Locomotiv GT (often abbreviated LGT, and sometimes using the nickname Loksi) was a Hungarian rock band formed in 1971. Starting out as a progressive rock band, they later experimented with many other styles including jazz, funk, and pop. During their heyday they were one of Hungary's most popular rock bands.[1] The band broke up in 2016 after the death of longtime singer/bassist Tamás Somló.
Locomotiv GT
Locomotiv GT in 1979 (L-R: Tamás Somló, Gábor Presser, János Karácsony, János Solti)
The band was formed in April 1971 by members of previously successful Hungarian rock bands. A poll in Hungarian Youth magazine listing the nation's favorite rock musicians inspired several of the winners to form a new band together.[2] Singer/keyboardist Gábor Presser[3][4] and drummer József Laux had been members of Omega,[5] singer/bassist Károly Frenreisz had been a member of Metró,[6] and singer/guitarist Tamás Barta (hu) had been in Hungária.[2] They played their first concert in Budapest in July 1971.[7] Much of their early activity was as a backing band for pop singers, due to Hungary's restrictions on employment for rock musicians; they gained notice in particular for backing Sarolta Zalatnay[8] and Kati Kovács[7] during their first few years of existence.
Their self-titled debut album was released in December 1971, and their second album Ringasd el magad was released the following year. They received coverage in New Musical Express, which called them “The new rock sensation [that] could come from the East!”;[9] traveled to Japan to play at the World Popular Song Festival;[10] and were invited to perform at the Great Western Express Festival in England.[11]
In 1973, the band wrote the music for the politicized theater production An Imaginary Report on an American Pop Festival.[1] This endeavor frustrated Frenreisz who left to form his own band Skorpió; he was replaced by Tamás Somló, another former member of Omega.[7] The band's third album Bummm! was released in 1973. Tamás Barta (hu) left the band and defected to the United States, which then caused the Hungarian government to ban Bummm! for the next ten years in retaliation.[9] (Barta was murdered in the United States under mysterious circumstances in 1982.)[12][13][14][2] Barta was replaced by János Karácsony. The band's first three albums were compiled in 1974 for an American/British release titled Locomotiv GT (not to be confused with their first Hungarian release), which included some new material produced by Jimmy Miller and a guest appearance by Jack Bruce on harmonica.[15]
Their first album with Karácsony, Mindig magasabbra, was released in Hungary in 1975. During this period, the Hungarian government suppressed much of the band's work, followed by the governments of neighboring countries like Romania and Czechoslovakia, because the band's rock music was considered subversive; most of their sales and acclaim were gained in English-speaking countries.[7] The English-language songs recorded with Jimmy Miller for the 1974 international compilation were not released in Hungary until 1988. Their 1976 release, the double album Locomotiv GT V., was also banned in Hungary.[citation needed] József Laux then left the band, also to defect to the United States.[citation needed] After the band received help from two temporary drummers, Laux was replaced by János Solti.[1]
Later yearsedit
Tamás Somló in 2009
The lineup of Presser, Somló, Karácsony, and Solti remained intact for forty years until the group disbanded. The band released the albums Zene – Mindenki másképp csinálja in 1976, Mindenki in 1978, and Loksi in 1980. The latter album was the first for which they were paid royalties for retail sales.[7] They toured the Soviet Union in 1980 and were offered an international contract by EMI the following year, with an invitation to record at Abbey Road Studios in England.[7] The EMI albums Locomotiv GT X. (1982) and Ellenfél nélkül (1984) were unsuccessful and the band gave up their international touring ambitions to focus on the Hungarian market.[1]
The band ceased regular activity in 1986 but re-emerged in 1992 for a major concert in Budapest celebrating the downfall of Communism.[7] They released the reunion album 424 – Mozdonyopera in 1997. They then became a nostalgia touring act, appearing regularly at festivals and holding their own event, the LGT Festival, annually from 1999 to 2007.[1] Former members József Laux and Károly Frenreisz made some special appearances with the band during this period. The band continued touring until the death of Tamás Somló at age 68 in 2016.[16] Laux also died in 2016 at age 73.[17]
Personneledit
Membersedit
Gábor Presser — keyboards, vocals (1971–1992, 1997–2016)
János Karácsony — guitars, bass, vocals (1974–1992, 1997–2016)
János Solti — drums, percussion (1976–1992, 1997–2016)
Tamás Somló — bass, saxophone, vocals (1973–1992, 1997–2016; his death)
Tamás Barta (hu) — guitars, harmonica, vocals (1971–1974; died 1982)
Locomotiv GT (Dunhill Records 811)[15] (made in 1973 with songs mainly of the three first LPs; was released in 1974 in the UK and the US)
All Aboard (follow-up to the previous album; shelved, never released in the UK or the US due to poor sales of the previous album; released remixed and omitting two of the original Barta penned tracks in 1988 in Hungary only under the title Locomotiv GT '74 USA)
Motor City Rock (recorded in Prague and released in 1976, without a title; it was re-released in 1978 with a title and was exported to many Eastern bloc countries)
Locomotiv GT (recorded in Hungary in 1980, without a title; was exported to West Germany and Sweden)
Too Long (English version of their tenth Hungarian LP Locomotiv GT X (if double albums are counted as two albums); it was recorded in Budapest and London in 1982–83 and was released in the UK in 1983)
Boxing (made for EMI of songs on their 1984 maxi single "Első magyar óriás kislemez" and the album Ellenfél nélkül in 1985; refused by EMI)
Locomotiv GT '74 USA (remixed and edited version of All Aboard, compiled by Laux in Budapest in 1987 and released in 1988)
Locomotiv GT In Warsaw (recorded live in Poland in 1976)
None of Locomotiv GT's Western European or American releases charted.
Albums in other countriesedit
Locomotiv GT (Argentina, 1973)
Ringasd el magad (under the title Locomotiv GT; Czechoslovakia, 1973)
Live In Warsaw (live) (Poland, 1975)
Mindig magasabbra (West Germany, 1976)
Mindenki (Czechoslovakia, 1979)
Todos (Spain, 1980)
Hungary singlesedit
"Boldog vagyok" / "Ha volna szíved" (1971)
"Érints meg / Kenyéren és vízen" (1971)
"Szeress nagyon" / "Csak egy szóra" (1972)
"Hej, gyere velem" / "Csavargók angyala" (1973)
"Segíts elaludni" / "Mindig csak ott várok rád" (1973)
"Belépés nemcsak tornacipőben! — Mindenki másképp csinálja" / "Mozdulnod kell" (1978)
"Annyi mindent nem szerettem" / "Pokolba már a szép szavakkal" / "Miénk ez a cirkusz" / "Veled, csak veled" (double single, 1979)
"Első magyar óriás kislemez" (1984)
International singlesedit
"Touch Me, Love Me, Rock Me" / "Silver Summer" (1971; the existence of this single is not proven, but it is mentioned in the Lexicon of Rock Music by Péter Tardos; "Touch Me" was later released on a compilation)
"Serenade" / "Give Me Your Love" (Netherlands, 1972)
"Hilf mir einzuschlafen" / "Ich wart' auf dich irgendwo" (East Germany, 1973; German version of the single "Segíts elaludni" / "Mindig csak ott várok rád")
"Eine kuckucksarmbanduhr" / "Mondschein im haar" (East Germany, 1973; the A-side is the German version of the song "Kakukkos karóra", while the B-side is the German version of the song "Ksiezyc we wlosy" by Polish band Skaldowie [on the single they are called Die Skalden])
"Rock Yourself" / "Serenade (To My Love If I Had One)" (U.S., 1974; first single off the first English LP released in the same year; includes an edited version of "Rock Yourself", both in mono and stereo version)
"She's Just 14" / "Free Me" (US, 1974; second single of the LP; includes an edited version of "She's Just 14")
"Ringasd el magad" / "The World Watchmaker" (Poland, 1973/1974 (?); includes a live version of "Ringasd el magad" ("Rock Yourself"), probably from the festival in Sopot, 1973; the other song "The World Watchmaker" was written by Polish songwriter Tadeusz Woźniak, an original song called "Zegarmistrz Światła")
"Higher and Higher" / "Lady of the Night" (live versions of the songs "Mindig magasabbra" and "Álomarcú lány", performed in Hungarian, only the single has an English title; released around 1975/76, probably when the LP Locomotiv GT in Warsaw was released)
"Rock Yourself" / "Serenada — Blues" (came into being under circumstances similar to the previous; the second song is not "Szerenád" but rather "Arra mennék én" which is followed by a blues song exclusive to this release; here "Rock Yourself" can be heard in English, and within it a few lines from "Mindenki")
"Vengerszkájá esztrádá" (Soviet Union, 1978; part of the soundtrack to Zsombolyai János's film A kenguru which contained music by LGT as well as Omega, Gemini, Skorpió, Fonográf, Bergendy, M7, Koncz Zsuzsa, Bódy Magdi, Kovács Kati, and Sarolta Zalatnay; LGT's contribution was the English version of "Álomarcú lány" ("Lady of the Night") but the title, "Kák ti zsivjos?", appearing on the disc is in error)
"I'll Get You" / "Star" (1979; a promotional single prepared for MIDEM, with English versions of "Engedj el" and "Elkésett dal"; only the lyrics were newly recorded, the background music was copied from the original LP, Zene – Mindenki másképp csinálja)
"Tantas cosas que no queria" (1980, Spain; a single from the Todos sampler including the two songs "Annyi mindent nem szerettem" and "Egy elfelejtett szó")
Two Krugozor 45s (1980 and 1981, Soviet Union; Krugozor was a Soviet youth magazine which appeared monthly with an included 45; the 1980 single (issue 2, number 11) includes the songs "Rajongás" (Russian: "Vosztorg") as well as "A Kicsi, a Nagy, az Arthur és az Indián" (Russian: "Mális, Velíkán, Artúr í Indéjec"); the 1981 single (issue 11, number 9) includes the songs "Cabolo" (Russian: "Kabolo") and "A dal a miénk" (Russian: "Pésznya nása"))
"I Want to Be There" / "Portoriko" (1983, United Kingdom; the first promotional single from Too Long)
"Too Long" / "Surrender to the Heat" (1983, United Kingdom; the second promotional single from Too Long)
"Too Long" / "Surrender to the Heat" (1983, United Kingdom; the promotional maxi from Too Long on which can be heard the extended version)
^Batey, Angus (2015-10-13). "Cult heroes: Sarolta Zalatnay, the Hungarian Janis Joplin who was key to rock's evolution". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
^ ab"Döbörög a Loksi a nulladik napon". Origo. Retrieved 2020-07-24. (in Hungarian)
^"Locomotiv GT". Deutsche Mugge. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
^"Great Western Festival-1972.Lincoln". ukrockfestivals.com. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
^Lázár, György (29 April 2021). "Call to reopen the investigation of the death of Tamás Barta, Hungarian Rock Star". Hungarian Free Press. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
^"The Tamás Barta film can be watched again after the Mansion suspended the court's decision on it". Archyworldys. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
locomotiv, often, abbreviated, sometimes, using, nickname, loksi, hungarian, rock, band, formed, 1971, starting, progressive, rock, band, they, later, experimented, with, many, other, styles, including, jazz, funk, during, their, heyday, they, were, hungary, m. Locomotiv GT often abbreviated LGT and sometimes using the nickname Loksi was a Hungarian rock band formed in 1971 Starting out as a progressive rock band they later experimented with many other styles including jazz funk and pop During their heyday they were one of Hungary s most popular rock bands 1 The band broke up in 2016 after the death of longtime singer bassist Tamas Somlo Locomotiv GTLocomotiv GT in 1979 L R Tamas Somlo Gabor Presser Janos Karacsony Janos Solti Background informationOriginBudapest HungaryGenresRock progressive rock jazz funk popYears active1971 1992 1997 2016LabelsMHV Hungaroton BMGPast membersGabor PresserJanos KaracsonyJanos SoltiTamas Barta hu Karoly FrenreiszJozsef LauxTamas SomloWebsitelgt hu Contents 1 History 1 1 Early years 1 2 Later years 2 Personnel 2 1 Members 2 2 Timeline 3 Discography 3 1 Hungarian albums 3 2 International albums 3 2 1 US UK albums in English 3 2 2 Albums in other countries 3 3 Hungary singles 3 4 International singles 4 References 5 External linksHistory editEarly years edit The band was formed in April 1971 by members of previously successful Hungarian rock bands A poll in Hungarian Youth magazine listing the nation s favorite rock musicians inspired several of the winners to form a new band together 2 Singer keyboardist Gabor Presser 3 4 and drummer Jozsef Laux had been members of Omega 5 singer bassist Karoly Frenreisz had been a member of Metro 6 and singer guitarist Tamas Barta hu had been in Hungaria 2 They played their first concert in Budapest in July 1971 7 Much of their early activity was as a backing band for pop singers due to Hungary s restrictions on employment for rock musicians they gained notice in particular for backing Sarolta Zalatnay 8 and Kati Kovacs 7 during their first few years of existence Their self titled debut album was released in December 1971 and their second album Ringasd el magad was released the following year They received coverage in New Musical Express which called them The new rock sensation that could come from the East 9 traveled to Japan to play at the World Popular Song Festival 10 and were invited to perform at the Great Western Express Festival in England 11 In 1973 the band wrote the music for the politicized theater production An Imaginary Report on an American Pop Festival 1 This endeavor frustrated Frenreisz who left to form his own band Skorpio he was replaced by Tamas Somlo another former member of Omega 7 The band s third album Bummm was released in 1973 Tamas Barta hu left the band and defected to the United States which then caused the Hungarian government to ban Bummm for the next ten years in retaliation 9 Barta was murdered in the United States under mysterious circumstances in 1982 12 13 14 2 Barta was replaced by Janos Karacsony The band s first three albums were compiled in 1974 for an American British release titled Locomotiv GT not to be confused with their first Hungarian release which included some new material produced by Jimmy Miller and a guest appearance by Jack Bruce on harmonica 15 Their first album with Karacsony Mindig magasabbra was released in Hungary in 1975 During this period the Hungarian government suppressed much of the band s work followed by the governments of neighboring countries like Romania and Czechoslovakia because the band s rock music was considered subversive most of their sales and acclaim were gained in English speaking countries 7 The English language songs recorded with Jimmy Miller for the 1974 international compilation were not released in Hungary until 1988 Their 1976 release the double album Locomotiv GT V was also banned in Hungary citation needed Jozsef Laux then left the band also to defect to the United States citation needed After the band received help from two temporary drummers Laux was replaced by Janos Solti 1 Later years edit nbsp Tamas Somlo in 2009The lineup of Presser Somlo Karacsony and Solti remained intact for forty years until the group disbanded The band released the albums Zene Mindenki maskepp csinalja in 1976 Mindenki in 1978 and Loksi in 1980 The latter album was the first for which they were paid royalties for retail sales 7 They toured the Soviet Union in 1980 and were offered an international contract by EMI the following year with an invitation to record at Abbey Road Studios in England 7 The EMI albums Locomotiv GT X 1982 and Ellenfel nelkul 1984 were unsuccessful and the band gave up their international touring ambitions to focus on the Hungarian market 1 The band ceased regular activity in 1986 but re emerged in 1992 for a major concert in Budapest celebrating the downfall of Communism 7 They released the reunion album 424 Mozdonyopera in 1997 They then became a nostalgia touring act appearing regularly at festivals and holding their own event the LGT Festival annually from 1999 to 2007 1 Former members Jozsef Laux and Karoly Frenreisz made some special appearances with the band during this period The band continued touring until the death of Tamas Somlo at age 68 in 2016 16 Laux also died in 2016 at age 73 17 Personnel editMembers edit Gabor Presser keyboards vocals 1971 1992 1997 2016 Janos Karacsony guitars bass vocals 1974 1992 1997 2016 Janos Solti drums percussion 1976 1992 1997 2016 Tamas Somlo bass saxophone vocals 1973 1992 1997 2016 his death Tamas Barta hu guitars harmonica vocals 1971 1974 died 1982 Karoly Frenreisz bass guitars woodwind vocals 1971 1973 Jozsef Laux drums percussion 1971 1976 died 2016 Additional personnelAnna Adamis lyrics 1971 1976 Dusan Sztevanovity lyrics 1976 2016 Touring musiciansGabor Nemeth drums 1976 Gabor Szekeres drums 1976 Timeline edit Discography edit Hungarian albums edit Locomotiv GT 1971 Ringasd el magad 1972 Bummm 1973 Mindig magasabbra 1975 Locomotiv GT V 1976 Zene Mindenki maskepp csinalja 1977 Mindenki 1978 Loksi 1980 Locomotiv GT X 1982 Ellenfel nelkul 1984 424 Mozdonyopera 1997 A fiuk a kocsmaba mentek 2002 International albums edit US UK albums in English edit Locomotiv GT Dunhill Records 811 15 made in 1973 with songs mainly of the three first LPs was released in 1974 in the UK and the US All Aboard follow up to the previous album shelved never released in the UK or the US due to poor sales of the previous album released remixed and omitting two of the original Barta penned tracks in 1988 in Hungary only under the title Locomotiv GT 74 USA Motor City Rock recorded in Prague and released in 1976 without a title it was re released in 1978 with a title and was exported to many Eastern bloc countries Locomotiv GT recorded in Hungary in 1980 without a title was exported to West Germany and Sweden Too Long English version of their tenth Hungarian LP Locomotiv GT X if double albums are counted as two albums it was recorded in Budapest and London in 1982 83 and was released in the UK in 1983 Boxing made for EMI of songs on their 1984 maxi single Elso magyar orias kislemez and the album Ellenfel nelkul in 1985 refused by EMI Locomotiv GT 74 USA remixed and edited version of All Aboard compiled by Laux in Budapest in 1987 and released in 1988 Locomotiv GT In Warsaw recorded live in Poland in 1976 None of Locomotiv GT s Western European or American releases charted Albums in other countries edit Locomotiv GT Argentina 1973 Ringasd el magad under the title Locomotiv GT Czechoslovakia 1973 Live In Warsaw live Poland 1975 Mindig magasabbra West Germany 1976 Mindenki Czechoslovakia 1979 Todos Spain 1980 Hungary singles edit Boldog vagyok Ha volna szived 1971 Erints meg Kenyeren es vizen 1971 Szeress nagyon Csak egy szora 1972 Hej gyere velem Csavargok angyala 1973 Segits elaludni Mindig csak ott varok rad 1973 Belepes nemcsak tornacipoben Mindenki maskepp csinalja Mozdulnod kell 1978 Annyi mindent nem szerettem Pokolba mar a szep szavakkal Mienk ez a cirkusz Veled csak veled double single 1979 Elso magyar orias kislemez 1984 International singles edit Touch Me Love Me Rock Me Silver Summer 1971 the existence of this single is not proven but it is mentioned in the Lexicon of Rock Music by Peter Tardos Touch Me was later released on a compilation Serenade Give Me Your Love Netherlands 1972 Hilf mir einzuschlafen Ich wart auf dich irgendwo East Germany 1973 German version of the single Segits elaludni Mindig csak ott varok rad Eine kuckucksarmbanduhr Mondschein im haar East Germany 1973 the A side is the German version of the song Kakukkos karora while the B side is the German version of the song Ksiezyc we wlosy by Polish band Skaldowie on the single they are called Die Skalden Rock Yourself Serenade To My Love If I Had One U S 1974 first single off the first English LP released in the same year includes an edited version of Rock Yourself both in mono and stereo version She s Just 14 Free Me US 1974 second single of the LP includes an edited version of She s Just 14 Ringasd el magad The World Watchmaker Poland 1973 1974 includes a live version of Ringasd el magad Rock Yourself probably from the festival in Sopot 1973 the other song The World Watchmaker was written by Polish songwriter Tadeusz Wozniak an original song called Zegarmistrz Swiatla Higher and Higher Lady of the Night live versions of the songs Mindig magasabbra and Alomarcu lany performed in Hungarian only the single has an English title released around 1975 76 probably when the LP Locomotiv GT in Warsaw was released Rock Yourself Serenada Blues came into being under circumstances similar to the previous the second song is not Szerenad but rather Arra mennek en which is followed by a blues song exclusive to this release here Rock Yourself can be heard in English and within it a few lines from Mindenki Vengerszkaja esztrada Soviet Union 1978 part of the soundtrack to Zsombolyai Janos s film A kenguru which contained music by LGT as well as Omega Gemini Skorpio Fonograf Bergendy M7 Koncz Zsuzsa Body Magdi Kovacs Kati and Sarolta Zalatnay LGT s contribution was the English version of Alomarcu lany Lady of the Night but the title Kak ti zsivjos appearing on the disc is in error I ll Get You Star 1979 a promotional single prepared for MIDEM with English versions of Engedj el and Elkesett dal only the lyrics were newly recorded the background music was copied from the original LP Zene Mindenki maskepp csinalja Tantas cosas que no queria 1980 Spain a single from the Todos sampler including the two songs Annyi mindent nem szerettem and Egy elfelejtett szo Two Krugozor 45s 1980 and 1981 Soviet Union Krugozor was a Soviet youth magazine which appeared monthly with an included 45 the 1980 single issue 2 number 11 includes the songs Rajongas Russian Vosztorg as well as A Kicsi a Nagy az Arthur es az Indian Russian Malis Velikan Artur i Indejec the 1981 single issue 11 number 9 includes the songs Cabolo Russian Kabolo and A dal a mienk Russian Pesznya nasa I Want to Be There Portoriko 1983 United Kingdom the first promotional single from Too Long Too Long Surrender to the Heat 1983 United Kingdom the second promotional single from Too Long Too Long Surrender to the Heat 1983 United Kingdom the promotional maxi from Too Long on which can be heard the extended version References edit a b c d e LGT Biography amp History AllMusic Retrieved 2020 07 24 a b c Tamas Barta victim of a drugs ring HVG Kiado Zrt 19 February 2008 Retrieved 15 December 2022 Beecher Mike April 1983 Gabor Pici Presser Electronics amp Music Maker Apr 1983 12 16 Legendary Hungarian Singer Songwriter Gabor Presser Celebrates His 70th Birthday Hungary Today 2018 05 28 Retrieved 2020 07 24 Locomotiv GT Discogs Retrieved 16 December 2022 Rozsonits Tamas A nyughatatlan bohem Frenreisz Karoly eletutja Poptorteneti emlekpont poptortenetiemlekpont hu Retrieved 2020 07 24 in Hungarian a b c d e f g Locomotiv GT europopmusic eu Retrieved 2020 07 24 Batey Angus 2015 10 13 Cult heroes Sarolta Zalatnay the Hungarian Janis Joplin who was key to rock s evolution The Guardian ISSN 0261 3077 Retrieved 2020 07 24 a b Doborog a Loksi a nulladik napon Origo Retrieved 2020 07 24 in Hungarian Locomotiv GT Deutsche Mugge Retrieved 2020 07 24 Great Western Festival 1972 Lincoln ukrockfestivals com Retrieved 2020 07 24 Lazar Gyorgy 29 April 2021 Call to reopen the investigation of the death of Tamas Barta Hungarian Rock Star Hungarian Free Press Retrieved 15 December 2022 The Tamas Barta film can be watched again after the Mansion suspended the court s decision on it Archyworldys 30 September 2021 Retrieved 15 December 2022 Eszter Hajdu Tamas Barta The Legend National Film Institute Hungary Retrieved 15 December 2022 a b Locomotiv GT Locomotiv GT Songs Reviews Credits AllMusic retrieved 2020 07 24 Gyasz Meghalt Somlo Tamas in Hungarian Meghalt Laux Jozsef in Hungarian External links edit Official band website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Locomotiv GT amp oldid 1149744087, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
