Ruphus was a Norwegian symphonic/jazz-rock band that released six albums between 1973 and 1979 on Polydor and Brain. Singer Gudny Aspaas led the original lineup on New Born Day, comprised of post-psych Nordic heavy rock. Her replacement, Rune Østdahl, traded leads with male vocalist Rune Sundby on their 1974 album Ranshart, a polished symphonic-rock effort. […]
Terje Rypdal is a Norwegian jazz-rock guitarist who’s released more than 25 albums since 1968 in solo and combo form, mostly on ECM. He gained jazz world plaudits in the late 1960s playing with Jan Garbarek and the Arild Andersen–Jon Christensen rhythm section. His early work includes Sart (1971) with Garbarek and What Comes After […]
Popol Vuh was a Norwegian art-rock band that released two albums circa 1972/73 on Polydor. Upon discovery of the namesake German outfit, the band changed its name to Popol Ace for two further albums. Members: Pete Knutsen (keyboards, guitar), Arne Schultze (guitar), Terje Methi (bass), Thor Andreassen (drums), Jahn Teigen (vocals, 1972-77), Fred Alvad (Hammond […]
Høst was a Norwegian symphonic/hard-rock band that recorded two albums between 1974 and 1976 for the On label. Members: Geir Jahren (lead vocals), Svein Rønning (guitar, Clavinet, organ, Minimoog, grand piano, vocals), Lasse Nilsen (guitar), Fezza Ellingsen (guitar), Halvdan Nedrejord (keyboards), Bernt Bodahl (bass), Knut R. Lie (drums), Willy Bendiksen (drums) På sterke vinger Høst […]
Saluki was a Norwegian progressive jazz-rock band that release a 1976 self-titled album on Compendium Records. Members: Freddy Dahl (vocals, guitar), Peter Berg Nilsen (vocals, saxophone), Kjell Rønningen (keyboards), Sverre Beyer (bass), Bjørn Jenssen (drums) Background Frontman Freddy Dahl emerged from Junipher Greene, contributing to their 1971 double album Friendship, then worked with the George […]
Jan Garbarek (March 4, 1947) is a Norwegian saxophonist who emerged in the 1960s through work with Karin Krog, Terje Rypdal, and George Russell. ECM issued Afric Pepperbird in 1970 and followed with Witchi-Tai-To, Dansere, and Dis, a four-album run that fixed Jan Garbarek near the center of the label’s early catalog. His work with […]
Radka Toneff (June 25, 1952 — Oct. 21, 1982) was a Norwegian jazz vocalist who released three albums between 1977 and 1982: Winter Poem, It Don’t Come Easy, and Fairytales, the last with American pianist Steve Dobrogosz. Background Radka Toneff was born Ellen Radka Toneff in Oslo on June 25, 1952. She grew up first […]
Aunt Mary was a Norwegian post-psych band that debuted with a 1970 self-titled album on Polydor, followed by the hard-rocking 1972 Philips release Loaded and the ambitious 1973 Vertigo opus Janus. Members: Bjørn Christiansen (guitar), Jan Groth (vocals, organ, 1969-72, 1982-2013), Svein Gundersen (bass, 1969-2012), Ivar Lauritzen (drums, 1969-70), Per Ivar Fure (flute, saxophone, 1969-71), […]
Prudence was a Norwegian folk-rock/psych band that emerged with the 1972 album Tomorrow May Be Vanished, followed by Drunk and Happy, No. 3, and Takk te dokk on Polydor. Members: Åge Aleksandersen (guitar, vocals), Per Erik Wallum (vocals, flute, harmonica), Terje Tysland (accordion, guitar, piano, vocals), Johan Tangen (mandolin, guitar), Kjell Ove Riseth (bass), Kaare […]
Junipher Greene was a Norwegian folk-rock/psych band that debuted to much fanfare with the 1971 double-album Friendship on Sonet. Their second album, Communication, appeared in 1973, followed in 1982 with Forbudte formiddagstoner. Members: Bent Åserud (guitar, keyboards, flute, vocals), Geir Bøhren (vocals, drums, saxophone), Helge Grøslie (organ, vocals, 1966-73), Øyvind Vilbo (bass, vocals, guitar, 1966-74), […]
Titanic was a Norwegian hard-rock band that released four albums on CBS between 1970 and 1975, followed by two titles on Barclay and Souplet during the latter half of the decade. The group opened on CBS with Titanic, Sea Wolf, and Eagle Rock, records that put Hammond organ, hard guitar attack, and Roy Robinson’s lead […]
De Press was a Norwegian post-punk band that released the 1981/82 albums Block to Block and Product on Siberia Music. Amid lineup changes, the band later relocated to Poland and released twelve albums between 1994 and 2016. In 2024, they returned with Europa Płonie on Olifant Records. Members: Andrej Nebb (vocals, bass), Jørn Christensen (guitar, […]
Moose Loose was a Norwegian jazz-rock band behind the 1974 Mai release Elgen er Løs, followed by the 1976 Vertigo album Transition. Members: Jon Eberson (guitar), Espen Rud (drums), Brynjulf Blix (keyboards), Sveinung Hovensjø (bass), Håkon Graf (keyboards), Trond Villa (violin), Pål Thorstensen (bass) Background Jon Eberson formed Moose Loose in Oslo in 1973 with […]
Dream was a Norwegian psych-rock band that released the 1967 Polydor album Get Dreamy. Guitarist Terje Rypdal embarked on a lengthy career as an international jazz sessionist and ECM recording artist. Members: Terje Rypdal (guitar, vocals), Christian Reim (piano, organ, vocals), Hans Marius Stormoen (bass), Tom Karlsen (drums, percussion) Background Dream formed in Oslo in […]
Vanessa was a Norwegian jazz-rock band that made the 1975 album City Lips for the On label, followed by the popular 1976 release Black and White on Compendium. Members: Svend Undseth (flute, saxophone, guitar), Frode Holm (keyboards), Thorsten Dulsrud (drums), Harald Salater (bass), Jan Erik Pedersen (bass), Knut Værnes (guitar), Frank Aleksandersen (drums), Håkon Graf […]
Lava were a Norwegian smooth-rock band that issued four albums on Polydor between 1980 and 1984, followed in 1990 by a comeback on Mercury. A trio of albums on Tylden appeared during the 2000s. Members: Svein Dag Hauge (guitar, vocals), Per Hillestad (drums, percussion), Geir Langslet (keyboards, vocals), Stein Austrud (keyboards), Stein Eriksen (keyboards, 1977-80), […]
Thule were a Norwegian symphonic/goth band that self-released six albums between 1985 and 2004. Members: Jens Morten Søreide (vocals, 1983-85), Einar Jan Larsen (guitar, 1983-85), Even Gaare (drums, 1983-85), Steve Riise Jensen (guitar, vocals, 1985-present), Peer-Einar Pedersen (bass, vocals, 1985-present), Pål Valle (keyboards, vocals, 1985-93), Jens Haugan [Frommholz] (drums, 1986-87), Hugo Barbala (drums, percussion, 1988-present) […]
Sven Libaek (born Sept. 20, 1938) is a Norwegian-born/Australian-based keyboardist, composer, conductor, and producer with a recording career that spanned two decades. Between 1965 and 1986, he released more than eighteen albums and movie/television soundtracks. Background Sven Erik Libæk was born on September 20, 1938, in Oslo, Norway. His father worked as an impresario who […]
St. Helena was a Norwegian folk-rock/psych band that recorded roughly an album’s worth of material circa 1973/74 that appeared on the archival discs Hello Friend and Early Daze. Members: Fezza Ellingsen (guitar, flute), Rolf Andersen (vocals, acoustic guitar), Kjell Are Playm (keyboards, vocals), Ray Briseid (bass), Willy Bendiksen (drums) Background St. Helena formed in Hammerfest […]
Octopus was a Norwegian symphonic-rock band that released the album Thærie Wiighen in 1981 on Octocon. Members: Tore Aarnes [aka Y Me] (keyboards), Olaf Dahle, Henry “Nunne” Holden (vocals), Frank Berg Olsen (drums), Roar Søderlind (drums, bass), Jon Ola Sand, Dag Bjune (bass) Discography: Thærie Wiighen (1981)
Lotus was a Norwegian jazz-rock band that released a 1979 self-titled album on Nor-Disc. Members: Åsmund Snortheim (bass), Bent Patey (guitar), Ole Henrik Giørtz (piano), Espen Rud (percussion, drums), Finn Sletten (drums, 1976-79), Vidar Johansen (tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute, 1977-83), Audun Kleive (drums, 1981-83) Background Lotus formed in 1975 in Oslo when Bazar alumni […]
Akasha was a Norwegian symphonic/space-rock band that released a self-titled album on Bat in 1977. Members: Sverre Svendsen (vocals, Mellotron), Kjell Evensen (drums), Arild Andreassen (bass), Jens Ivar Andreassen (guitars, Mellotron, synthesizer, piano, organ), Tor-Jonny Hansen (lyrics) Background Akasha formed in the mid-1970s in Kjøllefjord, Finnmark, among amateur musicians connected to a local counterculture club. […]
Kong Lavring was a Norwegian folk-rock band that released two albums between 1977 and 1978 on Nor-Disc. Members: Liv Nelle Solberg (vocals, melodica), Jørn Jensen (vocals, dulcimer, mandolin, crumhorn, guitar), Per Ladegaard (guitar, mandolin, dulcimer), Geir Holmsen (bass), Arne Hågensen (drums), Marit Jordbræk (vocals), Petter Lindstad (drums), Knut Ellevold (vocals, bass), Lars Just Nilsen (recorder), […]
Karin Krog is a Norwegian jazz singer from Oslo who made her recording debut on Metropol Jazz in 1963 and released her first album, By Myself, the following year. Her discography spans standards, free improvisation, electronic voice treatments, and duo settings, with Dexter Gordon, Archie Shepp, Steve Kuhn, Red Mitchell, Bengt Hallberg, and John Surman […]
Hole in the Wall was a Norwegian rustic folk-rock band that made a 1972 self-titled album on Sonet, followed in 1978 by Rose of Barcelona on Mercury. Members: Erik Moll (vocals, guitar), Rune Walle (guitar, vocals, piano), Trygve Thue (guitar), Harald Dyb (accordion), Kaare Øivind Moldestad (bass), Gunnar Bergstrøm (drums), Lasse Berntzen (guitar, accordion), Inge […]
Anni-Frid Lyngstad — known professionally as Frida (born Nov. 15, 1945) — is a Norwegian-born singer best known as one-fourth of the Swedish pop sensation ABBA. In 1982, she achieved solo success with the Phil Collins-produced Something’s Going On and its Russ Ballard-penned title track. Discography: Something’s Going On (1982)
Frode Thingnæs (May 20, 1940 — Nov. 15, 2012) was a Norwegian trombonist, composer, and arranger who played on numerous jazz and pop albums, starting in the early Sixties. As a bandleader, he made the 1974 Polydor jazz-funk album Feelin’ All Right and led the 1978–80 quintet titles Night Sounds and Direct to Dish on […]
Flax was a Norwegian hard-rock band that made the 1976 Vertigo album One, followed by the 1980 Harvest release Monster Tapes. Members: Hermod Falch (vocals), John Hesla (guitar, flute), Bruce C. Rasmussen (drums, 1972-75), Arve Sakariassen (bass, 1972-75), Lars Hesla (keyboards), Morten Jakobsen (drums, 1978-?), Willy Bendiksen (drums, 1978-?), Jørun Bøgeberg (bass, 1978-81) Background Flax […]
Déjà-Vu was a Norwegian symphonic-rock band that self-released the 1976 album Between the Leaves. Initially limited to a run of 100 copies, the album later reappeared on Research Records. Members: Svein Rønning (guitar, vocals), Harald Otterstad (keyboards), Kai Grønlie (vocals), Per Amundsen (bass), Knut Lie (drums, vocals) Background Déjà-Vu formed in summer 1975 in Østfold […]
Bridges were a Norwegian art-rock quartet that made the 1980 album Fakkeltog on self-press Våkenatt. Guitarist Paul Waaktaar and keyboardist Magne Furuholmen later teamed with singer Morten Harket in the art-pop trio a-ha. Members: Magne Furuholmen (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Paul Waaktaar-Savoy (vocals, guitar), Øystein Jevanord (drums), Viggo Andreas Bondi (bass) Background Bridges formed in 1978 […]
Blow Out was a Norwegian jazz-rock band that released a 1977 self-titled album on Compendium. Members: Håkon Graf (keyboards), Jon Eberson (guitars), Sveinung Hovensjø (bass), Jon Christensen (drums), Miki N’Doye (percussion) Background Blow Out formed in 1977 in Oslo when keyboardist Håkon Graf initiated a project with bassist Sveinung Hovensjø, drummer Jon Christensen, and guitarist […]
Blaupunkt were a Norwegian New Wave band that issued a standalone single on Torpedo and a self-titled album on Sonet between 1980 and 1982. Members: Tone Rønning (vocals), Kåre Berntzen (guitar), Harald Haakstad (guitar), Bjørn Rølla (bass), Ola Snortheim (drums), Gunnar Hanslien (drums) Discography: “Cupfinalen” / “Jostein og Elskerinna til Torstein” / “La Meg Være […]
Bazar were a Norwegian folk-rock band that issued two albums on Samspill/Mai between 1973 and 1974. Members: Brynjulf Blix (keyboards), Ole Henrik Giørtz (vocals), Bent Patey (guitar), Øyvind Rauset (fiddle, 1976-77), Per Vestaby (bass, 1978-79), Kåre Virud (guitar) Discography: Det er ikke så enkelt (1973) Drabantbyrock (1974)
Espen Beranek Holm is a Norwegian new wave musician known professionally as Beranek. He scored a hit with “Dra te Hælvete,” followed by the albums Sound of Danger, X-Ray, and Trigger on the Mind Expanding and Snowflake labels. He returned on Epic with the 1986–88 titles Daylight in the Dark and The Red File. Background […]
Barock was a Norwegian jazz-rock/folk band that released the 1976 Mercury album Bare en Blåveis. Members: Magne Høyland, Anders Bru, Bjørn Aslaksen, Reidar Olsen, Sveinung Sand, Tommi Haukland Background Barock formed around 1970 in Stavanger as a continuation of Witchcraft, which included singer Magne Høyland, guitarist Bjørn Aslaksen, bassist Reidar Olsen, guitarist Terje Munthe, and […]
A-ha are a Norwegian art-pop band that soared to international fame with the 1985 hits “Take On Me” and “The Sun Always Shines on TV,” both accompanied by semi-animated videos and included on their debut album Hunting High and Low. They followed with the 1986–90 Warner albums Scoundrel Days, Stay on These Roads, and East […]
Alf Emil Eik is a Norwegian musician, composer, and vocalist who made the 1979 Harvest album Joy and Breath of Eternity. Background Alf Emil Eik was born March 24, 1953, in Arendal, Norway, where he took interest in recording technology and moved between different instruments through his youth. By 1972, he moved to Oslo for […]
