Niebiesko Czarni: Rock Opera Naga I & II

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Wojciech Korda (v)
Ada Rusowicz (v)
Zbigniew Podgajny (p, org)
Zbigniew Namysłowski (s)
Wiesław Żakowicz (s)
Stan Borys (v)
Janusz Popławski (g)
Andrzej Nebeski (d)
Andrzej Pawlik (b)
Marek Ślazyk (d)

Label:

Polskie Nagrania Muza

July/2018

RecordDate:

1972

Niebiesko Czarni (translating as Black and Blue) were a Polish vocal troupe, founded in 1962, who were in action for a decade – long enough to unleash this frankly bewildering swansong. Released on two companion LPs, Naga (Nude) was a fullblown rock opera inspired by the likes of Hair and Godspell, which told a somewhat confusing tale of otherworldly love involving a nude female who materialises on an island that might also be heaven. Musically, it tumbles through a kaleidoscope of superfunky Hammond organ workouts, bloated prog, heavy electric blues and epic jazzrock with sizzling guitar and majestic horn charts not unlike Wazoo-era Zappa. Alas, it's also smothered in histrionic Polishlanguage vocals that place it very firmly in the ‘musical theatre’ milieu. In fact, the whole production was briefly brought to the stage in 1973 until it was banned for including actual nudity. You probably had to be there.

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