THE SPOTNICKS - THE FIRST 45 YEARS
by Lars Åkerström
BOOK + CD
This is a massive book by Lars Akerstrom, both in its size and in its undertaking.
Sadly for most of our readers the text is only in Swedish, a financial necessity
of course, but then the text occupies only around 25% of the book - the remainder being
stuffed full with fantastic photos, artwork and cuttings. The last eight pages do
contain a summary of the Spotnicks story written in English, but it's the wealth of
'60s images which is the main attraction.
The discography is a work of art too. Taking up over 70 pages and with every release
illustrated, it is laid out year by year with Swedish releases shown first including
track lists for EPs, LPs and CDs. Foreign releases for that year then follow country
by country, all illustrated but without track lists. Following the main vinyl/CD
section there is a page of reel to reel tapes and then several pages of cassettes.
Unlike the Shadows discography published in France, all of the images are shown large
enough to view comfortably and enjoy.
Included with the book is a CD which features radio interviews plus some live and
unreleased performances. The first track is a segued edit of two vocal recordings
from 1959 by pre-Spotnicks group The Rebels which comprised Bo Winberg, Bob Lander and
Bjorn Thelin, i.e. The Spotnicks before the addition of drummer Ove Johansson.
Track 2 is a radio broadcast from 1967 which includes nine live abbreviated versions
averaging around one minute each. The next live performances are from 1984, this time
full threeminute versions of four numbers, and there is an unreleased studio track
from 1987 in Sa Skimrande Var Aldrig Havet.
This is certainly an essential buy for dedicated Spotnicks collectors, but it's also
an evocative experience for all rock instrumental and '60s fans.
(thanks to Lars Akerstrom and Ake Hammarin)
Alan Taylor
Amapola Productions ISBN 91-631-5104-9: Sweden 2004
£60 inc. p&p from Amapola Productions, Box 2, 791 21 Falun, Sweden
www.amapola.se info@amapola.se fax: int +46 23 393 23
Book: A4 hardback with 450 pages
CD
1) THE REBELS (1959) Be Bop A Lula - There'll Never Be Anyone Else But You (v) [4 min]
2) Live 1967 The Spotnicks Theme - Johnny Guitar - Just Listen To My Heart -
Plattlagen - Avah Ginala (Hava Nagila) - Amapola - Papa Oom Mow Mow - Last Date
[10 min inc. speech]
3) Radio 1968 inc. Happy Silence (v) - Tinta Verde [7 min inc. speech]
4) Radio interview 1972 inc. The Spotnicks Theme - Ol'Man River -
Orange Blossom Special [23 min]
5) Live radio 1984 Ghostriders In The Sky - Time Is Tight - Gina Lola Breakdown -
Last Date [13 min]
6) Unreleased recording from 1987 Sa Skimrande Var Aldrig Havet [3 min]
7) Swedish Radio speech item 'Musikexport' 1998 inc. Amapola [5 min]
8) Radio interview Christmas 2000 inc. Silent Night - Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers
[11 min]