Jedeme, jedeme - CD

This CD continues the successful reissue series with Olympic’s third album, originally released in 1971. The album reflects changes in the band’s personnel and songwriting: co-founder, bassist and lyricist Pavel Chrastina had left, Jan Hauser took over on bass, and Zdeněk Rytíř supplied lyrics for Janda’s melodies. The arrangements became more varied, while the band’s characteristic style remained intact. The compositions also became freer, allowing songs with unusually long running times of more than five minutes. An unexpected guest, Jiří Stivín, added flute and saxophone passages to the rock sound. The best-known hit today is Bon soir, mademoiselle Paris, alongside Když jsem bejval tramp, Bláznivej Kiki, Elixír and Strážce majáku. The visual presentation changed as well: after Pacák’s humorous Želva and the pop-art Rosomák, Olympic appeared in historical cycling, motoring and aviation costumes, with a stylish photo collage by Alan Pajer on the cover and inside. Reconstructing the fold-out packaging was particularly difficult because the original photographs had been confiscated by the StB. The release also offers newly sourced vinyl sound from the original tapes, eight bonus tracks on CD with alternative and live versions, and an extensive editorial note by O. Zámostný. The album tracklist is Pět cestujících, Když jsem bejval tramp, Mr. Den a lady Noc, Brouk, Danny, Elixír, Bláznivej Kiki, Bon soir, mademoiselle Paris, Strážce majáku and Tobogán.