BLUE EFFECT - Kingdom Of Life - CZECH Supraphon 2025 Press

A new 2025 reissue. "In October 1970 The Blue Effect entered a recording studio for one day to prepare three English-language versions for a new edition of the debut, planned by Supraphon/Artia (the export branch of the Czech label), intended exclusively for East European markets and unavailable in Czech shops. To the original instrumental backing tracks, Semelka, in my opinion less convincing than his predecessor, added new vocal lines to Paměť Lásky - now renamed Kingdom Of Life; Fénix was called You'll Stay With Me, and Stroj na nic was titled Brother's Song. On the other hand the original, Czech track for the piece Blue Effect Street was probably replaced by Mišík's old, English version and changed to White Hair. The second, English-language side of the album Meditace remained untouched and is identical on both titles. I will only add that from the piece Kingdom Of Life the initial sitar part disappeared, and to the middle, delicate part for string quartet (probably unnecessarily) melodic piano phrases were added, while in place of the Czech declamation by the long-forgotten Miloš Svoboda, more decisive English words were pasted in, spoken by... the porter at the Supraphon studios! Released in an attractive and, compared with Meditace, completely changed, laminated sleeve, the LP Kingdom Of Life reached the 'fraternal' record markets in 1971 and for years was one of the most sought-after 'eastern' items by Western fans of psychedelic and progressive rock. I will only add that the veeery rare first pressing (72 1) had a navy blue vinyl label with a unique, very large, semicircular Supraphon inscription." REVIEW BY JACEK LEŚNIEWSKI FROM A BOOK ON ROCK FROM THE FORMER EASTERN BLOC, BEGUN BUT ABANDONED AFTER HALF A YEAR (2021).