In this episode, Swedish almost-legends Spärhusen share the story behind their song, “Apples & Fish.” Also featured is a video of the band performing the song live at the premiere of season two of Illeana Douglas’ Ikea-based Web series, Easy to Assemble, which features the music of Spärhusen and celebrities like Justine Bateman!

Sparhusen was formed in 1967 by manager Bjorn Epstein. The original members of the band of Olf Nystrom and Gert Forseberg of Olf and Gert and Beirget”Candy” Kattson.

After winning Eurovision Sweden in 1967 with Candy the Revenge Song Sparhusen followed up with Ice Fishing. When it failed to rise above number 12 on the charts manager Bjorn Epstein brought in famed record producer and inventor of the “whale of sound” Vorste Feirron to work on there latest song Apples and Fish. Vorste believed the low frequency of whale sounds under music caused listeners to subconsciously want to listen to the song again and again.

Apples and Fish was a tribute to the foods the band loved to eat. One day Beirget was reading a cookbook when Olf asked her what she was going to make for dinner. She laughed and said the cookbook was filled only with recipes of either Apples or Fish so it was up to him. Later that night while they were eating a large cooked fish with baked apples. Olf said the meal was so good they should write a song about it because, “To eat is to love”. Gert jotted the phrase down and the next day they wrote Apples and Fish.

On the day Sparhusen recorded the song they had reluctantly agreed to have documentary filmakers in the studio. They captured the work experience of Sparhusen and record producer Vorste Feirron in The Making of Apples and Fish. Vorste’s methods were controversial. He spent hours making the band hand a fish back and forth and forcing them to listen to whale sounds which he painstaking recorded on his 8 track. They were in the studio for over 11 hours but in the end they made magic because when Apples and Fish was recorded it not only became the bands most enduring hit, but it became a bit of a cult classic in Sweden with lyric’s like, “I give you a fish”, and “thank you for the apple” which are said to have hidden meaning’s.

In 1974 Sparhusen was still filming what was now called The Triumph of Sparhusen. Amidst rumors the band was breaking up they were involved in a plane crash. At first the band was thought to be dead and the country went into mourning. On the third day after the crash they were forced to come forward admitting the crash was a publicity stunt. Some say to aide lagging record sales, others say it was Olf’s desire to leave the band and go out on his own. What ever the reason Sparhusen soon exited the spotlight and retired to their home in Sorrow Lake,Sweden.

The documentary was never released and to this day is caught up in legal wrangling. Sparhusen music was recently used in the web show Easy to Assemble and the “Almost famous band” as they are now known made a rare appearence at the red carpet premier of the show. They recently released The Best of Sparhusen showcasing some of their biggest hits.

Apples and Fish words and music by Olf Nystrom Gert Forseberg and Beirget Kattsson

Apples & Fish

Apples & Fish (dee da da), you’re my favorite dish

Ya Ya
Seafoam, Mackerel, Walleyed Beauty

This is my wish, (dee da da) touch your heart with my fiske

Ya Ya
Seafoam, Mackerel, Walleyed Beauty

Floating apples in the sea (thank u 4 the apple)

I picked a fish for you and me (I give u a fish)

A love like ours is hard to see (I picked a fish for u & me)

Six months dark but we don’t care

Caviar, long underware

Apples & Fish (dee da da), you’re my favorite dish

Ya Ya
Seafoam, Mackerel, Walleyed Beauty

As a bonus, here’s the episode of Spärhusen from My Damn Channel documenting the recording of Apples & Fish and their introduction to the “whale of sound.”