Twitching the Iron Curtain

Ukraine's Chervona Ruta: the original Soviet soul sensation

If the audio stops playing, press stop and allow time for the stream to load.

This week, we take a peak behind the Iron Curtain and stare into the soul of the Soviet. I searched long and hard to bring you 13 tunes from the other side of the wall, as well as a couple of numbers inspired by Mother Russia. It all started with a mysterious film clip from a Ukrainian movie (see the blog post from 05/12/10), featuring the hippest kishka in the land. Thank your lucky stars I didn't pick the Sisters of Mercy or Opus.

1. Soviet Capsule, John Barry, You Only Live Twice (OST), 1967, United Artists
2. Sputnik Thema, Die Sputniks, 7", 1964, Amiga (DDR)
3. Pussta Beat, Theo Schumann Combo, Theo Schumann Combo, 1969, Amiga (DDR)
4. Koncert a Marson, Hungarian Ensemble, Planetary Pebbles Vol 3: Surfbeat Behind The Iron Curtain Part 2, 1997, AIP (Hungary)
5. African Guitar, Thunderbirds, Planetary Pebbles Vol 1: Surfbeat Behind The Iron Curtain, 1997, AIP (DDR)
6. Pe Linga Ploppi Fara Sot, Sincron, Ducea Rufele La Rîu 7", 1967, Electrecord (Romania)
7. Spellbinder, Gábor Szabó, Spellbinder, 1966, Impulse! (Hungary/USA)
8. Theme from Rosemary's Baby', Krzysztof Sadowski, Krzysztof Sadowski and His Hammond Organ, 1970, Polskie Nagrania Muza (Poland)
9. Astrobolid, Jerzy Milian, Orkiestra Rozrywkowa PR/TV W Katowicach, 1978, Pronit. Also to be found on Holding Hands Vol. 2: Rare Jazz/Fusion Gems From Polish Vaults (Poland)
10. Alfa Centaura, Grupa Organowa Krzystofa Sadowskiego, Na Kosmodromie, 1972, Pronit (Poland)
11. Robuzeni, Jazz Celula, Oheň Až Požár, 1976, Panton (Czechoslovakia)
12. Quartett, Hubert Katzenbeier Quintet, Between or beyond the Iron Curtain, 1973, Amiga (DDR)
13. Funky dla Franki , Laboratorium, Modern Pentathlon, 1976, Polskie Nagrania Muza (Poland)
14. Marichka, Chervona Ruta, Chervona Ruta (OST), 1975, (Ukraine)
15. Moscow, Orange Juice, The Glasgow School, 2005, Domino (UK)