Odessa has always been the "cradle" of the Russian criminal song. During the Soviet era, while official music was focused on "positive" socialist construction, Odessa’s underground was singing about irony, debauchery, and the clever swindlers of the Moldavanka.
Dive into the Soul of the Moldavanka: "Odessa Chanson – 150 Blatnyx Hits (Part 1)"
Bringing his classic baritone to the Odessa myths.
This compilation captures that specific "Yiddish-inflected humor" and the swashbuckling Jewish gangster archetype popularized by writers like Isaac Babel. It’s music that was often forbidden but always played—on hidden tape recorders or in smoky backrooms. Where to Listen
The first installment kicks off a marathon of 150 songs, organized into six parts with 25 tracks each. It features a "Who’s Who" of the genre, including legends like: The king of underground Soviet magnitizdat.
You can find the full first part of this compilation on platforms like and Odnoklassniki , where fans have preserved these rare recordings for the digital age.
– Capturing the vibe of Odessa’s most famous beach. Why Odessa?
