Benny Andersson- Klinga Mina Klockor , Mono MMCD 001, November 1987 Swedish CD
:"Sweden is an accordion country"- Björn Ulvaeus
After 23 years in the music business Benny finally put out a album with just his name on it. Surprisingly, or not, this album was very successful in Sweden. Swedes were open to the traditional folk music that dominates this album. The albums' title translates in English to "Ring My Bell".
Benny had thought to record a solo album before this time, but apparently, never really had time to do a solo album till 1987..
About two thirds of this album is accordion/violin based music written by Benny (or B&B) in a Swedish folk music style. Benny's friends, Orsa Spelman play the violins on the album.The Stockholm's Radiosymfonikerna also receives credit as co-players on the CD cover.
Although, accordion music is certainly an acquired taste, hearing a master like Benny play the accordion might make you want to acquire a taste for it. In any case, Benny does play a lot of piano here as well. Another joy in hearing this album is that it it so freshingly non-commercial sounding-and yet Benny's gift for melody is still there.
Björn had moved to England (Björn lived primarily in England from 1984-90). by the time this album was being made, so for the first time in many years, Benny began writing songs with out Björn and even worked with an alternative lyricist (Benny's brother -in-law , Mats Norlkit ) on one song, the lovely , "Efter Regnet (After the Rain)". Björn didn't play at all on this album or coproduce any of the tracks. Even so, Björn cowrote 4 songs on the album.
Benny dragged up an unfinished B&B song rejected by ABBA called "Hamlet III" (which would appear in a partial version on the ABBA box set -THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC). Here it is called "Lottis schottis".
At least two
of songs were written for members of
Benny's family. Firstly, there is the whimsical "Ludvig's
Leksakspolka" written for his son, and wrote a birthday waltz
for his wife Mona called "Födelsedagsvals till Mona"
.
Two of songs
are similar to the music in CHESS or Kristina. "Efter Regnet"
(After the Rain) is a elegant duet sung by Tommy Korberg &
Karin Glenmark. The title track is an ambitious four section choral
orchestral piece that features a woman's chorus and the Stockholm
Radio Symphony. Frida sings on the chorus -the only time one of
the ABBA girls has appeared on the same record
as one of the ABBA boys in the post ABBA period. Part of the melody
of the title track was used in places on Kristina.
Indeed, some of the melody even can be heard in the opening track of this album "Inledningvisa"
This album was the first album released on Benny's record label-Mono Music. The album was not released outside of Scandinavia.
This album ranks just after Kristina and Chess, amongst Benny's best post-ABBA work..
Track listing for Klinga Mina Klockor
1. Inledningsvisa (Andersson)
2. Lottis schottis (Andersson-Ulvaeus)
3. Födelsedagsvals till Mona (Andersson-Ulvaeus)
4. Om min syster(Andersson)
5. Efter regnet (Andersson-Norklit) (featuring Tommy Korberg & Karin Glenmark),
6. Ludvigs leksakspolka (Andersson)
7. Gladan (Andersson)
8. Långsammazurkan (Andersson)
9. Tittis sång (Andersson)
10. Trolskan (Andersson-Ulvaeus)
11. Klinga mina klockor(Andersson-Ulvaeus) features a woman's chorus and the Stockholm Radio Symphony
Montief's handy guide to ABBA the Albums
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