JANNE SCHAFFER – Complete 1970's solo albums

I often mention Jan "Janne" Schaffer on this blog, simply because he's heard on a massive amount of albums by a massive amount of artists. Schaffer was a popular session musician thanks to his versatility, equally at ease with rough and rowdy workouts (see Pop Workshop) and soft and lyrical shadings.

Schaffer's first instrument was the piano, but that changed as soon as he had built his first guitar in school in 1957. He founded 60's band Sleepstones who released a couple of 45's and supported as different international acts as Cliff Richard and Pink Floyd on their visits to Sweden (the Floyd at their legendary performance at Gyllene Cirkeln/The Golden Circle in Stockholm). His studio musician career began with session work for ex-Slam Creepers singer Björn Skifs on his first solo album in 1970, and then he went on to play for just about everybody from ABBA down. Schaffer was often seen and heard in tandem with his buddy Björn J:son Lindh, performing on several of the noted flute player's albums through the years, and Lindh appearing on Schaffer's.

Janne Schaffer (Four Leaf, 1973)
Instrumental

International relevance: ***

Schaffer's first album is as expected an all instrumental effort with lots of melodic soloing with both prog and jazz characteristics. The heavy opening track ”Halkans affär” is classic Schaffer, while the acoustic ”Kulan” is light and delicate. The best track though is ”Titus” (featuring Björn J:son Lindh's flute).

It's a pity that the quirky ”The Chinese” wasn't on the Swedish version of the album – it substituted B.B. King cover ”Did You Ever Love a Woman” when released on Vertigo in the UK, even becoming the title track of the international release. This version gets the nod over the Swedish edition. And the new cover (below) is breathtaking!

All in all, a pleasant album in the light fusion vein.

Janne Schaffers andra LP (Four Leaf, 1974)

Instrumental
International relevance: ***

”Ugglor i mossen” is a nice track, but Schaffer ventured too close to jazz rock and funk fusion with his second album (appropriately enough called ”Second LP” for its international launch). The last track ”Vilda drömmar” is pretty wild but still too fusion infested. (Already the Jukka Tolonen vibe of the cover is suspicious.) His solo debut may have been a bit too calculated, but it still sounded rather spontaneous and fresh. This however sounds as if Schaffer had become more self-confident as a solo artist, knowing he could reach dull perfection and striving for it. 

Katharsis (CBS, 1976)

Instrumental

International relevance: ***

Schaffer's albums grew continuously stiff, getting more and more wrapped up in studio slickness in both sound and performances. Album opener ”Bromma Struttin'” is OK compared to the rest of the album, but ”Katharsis” is really a full on fusion sleeping pill. 

Earmeal (CBS, 1978)
Instrumental

International relevance: **

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, Schaffer went to the States to record with studio zombies Toto. I can't think of anything much worse than Toto in terms of soulless, bloodless and lifeless cold test tube music – I even prefer the antiseptic adult lab rock of Steely Dan. So you can imagine what happens when you bring the increasingly overcompetent Schaffer together with Toto's rhythm section Mike and Jeff Porcaro – you get ”Earmeal”. It's not the meal I ordered but if it's all I get, I prefer to let my ears starve.

Released internationally with a much uglier cover art (below).

Janne Schaffer full album playlist
Janne Schaffers andra LP full album playlist
Katharsis full album playlist
Earmeal full album playlist

SLIM BORGUDD – Funky Formula (Four Leaf, 1976)

English vocals

International relevance: ***

Originally drummer with Hawkey Franzén's great 60's band Lea Riders Group, then Made In Sweden, then Solar Plexus, Tommy ”Slim” Borgudd turned celebrity studio musician in the 70's and successful Formula 1 driver (hence the cover).

”Funky Formula” is indeed one funky affair –  Borgudd was obviously into James Brown and 70's hard funk. It features Jan Schaffer, Björn J:son Lindh, Jojje Wadenius, Göran Lagerberg and former Lea Riders Group/Made In Sweden bassist Bo Häggström. Three singers also join in: Björn Skifs (known to the whole wide world for fronting Blue Swede who scored a U.S. hit in 1974 with their version of ”Hooked on a Feeling”), Tommy Körberg (Solar Plexus, Made in Sweden) and – surprisingly enough – rock'n'roll singer Jerry Williams. Some might frown in disbelief at the vocalist choices (especially Jerry Williams) but they're all pretty solid in this setting. ”Funky Formula” isn't a top shelf effort but it's OK.

Full album playlist

HYBRIS – Hybris (Four Leaf, 1978)

Swedish vocals

International relevance: ***

 

Unlike most jazz rock bands, Fusion had vocals to go along with their semi-funky grooves (with lyrics written by Klas Östergren, now ex-member of the Swedish Academy). I don't know if ”Hybris” would have been better or worse without the vocals, but they're not very impressive, despite Bengt Skogsholt having a pretty good voice slightly reminiscent of Nebulosa's Roger Johansson/Pontare. The music isn't either, at best mediocre with unspiring production courtesy of the band. They sound more like a more-competent-than-usual local band, but still a local band. The album's neither very good nor very bad, it's just uninteresting.

Drummer Olle Romö also played with Mikael Ramel, Pugh Rogefeldt and Ulf Bejerstrand before embarking on an international career with Eurythmics, Brian Setzer, Feargal Sharkey and more recently Shania Twain.

Full album playlist