OLA & THE JANGLERS/SURPRISE SURPRISE GMG 1203 (-65) MONO SWEDEN

Already posted the band's first five albums, but the one on their debute was too meager so I'm trying agin. Swedish r&b/pop/psych band existing 1962-69. At time for recording they were in the middle of member changes. Åke Eldsäter had just replaced Lennart Gudmundson on bass and guitarist Christer Idering left during sessions, temporarily substituted by Johnny Lundin on three of the tracks. Claes af Geijerstam wasn't a permanent member by then, but contributed by writing two of the songs. Before the next album he would replace Lundin and become a driving force which eventually led to a change of musical direction against pop and psych. Here it's still classic mod r&b. You can hear inspiration from contemporary UK acts like Them, Rolling Stones and Small Faces both in performance and vocal style with singer Ola Håkansson attempting a blend between Van Morrison and Mick Jagger. Cover chioce also shows on such afflatus including songs from Zombies, Stones and Kinks. That said - this is not just an album where a foreign combo imitates British idols and follow their every move. Even if it's the same songs and setting as many other aspiring groups at the time they managed to create a personal sound. An exemple is how they treat Rolling Stones "Surprise Surprise" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3l_BrAi716Y . Made just after RS' original release and IMO an improvement. Album first issued in mono only with perfect audio. A stereo showed up two years later having so many differences it's worth a separate post. I'll get back to that. Argentine 1966 mono release on Magenta (5002). Never issued on CD. Premiere Swedish had label as shown here, very thick unflexible vinyl and thin fully laminated cover. (ÖJÅX*) (SCÄ*) (CCÖ*)