History Mecki Mark Men

Led by keyboardist and vocalist Mecki Bodemark, Mecki Mark Men are considered one of the first big Swedish psychedelic acts. They released an eponymous album in 1968, but soon after the members all went their separate ways (going on to help found other seminal Swedish bands such as Parson Sound). Due to label pressure, however, Bodemark found himself forming a new iteration of the band, essentially the [artist[Baby Grandmothers with him on vocals and Hammond organ. In 1968, they were the supporting act for The Mothers of Invention at Stockholm’s Concert House, as well as for Jimi Hendrix during his Swedish tour.

In 1969 the band released a second album called Running in the Summer Night, made a number of live television appearances and were part of the Swedish cast of the popular musical Hair. The following year, they went on a U.S. tour and played at rock festivals alongside The Byrds, Jethro Tull, and others. Unfortunately, however, the tour ended in chaos. They had stayed there for three months despite their visas only being valid for six weeks; they were also stuck in a hotel room that they could not afford. So they made a deal with their manager, returned home, and paid their debts by recording a third album, called Marathon. This second lineup of the band then dissolved, with most of the cast resurfacing as Kebnekajse. A fourth album was released in 1979 under the original name, despite Mecki Bodemark featuring as the only original member.

Typical of sixties psychedelia and R&B, their music resembles that of The Jimi Hendrix Experience or Vanilla Fudge: trippy, brain melting distorted lead guitar with plenty of fuzz and wah, and Bodemark's stoned, soulful vocals. Their most critically acclaimed release is perhaps Running in the Summer Night, an album of heavy acid rock where everyone is at his best, particularly Bodemark and the legendary guitar wizard Kenny Häkansson.

Album:

Mecki Mark Men (LP, Album) Philips 1967

Midnight Land (7", Mono) Philips 1967

Mecki Mark Men (LP, Album) Limelight 1968

Running In The Summer Night (LP) Limelight 1969

Running In The Summer Night (CD, Album, RE, RM, Dig) Universal Music (Sweden) 2004

Marathón 1970 (LP, Album)

Marathon (CD, RE) Universal Music (Sweden) 2006

Tracks Appear On:

Cherrystone's Rocks (Comp) (2 versions) Sweet Movin Lo Recordings 2002

We Can Fly 3 (CD, Comp) Free Past & Present Records 2003

The Essence Of Swedish Progressive Music 1967-1979 - Pregnant Rainbows For Colourblind Dreamers (4xCD, Comp, RM) Born Premium Publishing 2007

Limelight Dealer Demonstration Record (LP, Promo) I Had A Horse, Sweet M... Limelight LSD 50 USA

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