In December 1967 Phoenix had their first major series of concerts in many western cities, capped off by two huge concerts in Timișoara. After winning a few prizes in national students' contests, held at Iași the following year, in 1968 they recorded their first EP, "Vremuri", containing two original songs, "Vremuri" and "Canarul", and two covers ("Lady Madonna" - The Beatles and "Friday on My Mind" - The Easybeats). A second EP would follow one year later, named "Floarea stîncilor" ("The Flower of the Rocks"), with all four songs being original compositions. Both albums sport a sound reminiscent of the "beat" style popular in those days.