Before there was ”Progglådan” and
before there was a Mellotronen label raiding the Swedish Radio
archives for other previously unreleased live tapes by notable bands, there was
”Tonkraft – Levande musik från Sverige”, three double LP
volumes of Swedish bands recorded for the Tonkraft radio show that
ran from 1971 to 1980. (It was preceded by another show, Midnight
Hour.) All in excellent sound quality, the first volume covered
1972-74, the second 1975-76, and the third one 1977-78, all of them
with a number of bands featured with one track each. Today the 'one
band, one song' format is antiquated with the demand for preferably
complete sessions, but the Tonkraft albums were long the only place
to go if you wanted more progg than what was available on the
artists' original albums and singles.
Despite that the 40CD ”Progglådan” box
set contains many of the recordings from the original ”Tonkraft” albums, they aren't entirely redundant since they
still feature recordings not available elsewhere. Also, there are a
couple of bands here that never released any discs of their own, or
bands that at least were underrepresented on vinyl back in the day,
such as Plus Gäster, Kolossos Sandaler, Doggers Bankar, Kapten Krok,
and Harem to mention a few. Also, some of the better known artists
have tracks here not on any of their regular releases, among them
Anna Själv Tredje, Mikael Ramel, Mount Everest, Berits Halsband,
Elda Med Höns and Ensamma Hjärtan.
Taken together, the three 2LP's work as
a quick (i.e. not sufficiently representative) 'here and now' (or now, rather a 'there and then') guide to
what the music movement and progg had to offer.
Tonkraft – Levande musik från
Sverige 1972-74 (Tonkraft, released 1980)
Featured artists: Peps Bluesband /
Pugh & Nature / Hoola Bandoola Band / Trotsålderns Barn / Södra
Bergens Balalaikor / Mikael Ramel & Unga Hjärtan / Kebnekajse /
Solar Plexus / Plus Gäster / Blå Tåget / Samla Mammas Manna /
Hörselmat / Mount Everest / Berits Halsband
International relevance: ***
Swedish vocals, instrumental
Several good ones here, most notably
from Peps Bluesband, Pugh Rogefeldt with Nature, and Kebnekajse going
berserk in a version of ”Comanche Spring”. Of the otherwise
undocumented bands, the completely unknown Plus Gäster's ”I
badkaret” is the best, like a blend of Kebnekajse and Fläsket Brinner.
Tonkraft – Levande musik från
Sverige 1975-76 (Tonkraft, released 1981)
Featured artists: John Holm /
Kolossos Sandaler / Norrbottens Järn / Doggers Bankar / Omlopp /
Första Förband / Fläsket Brinner / Elda Med Höns / Östan Sol,
Västan Måne / Eldkvarn / Kornet / Vargavinter / Kjell Höglund /
Iskra / Guran / Trettioåriga Kriget / Kapten Krok / Resa
Swedish vocals, instrumentalInternational relevance: ***
Tonkraft – Levande musik från
Sverige 1977-78 (Tonkraft, released 1982)
Featured artists: Rolf Wikströms
Hjärtslag / Moder Svea / Horizont / Dimmornas Bro / Norrlåtar /
Ensamma Hjärtan / Folk Och Rackare / Harem / Solen Skiner / Rekyl /
Little Big Horns / Mora Träsk / Alter Ego / Anna Själv Tredje / Hot
Salsa / Contra / Ramlösa Kvällar / Tintomara
Swedish vocals, English vocals,
instrumental
International relevance: ***
International relevance: ***
As a sample of progg's stylistic
development from 1972 to 1978, the ”Tonkraft” volumes are fine,
but from a musical point of view, a 'best of' would be much more
listenable.
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