Mikael Rickfors

Mikael Rickfors (born 4 December 1948) is a Swedish singer and bassist. From 1968, he was the lead singer and bass guitarist in popular Swedish band Bamboo. The band released two singles before breaking up in 1970. Rickfors would later perform with the British rock group The Hollies for about two years.[1] His performing style during this period was with a wide range and powerful chest voice. In later decades, he took on a deliberate, slightly raspy tone.

Mikael Rickfors
Mikael Rickfors in Vaxholm 2011.
Background information
Born (1948-12-04) 4 December 1948
Stockholm, Sweden
GenresRock, pop
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsVocals
Bass guitar
Associated actsBamboo
The Hollies
Grymlings, Percy Sledge, Carla Olson, Sanne Salomonsen

The Hollies

In early 1972, Rickfors joined popular British rock group The Hollies replacing the lead singer Allan Clarke, who had left to pursue a solo career. Rickfors's richer lower-register voice contrasted to Clarke's distinctive, piercing tenor. One of their hits that both performed was "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother". Rickfors performed this ballad with more dramatic tone and a slight vibrato, such as that performed on The Midnight Special in 1973. His first single with the group "The Baby" reached no. 26 in the UK as well as charting in various other territories.

The band followed up by releasing the album Romany, with one song, "Touch," written by Rickfors. Mikael also sang the band's hit "Magic Woman Touch" and the European 45 "Don't Leave The Child Alone" which he also wrote. The group received an unexpected boost as a single extracted from the group's previous album (with Clarke's vocals) shot up the American charts. The Hollies undertook their first major US tour without their signature vocalist. The tour was not a commercial success. The band then recorded a second album, Out on the Road which featured a major songwriting contribution from Rickfors. On both albums and on stage Rickfors also sang, played guitar, bass, congas and keyboard. Out on the Road was originally only released in Germany and Spain but later was included in the multi album Hollies box set “Changin’ Times” released in 2015. In July 1973, Clarke rejoined the Hollies and Rickfors departed the group.

Solo

In 1975 Rickfors released the first of eleven solo albums. 1988 saw the release of his hugely successful Vingar album. In 1990, he embarked on his first collaboration as part of the Swedish supergroup Grymlings (named after Rickfors' farm).

Among the artists who have recorded songs Mikael has written, in addition to The Hollies, are: Carlos Santana ("Daughter of the Night"), Cyndi Lauper ("Yeah Yeah" on her multi-million selling debut album), Percy Sledge ("Blue Night", "Misty Morning", "Shining Through the Rain", "Road of No Return"), Richie Havens, Jim Capaldi, Carla Olson, and Paul Jones (on his 2009 solo album Starting All Over Again). The title track of Chubby Tavares's first solo album, 17 July 2012, is the Rickfors song "Jealousy."

Discography

Solo
  • Mikael Rickfors – 1975
  • The Wheel – 1976
  • Kickin' a Dream – 1979
  • Tender Turns Tuff – 1981
  • Rickfors Live – 1981
  • Skin Is Thin – 1982
  • Blue Fun – 1983
  • Hearthunters – 1985
  • Rickfors – 1986
  • Vingar – 1988
  • Judas River – 1991
  • Happy Man Don't Kill – 1997
  • Greatest Hits – 1999
  • Lush Life – 2004
  • Away Again – 2009

With bands

The Hollies
  • Romany (1972)
  • Out on the Road (1973)
  • "Rarities" (1988) includes If It Wasn't For The Reason That I Love You.
  • "The Mikael Rickfors Years" 2000 The "Out On The Road" album plus tracks from "Romany" and 4 additional songs.
  • "The Very Best Of The Hollies" 1992 Includes Magic Woman Touch and The Baby.
  • "Changin' Times" (2015) 5-CD box set featuring both Hollies albums Rickfors was the featured lead vocalist
     on plus the non-LP tracks: Papa Rain, Witchy Woman, and If It Wasn't For The Reason That I Love You.

Grymlings
  • Grymlings (1990)
  • Grymlings vol. 2 (1992)
  • Grymlings vol. 3 (2005)

Mobile Unit
  • Road Songs (2008)

References
  1. The Hollies: Band Profile – Past Members – Mikael Rickfors Archived 27 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 24 May 2010

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