Thursday, June 26, 2025

BLOMMAN – COMPLETE ALBUMS 1977-1982

Små knepiga låtar (Mercury, 1977)
Om jag lira munspel i Winnipeg Jets (Mercury, 1978)
Jag har fått en elefant (Mercury, 1979)
Blommans epistlar (Planet, 1981)
Stockholm mitt i (Apollo, 1982)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: -

Mentioned in ”The Encyclopedia Of Swedish Progressive Music” in the section for suggested further listening which is the absolutely only reason why I include Blomman's output here. None of his albums is worth approaching in detail as they're all low on proper progg content, so consider this post dutiful and strictly parenthetical. 

Bosse ”Blomman” Blombergh got off to a rough start in life with an extensively troubled childhood. Being unable to properly deal with it, he took to drugs and alcohol with a life of crime following. That includes pimping and wife abuse for which he spent six months in jail. After being released he had a massive tax debt following his successful years as a musician when he managed to release a total of five albums 1977-1982. His albums were generally met with some acclaim, and he even had a couple of decent hits including ”Dom borde tjacka spikskor” off his debut album ”Små knepiga låtar”. His forte was the lyrics, and he had in fact published a book as early as in 1972. Songwriting wasn't his thing however, so he often wrote Swedish lyrics for songs by the likes of Dire Straits, Graham Parker, Randy Newman and J.J. Cale – ”Små knepiga låtar” actually has a full seven Cale compositions!

He may have been a certified arsehole but he wasn't entirely bereft of talent. Many of his translations are rather witty, acidic observations of his time, with wry pokes at the authorities and general stupidity. But if they worked well in his era, some of them feel pretty dated today, and with his earliest albums in particular consisting of non-original material, there's really no need to bother.

"Blommans epistlar" has liner notes by Sweden's most excellent singer/songwriter Cornelis Vreeswijk. One track on "Stockholm mitt i" is co-written with Thommie Fransson who also plays on the album.

Blomman died in 2008, 64 years old.

Små knepiga låtar full album playlist

Om lag lira munspel i Winnipeg Jets full album playlist
Jag har fått en elefant full album playlist

From Blommans epistlar:
Lämna mig inte ensam
From Stockholm mitt i:
Holmen
Rakt in i dimman
Gör nånting
Dan före dan
non-album 'B' side
Lilla Marie

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