A VARIOUS ARTISTS SPECIAL: 4 POLITICAL COMPILATIONS

While several of the communist-run labels are held in higher regard by collectors of political progg, the Swedish Social Democratic Party also established a couple of imprints to get their message out to the record buying audience. A Disc in particular released a few memorable albums in the 70's and 80's, but as in the case of for example communist flagship label Proletärkultur, the message a bit too often got in the way of the music itself. Here are three releases related to the Social Democratic Party.

ARBETARRÖRELSENS SÅNGER (Pogo Plattan, 1976)

Featured artists: Per Myrberg / Ulla Sjöblom / Giovanni Jaconelli / Alf Petersén / Sone Banger and others

Swedish vocals

International relevance: *

Pogo Plattan was the short-lived record division of Pogo Produktion, formerly Pogo Pedagog, publishers of educational material widely used in Swedish schools in the 70's and 80's. (Anyone who grew up in those days remembers Pogo Produktion with a blend of nostalgia och terminal boredom.) The double album ”Arbetarrörelsens sånger” were made with the same ambition, to educate people, in this case on songs of the labour movement (like the Swedish title says). ”L'Internationale” is featured twice.

While technically a concept album rather than a various artists comp, it utilizes a plethora of musicians, such as domestically well-known singers Per Myrberg and Ulla Sjöblom against a backdrop of multiple string and wind instruments. It's an ambitious high budget project, but also annoyingly self-righteous and rosy-cheeked with a slight touch of cabaret. Unless you're into that kind of stuff, the album is virtually unlistenable. The musical progg factor is lacking, but keep in mind that albums like this too were a part of the progg era and mentality.

 GLIMTAR (UR KULTURPROGRAMMEN VID ABF FORUM) (A Disc, 1977)

Featured artists: Aldekören / Carlstad Jazzquintet / Ransäterspöjkera / Kiko del Paraguay / Johnny Soling / Agö Fyr / Björn Ehrling / Doremikören / Göteborgs Visgrupp / Bo Harald & Prins Oskar / Ö-barna / Nannie Porres / Slumpens Skördar / Ingegerd Nordell / Tigris / Buddies (Södra Roslagens Big Band) / Carlstad Big Band / Barabbas / Pegasus / Dammet Yr / Mantra

 Swedish vocals, English vocals, instrumental

International relevance: *

Another double album, this time with a selection of performances recorded in conjunction with a forum meeting in Karlstad 16-19 April, 1977, and arranged by ABF, Arbetarrörelsens bildningsförbund (the Workers' Educational Association), founded in 1912 and the biggest educational association in Sweden today.

The album is a mixed bag of non-professionals and better known artists such as Göteborgs Visgrupp, Agö Fyr and noted vocalist Nannie Porres. It covers jazz (big bands and modern jazz and some points in-between), traditional music from several countries, rock, and funk. In short, it's all over the place both stylistically and qualitywise. Some of it is plain terrible, some is decent, jazz band Barabbas' ”Improvisation” is the best. Without any cohesiveness, ”Glimtar” as a whole doesn't rise above its snapshot intentions.

A second, single disc volume of ”Glimtar” was released in 1978, featuring some of the artists appearing on the first volume.

LÅT RÄTTEN FLÖDA FRAM (Vänster-vind, 1976)

Featured artists: Lena Hellström / Gunnar Kampe / Lars-Åke Lundberg / Ramon Anthin / Åke Andreasson

Swedish vocals

International relevance: *

 

Socialism and Christianity might seem as uncomfortable bedfellows, but this album was initiated by Christian members of the Social Democratic Party. I'm not going to keep you in the dark: it's every bit as dull as the cover art suggests. Anyone familiar with standard Xian 70's albums from the US and the UK pretty much knows what to expect – haughtily performed semi-folksy singer/songwriter stuff by artists either unknown outside religious circles or entirely unknown altogether. 

Exceptions to this rule can however be found on this album. All of the participants was highly active within their field; the most prolific might be priest Lars-Åke Lundberg who has written plenty of psalms, released multiple albums, published many books, and was awarded with a prestigeous royal medal in 2009.

The best track here is Åke Andreasson's ”Amos”, but it's nowhere close to being an excuse for an album that mostly sounds like a third rate Peter, Paul & Mary or a conspicously untalented Dan Berglund. 

Comes with a lyric folder.

 NOTERAT (Frihets Förlag, 1976)

Featured artists: Vencemeros / Med Mera / Röda Flammorna / Progressiv / Unga Örnar Stureby / Facklan / unnamed artist

 Swedish vocals

International relevance: *

Frihets Förlag only released two full length albums, both of the various artists compilation, the first one was ”Så här är det” in 1975, the second was ”Noterat” from the following year, comprising six outfits (one unnamed) from the more radical spectrum of the Social Democratic Party's youth alliance SSU. Two of Vencemeros' four tracks, ”Fransisco Franco” and ”Ta nu min hand”, are the best in this heap of unimpressive folk pop.