Hep Stars and Gyllene Tider: what do they have in common?

[FaEzDel]

I must reckon I'm not a fan of Gyllene Tider, but I've always thought there are similarities between them! As an ABBA fan, I know the Hep Stars and even have one CD by them. Here I go...

Similarities:

• Both groups have five members
• Both groups wore long hair
• Both groups were very very successful in Sweden
• Both recorded under the EMI label (Hep Stars for Olga, owned by EMI)
• I find the sound and group attitude is very similar in many points
• Per Gessle was later known as a member of Roxette, and found worldwide success
• Benny Andersson was later known as a member of ABBA, and found worldwide success
• Other GT members were later involved in Roxette (Mats Persson, Anders Herrlin)
• Other Hep Stars members were later involved in ABBA (Björn Ulvaeus was in The Hep Stars for a little time, and co-wrote some of their best songs)
• Gyllene Tider has some things in common with Rolling Stones
• The Hep Stars were called "the Swedish Beatles"
• First concert Per attended was The Hep Stars, in Karsefors (1966). Maybe that's the reason of their influence in GT.
  
• Both groups loved cars!

Differences:

• Gyllene Tider recorded mostly in Swedish, and some tracks in English
• The Hep Stars recorded mostly in English, and some tracks in Swedish

I'm sure I will find more!!! 

[tcooh]

Similarity:
Both Hep Stars and Gyllene Tider has had on #1 hit in Norway. Hep Stars with "Cadillac" week 26 in 1965, Gyllene Tider with "När Vi Två Blir En" in weeks 12,13 & 14 in 1981.

Difference
Hep Stars charted with both (mostly) english songs and a swedish song (I Natt Jag Drömde) in Norway.
GT only charted with their swedish songs (wonder why, hehe  )

[Roxerally]

Ha Ha never thought of it like that!

[FaEzDel]

I've found one more coincidence!

• Gyllene Tider have recorded the song "Ska Vi Älska SÃ¥ Ska Vi Älska Till Buddy Holly"
• The Hep Stars have recorded the song "A Tribute To Buddy Holly"

It's amazing! 

[Roxerally]

Wow you have researched this...

[crashroxer]

 

They will never reach GT's success

[FaEzDel]

They will never reach GT's success

Of course they won't, because they were active in 1965-1969. And they were as successful as GT then. They were the most sucessful Swedish act of the late 60's

GT in not known outside Sweden either. Just for Roxette fans...

[crashroxer]

 

I thought this band is actually up-to-date .. sorry

[Harplinge]

 Maybe HP were successful in the 60s, but who know them today? I never heard of them before. I wonder how their music is.

[FaEzDel]

They are known among ABBA fans, because Benny Andersson was a part of it. Of course they are not big today, but they were in their time. In a book about ABBA that I have, it say girls were crazy about them. Benny didn't reveal he was already married (he got married at very early age - 19), because the group had many fans. His wife Christina was even threated by some crazy fans, too 

The Hep Stars sound is very close to the Beatles. Indeed, they were called the Swedish Beatles. Some of their Swedish #1 singles were: Cadillac, Farmer John, Bald Headed Woman, Sunny Girl, Wedding, Don't, Consolation, Malaika, Mot ökant land. They had 21 Top Ten Swedish singles, they were great.

I'm not a fan of them, I only have 1 CD. But I found some similarities with GT, and I posted them here, as a curiosity 

Just for fun!

[Harplinge]

They sound a little bit like the Beatles? That is cool. I love the Beatles!

[FaEzDel]

Yes, their sound is very close to the Beatles 

[Ms. Mimi]

Cool! I like ABBA and The Beatles... So, now I'm curious about this Hep Stars.
Had never heard of them before, either.

[Arlanda]

I heard of them as i like abba but never listend to their music