Vömmöl Spellmannslag

Vømmøl Spellmannslag emerged as a Norwegian folk-pop ensemble that enjoyed striking commercial triumphs throughout its brief run of activity in the mid-1970s. The group was assembled in 1973 in Trøndelag, Norway, by singer/songwriter Hans Rotmo, who performed under the alias Kristian Schravlevold and was born March 10, 1948. Its roster also featured Hans Løkken (under the name Konrad Vømmølbakken on mandolin), Geir Solheim (credited as Peder Storvømmølvold on guitar), and Leiv Prestvik (known as Birger Skruddusvingen on bass). During that period the band issued two widely embraced long-players, Vömmöl'n (1974) and Vömlingen (1975), together with the singles “Hølverivisa” (1974) and “Telefonsentralmontørene” (1975). Vömmöl'n occupied the Norwegian albums chart’s Top Ten for 43 straight weeks and reached a high of number two, whereas Vömlingen climbed all the way to number one. Capitalizing on this momentum, Rotmo dissolved the original lineup and launched Arbeidslaget Hass K. Vømmølbakken, which delivered the albums Grovarbeid (1976) and Varsko Her! (1976); neither matched the earlier commercial heights. He next assembled Heimevernslaget, issuing several further records in the late 1970s. A pair of solo albums appeared in the early 1980s, followed by additional releases under the adopted name Ola Uteligger during the decade’s latter half. Ten years after the debut, the members reconvened in 1984 to record Vömmölåret, which entered the Top Ten and prompted the retrospective collection Vømmøl Special (1985). Subsequent anthologies included Vømmøltoppen (1989) and the chart-topping Vømmølmusikken (1996). Marking the 25th anniversary of its original appearance, Vömmöl'n was reissued in 2009 and again achieved Top Ten placement.