NATIONALTEATERN - Complete albums 1972-1981

The origins of Nationalteatern can be traced back to Lilla Teatern in Lund that developed into Malmö based Gorillateatern. When they split in two in 1969, Dalateatern became one part and Nationalteatern the other. Nationalteatern relocated to Gothenburg in 1970, and the following year, songwriters Anders Melander and Ulf Dageby joined the troupe. Throughout the decade, Nationalteatern wrote plays and music that acknowledged the suburban youth that felt ignored by society and its politicians. Nationalteatern appeared at lots of youth centres in and around Gothenburg, slowly building an appreciative following with their straightforward music and socially aware lyrics. They also wrote several children's plays.

Ta det som ett löfte... ta det inte som ett hot (MNW, 1972)
Swedish vocals, instrumental

International relevance: **

Nationalteatern's first album was a product of its time, permeated by the idea that everybody should play an instrument to create a truly collective effort. Not everyone was keen on that, group member Med Reventberg admitted in an interviewfor Swedish pod radio show Snedtänkt in 2018. She had no interest in playing the guitar or whatever, and thought it would be much better if the musicianship was left to those who mastered better than she (and others) did. It's easy to get the impression that it was solely a concession to the era's fashionable collectivity ethos, and that impression grows even stronger upon hearing ”Ta det som ett löfte... ta det inte som ett hot”. ”Ut i kylan” is a decent track, and one of the few here not entirely lost to the communal/collective nonsense. This is easily the worst of Nationalteatern's 70's albums (”Kåldolmar och kalsipper” doesn't quite count).

Two cover variations exist, the original with a light green colour – a misprint – and a later version in a much darker green as seen above.

Livet är en fest (MNW, 1974)

Swedish vocals
International relevance: *

Nationalteatern's most classic album. ”Livet är en fest” is like a 'best of' album of sorts, collecting the musical highlights from several different stage plays. Many of the songs have an anti-drug message clad in irony that was easy to distinguish at the time. But irony's often lost over time, and today people unfamiliar with the songs original context misinterpret them as being pro drugs (which Anders Melander has commented on with a fair bit of unease). The songs have survived, but not so much the original meaning of them. In an awkward way, that proves that good songs have a greater longevity than the message.

And the songs are good, with plenty of memorable hooks. But that doesn't mean I want to hear them over and over again, not anymore. The title track was originally performed as a country song but transformed into a Rolling Stones inspired rock workout is overplayed, ”Lägg av” is simply embarassing today and ”Stena Olssons Compagnie” – a reworking of The Coasters' ”Riot in Cell Block No. 9” – is hard to listen to today, as is the irritating mock reggae of ”Speedy Gonzales” and the crypto calypso of ”Hanna från Arlöv”. But I still like Melander's ”Jack the Ripper” and ”Bängen trålar”, but two tracks are enough only for a single, not an album. A seriously overplayed album.

Beware of early CD editions, remixed with reverb added to the original recordings to make them sound more 'contemporary'. When confronted, Ulf Dageby replied ”who cares about mixings?” Well I, for one, do. And I, for one, don't like revisionism.

Kåldolmar och kalsipper (MNW, 1976)

Swedish vocals, spoken word
International relevance: *

Briefly mentioned in my children's progg post, this is a kids' record with a plot being a mish-mash of several different Nationalteatern plays. Heralded as a classic children's album, ex-members of Nationalteatern later said it didn't turn out quite as consistent as it should have. When they recorded it there were also fights over the overt political opinions expressed on the album. While Nationalteatern always had a left-wing bent, they rarerly stated it that openly, usually only describing social issues and problems, leaving the listener/spectator to draw their own conclusions.

Obviously, the songs on ”Kåldolmar och kalsipper” are aimed at kids and not very fun to listen to, but ”Agamemnons stora ballad om flykten från sitt hemland” and ”Jenny, havets skräck” are OK even to grown-up ears.

Vi kommer att leva igen (Nacksving, 1977)

as Nynningen & Nationalteatern

Swedish vocals
International relevance: *

In early 1977, the Big 2 of Gothenburg progg, Nynningen and Nationalteatern. joined forces for a stage play about the oppression of the Native Americans, just in time for the 200th anniversary of the United States of America. Despite the collaboration, ”Vi kommer att leva igen” is more of a Nationalteatern album as Ulf Dageby wrote all the songs for it. Not very good songs though, too dependent on the stage context.

1977 was also the year of Tältprojektet, a large scale collaboration between several independent theatre groups and musicians, and often considered the peak of the 70's music and theatre movements.

Barn av vår tid (Nacksving, 1978)

International relevance: *

Swedish vocals

Few album covers have captured the feeling of late 70's grey hopelessness as well as ”Barn av vår tid”, and the music reflects it. Nationalteatern's best album, with songs like ”Kolla kolla”, ”Spisa” and the majestic, eerie title track crowning the album – one of the major songs of the progg era. And ”Men bara om min älskade väntar” is perhaps the best Swedish Dylan translation ever, of ”Tomorrow Is a Long Time”, heartfelt and sincerely sung by Totta Näslund, originally of Nynningen but from ”Kåldolmar och kalsipper” more and more involved in Nationalteatern.

Rockormen (Nacksving, 1979)

Swedish vocals

International relevance: *

Recorded while on tour with the ”Rockormen” 'rock opera' in late 1978. With Ulf Dageby taking a step back only providing two songs and lyrics for another, members Peter Wahlqvist and Bertil Goldberg wrote most of the remaining material. With none of them being as driven songwriters as Ulf Dageby and the then ex-member Anders Molander, the album is weak.

Rövarkungens ö (Nacksving, 1980)

Swedish vocals

International relevance: **

Ulf Dageby had grown increasingly unhappy with the theatre format. He wanted to write songs without having to consider a plot or stage functionality. ”Rövarkungens ö” clearly demonstrates in what direction Dageby wanted to go. The tracks are longer, most of them around 5-7 minutes long, and the title track even clocking in at 12 minutes. It's obvious Dageby enjoyed his new-found freedom and Totta Näslund's vocals, but the album is pretty dull in that Nacksving way.

Luffarrock – en lurkmusikal (Nacksving, 1981)

Swedish vocals
International relevance: *

A 'musical' originally written and performed in 1974-75, the songs weren't recorded and released on disc until 1981. An often overlooked entry in Nationalteatern's discography, or should I say ignored? It's best left that way, unless you want silly songs sometimes performed in a semi-reggae style that doesn't sit at all well with the band. A terribly stiff production too. 

All Nationalteatern albums have been reissued. 9CD box set "Lägg av! Historien om Nationalteatern" compiled the albums in their entirety, adding numerous bonus tracks. A live session from "Lägg av!" is also featured in "Progglådan".

The theatre division of Nationalteatern released one further album on Amalthea in 1987 ”Peter Pan”, a children's play with the spoken parts interspersed with horrible synth laden musical bits, before dissolving in 1993. Nationalteatern's the rock band has reunited several times, released a live album in 1991, and another one in 2006. They're still active performing their old hits to nostalgic audiences across Sweden.

Ulf Dageby has released several solo albums, and also composed the soundtrack to Stefan Jarl's movie ”Ett anständigt liv”. The versatile Anders Melander has contributed music to a number of movies and television series, as well forming the shortlived band Cue with actor Niklas Hjulström.

Ta det som ett löfte full album playlist with bonus tracks
Livet är en fest full album playlist
Kåldolmar och kalsipper full album playlist
Vi kommer att leva igen full album playlist
Barn av vår tid full album playlist
Rockormen full album playlist with bonus tracks
Rövarkungens ö full album playlist
Luffarrock full album playlist
Tonkraft 1975 full album playlist