Releases

The Per Gessle Archives – Vol. 1 available on Spotify

by

Vol1Right at midnight CET, The Per Gessle Archives – Demos & Other Fun Stuff!, Vol. 1 became available on Spotify. That meant no sleep at all! And not only to me. My neighbours will surely kill me one day (if I’m not killed by Per’s voice by then)… Yeah, you could guess it, I’m in love with this stuff!

Started listening to the songs one by one and I got breathless already by the first track. Don’t want to reveal what song it (or part of it) became later, because it’s an amazing thing, listening to such a demo for the first time without knowing any background to it. Awesomeness! Goosebumps all over me!

Always loved how Per can leave a song alone for years, even for more than a decade and then suddenly take the demo out of his drawer, come up with new ideas to it and oh-la-la, a new song is born. He is talking about it in details in the Conversations with Sven Lindström. I could really listen to him talking about songs and songwriting 24/7.

Per says regarding the release:

I’m a big demo fan myself … and I know there are so many people out there – hardcore Roxette fans and Per Gessle fans – who are really interested in my work. I just thought it was a nice thing to release for those guys.

The conversations are just like what we are used to anytime there is an interview / discussion involving Mr G and Sven. Good mood, friends talking to each other with the same enthusiasm about music. Lots of fun, smiles and laughs.

It’s fab to hear that Per is still planning to release an acoustic album in the future. Not the first time he mentions it and I trust he will really come out with such a record. That will be a glorious day.

In the first volume we get many Gessleish lyrics and melodies, as well as tremendous amount of details about where, when, how or even why the demos were recorded. It’s also cool to have this mix of English and Swedish demos.

Per says regarding the project that there is ”no stone unturned”. He is so wrong! There ARE stones unturned, but he is doing it so right. He gives us so much, but there is still something left to be longing for. After this project he could do a ”1st version demos” compilation album. He surely knows that after listening to the 3rd or any other numbered version demos we are just too curious about how they sounded for the very first time. Anyway, we can only be grateful for this wonderful gift from him. Still 10 volumes are waiting for us! Woohoo!

Enjoy listening to the first volume and don’t forget that Vol. 2 is out in a week on Spotify! iTunes will have it from 2nd June.

Happy marriage of the Per Gessle books

by

Update by Per on 11th May:

PG BOOKS UPDATE: No, these are not the real covers. These were made for a catalogue that had to be printed early. The proper covers are not done yet. However, the titles are correct./P.

Some days ago we wrote an article about the 2 books of Per Gessle that are going to be published in September. Now the 2 covers are revealed and we can completely understand what the ”happy marriage they will make together” means as Per put it in his update. The covers look pretty cool and by putting the books next to each other on your shelf, you’ll have that mysterious gaze of Mr. G.

PG_book_covers
Per informed that these are NOT the real covers.

You’ll be able to buy the books separately. Bengans has already listed them (English, Swedish) and Bokus, too (English, Swedish). One book is in Swedish and its title is Texter, klotter & funderingar. Den svenska delen. It will contain 153 Swedish lyrics, drawings, sketches, comments on songs by Per, as well as excerpts from Per’s studio diaries and private pics. The book will also contain an interview with Per about songwriting (done by Tomas Andersson Wij). The other book is in English and its title is Songs, Sketches & Reflections. The English part. It will contain 204 English lyrics, drawings, sketches, comments on songs by Per, as well as excerpts from Per’s studio diaries and private pics. The book will also contain a long interview with Per about songwriting (done by Sven Lindström). The 2 books together are appr. 700 pages long. Bokus might have the wrong number of pages, since in the Sydsvenskan article it was the other way round, the English book being longer, not the Swedish one. And it would make sense, taking into consideration that the English book will contain more lyrics.

The books are set to be published by Roos & Tegnér on 25th September, one day after the release of The Per Gessle Archives box-set. Ojojoj… It gets harder and harder to wait until September… What a torture! 😉

 

Thanx a lot for finding the books, Celestte Williams & Evgeny Perekopskiy!

 

Update on 13th May:

Ginza (English, Swedish) and Adlibris (English, Swedish) also listed the books.

 

The Per Gessle Archives – Demos & Other Fun Stuff!, Vol. 2

by

We didn’t have to wait long for the tracklist of The Per Gessle Archives – Demos & Other Fun Stuff!, Vol. 2 after Vol. 1 appeared yesterday on iTunes for pre-order. The digital release of Vol. 1 on Spotify is 16th May and Vol. 2 is out on 23rd May. As iTunes announced it, the first 2 volumes of the total of 11 in the complete box-set will be available at them from 2nd June. Box-set is out on 24th September.

Vol. 1 includes 16 tracks (47:13) and 34m 01s conversation between Sven Lindström and Per; Vol. 2 includes 14 tracks (46:22) and 27m 39s talk.

iTunes price of Vol. 2 will surely be corrected just as Vol. 1’s price has been changed to 135 SEK (11.99 EUR). Very good price for a lot of goodies, right?

 

Tracklist:

1 Kvar i min bil (AGM – Apr 28, 2007)  2:37

2 Apple in the Mud (T&A Demo – Jul 4, 1995)  2:45

TPGA_Vol.23 Beautiful Girl (T&A Demo – Apr 19, 1999)  3:51

4 Stay (At Home, At Work, At Play) [T&A Demo – Jul 5, 1995]  4:00

5 When I Close My Eyes (No One Can See Me) [T&A Demo – Jul 20, 1999]  3:23

6 Heaven Is Just a Motion Away (T&A Demo – Jan 28, 2006)  2:42

7 Jo-Anna Says (T&A Demo – Jan 8, 2005)  3:15

8 Mannen med gitarr (T&A Demo – Nov 20, 2002)  3:11

9 Hold on My Heart (T&A Demo – Oct 6, 2012)  2:42

10 Västra sidan (T&A Demo – Nov 18, 1984)  2:57

11 Jag borde förstås vetat bättre (T&A Demo – Oct 28, 2003)  3:20

12 Being with You (T&A Demo – Sep 11, 1997)  4:00

13 Faller ner på knä (T&A Demo – Feb 15, 1996)  3:46

14 Gå & fiska! (T&A Demo – Feb 15, 1996)  3:53

 

1 Intro Demos & Other Fun Stuff! Vol. 2 (The Conversations with Sven Lindström)  3:23

2 Kvar i min bil (Agm – Apr 28, 2007 – Conversation with Sven Lindström)  1:32

3 Apple in the Mud (T&A Demo – Jul 4, 1995 – Conversation with Sven Lindström)  1:58

4 Beautiful Girl (T&A Demo – Apr 19, 1999 – Conversation with Sven Lindström)  2:21

5 Stay (At Home, At Work, At Play) [T&A Demo – Jul 5, 1995 – Conversation with Sven Lindström]  2:07

6 When I Close My Eyes (No One Can See Me) [T&A Demo – Jul 20, 1999 – Conversation with Sven Lindström]  0:35

7 Heaven Is Just a Motion Away (T&A Demo – Jan 28, 2006 – Conversation with Sven Lindström)  2:33

8 Jo-Anna Says (T&A Demo – Jan 8, 2005 – Conversation with Sven Lindström)  1:35

9 Mannen med gitarr (T&A Demo – Nov 20, 2002 – Conversation with Sven Lindström)  0:37

10 Hold on My Heart (T&A Demo – Oct 6, 2012 – Conversation with Sven Lindström)  2:36

11 Västra sidan (T&A Demo – Nov 18, 1984 – Conversation with Sven Lindström)  2:31

12 Jag borde förstås vetat bättre (T&A Demo – Oct 28, 2003 – Conversation with Sven Lindström)  1:02

13 Being with You (T&A Demo – Sep 11, 1997 – Conversation with Sven Lindström)  1:48

14 Faller ner på knä (T&A Demo – Feb 15, 1996 – Conversation with Sven Lindström)  1:27

15 Gå & fiska! (T&A Demo – Feb 15, 1996 – Conversation with Sven Lindström)  1:34

 

I’m so glad to see my personal fave PG demo, Mannen med gitarr on the list! A pity that there is only a very short conversation about it (0:37). It’s not too easy to wait until the digital release of these 2 volumes and hear all the gems, as well as the story of all the songs. I bet it will be even harder to wait for the box-set release after we get to hear these 30 tracks and all the other fun stuff.

 

Tracklist of The Per Gessle Archives Volume 1 revealed

by

Vol1

iTunes revealed the tracklist of “Demos & Other Fun Stuff! – Vol. 1” that will included the “The Per Gessle Archives” box-set and released digitally on Spotify on May 16th. Volume 1 will contain 16 tracks plus additional comments by Per about each song in interviews done by Sven Lindström.

Volume 2 will be out one week later on May 23rd. The album will be released on iTunes on June 2.

The tracklist sounds promising, doesn’t it?

The cover of Volume 1, which is going to cost 135 SEK (11.99 EUR) (corrected price, Per let us know that the initial price set by iTunes was incorrect), was also added to the iTunes listing.

1 Walk on, Lonely Eyes (T&A Demo – Dec 16, 1999)
2 Being with You (T&A Demo – Oct 22, 2004)
3 Loud Clothes (T&A Demo – Aug 30, 2002)
4 Cafe con leche (AGM – Apr 25, 2007)
5 Fish in a Bowl (T&A Demo – Apr 30, 2000)
6 Hjärta av glas (T&A Demo – Apr 2, 2006)
7 Something in the System (T&A Demo – Jan 3, 2002)
8 Black Sails (Studio 38 Demo – Summer 1982)
9 Always the Last to Know (T&A Demo – Nov 21, 2004)
10 Den tunna linjen (T&A Demo – May 15, 2010)
11 A Girl Like You (T&A Demo – Sep 25, 2004)
12 Byter bara blickar (T&A Demo – Nov 21, 1997)
13 Lägg din hand i min om du har lust (Hamilton Demo – Jun 12, 1978)
14 Kyss från en främling (T&A Demo – Oct 18, 1999)
15 What’s She Like? (T&A Demo – Dec 3, 2010)
16 Before You Go to Sleep (T&A Demo – Nov 23, 1992)

1 Intro Demos & Other Fun Stuff! Vol. 1 (The Conversations with Sven Lindström)
2 Walk on, Lonely Eyes (T&A Demo – Dec 16, 1999 – Conversation with Sven Lindström)
3 Being with You (T&A Demo – Oct 22, 2004 – Conversation with Sven Lindström)
4 Loud Clothes (T&A Demo – Aug 30, 2002 – Conversation with Sven Lindström)
5 Cafe con leche (AGM – Apr 25, 2007 – Conversation with Sven Lindström)
6 Fish in a Bowl (T&A Demo – Apr 30, 2000 – Conversation with Sven Lindström)
7 Hjärta av glas (T&A Demo – Apr 2, 2006 – Conversation with Sven Lindström)
8 Something in the System (T&A Demo – Jan 3, 2002 – Conversation with Sven Lindström)
9 Black Sails (Studio 38 Demo – Summer 1982 – Conversation with Sven Lindström)
10 Always the Last to Know (T&A Demo – Nov 21, 2004 – Conversation with Sven Lindström)
11 Den tunna linjen (T&A Demo – May 15, 2010 – Conversation with Sven Lindström)
12 A Girl Like You (T&A Demo – Sep 25, 2004 – Conversation with Sven Lindström)
13 Byter bara blickar (T&A Demo – Nov 21, 1997 – Conversation with Sven Lindström)
14 Lägg din hand i min om du har lust (Hamilton Demo – Jun 12, 1978 – Conversation with Sven Lindström)
15 Kyss från en främling (T&A Demo – Oct 18, 1999 – Conversation with Sven Lindström)
16 What’s She Like? (T&A Demo – Dec 3, 2010 – Conversation with Sven Lindström)
17 Before You Go to Sleep (T&A Demo – Nov 23, 1992 – Conversation with Sven Lindström)

2 books written by Per Gessle to be published in autumn

by

PG_SydsvenskanWe could already read about it in the press release of The Per Gessle Archives – A Lifetime Of Songwriting that there will also be two books related to the project. Now Sydsvenskan informs that both books will be quite fat.

One will be in Swedish, containing approximately 150 of Per Gessle’s Swedish songs with Gyllene Tider and from his solo career. This book is said to be 300 pages long and will probably have the title: “Texter, klotter och funderingar”.

The other will be in English and is about the English songs, mainly from Roxette. Its title will probably be: “Songs, Sketches and Reflections” and will be approximately 400 pages long.

There are books about Per, but now these two books are written by himself. He gathers his notes and thoughts on songwriting over the years. The books will be richly illustrated with Per’s notes and sketches, as well as with private and so far unpublished photos. Even the lyrics will be featured, some printed and some in the form of original notes Per had taken. As we know, Per is always doing sketches, drawing and takes many notes while writing songs. Now all these will be in the books next to his thoughts and stories related to the lyrics. How exciting is that!

And if it’s not enough, each book will contain an interview with Mr Gessle about songwriting. In the Swedish version it’s Tomas Andersson Wij who does the interview, in the English version it’s Sven Lindström.

The publisher of the books is Roos & Tegnér, the same company that published the fabulous book “Alla tiders Gyllene Tider” last year. So, we can be sure that these two books will be of very high quality not just in terms of content, but also in their appearance.

According to the article, both books will be launched at the Gothenburg Book Fair during the last weekend of September 2014. It’s not yet known if Per will be there at the book fair, but looking back at the past book launches related to him – last time in 2013, one month after Sven’s “Roxette – Den osannolika resan tur och retur” was published –, it’s quite predictable he’s going to be there.

September is going to be a fantastic month this year, isn’t it?

P.S.: The box-set “The Per Gessle Archives – A Lifetime Of Songwriting” is out on 24th September and as Per informed yesterday, the first two volumes are available digitally on Spotify in May. Vol. 1: 16th May, Vol. 2: 23rd May. This includes “The Conversations” (open hearted comments on each and every track = PG interviewed in English by Sven Lindström).

P.S. #2: Until September you can go and read Per’s thoughts about his songs here, on RXB. This is the collection of Mr G’s thoughts and info on demos, songs, videos, etc. he shares on Roxette Official.

 

Update: info from Per about the books:

P G B O O K S U P D A T E :

2014 is the Annus Mirabilis Overdose Year!
Two books on steroids will be released in September 2014.

1. 204 English lyrics + drawings + sketches + comments on most of the songs by me + excerpts from my studio-diaries + private pics + long interview (Sven L) about songwriting etc. This book is in English.
2. 153 Swedish lyrics + drawings + sketches + comments on most of the songs by me + excerpts from my studio-diaries + private pics + two long interviews about songwriting (different journalists…) etc. This book is in Swedish.

Both are, as expected, totally humour-free and will be available as two different items but together they will make a happy marriage. Especially with The PG Archives-box on your lap. /P.