projects we don't have

[digitalsky]

i was rewatching the vespertine documentary
zeena mentions that björk brought 'a version' of palmstroke to her on cd-r
so i would presume this was when björk rented a harp and tried things on her own
or else maybe it was a celesta or synth demo
but it might be notable

i would also presume some of these celesta demos made it partially onto "cabin in the sky"

[arucinluv]

i was rewatching the vespertine documentary
zeena mentions that björk brought 'a version' of palmstroke to her on cd-r
so i would presume this was when björk rented a harp and tried things on her own
or else maybe it was a celesta or synth demo
but it might be notable

i would also presume some of these celesta demos made it partially onto "cabin in the sky"

added

[aeiou2012]

finally i found some time to make a proper research about her beginnings in bands.
The first ever band she formed is the one which she's talking in "the Great Creators" podcast like you said ("Bryndís and björk's big band", in icelandic it may be "stórsveit Bryndísar og Bjarkar"). Bryndís is her friend from music school. I don't know the exact year, but they where mentioned in a newspaper in 1979.

Her first band, which she joined as a vocalist, was "Flýra" (or "Flíra") - it was formed in winter 1978/9 - but very little info's out there.
Exodus was formed in 1978 too, but björk joined them in autumn of 1979 to sing and play a cross flute. They were calling their genre as progressive rock. In 1980 she left them and joined just-formed "Jam '80" (exact spelling with apostrophe). Also at this time she formed a group "björk og felagar" ("björk and friends") and later with some friends from Exodus they became Tappi Tikarass the same year. Another band you can add to the list is "Háspenna lífshætta" and "Draumsýn" (also around 1979). it's quite complicated...

in 1997 there's was interview with björk in Icelandic radio where she's been talking about her bands, with some recordings too. i didn't find this recording, which might be a good source, but i think parts of this interview where broadcasted later in 2013 on Rás 2 radio in the special episode of "Árið er..." programme: "björk og böndin 1977-1992" (björk and bands).

ot: the "Per Spelmann" (not 'Spelleman') she sung in 1996 at The Spectrum in Oslo.

from more recent stuff, there was also some fossora merch which never made it to the store and couple of unpublished photos from 2024 photoshoot

continuing my response to your post on reddit, I made a list of what I think you can add to this spreadsheet:


Covers:
- "Vísur Vatnsenda-Rósu" traditional Icelandic song (lyrics: poem by Rósa Guðmundsdóttir). Released in 1994 on "Songs from the cold seas" (Chansons des mers froides), produced by Hector Zazou

is this version different from the one on the Possibly maybe single?

no, it's the same

[arucinluv]

finally i found some time to make a proper research about her beginnings in bands.
The first ever band she formed is the one which she's talking in "the Great Creators" podcast like you said ("Bryndís and björk's big band", in icelandic it may be "stórsveit Bryndísar og Bjarkar"). Bryndís is her friend from music school. I don't know the exact year, but they where mentioned in a newspaper in 1979.

Her first band, which she joined as a vocalist, was "Flýra" (or "Flíra") - it was formed in winter 1978/9 - but very little info's out there.
Exodus was formed in 1978 too, but björk joined them in autumn of 1979 to sing and play a cross flute. They were calling their genre as progressive rock. In 1980 she left them and joined just-formed "Jam '80" (exact spelling with apostrophe). Also at this time she formed a group "björk og felagar" ("björk and friends") and later with some friends from Exodus they became Tappi Tikarass the same year. Another band you can add to the list is "Háspenna lífshætta" and "Draumsýn" (also around 1979). it's quite complicated...

in 1997 there's was interview with björk in Icelandic radio where she's been talking about her bands, with some recordings too. i didn't find this recording, which might be a good source, but i think parts of this interview where broadcasted later in 2013 on Rás 2 radio in the special episode of "Árið er..." programme: "björk og böndin 1977-1992" (björk and bands).

ot: the "Per Spelmann" (not 'Spelleman') she sung in 1996 at The Spectrum in Oslo.

from more recent stuff, there was also some fossora merch which never made it to the store and couple of unpublished photos from 2024 photoshoot

continuing my response to your post on reddit, I made a list of what I think you can add to this spreadsheet:


Covers:
- "Vísur Vatnsenda-Rósu" traditional Icelandic song (lyrics: poem by Rósa Guðmundsdóttir). Released in 1994 on "Songs from the cold seas" (Chansons des mers froides), produced by Hector Zazou

is this version different from the one on the Possibly maybe single?

no, it's the same

added

[childwithlepro]

Björk's first gig that I know of was with her stepfather's band Ópera short after 1997 album at Hamraborg in Berufjörður, Iceland (05/08/1978 & 06/08/1978). I don't have further info, but it is said it was a 2-day dance event with the band and a "very promising" young singer (Björk) acting as an "entertainer".

Draumsýn was a band formed by Gunnlaugur Helgason, Björk Guðmundsdóttir, Einar Sigurðsson and Eyjólfur Alfreðsson around the time they were in 8th grade at Réttarholtsskóli (a Reykjavik primary school). Björk played the flute, Gunlaugur sang “like an angel" and played the trumpet.

The band was active for two winters and played jazz-rock music for the kids at school. They also went to Hljóðrita studios and recorded a few songs by themselves, thanks to the generosity of Jónas R. Jónsson, one of the owners of Hljóðrita.

As it never occurred to them to release the songs, the recordings got lost.

The band then broke up when they finished 9th grade and the members went their separate ways. Gunnlaugur Helgason went to school, the others to high school and vocational school. Björk continued to be in bands as is well known, Einar Sigurðsson to study double bass in Austria and Eyjólfur Alfreðsson became a violinist. Gunnlaugur Helgason would later become a radio personality for Rás 2 and an actor.

[arucinluv]

Björk's first gig that I know of was with her stepfather's band Ópera short after 1997 album at Hamraborg in Berufjörður, Iceland (05/08/1978 & 06/08/1978). I don't have further info, but it is said it was a 2-day dance event with the band and a "very promising" young singer (Björk) acting as an "entertainer".

Draumsýn was a band formed by Gunnlaugur Helgason, Björk Guðmundsdóttir, Einar Sigurðsson and Eyjólfur Alfreðsson around the time they were in 8th grade at Réttarholtsskóli (a Reykjavik primary school). Björk played the flute, Gunlaugur sang “like an angel" and played the trumpet.

The band was active for two winters and played jazz-rock music for the kids at school. They also went to Hljóðrita studios and recorded a few songs by themselves, thanks to the generosity of Jónas R. Jónsson, one of the owners of Hljóðrita.

As it never occurred to them to release the songs, the recordings got lost.

The band then broke up when they finished 9th grade and the members went their separate ways. Gunnlaugur Helgason went to school, the others to high school and vocational school. Björk continued to be in bands as is well known, Einar Sigurðsson to study double bass in Austria and Eyjólfur Alfreðsson became a violinist. Gunnlaugur Helgason would later become a radio personality for Rás 2 and an actor.

added

there is one song by draumsýn featuring björk called "þin Var Ekki Að Biða" available online

Háspenna Lífshætta has two songs available, "oður steinsins" and "seru bubu seru"

jam 80 has what appears to be a partial live recording of a song called "the other side of the sun"

not sure about the origins of these songs!

[childwithlepro]

there is one song by draumsýn featuring björk called "þin Var Ekki Að Biða" available online

This one is probably the saddest song ever sung by Björk after Gloomy Sunday and Black Lake. As I understand the lyrics, it is a song about the suffering and the death of a loved one in a hospital bed.

not sure about the origins of these songs!

These recordings are from the 1997 Icelandic radio special ("Saga Bjarkar") that aeiou mentioned above.

https://timarit.is/files/60206072

Unique recordings BYLGJAN At 13.00 ►Today's interview will be the second of six episodes about the life and musical career of Björk Guðmundsdóttir. The subject of this episode is Björk's upbringing, musical upbringing and her first steps on the musical path. Friends and family are interviewed about Björk's childhood and they tell many stories of her adventures. The children's album from 1977 and Björk's participation in various bands during her teenage years are discussed. Recordings from 1980-1981 with Björk's bands from this time: Jam 80, Háspenna lífshætta and Flíra have been found, and excerpts from these recordings will be played in the episode. This is where Björk sings both original songs and works by others, as well as playing the flute on several of the songs

I would love to have an update and complete recording of this six-episode special, because the files that are circulating still today come from mp3 files that were shared on the Blue Eyed Pop mailing list at the time, but the quality back then was kinda poor.

Maybe we can ask BYLGJAN radio to rebroadcast. if there's some interest, they probably will.

[arucinluv]

there is one song by draumsýn featuring björk called "þin Var Ekki Að Biða" available online

This one is probably the saddest song ever sung by Björk after Gloomy Sunday and Black Lake. As I understand the lyrics, it is a song about the suffering and the death of a loved one in a hospital bed.

not sure about the origins of these songs!

These recordings are from the 1997 Icelandic radio special ("Saga Bjarkar") that aeiu mentioned above.

https://timarit.is/files/60206072

Unique recordings BYLGJAN At 13.00 ►Today's interview will be the second of six episodes about the life and musical career of Björk Guðmundsdóttir. The subject of this episode is Björk's upbringing, musical upbringing and her first steps on the musical path. Friends and family are interviewed about Björk's childhood and they tell many stories of her adventures. The children's album from 1977 and Björk's participation in various bands during her teenage years are discussed. Recordings from 1980-1981 with Björk's bands from this time: Jam 80, Háspenna lífshætta and Flíra have been found, and excerpts from these recordings will be played in the episode. This is where Björk sings both original songs and works by others, as well as playing the flute on several of the songs

I would love to have an update and complete recording of this six-episode special, because the files that are circulating still today come from mp3 files that were shared on the Blue Eyed Pop mailing list at the time, but the quality back then was kinda poor.

Maybe we can ask BYLGJAN radio to rebroadcast. if there's some interest, they probably will.

oh wow, thank you so much for all this info! also thanks bjorkaeiou

two little questions:
- do we have more info on the jazz with vocals version of johannes kjarval broadcasted on the radio ras in 2013?
- we know "móðir mín ì kvi kvi" is from a bbc radio special on icelandic music. was it sung at the radio show, or was it a recording played at the radio show?

[childwithlepro]

- we know "móðir mín ì kvi kvi" is from a bbc radio special on icelandic music. was it sung at the radio show, or was it a recording played at the radio show?

This one is from a slot that used to be on Thursdays midnights on BC Radio 1 called "One World". One of the programs was a special about Icelandic music called "Northern Lights" and was hosted by Emilíana Torrini. Björk sings the song in the course of the interview after telling this creepy story of a woman who gives birth and abandons her baby in the lava field which then comes back as a ghost to dance with her mother and kill her. What you hear in the background is a track by múm.

Here it is the full program:
https://tinyurl.com/4hdea7hr

[childwithlepro]

finally i found some time to make a proper research about her beginnings in bands.
The first ever band she formed is the one which she's talking in "the Great Creators" podcast like you said ("Bryndís and björk's big band", in icelandic it may be "stórsveit Bryndísar og Bjarkar"). Bryndís is her friend from music school. I don't know the exact year, but they where mentioned in a newspaper in 1979.

i found this article from 1979:

https://timarit.is/files/58121232

Musical geniuses of the future?
WHEN the children “took over the radio” last Thursday, these eight kids from the Reykjavík Music School appeared and performed an original composition of their own. They called the composition MAGUHRATA, and the name, they say, was obtained by taking letters from all of their names and arranging them in various ways until they considered the result legible. Radio technician Þórir Steingrímsson said, when he worked with the children to record the work, that he thought the composition fully stood up to much of what adults put out. The kids, who are 14-15 years old, are named: Björk Guðmundsdóttir, Bryndís Bragadóttir, Dagrún Hjartardóttir, Guðrún Hólmgeirsdóttir, Hrafnhildur G. Hagalín, Margrét Þorsteinsdóttir, Tryggvi M. Baldvinsson and Þórunn Sveinbjarnardóttir. The kids' director and teacher is Bergljót Jónsdóttir.

[childwithlepro]

- do we have more info on the jazz with vocals version of johannes kjarval broadcasted on the radio ras in 2013?

I cut this from a RÚV Rás 2 radio special called "Björk og böndin".
(the podcast is no longer available but björk hd uploaded it here)

It seems to be from a live night event with Guðmunur Ingólfsson Trio at Hotel Borg but almost 3 years before the release of Gling-Gló (November 30, 1987) were Björk, singer Andrea Gylfadóttir and Helgi Guðmundsson (a harmonica player) performed. Björk sang old Icelandic folk songs, Jóhannes Kjarval from 1977 (with lyrics), and two covers by 12. September (his real name is Freymóður Jóhannsson): Litli tónlistarmaðurinn (which later made it onto Gling-Gló) and another song called Stjörnublik. The concert then ended with the three of them (Helgi, Björk and Andrea) coming on stage to perform together with the trio.

https://timarit.is/files/58849957

[arucinluv]

^ thanks for your research, childwithlepro

i wonder if the "MAGUHRATA" piece was one the performances björk mentioned (the performance with the popcorn machine or the one with her grandpa snorring) or was it something different... (i assume something different)

[childwithlepro]

Judging by the pictures on the article with Björk playing the flute and the other kids holding classical instruments it seems more of a conventional school composition rather than this anarcho punk avant-garde idea of sampling grandpa's snoring for a drum kit. I believe that was when she was with this other band of hers, Spit and Snot.

(Yes, Björk past is... complex).

[Anak]

I wonder if she would ever release an archival compilation of all this stuff, a bit more comprehensive/full than Family Tree. Maybe when she's 80

[digitalsky]

https://www.discogs.com/release/1003897 ... u2oNdNJCeE

Anyone have this? yet another random post edit that i am only just finding out about...

[cowboy]

https://www.discogs.com/release/1003897 ... u2oNdNJCeE

Anyone have this? yet another random post edit that i am only just finding out about...

ONLY ON THE CASSETTE SINGLE

[childwithlepro]

Björk's first gig that I know of was with her stepfather's band Ópera short after 1997 album at Hamraborg in Berufjörður, Iceland (05/08/1978 & 06/08/1978).

I correct myself about Björk's first "gig".

It wasn't with her stepfather's band but with a band called Nemendur - Blokkflautukvintett og kvartett at Norræna húsinu (The Nordic House) in Reykjavík on 04/12/1976 during an advent concert of Christmas carols and baroque music where she played the soprano flute with a Recorder Quintet and Quartet of students.

Then, the same month but on the 19th, she appeared at the Bústaðakirkja church for a special service of popular Christmas carols by the Breiðagerðisskóli choir under the direction of Þorvarður Björnsson (a singing teacher), where there was also a drama performance of children from Fossvogsskóli school including Björk, who sang a solo.

She also appeared a couple of times at a children TV program called Stundin okkar in 1974 and in 1976 (there are clips online of her singing "Jólasveinar Ganga Um Gólf" and another song called "Það á að gefa börnum brauð" together with other children).