VARIOUS ARTISTS - 2 anti-nuclear compilations

It was an era of engagement and activism. You were expected to stand for something, and what people stood for was sometimes good, sometimes not. Standing up for environmental issues was one of the best things you could do – if more people had done it, perhaps we wouldn't be where we are today, with on one hand a scorched earth and on the other a flooded one. The anti-nuclear movement was particularly strong towards the end of the 70's and early 80's, engaging several artists. Two 'no nukes' various artists albums were released, one in 1975 and one in 1980.

Vi kan leva utan kärnkraft (Silence, 1975)

Featured artists: Bernt Staf / Tore Berger / Elektriska Linden / Turid / Roland von Malmborg / Nynningen / Røde Mor / Thomas Wiehe / Thomas Tidholm

Swedish vocals

International relevance: **

Silence put out this album in 1975, with both label acts and non-Silence artists. All tracks were recorded specifically for the album. Qualitywise it's a bit hit and miss, but stylistically it's surprisingly coherent despite the disparate contributors. The oddest ones out in this predominantly acoustic lot are Røde Mor, actually a Danish band but here augmented by Nynningen's Totta Näslund on vocals. Roland von Malmborg provides "Stoppa all atomkraft", one of his best songs, and Thomas Tidholm's ”Fortsättning följer” is a great and moody way to end the album. 

Nej till kärnkraft! (MNW/Silence, 1979)

Featured artists: Lill Lindfors / Anders Linder / Monica Dominique / Ola Magnell / Marie Bergman / Robert Broberg / Dag Vag / Monica Törnell / Bernt Staf / Lasse Tennander / Hjördis Petterson

 Swedish vocals

International relevance: *

 

A referendum on the future use of nuclear power was held in March 1980. There were three alternatives to vote for. No. 1 was a definite yes to nuclear power, supported by Moderata Samlingspartiet (The Moderate Party, right-wing). No. 2 stood for a slow phase out of nuclear energy, and was supported by Socialdemokraterna (The Social Democratic Party, left-wing) and Folkpartiet (The People's Party, right-wing liberals). No. 3 represented a definite no and wanted a quick stop to the use of nuclear power, and it was supported by Vänsterpartiet Kommunisterna (The Communist Party, left-wing obviously) and Centerpartiet (The Centre Party, right-wing). Alternative no. 2 won but the phasing out still hasn't happened.

A vast number of artists supported the third alternative, and to raise money for the no nukes campaign, the two most notable progg labels MNW and Silence joined forces for a mutual release in 1979, ”Nej till kärnkraft!”. If ”Vi kan leva utan kärnkraft” has a diverse line-up, it's nothing compared to this release. Bringing together mainstream artists such as Lill Lindfors and Marie Bergman, actress Hjördis Petterson who had her heyday in the 1930's-50's, progg singer/songwriters like Bernt Staf and Ola Magnell, the one-of-a-kind visionary Robert Broberg, and jazz singer Monica Dominique (previously in Solar Plexus) to mention but some of the participants sure makes for a spastic listen. Which is not to say it's without merits. Most notably, it has ”Många gånger om”, one of the best track the excellent progg/rock/reggae band Dag Vag ever did. But the album is certainly subordinated to the cause and I can't think of anyone who would actually enjoy it from start to finish.

From Vi kan leva utan kärnkraft

Roland von Malmborg - Stoppa all atomkraft 

Nynningen - Det löser sig 

Thomas Tidholm - Fortsättning följer

Nej till kärnkraft full album playlist

A CHILDREN'S PROGG SPECIAL

This post is different to other posts here as it contains no album reviews. Many – most – progg albums made for children have no international relevance because they often feature too many spoken word bits, and the music usually isn't very fun to listen to as an adult. Therefore there's really no point in posting links to the albums. (A brilliant exception would of course Jojje Wadenius' ”Goda' goda'” be, basically a Made In Sweden album with fine lyrics by children's author Barbro Lindgren, but that album deserves a post of its own.)

Still this is a very important Swedish Progg Blog feature, as children's culture was taken very seriously in those days and it's necessary to consider it in order to understand the progg movement from a wider perspective. Many artists were involved in kid's television, theatre, music, literature etc, always with an intent just as serious as when they were creating for grown-ups. Children were taken as seriously as anyone else.

One reason was of course political – it was considered important to teach kids what the society is like and present to them a socialist solution to economic problems and eradicate the inequality of social classes. It's a popular opinion today that children's television in the 70's was politically indoctrinating, and upon looking back at, for instance, Nationalteatern's highly successful double album ”Kåldolmar och kalsipper” (”cabbage rolls and underpants” – no, I don't know what that's supposed to mean, and neither did Nationalteatern), and TV series such as ”Huset Silfvercronas gåta”, (”the mystery of the house of Silfvercrona), ”Ville & Valle & Viktor” and ”Kapten Zoom” (”Captain Zoom”) (both with Anders Linder as lead actor), you have to agree it has a definite left-wing bent. 

However, I've never met one single person who took damage from watching those or any other 70's children TV series... with the possible exception of Staffan Westerberg's very disturbing ”Vilse i pannkakan” (”lost in the pancake”), already mentioned in my Thomas Wiehe runthrough. I dare say that everyone I know that grew up during the progg era has become caring people with a keen sense of justice and solidarity. So maybe the socialist aspect wasn't that hurtful after all...

Sometimes an album corresponding to a certain TV series was released, some of these albums are now moderately sought-after in good condition. (Children aren't known for taking care of records too well, so most copies that turn up are pretty mangled.)

Regardless of what one thinks of the political views expressed and transfered to the young generation of the day, the socialist stance was that education is an all important thing. Insufficient education is disastrous to society in the long run (which is indeed true – the world as we know it today should explain why). The Social Democratic Party of Sweden invested a lot of money in ABF, the Workers' Educational Association, but basic knowledge had to start with the children. 

There were several 70's TV shows without an obvious political agenda making great use of the pedagogical possibilites of television. The most notable example is mid-70's ”Fem myror är fler än fyra elefanter” (”five ants are more than four elephants”), with music by jazz illuminary Bengt Ernryd and featuring actors Magnus Härenstam, Brasse Brännström and Eva Rameaus, the latter also active in Musikteatergruppen Oktober (an independent theatre group performing several plays for children) and Tältprojektet. ”Fem myror är fler än fyra elefanter” is acknowledged as one of the best shows ever made for children, and rightly so. In a fashion similar to the famed U.S. show ”Sesame Street”, it taught young kids to read and write in a very entertaining way and showing young and old alike that learning things doesn't have to come from just dull books with boring black and white photographs.

Eva Ramaeus was far from the only progg personality to get involved with children's television. Carl Johan de Geer of Blå Tåget co-wrote ”Tårtan” (”the cake”) with Håkan Alexandersson, and featuring Blå Tåget's Mats G. Bengtsson as actor. ”Tårtan” was an incredibly funny and anarchic fourteen part 1972 series about three unemployed sailors opening a bakery shop where absolutely everything goes wrong. Still a splendid watch today! The following year, the Swedish broadcasting company aired ”Mumlan” (hard to translate, but something like ”the mumbler” will do), a very entertaining show hosted by much loved actor Gösta Ekman and actress Lena Söderblom in which musicians such as Kjell Westling and Bengt Berger appeared.

There was a large number of children's books published during this period too. Some of them aren't very different to 'ordinary' kids literature, while others took the pedagogical approach maybe a little too far, with sterile documentary photos of mum's giving birth and the gynecologist having a look, and titles like ”Chairman Mao Is Your Uncle”, ”A Fun Day at the Kolkhoz”, ”Say Hello to the Soviet Farmer Building a Factory All by Himself”. OK, so maybe I made up those titles myself, but they could have been for real. (Swedish readers who want to investigate children's progg books further are advised to check out Kalle Lind's ”Proggiga barnböcker”. He's got a somewhat condescending narrative style but the book is informative and sometimes very amusing amd clearsighted. Swedes who'd like to delve deeper into children's television may also want to check out Göran Everdahl's ”Kom nu'rå! Barnprogrammen vi minns – eller helst vill glömma”.)

I realize that most of what's been mentioned here is of little interest to non-Swedish readers, but like I said initially, all of this (and a lot more) was a very important progg element and influential to kids growing up in during the era. Bringing it up in a post of its own will hopefully shed some further light on how multifaceted progg in fact was.

TURID - Complete albums

There seems to be a cult of die-hard followers surrounding Turid Lundqvist and her albums. Sometimes it's almost impossible to have an opinion of your own, especially if it contradicts the prevalent 'holy cow' notion of her. It's annoying, and so is her voice. Soaring towards Joni Mitchell with an added fairy femninity warble. I choose Lena Ekman over Turid, any given day.

I actually won't bother with any biographical facts this time – I advise anyone interested in her background to check out her entry in Tobias Pettersson's ”The Encyclopedia of Swedish Progressive Music 1967-1979”. That's a good summarily overview of her doings and dealings. I'll go straight to the albums instead.

Vittras visor (Silence, 1971)

Swedish vocals, English vocals

International relevance: ***

Turid's debut album is a mix of songs in Swedish and English, with the English tracks in particular sounding like serial Joni Mitchell ripoffs. The album carries the seeds for that Jan Hammarlund style vibrato heard on most of her albums, which is just as maddening when it comes out of Turid's throat as out of his. And you know how birds of a feather flock together – Hammarlund wrote the lyrics to ”Crystal Shade of Loneliness” on ”Vittras visor”, thereby initiating the occasional collaboration between the two that would continue for many years. The album's best feature is Kenny Håkansson's delicate guitar work that creates a certain atmosphere which in itself is very appealing. Håkansson also wrote the music to one of the songs, ”To the Children of Song My”.

Bilder (Silence, 1973)

Swedish vocals

International relevance: ***

Second album sports a framework of sensuous arrangements courtesy of a fine line-up of progg personalities including Kenny Håkansson, Mats Glenngård, Bo Skoglund and Fläsket Brinner's Gunnar Bergsten. But Turid's voice keeps whirling up into her patented, grating falsetto. This time she comes clean though, translating Joni Mitchell's ”I Had a King” into ”Jag vet en prins”. Album highlights: ”Låt mig se dig” and Thomas Wiehe cover ”Vargen”. Like "Vittras visor", "Bilder" has a gracedul mood, but the voice is too piercing.

Tredje dagen (Silence, 1975)

International relevance: ***

Swedish vocals

”På tredje dagen återuppståndna” is a great track, featuring drum master Bengt Berger on tablas and thankfully with only a minimum of Turid's fairy yodel. Includes ”Om snällhet” written by Lena Ekman. Features on all-star cast with members from Kebnekajse, Elektriska Linden, Blå Tåget, Egba, and Vargavinter.

Selma, världserövrare (Metronome, 1977)

International relevance: ***

Swedish vocals

Turid's switch to commercial major label (major by progg standards anyway) prompted progg magazine Musikens Makt to publish a mean-spirited piece about how she 'lets the Movement down' and being too wrapped up in her 'personal concerns'. The album isn't better or worse than any other Turid album, only displaying higher production values. And more of the Hammarlund vibrato. But the title track is probably Turid's best song ever.

Tistlar från tundran (Metronome, 1980)

Swedish vocals

International relevance: **

Her second album for Metronome, and her last and weakest solo album. ”På väg” sounds like another female Metronome artist, Marie Bergman,”Personligt brev” mimicks Joni Mitchell period with backing band L.A. Express.

Flow Soma (Silence, 1982)

with Thomas Wiehe

English vocals, instrumental

International relevance: *

 

Turid's last original outing was an all English collaboration with Thomas Wiehe, released as simply Thomas and Turid, but Wiehe's input is limited to guitar and percussion. Turid is the singer and songwriter. The album is basically a jazz album with antiseptic new age production. A different term would be 'muzak'. Or 'terrible'.

Turid also appears on two albums by Finnish weirdo M.A. Numminen, ”Haren satt i gropen” (Love, 1973) and ”Fårskallevisor” (Svenska Love, 1978). She also made an album with Jan Hammarlund and Lena Ekman, ”Igår, idag, i morgon” (Silence, 1976). ”Progglådan” features various live recordings from 1969-1976. There are also a few other various artists albums with exclusive Turid contributions. Of note are also her collaborations with Kebnekajse, especially on their second album.

Bottom line: Anything Turid did, Joni Mitchell did so much better. In that sense, Turid is like a Swedish Linda Perhacs who gets all record collector cognoscenti praise instead of the real thing. There are good songs among here albums, but they're not original enough to justify any 'holy cow' status that certain vinyl high priests so readily declare her.

Vittras visor full album playlist
Tredje dagen full album playlist

Selma, världserövrare full album playlist
Tistlar från tundran full album playlist
Flow Soma full album playlist

from Bilder

Välkomme-hus 

Bilder 

Tintomara 

Låt mig se dig 

Den gamla vanliga historien 

Och sommaren kom 

Tom i bollen 

Ödegårdar 

Vargen

THOMAS WIEHE – The 1970's albums

Thomas Wiehe has always been overshadowed by his more successful brother Mikael who rose to fame with Hoola Bandoola Band before launching a much applauded solo career. While it can be argued that Mikael Wiehe was the most melodically talented of the two, Thomas made a couple of interesting album in the 70's. The Wiehe brothers originally played in the 60's band The Moccers, and Mikael has appeared on some of Thomas's albums.

I rummet intill (Silence, 1973)

Swedish vocals

International relevance: ***

Housed in an eye-catching cover sporting a Channa Bankier painting, Thomas Wiehe immediately appeared as someone well acquainted with Incredible String Band (more Mike Heron than Robin Williamson). Side two of ”I rummet intill” is better than side one, including ”Vargen”, the spiritually inclined ”Skapelsen”, and ”Landskap”. Overall, a decent album.

Drömskugga (Silence, 1974)

as Thomas Wiehe:s Första Förband
Swedish vocals, instrumental 

International relevance: *** 

”Drömskugga” is a better album than ”I rummet intill”, much thanks to Wiehe's band on the album, Första Förband. The electric backing provides the songs with a greater stability even during the spacier parts and improvisational passages of ”Raga vid det relativas nollpunkt”. The weakest moment is the thankfully short fusion track ”Leve de vilda strejkerna”. 

Vilse i pannkakan (Silence, 1975)

with Staffan Westerberg
Swedish vocals, spoken word 

International relevance: *

 

Wiehe's third consists of music from children's television series ”Vilse i pannkakan”, made by Staffan Westerberg. Any kid that grew up in the 70's watched it but few liked it. A strong sense of eerie unease ran through the series with Westerberg speaking in a creepy hush and playing with dolls made of socks. He was subsequently accused of ruining the childhood of a generation (that is MY generation!) and what can I say... It didn't do me particularly good. In an attempt to conquer my childhood traumas, I tried watching the series again as an adult but that only instilled new life in my elusive fear provoked by the fears of my younger days... It all came back to me with fangs and glowing eyes. So the album's a hard listen for me. Each time I hear Staffan Westerberg's voice during the spoken parts, I throw the album to the wall and hide under the bed. Sort of. Wiehe's songs aren't very good either, too silly even for a children's album.

Mögel (Silence, 1975)

International relevance: **

Swedish vocals

The proper follow-up to ”Drömskugga” and again with a full band backing on some tracks. ”Mögel” isn't as good though, too intangible due to diffuse songwriting. A largely forgettable album.

Tårta och raketer (Silence, 1977)

International relevance: ***

Swedish vocals

A huge improvement over ”Mögel” and hands down Thomas Wiehe's best album. The arrangements are meticulous, substituting the rock band with baroque pop viola and violin, adding bass saxophone, English horn, bongos and congas and thanks to Anita Livstrand, tamboura on ”Längtan”. A beautifully crafted album of reflective and thoroughly composed songs, dissimilar to most other progg albums – if not all progg albums. A minor masterpiece and a should-be classic. This largely forgotten album deserves proper discovery and love.

Två vindar (Silence, 1978)

International relevance: *

Swedish vocals

Just about any album following the splendorous ”Tårta och raketer” would be a disappointment, but ”Två vindar” is disappointing every which way you look at it. Dull songs, dull sound, dull playing surely make for a – you guessed it – dull album with too many pop mainstream ambitions that should leave most progg fans cold.

Thomas Wiehe made several albums after ”Två vindar” including one featuring Turid in 1982. He's also continued working with children's music. He's also featured in ”Progglådan”.

I rummet intill full album playlist
Vilse i pannkakan full album playlist

Mögel full album playlist

Tårta och raketer full album playlist
Tonkraft 1977 full album playlist (tracks 5-8)

from Drömskugga

Drömskugga

Raga vid det relativas nollpunkt 

Leve de vilda strejkerna

Huvet upp - benen ner

Två vindar no links found