BABY GRANDMOTHERS – Baby Grandmothers (Subliminal Sounds, 2007; recorded 1967-68) / Tune In, Turn On, Drop Out (Premium Publishing, 2007; recorded 1967)

A crucial psychedelic pre-progg band with future Mecki Mark Men and/or Kebnekajse members Kenny Håkansson, Pelle Ekman and Bella Linnarsson (then Bella Ferlin). Baby Grandmothers were part of the Club Filips circuit along with Hansson & Karlsson to name one of the best known acts associated with the club. Baby Grandmothers only released one single during their existence, the legendary ”Somebody Keeps Calling My Name”/”Being Is More Than Life” on the Finnish Forward! label, produced by the illustrious M.A. Numminen. Baby Grandmothers have reunited in later years.

Baby Grandmothers (Subliminal Sounds, 2007; recorded 1967-68)
English vocals, instrumental

International relevance: ***

Compiling both sides of their lone 45 and a couple of live recordings made at two 1967 Club Filips dates and in Finland in 1968, this Subliminal Sounds release is the most important artefact documenting the original Baby Grandmothers and a truly grand and illuminating example of the Swedish psychedelic underground at its most intimidating. Kenny Håkansson's guitar sound is so evil it eats gerbils for breakfast and horses for lunch.

Without the restrictions that came with only seven inches of vinyl (they pushed the limits of the format with ”Somebody Keeps Calling My Name”), they could stretch out for however long they wanted in front of an audience. Two of the three Filips tracks move towards the 20 minute mark – the uninhibited Grandmothers in full flight. And the sound quality is impressive for the time.

The two tracks from Finland in March 1968 (around the time of the 45 sessions) make a lot of noise but not so much sense, basically being snippets.

Tune In, Turn On, Drop Out (Premium Publishing, 2007; recorded 1967)

International relevance: ***

Instrumental

This disc features a different live recording from Club Filips, made about a month prior to the one found on the Subliminal Sounds set. It finds Baby Grandmothers in a looser mode which is code for less focused. True they work up a frenzy during this half hour set but it's really pretty straggly. Also, ”Tune In, Turn On, Drop Out” is very hard to find, originally only available as a bonus disc with early copies of the ”Encyclopedia of Swedish Progressive Rock 1967-1979” book.

Baby Grandmothers reunited in the 2010's and released a comeback album called "Merkurius" in 2018.

Baby Grandmothers full album playlist

Tune In, Turn On, Drop Out full album