Matti Caspi - Another Side (dedicated to children) (NMC 1980)

In the late 70’s Caspi began composing to songs of the TV show “The carousel”. It can be assumed that writing more than fifteen new songs for kids (among them “My Dreidel”) was a stimulant to Caspi’s decision to release an album entirely dedicated to children songs.

The album contains songs that were composed since the start of Caspi’s activity as a musician. Most of the songs were originally performed by other artists (Tikki Dayan, Netanela, Hava Alberstein, Yafa Yarkony and Dudu Zakai), by Caspi himself, and the minority of them was written especially for this album. The album’s title and design (by David Tratkober) intentionally resemble “Side A Side B” which was released two years before: in both cases Caspi focused on recording songs that were mostly performed by other artists originally.

Among the songs that were especially recorded for this album, is the distinguished song that opens the album “It May Be Offending”. This song, like many songs in the album, doesn’t fall short in its quality of other of the best songs Matti has written for adults. The short and direct text allows Caspi to embark on a musical journey which turns the song into a Brazilian celebration. Also notable is the marvelous performance of “My Little Sister” which differs a lot from Yafa Yarkony’s original performance, and Caspi’s first performance which was recorded seven years earlier. The album allowed Caspi to record “Little Dog” all over again when this time a flute replaces the piano. Also participated in the recording of the album are Matti’s regular musicians, with whom he worked that time: Jean Paul Zimbris, Haim Romao, Koby Cohen, and also string instrument musicians from the philharmonic: trumpeters Itamar Argov and Avraham Felder, saxophonists Peter Wertheimer and Morton Kam, trombonist Eddie Klovsky, Motti Adony and Shem Tov Levy on the flute. Matti Caspi plays the drums, guitar, bass, piano, clarinet, synthesizer, congas and some Brazilian percussion.

Between the songs, three short instrumental pieces were placed. The most prominent of which is “A Playing Piano”, one of the most beautiful and lesser known compositions of Caspi.

The album was accompanied by a concert tour where Matti Caspi combined children performing the songs, as singers as well as musicians or as huge paper notes holders… One of theses has grown to be percussionist Gaddi Serri. In spite of the unique show, Caspi has expressed disappointment in the past, regarding the album’s success: “When I released the album ‘Another Side’ it was a commercial disaster. People just didn’t buy it. Today I believe it was ahead of its time. It was far more advanced than other children albums of that time that were mostly low quality”.