Veronika Fischer & Band (Colored Vinyl) [LP]

In 1976, AMIGA released “Veronika Fischer & Band,” a seminal album in East German pop. Blending melodic rock with rich blues, Veronika Fischer (formerly of Panta Rhei) and her band develop a unique sound, carried by her unmistakable voice and the sophisticated compositions and arrangements of Franz Bartzsch.

Songs like “Blues von der letzten Gelegenheit,” “Auf der Wiese,” “Hänschengroß,” and “Klavier im Fluss” showcase the album’s musical range. The lyrics were written by Kurt Demmler, Ingeburg Branoner, and Bettina Wegner. With “Halt an” and “Guten Tag,” the album also includes two tracks from the DEFA feature film “Hostess.”

In addition to the brilliant Franz Bartzsch—who, in addition to composition and arrangement, also played piano, Fender piano, synthesizer, Moog bass, and Mellotron—the band lineup included Eckhard Kremer on bass, Frank Hille on drums and vocals, and Eberhard Struch on guitar. Helmar Federowski was at the studio controls.

To mark the 50th anniversary, the album “Veronika Fischer & Band” is now being released for the first time as a limited-edition colored vinyl reissue in the original AMIGA design, supplemented with additional images and text.