Mikis Theodorakis collaborated with the poet Manos Eleftheriou on the collection of songs called Ta Laika, or The Popular Songs. Using simple melodies based on Greek folk music and simple direct lyrics which tell a story by a single image, the two create a masterpiece of modern Greek music. Unfortunately they create this album in 1967 at the exact time that the Greek colonels have overthrown the government and put in its place a military dictatorship which among other things has banned Theodorakis music and placed him under arrest. It will be eight years until the people of Greece hear this remarkable album.

Listen to To Paliakari Echi Kaimo from Ta Laika
Listen to S'Afti Ti Geitonia from Ta Laika