna say
Are they happy with things as they are
Will they do something or go much too far
Their thoughts and their words are important to them
Speaking their minds they're immediately crushed
Confused In their hearts... but love in their hearts
(Doing just nothing but) thinking they must

But now there's a light it shines very dim
It needs someone to kindle the flame
Freedom will come but it's still far away
But we will have all that we hope for someday


Tis Me Tis You

I came this way dear
It was a life ago
You moved me more then
And touched my very soul

We went together
We never spoke a word
Tis me tis you dear
Now we can make it work

I have never found out about love
Now that you are near I will learn

We are happy - as happy as we can be
Satisfaction - my love tis you and me


Weather Brightly

Looking at the river
throwing snowballs at the sun
Waiting in the water
there are suns for everyone
Coming through the water
'cos he couldn't hear a scream, he's starting life again

Tumbling from the river
and it rolled across the sky
Night descended quickly
and the moon began to cry
Then it rained so heavily
and washed the snow away
The sun returned again

Shine on my home, shine in my room
don't be afraid of rain
The sky battles on elements change
now I can think of you

Tumbling from the river...

Wind in my hair snow in my mind
looking across the sea
Hope in my heart dreams of the earth
what do you think of me

Now it was the clouds
it was the time to get the act
It came in and attacked the sun
and then the thunder cracked
Then the snow was melting
the rain returned again, and began again

Shine on my home...

Sinking

The moon is dancing on my wall
Shadows cast through windows tall
Filtering through tall pine trees
my room is small and very neat
The smell of evergreen is sweet
drifting trough my empty brain
Everything is cloudy now
Know I went wrong

I must be dreaming I cannot wake
I know I've made mistakes
But I cannot stop my wandering
my mind is far away
I guess the end can't be long
the genius I had within
Extinguishing itself with a grin
I have reached its final bend

I must be dreaming I cannot wake
I know I've made mistakes
But I cannot stop my wandering
my mind is far away
Oh no, everything is cloudy
I know where I went wrong

Face appears from time to time
so fair it is it pains my mind
Smiling gently through the haze
My arms extend to caress her hair
Skating over shoulders bare
when I touch she fades away

I'm Going Home Once Again

There's a lot I still want to do
And I'm going home once again for you
To a routine life,
to familiar pastures, to a girl who waits

It's so hard just leaving this way,
but I know that soon there will come a day
When there's nothing left,
when I'm no longer useful, when I'm all alone

And there's some distance I've put between us
And every mile I have wandered
It's the right thing that I've done
My heart is with her now
But when I'm travelling home
Only when I stop and look around me
Does this compare with home

It's so hard just leaving...

And there's some distance

Tell Me More

Tell me more girl - tell me what you know
Don't cry girl - take it nice and slow
You've been dreaming - dreaming of the day
Now you're here babe - scared of being late

Forget the past babe - you're moving in with me
Lead you're own life - don't be led too easy
I wanna keep you - you better understand
So come on now - help me lend a hand

There's a lot I gotta tell you
And I know you care
We've been together now for a long long time
Now it's time for the major step

There's a lot
Forget the past babe...