SBB - 2005 - Lost Tapes Volume I

SBB

2005

Lost Tapes Volume I

(Studio & Live Recordings 1974-1978)

'Impresje'

01. Dla Egona 3:12

02. Impresje 3:38

03. Pamietnik Rudigera 4:28

04. Kala 2:10

05. Dziwne zwierze 3:13

06. Szalony Grzes 6:21

07. Wyjatek z „Wolnosci” 13:57

08. 360 do tylu 13:57

09. Motyw popoludniowy 3:33

10. Zwiastun dobrej nocy 2:59

11. Obciety 3:26

First ever release of previously unknown SBB recordings from January 1975. One hour of energetic rock filled with raw guitars, bass overdrives and pulsating rhythms!

'Senny sad'

01. Zerwana struna 3:39

02. Oczy swiata 4:14

03. Johny 4:06

04. Swiatlowód 4:18

05. Swietlik 5:22

06. Senny sad 3:47

07. Ida 11:02

08. Olowica #1 3:36

09. Olowica #2 4:07

10. Olowica #3 5:25

11. Olowica #4 0:38

12. Olowica #5 15:25

13. Olowica #6 0:32

14. Olowica #7 1:04

15. Olowica #8 0:59

16. Olowica #9 0:42

17. Olowica #10 1:33

18. Olowica #11 1:46

Another recording session, from April 1976, miraculously found in the archives. The sound is enriched with Józef's synthesizers, and the first versions of 'Freedom With Us' and 'Wake Up' are hidden in these compositions! Plus a complete soundtrack for the film 'Olowica'. The film was only 13 minutes, but we present the whole session - over 30 minutes of incredible, truly 'cosmic' songs!

'Sierpien'

01. Sierpien 15:35

02. Atoa 18:50

03. Dwie pogody - cz. I 20:27

04. Zandra 9:02

05. FOS 15:59

In Sumer 1975 the band was staying in Gdansk, where they spent half their time playing at Zak, and the other half - in Polish Radio Gdansk studios. After many years, the recordings have been found and are published for the first time on this CD. The release contains songs performed with Andrzej Przybielski and Helmut Nadolski! 80 minutes of free-rock frenzy!

'Geira'

01. Jestes spóznionym deszczem 4:02

02. Mysli twoje snic zaczynam 4:34

03. Wzejde polnym makiem 3:45

04. Otwieram list - brazowy wrzesien 3:53

05. W powszednie dni 3:46

06. Snij tylko szczescie 5:00

07. Piesn Geiry 4:05

08. Chce byc dla ciebie 5:29

09. Brzegi lagodne 5:19

Bonus track:

10. Brzegi lagodne (1st version) 5:07

For the first time on a separate CD with the original front cover and a bonus track. Very poetical album by Halina Frackowiak, who sings Julian Matej's lyrics to Józek's compositions, performed by SBB. Plus a completely forgotten first version of 'Brzegi lagodne', from 1975, so different from the widely known one.

'Jazz Jamboree 1974 / Opole 1975'

01. Razem z wami 25:19

02. Pamiec w kamien wrasta 32:10

Two unique festival performances! First one is the show played at Jazz Jamboree '74, immediately after returning from West Germany, and the other - legendary concert at Opole Festival, played at 5 in the morning, where SBB presented over 30-minute version of 'Pamiec w kamien wrasta', full of fiery guitar solos and overdriven bass!

'Opole 1976'

01. Swiatlowód 4:42

02. W kolysce dloni twych (Ojcu) 11:00

03. Odejscie 25:32

04. Wolanie o brzek szkla (Born to Die) 23:25

05. Swietlik 5:59

06. Z których krwi krew moja 9:18

Night recital of SBB, who was a special guest of Opole Festival in 1976. It's the only recorded SBB concert from 1976! Stunning atmosphere, unique arrangements and first versions of songs, that were later featured on 'Wolanie o brzek szkla'!

'Pop Session 1977'

01. Freedom With Us 13:26

02. Wolnosc z nami - theme 4:38

03. Swiatlowód 4:52

04. W kolysce dloni twych (Ojcu)10:18

05. Drums 4:47

06. Wolanie o brzek szkla - final 6:37

07. Coda 5:39

08. I Want Somebody 6:09

Concert from Opera Lesna in Sopot, played without Apostolis. Still, Józek and Keta managed to astonish the audience. It sounds like an orchestra, rather than a duo! We present the complete recording of this breathtaking performance.

'Roskilde 1978'

01. Walkin' Around The Stormy Bay 7:34

02. Going Away: Going Away / (Zywiec) Mountain Melody / Loneliness Theme    13:56

03. Deszcz kroplisty, deszcz ulewny 9:01

04. Ze slowem biegne do ciebie 20:57

05. Follow My Dream 21:01

Recording of already a cult concert played at famous Roskilde Festival, where SBB took over the stage right after Bob Marley! It was the first time that band from Poland played at such prestigious festival!

'Bucholz 1978'

01. Deszcz kroplisty, deszcz ulewny 7:15

02. Drums (Keta) 3:17

03. Preludium slowa 6:43

04. Ze slowem biegne do Ciebie 27:33

05. Follow My Dream 14:11

06. Drums (Apo / Keta) 5:29

07. Wiosenne chimery 4:49

08. Why No Peace 9:22

SBB last concert in 1978. In the most severe winter, a day before Christmas Eve, at the very cosy hall of Jugendzentrum in Bucholz, SBB presented material from 'Follow My Dream' and 'Ze slowem biegne do ciebie', enriched with brilliant improvisations and solos. A perfect example of SBB live marvel!

Józef Skrzek

Apostolis Anthimos

Jerzy Piotrowski

Special guests:

Halina Frackowiak

Helmut Nadolski

Andrzej Przybielski

Founded in 1971 in Siemianowice, Poland - Split up in 1980 - Reunited in 1991, 1993, 1998 and from 2000 on

SBB is one of the most important Polish bands of the seventies. This band, rightfully listed in the eclectic progressive genre, mainly plays a hybrid of symphonic prog, space/atmospheric prog and fusion.

The band originated from the early seventies, with their initial name being SILESIAN BLUES BAND. The band was formed by composer, keyboardist, bass-player and extravert vocalist Józef SKRZEK. Young, but skill-full guitar-player Antymos APOSTOLIS added his great solo's and drummer extraordinaire Jerzy PIOTROWSKi freely experimented with his recognizable fast fills and break-up rhythms.

In the end of '71, after a year full of gigs, the band started a fruitful cooperation with one of Polish most important musicians and song-writers: Czes³aw NIEMEN. For a year and a half the band NIEMEN toured in Poland, as well as in Europe. During this period SBB & NIEMEN recorded three critically acclaimed progressive records; "Marionetki" (1972), "Strange is This World" (1972) and "Ode to Venus" (1973). Czes³aw NIEMEN has his own page on the progarchives.

After this period SBB regrouped itself and changed its name in SZUKAJ - BURZ - BUDUJ (Search - Break - Build up). In 1974 their first album 'SBB' was recorded live. Though the album lacked cohesiveness (both piano ballads and very dirty experimental rock improvisation), it was a big hit in Poland and soon it ran out of stock. The record was sold on the black market for twice the price.

In 1975 SBB recorded its first studio album in the radio studios of Polish Radio 3. 'Nowy Horyzont' was a full-blown innovative and progressive recording that would set the course for the rest of their career. The political involvement in the lyrics of their studio-debut makes it a historical achievement, though it's recording doesn't stand the test of time very well. The band had some clear fusion influences (MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA is said to been a big influence), some spacey influences from bands like PINK FLOYD and some symphonic influences. The atmosphere of SBB's albums would however be a bit more abstract then those of their English colleagues. The drums of SBB stand out as very energetic and important for the band's intelligent atmospheres.

Late in 1975 SBB returned to the studio, resulting in their first swan-song ' Pamieç'. Three long songs, with full-blown and mature symphonic arrangements, vocal theatrics and long spacey/atmospheric passages. In 1977 SBB continued their eclectic prog style with 'Ze S³owem Biegnê Do Ciebie', with only two long epics on it. Both albums are considered to be great eclectic prog albums.

In 1977 and early 1978 SBB experimented with material with a leaning towards pop and funk-jazz. 'Jerzyk' and 'Amiga album' aren't considered to be classics of the band. But, 1978 showed yet another new course for SBB with the recording of 'Follow My Dream', a record with the goal to hit the Western European market. On this album SBB reinvented itself with a new, modern symphonic/progressive sound (reminding me a bit of the mid-seventies PINK FLOYD sound). Also, some of the lyrics were sung in English. The new arsenal of top-notch synthesizers and other equipment gave the band the sound it needed to make recordings that would stand the test of time. This move gave the band the opportunity to tour in many new countries and they were even allowed to tour behind the Iron Curtain, which was a big thing at the time.

The band would fully benefit from their new sound during the recording of 'Wo³anie O Brzêk Szk³a aka Slovenian Girls' in late 1978. Again, an album with only two long compositions, but this time with an emphasis on electronic equipment. To this day this album is mentioned as an SBB favorite by fans because of its well-balanced, great sounding progression. In 1979 SBB went to the studio to record 'Welcome', an album that was plagued by some mediocre compositions. Nevertheless, the opening-track 'Walking On A Stormy Bay' became a stage-favourite.

In 1979 a new band-member Slawomir PIWOWAR was added to release some pressure from the band that had some of most intensive touring schemes possible. He would play bass, second guitar and some key-instruments as well. A final come-back to the studio resulted in their last album 'Memento Z Banalnym Tryptykiem' in 1980. This album is their most symphonic record and perhaps their most conventional progressive record. Therefore it is accessible for fans of the English brand of symphonic prog. This album is also often mentioned as a fans favourite. After the following tour the band called it a day.

After some short comebacks in 1991, 1993 and 1998 the band had its final resurrection in the new millennium with a steady line-up consisting of Józef SKRZEK, Antymos APOSTOLIS and new drummer Paul WERTICO (of PAT MATHENY GROUP fame). Now SBB found itself ready to go back in the studio and since then five new studio albums were recorded in the vein of their seventies formula; 'Nastroje' (2002), 'New Century' (2005), 'The Rock' (2007), 'Iron Curtain'(2009) and finally 'Blue Trance'(2010). 

In 2004 the Polish record label Metal Mind released a magnificent box set called "Anthology 1974-2004", with contained 22 CDs of music by SBB - the most important Polish / East European Prog band active behind the Iron Curtain. These epic recordings changed the face of music as we know and influenced generations of musicians across the Soviet Empire and its satellite states, which makes that box set a well deserved tribute to the band and a superb document of enormous historical and aesthetic value. People interested to learn more about SBB should simply read the review of that release.

The process of collecting the material for the anthology box set did not stop however with the box being released and somehow reanimated itself and kept going with additional previously unreleased material being uncovered continuously. This led to the release of two additional box sets, called "Lost Tapes", of which this is the first volume.

The music included here was recorded during the first five years of SBB activity, which is by far the most interesting and dramatic. It covers a plethora of studio, radio and live recordings, all by the original lineup consisting of bassist / keyboardist Jozef Skrzek, guitarist Apostolis Anthimos and drummer Jerzy Piotrowski. By far the most interesting recording in this box set is the quintet meeting between SBB and the legendary trumpeter Andrzej Przybielski and bassist Helmut Nadolski, in short the lineup that recorded with Niemen, this time sans Niemen himself. Another very interesting recording is the album SBB recorded with Polish female vocalist Halina Frackowiak, which is the only occasion the group agreed to accompany a vocalist.

These three box sets with SBB music contain hours of excellent music and invaluable retrospective of history, but to be completely fair they also raise the question about compilations such these being "the right thing to do". There is a lot of repetition here and not every moment is truly inspired; much of it might have been perhaps best left undiscovered. Of course the band has a wide fan base ready to swallow any new piece of music recorded by SBB, but some moral / ethical questions could be also raised about cynical exploitation and opportunism.

That said it is for the individual fan to decide if he wants to purchase all three box sets or not. All three box sets are numbered limited editions of one thousand copies.

I think maybe SBB could have learned something from CAN who released a recording called "The Lost Tapes" but limited it to three discs. We get nine discs here! I'm going to focus on what I consider to be the best disc of the lot called "Impresje" which is disc one. I have to say that this power trio might be the best I've ever heard. Jerzy on drums, Apostolis on guitar and Jozef on keys, bass, harmonica and vocals.

"Dla Egona" features some amazing drum work and check out the rhythm section when this gets cooking with harmonica over top. Heavy stuff. "Impresje" sounds incredible with the guitar soling over top of the dark soundscape. This is a mid-paced slow burner. "Pamietnik Rudigera" is more uptempo than the previous track but the guitar solos over the soundscape like on that one. A calm a minute in. Great sound! It kicks back in at 3 1/2 minutes. Nice. "Kala" is a short piece with intricate guitar but not much more. "Dziwne Zwierze" is a rare vocal track that is catchy and kicks ass. Some monster bass and ripping guitar as well. Love it! "Szalony Grzes" has some great atmosphere to it early on. It's picking up before 3 minutes but then before 5 minutes it's heating up big time. The next two songs are both18 minutes long.

"Wyjatek Z Wolnosci" open with sounds that come and go including cymbals and piano then we get a change after 2 1/2 minutes then the drums kick in. Synths join in after 6 minutes. Drums only after 9 minutes but then the synths return. It slows down but turns heavier late to end it. "360 Do Tylu" opens with a guitar solo that lasts 2 1/2 minutes then the drums take over and eventually the guitar returns soloing once again. Drums only after 6 1/2 minutes then it picks up after 8 1/2 minutes. Synths after 11 minutes then the guitar starts to solo late once again. "Motyw Popoludnlowy" opens with chimes and piano as other sounds help out. Synths eventually come to the fore in this laid back number. "Zwiastun Dobrej Nocy" reminds me of the vocal track but without the vocals although it's not as good instrumentally either in my opinion. "Obciety" has heavy guitar and drums in this slow to mid- paced slow burner.

It's astonishing that SBB has enough material to have an additional 9-disc box set on top of the 22-disc complete discography with bonus tracks. What's more astonishing is that it's actually very much worth listening to.

What's even more astonishing is that there is a second box.