MUSIKTEATERGRUPPEN OKTOBER – För släkt och vänner (Amalthea, 1977)

Swedish vocals, spoken word
International relevance: -

Musikteatergruppen Oktober was an integrated part of Tältprojektet, by many considered the zenith of the progg movement, a four hour travelling show telling the history of the working class through the ages. Like their Swedish name implies, Musikteatergruppen Oktober was a music theatre group, founded in Malmö in 1973. They relocated to Södertälje not far from Stockholm in 1978 and quickly became an important force in the city's cultural life (eventually changing their name to Oktoberteatern). Their plays were well recieved, and many (including me) specifically remember their acclaimed children's play”Prins Hatt under jorden” which also became their final record release in 1980. Prior to that, they had co-operated with Bruksteatern on Bertolt Brecht's ”Modern” 1974, and had made the 1976 Swedish movie classic ”Sven Klangs kvintett” about a struggling jazz quintet – an obvious subject for them to deal with, with famed saxophonist Christer Boustedt a prominent member of the ensemble.

”För släkt och vänner” was their third vinyl outing, released in Tältprojektet year 1977, with selections from a cabaret partially recorded at the legendary progg establishment Sprängkullen in Gothenburg. The word 'cabaret' is descriptive enough. The album features long spoken word sections, and the music is largely uninteresting showlike jazz tinged numbers with a socialist message. Musikteatergruppen Oktober certainly had more musical talent to offer than most other independent theatre groups from around the same time, but ”För släkt och vänner” just isn't very fun to listen to. With too many and too longspoken parts, international listeners are emphatically advised to avoid this one.

Eva Rameaus of Musikteatergruppen Oktober was also a much loved children's TV host along with Magnus Härenstam and Brasse Brännström on the much loved educational show ”Fem myror är fler än fyra elefanter” (”five ants are more than four elephants”). She passed away in 1993, not yet 41 years old. Henric Holmberg is also a well known former Oktober member, with for example several stage monologues to his credit.

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