måndag 23 juni 2014

JOHNNY BODE & LENA JUNOFF/BORDELLMAMMAS DOTTER PLP 102 (-73) SWEDEN

(Part 2 of the Johnny Bode story.) After the unexpected success with "Bordellmammas Visor" Bode progressed into a hyper active state, in short time releasing two more erotic albums - "Styrman Janssons Frestelser" (Boatsman Jansson's Temptations) and "Sex-Revyn" - plus a couple of non-LP 45:s, whereof one with gay motive and one lesbian (sung by Lillemor Dahlquist). However he couldn't keep up the quality and with the "sexual revolution" going on in Sweden, partly a result of the government abolishing all kinds of censorship for sex in the early seventies, he became old news. Collaboration with Lillemor Dahlquist ended, financiers left, money was soon spent and he vanished for a while. But as always he bounced back, this time sponsored by hard-core porn magazine Prince and with a new companion for the female parts - Lena Junoff, here performing as "Gilda". (Her story is almost as intriguing as Bode's - following is a very compressed version.) She was a rising Swedish star in the sixties - a pretty girl with an amazing voice, reaching over five octaves. Launched in England under the name Margret Lee and spotted by Duke Ellington who brought her to America as vocalist for his band. For some reason it didn't work out and she left after just a few months. I've seen theories it failed either because of her reputedly hot temper, drug abuse or the fact that she participated in porn movies, but in any case the chance for international breakthrough ended and at time for this recording she was at a downslope. For earlier albums Bode had used a shock effect by being uninhibited and outspoken. By 1973 it was impossible to shock Swedes with any kind of erotic expression so he adapted to the new zeitgeist with a more mature, everyday approach. Although it's the same descriptions of impertinent sex practices and same frequent use of "four letter words", the long overdue teen spirit is gone and what you get here is a grown man reflecting over sexual circumstances. Title track "Brothel Madam's Daughter" pictures a prostitute pondering about modern times, how the brothels changed names to "massage parlours" and she's being retitled "love-life consultant", having to pay tax. In "I Min Barndoms Gamla Ängder" (In The Old Meadows Of My Childhood) he's reminiscing sexual experiences from his teens. "Spanska Flugan" (Spanish Fly) is about Swedish housewifes enjoying young Spanish meat on their holidays. There's also songs about car-sex (while driving), a girl complaining her nightly companion didn't stay until the morning and a very cute and tender one on oral practice. Favorite track - "När Atombomben Kommer" (When The Atom Bomb Comes), a catchy march about how to best entertain yourself during a nuclear war. To my taste it's the best he did. As with "Bordellmammas Visor" the melodies are memorable, it's nicely performed and the arrangements on the spot. In spite of all the sassy stuff described there's also warmth and good humor. Sadly it didn't sell and became his last recording. Sleeve design of the vinyl pressings varies a little by font style. Don't know which was absolutely first, but they're all early with label as shown here, thick vinyl and thin, glossy cover. There aren't many pics of Junoff from that period, but last one below is probably taken close to the recordings. (SCÄ*)(FÄV*) (ÄXÅH*)(CCÖ*) (NÖH*)

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