Gyllene Tider – GT40 Live – New Year’s Eve on Swedish radio P4

On New Year’s Eve, Swedish radio P4 broadcast Gyllene Tider’s Ullevi concert recorded on 3rd August 2019 on the guys’ 40th anniversary tour. A pre-recorded studio talk with Per and Anders, as well as Sven Lindström was also on air.

In the beginning of the program Sven tells it was Per and MP who started a band first, Grape Rock. Per says they realized it quite early that they needed more people for a band. Then came Micke Syd and Janne Carlsson and that was the first setup of Gyllene Tider. Later Janne was changed, Anders and Göran joined them and they were complete.

Sven asks the guys what made them so special. Anders says it was a magical chemical mix. Per says 40 years is a long time, it wasn’t the same in their heydays, but when they later reunited, they became better and better every time, in 1996, 2004, 2013. That chemistry became more and more special and more and more magical. Now everyone thinks their 2019 tour was the best both musically and also in terms of how much fun it was.

Sven introduces the Ullevi show and says the stadium was cooking and it was a really special gig.

The guys don’t talk in between each song, so one can enjoy the live music as if we are there at the concert. In Ullevi, at the best show on tour.

After Puls they are talking again. Sven says it’s probably a dream for everyone who starts a band that they one day perform in Ullevi in front of 60,000 people. Per confirms it’s magical to play there and Anders also thinks it’s powerful and since Ullevi is not a usual stadium, the construction makes you feel that it’s even more full than it actually is. The first time Anders was at a concert in Ullevi it was David Bowie (1983). Per saw The Rolling Stones there first (1982). For GT it was the third time they played the stadium. The first show they did there was in 2004. Anders remembers that it was a pure energy shock. Almost 60,000 people were standing in front of them and all their love and energy was floating towards them on stage without any filter. He says it puts one into tears. Per says he is not as sensitive as Anders, he doesn’t really experience it being different to be playing at Ullevi or at Brottet in Halmstad in front of 11,000 people. One is focusing the same way and you work the same way, but at the same time, everything is bigger. It’s always magical to play at Ullevi though.

Before Flickorna på TV2 is playing, the guys are shortly talking about Gyllene Tider’s record contract Kjell Andersson (EMI) offered them in 1979. Per explains they had only 6 gigs before they became No. 1. with Flickorna på TV2. After their breakthrough it was still difficult to organize concerts, not knowing how good it would work out and it was a tough job for tour leaders too to find out what is right and what is wrong when it came to organizing. It was a learning by doing case. Flickorna på TV2 became a hit anyway and GT became Sweden’s hottest band. The guys say they were so young and it was strange that suddenly girls started screaming and they were stalking them in their gardens.

Before Kung av sand the boys are back again. Sven says there are 2 songs that defined GT in the ’90s, Kung av sand and Det är över nu. Per says Kung av sand became their big ballad, like Listen To Your Heart is for Roxette. Earlier they didn’t have such a big one. They of course had När alla vännerna gått hem and Honung och guld, but those were smaller. Kung av sand is majestic and it was fantastic to play it live again. The song’s energy spreads out to the crowd and it comes back from the audience. It’s wonderful.

Before the 1st encore, Sven, Anders and Per are talking about Tylö sun, which is the Swedish version of The Rivieras’ California Sun (1964). First the guys recorded it for a compilation album. It became a real summer hit for them, they Gyllene Tiderized it. Göran’s Farfisa fits it so well. Anders says he thinks there is a nice organ sound in the original as well, but Per can’t remember it. Sven says they check it after the program. (There is organ in The Rivieras’ version too.)

Per says the beginning of the ’80s was a very special period for them. They were 20-21, Göran was 18 and they got a huge attention. Sven says what happened with Gyllene Tider didn’t happen in 10-15 years in Sweden. Per says in 1980-81 they didn’t really realize what a big thing it was. It was the same with Roxette, they just didn’t realize it. Only now when they are looking back at the numbers and films they can get it.

The guys are getting back to the live show and after that, the concert plays till the end without a break. När alla vännerna gått hem is the last song. Sven, Anders and Per say goodbye.

There is only one hit they skipped in the broadcast: (Dansar inte lika bra som) Sjömän. If there weren’t news at 8 pm, they would have probably played that one too.

Setlist

1. Skicka ett vykort, älskling
2. Juni, juli, augusti
3. Det hjärta som brinner
4. (Hon vill ha) Puls
5. Flickorna på TV2
6. Vandrar i ett sommarregn
7. (Dansar inte lika bra som) Sjömän
8. Det kändes inte som maj
9. Flickan i en Cole Porter-sång
10. Tuffa tider

BAND PRESENTATION

11. Låt denna trumslagarpojke sjunga!
12. Kung av sand
13. En sten vid en sjö i en skog
14. Ljudet av ett annat hjärta
15. Ska vi älska, så ska vi älska till Buddy Holly
16. (Kom så ska vi) Leva livet
17. Tylö Sun

Encore 1

18. Billy
19. Det är över nu
20. Gå & fiska!

Encore 2

21. När vi två blir en
22. Sommartider
23. När alla vännerna gått hem

Gyllene Tider – GT40 LIVE! is out!

Gyllene Tider’s farewell tour is now out on all streaming platforms! Listen to it on Spotify, iTunes or Deezer! After a week delay vs. the originally planned date, GT40 LIVE! is released digitally and on CD on 1st November. We still have to wait a bit for the double LP (out on 22nd November), but we can already enjoy all 28 songs played live during the tour. Amazing to have them all on the digital sites! HERE you can check the tracklists.

The songs on the album are mostly from Gothenburg. The whole Ullevi gig is on the record with its 23 songs and there are 5 additional tracks. 2 songs from the last GT album recorded at the 2nd Halmstad show, 1 song recorded in Linköping, 1 song in windy Malmö and the last track is from the soundcheck of the very last tour stop in Halmstad.

It’s fantastic to relive the complete Ullevi show and feel the energy of 7 amazing musicians on stage and 54340 people in the crowd. While listening, I’m in the mood to sing along and clap and dance. I close my eyes and the ”movie” plays. I suddenly remember the choreography during the songs, the looks, the crowd reactions, the laughs – you can even hear Per laughing here and there while singing –, all.

At some parts I have the feeling that the crowd’s sound could be louder on the album, because I remember how harmonious it was at the venue when the band and the audience became one. I could sometimes hear the crowd being louder than Per’s voice, but not in a disturbing way. Anyway, the mixing is nicely done and the crowd can still be heard on all songs. Singing and clapping along.

One of my personal favourites is Det kändes inte som maj. It rocked live and it’s awesome to have it recorded. Inside the song these 2 lines, Per’s tone of voice still makes me smile: ”jag bor i huset intill”, ”jag spelar bara musik”. Haha. But all the other rocking party songs and wonderful ballads sound fab.

There is not much talking recorded between the songs. Some thank you’s from Per and a tiny little part of Micke Syd’s speech before Låt denna trumslagarpojke sjunga! Just the parts that are also adding to the live feeling.

When I first saw the tracklists and realized När alla vännerna gått hem is not the last song on any of them I was wondering how it would sound, a few more tracks after the real closing song. Hey, it’s cool to have a bit more party after that beautiful ballad. Regarding the last song, Vill ha ett svar, why the soundcheck version and not the show opening version was included, no clue. But this way I can at least also relive the moments of the soundcheck that we watched from the top of the small hill outside Brottet in Halmstad.

Lovely memories!

So if you have a spare 2 hours, go ahead and party with the Golden Guys and Girls! Relive last summer! The last GT summer… Hopefully, on DVD soon too.

Order your physical copies HERE if you haven’t done so yet!

Gyllene Tider – GT40 LIVE!

Gyllene Tider will release a live recording of their farewell tour on gatefold CD and gatefold double vinyl LP, as well as digitally. The CD and digital version are out on 1st November, the LP is out on 22nd November. According to Per, the different physical and digital releases will contain different number of tracks. 20 tracks will be on the CD, 21 on the double vinyl LP and 28 tracks on digital download & streaming services. The different amount of songs is because the CD holds about 78 min of music, the LPs hold around 82 min, digital download & streaming are, of course, without any time limits. The CD and the LP’s got different tracks on them.

The majority of the songs were recorded at Ullevi in Gothenburg, but there are also songs from Halmstad, Malmö and Linköping, including a soundcheck.

CD tracklist

1. Skicka ett vykort, älskling
2. Juni, Juli, Augusti
3. Det hjärta som brinner
4. (Hon vill ha) Puls
5. Flickorna på TV2
6. Vandrar i ett sommarregn
7. Flickan i en Cole Porter-sång
8. En sten vid en sjö i en skog
9. Ljudet av ett annat hjärta
10. Ska vi älska, så ska vi älska till Buddy Holly
11. (Kom så ska vi) Leva livet
12. Tylö Sun
13. Billy
14. Det är över nu
15. Gå & fiska!
16. När vi två blir en
17. Sommartider
18. När alla vännerna gått hem
19. Vanliga saker
20. Chrissie, hur mår du?

 

Vinyl tracklist

Side A:

1. Skicka ett vykort, älskling (Live Ullevi 3 augusti 2019)
2. Juni, Juli, Augusti (Live Ullevi 3 augusti 2019)
3. Det hjärta som brinner (Live Ullevi 3 augusti 2019)
4. (Hon vill ha) Puls (Live Ullevi 3 augusti 2019)
5. Vandrar i ett sommarregn (Live Ullevi 3 augusti 2019)

Side B:

1. Flickan i en Cole Porter-sång (Live Ullevi 3 augusti 2019)
2. En sten vid en sjö i en skog (Live Ullevi 3 augusti 2019)
3. Ljudet av ett annat hjärta (Live Ullevi 3 augusti 2019)
4. Ska vi älska, så ska vi älska till Buddy Holly (Live Ullevi 3 augusti 2019)
5. (Kom så ska vi) Leva livet (Live Ullevi 3 augusti 2019)
6. Tylö Sun (Live Ullevi 3 augusti 2019)

Side C:

1. Billy (Live Ullevi 3 augusti 2019)
2. Det är över nu (Live Ullevi 3 augusti 2019)
3. Gå & fiska! (Live Ullevi 3 augusti 2019)
4. När vi två blir en (Live Ullevi 3 augusti 2019)

Side D:

1. Sommartider (Live Ullevi 3 augusti 2019)
2. När alla vännerna gått hem (Live Ullevi 3 augusti 2019)
3. Vanliga saker (Live Halmstad 5 juli 2019)
4. Skrot och korn (Live Halmstad 5 juli 2019)
5. Chrissie, hur mår du? (Live Malmö 6 juli 2019)
6. Vill ha ett svar (Soundcheck Halmstad 10 augusti 2019)

 

Running order of the digital version

1. Skicka ett vykort, älskling (Live Ullevi)
2. Juni, Juli, Augusti (Live Ullevi)
3. Det hjärta som brinner (Live Ullevi)
4. (Hon vill ha) Puls (Live Ullevi)
5. Flickorna på TV2 (Live Ullevi)
6. Vandrar i ett sommarregn (Live Ullevi)
7. (Dansar inte lika bra som) Sjömän (Live Ullevi)
8. Det kändes inte som maj (Live Ullevi)
9. Flickan i en Cole Porter-sång (Live Ullevi)
10. Tuffa tider (för en drömmare) (Live Ullevi)
11. Låt denna trumslagarpojke sjunga! (Live Ullevi)
12. Kung av sand (Live Ullevi)
13. En sten vid en sjö i en skog (Live Ullevi)
14. Ljudet av ett annat hjärta (Live Ullevi)
15. Ska vi älska, så ska vi älska till Buddy Holly (Live Ullevi)
16. (Kom så ska vi) Leva livet (Live Ullevi)
17. Tylö Sun (Live Ullevi)
18. Billy (Live Ullevi)
19. Det är över nu (Live Ullevi)
20. Gå & fiska! (Live Ullevi)
21. När vi två blir en (Live Ullevi)
22. Sommartider (Live Ullevi)
23. När alla vännerna gått hem (Live Ullevi)
24. Vanliga saker (Live Halmstad 5 juli 2019)
25. Skrot och korn (Live Halmstad 5 juli 2019)
26. Marie i växeln (Live Linköping)
27. Chrissie, hur mår du? (Live Malmö)
28. Vill ha ett svar (Soundcheck Halmstad 10 aug 2019)

You can already pre-order the CD and LP at Ginza, Bengans and CDON. Probably more retailers will list the items soon. Pre-save the digital edition HERE. And don’t forget that a book is in the making! Now it has a release date, too: 15th November! You can pre-order it here or here. And hopefully, a DVD will also see the light of day soon!

Pic on the sleeve was taken by Patrícia Peres on 5th August 2019, Kalmar during Flickan i en Cole Porter-sång.