Bo Hansson

Artist: Bo Hansson

LP: Music Inspired by Lord of the Rings

Song: "The Black Riders/Flight to the Ford"
[ listen ]

Thirty years before Peter Jackson made his Lord of the Rings movies, there was Swedish organist Bo Hansson and his Lord of the Rings LP—which is one of many great things I found at Budget Music in Grand Forks, North Dakota. You can read about Hansson's life and career here—and also here, where you can look at some pictures, hear more music, see his discography, etc. LP liner notes included below.

A few years ago one began to hear from Scandinavia of
a brilliant organist, BO HANSSON. He formed that rarity,
a rock duo, with a fellow Swede, Janne Karlsson. The two
toured regularly from '67 through '69, and released three
albums, now something of collectors' pieces. Few British
musicians of the time were unaware of them; Jimi Hendrix
not only jammed regularly with them, but invited them
to tour with his Experience.

Bo split to concentrate on writing. Professor Tolkien's trilogy
fascinated him, reached deep into his remote and rather other-
wordly nature. The music thus inspired was recorded on a
portable eight-track, in a rented house on an island off
Stockholm. It is very much Hansson's album: Apart from
the writing, he plays organ, guitar, Moog Synthesiser, and
bass. Helping him are RUNE CARLSSON (drums), GUNNAR
BERGSTEN (saxophone), STEN BERGMAN (flute),
and a few anonymous 'friends.'
—Stratton Smith

* * * * * * *

[ Budget Music . 714 South Washington Street . Grand Forks, ND ]