CHARLIE & ESDOR

Psychedelic/Space Rock • Sweden

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Charlie & Esdor biography
The group CHARLIE & ESDOR was formed in 1970 at Katrineholm, Sweden by Edmund "Charlie" Franz�n (sitar, drums) and Norwegian Esdor Jensen (guitar, bass, vocals).

Musically they could be described as a fusion of styles resembling THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND's sitar driven acid folk tunes and more straight forward psychedelic rock in style of THE JIMI HENRDIX EXPERIENCE and THE CREAM. The sung in both Swedish and English, and performed mostly their own material, and the lyrics are about both everyday life and more philosophical contemplations.

They performed at the legendary G�rdet Festival in June 1970, which was organized by TR�D, GR�S OCH STENAR and Atlantic Ocean, and which was preserved on a LP album "Festen p� G�rdet". There was also a film with same name shot from the event by Rainer Hartlebs, and Charlie's sitar playing can be seen on it. The group continued giving out concerts and were signed to an independent MNW record label, which released their singles and "Gr�nt �r Sk�nt" EP, which was their only official group release in the 1970's. The attempts to make a LP with Swedish and English sung sides did not succeed, and this EP was released instead. There were also some radio performances done, but there are not known recordings of these surviving in the public markets. Some of their performances had also quest musicians involved.

The group broke up in 1972, but in year 2005 their unreleased material from 1970-1972 were released by the Mellotronen label on the CD "Charile & Esdor". The band's music is warmly recommeneded to the fans of psychedelic progressive music, sitar driven ragarock and anybody interested of Swedish rock history!

Discography

in early 70's some 45" singles were issued
1972 "Gr�nt �r Sk�nt" MNW 1M - EP
2005 "Charlie & Esdor" MELLOCD018

Compillation appearances:
1971 "Festen p� G�rden" SRS 4603
1999 "Electric Psychedelic Sitar Headswirlers vol.8"
2007 "B-Music - Cross Continental Record Raid Road Trip"
2008 "The Essence of Swedish Progressive Music 1967-1979 - Pregnant Rainbows for colourblind Dreamers" Premium NOX

Eetu Pellonp��

Sources:
http://hem.passagen.se
http://www.progg.se
http://www.last.fm
http://rateyourmusic.com
"Charlie & Esdor" MELLOCD018 booklet

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CHARLIE & ESDOR discography

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

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

CHARLIE & ESDOR Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

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

3.69 | 7 ratings

Charlie & Esdor
2005

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

0.00 | 0 ratings

D� Klagar Mina Grannar
1970

5.00 | 1 ratings

Gr�nt �r Sk�nt
1972

CHARLIE & ESDOR Reviews

Showing last 10 reviews only

Charlie & Esdor by CHARLIE & ESDOR album cover

Boxset/Compilation, 2005
3.69 | 7 ratings
BUY

Charlie & Esdor
Charlie & Esdor Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by Dr�mmarenAdrian

Charlie Franz�n och Esdor Jensen were two guys from Katrineholm in S�dermanland, Sweden. They were found by Tr�d, gr�s och stenar when they were on tour and were invited to the first "Party at G�rdet" 1970 a music event with underground more or less amateurish bands. Their music is best describes as late 60s psychedelic rock with blues and oriental influences in the sitar for example. I have red that some people consider them as one of the most important bands during the alternative music movement in the early seventies. Despite this they didn't get a record deal. Perhaps the group "Philemon Arthur & The Dung" were inspired by Charlie och Esdor when they did their famous record in 1972 (a record that should be here at PA).

After hearing this I can't really agree it's an essential disc. They were quite unique and some track are good. What is unique here is primarily the lyrics which feel improvised. They played many instruments, Charlie plays sitar and Esdor seems to be a good bass player fpr example. They were helped by a skillful guitarist: Lasse Summanen on most tracks.

And now to the songs: I will start with the best ones. "Dagen �r �ver" is both showed in a studio and a live version, the studio one is best. The text is very simple but life-affirming: Dagen �r �ver (the day is over), nu kan kv�llen komma (now the evening are allowed to come), och sen glida �ver (and then slide over), i nattens lugn och ro (in the night's tranquility) etc. It's a significant "progg" song with some skillful instrumentation and some really amateurish stuff. "D� klagar mina grannar" feels even more improvised and still a good song about a man who cleans his glasses and then takes a guitar and plays, but not too loud because then his neighbors will complain. "Gr�nt �r sk�nt" is the best song on the record. It's a protest song about leaving the trees unhurt. They thought that "green is nice". Some songs are very groovy psychedelic blues rock songs with great performances from the musicians such as the instrumentals "It's all over now" and "Fuck the cops" but hery were not my favourites. A very interesting record for hippies and people interested in the most obscure among the obscures. This is so obscure that they didn't even do a full length record in the seventies, just one singel and one EP. Good but not essential.

Boxset/Compilation, 2005
3.69 | 7 ratings
BUY

Charlie & Esdor
Charlie & Esdor Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by Eetu Pellonpaa
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

This compilation contains the "Gr�nt �r Sk�nt" EP songs with other unpublished recordings of the group, and thus contains the largest official selection of the band's material. Their maybe best composition "Dagen �r �ver" is presented here twice, creating a circular theme reference to the album, and showing their talent in both studio with guest musicians, and as a duo on stage (maybe at G�rdet). The band's music is probably a compromise of progressive concept both in the context of artistic innovative rock music of the 1960's/1970's, and also the less adventurous political "progg" music of Swedish. The Incredible String Band comes into my mind from sitar, folk rock style and long wailing untrained male duo voices. Some songs resemble more The Jimi Hendrix Experience due violent acid guitar and straightforward aggressive drumming, "It's All Over Now" sounded Jimi's Driving South radio live jam, and "Fuck The Cops" as a hybrid of Little Miss Lover and Purple Haze. The original provocative lyrics are sadly not heard on this record. The title song of the EP "Gr�nt �r Sk�nt" sounds more like Bob Dylan amplified 1970's songs. The only English sung tune "How Does It Feel to Be Without Friends?" is quite painful listening experience somehow, maybe due vocals and negative feeling of the song. Other tracks in Swedish are quite simple folk rock structural tunes, with some audio soundscapes attached to them. Interesting music, being partly very good, partly not so appealing to my personal tastes, but certainly appearing interesting and recommendable for fans of global and Swedish psych folk prog rock scene.

Thanks to Eetu Pellonp�� for the artist addition.