Releases

Per Gessle to release The Lonely Boys demos!

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Per Gessle continues the tradition of releasing music in connection with his birthday on 12th January, and in 2025, he offers something truly special.

Mats Olsson, writer, reporter and a very good friend of mine, wrote an amazing book called “De ensamma pojkarna” (translates into “The Lonely Boys”) about a striving young Swedish rock group in the ’60s. Someone came up with the brilliant idea that Nisse Hellberg (from one of my favourite Swedish bands) Wilmer X and yours truly should try to write a “soundtrack” to the book.

Three of my songs (“Adam & Eve” + “Apple In The Mud” + “Keep The Radio On (This Is The Perfect Song)” were born on the road with Roxette. We were on our “Crash! Boom! Bang!” tour and these songs were written in April 1995 in Santiago, Chile.

“Lonely Boys” and “Stay (At Home, At Work, At Play)” were born in June 1995 while “Genius Gone Wrong” goes way back to 1984.

I recorded my six demos together with MP Persson and Micke Syd during two hectic days in July 1995 at the Tits&Ass Studio in Halmstad.

By the way, there’s another song by me on the “real” Lonely Boys album (“I Wanna Be With You”) which made it to the record only because “Stay (At Home, At Work, At Play)” didn’t really fit in. Sometimes you have to kill your darlings.

The “I Wanna Be With You” demo was made in November 1994 and is not included on the vinyl maxi EP but stands loud and proud, just like the other six tracks, in a brand new mix by MP on all streaming services for your listening pleasure. Have fun!

These fantastic power pop songs are now being released in a refined form with completely new mixes. 6 of them are released as a 12″ vinyl in limited edition on 10th January.

Order a limited signed copy by Per Gessle HERE!

The Per Gessle Archives – The Lonely Boys – Demo Sessions 1995

SIDE A

1 Lonely Boys (T&A Demo July 4, 1995 – 2024 Mix)
2 Apple In The Mud (T&A Demo July 4, 1995 – 2024 Mix)
3 Keep The Radio On (This Is The Perfect Song) (T&A Demo July 5, 1995 – 2024 Mix)

SIDE B

1 Adam & Eve (T&A Demo July 4, 1995 – 2024 Mix)
2 Genius Gone Wrong (T&A Demo July 5, 1995 – 2024 Mix)
3 Stay (At Home, At Work, At Play) (T&A Demo July 5, 1995 – 2024 Mix)

Produced by Per Gessle

Recorded at T&A Studios, Halmstad July 4-5, 1995

Engineer: Mats Persson

Mixed by Mats Persson at T&A Studios, Halmstad August 2024

Played by

Micke Syd Andersson: drums
Per Gessle: electric guitars + piano + harmonica + synthesizer + vocals
Mats Persson: electric guitars + bass guitar

Words + Music by Per Gessle

Published by Jimmy Fun Music

Mastering: Mats Persson, T&A Studios Halmstad

Design: Pär Wickholm, Wickholm Formavd., Stockholm

Photo by Åsa Gessle

The digital edition contains the 1994 demo of I Wanna Be With You in a 2024 mix as well. Tracklist:

1 Lonely Boys (T&A Demo July 4, 1995 – 2024 Mix)
2 Apple In The Mud (T&A Demo July 4, 1995 – 2024 Mix)
3 Keep The Radio On (This Is The Perfect Song) (T&A Demo July 5, 1995 – 2024 Mix)
4 Adam & Eve (T&A Demo July 4, 1995 – 2024 Mix)
5 Genius Gone Wrong (T&A Demo July 5, 1995 – 2024 Mix)
6 Stay (At Home, At Work, At Play) (T&A Demo July 5, 1995 – 2024 Mix)
7 I Wanna Be With You (T&A Demo Nov 2, 1994 – 2024 Mix)

Listen to it on Spotify, YouTube, Deezer, Apple Music or any other streaming platform!

Interview with Mikael Bolyos about Marie Fredriksson’s upcoming live album release

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On Friday, 6th December, a double vinyl live album (also available digitally!) of Marie Fredriksson’s last solo tour (Nu!) in Sweden will be released – ten years after the tour and almost to the day five years after she passed.

Former RoxBlog member Kirsten Ohlwein and Oliver Zimmerman thought we would all want to hear more about the release and that was reason enough to ask Marie’s husband Mikael Bolyos – who is behind the release – about the new and yet not so new album.

Kirsten Ohlwein: – Mikael, you can imagine that everyone is super excited about this release, it’s a dream come true. The last live album we got was “Äntligen”, which was 24 years ago. First of all, I am pretty sure many fans wonder: How are you doing these days? You know you are in the thoughts of many people out there who send you their best wishes and highest regards.

Mikael Bolyos: – That’s very kind of you, it’s touching and I really appreciate it! I am alright, thanks.

KO: – It’s been ten years since the “Nu!” tour which we all loved and have the fondest memories about. Now it’s apparently time to release the live album. What has been the initial thought to look into the live recordings again and decide that the material is good enough to release it?

MB: – I always wanted to release a single, EP or even more songs from the concerts, and when I heard a video clip last summer, I decided to go through the concerts again.

KO: – Can you tell us which shows have been recorded back then and why you picked Stockholm as the one to release?

MB: – We recorded every show in 2014. Christoffer and I went through all of them and realized that Marie and the band sounded so good at all of them, it was impossible to choose. The Stockholm concert took place at “Cirkus” which is a great venue, the crowd was very enthusiastic, and it was a magic night.

KO: – How long did it take to go through the material again and when did you make the final decision to release the Stockholm show as an album?

MB: – I started to listen to the different concerts pre summer 2024. It took a couple of weeks and together with Christoffer Lundquist we decided that the Stockholm show had an energy that was impossible to ignore. Peter Domnérus at Cosmos Music (our record company) came up with that brilliant idea to release the whole concert on a double vinyl record.

KO: – Were the moments when you went through the songs again when you thought: „Wow, this is much better than I remember it” or „why didn’t we do this earlier?”?

MB: – As you probably remember, Roxette started a world tour later the same year, 2014. Christoffer made some mixes already then, but we were all too busy to start the work with releasing anything from the “Nu!” tour. The Roxette tour went on until spring 2016, when Marie was too weak to continue. It was a very tough time for Marie and our family. And if this wasn’t enough, I had to do a heart surgery in 2017. I was recovering during 2018 and in 2019 as you know, Marie passed away.

The following years, I have been mourning. On 1st June this year I wrote to Christoffer and asked him to make a first brief mix of all of the songs, and in October we sat together in his AGM studio to do the mixes, and here we are now!

KO: – How did the process of going through the tour material feel for you? I can imagine that it wasn’t the easiest thing to do for you and yet probably very warm and special as well?

MB: – It was many tears…

KO: – What are your memories regarding that tour? What did you preserve from back then? Which one was your favourite song to play and what were your favourite moments?

MB: – It was a very special tour. Marie was so keen on doing the tour, she knew it was going to be her last Swedish tour, singing her own songs. Personally, I felt so good touring again, playing music in a band, consisting of friends. I always liked to play “Bara för en dag”, and “Efter stormen”, but my favourite moment was playing ”Så skimrande var aldrig havet”.

KO: – You have been quite busy spoiling fans with unreleased stuff in the past years. Every now and then you find a song or a recording that gets to be released either in December or May. We are very grateful for that! Is there more to come in the future?

MB: – Sorry to say, but I don’t think so. This double LP will probably be Marie’s farewell.

Thank you so much for your time, Micke and thanks a lot for your interview, Kirsten!

Live från Cirkus is out on 6th December! The record is a beautiful 180-gram double vinyl in a gatefold edition, with a total run of 1,000 copies. You can order it at Bengans.

Tracklist

Side A

  1. Så stilla så långsamt
  2. Kom vila hos mig
  3. Bara för en dag
  4. Det regnar igen
  5. Sista sommarens vals

Side B

  1. Ber bara en gång
  2. Sparvöga
  3. Ett hus vid havet
  4. Ett bord i solen
  5. Så skimrande var aldrig havet

Side C

  1. Ännu doftar kärlek
  2. Så länge det lyser mittemot
  3. Om du såg mig nu
  4. Efter stormen

Side D

  1. Den sjunde vågen
  2. Mellan sommar och höst
  3. Den bästa dagen
  4. Tro

Roxette – 30-year anniversary of Crash! Boom! Bang!

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30 years ago, Roxette released their fifth album Crash! Boom! Bang!, including a stream of hit singles like Sleeping In My Car, the title track, Fireworks, Run To You and Vulnerable.

The album would sell more than five million copies and was followed by their second World Tour, which saw them perform for over a million people, including the second performance ever by an international act in China.

We’re celebrating this classic album’s 30-year anniversary with a unique special edition: a gatefold double album in black and white vinyl with 18 tracks and an 8-page booklet with brand new liner notes, as well as an 18-track CD version that also includes a bonus CD with 23 demo recordings of songs considered for the album.

Per Gessle says:

Roxette were among the three most played artists on American radio during 1989, 1990 and 1991, and we were on top of the charts all over the world. So, it’s no wonder we felt pretty confident when it was time to record the new album.

Having had that kind of success made us feel that we had a perfect opportunity to stretch out into new directions. To show slightly different sides of what Roxette could be. And I still think “Crash! Boom! Bang!” is our best album.

The 30-year anniversary versions of Crash! Boom! Bang! will be released on 6th December. Watch out for the fireworks!

You can secure your copy through THIS pre-order link, but the anniversary release will be available worldwide, so check it with your local record shop as well. CBB30 will be available on streaming platforms as well.

Watch the promo video HERE!

 

 

Tracklist double vinyl:

Side A

1.  Harleys & Indians (Riders In The Sky)
2.  Crash! Boom! Bang!
3.  Fireworks
4.  Run To You

Side B

1.  Sleeping In My Car
2.  Vulnerable
3.  The First Girl On The Moon
4.  Place Your Love
5.  I Love The Sound Of Crashing Guitars

Side C

1.  What’s She Like?
2.  Do You Wanna Go The Whole Way?
3.  Lies
4.  I’m Sorry
5.  Love Is All (Shine Your Light On Me)

Side D

1.  Go To Sleep
2.  Almost Unreal
3.  Crazy About You
4.  See Me

Tracklist CD:

1.  Harleys & Indians (Riders In The Sky)
2.  Crash! Boom! Bang!
3.  Fireworks
4.  Run To You
5.  Sleeping In My Car
6.  Vulnerable
7.  The First Girl On The Moon
8.  Place Your Love
9.  I Love The Sound Of Crashing Guitars
10.  What’s She Like?
11.  Do You Wanna Go The Whole Way?
12.  Lies
13.  I’m Sorry
14.  Love Is All (Shine Your Light On Me)
15.  Go To Sleep
16.  Almost Unreal
17.  Crazy About You
18.  See Me

Bonus CD: Demos

1.  Harleys & Indians – T&A Demo Aug 10, 1993
2.  Crash! Boom! Bang! – T&A Demo May 6, 1993
3.  Fireworks – T&A Demo Jan 30, 1993
4.  Run To You – T&A Demo Dec 12, 1992
5.  Sleeping In My Car – Stockholm Demo Version 1993
6.  Vulnerable – T&A Demo Dec 28, 1990
7.  The First Girl On The Moon – T&A Demo Dec 20, 1992 – Previously unreleased
8.  Place Your Love – T&A Demo Nov 10, 1992
9.  I Love The Sound Of Crashing Guitars – T&A Demo Jun 27, 1993 – Previously unreleased
10.  What’s She Like? – T&A Demo Jan 29, 1992 – Previously unreleased
11.  Do You Wanna Go The Whole Way? – T&A Demo Mar 21, 1993
12.  Lies – T&A Demo May 14, 1993 – Previously unreleased
13.  I’m Sorry – T&A Demo Mar 18, 1993
14.  Love Is All – T&A Demo Dec 17, 1992
15.  She Doesn’t Live Here Anymore – T&A Demo Dec 16, 1992 – Previously unreleased
16.  Almost Unreal – T&A Demo Feb 1993
17.  Crazy About You – T&A Demo Jun 20, 1993
18.  Sweet Thing – T&A Demo Dec 16, 1992
19.  Always Breaking My Heart – T&A Demo Dec 27, 1992
20.  Before You Go To Sleep – T&A Demo Nov 23, 1992
21.  Blue Umbrella – T&A Demo Jun 15, 1993
22.  It Hurts – T&A Demo Mar 7, 1993
23.  Gone Gone Gone – T&A Demo Feb 25, 1993

Marie Fredriksson’s 2014 live concert at Cirkus, Stockholm to be released on double LP

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In 2014, Marie Fredriksson embarked on her final tour, performing her own Swedish songs. This record features her major hits such as Sparvöga, Ett hus vid havet, Den bästa dagen, Ännu doftar kärlek, Tro, among others, along with some then-newly written songs like Ett bord i solen. Marie herself explained to the audience that she wrote this song after receiving her cancer diagnosis. The tour travelled across the country, and the stop at Cirkus in Stockholm on 8th April was recorded. Now, the entire 18-track concert is available on this double vinyl, a direct capture of that unforgettable evening at the legendary Cirkus in Stockholm. It’s intimate, authentic, and filled with an overwhelming sense of giving everything to her audience.

This year marks ten years since the concert took place and five years since Marie passed away. This release is dedicated to remembering and honouring one of our greatest female artists of all time, Marie Fredriksson.

The record is a beautiful 180-gram double vinyl in a gatefold edition, with a total run of 1,000 copies. Release date of Live från Cirkus (2LP) is 6th December. Pre-order at Bengans!

Tracklist

Side A

  1. Så stilla så långsamt
  2. Kom vila hos mig
  3. Bara för en dag
  4. Det regnar igen
  5. Sista sommarens vals

Side B

  1. Ber bara en gång
  2. Sparvöga
  3. Ett hus vid havet
  4. Ett bord i solen
  5. Så skimrande var aldrig havet

Side C

  1. Ännu doftar kärlek
  2. Så länge det lyser mittemot
  3. Om du såg mig nu
  4. Efter stormen

Side D

  1. Den sjunde vågen
  2. Mellan sommar och höst
  3. Den bästa dagen
  4. Tro

Per Gessle’s long-awaited duet album is out!

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Per Gessle’s new album, Sällskapssjuk is released today.

Tracklist

1. Hoppas
2. Henry väntar på en chans
3. Plåster (feat. Amanda Ginsburg)
4. Jag är regnet (feat. Lisa Miskovsky)
5. Nyper mig i armen (feat. Albin Lee Meldau)
6. Hjärtats vackraste rum (feat. Helena Josefsson)
7. Det tar den tid det tar
8. Beredd (feat. Molly Hammar)
9. Har på känn (feat. Uno Svenningsson)
10. Ingen kan som du (feat. Helena Josefsson)
11. Sällskapssjuk (feat. Lena Philipsson)
12. Ingen annan
13. Utan din humor (feat. Helena Josefsson)

Besides streaming (Spotify, Deezer, YouTube, etc.), there are different physical formats and exclusive additions you can order at Bengans:

  • Bengans-exclusive oxblood red vinyl
  • Black vinyl
  • Black vinyl + signed card
  • CD
  • CD + signed card
  • Bundle incl. Bengans-exclusive oxblood red vinyl LP + the 4 singles on 7″ vinyl + signed card

Per to RoxBlog about the songs that were not released as singles from the album and the recording team:

It became quite a warm and cozy record. The dogs (Emmylou, Tingeling and Baloo) belong to Anna Lindmarker who’s a famous TV-personality in Sweden. She’s a friend of Fredrik Etoall. I thought a dog would be the perfect spice for the albumtitle and she had three of them!!!!!

Working with two amazing local Halmstad musicians, “Gicken” Johansson + Magnus Helgessson, really helped me getting some new blood into my system. And good ole Ola Gustafsson became the main guitarist sharing lap steel duties with “Gicken”. Ola’s truly amazing. I’ve done several recordings with him after this album and he’s mindblowing!

When I started the sessions in March 2022 I didn’t have the duet-idea at all. I just sang the songs myself, sometimes Helena came up to the studio to try things out. Most recordings started with me on acoustic guitar and MP on mandolin to get the vibe I was looking for. Then I did piano and bits and pieces myself before moving into the Sweetspot Studio with “Gicken” + Magnus. Ola did his parts in Stockholm.

The first songs we recorded were two old ones from the mid 80’s; “Ingen annan” + “Hoppas” together with “Utan din humor” which I wrote with Linnea Henriksson back in 2018. The wonderful melody in the verses comes from her! That triggered me to finish the song.

“Har på känn” also has music from 2018. And “Henry väntar på en chans” is, of course, “Break Another Heart” from Gyllene Tider from 1984. “Det tar den tid det tar” was written in 2015.

I guess 70% of the recordings were done in 2022. The idea of making duets didn’t come until in the spring of 2023 when most songs were done. So I had to change keys on some of them to fit the other singers voices and remake them partly in the studio. However, the last songs I wrote were written as duets to begin with; “Hjärtats vackraste rum” + “Jag är regnet” + “Nyper mig i armen”.

All in all, I’m very pleased with the result. My singing partners definitely made a difference and helped improve the songs from my point of view. And Gicken + Magnus + Ola + MP = a dream team.

Hoppas was called Jag hoppas att du finner as a demo recorded on 7th June 1984. In March 2022 Per said:

It’s another song written for the “Scener”-album. I’ve always liked this one. Unfinished lyrics. That’s probably why it was left out in the cold.

Here you can listen to Gyllene Tider’s Break Another Heart from The Heartland Café album (1984) that has become Henry väntar på en chans on this album.

The demo to Ingen kan som du was recorded on 17th February 1984 and it was released on The Per Gessle Archives – På väg – Demos 1982-86. PG recorded another demo on 28th May 2003 and released it on The Per Gessle Archives – Demos & Other Fun Stuff! Vol. 3. Here you can listen to the song with Marie’s vocals. Lyrics were written by Per, music was written by Marie + Per.

Ingen annan was recorded as a demo on 9th March 1984. In March 2022 Per said:

It’s a pretty cool song in 6/8-beat. Forgot about this one. Thanks for bringing it up. I might use it some day.

And he kept his word! Haha.

Photos by Fredrik Etoall