Tages (EP)

Last updated
Tages
TagesEP.jpg
EP by
Released4 June 1965
Recorded4–6 May 1965
Studio EMI, Stockholm, Sweden
Genre
Length10:17
Label Platina
Producer Rune Wallebom
Tages chronology
Tages
(1965)
Tages (album)
(1965)
Singles from Tages
  1. "Don't Turn Your Back" / "Hound Dog"
    Released: 14 May 1965

Tages (commonly referred to as Don't Turn Your Back) is the first seven-inch extended play by Swedish rock group Tages, a release which features four songs, two of which showcase the early songwriting talent of the band. It was initially released on 4 June 1965 in 1000 copies on Platina Records. [1]

Contents

Background and release

During the spring of 1965, Tages had become one of the biggest groups in Sweden, having released two singles that both reached the top-five on Kvällstoppen and Tio i Topp. [2] [3] However, the group had received criticism for these releases; the first of which "Sleep Little Girl", was negatively received while the other one "I Should Be Glad" was considered too lightweight. [4] Additionally, the group's label Platina Records did not have a designated studio, instead, these singles had been recorded at a youth center and at Metronome Studios respectively. [5] These facilities were not equipped with the necessary equipment for proper recording, which, combined with the fact that the group never used a producer who they liked resulted in an inferior sound than they were looking for. [4]

This changed around April 1965 however. Platina signed a contract with EMI Records which lent them their studio on Sandhamnsgatan in Gärdet, Stockholm. [4] This led to Tages booking studio time during their first tour in Stockholm in early May 1965. [6] They had been working on several compositions, while also starting experimenting with other instruments. Rhythm guitarist Danne Larsson had been learning the piano and as a result, he was played the organ on a few of the EP's tracks. [7] The group entered the studio on 4 May to record "Forget Him", while the following session held during the night between 5–6 May produced such songs as "Don't Turn Your Back", "Donna" and "Hound Dog". [8] Two of these tracks, "Forget Him" and "Don't Turn Your Back" were original compositions, while the other two were covers. [8]

The first songs released from these sessions came in the form of a single, where the songs "Don't Turn Your Back" and "Hound Dog" were used as an A- and B-side respectively. This, their third single, was released around a week after recording on 14 May, [8] reaching number two on both Kvällstoppen and Tio i Topp. [2] [3] The popularity of the group was now a sealed fact and the group had begun to process requests for summer performances, [9] becoming the most requested band during that summer. [10] To capitalize this success and to tease the public on about what was going to happen during the summer, Platina Records decided to release the EP on 4 June 1965. [4] It proved to be the final release by the band produced by Rune Wallebom; they met Anders Henriksson during their summer tour, upon which he would produce the rest of their material. [4] The EP features lead vocals from four members of the group.

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."Don't Turn Your Back"2:08
2."Forget Him" Tommy Blom Tommy Blom 2:59
Total length:5:07
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."Donna" Ritchie Valens Töpel3:23
2."Hound Dog"
  • Jerry Leiber
  • Mike Stoller
Lagerberg1:47
Total length:5:10

Personnel

Tages

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References

  1. Brandels & Wrigholm 2012, p. 288.
  2. 1 2 Hallberg, Eric (1993). Eric Hallberg presenterar Kvällstoppen i P 3: Sveriges radios topplista över veckans 20 mest sålda skivor 10. 7. 1962 - 19. 8. 1975. Drift Musik. ISBN   978-9163021404.
  3. 1 2 Hallberg, Eric; Henningsson, Ulf (1998). Eric Hallberg, Ulf Henningsson presenterar Tio i topp med de utslagna på försök: 1961 - 74. Premium. ISBN   919727125X.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Wrigholm 1991.
  5. Brandels & Wrigholm 2012, p. 281.
  6. Brandels & Wrigholm 2012, p. 51.
  7. "Tages - Popgruppens Historia". www.svenskpophistoria.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  8. 1 2 3 Brandels & Wrigholm 2012, p. 55.
  9. Brandels & Wrigholm 2012, p. 57.
  10. Brandels & Wrigholm 2012, p. 59.

Sources