Jag mötte Janne Schaffer = I met Janne Schaffer

Björn contributed to a documentary about guitarist Janne Schaffer.

View it here (Sweden only) until 16 July 2020.

Message from Janne about the programme:

“Hey all. First and foremost I would like to thank Jarle for making this portrait of me based on himself and also Sweden Television who broadcast the program. After all, the project has grown and expanded since it began. I think it was very successful but of course there are things that happened that did not end up in the documentary and therefore I want to clarify some things. First and foremost, I am very proud that I got to join in on ABBA's songs. I believe, according to the expert in the field of Carl-Magnus Palm, that in the end there were all together about 50 songs. Björn o Benny are geniuses of writing and producing songs while Agnetha and Frida are world class singers. The recordings were incredibly fun to be part of. Positive mood and creative environment. I am also very grateful to Björn Ulvaeus for being in the program and there were several reasons why I did not tour with ABBA. In 1973 I got to make my first record that sold gold and topped all the charts for 6 weeks and sold more than many of the artists I played with. For me it was unexpectedly fun and I wanted to continue my career as a studio musician which I still do. In 1974, when Waterloo won, I toured the United States for 2 months with American singer Shawn Phillips. Two weeks after I got home, the question of going back to the US with ABBS came and then my son was 1 year old. I did not have the heart to go away again but told Björn o Benny that I would like to be included in the future recordings which I also was. It was by then the fantastic guitarist Lasse Welander came in and we alternated on the recordings.

While I was recording Earmeal in Hollywood, Ted Gärdestad where there recording his English record Blue Virgin Isles which was then translated into Swedish; Himlen är oskyldigt blå. Throughout this period, I took turns recording with Ted who became very close to me.

I am also grateful that Steve Porcaro wanted to join and will never forget when he stood there conducting the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra and was greatly impressed by Björn J:son Lindh's string arrangement. The documentary is full of fond memories for me and not the least when I feel that it works out with CBS Allstars and I bend down and increase the volume a bit on my Mesa Boogie amplifier. After my success with the discs, J:son and I started the Hörselmat group.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has seen the documentary and those who will watch the program that will be available on SVT Play until mid July.

Enough said about this. Now I have to practice for all this year's My music story concerts.

Sincerely, Janne”

Thanks to Chris Williams and Henrik Ahlen c/o ABBAtalk and Pascale Ranson c/o ABBA Village.  Also to the International ABBA Fan Club.
Clip c/o abbaregistro Allvideos