Skorpio, Unnepnap 1976 (vinyl record)

Artist: Skorpio
Country: Hungary
Album: Unnepnap
Year: 1976
Genre: Hard / Progressive Rock

The band "Skorpio" was formed in 1973 by singing bass guitarist Karoi Frenreis in Budapest. Károly Frenreis previously was a member of the famous Hungarian supergroup "Locomotiv GT", which, as legend has it, he left due to his dissatisfaction with the changes to simplify and soften the sound of the sound of the band. His dreams and hopes he brilliantly managed to embody in his own ensemble "Skorpio", which actually became his "high point" hour.
For twenty years of activity, the group has enjoyed great success not only in Hungary, but also in other countries of Eastern Europe, especially in Poland and the GDR. Creative success was supported by the fact that Frenreis was twice recognized as the best bass guitar player of the year of Hungary - in 1974 and 1981. And yet, despite the stated rigidity and straightness, the group reacted sensitively to changes in the world of music and tried to keep up with the times. Since two musicians from the first composition - Gabor Antal Syuch (guitar) and Gabor Fekete (drums) - were previously members of the group "Hungaria", the Skorpio added to the arsenal of Hungarian supergroups. As already noted, at the beginning of their journey, the musicians focused on energetic compositions and spectacular performances, which allowed them to visit Europe, the USA, Canada with concerts in 1974–75 (how hard is it to imagine such an opportunity in the USSR, huh?). In 1974, their first album "A Rohanas" ("Running") was released, which was sold in a huge circulation and was recognized as the best album of the ensemble.
Indeed, the beautifully arranged hard-rock roots rested on the best achievements of this genre of the early 70s with powerful and inventive bass and keyboard sections. Especially striking was the cycle-rock version of George Gershwin’s famous “Blue Rhapsody” called “Fantazia”, in which the musicians showed ingenuity wonders and jazz skill, as well as such first-class things as “Keresem, Keresem ...”, “Miert Kell Elfelednem” and many others.
The second album "Unnepnap" ("Festive Day"), which also got the honor of being reissued on CD, is also an imperishable Hungarian rock classic. All the same gambling and inventive keyboard player Gyula Papp with a lot of effects, with which, as if out of jealousy, the equally bright guitar of Gabor Antal Sutch quite often comes into a roll call. All the same power, sharpness and dynamics inherent in the leaders of this genre. Finally, the album is completed by one of the most beautiful songs of the group - the blues ballad “Ha Ujra Kezdenenk” (“If we started from the beginning”).
It seems quite natural that the ensemble’s short-term cooperation with the famous singer Sharolta Zalatnay, with whom Karoy Frenreis has been familiar since the days of the Metro group. Unlike the more versatile Katia Kovacs, Sharolta's husky and hard vocals perfectly matched the spirit of "Skorpio", and Karoy Frenreys wrote many songs for her first albums, and later even became her husband.
In 1977, Gabor Fekete was replaced by new drummer Gabor Nemeth (ex-Apostol). The next album was released under the name "Kelj Fel!" (“Get up!”), Which, at best, repeated the finds of past years. Indeed, instead of bright and really interesting arrangements, the sound became slightly softer and more melodious. Especially significant is the ballad “Nagyra Noj Gyermekem” (“Grow Big, My Baby”), in which the lyric part, as they say, goes off-scale, and in the composition “Keso”, the intonations of jazz-rock from Latin Americans “Santana” are pronounced. More characteristic of Skorpio's early works are two songs - “Vege Van A Napnak” and “Ne Torjon Le Teged”.