The Soulmen
Encyclopedia
The Soulmen were a Slovak rock band singing in English, that existed from 1967 to 1968. Together with The Beatmen
they were the most important Slovak Big Beat bands. They are often considered the successors of The Beatmen and often mentioned alongiside of them in the literature, partly because of the presence of legendary Dežo Ursiny
in both bands and also of the name in the similar style, but their music was a significant shift in style - The Beatmen more or less didn't cross the borders of the Mersey sound
, whereas The Soulmen's music was already more similar to the contemporary western RnB and rock music. Cream
is often cited as the main influence on The Soulmen's music. The band was a power trio
consisting of guitarist Dežo Ursiny
, bassist Fedor Frešo and drummer Vlado Mallý, all of them contributing to vocals as well. They would later become members of several subsequent popular Czechoslovak bands, such as Prúdy
, Collegium Musicum and Fermata. Ursiny, after dismissing his Provisorium would go on a solo career in the seventies.
with them. After several unsuccessful attempts to found a new band, he founded The Soulmen with bassist Fedor Frešo and drummer Dušan Hájek, who was soon replaced by Vlado Mallý. In December 1967 they performed at the 1st Czechoslovak Beat Festival in Lucerna hall, Prague
, where they were proclaimed the best band of the festival. They played four songs: Sample Of Happiness, Baby Do Not Cry, I Have Found and a cover of Beatles' She's Leaving Home. In spring 1968 they toured around Czechoslovakia
and Hungary
and recorded their only record, an EP Sample Of Happiness/Wake Up/I Wish I Were/Baby Do Not Cry, in March. In May, after another Czechoslovak tour and releasing their EP, they broke up due to severe tensions and misunderstandings between the members.
In November 1968 another group, The New Soulmen, was founded, with Ursiny on guitar, Ján Lehotský
on keyboards, Fedor Letňan on bass and Peter Mráz on drums. They recorded two songs in November (I Have Found and It's Time), but broke up soon at the beginning of 1969, without releasing anything.
Elena Ursinyová, the lyricist of three of the four songs here, was Dežo Ursiny's mother and she was a teacher of English. She was not listed as an author on the issue, Ursiny was listed as the only author.
The Beatmen
The Beatmen were a Slovak rock band singing predominantly in English, that existed from 1964 to 1966. Although they released only 4 songs, they remain one of the most significant bands in the history of the Czechoslovak popular music...
they were the most important Slovak Big Beat bands. They are often considered the successors of The Beatmen and often mentioned alongiside of them in the literature, partly because of the presence of legendary Dežo Ursiny
Dežo Ursiny
Dezider Ursiny was a Slovak rock musician and a television and film screenwriter and director. He is considered one of the most important personalities of Slovak rock music and one of the most talented and unique Slovak popular music composers. He belongs to a wide group of legends of...
in both bands and also of the name in the similar style, but their music was a significant shift in style - The Beatmen more or less didn't cross the borders of the Mersey sound
Beat music
Beat music, British beat, or Merseybeat is a pop and rock music genre that developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1960s. Beat music is a fusion of rock and roll, doo wop, skiffle, R&B and soul...
, whereas The Soulmen's music was already more similar to the contemporary western RnB and rock music. Cream
Cream (band)
Cream were a 1960s British rock supergroup consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker...
is often cited as the main influence on The Soulmen's music. The band was a power trio
Power trio
A power trio is a rock and roll band format where the traditional power trio has a lineup of guitar, bass and drums, leaving out the rhythm guitar or keyboard that are used in other rock music to fill out the sound with chords...
consisting of guitarist Dežo Ursiny
Dežo Ursiny
Dezider Ursiny was a Slovak rock musician and a television and film screenwriter and director. He is considered one of the most important personalities of Slovak rock music and one of the most talented and unique Slovak popular music composers. He belongs to a wide group of legends of...
, bassist Fedor Frešo and drummer Vlado Mallý, all of them contributing to vocals as well. They would later become members of several subsequent popular Czechoslovak bands, such as Prúdy
Prúdy
Prúdy is a rock band formed in the former Czechoslovakia in 1962.The band consists of Marián Varga on organ and piano, Pavol Hammel on guitar and vocal, Vlado Mallý on drums, Peter Saller on guitar and Fedor Frešo on bass guitar.- External links :*...
, Collegium Musicum and Fermata. Ursiny, after dismissing his Provisorium would go on a solo career in the seventies.
History
The Soulmen were founded in summer of 1967. Ursiny, who had been a member of The Beatmen parted ways with this band, because he refused to emigrate to the West GermanyWest Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
with them. After several unsuccessful attempts to found a new band, he founded The Soulmen with bassist Fedor Frešo and drummer Dušan Hájek, who was soon replaced by Vlado Mallý. In December 1967 they performed at the 1st Czechoslovak Beat Festival in Lucerna hall, Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, where they were proclaimed the best band of the festival. They played four songs: Sample Of Happiness, Baby Do Not Cry, I Have Found and a cover of Beatles' She's Leaving Home. In spring 1968 they toured around Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
and Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
and recorded their only record, an EP Sample Of Happiness/Wake Up/I Wish I Were/Baby Do Not Cry, in March. In May, after another Czechoslovak tour and releasing their EP, they broke up due to severe tensions and misunderstandings between the members.
In November 1968 another group, The New Soulmen, was founded, with Ursiny on guitar, Ján Lehotský
Ján Lehotský
Ján, respectively Janko Lehotský is a Slovak composer and former leader of the Modus band.Lehotský began his performing career when he was four years old, when he performed in a marionette theater. He was a freelance composer during the Velvet Revolution. In 1974 he began managing the band Modus,...
on keyboards, Fedor Letňan on bass and Peter Mráz on drums. They recorded two songs in November (I Have Found and It's Time), but broke up soon at the beginning of 1969, without releasing anything.
Band line-up
- Dežo UrsinyDežo UrsinyDezider Ursiny was a Slovak rock musician and a television and film screenwriter and director. He is considered one of the most important personalities of Slovak rock music and one of the most talented and unique Slovak popular music composers. He belongs to a wide group of legends of...
- guitar, vocals - Fedor Frešo - bass, vocals
- Vlado Mallý - drums, vocals
- Dušan Hájek - drums, vocals
Discography
- EP 1968 (Panton)
- Sample Of Happiness (Ursiny/Juraj Lihosit)
- Wake Up (Ursiny/Elena Ursinyová sr.)
- I Wish I Were (Ursiny/Elena Ursinyová sr.)
- Baby Do Not Cry (Ursiny/Elena Ursinyová sr.)
Elena Ursinyová, the lyricist of three of the four songs here, was Dežo Ursiny's mother and she was a teacher of English. She was not listed as an author on the issue, Ursiny was listed as the only author.