DIDDLERS – Is Good For You (Sonet, 1969)

English vocals, Swedish vocals, other languages
International relevance: *

An early incarnation of folk band Låt & Trall, and more interesting from a historical point of view than a musical one. Musicwise it's straight-laced folk music with a very strong Irish bent. This may be 1969, but these days you can go to any local fake 'Oyrish' pub and hear exactly the same thing you hear on this album, complete with a mock accent put on for 'authenticity'. It works best when the always genuine Marie Selander takes the lead, as on the best cut ”Go To Sea Once More”.

Selander is one of the participants who later got an artistically rewarding career. Add to that Urban Yman who went on to Blå Tåget and the various Träd, Gräs & Stenar incarnations. The ever present master musician Kjell Westling was also a member of Diddlers, as were Pyret Lindström and Slim Lidén who both joined Freedom Singers a few years later (along with Selander).

By the way, shouldn't it be "ARE" instead of "IS" in the title?

Full album playlist

LÅT & TRALL – Låt & Trall (Sonet, 1971) / Gamla go'bitar (Europafilm, 1973)

International relevance: **/**

Swedish vocals, English vocals, instrumental

Originally known as Diddlers, this folk outfit changed their name to Låt & Trall when member Sten Erik 'Pyret' Moberg left the band. Not that they had any talent shortage with Kjell Westling, Urban Yman, Marie Selander and the beautiful-voiced Fred Lane in the band.

With Moberg's departure, the band's Irish oriented repertoire expanded to include Swedish tunes as well. ”Låt & Trall” was produced by folk legend Sam Charters and the second one by Bo Anders Larsson and the band, but they basically sound the same mixing instrumental tunes with vocal tracks in an acoustic, down-to-earth style. ”Gamla go'bitar” is a little bit better with richer arrangements, but they're both solid affairs worth hearing to fans of no frills traditional folk.

Från "Gamla go'bitar":

North Sea Holes 

Blackleg Miner