Yet another 3 cassettes are out „from the Drawer Of Dreams”, as Per says. He had a TEAC four-channel tape recorder which he used all the time for a couple of years. Tricky but it worked, he says. PG adds:
Amazing to think I actually did this on my own. I’ve always been lousy with technology. But there you go. Don’t give up!
“Studio Tor” on cassette No. 3 refers to Mr. G’s apartment that was situated on Torsgatan in Halmstad.
Those magic drawers surely contain some more cassettes and that TPGA box vol. 2 is shouting for a release. Only on these three cassettes there are so many tracks we haven’t heard so far!
TEAC AT HOME #1
A
1. Krig (Instr.) (6th September 1983)
2. Krig (7th September 1983)
Released on The Per Gessle Archives – På väg – Demos 1982-86. Monica Törnell released the song in 1984.
3. The Sound Of My Falling Tears (2 vers.) (10th/12th September 1983)
The September 12th version is released on The Per Gessle Archives – Demos & Other Fun Stuff! Vol. 3.
Info from PG: „I bought this 4-track Tascam machine and I did all these things on my own, which is quite scary, being me. So I recorded this at home with just a small synthesizer and a Roland drum machine. Very distinctive 80’s sound. I probably wrote it for „The Heartland Café” album, Gyllene Tider’s English album. That was in the can at the time. It’s sometimes good to work on your own, because you have to solve all your problems yourself. You have to be the engineer, you have to play the instruments, you have to do everything on your own. Which means that you learn a lot. So I did that for a couple of minutes in my life, before I decided to get some collaborators on board. I like to work very rapidly, so if things grew up like technical stuff grew up, I’m lost in the shuffle. It’s just terrible. I had really big studios in my homes over the years, but I always gave it up in the end of the day, because I need an engineer, I need someone to make things work for me. If I have a musical idea, I want to play it now, I want to record it now and if I’m gonna do it on my own it’s gonna be made in like two hours, because I have to find all the wires and connections, hit the right buttons. And when I’ve done that finally, I forgot about all the idea that I had in the first place. That’s why I use my iPhone, my smartphone to do very simple demos on.”
4. Rosa vind (4th November 1983)
Info from PG: „It’s an early version of “Om jag en dag”, the final cut on the “Scener”-album.”
5. Liksom fåglar (26th November 1983)
Probably the Fåglar demo released on The Per Gessle Archives – På väg – Demos 1982-86.
Info from PG: „It’s an early version av “Fåglar”.”
6. Fri som en fågel (26th November 1983)
Info from PG: „It’s a waltz I wrote on the piano for “Scener”. Never made it. Stupid lyrics.”
7. From One Heart To Another (8th December 1983)
Info from PG: „I wrote this even prior to the last Gyllene Tider album, which was in English of course, so it could have been written for that album. I don’t know, I can’t remember. It was a little bit more guitar-driven in 1983 than in 1984 when I did another demo, which was a bit more sequencer and synthesizers. Then in 1985 it was a reggae. The reggae version was what I played for Marie and then we went into the Montezuma studio in 1986 to do an acoustic demo of it, which eventually lead to its inclusion on the first Roxette album. It was never a favourite song for me. Especially in the Roxette version. I had it in so many versions. When it was written, it was supposed to be a guitar-driven song and that’s the way it should have stayed. It’s got a big chorus and you can actually pump it up with guitars. The Roxette version is a little bit more easy-listening, more smooth. When a song lies around for so many years it travels. This song was sent into the Swedish Eurovision Song Contest in 1985 or so in Swedish with a lyric by Ingela “Pling” Forsman, called „Skepp utan roder”. That didn’t go anywhere, of course.
8. En man av väntan (11th December 1983)
Info from PG: „It’s a very boring piano ballad. Next please.”
9. Dreaming (14th December 1983)
Demo of Dreaming by Gyllene Tider.
10. Light Of Love (29th December 1983)
Info from PG: „Frida in ABBA was doing a solo-album in 1982 (produced by Phil Collins) and asked me to write a song for her. And she gave me a book of Dorothy Parker’s poems. I wrote music to two of them, “Threnody” and “Light of love”.”
11. Don’t Want To Live Alone (4th January 1984)
Info from PG: „It’s an early version av “30 skäl”.”
12. Rickie Lee (2 vers.) (19th January 1984)
Demos to the song Rickie Lee that was released on Per Gessle’s second solo album, Scener. It was composed for Marie Fredriksson’s Het vind album, but she released the song only when the album was reissued in 2003.
B
1. Stand By Me (24th January 1984)
Is that a Ben E. King cover?
Info from PG: „It’s not the Ben E. King standard. It’s an original song I probably wrote for “The Heartland Café”. This demo from January is made by me on my own. There is another one from later in the year, in July, with Gyllene Tider playing. It’s a pretty cool one. And a nice song. Might release it one day.”
2. Ros (26th January 1984)
Released on The Per Gessle Archives – På väg – Demos 1982-86.
3. Like Lovers Do (3rd February 1984)
Info from PG: „Most of the songs on „Pearls Of Passion” are songs written in Swedish, including „Like Lovers Do”. I can’t remember what the title was, but it was written in Swedish.”
4. From One Heart … (13th February 1984)
See what’s written at side A track 7.
5. Ingen kan som du (17th February 1984)
Released on The Per Gessle Archives – På väg – Demos 1982-86.
6. Skyldig (20th February 1984)
Skyldig is a song written by Per Gessle, released as a bonus song on Basse Wickman’s 2001 compilation album, Da Capo.
7. Sommardans (20th February 1984)
Info from PG: „It’s another piano ballad. I wrote a lot of those! It’s… hmmmm… OK. Next life, maybe?”
8. Like Lovers Do (Marie) (24th February 1984)
See what’s written at side B track 3.
9. 12 23 05 (28th February 1984)
Per wrote this song and The Pinks [Swedish boyband of kids aged 8-14] released it in 1984 in Swedish. It made headlines in the newspapers, because the number in the title was an existing phone number of a 83-year-old lady in Örebro who got a tremendous amount of calls. According to The Pinks, Per said the song was originally written in English.
10. Never Say Goodbye (29th February 1984)
Later, in 1990 the track was released as a song written by Per Gessle and Clarence Öfwerman under this same title by Passagerarna [band members: Clarence Öfwerman, Mats Persson (not MP!), Micke Jahn, Pelle Alsing, Tommy Cassemar].
Info from PG: „It’s an original song by me. There is actually another demo from July 1984 which is much better. Uptempo pop ditty. Catchy chorus. I gave the lyrics to Clarence many years later and he wrote new music to it for his band “Passagerarna”. They recorded it (with Clarence music) and it was sung by Mats “Myrdal” Persson who played percussion with Roxette on the CBB tour. Small world.”
11. Sheik (6th March 1984)
Info from PG: „It’s an early version of “Physical Fascination”.”
12. Ingen annan (9th March 1984)
Info from PG: „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.”
13. ”Sköna juveler” / Tema #? (26th March 1984)
There was a 1984 Swedish movie with this title. Can it have any relation to this demo? Hm.
Info from PG: „Yes, I got a request to write some music to this movie. But the people in charge didn’t really like my home made electronic stuff. Who can blame them?”
TEAC AT HOME #2
A
1. Innan du går, kom tillbaka (4th March 1984 – 27th March 1984)
As Marie mentions in her biography, she and Per wanted to play and sing together and they started writing songs together. One of them was Innan du går, kom tillbaka. Per wrote the lyrics and they wrote the music together. The song was released on Hi Fidelity (Various Artists) with Marie singing, Gyllene Tider playing.
2. Fascination (3rd April 1984)
Anything physical?
Info from PG: „It’s yet another early version of Physical Fascination. How many does the world need?”
3. I Call Your Name (11th April 1984)
The Montezuma demo is only from 1986.
Info from PG: „It’s my first demo of what became a Roxette song.”
4. Mandolindagar (16th April 1984)
The song was released on the Inte tillsammans, inte isär EP in 1986 and as a bonus track on the 1994 re-release of Scener.
5. See (16th April 1984)
Regarding the 1989 demo version of See on demo cassette No. 7 Per said: „It’s still unreleased, but there was a Swedish translation and recording made by Sylvia Vrethammar in 1990 with the title „Öppna dina ögon”. My music, Sylvia’s lyrics. Produced by Clarence. How about that? Also… “See” + “See Me” has got the same lyrics. But different music. “See” = music by me. “See Me” = music by sweet Marie.”
6. Innan du går (M. GIT) [if I can read it correctly]
Probably another demo version of Innan du går, kom tillbaka.
Info from PG: „It’s the same demo as the one from March but “M GIT” which means “med gitarr/with guitar”. Duet with Marie. It’s always a joy to hear her sing. I have to release this one. Thank you.”
7. Önskar att du (27th April 1984)
Might be an earlier version of the 1986 Önskar demo, which later became Sleeping Single.
Info from PG: „It’s not the same song as “Önskar” (which became “Sleeping Single”). This one is also uptempo, not terrible, not amazing, pretty dull actually if you play it twice.”
8. Lidelsens vita flagg (2nd May 1984)
Info from PG: „It’s not a bad song. Uptempo, great chorus. Chords sound pretty classic, a little bit like Dressed For Success. It actually sounds like Marie is singing backing vocals on this one. Major problem is that the lyrics stink. That’s probably why it was left in the ditch.”
9. Den tunna linjen (1st May 1984)
Den tunna linjen was released on Scener.
10. Flickor älskar att dansa (5th May 1984)
Info from PG: „It’s an early version of ”Dreams Of Love And Devotion”. Sounds a bit like the Cars. Pretty good.”
11. (I Feel) Fire (8th May 1984)
Info from PG: „It was my favourite for a month or so. This version is sung by Marie. And it sounds “SO MUCH MARIE” from those days. High pitch. Brilliant and strong emotions. Could have been fab on the first Rox album but it never happened. Am I making you curious, hahaha?”
12. Om jag en dag (9th May 1984)
Om jag en dag was released on Scener.
B
1. Anytime (14th May 1984)
Anytime was released on Hi Fidelity (Various Artists) and as a bonus track on the 1990 CD release of The Heartland Café. There is a demo on YouTube. Can it be this one from the cassette?
2. Run To Me (21st May 1984)
It’s the English version of Regn, the song released on Per’s first solo album. There is a demo of Run To Me on YouTube. Can it be this one from the cassette?
Run To Me by the way was released by Christopher Barker in 1994 on his All In Love album.
3. Lycklig en stund (22nd May 1984)
Lycklig en stund was released on Scener in 1985 and another version later in 2020 on Gammal kärlek rostar aldrig.
4. Hi Fidelity (22nd May 1984)
Hi Fidelity was released on the compilation album, Hi Fidelity.
5. Girl On The Phone (25th May 1984)
Info from PG: „It’s an uptempo song. A smaller and younger brother to, let’s say, “The Big L”. Efva Attling wrote a Swedish lyric to it and released on her first solo album in 1985. It was called “Leka på pojkars vis”. Badabam bam bam.”
6. Den bästa tiden (27th May 1984)
Released on The Per Gessle Archives – På väg – Demos 1982-86.
7. Fly Like The Wind Thru … (28th May 1984)
The first version of the 1986 Fly Like The Wind demo.
Info from PG: „Fly Like The Wind Through My Hair was the original title.”
8. Dreams Of Love & Devotion (29th May 1984)
Info from PG: „Part of the lyrics is the same [as LaLaLove by Mono Mind]. Not the music, though. Have to recycle. Good for Planet Earth!”
9. Dancing On The Night Wire (7th June 1984)
Info from PG: „This song was written in the spring of 1984. At that time I was preparing for my second Swedish solo album, „Scener”, so I don’t really know why I wrote this one. It was a very complicated time for me, so I wrote so many things going different directions.”
10. Jag hoppas att du finner (7th June 1984)
Info from PG: „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.”
11. Victoria (10th June 1984)
Info from PG: „VICTORIA / SISTA CHANSEN VÄSTERUT / HJÄRTA OCH SJÄL. Same song, different lyrics. All terrible.”
12. Sista chansen västerut (11th June 1984)
Info from PG: „VICTORIA / SISTA CHANSEN VÄSTERUT / HJÄRTA OCH SJÄL. Same song, different lyrics. All terrible.”
13. Hjärta och själ (11th June 1984)
In the Att vara Per Gessle book on side 97 this song is listed as a side A track on PG’s planned – but never recorded – third Swedish solo album.
Info from PG: „VICTORIA / SISTA CHANSEN VÄSTERUT / HJÄRTA OCH SJÄL. Same song, different lyrics. All terrible.”
TEAC AT HOME #3 (Studio Tor – 6.84. – . )
A
1. Body & Soul (13th June 1984)
In the Att vara Per Gessle book it’s written on side 85 that Per got into contact with Dale Tedesco Music in Los Angeles and sent this song to them, but nothing really happened. However, the fact that Dale – an American who had a record label – liked Per’s songs made PG more self-confident.
2. Cherry Gardens (16th June 1984)
Info from PG: „Extremely bad English version of Gyllene Tider’s “Cilla 16, söt som socker”.”
3. Blå December (17th June 1984)
Blå December was released on Scener.
4. Jag är en liten pojk (21st June 1984)
Pugh Rogefeldt has a song with the same title, released in 1972.
Info from PG: „It’s a bad cover of the Pugh Rogefeldt-song.”
5. Juli-natt (24th June 1984)
Info from PG: „No. No. No. Not very good. Take me out of here!”
6. Lycklig en stund (25th June 1984)
Lycklig en stund was released on Scener in 1985 and another version later in 2020 on Gammal kärlek rostar aldrig.
7. Afrikas <3 (27th June 1984)
In the Att vara Per Gessle book on side 97 a song titled simply Afrika is listed as a side B track on PG’s planned – but never recorded – third Swedish solo album
8. Magic Spell (3rd July 1984)
There is a track on YouTube from the Myths. Can it be this demo?
Info from PG: „Magic Spell was written and demoed twice in the summer of 1984. It will pop up one day!”
9. Vitt Café (5th July 1984)
Info from PG: „It’s another leftover that was written for the “Scener”-album.”
10. Love Darts (7th July 1984)
Info from PG: „It’s the English version of Gyllene Tider’s “Bara vara nära”.”
11. Ge allt du kan o vill (10th July 1984)
Ge allt du kan was demoed again in 2016 and released on En vacker dag in 2017. Sven-Ingvars released the song in 1996.
12. Kyss från en främling (13th July 1984)
It was recorded in English with Gyllene Tider for The Heartland Café album, but it became a leftover because of the little too much country flair to it, says Per. It was later released on Andra Tider – Bonuslåtar och alternativa versioner 82-84. A later demo from 1999 was released on The Per Gessle Archives – Demos & Other Fun Stuff! Vol. 1. Blue Light released the song in 1985.
13. Springer i cirklar
Info from PG: „It’s a demo by Gyllene Tider. Pretty good backing track, terrible vocals by me. Wrong key. Lousy lyrics on top of it all.”
B
1. La Luna (13th August 1984)
The first Spanish roots?
Info from PG: „Instrumental saxophone (!) version of “Scen” from the “Scener” album. Interesting is a word I could use. But I don’t.”
2. Jupiter kallar (17th August 1984)
The 1995 English demo, Jupiter Calling was released on the extended version of The World According To Gessle.
3. Speedo (23rd August 1984)
Speedo was released on Scener.
4. FOX (27th August 1984)
Info from PG: „I wrote this one for Anne-Lie Rydé. She never recorded it. I can understand why.”
Västervik fest (8th July 1985)
1. Vandrar …
2. En känsla …
3. Ännu doftar …
4. Love The One …
Info from PG: „It was the mighty “Exciting Cheeses” that performed at Västervik. Same set as we played at the ANC-gig at Scandinavium in Gothenburg in november 85. Just yesterday.”
Info from Marie’s biography: „In the summer of 1985, we went on a minor tour with acoustic guitars and sang vocals. In addition to Per and I, Mats MP Persson and Lasse Lindbom were present. We called ourselves Exciting Cheeses. The name came about because Lasse was asked what we should call ourselves while he was in a grocery store and saw the sign “Spännande ostar”.”
The songs above are: Vandrar i ett sommarregn, En känsla av regn, Ännu doftar kärlek and Love The One You’re With.
Here you can watch the TV broadcast of the 1985 ANC gala. Exciting Cheeses perform Love The One You’re With from 1:08:41.
Side A
Fading Like A Flower (Roxette + Galantis Remix)
She’s Got Nothing On (But The Radio) (Adam Rickfors Remix)
Stars (Almighty Radio Edit)