Meet Blue Swede [PHOTO/VIDEOS]

Blue Swede was a Swedish pop/rock band that achieved worldwide fame from the early to mid 1970's...their greatest chart success coming from "cover versions" of other artists hit records!

Blue Swede was formed in 1973, when Bjorn Skifs, a top Swedish singer, was looking for a backing band for his concert dates!

The band was originally called "Blåblus," which is Swedish for blue blouse. This was to be a pun on the "blues" style of music.

Skifs sang lead vocals, backed up by: Bosse Lijendahl, Anders Berglund, Hinke Ekestubbe, Jan Guldback, Michael Areklew and Tommy Berglund.

The band's international breakthrough hit came in 1974...

...when they recorded their own version of B.J. Thomas' 1968 hit record "Hooked On A Feeling."

Blue Swede's rendition of the song was based more on British pop singer Jonathan King's 1971 release of the song, than Thomas' original.

As you hear, King originated the "ooga chaka, ooga chaka" in his recording!

Blue Swede's "Hooked On A Feeling" came out in their native Sweden in May 1973...it was released in the U.S. in February 1974.

It was #1 during week of April 6, 1974...and stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 18 weeks!

The song was also #1 in Canada and Australia.

To capitalize on the song's success, the band put out the album "Blue Swede."

The followup release, an original, quirky, song called "Silly Milly," was barely noticed (#71/1974). How many hit songs start out: "Sitting in a bass-tub?" Seriously...quirky.

The next single, a cover version of the Association's "Never My Love" returned the Swedes to the Top 10, landing at #7 (1974).

The guys also recorded a medley of Deep Purple's "Hush" and "I'm Alive," from Tommy James & The Shondells. The medley stalled out on the charts (#61/1975).

They also recorded a cover version of Cher's "Half Breed," but their take on the song did not chart...

Blue Swede faded to black in 1975.

Only the right side of the CD artwork applies... (Craig Allen photo)

But..."Hooked On A Feeling" lives on, on numerous 1970's CD compilations, and as one of "Jersey's Favorite Hits" on New Jersey 101.5!