L
L.S.D. ORKESTRASI :
Group that had a Milleyet single. Altough the name is pretty controversial, the music is less. It is Garage Punk styled but the melody line sounds more naïve.
M
MARK MUNDY :
Cyprus born musician who changed his name from Emin to Mundy. He recorded a singer-songwriter album in 1970, which had some Turkish influences. The album has been reissued. Review on next page.
MATAO :
Danish jazz group led by Turkish drummer, Atilla Engin. I don't know if their album, Turkish Delight (jazz with Anatolian and rock influences) is worth to trace.
MAVI COCUKLAR :
One of the groups from the crossover Altin Mikrofon contest. (Their name means "Blue Boys" ; see also that group).I don't know anything special about them. Their 1967 A.M. single you can see at the Altin Mikrofon page.
MAVI ISIKLAR :
Another (with no-noise remasterd) reissue came out from Nexus Records from this sixties beat group very rare collector's item. The name of the group means "blue lanterns" better "blue lights". Lately their complete work has been reissued with thick booklet on a CD by Ada Music.
"Mavi Isiklar was undoubtedly one of the most successful beat/rock bands of the latter part of the 60's. They managed to sell thousand of records one after the other and be loved for what they really were even in the conservative Anatolian towns. Though some of their singles and their eponymous album are monster rarities this one from 1967 where they cover Paul Rever and the Raiders is one of their easier finds. They were a really good R&B band but gradually became a successful underground entitiy after 1968." G.A.
"Their biggest hit was "Iyi Dusun Tasin" ("For your information"), a song originally by the Lebanese band The Cedars, released by the Turkish Decca in 1967. Many artists coverd the song (There exist surely a dozen Turkish versions of it, but non of them approaches this version). " In 1965, when one member had to do his military service, a member of California Surf band, The Revelaires filled in on bass. The Band reformed in the summer of 2000, playing their first gigs in 30 years-they still sound great." Gökyan Aya,Jay Dobis.
You can find covers,pictures and links at the Mavi Isiklar page
MAZHAR (Alanson) & (=VE) FUAT (Güner) :
(& ÖZKAN as)
MFÖ :
Mazhar Alanson and Fuat Guner released a fine album as Mazhar & Fuat entitled "Turkuz Turku Cagiririz", produced in 1968. It contained a few tracks in a pastoral acid folk style with male/fmale vocals. They also released a single : "Turkuz Turku Cagiririz" / "Gullerin Icinden" (Yonca Numara Records 051).
Later was formed Ipucu : Mazhar & Fuat & Ozkan & Ayhan & Galip. This group has only recorded one single : "Heyecanli"/ "Hop Otur Hop Kalk" (Bir Numera Rec. A.K. 76). "Heycanli" is a fine light rock pop song tune with some electronic instrument ?, complex enough rhythms, funky electric guitars. Later Mazhar & Fuat & Ozkan made a new group MFÖ (Mazhar, Fuat & Ozkan) in 1970. The most early early period of MFÖ is still interesting in style for progressive music collectors but I don't know if that period really was recorded. Most material must be less interesting. I don't know the relation with Kaygisizlar and M.F.Ö.
MELHI FARUK SERDAR SAYGUN :
"Aspiring young rock musicians of the time who had previously worked with some medium-famed folk/rock singers. Melih,Faruk and Saygun (their first names) formed this quartet and released just one (now extremely rare) record "Gurbet Acisi" in 1972. Later on, the band members played with many other famous names as session musicians." G.A. & J.D. Soundfile "Gurbet Acisci"
MERIH 2000 :
"This is an unknown band. A treasure for collectors in Europe. They recorded just a single from Discotur label but the cast and the date is unknown. Probably between 1968 and 1972." S.K.
"Strange group or project which I could get no info except a Diskotur labelled single from 1970...It contains two pieces: Latitude Zero - Mars 2000...It is fully performed with samplings; maybe the rock group part was performed by the group itself...The owner of Diskotür Records Antoin Schorez had died a few years ago ; that's why we are nearly hopeless to reach info.. But as far as we know the samples are from Pierre Henry, but there are much contributions added in Turkey...But the Turkish contributers are still a mystery...." Munimonde
Single released by Diskotur in 1970: "Mars 2000"
METEORLAR :
METIN ALATLI :
"Born in 1936...As far as i know he began his musical career with the group called "Metin Alatli 3" They joined The Bosphorus Music Festival in 1965 and won a prize which i can not remember right now. Alatli then,joined Siluetler in 1966 and did a lot of contribution in group's great performance during the "Golden Microphone" Music Contest. After leaving his place to the legandery keyboardist Murat Ses, he went to france and played as a session musician with Sylvie Vartan, Paul Maurriat etc.He also made shows in nightclubs of Turkey and formed the first group where rthyme-box takes the place of the drummer. I don't know exactly when and how he first played and experienced Moog Synthesizer ;but he must have involved enough that he made his first and last L.P using ARP Synthesizer but by getting the contributions of musicians like Veysel Çadr (drummer) and Yaz Baltacgil (bass), Stephan Umutyan (electric guitar)...The lp is named "Synthetic Dance Moods"(Sentetik Oyun Havalar) Alatl died in 1992 because of a heart attack." by Munimonde (information from http://www.angelfire.com/mt/articles/electric.html). Cover and some extra info at the end of the Siluetler page.
METIN ALKANLI ORKESTRASI :
I don't know much about this band who recorded an Altin Mikrofon single in 1965. The guitar is Shadows ? inspired. One track is a nice flamenco like 7/8 melody in Anatolian Pop style.
LES MISTIGRIS :
"In 1965, Baris Manço hooked up with a Belgian band Les Mistigris and started to work with them as vocalist and organist. They fit in good together and released three records in Turkey in 1966 and 1967. The band also recorded without him and had been recently featured on an east European beat sampler."
Some people say Les Mistigris is a French band. I'm still not 100 % sure.
MODERN FOLK UCLUSU :
They are not a progressive group but I have to mention them. They have a good guitarist Doan Canku. The importance of the group is explained by Aykut Celik :"although not being progressive, and not my favorite band (they have a very good guitarist Duan Canku) they are however the first band that introduced harmonic chorals into Turkish folk songs, and were maybe the most important influence on later popular bands like MFO. Actually, most current vocal harmonies in Turkish folk and pop songs may be regarded as the result of their innovative experiments.Later solo albums of "Dogan Canku" are better in recording quality, exhibiting Duan's outstandingskill in flamenco style, and his ability to combine flamenco harmonies and popular traditional
ballads. Among his popular arrangements and performances are: - "Ayrilik" (A popular Azari ballad, which is one of Cem Karaca's favorites as well, since his father is from Azarbaijan). - "Sirto" (A classical Turkish music composition, rearranged for flamenco guitars. This is my favorite!)" A.C.
I heard one of their earlier works myself : these did sound pretty mainstream to me. Old single cover here.
MOGOLLAR :
Mogholar has amost remarkable bass line I talked about before (I found a similar power only with the Italian group Goblin). In the beginning of the seventies they made also records with the most perfect blend of folk, rock and psychedelica our ears would like to hear. They called it "Andalousian pop". In their later work we can still find some nice tracks now and then. The group still exist. Mogollar' accompanied Cem Karaca, Ersen,..
"Mogollar was formed in 1967 as a joint venture between the members of two famous pop bands of the time: Siluetler and Selçuk Alagöz (Orkestras). At first they set out to play a very wild beat music. Also quickly turned on by the new psychedelia movement they started to play their own brand of psychedelic beat. Young keyboardist Murat Ses led the hand to produce some of the most exciting psychedelic arrangements of their time." "Their record company made a big campaign on the band in 1968 and their interesting costumes end monster music really got them in front of very surprised crowds. A composition of the band, "Lazy John" is what we can get as close as possible to the drive of their live shows." G.A. "After the head crazy days of 1967-'68 the band went on a large-scale Anatolin tour and decided to take their Turkish music experiments one serious step further, becomming one of the most promising experimental psychedelic bands at the time. Blending psychedelia, ethnomusical experimentalism, and rock spirit, their records in '70-'71 are unparalleled works of an almost otherworldly nature. The band decided to drop reworked traditional tunes as much as possible, concentrating on writing their own material in an Anatolian style." G.A.& J.D.
For me most remarkable is the bass from Taner Ongur, and of course Murat Ses' keyboards highly influenced by UK psych. Most known of Mogollar now is thier album recorded in France, which is a bit more acoustic as their works from before.I consider o as one of the most interesting bands from the '70's out of Turkey.
Some covers,pictures ,an interview I did, links to webpages you can find at the Mogollar page
MURAT SES :
Murat Ses is one the most important keyboard players. After his teenager group Meteorlar he played in Siluetler, and later was cofounder of Mogollar and recorded with them their first rewarded album. He also cooperated on one Edip Akbayram single. After at least one solo single with moog cynthesizer sounds I know there exist also a very interesting home recording (bootleg LP ?) of Murat Ses with Nejat Teksoy (singer from Mavi Isiklar). This contains some covers (Uriah Heep ?,..) and jamming like the incredible "Play with fire" (Rolling Stones) with wonderful organ and another 15 minutes Hammond organ ? improvisation with saz ? and electric guitar solo accompany. Much later he published a trilogy with an original ethno fusion approach for the keyboard. There's a seperate page about Murat Ses.
MUSTAFA ÖZKENT ORKESTRASI :
Not sure from when his wonderful "Gençlik Ile Elele" album is. It's an odd combination of A-Go-Go, funk, psychedelica, loose improvisation without structured ideas on an Anatolian folk inspired crossover style. Very western, and at the same time not at all. I saw listed elsewhere an Anatolian folk inspired item. Info at seperate webpage of Mustafa Özkent
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N
O
OKAY TEMIZ :
Ethno jazz fusion percussionist who still makes music. He cooperated with Don Cherry, Roman Bunka,.. Some tracks are a bit more progressive, but most of them are (jazz) fusion.
At the seperate webpage about Okay Temiz you can find some information, links, interview I did.
OKSJEN :
One of the groups from the Altin Mikrofon contest that had a single.
I don't know anything about them.
ORHAN GENCEBAY :
One of the pioneer of the Arabesque style, with Arabic sounding orchestra and singing,.. In his early work he used odd combinations of this Arabesque style with electric instruments, like the electric baglama, sitar, electronic instruments, harmonica,.... I believe Erkin Koray cooperated with him a few times.
ORCHESTRASI KONTLAR :
They released a good single "Gel Yaniman"? in middle eastern surf garage style.
ÖZTURK SERENGIL :
He's an actor/comedian who recorded some funny albums. He also covered some popular songs, like Baris ç's " iste hendek iste deve". In his lyrics he's very politic minded with a humorous approach of critics against the government. With texts like "...my pants are blowed.....my tits can be seen...because of the taxes by government...I cannot find bread to eat...". O.D. I have a seperate page about Özturk Serengil.
P
Q
R
RANA ALAGÖZ :
Rana is the sister of Celçuk Alagöz. Together with Celçuk's band they made some good singles. The Altin Mikrofon single : "KonyaKabagi-Bahçelerde Börülce" is in odd 60's Walt Disney-like Rockn'n Roll instrumentation and almost Austrian folksong singing. See seperate page about Rana Alagöz.
RIFAT ÖNCEL :
I heard a beautiful Anadolu Pop Rock single : "Dosta Bizden Selam Olsun / Hele Hele Vay / Iste Gelim Gidiyorum",and one ok single in Anatolian Pop style as Rifat Öncel & Bunalimlar : "Bir Yar Icin / Ayrilik Olmasaycdi". I don't have more information.
S
SELCUK ALAGÖZ :
"In retrospect Selçuk Alagöz has been known for being the very first kitsch figure of Turkish pop music and being a little school for young musicians to cut their teeth and go on to form their own bands! His records always has been confusing: very frequently you get one rocking side and the other side unbelievable irritating pop stuff." G. Aya The group Uç Hürel participated also with Selçuk Alagöz.
SELDA BAGCAN :
My favourite Turkish female voice is Selda Bacan. Her first compiled volume is more a folk(rock) album, but she sings with such an emotional voice it will gripe you by the throat. Her second volume onCD is one of the more psychedelic records from Turkey in pure Anatolian style. I hope somebody will remaster this with professional equipment once. Her third volume is more Turkish styled but beautiful though. She was involved in the protest movements in the '70's ? I don't know if Selda still making music. Some pictures,covers,links are added at next seperate page about Selda.
SEVIL AND AYLA :
They made two sibgles on Coskun backened by Kurtulan Express.
SEVKET UGURLUEL VE ARKADASLARI :
SILA 4 :
Don't know if this group is worth checking out.
SILÜETLER :
Some covers,links, info, pictures you can find at my seperate page about Siluetler
It's clear they were influenced by The Shadows,.. Lots of singles / their LP sound sometimes even a bit too much a Shadows clone. Some members went later to Mogollar.
SIS BESLISI (VE TURGUT OKSAY):
One of the groups from that participated with the Altin Mikrofon contest. I don't know anything about them. (Sis Beslisi means "Fog Quintet"). The AM single is Anatolian pop. Somewhat charming but not really the top of the bill.
T
TARSUS AMERIKAN KOLEJI :
College group that won a single with Milleyet contest. Sweetened (completely) American garage style, with nice organ.
TER :
"One of the best bands Erkin Koray formed in the seventies, Ter was a joint venture between Erkin and the members of the then newly disbanded Grup Bunalim. Unfortunatly they only managed to record one single in their short career ("Hor Görme Garibi" in 1972). The song had been a major hit in 1971 for Orhan Gencebay in the very eastern/Arabic style known in Turkey as Arabesque. Ter transforms into a stunning heavy psych monster and one of the high points in all of Tukish Rock music. The killer lead guitar on the single is by Aydin Cakus." G.A.& J.D.
TIMUR SELCUK :
Soundfile : here Üç Hürel cooperated on one single. See 3 Hürel page for cover.
T.P.A.O. BATMAN ORKESTRASI :
Energetic Rock'n' Roll beat group with some ska like arrangements. The name refers to te Turkish Petrol Company. See seperate page about T.P.A.O. Orkestra / Batman
TRT ARA MÜZIKLERI :
They released 2 volumes of very enjoyable and highly pleasant "easy listening" Turkish music (a bit more at vol 1, as Turkish folk with orchestrations) with a few times odd combinations of styles and some nice and great a-go-go (a bit more at vol 2), and folk crossover styles, including some more light Anatolian crossover Poprock. It's not completely progressive music except for some tracks on vol 2 (like a fantastic Okay Temiz track, but with also additions by Cahit Oben, Zafer Dilek, Timur Selcuk, Onder Bali.), making it's surely interesting to trace. Cover of vol 1 here and of vol 2 here. These recorded tracks were used as a break music by turkish national channel TRT. I regard vol 2 as a must have. Volume 1 is also very pleasant. (vol 1 : ***°, vol 2 ****).
TÜNAY AKDENIZ ve GRUP CIGRISIM :
I have two recordings from EP's ("Salak / Babam Yaazdi Ben Besteledim" and "Mesela Mesele / Disi Denen Canli". These recordings are more rock orientated, with a very fine electric guitar.
U
3 HÜREL :
3 (-or Uç, pronounced "ütsch"-) Hürel made two nice records which first record (1972) might ask a bit more effort at the first hearing for pure western ears because it sounds more Turkish than Western. But the percussion is marvelous. Their second record has a more remarkable incredible guitar playing and is nice to trace. I think their single collection CD (on Ada Music) is the nicest item to trace. "Unlike every other band in Turkey, the three Hürel brothers (Feridun,Onur and Haldun) never played cover songs on stage or on record. Feridun who wrote the songs and sang, played a double-necked instrument : one neck for guitar, the other for saz." G.A. & J.D. They were guest musicians with many famous names. After their comeback in 1997, they recorded two more CDs from Ada Music. "Efsane" (Legend) in 1996 and "1953" in 1999. These are not as interesting as their earlier works. Though they used to be one of the most busy tour bands during early 70's, now they reject to play live. There is seperate page about 3 Hürel
ÜMIT AKSU ORKESTRASI :
V
VOLKANLAR ORKESTRASI :
Turkish beat ? group. Don't know anything about them. Single "Kasap Havasi" on Karnival label. Cover here.
W
X
Y
YABANCILAR :
60's (garage) beat/psychedelic group. "This combo from Ankara (Turkey's capital) also enetred the Altin Mikrofon contest in 1967 and released just one fantastic single. This is probably the closest any Turkish band got that moody New England garage band sound -if they'd known, I'm sure that they would've been extremely surprised ; if they'd ever head of New England,I'd be astounded" Gökhan Aya & Jay Dobis. Audio : "Agit"
Their Altin Mikrofon single and one picture you can see at the Altin Mikrofon 67 page.
YARASALAR :
(The Bats). Poprock band. I think they were performing Turkish covers of Western pop mostly.
YAZ GUNEZI :
Very good to ok jazz flavoured compilation with funky, fuzz, organ and Anadolu pop, a go-go touches. Don't know who compiled or arranged the album.
YILDIRIM GÜRSES ORKESTRASI :
Oddity. Grotesk combination of (nice) classic Turkish orchestra, voice, reminding movies of the 50's with extra not really contributing or rewarding combination of other instruments like tenor sax, alt sax, piano, tinpani, vibraphone, drums making the instrumentation sounding a bit chaotic and unfitting. One of the examples that did not really work. See their Altin Mikrofon 65 single.
YILKUT TEZCAN 5 :
This is not a prog or psych band meanly, but one single sounds different (Arap Ciftellesi / Romen Havasi) . Here you find very strange keyboard and drum work very influenced by Arabic & Indian music. This band usually played traditional tunes with rock instruments. These 2 tunes sounding like the early Pink Floyd tried to create sometimes. See seperate page with cover of the Yilkut Tezcan 5 single.
Z
ZERRIN :
I heard of a single madeby Zerrin with Turkish version of "Move Over" by Janis Joplin in 1976 . I don't know if it's worth to trace or not. See this single at the Zerrin page
If you saw any errors, if you have extra any valuable additional information, recordings (to trade,for sale,..), or any pictures or soundfiles to be added here on the Web Pages (or news for air play) please E-mail me New information will be credited.
