Flying Norwegians - 1976 - Wounded Bird

(37:37; Apollon Records [2021 Edition] )

Track list:
1. Crazy Eyes Go Blind 4:22
2. Turn the Page 3:29
3. Taste of the Money 4:29
4. Let's Walk the River 2:17
5. Evening Prayer 3:03
6. Wounded Bird 4:37
7. Tangles 4:27
8. It's Over 4:24
9. Old Lady 2:50
10. Absolutely Sweet Marie 3:39

Line-up:
Rune Walle - vocals, guitars, banjo, harmonica
Cato Sanden - vocals, guitars
Jarle Zimmermann - vocals, keyboards
Johannes Torkelsen - bass
Gunnar Bergström - drums


Norwegian band Flying Norwegians is a band that became big in a hurry, but they stopped pretty much dead in their tracks when one of their main members was recruited by a much bigger US-based band just a couple of years into the band's career. They managed to record two albums with their classic line-up, and "Wounded Bird" is the second of those productions. First released back in 1976, the album was reissued in 2021 through Norwegian label Apollon Records.

While this band impressed me quite a bit with their more expressive attitude towards their chosen genre of country rock for their initial album "New Day" from 1974, this follow-up production strikes me as much more of a safe production. The odd left turns and inclusion of elements from other styles and subgenres is mostly gone for this album, and it would also appear that they have toned down a few of the more overt nods towards country music too. Not that there are less elements as far as the latter aspect is concerned, but more of a case of those elements being slightly less dominant.

A bit more emphasis has been given to rock music, and then soft rock first and foremost, and by and large the compositions here are lighter in tone and spirit with a more smooth and polished sound overall. Most rough spots have been polished away and the slight bit of grit has mainly been restricted to a single song. Elegant and flowing creations are the focus here, with soft and soothing vocals and instruments as a common denominator throughout. As a total experience I suspect this album may well have been regarded as the strongest of their two albums by those with a more purebred interest in country music in general, while I would suspect those with a more general interest in rock music might have fancied their debut album more.

As with many matters in life as well as in music the differences between the two first albums by this band aren't massive or dramatic, the core traits remain the same after all. But there is a subtle difference between these two albums, and in my perception "Wounded Bird" is the album I suspect will have a bit more of a finite reach and appeal.

Those with an interest in country music in general and a more soft, careful and elegant variety of country rock in particular will probably be well aware of both of the albums by Flying Norwegians already. For those not in the know, those with a more passionate interest in country and country rock are the ones I'd suggest should track down this second album by the band, while those with a slightly broader interest in music probably should give their first album "New Day" a spin prior to this one.

Olav M. Björnsen, November 2021

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/flyingnorwegians
https://www.apollonrecords.no/