Marta Kubišová - Ne! The Soul Of Marta Kubišová (2009) Vampi Soul
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Artist: Marta Kubišová
Album: Ne! The Soul Of Marta Kubišová
Released: 1966-1970, reisue 2009
Vampi Soul (VAMPI CD 114)
Genre: Bossa Nova, Psychedelic, Soul, Vocal, Funk
Prague Spring was a fleeting period of liberalization in 1968 Czechoslovakia, and one of the defining movements in a year marked by the spirit of resistance. The Czech leader spearheading the attempted reformation, Alexander Dubcek, envisioned a “socialism with a human face.” Before and after Soviet tanks returned the country to a bastion of censorship, that face was embodied by singer Marta Kubišová. Standing out among other mainstream artists for her dissidence and unwavering public voice, her lyrics reflected the stifling realities of the political and social climate. In a true illustration of subversive pop, Kubišová covertly delivered her signature anthem "Modlitba pro Martu" ("Prayer for Marta") to radio stations herself.
In the years leading up to the Soviet invasion Kubišová was the biggest pop star in Czechoslovakia and nearing international fame. She had signed a record deal with Polydor Germany and her name was growing in Paris. But at the height of her popularity in 1969, she was ousted from radio and TV, prohibited from performing in public and her record contract was terminated. She would not return to stages or recording studios until the fall of the Eastern Bloc 20 years later.
This set focuses on rarer material from the early years of her vast catalog and excludes iconic tracks like “Prayer for Marta.” Her popular cover of “Hey Jude,” which memorably plays over the invasion scene in the film adaptation of Milan Kundera’s The Unbearable Lightness of Being, is also left out. Instead, Ne! focuses on what the liner notes specify as her “rough” material and includes her work with Helena Vondrácková and Václav Neckár as the Golden Kids. Mixing originals with covers of international hits, the compositions are performed by renowned Czechoslovakian jazz ensembles and touted classical orchestras like Mefisto. The compilation also spans Kubišová’s first solo LP, Songy a balady, which was simultaneously released and banned in 1969, as the “normalization” process unfolded.
The strength of Kubišová’s contralto mirrors her steel resolve. Her’s is a soulfulness that verges on operatic, a deep, full timbre that propels the funk, bossa nova, and psych-tinged arrangements onward and outward. The groove merchants at her back trade in celebratory organ fills, punctuating brass, Clyde Stubblefield worship and meandering fuzz. “Jacoby nic” is notable not only for its overtly lysergic turn. The A-side of her last single for the Supraphon label barely survived the communist censors who destroyed the finished pressing. The version here is taken from a “stolen” copy.
Kubišová’s only recording from her time spent blacklisted was a set of Moravian folk songs secretly taped in a kitchen by Swedish journalists. She spent most of those years as a mother, a clerk, and a signatory and spokeswoman of the radical civic collective named for the Charter 77 initiative. The Velvet Revolution afforded her return to singing in 1990, but Kubišová is that too infrequent performer whose legacy of activism shines brighter than her rich musical history.
By Jake O'Connell
Track List:
1 Tak Dej Se K Nám A Projdem Svet 4:26
Lyrics By - Zdenek Rytír
Music By - Ota Petrina
2 Svlíkám Lásku 2:41
Lyrics By - Hana Ciháková
Music By - Harry Macourek
3 Já Tu S Tvárí Nemennou 3:05
Lyrics By - Pavel Vrba
Music By - Jindrich Brabec
4 Bílý Stul 3:15
Lyrics By - Eduard Krecmar
Music By - Bohuslav Ondrácek
5 Tvuj Krém, Tvuj Nuž, Tvuj Ruženec (You Came, You Saw, You Conquered) 2:21
Lyrics By - Zdenek Borovec
Written-By - Irwin Levine* , Phillip Spector* , Toni Wine
6 Kdo Ti Radu Dá 2:54
Lyrics By - Vladimír Poštulka
Music By - Vladimír Popelka
7 Tajga Blues '69 3:28
Lyrics By - Zdenek Rytír
Music By - Bohuslav Ondrácek
8 Hare Krišna (Hare Krishna) 3:07
Lyrics By - Gerome Ragni , James Rado , Zdenek Rytír
Music By - Galt MacDermot
9 Chci Právo Trubky Mít 3:00
Lyrics By - Pavel Vrba
Music By - Jindrich Brabec
10 Legendy 3:04
Lyrics By - Eduard Krecmar
Music By - Angelo Michajlov
11 Já Cestu K Tobe Najdu Si 3:07
Lyrics By - Jaroslav Šprongl
Music By - Bohuslav Ondrácek
12 Tys Bejval Mámin Hodnej Syn 4:20
Lyrics By - Zdenek Borovec
Music By - Bohuslav Ondrácek
13 Ne 2:41
Lyrics By - Zdenek Rytír
Music By - Ota Petrina
14 Jakoby Nic 3:26
Lyrics By - Zdenek Rytír
Music By - Bohuslav Ondrácek
15 Nepiš Dál 2:58
Lyrics By - Rostislav Cerný
Music By - Karel Gott , Ladislav Štaidl
16 Ten Zlej Páv 2:50
Lyrics By - Ivo Fischer
Music By - Angelo Michajlov
17 Modrej Vres 2:35
Lyrics By - Ivo Fischer
Music By - Karel Svoboda
18 Zlý Dlouhý Pust 5:05
Lyrics By - Pavel Vrba
Music By - Bohuslav Ondrácek
19 Ten Druhý V Nás 4:42
Lyrics By - Zdenek Rytír
Music By - Ota Petrina
20 Balada O Kornetovi A Dívce 3:34
Lyrics By - Zdenek Rytír
Music By - Bohuslav Ondrácek
21 Na Co Te Mám 1:57
Lyrics By - Eduard Krecmar
Music By - Angelo Michajlov
22 Vrba 2:34
Lyrics By - Vladimír Poštulka
Music By - Vladimír Popelka
23 Pojdte, Pejskové 1:54
Lyrics By - Zdenek Rytír
Music By - Karel Svoboda
24 Nejsi Sám, Kdo Doufá (Face It Girl, It's Over) 2:43
Lyrics By - Vladimír Poštulka
Written-By - Andy Badale , Frank Stanton*
25 Cervencové Ráno 3:01
Lyrics By - Petr Rada
Music By - Karel Mareš
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