The Theo Schumann Combo was one of the first beat bands in the former East Germany. In 1969, they released their debut album – naturally on the state-run label AMIGA.

The song titles sounded like original compositions: Derby, Vesuv, Hackepeter – but clues about the original songwriters? Nowhere to be found. On the cover: no mention of the original composers or authors. Not a coincidence, since Western music was officially frowned upon in the East, behind the Iron Curtain – let alone covering it.

But that’s exactly what the Theo Schumann Combo did. And how! The record is full of (uncredited) cover versions of Western songs – hidden behind new titles and with no source listed anywhere.

One of my favorites: Hackepeter – the East German version of Booker T. & The MG’s Hip Hug-Her. Grooves just like the original, but sounds more like a Leipzig Plattenbau than a Memphis studio.