Back
in 1976, I can still remember buying the, then brand new Wigwam
Lp, The Lucky Golden Stripes And Starpose on
Sunset Strip at Licorice Pizza, across from the original Tower Records,
which itself was a hop, skip and a jump from the famous Whiskey A
Go Go. I also remember picking up the 74-75 Wigwam Lp, also
on Virgin Records, Nuclear Nightclub at Moby Disc in
Van Nuys during Summer 75. And some months later, around Christmas
75, famed Wigwam bassist Pekka Pohjola released his second
solo album B The Magpie on Lp, and I was most
lucky to find it on Virgin Records of course, and coincidentally at
an amazing little Virgin Records boutique store in London. Lots of
virgin stuff here! For a diehard record collector, these are the kind
of memories you dont easily forget. Although released on CD
in Finland nearly 20 years ago, all three of those original Wigwam
related albums were finally reissued in England in 2010 by the U.K.'s
music / CD reissue connoisseurs at Esoteric Records, a bunch
who have literally taken on the mantle as the curators of all things
British and/or Euro flavored, musically speaking of course! More news
on those remasters later but now lets take a look back at Esoteric's
early Wigwam remasters which depicts the culmination of the original
lineup with early Wigwam cofounders Jim Pembroke, Ronnie
Österberg, Pekka Pohjola and Jukka Gustavson.
Much continues to be written about his incredible rock band from Finland
so, for the ultimate proof as to why Wigwam are still so highly rated
among musicians and historians alike, look no further than the 2010
Esoteric CD reissue of Wigwam: Live Music From The Twilight
Zone. This quintessential Wigwam lineup also included
Jim Pembrokes soon to be song writing partner, guitarist Pekka
"Rekku" Rechardt, joining in time for the late 70s
Wigwam lineup and beyond. Originally released as a double Lp set recorded
way back in June 1974, Live Music From The Twilight Zone
originally featured liner notes from Finnish rock promoter and
Rockadillo honcho Tapio Korjus and likewise, this superb sounding
2010 CD remaster on Esoteric features Tapios original notes
plus new liner notes from Wigwam torch-bearer Jim Pembroke. Of course,
now with both Ronnie and Pekka Pohjola not living on Earth anymore,
Wigwam was never to be the same but the incredible live Twilight
Zone set depicts the original bands most concise musical
blueprint and thankfully it remains available thanks to Esoterics
first ever U.K. re-release of the original Love Records CD release
from the 90s. Tons could be also be written about the original
Wigwams final two studio albums, Fairyport (1971)
and Being (1974)also now on CD from Esotericbut
lets just say that those new to Wigwam who are looking for a great
overview of the bands original (although perhaps never fully
realized) potential, are advised to catch them on this incredible
reissue CD of the ever-brilliant Live Music From The Twilight Zone.
Commenting on the original album in Esoteric's new reissues
liner notes, Jim Pembroke states, Our farewell concerts were
well received, and served well as a parting shot until we came back
with a big bang with the album Nuclear Nightclub later that
year. With more Wigwam related songsespecially
Pembrokes vastly underrated discographyawaiting some kind
of proper retrospective, no doubt, still therell be more!
www.CherryRed.co.uk