Pongo
Joined: Mar 07, 2015
Posts: 30
Glasgow
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Posted on Dec 15 2021 11:43 AM
THE SPACE COSSACKS bring you "CHRISTMAS ISLAND"! Get the band’s exotic cover of this 1960 Keely Smith classic as a FREE download until December 31st! This track was originally recorded in the late 1990s and features the classic Space Cossacks line-up of Ivan Pongracic on lead guitar, Mark English on rhythm guitar, Catherine Gray on bass and Douglas Hoekstra on drums; and Engineered by their long-time producer Bruce Kane.
https://thespacecossacks.bandcamp.com/track/christmas-island-free-song-download
Last edited: Dec 15, 2021 11:44:32
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25538
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Dec 15 2021 11:46 AM
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
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ArtS
Joined: May 09, 2008
Posts: 1335
Isle of Kent, MD
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Posted on Dec 17 2021 09:18 PM
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Fady
Joined: Mar 07, 2010
Posts: 2252
North Carolina
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Posted on Dec 18 2021 08:53 AM
NICE!!!
Ivan, I assure you I am not alone wondering if you are playing Shadows tunes with your dad this time of year. And I can’t help saying this feels and sounds much more like one of those tracks than what I am conditioned to imagine when I see “Space Cossacks”. All that to ask, will you tell us more about this track - when it was recorded, who is on it, etc?
Thanks, and Merry Christmas!
— Fady
El Mirage @ ReverbNation
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IvanP
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10331
southern Michigan
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Posted on Dec 18 2021 05:19 PM
Hi Fady!
No gigs of any sort lately (the Madeira played one in September, the only gig I've played in the past two years) or for the foreseeable future. As far as the Troubadours, my dad and our bass player Kenny are probably getting too old to play shows again, my guess is that we will not play again. And the Madeira are on an indefinite hiatus. I have to say that I don't miss gigging one tiny bit. I've done more than my share through the years. The ridiculously late nights and long drives just don't appeal much anymore.... I'm definitely not saying I won't ever play live shows again, but the days of regular shows have come to a (blessed) end. (Sorry.)
As far as the track, thank you, I'm really glad you like it! I think it was recorded back in '99, probably the summer, though my memory is spotty on that point. We were invited by Sean Berry to contribute a track to Double Crown's "Seasonal Favorites, Vol. 1" comp, and I picked this track. The version I knew and used as a template for our cover was by Keely Smith, from her '60 Christmas album. Mark doesn't actually appear on it, he sat it out as he didn't really think he could contribute much and wasn't into it all that much, either. So, I played all the guitars on it. The rhythm guitar was my classical, nylon-string guitar with a capo (I think the only time I've ever used one) up around the 5th or the 7th fret, so I could play all the chords really high up, in order to try to make it sound like a ukulele. And then the main lead guitar line was very Shadows-y, a Strat through my Korg Dynamic Echo pedal (probably) into a Vox AC30; the second/'answer' lead guitar was also a Strat, but into a reverb unit and a Fender amp (I think I may have borrowed one for that session, it was probably a Vibro-King, if I remember correctly, though it could have been my Vibrasonic Custom). The track did appear on the Seasonal Favorites CD in 2000, so it's been out there for a pretty long time, but it just kinda got buried on the comp. So, Art B of MuSick had the idea of making it downloadable for free to remind people of it! I have to say that I do love it and am very proud of it! I am glad you enjoyed it, too.
There you go! That's all I can really remember about it.
Merry Christmas!
— Ivan
Lords of Atlantis on Facebook
The Madeira Official Website
The Madeira on Facebook
The Blair-Pongracic Band on Facebook
The Space Cossacks on Facebook
The Madeira Channel on YouTube
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IvanP
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10331
southern Michigan
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Posted on Dec 18 2021 05:35 PM
Oh, I should mention that maybe many people associate the Cossacks with the fast, heavy, drippy surf music, but, of course, we did also record quite a few Shadows-influenced ballads, most notably "Jewel of Duende", but also "Moroccan Adventures" or "Navajo Star". Even the stuff like "Tradewinds" or "Mir Rescue" showed quite a bit of the Shadows' influence, I think. So, I don't think this track ("Christmas Island") is really all that uncharacteristic of us.
— Ivan
Lords of Atlantis on Facebook
The Madeira Official Website
The Madeira on Facebook
The Blair-Pongracic Band on Facebook
The Space Cossacks on Facebook
The Madeira Channel on YouTube
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Fady
Joined: Mar 07, 2010
Posts: 2252
North Carolina
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Posted on Dec 18 2021 07:43 PM
Oh wow, it was recorded that long ago. Cool! Also love the scoop on the players and gear - especially the bit about playing with the capo. It really does sound like a uke! Thanks for taking the time to recap it all.
Even if not a Troubadours gig, may you and Pop's get the chance to play a few tunes as a duet over some egg nog. Recorded/shared on YT or not, that's a wonderful father/son tradition y'all have keep for several years. So special.
All the best!
— Fady
El Mirage @ ReverbNation
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25538
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Dec 19 2021 01:17 PM
Thanks for the info on this Ivan.
I’ve always liked it, and was wondering how many people knew about it.
Merry Christmas
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
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Samurai
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2230
Kiev, Ukraine
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Posted on Dec 20 2021 12:23 AM
IvanP wrote:
Hi Fady!
No gigs of any sort lately (the Madeira played one in September, the only gig I've played in the past two years) or for the foreseeable future. As far as the Troubadours, my dad and our bass player Kenny are probably getting too old to play shows again, my guess is that we will not play again. And the Madeira are on an indefinite hiatus. I have to say that I don't miss gigging one tiny bit. I've done more than my share through the years. The ridiculously late nights and long drives just don't appeal much anymore.... I'm definitely not saying I won't ever play live shows again, but the days of regular shows have come to a (blessed) end. (Sorry.)
As far as the track, thank you, I'm really glad you like it! I think it was recorded back in '99, probably the summer, though my memory is spotty on that point. We were invited by Sean Berry to contribute a track to Double Crown's "Seasonal Favorites, Vol. 1" comp, and I picked this track. The version I knew and used as a template for our cover was by Keely Smith, from her '60 Christmas album. Mark doesn't actually appear on it, he sat it out as he didn't really think he could contribute much and wasn't into it all that much, either. So, I played all the guitars on it. The rhythm guitar was my classical, nylon-string guitar with a capo (I think the only time I've ever used one) up around the 5th or the 7th fret, so I could play all the chords really high up, in order to try to make it sound like a ukulele. And then the main lead guitar line was very Shadows-y, a Strat through my Korg Dynamic Echo pedal (probably) into a Vox AC30; the second/'answer' lead guitar was also a Strat, but into a reverb unit and a Fender amp (I think I may have borrowed one for that session, it was probably a Vibro-King, if I remember correctly, though it could have been my Vibrasonic Custom). The track did appear on the Seasonal Favorites CD in 2000, so it's been out there for a pretty long time, but it just kinda got buried on the comp. So, Art B of MuSick had the idea of making it downloadable for free to remind people of it! I have to say that I do love it and am very proud of it! I am glad you enjoyed it, too.
There you go! That's all I can really remember about it.
Merry Christmas!
Thanks, that was interesting!
I really hope that less shows means like more… records?)
— Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine
https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki
Lost Diver
https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin
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WoodyJ
Joined: Apr 05, 2006
Posts: 1544
Bethlehem, GA
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Posted on Dec 20 2021 08:09 AM
Beautifully done, Ivan!
Listening to your version has made my Christmas a bit merrier.
— Jack Booth
(aka WoodyJ)
The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005)
The Hula Hounds (1996-current)
The X-Rays (1997-2004)
The Surge! (2004, 2011-2012)
Various non-surf bands that actually made money (1978-1990)
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IvanP
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10331
southern Michigan
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Posted on Dec 20 2021 08:53 PM
Thanks so very much, all, I really appreciate all the nice words!
Vitaly, there WILL be more music coming from Lords of Atlantis VERY soon! In fact, if all goes well next year, there should be quite a bit, with hopefully a full album to follow in '23. We all live pretty far apart and are very busy with jobs and families, so we have to be patient. But hopefully at least two new tracks to come out in the next couple of months. More after..... (We've been mixing one yesterday and today, and man, sounds SO GOOD!!! I can't wait to have it out!)
Fady, thanks for asking for my dad's and my videos. I tried to have us do a couple last Christmas, but he didn't do his due diligence and wasn't practiced enough, doh!   We've already recorded all the ones we knew really well, so we've been trying to do some new ones, but he's just too shaky on those. But we'll see, I'll try to get him to do something this Christmas.
Thanks again! Merry Christmas, all!
— Ivan
Lords of Atlantis on Facebook
The Madeira Official Website
The Madeira on Facebook
The Blair-Pongracic Band on Facebook
The Space Cossacks on Facebook
The Madeira Channel on YouTube
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Samurai
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2230
Kiev, Ukraine
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Posted on Dec 21 2021 12:36 AM
IvanP wrote:
Thanks so very much, all, I really appreciate all the nice words!
Vitaly, there WILL be more music coming from Lords of Atlantis VERY soon! In fact, if all goes well next year, there should be quite a bit, with hopefully a full album to follow in '23. We all live pretty far apart and are very busy with jobs and families, so we have to be patient. But hopefully at least two new tracks to come out in the next couple of months. More after..... (We've been mixing one yesterday and today, and man, sounds SO GOOD!!! I can't wait to have it out!)
Fady, thanks for asking for my dad's and my videos. I tried to have us do a couple last Christmas, but he didn't do his due diligence and wasn't practiced enough, doh! We've already recorded all the ones we knew really well, so we've been trying to do some new ones, but he's just too shaky on those. But we'll see, I'll try to get him to do something this Christmas.
Thanks again! Merry Christmas, all!
Good news, Ivan! And what about The Madiera?
— Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine
https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki
Lost Diver
https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin
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IvanP
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10331
southern Michigan
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Posted on Dec 21 2021 11:04 AM
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Samurai
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2230
Kiev, Ukraine
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Posted on Dec 22 2021 12:04 AM
IvanP wrote:
No plans, Vitaly. Who knows what the future holds, but it's possible we have come to an end. We'll see...
I understand… but I hope to see The Madeira live sometime and Space Cossacks again)
— Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine
https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki
Lost Diver
https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin
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IvanP
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10331
southern Michigan
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Posted on Dec 22 2021 06:37 PM
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arny
Joined: Aug 22, 2010
Posts: 611
Netherlands, Europe
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Posted on Dec 24 2021 07:47 PM
Great tune! And fantastic production like always Ivan!
We are in the only country in Europe that has a tight lockdown (nr 3!). But we where blessed with our planning all of the 3 shows we had booked fell in to the 'space' between banning live music and supporting it!
We even did a Super Suckers Halloween Show!
And now... we are even allowed to rehearse anymore!
— www.alohasluts.com
Aloha Sluts on BandCamp
www.arnyzona.com (my photography)
Aloha Fest on facebook
Last edited: Dec 24, 2021 19:48:52
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darrenk
Joined: Dec 19, 2010
Posts: 184
San Jose, CA
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Posted on Dec 24 2021 09:25 PM
I received an announcement through Bandcamp from the Messer Chups (their page linked to Musick Recordings) about this track being available. They mentioned the artwork was designed by their drummer Rockin' Eugene.
Looks like Eugene started appearing on Messer Chups albums in 2015. How did he get introduced to the Space Cossacks and doing the artwork for this single?
-Darren
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IvanP
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10331
southern Michigan
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Posted on Dec 25 2021 03:08 PM
Fady wrote:
Oh wow, it was recorded that long ago. Cool! Also love the scoop on the players and gear - especially the bit about playing with the capo. It really does sound like a uke! Thanks for taking the time to recap it all.
Even if not a Troubadours gig, may you and Pop's get the chance to play a few tunes as a duet over some egg nog. Recorded/shared on YT or not, that's a wonderful father/son tradition y'all have keep for several years. So special.
All the best!
Fady, see here: https://surfguitar101.com/forums/post/448653/ 
— Ivan
Lords of Atlantis on Facebook
The Madeira Official Website
The Madeira on Facebook
The Blair-Pongracic Band on Facebook
The Space Cossacks on Facebook
The Madeira Channel on YouTube
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Fady
Joined: Mar 07, 2010
Posts: 2252
North Carolina
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Posted on Dec 25 2021 04:37 PM
Hurray!!! Oh, I am so glad to see this! Catching the earlier comment about your dad’s ‘readiness’ made me think it may retreat to in the room fun only. Thank you both for keeping the tradition alive and sharing the Christmas joy! So cool! Merry Christmas, Ivan Jr & Sr!
— Fady
El Mirage @ ReverbNation
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synchro
Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4423
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Dec 25 2021 05:54 PM
IvanP wrote:
Hi Fady!
No gigs of any sort lately (the Madeira played one in September, the only gig I've played in the past two years) or for the foreseeable future. As far as the Troubadours, my dad and our bass player Kenny are probably getting too old to play shows again, my guess is that we will not play again. And the Madeira are on an indefinite hiatus. I have to say that I don't miss gigging one tiny bit. I've done more than my share through the years. The ridiculously late nights and long drives just don't appeal much anymore.... I'm definitely not saying I won't ever play live shows again, but the days of regular shows have come to a (blessed) end. (Sorry.)
It’s funny how that goes, but there does come a point when playing regular gigs gets to be a bit much. I still like to play enough to keep my interest in the instrument alive, but I don’t think that there’s enough money on earth to make me want to play gigs on a regular basis.
The Country guys that built theaters in Branson, MO had the best idea. One place where you can leave your gear setup and they can play without ever leaving the comfort of a familiar setting.
I’m sure that you’ll have some interesting things for us in the future.
— The artist formerly known as: Synchro
When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.
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