Gasolin'
Encyclopedia
Gasolin' was a Danish
rock band from Christianshavn
in Copenhagen
formed by Kim Larsen
, Franz Beckerlee and Wili Jønsson
in 1969. Their first drummer was the late Bjørn Uglebjerg. He was replaced by Søren Berlev in 1971. At the formation the guitar playing of Franz Beckerlee was inspired by Jimi Hendrix
and the singing and lyrics of Larsen was inspired by Bob Dylan
, while the rhythm playing of Jønsson and Berlev owed much to The Beatles
. However, they would soon develop their own musical style. The pop sensibility of Kim Larsen, the artistic attitude of Franz Beckerlee and the musical competence of Wili Jønsson would prove to be a recipe for success. Gasolin's lyrics were generally written by the entire group, often with the assistance of friend Mogens Mogensen.
From 1972 to 1978, Gasolin' was the most popular rock band in Denmark. With producer Roy Thomas Baker
, they released classics such as Gasolin' 3
, Gas 5
and Efter endnu en dag
. Their albums sound as fresh and innovative now as they did then. In that respect Gasolin' may be considered as the Danish Beatles. Each album was a landmark and like The Beatles
, they broke up at the pinnacle of their success. The reasons for the split-up was the failure to break the international market and personal differences.
After the demise, Kim Larsen
would go on to become a very successful solo artist. His album from 1983, Midt om Natten, is the best-selling album in Denmark ever. Wili Jønsson and Søren Berlev would go on playing music as session musicians and in various bands. Franz Beckerlee works as an artist, but occasionally he played with Søren Berlev in Christianhavns Bluesband and in 1979 he released No Kiddin.
In 1991, the CD compilation Rabalderstræde Forever
became a hit as was the box set from 2003 The Black Box
. In 2006, a movie called Gasolin' 4-ever directed by Anders Østergaard became the most popular documentary movie in Denmark ever. Despite this, Gasolin' have always refused to reunite.
All albums were released on CBS or Columbia Records.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
rock band from Christianshavn
Christianshavn
Christianshavn is an artificial island neighbourhood located in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was founded in the early 17th century by Christian IV as part of his extension of the fortifications of Copenhagen. Originally it was laid out as an independent privileged merchant's town with inspiration from...
in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
formed by Kim Larsen
Kim Larsen
thumb|250px|Kim Larsen, Nibe Festival 2009.Kim Melius Flyvholm Larsen is a Danish rock musician.Inspired by The Beatles and rock and roll, Larsen began as a songwriter and guitarist...
, Franz Beckerlee and Wili Jønsson
Wili Jønsson
Wili Jønsson is a Danish rock musician and member of 1970s band Gasolin'.Born 27 March 1942. Went to the Gerbrandsskolen together with Franz Beckerlee. In 1969 Jønsson got together with childhood friend Franz Beckerlee...
in 1969. Their first drummer was the late Bjørn Uglebjerg. He was replaced by Søren Berlev in 1971. At the formation the guitar playing of Franz Beckerlee was inspired by Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
and the singing and lyrics of Larsen was inspired by Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, while the rhythm playing of Jønsson and Berlev owed much to The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
. However, they would soon develop their own musical style. The pop sensibility of Kim Larsen, the artistic attitude of Franz Beckerlee and the musical competence of Wili Jønsson would prove to be a recipe for success. Gasolin's lyrics were generally written by the entire group, often with the assistance of friend Mogens Mogensen.
History
In 1970 Gasolin' released their first single "Silky Sally." It was followed by "Child of Institution" and "Johnny The Jackpot." These three singles were sung in English and flopped. Their debut album and all subsequent albums had Danish lyrics and were a success. Although they would occasionally still sing in English, Danish proved to be the language where they could express themselves most eloquently and this was acknowledged by the Danish audience and critics.From 1972 to 1978, Gasolin' was the most popular rock band in Denmark. With producer Roy Thomas Baker
Roy Thomas Baker
Roy Thomas Baker is a multiple award-winning Anglo-American music producer, songwriter, arranger and Recording Academy Governor, who has produced Platinum and Gold certified pop and rock records from the 1970s to the present.- Career :Baker began his career at Decca Records in England at the age...
, they released classics such as Gasolin' 3
Gasolin' 3
Gasolin' 3 was the third album from Danish rock band Gasolin', released in November 1973. It was the band's first album to be produced by Roy Thomas Baker. Gasolin' 3 was recorded in Rosenberg Studio in Copenhagen with Freddy Hansson as sound engineer....
, Gas 5
Gas 5
Gas 5 was Gasolin's fifth album in five years and was released in October 1975. From the humble beginnings of their debut album they had developed into a confident arena rock band with this release...
and Efter endnu en dag
Efter endnu en dag
Efter endnu en dag is the sixth studio album by Gasolin' and was released in November 1976. It was the last Gasolin' album to be produced by Roy Thomas Baker....
. Their albums sound as fresh and innovative now as they did then. In that respect Gasolin' may be considered as the Danish Beatles. Each album was a landmark and like The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, they broke up at the pinnacle of their success. The reasons for the split-up was the failure to break the international market and personal differences.
After the demise, Kim Larsen
Kim Larsen
thumb|250px|Kim Larsen, Nibe Festival 2009.Kim Melius Flyvholm Larsen is a Danish rock musician.Inspired by The Beatles and rock and roll, Larsen began as a songwriter and guitarist...
would go on to become a very successful solo artist. His album from 1983, Midt om Natten, is the best-selling album in Denmark ever. Wili Jønsson and Søren Berlev would go on playing music as session musicians and in various bands. Franz Beckerlee works as an artist, but occasionally he played with Søren Berlev in Christianhavns Bluesband and in 1979 he released No Kiddin.
In 1991, the CD compilation Rabalderstræde Forever
Rabalderstræde Forever
Rabalderstræde Forever is a compilation album by Danish rock group Gasolin' and was released in 1991 on CD and as a double LP.It was a big seller in Denmark and a new generation of Danes discovered why Gasolin' was so popular in the first place...
became a hit as was the box set from 2003 The Black Box
The Black Box
The Black Box is a box set album by Gasolin'. It was released in 2003, and contains the original seven studio albums they released between 1971 and 1977, the live album, Live sådan and Additional tracks...
. In 2006, a movie called Gasolin' 4-ever directed by Anders Østergaard became the most popular documentary movie in Denmark ever. Despite this, Gasolin' have always refused to reunite.
Albums
- Gasolin'Gasolin' (album)Gasolin' is the debut studio album by Danish rock band Gasolin'. It was released in November 1971 by CBS Records. Instead of boogie rock and catchy tunes, they relied on creating songs with a moody feel such as "Langebro", "Fra dag til dag" and "Tremastet beton". The latter is recited by the poet...
(1971) CBS 64685 - Gasolin' 2Gasolin' 2Gasolin' 2 was released in November 1972 and was received very well by the critics and the public. Musically they would loosen up after the sombre music of their debut album. "På en sommerdag", "Fi-fi dong" and "På banen" are up-tempo and jolly rock songs that would become popular in concert...
(1972) CBS 65229 - Gasolin' 3Gasolin' 3Gasolin' 3 was the third album from Danish rock band Gasolin', released in November 1973. It was the band's first album to be produced by Roy Thomas Baker. Gasolin' 3 was recorded in Rosenberg Studio in Copenhagen with Freddy Hansson as sound engineer....
(1973) CBS 65798 - Gasolin' (1974) CBS 80099
- The Last JimThe Last JimThe Last Jim is the second album with English lyrics by Danish rock band Gasolin'. It was released in some Western European countries in November 1974 on CBS, simultaneously to its Danish counterpart Stakkels Jim. The songs are identical on the two albums, except for the lyrics...
(1974) CBS 80470 - Stakkels JimStakkels JimStakkels Jim is a studio album by Gasolin' and was released in November 1974. It was the second album to be produced by Roy Thomas Baker....
(1974) CBS 80549 - Gas 5Gas 5Gas 5 was Gasolin's fifth album in five years and was released in October 1975. From the humble beginnings of their debut album they had developed into a confident arena rock band with this release...
(1975) CBS 80993 - Live sådanLive sådanLive sådan is a live album by Gasolin', released in June 1976 as a double LP album. It was recorded during their winter tour of Denmark in January 1976....
(1976 - live record) CBS 88207 - What a LemonWhat a LemonWhat a Lemon is an album by Danish rock band Gasolin', released 1 August 1976 on Epic Records in the United States, some parts of Europe, Japan and Australia. It is the third of four albums with English lyrics that Gasolin' released between 1974 and 1978 in an attempt to break the international...
(1976) Epic EPC 81436 (NL) - Efter endnu en dagEfter endnu en dagEfter endnu en dag is the sixth studio album by Gasolin' and was released in November 1976. It was the last Gasolin' album to be produced by Roy Thomas Baker....
(1976) CBS 81650 - Gør det nogetGør det nogetGør det Noget is Danish Rock group Gasolin's seventh studio album. When Gasolin' released Gør det Noget in November 1977 , they knew it was their last album. After the ambitious Gas 5 and Efter endnu en dag, Gasolin' decided to make a garage-rock album...
(1977) CBS 82378 - Killin' Time (1978) CBS 82900
- Live i SkandinavienLive i SkandinavienLive i Skandinavien is a live album by Danish rock band Gasolin' and was released in November 1978.Gasolin' broke up in 1978 and they played their last concert in Malmö the 21. August...
(1978 - live record) CBS 83240 - Supermix 1Supermix 1Supermix 1 was released in 1980 as the first Gasolin' compilation. For some reason no songs from Gør det Noget was included and essential songs such as "Rabalderstræde" and "Sirenesangen" is also absent...
(1980 - compilation) CBS 83985 - Supermix (1980 - compilation) CBS 84154
- Rabalderstræde ForeverRabalderstræde ForeverRabalderstræde Forever is a compilation album by Danish rock group Gasolin' and was released in 1991 on CD and as a double LP.It was a big seller in Denmark and a new generation of Danes discovered why Gasolin' was so popular in the first place...
(1991 - compilation) CBS 467871 1 - Derudaf ForeverDerudaf ForeverDerudaf Forever is a live album by Danish rock band Gasolin', released 15 years after it was recorded.The success of the Rabalderstræde Forever compilation in 1991 was followed by this live album in 1993. It was Gasolin's third live album, the other two are Live Sådan and Live i Skandinavien...
(1993 - live record) COL 473076 1 - A Foreign AffairA Foreign Affair (album)A Foreign Affair is a double CD compilation album released by Danish rock band Gasolin' in 1997.A Foreign Affair is made up of two albums made for the English speaking marked in the seventies...
(1997 - compilation) COL 417177 2 - Gasolin' ForeverGasolin' ForeverGasolin' Forever is a double-CD from 1999 that contains two previously released albums: Rabalderstræde Forever and the live album Derudaf Forever .-Disc one: Rabalderstræde Forever:# "Langebro"...
(1999 - compilation) COL 9907-03 - The Early Years (2000 - compilation) COL 498472 2
- A Foreign Affair II (2002 - compilation) COL 2965-05
- The Black BoxThe Black BoxThe Black Box is a box set album by Gasolin'. It was released in 2003, and contains the original seven studio albums they released between 1971 and 1977, the live album, Live sådan and Additional tracks...
(2003 - box set) COL 513876 2 - Masser af succes (2009 - compilation)
All albums were released on CBS or Columbia Records.
Non-album singles
- "Silky Sally" / "I've Got to Find The Loser" (1970 - Spectator Records)
- "Child of Institution" / "The Escape" and "W.J." (1970 - Sonet)
- "Johnny The Jackpot" / "Get in Touch with Tomorrow" (1971 - CBS)
- "Holy Jean" / "Lady Rain" (1973 - CBS)
- "Fed lykke til alle" / "I Love You Baby and Truckdriver Blues" (1973 - CBS)
- "Hva' gør vi nu, lille du" / "Keep on Knockin' " (1976 - CBS)
- "Endelig jul igen" / "Get On The Train" (1977 - CBS)
- "Where Do We Go Now, Mon Ami" / "Killin' Time" (1978 - CBS)
- "Uh-Lu-La-Lu" / "Killin' Time" (1978 - CBS)
- "Bob-Shi-Bam (Live)" / "Girl You Got Me Lonely" (Live) (12" only/blue vinyl) (1978 - CBS)
- "Dejlig er jorden" / "Endelig jul igen" (1979 - CBS)