Theo Schumann Combo - Vesuv [1969 Beat / Heavy Psych Instrumental GDR Germany ]

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Here’s a super groovy instrumental with a ska-like horn section and nice fuzz guitar. Theo Schumann's musical path began with the orchestras of Kurt Hohenberger and Schwarz-Weiss. The Theo Schumann Combo (also Theo Schumann Orchester or later Theo Schumann Band) was founded by Schumann in 1961 and was not only one of the longest-serving groups in the GDR, but also one of the first beat bands in the GDR. The group was given the opportunity to make their first studio productions in early 1964, before other bands were granted this privilege.

Theo Schumann was actually a jazz musician, but he played beat music with his Theo Schumann Combo, which was extremely popular with young people at the time and which also spread quickly in the GDR. As already mentioned, the Theo Schumann Combo was allowed to record their first songs for GDR radio in 1964, so "All The Things You Are", "Karawane", "Hully Gully Party" or "Radebeul West" were some of the songs that were recorded at that time. The combo then had appointments in the studio to record new songs more and more frequently, because just one year later, in July '65, the Theo Schumann Combo produced the song "Sag nie mehr I love you zu mir". This is the German version of the Beatles song "I Should Have Known Better". In addition, the songs "That can't be true", the German version of the Rolling Stones track "The Last Time", and another cover version of a Rolling Stones hit, namely "Satisfaction", were recorded with partial German lyrics. However, the latter song only saw the light of day long after reunification. The reason for this was that the Amiga label decided shortly after the recording that "Satisfaction" should not be released and played on the radio. The Theo Schumann Combo's "Satisfaction" version then disappeared in the basement of the studio building before any of the musicians even heard the finished song. The title was first published in 1995 on the CD "'64 to '69" on the small Grauzone label.

By the time their first LP was released in 1969 ("Theo Schumann Combo", Amiga), the group had released a whopping 11 singles. The LPs "For Young People" (1970) and "Guten Abend, Carolina" (1971) were then released in the space of a year. Apart from the Theo Schumann Combo, only Thomas Natschinski's Group (see v146) had managed to release this large a number of records. In addition, the Theo Schumann Combo, along with the Natschinski group Team 4 , was the only beat band that survived the harsh actions of the GDR authorities against the beat movement. The full band bio can be read at https://www.deutsche-mugge.de/portraits/3018-theo-schumann-combo.html