BLOND – The Lilac Years (Fontana, 1969)

English vocals
International relevance: **

”The Lilac Years” is essentially the final Tages album minus Tommy Blom who left the band in 1968 for a short-lived and not very successful solo career. Blond was an attempt of the remaining members plus new recruit Anders Nordh (King George Discovery, Life, Bättre Lyss, Figaro) to establish a career outside of Sweden (hence the name change), with the album released in such diverse territories as the U.S. (with altered sleeve design, see below), the Netherlands, the U.K., South Africa and New Zealand.

While retaining their melodic sensibilities refined during the Tages years, their long-time producer Anders ”Henkan” Henriksson provided them with a heavier sound as on ”This Is Mine”, ”I Pick Up The Bus”, the storming ”Six White Horses” and the album's proggiest track ”Caroline”. Some sunshine pop drags the album down a bit, but when they go baroque pop on ”There's A Man Standing In The Corner” and the melancholic ”(I Will Bring You) Flowers In The Morning”, their softer side is utilized to great results. The best track on the entire album is one of those tracks too, ”The Lilac Years”, a wonderful six minute adaptation of the Swedish folk song ”De sålde sina hemman”, also known as ”Emigrantvisa” (and previously recorded by jazz pianist Jan Johansson).

The CD reissue is augmented with four singles tracks including ”How Can I Pray When I Don't Believe” revealing Blond as a band with a heavy rock potential. Also featured is the two part ”Balladen om killen” with Örjan Ramberg on vocals. (Another three songs appear a CD-rom track, from a 1969 TV performance, one a version of ”Caroline” and the other two being covers of The Band and Blood, Sweat And Tears.)

The international launch failed, and Blond split up in 1970, with some of the members going on to other big things.

Full album playlist with bonus tracks
'The Weight' (TV performance)
'My Days Are Numbered' (TV performance)
'Caroline' (TV performance)