PATRYK GALUSZKA and KATARZYNA M. WYRZYKOWSKA
1. T.Love Alternative performing in Jarocin in 1987
From an unpublished recording.
On page 131 we cite an interview in which Zygmunt “Muniek” Staszczyk, the lead vocalist of the band, T.Love, looks back on the 1980s:
“In 1983, we performed in Jarocin. But we didn’t really make a breakthrough. At that time, there was an ‘official rock scene’ in Poland – bands such as Manaam, Lady Pank, Republika. They got played on the radio, and they had access to recording studios. We had the status of an alternative band (that’s why we originally called ourselves T.Love Alternative), something beyond the state monopoly. We had no chance of releasing an album. An underground publisher, Nowa, offered to release our cassette, but we refused. We hated the regime, but this was too churchy for us. We stayed away from that, too.” (citation from Lizut 2003, 36–37, translated by the authors).
The video shown here is an unpublished recording of the different performance of this band on the Jarocin Festival (in 1987).
2. Hey, “Teksański”
From: Hey. Izabelin Studio, CD 010, 1993 CD.
Bass – Jacek Chrzanowski, Drums – Robert Ligiewicz, Guitar – Marcin Żabiełowicz, Piotr Banach, Lyrics – Katarzyna Nosowska, Music – Piotr Banach, Recorded By – Andrzej Puczyński, Grzegorz Piwkowski (tracks: One Of Them), Vocals – Katarzyna Nosowska.
One of the early hits released by Izabelin Studio (one of the first private labels in the 1990s, taken over by Polygram in 1994). Hey is active until today and maintains the status of one of the icons of the 1990s.
3. Varius Manx, “Zanim zrozumiesz”
From: Emu. ZIC ZAC, ZIC 0027, 1994, CD.
Vocals, Lyrics – Anita Lipnicka
Vocals, Music – Robert Janson.
One of the early hits released by Izabelin Studio (one of the first private labels in the 1990s, taken over by Polygram in 1994). Hey is active until today and maintains the status of one of the icons of the 1990s.
4. Wilki, “Erol”
From: Wilki. MJM Music PL, MJM 122 CD, 1992, CD.
Bass – Adam Żwirski, Krzysztof Ścierański, Chorus – Anja Orthodox, Drums – Darek Nowak, Marek Surzyn, Guitar – Maciej Gładysz, Mikis Cupas, Keyboards – Konstanty Joriadis, Keyboards, Chorus – Michał Rollinger, Lyrics and music – Robert Gawliński, Producer – Leszek Kamiński, Robert Gawliński, Saxophone – Mariusz Mielczarek, Vocals, Bass, Guitar [Acoustic] – Robert Gawliński.
The first hit by Wilki and one of the first hugely popular pop-rock songs that were released after the fall of communism. The label – MJM – became a branch of Sony Music in the late 1990s.
5. Grzegorz Turnau, “Cichosza”
From: Pod Światło. Kompania Muzyczna Pomaton, POM CD 036, 1993 CD.
Piano, vocal – Grzegorz Turnau, lyrics – Michał Zabłocki, Grzegorz Turnau.
The song is an example of sung poetry, a genre popular before 1989 especially among students, and gaining mass popularity in the 1990s. This genre became the core of Pomaton’s repertoire in the early 1990s, a natural consequence of its founders’ non-rock background. In 1995, EMI bought a 51 percent stake in a company renamed Pomaton EMI.
6. Partia, “Warszawa i ja”
From: Partia. originally released by Ars Mundi, AMS 011 R, 1998 CD, re-released by Jimmy Jazz Records, JAZZ LP 012, 2011 LP.
Music and lyrics by Lesław Strybel, Accordion, Cymbal – Mariusz Rachuba, Drums – Arkus, Vocals – Katarzyna Jacyno, Vocals, Bass Guitar – Waldek, Vocals, Guitar – Lesław.
This is an example of a song released by an independent record label and re-released by another independent label that maintained its independent status until today.