MIKAEL RAMEL – Förvånansvärt (Knäppupp, EP 1967)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: **
Mikael Ramel's first proper solo release is an EP with four tracks released while he was still in Steampacket. His melodic style was already there albeit a little but undeveloped at this early stage. The best song is ”Bara ett par dar”, an acoustic version of a Steampacket track released the same year. A very charming EP but not on the level of his later masterpieces.
A World Of Roses / My Very Special Dream (Parlophone, 1969)
A Present For Tonight / Taken For A Ride (Toniton, 1970)
English vocals
International relevance: **
A Stockholm band that already had three singles out before ”A World Of Roses”. They were really a commercial pop band covering Neil Sedaka and a bad Yardbirds song but got a wee bit psychedelic on their last two 45s. ”A World Of Roses” is a Göran Lagerberg composition not released by Tages and a rather good track at that with some nice guitar work. Both tracks on their final outing are Rowing Gamblers originals, and especially ”Taken For A Ride” has obvious psychedelic overtones with a drowsy beat and Paul McCartney styled bass.
SOMMARFILOSOFERNA – På en sommardag / På en sommarnatt (Mercury, 1970)
Swedish vocals
”På en
sommardag” is a Swedish version of Mungo Jerry's ”In The
Summertime”, a song I've tried to escape for my entire life. The
slightly jazzy ”På en sommarnatt” is better but still not good.
The single is mainly notable for having Björn Töpel and Göran
Lagerberg from Tages, along with Björn J:son Lindh. and Jan Bandel
on banjo, surprisingly enough. Sommarfilosoferna were a project put together by producer Anders "Henkan" Henriksson.
KENT-MORGANS – Balladen om Kalle / Brother Hood Feeling (Marilla, 1971)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: *
One of the strangest
inclusions in the ”The Encyclopedia Of Swedish Progressive Music”
as Kent-Morgans were nothing but a typical Swedish dance band in the
vein of Sven-Ingvars. Tobias Peterson calls ”Brother Hood Feeling”
”basement psychedelia” but I don't know where he got that from. Bengt Dahlberg's fuzz guitar isn't enough. Dahlberg was later in Acke &
Gurra.
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TOM ZACHARIAS – Josephine / Roller (Green Light, 1971)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: **
This
was years before his infamous ”Belinda” album, and there are no
traces of the pornographic lyrics of that album here. Instead, this
is debile folk pop and decrepit rock. Interesting only because of the
Green Light label, MNW's early 70s subsidiary.
XTRA – Vatten / Kaffepannan (CBS, 1971)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: **
The first of two Xtra 45s, a band best known for
their album ”Oh! 10-15” from which the 'A' side was taken.
”Kaffepannan” is the interesting one here as it's a non-album
track. It's not essential though, an instrumental sounding like a
theme song to an imaginary drama documentary on royal life in the
Middle Ages.
HASSE PERMBO
Soliga minnen / Nu piskar regnet (Playback, 1972)
Balladen om Karl Hubert / Satir i moll (Playback, 1973)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: */**
A singer/songwriter of sorts with peculiar lyrics.
Something about him reminds of Kjell Höglund but without his talent
for exact and well-phrased words. The second single is the better of
the two thanks to ”Satir i moll” which is an entirely unexpected
heavy track with an strange loop melody contrasting the lighter
chorus.
PERSONS BAND – Miljö-låt / När vi fått det för bra (Euphonic, 1973)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: *
Only
recording from this Tranås band on local label Euphonic. The vocal
credits are split between the two songwriters Lennart Ljungdahl and
Peter Ljungkvist. Both sides are rather poppy with apple-cheeked
vocals but with OK guitar playing. Ljungdahl's ”Miljö-låt” is a
little better. Both songs have a diluted political message. A privately released CDr of rehearsal recordings from 1973-1974 also exists.
JACONNE – Earth / Polisen (TOR, 1977)
Swedish vocals, English vocals
International relevance:
TOR was a commercial pop and dance band
label, and Jaconne falls in the first category. ”Earth” reveals a
light Beatles and E.L.O. influence. ”Polisen” has an irritating
melody and lyrics against police violence. The odd thing about it all
is that the trigger happy guitar player who sounds as if he believes
he's in a heavy metal band which he clearly isn't.
Mikael Ramel full EP
Sommarfilosoferna full single playlist
Kent-Morgans full single playlist
Persons Band full single playlist
Rowing Gamblers:
A World Of Roses
My Very Special Dream
A Present For Tonig
Taken For A Ride
Tom Zacharias:
Josephine
Roller
Xtra:
Vatten
Kaffepannan
Hasse Permbo:
Soliga minnen
Nu piskar regnet
Balladen om Karl Hubert
Satir i moll
Jaconne:
Earth
Polisten
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