BLUE EFFECT commented discography

THE BLUE EFFECT :: Slunečný hrob / I've Got My Mojo Working (first single, 1969)

Slunečný hrob by Vladimír Mišík (music) and Jiří Smetana (lyrics) became group's biggest hit after it was used in 1999 retro movie Pelíšky. B-side is classic McKinley Morganfield blues tune's inspired rendition. Radim Hladík's guitar artistry is aleady evident here.

THE BLUE EFFECT :: First EP, 1969

Four bluesy and hippy songs in English and Czech. Line-up is Vladimír Mišík - vocals, harmonica Radim Hladík - guitar, Jiří Kozel - bass, Vlado Čech - drums, Miloš Svoboda - guitar and vocals.

THE BLUE EFFECT :: Meditace, 1970

Epic first side in Czech with both prog and humourous bits. Second side in English is very solid pronounciation to first EP. Mišík, Hladík, Kozel and Čech with additional choir, brass and strings on some tracks.

BLUE EFFECT + JAZZ Q PRAGUE :: Coniunctio, 1970 

Experimental collision between rock trio (Hladík, Kozel, Čech) and freejazz group with flute player and saxophonist Jiří Stivín dominating. All instrumental. Some parts sounds like Soft Machine circa Fourth, with added instrumentalists.

MODRÝ EFEKT + JAZZOVÝ ORCHESTR ČS. ROZHALSU :: Nová syntéza, 1971 

Another crossing of rock quartet (Radim Hladík, Jiří Kozel, Vlado Čech, Lešek Semelka - piano and organ) with rich possibilities of Czechoslovak Radio Jazz Orchestra. All instrumental, although some tracks were played with lyrics in concert.

M.EFEKT + JAZZOVÝ ORCHESTR ČS. ROZHALSU :: Nová syntéza 2, 1974 

Starbright! Great conjunction of rock quartet with lovely personalities of Radim Hladík (g), Lešek Semelka (voc, keys), Josef Kůstka (bg, voc) and Vlado Čech (ds) plus Czechoslovak Radio Jazz Orchestra under direction of Kamil Hála. Great lyrics, penned by Czech poets Pavel Vrba and Boris Janíček, were straightened with mighty Josef Kuhn male chorus in moments.

THE BLUE EFFECT :: A Benefit of Radim Hladík, 1975

Instrumental album created for export issues, later reissued for Czechoslovakia under teethless title Modrý Efekt & Radim Hladík. Same line-up as on previous album. Excelent versions of songs performed in concert with vocals, great interplay with guests Jiří Stivín (alto sax, flute) and Martin Kratochvíl (electric piano). Phenomenal short  track Čajovna (aka Tearoom), which became group's trademark tune.

M EFEKT :: Svitanie, 1977

After Lešek Semelka and Josef Kůstka demission, Moravian Oldřich Veselý (voc, keys) of Synkopy 61 and Slovak Fedor Frešo (bg) of Collegium Musicum and Fermata came into picture. From Slovak label Opus, there was rule to sing in Slovak or English. They adapted Czech/Moravian/Slovak folk song Ej padá, padá rosenka, which became one of the highlights of group's repertoire. There are also two jazz-rockish instrumantals and epic second side title song created on purpose, with Jaroslav Hutka's lyrics in Slovak. Very good album.

M.EFEKT :: Svět hledačů, 1979

This is probably band's peak. After Frešo left to play again with Collegium Musicum and Fermáta, Lešek Semelka returned and played bass parts on moog. With Oldřich Veselý still in band, there are two sympathetical singers to sing in both duets and solos. Five long art rock compositions by Hladík, Veselý and Semelka with lyrics by Pavel Vrba and Jaroslav Hutka. Group interlay at its very high.

M.EFEKT :: 33, 1981

Final album of first group's era was recorded in trio: Radim Hladík - guitars, Lešek Semelka - vocals and synths, Vlado Čech - drums. Four compositions with lyrics by Pavel Vrba are not as strong as these on their precedessor, but still include top notch playing.

To be continued...