Monday, July 30, 2007

St. Helena - "Early Daze & Hello Friend" {Norway} [1973-4] (prog rock)

The only review i found on web is in norweigan language from: http://musikk-labeler.blogspot.com/

The last planned released album on BAt Records was a demo recording with the band St Helena
(during a period they used the name Foppen but later they took back the name St Helena).
The differnce between Akasha was that St helena were more typical progressiv and was more inspired
by Jethro Tull and Gensis (the early period). During this recording session Willy Bendiksen drums
Fezza Ellingsen guitar,vocals,fluite,piccolo,percusion these 2were the center of the band. They later
becomed members of the legendery norwegian group Höst. bendiksen have also been a member in Flax, Blond on Blond and Perfect Crime.
Ellingsen was before he was a member in St Helena a member of Akasha. After St Helena he palyed in Cobra and a solo project
named Kaptein Nemo. Other members of the band was Rolf Andersen Guitar, voclas and
Kjell Arne Pleym piano, vocalsand Ray Briseid bass. These guys have been recording an album named "have your own feeling, have your own way"(HArmoni K 1278) back in 1971.
These album was only made in 250 copies and with a lyricsheet. ANd are maybe Norways first alternative release.

thx to Ola for the translate ;)



"...Den siste planlagte utgivelsen på BAT Records var en demo innspilling av bandet St. Helena (het i en periode Foppen, før de skiftet navn tilbake til St. Helena.). I motsettning til Akasha var St. Helena mere typisk progresiv, med klar inspirasjon til Jethro Tull, Genesis (tidlig periode) osv. St. Helena besto på denne innspillingen av Willy Bendiksen (trommer) og Fezza Ellingsen (gitar/sang/fløyte/ piccolo/rytme instrumenter) som var kjernen i bandet. Begge havnet senere i bla.a. Høst. Bendiksen har i tillegg en lang karriere der vi kun nevner band med plateutgivelser bak seg; Flax, Road, Jannicke sitt backingband (Ikke barne stjernen), Blonde on Blonde, Perfect Crime og Wild Willy`s Gang. Ellingsen derimot var innom Akasha tidlig på 70 tallet, før han ble med i St. Helena. Etter 80 bosatt i Bodø hvor han bla.a. har spilt i Cobra, samt solo prosjekt som Kaptein Nemo. Med seg i St. Helena hadde de Rolf Andersen (gitar/sang) og Kjell Arne Pleym (tangenter/sang). Disse to hadde spilt inn en lp som duoen Pleym/Andersen i hjembyen Kirkenes i 71, som het "Have your own feeling, have your own way" (Harmoni K 1278) lp med teksthefte. Utgitt i 250 eksemplarer og er muligens Norges første alternativ utgivelse. I tillegg besto St. Helena av Oslo mannen Ray Briseid (bass). På denne tiden fikk de forøvrig Paul Karlsen (ex bl.a. Cool Cats og Happie) som manager, kjent som Mr. Kalvøya festivalen. I følge Yfus skal noen av St. Helenas medlemmer også spilt i Nord-Norsk rock ensamble som skulle vært med på Møljerock 78 utgivelsen. Av personer som har vært innom St. Helena bør vel Stein Johannes Ellesef Olsen nevnes. Han startet senere Karlsøy prestegaard i 1977...."

Both albums under 30minutes, the first one is more like 60s prog psych released in 70s, second one more like fusion become my fav album from Norway. Any informations welcome. Enjoy!

Song is Sung..

17 comments:

nahavanda said...

links:

1973 - Early Daze

http://lix.in/20f493

1974 - Hello Friend

http://lix.in/7d1fcc

Anonymous said...

Anyone else having trouble with those DL links?

Anonymous said...

hello!thx this is great!!
Sithlord from hungary

Anonymous said...

2 Fantastics albums!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you very much!!!

Flora

Anonymous said...

Thanks for these albums. I've been looking for them for quite some time now. Keep up the good work...

It really helps the lazy ones of us ....

Anonymous said...

Yes indeed these links are not working. Would you have the kindness to offer links to the poor musiconautes full of hope that we are?... Thank you very very much!

isabelbc said...

new links
Early Daze -> http://netkups.com/?d=dcf4f8e49b8d0
Hello Friend -> http://netkups.com/?d=8ba4b1faf4a1f

Anonymous said...

Magicians have lot of work and we are many to seek them when the malfunction links. But St. Helena is a wonder it would be damage not open to the proggers. Sometimes faceless share new links when they are obsolete. For St. Helena it is much more difficult, it is not anywhere elsewhere. An only hope: Isabel, illustrates guarantor of our pleasure. A net of drooling already flooding my baskets…

Musiconaute

isabelbc said...

hi Musiconaute,
thank you for your comments!
if you have albums for share, visit our forum http://pnfforum.com, there you will find other pearls!
have a nice weekend!
Isabel :o)

Anonymous said...

Dear Isabel,
it is done. I am registered. I have taken to reach your community on your advice but I do not speak English. Each communication requires a translation préalable… Nevertheless I am indebted to NFP that always made me discover music treasures. I have therefore hosting approximately 1500 albums as blind-test online. I do not think that something in ww.musiconaute.info you are interested, but never know? Given the barrier of language and the dysfunctional State computer I failed to send a Hello pm to Nahavanda, but well, let's see… In the meantime, could still give you a valid link for this small marvel of St. Helena! Progressivement,
Musiconaute

Anonymous said...

Masters,
I ask you to excuse my insistence here (forum pending application), but St.Helena is definitely out of reach? No new link possible? (sometimes I wonder how I could live without this album and how I will live without the icebreaklng). The answer is simple: I live more.
Musiconaute

isabelbc said...

hi Musiconaute,

i put new links for you above, you no noticed?

here again ;)
new links
Early Daze -> http://netkups.com/?d=dcf4f8e49b8d0
Hello Friend -> http://netkups.com/?d=8ba4b1faf4a1f

Anonymous said...

Oops!
really sorry to disturb you, I did not like Thanks to you I will sleep tonight with these fabulous albums. What beautiful discoveries! Thank you very much (I wonder still how you do be if available, and with kindness and more). Thank you again.
Musiconaute

Anonymous said...

http://batzbatz.com/prog/130473-st-helena-early-daze-1973.html

isabelbc said...

Early Daze (@320) http://depositfiles.com/files/gcuhqvc9u Thank you Nelson!!!! :o)

Kent said...

Hi

I would be very grateful, if somebody could upload the Hello friend album again, the link is dead.

Anonymous said...

Yes,please upload it!

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