Tages (band)

Tages in 1965 for a promotional photo, with an unknown woman

Tages was formed during the summer of 1963, initially as Tages Skifflegrupp (Tages Skiffleband) in Gothenburg.[1] The initial line-up of Tages included lead vocalist Tommy Blom, bassist and vocalist Göran Lagerberg, rhythm guitarist and vocalist Danne Larsson, lead guitarist Anders Töpel and drummer Freddie Skantze. Their name stems from Danne Larsson, who's middle name is Tage, a common Swedish name. They chose this due to the fact that they considered the name Tage to sound lame.

None of the members had previously played in a rock band.[2] The group initially sang mainly sing-along songs and were influenced by instrumental rock band The Shadows.[3] They played mostly at mostly private events, but occasionally were scheduled to play at venues. In October of that year, the group entered a talent show called "Oktobersmällen" ("The October Bang"). The band was flat out panned by the jury, and ended up last place.[4] However, it gave them their first major performance, at Kungälv Folkpark.[4]

In early 1964, Tages Skifflegrupp had changed their name to simply Tages, as they largely ventured away from skiffle. The group caught their first break during 13–17 August of 1964, when the group signed up for Göteborgs-Posten's contest "Västkustens Beatles" ("The West Coast's Beatles"). The concept behind this was to sound similarly to the Beatles, with a requirement of four members. The prize was a free recording session to the victor.[5] Tages however, consisted of five members at the time. This problem was solved since Blom was in London at the time, a two-week vacation he took to improve his English skills, while connecting with other people at a Youth Hostel.[3] Without Blom, Lagerberg, Larsson, Töpel and Skantze successfully made Tages into a quartet.[6] They won the contest, garnering 600 votes out of the 1300 voting members of the audience.[6][7]

Blom had by now returned to Sweden, and the band were authorized to record their first single. For this release, they chose to record a song which was written by Blom, "Sleep Little Girl". The first recording of the song was not recorded at a professional studio, but rather at Nylöse Ungdomsgård, where a makeshift studio had been created in the cellar.[3] The group entered the studio on 20 September 1964 to record the song.[8] The song features Blom on lead vocals, while Larsson plays the acoustic guitar. Lagerberg sings backing vocals on the recording. The single was released on 16 October 1964, by independent record label Platina Records. "Sleep Little Girl" became an immediate smash hit. It reached number 3 on Kvällstoppen in December of 1964, and topped radio chart Tio i Topp, staying eleven weeks on that chart.[9][10] Due to its massive success, "Sleep Little Girl" was re-issued in January of 1965.[11]

• Tages (1965)
• Tages 2 (1966)
• Extra Extra (1966)
• Contrast (1967)
• Studio (1967)

• "Hey Mama" flexi-disc (8/65; Platina RM-4066)
• "I'm The Man You'll Be Lookin' For" / "Leaving Here" (8/66; His Master's Voice [Norway] AL-6137)
• "In My Dreams" / "Dirty Mind" (9/66; His Master's Voice [Norway] AL-6140)
• "Crazy 'Bout My Baby" / "In My Dreams" (10/7/66; Columbia [UK] DB-8019)
• "House Of Soul Hill" / "Sister's Got A Boyfriend" (12/67; Odeon [Germany] O-23-671)
• "Fan Club" flexi-disc (12/67; Platina RM-4115)
• "Treat Her Like A Lady" / "Like A Woman" (8/68; Columbia [Germany] C-23-851)

• Tages (6/65; Platina PAEP-2001)
• In My Dreams (1966; Impact [France] IMP-200-006M)
• Tages (9/66; Platina PAEP-2002)
• Hits, Vol. 1 (8/67; Platina PAEP-2005)
• Hits, Vol. 2 (8/67; Platina PAEP-2006)
• Hits, Vol. 3 (8/67; Platina PAEP-2007)

• The Best Of Tages (10/67; Platina PALP-3005)
• Forget Him (5/28/68; Platina PALP-3007)
• Good Old Tages! (2/69; EMI/Odeon PMES-577)