What do you think of Rickfors' post-Hollies recordings?

[calvertbesseralseric]

I've been rather keen to start getting into Rickfors' solo material recently, but I'm not sure where to start. Has anyone here listened to it whatsoever?

[knut]

I have most. I would recommend his later albums.

[JamesT]

I have most but haven't listened to them in some time. I particularly like 'Judas River', featuring his song about his time with The Hollies ('Sailors of the Heart') and the later jazzy offering 'Lush Life'.

[distantlight]

I have listened to quite a lot of his albums and I think he has been quite consistent. For me he never reached the musical heights he reached with the Hollies again but his solo albums are all quite good and offer some nice songs, fine if kinda ordinary playing and good vocals that tended to get raspier with every release. 

So if you're looking for his most Hollies-sounding material I would suggest the opposite to Knut and start with his first solo album which might be my favourite. On his debut the vocals still have the clearness that he had with the Hollies while on the later records he developed a rougher vocal sound.

[dirtyfaz]

I have a few of the early ones after leaving the Hollies. I have Mikael Rickfors & Greatest Hits on CD. I agree with distantlight and I would start with his early ones.

[moorlock2003]

The second CBS LP "The Wheel" has a song called "The Next Man" with very perceptive lyrics. "We over eat and we over spend and we overdose ourselves". So true! The track "Take a message to my baby" was released as a 12" single. This song shows the influence of The Hollies; one can imagine the band doing it.

[thejanitor]

I've only ever got round to checking his solo debut from 1975 a few months ago, but sadly nothing really stuck with me on first listen. This thread has reminded me to give it another go. I did like his more recent song "Look For Me Angel" though, and I know this was long before, but the original '68 version of "Touch" by his band Bamboo is pretty awesome! 😊

[thejanitor]

👆 Still got to do this. But earlier today I did find this track of his from 1979 called Dancing On The Edge of Danger. My one criticism is it maybe gets a little repetitive after a while, but it still has a great riff and a nice groove going, plus I like his style of singing here too! 😊

[JamesT]

Aug 5, 2020 0:04:46 GMT thejanitor said:

👆 Still got to do this. But earlier today I did find this track of his from 1979 called Dancing On The Edge of Danger. My one criticism is that sadly, that great riff gets a little repetitive after a while, but it has a nice groove going and I like his style of singing here too! 😊

There was an updated version on his Greatest Hits disc.  Love the track.

[stuball]

It must have been in '82 or thereabouts, I was poking around my favourite record store, and there, in the all but empty 'Hollies' section, was a solitary copy of Mikael Rickfors' 'Tender Turns Tuff'. I perused the front and back cover, and stood there for a minute or two, debating whether to buy it or put it back. I had liked Mikael's contributions to The Hollies, composition-wise as well as enjoying his smooth, distinct and rangy vocals. Curiosity won out, plus the thought that if I didn't buy it now, I might never have the chance again, and so I took that LP home.

Over the next week I must have have played it half a dozen times. I really did want to like it, but even after multiple listenings the songs just never grew on me. It wasn't that they were that bad, more the case that they weren't anything special. And to my ear at least, it appeared Mikael's voice had badly deteriorated. That smooth light tenor and rich baritone he exhibited on 'Romany' and 'Out On The Road' was now replaced by a worn, gruff gravelly voice that did absolutely nothing for me.

I did hang on the LP for a decade or so (through thick and thin, (mainly thin!) there's no one more loyal than a Hollies fan!) but never fancied playing it again. I finally sold it, along with another 100 or so albums, to a dealer about 20 years back. Can't say I've ever missed it.

[JamesT]

Aug 5, 2020 20:25:15 GMT stuball said:

It must have been in '82 or thereabouts, I was poking around my favourite record store, and there, in the all but empty 'Hollies' section, was a solitary copy of Mikael Rickfors' 'Tender Turns Tuff'. I perused the front and back cover, and stood there for a minute or two, debating whether to buy it or put it back. I had liked Mikael's contributions to The Hollies, composition-wise as well as enjoying his smooth, distinct and rangy vocals. Curiosity won out, plus the thought that if I didn't buy it now, I might never have the chance again, and so I took that LP home.

Over the next week I must have have played it half a dozen times. I really did want to like it, but even after multiple listenings the songs just never grew on me. It wasn't that they were that bad, more the case that they weren't anything special. And to my ear at least, it appeared Mikael's voice had badly deteriorated. That smooth light tenor and rich baritone he exhibited on 'Romany' and 'Out On The Road' was now replaced by a worn, gruff gravelly voice that did absolutely nothing for me.

I did hang on the LP for a decade or so (through thick and thin, (mainly thin!) there's no one more loyal than a Hollies fan!) but never fancied playing it again. I finally sold it, along with another 100 or so albums, to a dealer about 20 years back. Can't say I've ever missed it.

Yes, there's almost a Bryan Adams quality to his voice from the 90s, maybe not as powerful though.

[The Dude]

Dec 9, 2019 6:42:36 GMT JamesT said:

I have most but haven't listened to them in some time. I particularly like 'Judas River', featuring his song about his time with The Hollies ('Sailors of the Heart') and the later jazzy offering 'Lush Life'.

I only have 2 solo albums by him. "Mikael Rickfors" and "Judas River" and I like them both although I prefer "Judas River"...
Favourite songs of that album are: "Ghost In My House", "Still The Fool", "Careless Love" and "Sailors Of The Heart"....

[anthony]

Don't have any of his recordings but I do love this one

[sandy]

You've probably seen this, but, just in case...😉
. I think he had trouble with the lyrics still....😉

[The Dude]

Aug 14, 2020 10:11:34 GMT sandy said:

You've probably seen this, but, just in case...😉
. I think he had trouble with the lyrics still....😉

I hadn't. Thanks for sharing this... 

[Tony Wilkinson]

Aug 14, 2020 10:11:34 GMT sandy said:

You've probably seen this, but, just in case...😉
. I think he had trouble with the lyrics still....😉

Seen this before, he is unrecognisable here but his tone is still detectable though...