Friday, August 1, 2025

SKY HIGH – Sky High (Good Vibes, 1980)

 
Swedish vocals
International relevance: *

Guitarist Clas Yngström had been active since the early 70s and appeared on disc already in 1971 on Acke Gårdenäs's (Acke & Gurra) single ”There Is A Man In The Rain”. He joined forces with Dennis Huntington (Love Explosion) in political rock band Röda Ropet and appeared on their lone album ”Spänn bågen” in 1975. In the same year he took a real step forward as a guitarist with Soffgruppen who released their ”Greatest Sits”, one of the most forceful fusion jazz albums released in Sweden. He stayed with Soffgruppen for a couple of years, and following their demise, he started power trio Sky High in 1978. Starting out as a lingonberry version of Jimi Hendrix performing mostly his songs, they later turned into a lingonberry version of ZZ Top.

Sky High's first single was released by Sista Bussen in 1979, featuring completely pointless and more or less note-by-note covers of ”Red House” and ”Stone Free”. They then switched to Swedish vocals for a second Sista Bussen single, the anti nuclear power track ”Säj nej... till kärnkraft” backed with ”Säj ja... till livet”. The 'A' side was a translated Earl King cover while the flipside was a funky original track. The Hendrix influence is still evident, and Yngström really loves his own guitar wanking.

The eponymous debut album also appeared in shops in 1980. Only one Jimi cover, a translated version of ”I Don't Live Today”, but Yngström's own songs sound so much like Hendrix covers too that it's almost identity theft. Plus, he's a very nondescript singer. The only thing that gives this album some character is that all lyrics are in Swedish, something that would change already to the even more unlistenable second album ”Still Rockin'” from 1982.

”Sky High” was reissued on CD in 2005 with ”Red House” from the debut single plus both tracks from the second one as bonuses. Also added were two further provocatively redundant Hendrix covers (in English), ”Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)” and ”Little Wing”.

Full album playlist with bonus tracks 
"Stone Free"

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