Wigwam

Wigwam (1972) is the first compilation by this Finnish band. It culls tracks from the band's first three albums with the focus being placed on the more commercial tracks on the albums. In fact eight of the ten tracks on the compilation are Pembroke compositions, another detail in Wigwam history which proves the pint that the main "commercial" factor within the band was indeed Pembroke with Gustavson, and to a lesser extent Pohjola, composing material that was deemed too complex for mass commercial appeal.

This expanded reissue, released to celebrate Wigwam’s 50 years of existence, comes in gatefold covers and with new interviews with the band members and manager. The second disc features a previously completely unreleased set of alternate early mixes and rehearsal takes from Virgin Manor Studios.

This expanded reissue, released to celebrate Wigwam’s 50 years of existence, comes in gatefold covers and with new interviews with the band members and manager. The second disc features the previously completely unreleased live set from Swedish national radio, recorded slightly before the studio sessions for Nuclear Nightclub took place.
When Finnish band Wigwam signed with England's Virgin label in 1974, it was an indication they wanted international success, and Nuclear Nightclub, the first fruit, showed they'd changed enough to hopefully achieve it. This album highlights the wonderfully idiosyncratic songs from the pen of keyboard player/vocalist Jim Pembroke, backed up with some superb, tight musicianship…

This expanded reissue, released to celebrate Wigwam’s 50 years of existence, comes in gatefold covers and with new interviews with the band members and manager. The second disc features a previously completely unreleased set of alternate early mixes and rehearsal takes from Virgin Manor Studios.

This expanded reissue, released to celebrate Wigwam’s 50 years of existence, comes in gatefold covers and with new interviews with the band members and manager. The second disc features the previously completely unreleased live set from Swedish national radio, recorded slightly before the studio sessions for Nuclear Nightclub took place.
When Finnish band Wigwam signed with England's Virgin label in 1974, it was an indication they wanted international success, and Nuclear Nightclub, the first fruit, showed they'd changed enough to hopefully achieve it. This album highlights the wonderfully idiosyncratic songs from the pen of keyboard player/vocalist Jim Pembroke, backed up with some superb, tight musicianship…

Wigwam (1972) is the first compilation by this Finnish band. It culls tracks from the band's first three albums with the focus being placed on the more commercial tracks on the albums. In fact eight of the ten tracks on the compilation are Pembroke compositions, another detail in Wigwam history which proves the pint that the main "commercial" factor within the band was indeed Pembroke with Gustavson, and to a lesser extent Pohjola, composing material that was deemed too complex for mass commercial appeal.

When the now titled Dark Album was released in late 1977, Wigwam had ceased to exist. This was a pity, as the album in itself was a great improvement from Lucky Golden Stripes And Starpose and, more important to the fans, featured Jukka Gustavson as a guest musician. Unfortunately, Love Records were facing bankruptcy by 1978, and had no means of supporting Wigwam, which also meant that the band dissolved. An (un)official Wigwam Farewell Show took place at Punkarock festival in the summer of 1978.

Given that it is a compilation of rarities and live performances, this double-CD retrospective is not the best starting place for those interested in the back catalog of Wigwam. It is, however, an excellent addition to those already initiated. Wigwam was one of the key players of the Finnish progressive rock scene in the late '60s and early '70s, and an instrumental group in establishing English-language rock music as a viable alternative for Finnish bands. Its ability to work clever pop melodies into their complex and innovative albums should have resulted in a much larger scale success than they achieved, but their attempts at breaking into the British market through a contract with Virgin failed, and as a result they're not well known outside Finnish borders. This retrospective CD opens with their first single release "Must Be the Devil"/"Greasy Kid's Stuff" from 1969…

Recorded live at N-Club (Natsa), Helsinki, Finland on 10th February 1971 by YLE.

The Pop-Liisa and Jazz-Liisa broadcast session series presents previously unreleased and forgotten gems from the biggest names of Finnish prog and jazz of the 1970's. Never bootlegged and known up until now only to a few faithful servants (and largely thought to have been lost for ever), these sessions offer a hitherto unrivalled look into the state of Finnish jazz and progressive rock between the years 1972-1977. Imagine if the sessions recorded by John Peel had only recently been discovered, and you get an idea of the cultural weight of what is being brought into the light of day here…