Arko Records are truly delighted to be able to present this unique album. Compiled by Charles Howard, an Englishman based in Greece, who has previously com- piled a number of excellent collections for American Rounder Records and the British Heritage label, it has been carefully remastered from the best available copies of the original 78s by sound engineer Ted Kendall, well- known for his remastering of, among others, Django Reinhardt’s recordings.
This is music usually called ’rembétika’, Greek music from an urban sub-culture mainly performed by musi- cians hailing from Piraeus and/or Asia Minor during the first half of the 20th century.
The songs on this CD were recorded between 1927 and 1946 in Greece, Germany and the USA. There is also a real surprise in this collection, a contemporary recording of an older musician who, though he died very recently, was a true representative of this tradition rather than a ’revivalist’.
Mortika includes a 50-page book with exclusive pho- tographs of the singers and musicians, complete lyrics of all songs both in the original Greek and in English translations, discographical data, and extensive infor- mation on the artists, on the instruments, and on sev- eral other aspects of the music.
The artists represented on this CD span from those well-known at the time, such as the ’Patriarch of the Bouzouki’, Markos Vamvakaris, Rita Abádzi, one of the finest Greek singers of all time, and Jack Halikiás, bouzouki recording pioneer, to more obscure musi- cians such as Frangískos Zouridákis or the mysterious figure known as ’Kostis’.
The lyrics are particularly worth studying for their raw, direct quality. They touch on typical underworld themes such as drugs, theft, murder and prison, but also on such general themes as unrequited love and having a good time.
As well as fantastic singing you will hear many dif- ferent instruments: bouzouki, baglamas, mandolin, mandola, accordion, violin, guitar, and santouri; and even worry-beads against an ouzo-glass.
〜以上、メーカーインフォより
1 Ioánnis “Jack” Halikiás– The Mystery = Το Μυστήριο 4:18
Bouzouki – Ioannis Halikias. “Jack Gregory”
Guitar – Sophoclis Mihailidis
2 Yiórgos Katsarós– I Creep Along The Walls = Έρχομαι Τον Τοίχο Τοίχο 4:45
Vocals, Guitar – Yiórgios Katsarós, ‘Theologitis’
3 Spahánis– Oh Mother I Can’t Stand It = Καλέ Μάνα Δεν Μπορώ 3:19
Bouzouki – Yiórgios Manétas
Santoor (Tsimbalo) – Yiánnis Livadítis
4 Andónis “Dalgás”– Dou Dou = Ντου Ντου 3:11
Guitar – K. Skarvélis
Mandola – S. Peristéris
Violin, Santoor (Tsimbalo) – Unknown Artist
5 Frangískos Zouridákis – D. Tsakíris– The Dachtíri = Το Νταχτίρη 3:13
Guitar, Speech – D. Tsakíris
Percussion (Kombolói Tapped On Glass) – Unknown Artist
Vocals, Bouzouki – Fr. Zouridákis
6 Harílaos Piperákis – Ep. Asimakópoulos– To Toust = Το Τουστ 3:59
Vocals (?), Lute – Epaminóndas Asimakópoulos
Vocals, Lyre – Hariláos Piperákis, ‘The Cretan’
7 Kóstas Roúkounas– I Wasted My Youth = Χαράμισα Τα Νιάτα Μου 3:06
Bouzouki – S. Peristéris
Guitar, Baglama – Unknown Artist
8 Márkos Vamvakáris– The Lifer = Ο Ισοβίτης 3:21
Guitar, Percussion (Kombolói Tapped On Glass) – Unknown Artist
Speech – Stélios Perpiniádhis
Vocals, Bouzouki – Márkos Vamvákaris
9 Andónios “Papadzís”– The Bochóris = Ο Μπόχορης 4:05
Accordion – Antónios Amirális, “Papatzís”
Guitar (Maybe) – Kóstas Karípis
10 K. Kostís– This Summer = Τούτο Το Καλοκαιράκι 4:14
Bass Vocals, Guitar – K. Kostís
Guitar (Second) – Unknown Artist
11 Maríka Papagíka– The Dervish = Ντερβίσης 3:35
Cello – Márkos Sífnios
Cimbalom – Kóstas Papagíkas
Violin – Athanasíos Makedónas
12 Pol-Meraklís– The Hash Smokers = Οι Χασικλήδες 3:05
Guitar – S. Peristéris
Mandolin (Mandolins) – Unknown Artist
13 Ríta Abádzi– At Tzambíkou’s Teké = Μέσ’ Του Τζαμπίκου Τον Τεκέ 3:17
Guitar – S. Peristéris
Guitar (2nd) – Unknown Artist
14 Márkos Vamvakáris– Hash Smoking Mórtissa = Μόρτισσα Χασικλού 3:20
Bouzouki, Vocals – Márkos Vamvakáris
Guitar – K. Skarvélis
Percussion (Kombolói) – Unknown Artist
15 Stellákis Perpiniádis– Heroin And Hashish = Ηρωίνη Και Μαυράκι 3:06
Guitar – K. Skarvélis
Mandola – Unknown Artist
Santoor (Or Perhaps Tsímbalo, Incorrectly Listed: Kanonáki) – Emanuel Margarónis
16 Ioánnis “Jack” Halikiás– The Loser = Ξεφτύλης 3:03
Bouzouki – Ioannis Halikiás, “Jack Gregory”
Guitar – Nikos Yortamas
Voice (Dialogue) – N. Yortamas, E. Diamantis
17 Sotíris Gavalás– In The Bezesténi Yard = Στου Μπεζεστένη Την Αυλή 4:15
Accordion – A. Amirális (Papadzis)
Guitar – Kóstas Karípis
Mandola – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Sotíris Gavalás
18 Dimítris Góngos– Hash Smoking Chicks = Καπνουλούδες 2:49
Guitar – Unknown Artist
Vocals, Bouzouki – Dimítris Góngos
19 Andónis “Dalgás”– The Cab Driver’s Perks = Οι Αβάντες Του Σοφέρ 4:08
Violin, Guitar, Mandola – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Ant. Diamandídhis “Dalgás”
20 Yiórgios Katsarós– Dervisáki = Δερβισάκι 3:09
Guitar, Vocals – George Katsarós
Violin (Maybe) – Nick Doneff
Voice (Exclamations, Báka Or Kavári) – Marika Kavári, Amalia Báka
21 Níkos Vráchnas– Down By The Priest’s Jetty = Κάτω Απ’ Τη Σκάλα Του Παπά 2:59
Baglama – Stávros Kouroúsis
Vocals, Bouzouki – Nikos Vráchnas
MARTHA FRINTZILA / TRAGOUDA THEMOS SKANDAMIS
VASSILIS TSITSANIS & VARIOUS SINGERS / REMBETIKA, THE POSTWAR YEARS 1946-1954
VANGELIS KAZANDZIS / EXO APO TA METRA
GIORGOS ALTIS / LEI I ZOI