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HANSSON & KARLSSON

Proto-Prog • Sweden


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Hansson & Karlsson picture
Hansson & Karlsson biography
Active between 1967-1969

In 1967, Swedish keyboardist Bo HANSSON, known especially for his album based on JRR Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings", formed a partnership with drummer JANNE KARLSSON. The latter had been introduced to HANSSON by his former Merrymen bandmate Bill Öhrström, who had become an A&R man and producer at Polydor Sweden. The two musicians immediately hit it off, and were signed by Polydor.

HANSSON & KARLSSON released three albums of uptempo, Hammond organ-based music between 1967 and 1969. They became immensely popular in their home country and Europe, and even reached the ear of JIMI HENDRIX, who took time out from his 1967 tour to jam with the duo at the Klub Filips in Stockholm. Hendrix went on to record the HANSSON song, "Tax Free". The end came in 1969, when KARLSSON became a successful comedian and TV host, and HANSSON decided to break up the partnership and embark on his solo career.



Why this artist must be listed in www.progarchives.com :
HANSSON & KARLSSON deserve inclusion for their brand of lively, Hammond-based Proto-Prog.

HANSSON & KARLSSON Videos (YouTube and more)


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HANSSON & KARLSSON discography


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HANSSON & KARLSSON top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.46 | 29 ratings
Monument
1967
3.81 | 16 ratings
Rex
1968
3.81 | 16 ratings
Man At The Moon
1969

HANSSON & KARLSSON Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

HANSSON & KARLSSON Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

HANSSON & KARLSSON Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.50 | 4 ratings
Gold
1969
3.71 | 11 ratings
Hansson & Karlsson
1998
3.50 | 6 ratings
For People In Love
2010

HANSSON & KARLSSON Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

4.00 | 3 ratings
Lidingö Airport / Canada Lumberyard
1967
3.67 | 3 ratings
P som i Pop
1968

HANSSON & KARLSSON Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Hansson & Karlsson by HANSSON & KARLSSON album cover Boxset/Compilation, 1998
3.71 | 11 ratings

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Hansson & Karlsson
Hansson & Karlsson Proto-Prog

Review by siLLy puPPy
Special Collaborator PSIKE, JRF/Canterbury, P Metal, Eclectic

3 stars This is a compilation release that includes all of the debut album "Monument" with the first half of the third album "Man On The Moon" and one track from their second album "Rex." Also included is the B-side of their single"Lidingö Airport" which is "Canada Lumberyard" but surprisingly not the single itself. Personally I find little on this compilation that differentiates itself adequately from the debut album leaving me little desire to check out the following two albums. It is the same as the debut (check out my review for "Monument" at its own page) with the two musicians doing their thang but there seems to be little or no evolution amongst the three albums. A little disappointing since so many leaps in progressiveness were occurring during this time. This album more than serves my needs by including the debut album and a sampling of the following two albums with a B-side. 3 stars for an interesting but not outstanding relic of progressive music development.
 Monument by HANSSON & KARLSSON album cover Studio Album, 1967
3.46 | 29 ratings

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Monument
Hansson & Karlsson Proto-Prog

Review by siLLy puPPy
Special Collaborator PSIKE, JRF/Canterbury, P Metal, Eclectic

3 stars This album caught my attention simply because it is listed as the very first progressive rock album on Rate Your Music. I had never heard of this duo before but I was aware of the first half namely Bo Hansson who is most famous for his symphonic prog album "Lord Of The Rings" (Sagan Om Ringen) which was released in both English and Swedish. Although it qualifies as progressive rock under RYM's multi-assigned genre system, I think the folks at ProgArchives rightfully qualify this as a Proto-Prog release since it is literally these two talented musicians and no one else performing on the entirety of this album.

What we have here is simply a very talented jazz drummer Janne Karlsson playing with the symphonic extraordinaire virtuoso keyboardist Bo Hansson who kinda reminds you of the Doors at times. This music is much better than you would think considering it is only two guys playing two instruments throughout the entirety of the album. The first three tracks are actually fairly exciting but where this album begins to wear thin is on the fourth track where it actually reminds me of soap opera music of the 40s and 50s with the tone of the organ. By the time I get to the end of this album I am well over it and end up wishing that this extraordinary duo would have formed a full band because despite it all they create an excellent atmosphere that actually works well as background music. The whole time I listen to this I imagine myself being in some 60s lounge setting sipping some cocktails and only half absorbed into the music itself.

For the reason of an incomplete sound I can only award this album 3 stars, but I do find the first three tracks and the excellent "H.K. Theme" to be worth the price of admission alone. As a musician I also find that because of the "blank canvass" feel to the whole thing that this makes an excellent album to play along with as an improv practice session. As a stand alone piece this is good but not essential but as an intriguing relic of the past this qualifies as a worthy addition to my ever expanding eclectic musical collection.

 Hansson & Karlsson by HANSSON & KARLSSON album cover Boxset/Compilation, 1998
3.71 | 11 ratings

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Hansson & Karlsson
Hansson & Karlsson Proto-Prog

Review by Chris S
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

4 stars Excellent addition to any progressive collection. Four and a half stars to be sure! When you think that Hansson and Karlsson had the respect of the likes of Jimi Hendrix all those years ago, this album simply stuns with great melodic hammond organ riffs from Bo Hansson, equally complimented by meticulously timed drums and percussion from Jan Karlsson. The whole album does not have a dull or dud moment from the opening Richard Lionheart, the grooving ' Tax Free and the ethereal "Lift Off". I have often wondered over the years what additional material of anything Hansson related was available apart from his great solo works up to Music inspired by Watership Down in 1977. This confirms the establishment of that sound from these early years in collaboration with the talented Jan Karlsson. Great liner notes make the CD package good value. It is also great to see( Youtube)and read recent input from these rare talents. Hammond organ in abundance. Warning there are no other instruments apart from drums and keyboards and because of the skill of the artists no other instruments are required. Highly recommended.
 Hansson & Karlsson by HANSSON & KARLSSON album cover Boxset/Compilation, 1998
3.71 | 11 ratings

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Hansson & Karlsson
Hansson & Karlsson Proto-Prog

Review by erik neuteboom
Prog Reviewer

4 stars Many years ago I got this CD as a promo while I worked for the Dutch progrock magazine iO Pages. Hansson & Karlson was a Swedish duo featuring Bo(sse) Hansson on Hammond organ and Janne Carlsson on drums. They made three albums entitled Monument (1967), Rex (1968) and Man At The Moon (1969) and the single Lidingo Airport (1967). They also were the support-act of Frank Zappa, Jefferson Airplane, Cream and Jimi Hendrix. In the booklet of this CD (including an interesting interview) you can read that Jimi Hendrix was impressed by the duo and Jimi and the duo even became friends! By the way, Bo Hansson is also known as an artist who made several symphonic prog albums in the Seventies, his effort Attic Thoughts is recommended.

So what about the music of this Swedish duo? Well, I am delighted about these virtuosic musicians, what a skills, what a great interplay and what a wide range of exciting Hammond organ sounds (especially on the outstanding track February). The music reminds me at some moments of Julian's Treatment and Rare Bird but in general it's swinging jazz and compelling blues. My highlight is I Love, You Love (live 1968 from Rex): Bo freaks out on his Hammond organ, then he slows down but he ends with a bombastic, classically inspired sound in the vein of Keith Emerson, goose bumps! In fact it's "never a dull moment" during the 70 minutes running time of this dynamic and exciting CD compilation!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED and I would like to dedicate my review #1100 to the unsurpassed sound of the Hammond organ!



Thanks to Ghost Rider for the artist addition. and to Quinino for the last updates

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