In November 2000 Leroy made a four day trip to Stockholm Sweden. The purpose of the visit? To record a single, 'Sweet Thing', with Swedish band Slippery People, and make a live appearance at the Jack Club. Hey Leroy! went along to record the events of the weekend for the site.

It all started back in June 2000 when Mikael Nordgren, a big Burgess fan contacted Hey Leroy! to see if Leroy might sing the lead vocals on a new song he had written, and was hoping to get signed to a label.

Knowing that we were due to touch bases with Leroy in Paris the next month, I asked Micke to send a demo CD and promised him that I'd make sure Leroy got to hear it. When he did, Leroy only needed the briefest of listens before knowing that he wanted to do the track.

Five months later, with the logistics sorted out, and the backing of a new Swedish label, Rip a Dip Records, Leroy arrived in Stockholm.

The plan was for the band, Slippery People (comprising Mikael Nordgren, Elias Raam, Martin Hallberg & Jesper Ramkvist), to record the single with Leroy on the Saturday, and for Leroy to perform the track live at Stockholm's Jack club on the Saturday night, during Slippery People's DJ set.
The man and the mic.
L to R: Elias, Mikael, Leroy, Martin & Jesper.

Friday 18th November

Leroy arrives in Stockholm and it's straight down to business with a radio interview with Swedish broadcast legend Mats Nileskär, who presents the Soul show on Swedens P3 station (99.6FM). This interview is due for broadcast at around the time the single comes out, and you'll be able to hear it on the P3 website (press the LYSNAA link to listen).

Then it's down to the Tranan bar for dinner and a visit to the downstairs club, where the Slippery boys get the DJ to play Aleem & Leroy's "Get Loose" as a surprise for Leroy.

Leroy recording vocals in KMH Studio, Stockholm

Saturday 19th November

It's an early meet at the Södra Studion in Hornsgatan. The sessions are to be produced by Peo Strömberg, and all four Slippery boys and their label boss Magbus Talib are in the house.

Leroy lays down a test lead vocal, and then uses this as a guide for recording the background vocals and harmonies.

All the vocals are pretty much in the can by early afternoon, giving Leroy time to add a couple of improvised flourishes to the track.

Some tinkering by Peo, who impresses Leroy greatly with his prowess twiddling the knobs, and the track is ready to be burned onto CD for Leroy to take back to his hotel and rehearse for that evenings live performance (much to the annoyance of the couple in the adjoining hotel room!).

Leroy manages to squeeze in another radio interview, this time for the Klubb show on P3 with presenter Calle Dernulf, then it's off to the Jack club at Grodan Sergel for the live premiere of "Sweet Thing".
Perfecting the mix with Peo Strömberg

Sunday 20th November

When we arrive at the studio the mix has been tightened up and a synth solo added at the end of the track.

Leroy does two more interviews (Disco Stockholm and Svenska Dagbladet). He later says that the Disco Stockholm interview is the strangest interview he ever did, consisting as it does of the interviewers playing him records on a portable turntable and asking him what he thinks of them.

Leroy & Slippery People listening to the final mix

On Sunday evening, Magnus Talib, the man behind Rip a Dip records, takes everyone involved out for dinner at Cafe-Restaurant Tranan in Stockholm. The final mix of 'Sweet Thing' is given its first airing in the downstairs bar of the restaurant. Champagne and smiles all round!

Before moving on to a late night hip-hop bar, there's just time for a quick interviw with Digfi, where Leroy is asked to list the songs that have changed his life.

A few more drinks and it's the early hours; time for the non-Swede's among us to hit the sack, ahead of the trip home tomorrow. Meanwhile the Slippery ones head off into the sunrise to continue the party at places unknown........

So...what of the track itself? Well, it's nine minutes of garage/house with real strings, some nice guitar, a great hook and a synth solo that reminds me of the one in Inner Life's "Ain't No Mountain High Enough". As for Leroy's vocals...Hey, you know the score!
Celebrating a job well done outside Cafe-Restaurant Tranan!

Links:

Disco Stockholm's piece on Leroy & Slippery People (in Swedish)
Disco Stockholm's coverage of Leroy at Jack (in Swedish)
An article on Slippery People from Bomben
Rip A Dip Records
Radio P3 Soul Show
Radio P3 Klubb Show
Digfi - The records that changed Leroy's life
Svenska Dagbladet newspaper

Thank you to:

Slippery People: For allowing us into the studio
Magnus Talib: For his hospitality in Stockholm
Leroy: For once again allowing us to watch you at work