The Hitch Hikers: 'Meditation' (1966)

His Master's Voice 7" single #TJ-351 (6/1966)

Written by Curt Quarnström.

Dan Eriksson: vocals
Curt "Modde" Quarnström: guitar
Håkan "Hooky" Rikberg: organ
Johan "Moxie" Söderlund: bass
Kari Tuominen: drums

When "Meditation" was recorded in the early summer of 1966, it was almost a year ahead of its time, especially for Finland. It was basically a slow blues rant in the manner of Them or The Animals, but the introduction and guitar solo seemed to erupt unexpectedly out of an altogether different, Oriental dimension. The effect is mind-expanding enough to make one wonder whether "some cigarettes" might be involved.

The Hitch Hikers were from Mariehamn, which is the capital city of the Åland Island, the Swedish-speaking enclave of Finland situated off the coast of Sweden. Their only single was the result of an audition arranged in Helsinki by press photographer Sverker Ström, who was working as the band's roadie. The B-side of "Meditation", the more ordinary pop tune "Sweety", spent several months in the lower reaches of the charts, and with such a strong showing as their debut single, the band seemed ready to take their place in the vanguard of Finnish rock. But after a summer spent touring the Western parts of mainland Finland in a beat-up Volkswagen bus, they grew tired and split up. Their only reunion was in 1985 as part of a Live Aid event in Mariehamn.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• The Hitch Hikers
• Mariehamn
• Åland
• Finland
• 1966

[TheSunbau]

Hey -- really talented guys. I love this track - a kind of raw and honest slow rock/blues. My hobby is to rediscover all those great bands from the 60s. It´s an unknown musical treasure. Listen for example to The Music Machine, The Misunderstood and of course THE ZETTLERS. Check up (youtube) The Zettlers versions of "Skinnie Minnie" and "Beautiful Delilah". Really, really good with a bloody driving beat.