VREMURI - ANII 60...

The songs of this album were recorded betwen 1968 and 1969. Some of the songs (Vremuri, Canarul / Totusi sunt ca voi, Floarea stancilor, Nebunul cu ochi inchisi) have apear on 2 singles in 1968. Mama, mama appear on a single in 1973, but with a different sound and vocalist, after the excellent album Cei ce ne-au dat nume, album who was a commercial failure. The song is also recorded in 1968. The other songs were too experimental and had to many western decadence (!!!) for Electrecord and communist censorship to release. All the songs are composed by Nicu Covaci and Vali Bordeanu and the lyrics are written byNicu Covaci, Vali Bordeanu for all the song except Canarul who is written by Victor Suvagau.

Now talking about music. There is an evident influence from some of the most popular western band in Romania, in that time like Beatles, The Who, Simon and Garfunkel, Animals, Cream and Pink Floyd; but not the originality of the music makes this record a good one to listen. Is the feeling of a time when in Romania was a period of freedom and the western music and culture had strongly penetrate romanian rock music. The true Phoenix appear when they mix old Romanian folklore with rock and jazz elements and creating one of the most original and valuable rock album from Eastern Europe.

Vremuri become in 1968 and remain one of the moust popular Phoenix songs. After 1989 it was covered by numerous pop-rock and heavy metal romanian artist. The lyrics are a little silly and the music is simple and catchy. There has an evidently Beatles influence, but the voice and romanian lyrics make it sound better is the Beatles have sings the song.

Totusi sunt ca voi has a social connotation, whit good lyrics but not very good music. A very short guitar solo performed by Nicu Covaci was maby the first from young romanian rock music.

Floarea stancilor is one of the first romanian song whit psychedelic influence. And a little bit from Simon and Garfunkel and maybe Pink Floyd. The lyrics are great, one of the best from the early Phoenix songs. Ther is also a social connotation in this song. The voice of Vali Bordeanu and the piano performance by Günther Reininger is excellent!

Ar vrea un eschimos has simple and repeatedly lyrics. The music is good and the wind sound is a premier for romanian music in 1968.

Canarul is a sad song about a bird from a cave who want to escape but in the end he break his bones and die. The song had the most evidently protestation lyrics against the oppressive communist regime from Romania. Is quite strange haw it was possible for this song to appear in that time (1968 - on a single with two songs with english lyrics!)

Nebunul cu ochi inchisi (The fool whit closed eyes) is very similar with Beatle song The fool on the hill. No comment!

Ulciorul had a good organ sound but the production is very poor. This song appears for the first time on a disc. Maybe, because the lyrics invite to alcohol abuse. In the end of the song is a good guitar solo, this time about 30 seconds.

Vino sa ne ascundem in nori had a blues-rock influence, maybe from Cream and Hendrix Experience. The guitar sound is strong and very good. The production is unfortunately week.

Vant hain nr.1 is the second longest song on this album (4'05'') and the most valued. All the instruments sound great and the lyrics are good. There is an extensively bass/organ solo performed in a hard rock stile and a great blues guitar solo on the second part of the song. This may be considered as the first prog rock song from romanian music.

Mama, mama appear also on a single from 1973 with other vocalist and orchestration. This song had a classic rock 'n roll sound.

Vant hain nr.2 is very different from Vant hain nr.1, only some lyrics appear on the other song. This is also a very good song.

"Miezul nopti" is the longest song of the album (4'40'') it sound very psychedelic. There are a lot of strange effect sounds, maybe are inspired by "Interstellar overdrive" and "A Saucerful of secrets".

As a conclusion, the lyrics from "Vremuri" are very good to define these songs: "Toate-au fost la timpul lor ceva exagerat, Anii au trecut in zbor si lumea le-a uitat." Everything was exaggerate on that time, The years have gone away, and everything is now forgotten. Sorry for poor translate.