Hello

 

I just bought The Encyclopedia of Swedish progressive Music 1967-1979 and was wondering if any other have read this book, yet. I

 

t was initialy released on the 20 yeats anniversity party of record label/shop Mellotronen, 29 January this year and since then is aviable at http://www.premiumpublishing.com/ - http://www.premiumpublishing.com/ . At least if you live in Sweden you should be able to buy it in your local book store.

 

The book is released by Premium Publishing. A company specializing on coffe table books about music. They have released books in both swedish and english. The ones in swedish for a swedish audience while the english ones are of international interest.

Among them quite a few books about The Beatles, two encyclopedias about swedish hard rock and heavy metal (one sold out) and this book.

 

The Encyclopedia of Swedish progressive Music 1967-1979 lists the prog bands of Sweden during the 70s and in the context of "The Swedish Progg Movement". This movement wasn't really about progressive music but the book focus on those groups of the movement that actually was prog, i.e. Samla Mammas Manna and Kebnekaise.

A lot more groups that at the time weren't considered a part of the movement but palyed progressive music are in as well.

A lot of the acts listed though, are from the more political field of the Progg movement. Bands like Hoola Bandoola Band and Nationalteatern were not really playing Prog Rock but instead focusing on left-wing lyrics. But as said, the focus lies on what is internationally called progressive Rock.

 

Quite a few bands I have never heard of are listed, of course, and all entries incude a valuation guide wish depends on how rare the recordings are. Another bonus is that almost every album sleeve listed also are pictured! Those few who aren't often have the same sleeve art as one of the albums pictured. A not so good thing is that they only lists recordings released during mentioned period, but that's understandable.

 

At the end of the book are are also a member index, a list of some of the more important record labels and a short list of other interesting bands.

Another plus are all the fine pictures of acts spread out through the book.

 

 

I haven't read the book from start to end (yet) but have you? Thoughts? Any obvious bands left out?