THORES TRIO – Thores Trio (Kulturföreningen Källan, 1981)

  
Swedish vocals, other languages, instrumental, a cappella
International relevance: -

Vastly ignorable late era album on obscure label Kulturföreningen Källan which as far as I know only had one 7” in their catalogue outside of this Tomas Forssell produced LP. Thores Trio weren't particularly prolific on record either – they're featured on two various artists EP's on Manifest. Which is not to say they didn't have a long history because they did. As a matter of fact, they're most likely the longest running band ever to be featured on this blog.

Starting out in the tiny Northern town of Båtskärsnäs in 1933 (!) as Thor-Allans Trio, they changed their name to Thores Trio in 1936. Originally specializing in foxtrot, tango and various Swedish dance types, they stayed true to their style until the very end in 1996 when original member and accordeonist and fiddler Tore Allan Nilsson passed away at the age of 82. Singer Nanna Helin and her husband bass player Erik continued playing as a duo afterwards.

They might seem like an unlikely band to be embraced by the progressive movement, but as self-confessed communists, their politically charged lyrics with a strong local connection fell in well with the progg alumni. The Swedish version of Hanns Eisler's ”Einheitsfrontlied” speaks volumes, less so the puzzling inclusion of German schlager "Bei Mir Bist Du Schön". 

This album's probably charming to the immediate family, a limited number of the remaining 200 inhabitants of Båtskärsnäs, or Tomas Forssell completists, but assumably of very little interest to anyone else. 

"Thores Trio" was re-released with a slightly altered cover in 2021.

Full album playlist

CONVALJEN, PELLE, CHRISTINA, JOJJE – Kåklåtar (MNW, 1972) / KONVALJEN – Konvaljen (MNW, 1975)

There was an ongoing debate over prisoners' conditions in Sweden in the early 70's. The correctional facilities were criticized for being too old-fashioned, even inhumane. MNW decided to make a record of inmates performing their own songs telling their own story, and the album ”Kåklåtar” became an important contribution to the public debate, bringing further attention to their cause.

CONVALJEN, PELLE, CHRISTINA, JOJJE – Kåklåtar (MNW, 1972)

Swedish vocals

International relevance: *

A number of progg luminaries help the "Kåklåtar" singers out including Tore Berger, Greg FitzPatrick, Hans Wiktorsson, Tomas Forssell, and Tord Bengtsson. But the important performers are interns Lennart 'Convaljen' Johansson, Pelle Lindberg, Christina Calldén and George 'Jojje' Olsson performing mostly their own songs (some traditional) with lyrics written by other inmates. The importance of the album lies with what's being said and not how it's said. Obviously none of the singers are professionals and it has to be taken into consideration when approaching ”Kåklåtar”. It's unconditionally context-depending; from a strictly musical point, there's nothing thrilling here.

KONVALJEN – Konvaljen (MNW, 1975)

Swedish vocals

International relevance: *

Of the ”Kåklåtar” singers, Lennart "Konvaljen" Johansson became the most popular, and having spent around three decades in prison, he also became the informal spokesman of Swedish prisoners. In 1974, he began working on his solo album together with the likes of Slim Notini, Nikke Ström and Samla Mammas Manna (backing him up on dull blues track ”Resocialiseringsblues”). It was released the following year, with Convaljen's name now spelt Konvaljen. The songs are similar to his contributions to ”Kåklåtar” in an uncomplicated troubadour style with the lyrics being the most important element. You could almost say that the message is the medium. ”Konvaljen” is a wee bit better than ”Kåklåtar” but the songs are still in an uninteresting troubadour style, and there's not much here for foreign listeners to pick up on (unless you're a hardened Samla Mammas Manna completist).

A much better prison themed album is Hawkey Franzén's ”Visa från Djupvik”.

For those wanting to learn more about the tradition of Swedish prison songs, a book was published in 2017, ”Kåklåtar – Fängelsevisor som identitetsmarkör och kulturarv”, written by Dan Lundberg, published by Gidlunds Förlag. An English translation is currently in the making.

Kåklåtar full album playlist
from Konvaljen

Resocialiseringsblues 

Lazzaron 

En billig rymning + Porrblaskan

NYNNINGEN – Complete albums 1972-1976

The major Gothenburg band along with Nationalteatern who they often collaborated with. Both were part of the grandiose Tältprojektet, and at times the two bands were almost like siamese twins. Nynningen was founded in 1970 by Bertil Goldberg and Tomas Forssell, and included several noted members such as bass player Nikke Ström, keyboard player Bernt Andersson, guitarist Bengt 'Bengan' Blomgren, and singer Torsten 'Totta' Näslund.

Man mognar med åren (MNW, 1972)

Swedish vocals

International relevance: *

”Man mognar med åren” is to Nynningen what ”Ta det som ett löfte... ta det inte som ett hot” is to Nationalteatern, i.e. an album very different to the sound the band's best known for. ”Man mognar med åren” is largely acoustic and in a style akin to Fria Proteatern and other political independent music theatre groups. It's an inferior album with unmemorable songs and rather poor performances.

För full hals (MNW, 1973)

Swedish vocals

International relevance: **

”För full hals” is a collection of poems by Vladimir Mayakovsky set to music by Nynningen and remains their best known album. It's considered a progg classic with the heavy and soul inspired title track topping it off. That track's pretty amazing, and although it's the best track in this lot by far, this remains their best album.

1974 (MNW, 1974)

Swedish vocals, instrumental

International relevance: **

Similar to ”För full hals” but with a few more progressive touches as on the instrumental ”Marschen till Caobans rike” and on Tomas Forssell's ”När så tingen börjar klarna”. A couple of songs were written with Nationalteatern's Anders Melander. Still nothing here to explain why Nynningen is held in such high regard by so many. "Ingenting händer mekaniskt" is a track written by Leif Nylén and was originally intended for Blå Tåget who turned it down for being too politically questionable. Instead, Nynningen took it on without further questions.

Äntligen en ny dag! (Nacksving, 1975)

Swedish vocals 

International relevance: **

 

Last chance for Nynningen to demonstrate their alleged excellence. Unfortunately they fail to do so. The vocals were now mostly handled by Sam Westerberg, with Totta Näslund a member of Nationalteatern at this point in time. Regardless, this is bad blues, blues in name only, stiffly performed and forced into political sloganeering. For this album, Nynningen changed label from MNW to Nacksving, and the dull lifeless sound typical to the label's releases certainly doesn't help Nynningen to a more inspiring achievement.

In 1977 Nynningen released an album together with Nationalteatern, music from the stage play ”Vi skall leva igen”. A 1973 Swedish Radio session is included in ”Progglådan”. Nynningen has since reunited whithout Totta Näslund who died in 2005.

Man mognar med åren full album playlist
För full hals full album playlist
1974 full album playlist
Äntligen en ny dag! full album playlist
Tonkraft 1973 full album playlist (tracks 1-7)

REKYL – Rekyl (Manifest, 1976) / I himlen är det för sent (Manifest, 1979) / Vi blir aldrig som ni vill (Manifest, 1980)

Rekyl was an important part of the Northern Luleå scene. Apart from being a much appreciated band in their own right, their members participated in other projects such as Anton Svedbergs Swängjäng and Vi Var Tolv Man I Laget, and helping Tomas Forssell out on his ”Ingenting står stilla” album, and Ted Ström on his ”Kärva lägen”.

Rekyl (Manifest, 1976)

International relevance: *

Swedish vocals

Rekyl appeared as a fully fledged band already on their maiden work. Blues based rock with an obvious Rolling Stones bent (not only because of their Swedish take on ”Street Fighting Man”, ”Slagskämpens sång”) with political and sometimes very graphic lyrics. I'm sure it helps getting along with Rekyl if you're a Stones fan. Which I'm not, so the best tracks to me are ”Mardröm” (more progg than Stones) and the melancholy album closer ”Grå grönska”. Great cover art though!

I himlen är det för sent (Manifest, 1979)

Swedish vocals
International relevance: *

The second album follows along the tracks of the first, with more Stones infused rock, only a little tighter production-wise with horns added to ”Låt dom inte få dej” and ballads ”Då behöver jag dej” and ”Vi behöver dina ögon”. Tight playing and often well written lyrics. I can understand how this appeal to a lot of people but the album fails to move me. 

Vi blir aldrig som ni vill (Manifest, 1980)

International relevance: *

Swedish vocals

The horns introduced on ”I himlen är det för sent” come further up on Rekyl's final album for Manifest. Rolf Hedberg's sax has a strong Clarence Clemons vibe, pushing tracks like ”Arbeta hårt” and ”Gasen i botten” closer to Bruce Springsteen than the Stones. I don't consider that as a problem per se, but there's something about ”Vi blir aldrig som ni” that makes it the weakest of the band's Manifest albums. There's still some good lyric work going on here but the bigger production makes the songs unnecessarily fluffy. 

Following ”Vi blir aldrig som ni”, Rekyl signed with the Frituna label and released live album ”Levande i Luleå” plus two 45's on the same label. They're also featured on ”Norrbottenplattan 2", ”Tonkraft 1977-78”. A 1975 radio recording can be found in the ”Progglådan” box set.

Rekyl full album playlist
I himlen är det för sent full album playlist
Vi blir aldrig som ni vill full album playlist

Tonkraft 1975 full album playlist (tracks 1-10)

TOMAS FORSSELL – Nya tider (Avanti, 1980)

Swedish vocals

International relevance: **

 

Tomas Forssell's second album kicks off with the excellent ”Snålblåst” – a 'listen up!” after his so-so debut album ”Ingenting står stilla”. ”Nya tider” can't quite live up to its initial promise but it's a better album than the previous one, with better songs and more vital performances. It almost sounds like a lost Nynningen album, only less dogmatic. No wonder – Forssell was a member of said band, as were Bernt Andersson, Nikke Ström and Torsten ”Totta” Näslund, all present on ”Nya tider”.

The album was recorded in 1979, except ”Snart ska en morgon gry” that was recorded in April 1977 – probably an outtake from ”Ingenting står stilla”.

Full album playlist

TOMAS FORSSELL – Ingenting står stilla (Manifest, 1977)

Swedish vocals, instrumental

International relevance: **

First solo album from former Nynningen member Tomas Forssell, here with back-up from Luleå bands Rekyl and Skottes Musikorkester, including an appearance from Contact's Ted Ström on grand piano. Noted singer/songwriter Turid also makes a vocal appearance. The music sounds like expected with the people involved, steadfast rock music with sprinkles of folk music from Europe and the Near East. The playing is competent but the songwriting isn't particularly exciting. The album has a dull edge and fails to satisfy.

One 1977 track appears on "Too Much For Sale", a 2021 compilation album of previously unreleased recordings.

Forssell appeared on several albums by other artists over the years and later turned to children's entertainment. He's also the father of Swedish TV personality Gry Forssell.

Full album playlist