A SEVEN INCH SPECIAL, VOL. 2: Blues

 LIBERTY BLUES – Road Scrambler / Right Way Blues (Marilla, 1971)
English vocals
International relevance: **

All Liberty Blues managed to release during their five year existence was this single. Very much a throwback to the kind of rhythm & blues that was in vogue in the 60s. ”Road Scrambler” is brimming with fuzzed out energy, fighting to get out of the murky cellar in which it was recorded. At least it sounds like that. Being released on Hans Edler's Marilla imprint, maybe a few cents were put into the recording after all. The B side is a slow rolling blues but it still has a similar underground vibe including that overheated fuzz solo. Plenty of youthful charm and if you're into the style at all it's rather enjoyable.

OLHSSONS GROVA – One Scotch One Bourbon One Beer / One More Mile (NCS, 1971)
English vocals
International relevance: **

Legendary Kalmar outfit who had two singles out in 1971. This was their first, notable for some mean guitar playing courtesy of Bo Wilson. Wilson much later formed his own group, and the band also has loose ties to another Kalmar band, Kung Tung. It's plain blues, but it's very solid and that guitar elevates the single to a new level. The flipside of their second single was included on ”Swedish Meatballs, Vol. 2”. Both their singles are very rare and expensive.

VIGGO – Sings His Own Mississippi River And Blues In Stockholm (Intersound, 1971)
English vocals
International relevance: *

Norweigan born Viggo Paulsen moved to Stockholm in 1969 and there he recorded his only single. Both songs are just Viggo, his acoustic guitar, harmonica and somewhat tortured vocals. It's not so much blues as a 60s styled folk singer/songwriter. Not very good and certainly not worth the ridiculous asking prices on the collectors market. 

COOL HAMBONE – I'm So Tired Of It / Supervisor Blues (Tibet -46, 1972)
English vocals
International relevance: **

Rolf Wikström's debut was this 33 1/3 rpm single with two songs both around the 6 minute mark. There's not much that differs this from Wikström's better known later efforts except the English vocals. His raspy voice is already there, as is his penchant for overbearing guitar soloing. Without a doubt a desirable item for Wikström freaks but very little on offer to those who are not.

FRIENDS – To Bad / Burning Love (SMF, 1980)
English vocals
International relevance: **

Not to be confused with any other Friends, this is the lost chapter of the Blueset saga, with two original Blueset members, singer/guitarist Kenth Loong and bass player Ingemar Linder. The A side is a Loong original with misspelt title ”To Bad”, a slice of autobiographical blues based rock that isn't very exciting. The flip side is a stiff cover version of Dennis Linde's ”Burnin' Love” made famous by Elvis. Those who expect more of Blueset's shabby, stoned psych blues will be sorely disappointed. Two versions exist, a standard black vinyl issue and a red one.

Liberty Blues full single playlist
Cool Hambone full single playlist

Ohlssons Grova:
One Scotch One Bourbon One Beer
One More Mile
Viggo:
Mississippi River
Blues In Stockholm
Friends no links found

SLIM'S BLUES GANG – The Blues Ain't Strange (Sonet, 1971)

English vocals

International relevance: **

Pianist Per 'Slim' Notini was an early flag-bearer of Swedish blues. He was greatly influenced by piano legends Memphis Slim and Fats Domino, and in 1967 he travelled to Chicago to play with Magic Sam on his classic ”West Side Soul” album. He was one of Peps Persson's earliest musical cohorts, and years later, in 1975, they made the album ”Blues på svenska” together. He also appeared with blues guitarist Rolf Wikström. He also co-founded Swedish world renowned reissue label Route 66 with Jonas Bernholm and Bengt Weine in 1976, championing rhythm & blues from the 40's and 50's, thereby bringing new and extremely well deserved attention to a largely forgotten kind of music.

Although founded already in 1962, Slim's Blues Gang didn't make their debut album ”The Blues Ain't Strange” until 1971 which, as it happens, is the gang's only album. Notini may not be a first rate blues vocalist, but he gets the job done. The album is a very credible effort with a tight and solid backing from Rolf Wikström on guitar, Ola Brunkert on drums, Åke Dahlberg on bass, and Christer Eklund and Olle Frankzén on saxes. The reworking of Elmore James's ”Stranger Blues” (”I'm a Stranger Here) has some really fine guitar work from Wikström, ”Break It on Down” moves its hips in a suggestive way, ”Gone Father Blues” rolls and tumbles along nicely, and the devil-may-care ”Tow Away Zone” is a hint at Notini's stint with Magic Sam. Very good!

Slim Notini later left the devil's music behind, became a Born Again Christian and turned to gospel music full time in the 90's.

Full album playlist

ROLF WIKSTRÖM – The 70s albums

To many, Rolf Wikström is the blues king of Sweden. No matter what you think of him, you have to admit his staying power. He has released numerous albums over the years, the most recent one in 2011, and he's appeared on several more as a studio musician, from the disastrous (Löpande Bandet's ”Nån gång måste man landa”) to the brilliant (John Holm's ”Sordin”). His first solo release was a 45 on the Tibet -46 label as Cool Hambone in 1972. His lyrics are sometimes on the political side. 

Sjung svenska folk (Ljudspår, 1975)
Swedish vocals, instrumental
International relevance: ***

 Rolf Wikström's full length debut established his style which unfortunately also includes his vocals. While the music is OK blues in the Buddy Guy and Albert King vein, Wikström sings as if he had chewed up three pounds of chalk. His voice is so raspy it almost can't produce a sound other than a toneless screach. It's an exceedingly unpleasant experience listening to him. Would it have been better if was an instrumental album? Nope, because his guitar playing is too much as well.

Jävla måndag (MNW, 1978)

as Rolf Wikström's Hjärtslag

Swedish vocals
International relevance: ***

After an LP for the Alternativ label (home of Kjell Höglund with whom Wikström performed on ”Baskervilles hund”), Wikström switched to MNW for ”Jävla måndag”. It's a sometimes funky thing with powerful playing courtesy of his backing band Hjärtslag, and again reminiscent of Albert King. But, again, the album's seriously injured by Wikström's voice that is unbearable. Pity, because this could have been a rather decent album.

Den åttonde dagen (Metronome, 1979)

Swedish vocals

International relevance: **

What Wikström's voice doesn't ruin on ”Den åttonde dagen”, the limp funk/soul/disco moves do. Give it to someone you hate.

Sjung svenska folk full album playlist
Jävla måndag full album playlist

Den åttonde dagen full album playlist

KJELL HÖGLUND - Complete albums 1971-1980

Undran (Alternativ, 1971)

Swedish vocals
International relevance: *

Kjell Höglund's first album, privately recorded, privately released, privately sold (originally with only an inner sleeve). Most of his trademarks are evident already here, small songs asking big questions in unassuming phrases, simple guitar accompaniment and his patented intimate voice. ”Jag hör hur de ligger med varandra i våningen ovanför” is one of Höglund's best known songs but hardly one of his best. The album is endearing for sure but very uneven – not all tracks are as good as ”Denna känsla av undran”, the utterly charming ”Gustav under trappan”, ”Den vita kråkan” and ”Stormen före lugnet” (the latter re-recorded for ”Vägen mot Shangri-La”). 

Later versions have the cover pictured above with the album title handwritten. Same cover was used for "Blomstertid", also with the title in handwriting. 

Blomstertid (Alternativ, 1972)

Swedish vocals, spoken word

International relevance: *

Second album, similar to the first so it makes sense that ”Undran” and ”Blomstertid” was later combined to a double LP. (Original copies were also sold in a white inner sleeve, as with "Undran".) The main difference between the two albums is that Höglund sounds more self-confident here, plus the addition of electric bass on a couple of tracks. ”Du sålde min biljett” is a great track, one of his best from the early years, but ”Blomstertid” has, generally speaking, higher lows and lower highs. Or if you will, it's a less uneven album than ”Undran”. 

Baskervilles hund (Alternativ, 1974)

Swedish vocals

International relevance: **

Höglund matured considerably with ”Häxprocess” released in 1973. With ”Baskervilles hund” (with appearances from Lasse Englund and Rolf Wikström) he had carved out his particular songwriting style rather well. Or actually his two styles – the perky songs, and the more reflective ones which usually are Höglund at his best. A terrific example of the latter is ”Man vänjer sig”, a heartwrenching description of a numbingly dull everyday life but, as the title says, ”you get used to it”... ”Trollfolk på bygden” is another brilliant track, this time featuring a funky full band. And, at the other end of the arrangement spectrum, the hysterically funny a capella tragicomedy of ”Sista valsen”.

This is Höglund's second best album, here and there actually reaching the heights of ”Häxprocess”.

Hjärtat sitter till vänster (Alternativ, 1975)

Swedish vocals

International relevance: *

A disappointment after the great ”Häxprocess” and ”Baskervilles hund”, with uninspired songs, some of them quoting blues and trad jazz with a yawn. Also, Höglund tries to adapt to the political agenda of the time which suits rather bad. He's an observer asking questions, but not leading questions as he does here. Only ”Lågor för dom döda” is up to the usual Höglund standards. 

Wikström and Englund are still on the job, and Greg FitzPatrick, Mats G. Bengtsson (Blå Tåget) and Hans Wiktorsson (Nationalteatern) join in too.

 Doktor Jekylls testamente (Alternativ, 1979)

Swedish vocals
International relevance: *

Pretty much a return to form. (I guess it some kind of inspiration proof that ”Desertören” is 17 minutes long, and thus the longest Höglund track recorded, even beating the title track from ”Häxprocess” with almost two minutes.) Some musical quotes that miss the target but they're easy to bear with when Höglund delivers tracks like the part serious, part ironic ”Höglund har blivit gammal”, the tongue-in-cheek gibe at (political) bigotry ”Slutstrid”, and the lovely almost-a-hit ”Lugnare vatten” (that actually was a hit, with Marie Bergman). Not a bull's eye album, but with several very good moments.

Vägen mot Shangri-La (Alternativ, 1980)

Swedish vocals
International relevance: *

Last album of Höglund's classic era, followed by another four year hiatus. Some good songs (”Holländsk genever”, ”Mr. Swanee”, the superior remake of ”Lugnet före stormen”) but ”Vägen mot Shangri-La” suffers a bit from a sterile production. Not as much as Höglund's later albums that are all suffocated by period synths and dated aesthetics, but a more vivid sound could possibly have given some of the lesser tracks a well needed punch.

Kjell Höglund's next album was "Tidens tempo" in 1984. Again it had some good songs, but the album is drenched in synths and studio polish and is hard to digest. Later albums are even worse productionwise.

Undran full album playlist
Blomstertid full album playlist
Baskervilles hund full album playlist
Hjärtat sitter till vänster full album playlist
Doktor Jekylls testamente full album playlist
Vägen mot Shangri-La full album playlist

RISKEN FINNS – Risken Finns (MNW, 1973) / 2.a LP:n - Hästgryta (MNW, 1975)

Swedish vocals, spoken word

International relevance: **/**

Lund based duo Risken Finns comprised the talents of Lars ”Ferne” Fernebring who went solo after the duo's breakup, and Gunnar Danielsson who went on to form Ensamma Hjärtan after leaving Risken Finns. In a time when the political movement gained momentum and the clearly phrased message impossible to misunderstand was the order of the day, Risken Finns went for satire and absurdist humour. They made several appearances on high profile TV shows (even as early as in 1972, before they had made an album) and were often heard on the radio. Some people didn't get what the duo was all about, and Swedish Radio received several outraged complaints for allowing them air time. At one point, there was even a bomb scare at one of their shows!

Roger Wallis at MNW was so enamoured by an early Risken Finns's TV perfomance that he asked them to record their first, eponymous album for the label, engaging several noted musicians for the sessions, including Greg FitzPatrick, blues guitarist Rolf Wikström and Mats G. Bengtsson of Gunder Hägg/BlåTåget. ”Risken Finns” includes the classic, ramshackle ”Du känner väl mig...” that soon became one of the best known progg songs, a 'hit' of sorts from a sphere where hits were considered philistine. 

”Risken Finns” is a diverse work, making use of a variety of styles depending on what the lyrics needed. It's however unfair to assume that the album is a joke. While their lyrics are important to fully appreciate Risken Finns, most of the songs are really good with several unexpected twists and turns, often within an acoustic framework, but sometimes roaring loud with electricity. Refreshingly free from dated one-dimensional slogans, ”Risken Finns” still stands up well and remains a true progg classic.

Second album ”Hästgryta” opens with the first part of the triptych ”Självkritik” (”self-criticism”), a hard groin kick to proselytizers and glazed-eyed 'radicals' sitting on their asses acheiving nothing but talk and more talk about changing the world through pot or revolution. Risken Finns were the truthtelling fools at the political table, poking fun at every stupidity they could identify no matter where they found it. Since bigotry is still alive and well today and probably will remain so forever, their albums will never become outdated.

”Hästgryta” was recorded at home in Gunnar Danielsson's apartment, thus losing the forceful sonics characteristic to some of the tracks off their debut. But if the setting is sparser, the impact of the content isn't lessened at all. It's such a shame that listeners not familiar with the Swedish language won't be able to fully appreciate Risken Finns, but for those who are, ”Hästgryta” is every bit as essential as their mandatory maiden work.

Risken Finns also appears on 1972 V/A comp ”Låtar från Knuff” with songs from one of the TV shows they appeared on, and on ”Alternativ Festival” recorded in 1975 during the protest live show against the Eurovision Song Contest. "Progglådan" features three track recorded live in Stockholm.

Risken Finns full album playlist
Hästgryta full album playlist

Tonkraft
"Glada Åsnans teater"
"Risken bloos"
"1945 minus roten ur ett år tomma mängden"