The Smaladrengirnir (“The Shepherds”) vocal group was active from 1997 to 2004. In 2001, the group made an album which contained 12 tracks, some original compositions and some not. Below are the songs from the album for your listening pleasure.
1 – Smaladrengurinn (The Shepherd). An Icelandic folk song, often performed by the group for the obvious reason that it has the same name as the group.
Song & lyrics: Folk song
Singing: Smaladrengirnir (Bragi on melody)
Arrangement: Bragi Þór Valsson
Drums: Hannes Pétursson
Piano: Hugi Þórðarson
Bass: Daníel Brandur Sigurgeirsson
Guitar: Ragnar Örn Emilsson
2 – Prestsvísur (A Priest’s Story). A folk song. The story is a silly conversation between a priest and his wife. The priest in this case is performed by an actual priest and the role of the wife by the guy who performed the same role in the 1960’s recording that made the song really popular.
Song & lyrics: Folk song
Arrangement: Smaladrengirnir
Singing: Pálmi Matthíasson and Ólafur Þórðarson
Vocals: Smaladrengirnir
Drums: Hannes Pétursson
Bass: Daníel Brandur Sigurgeirsson
Guitar: Ragnar Örn Emilsson
3 – Sólarlönd (Summer Holiday). An old standard made famous by Cliff Richard.
Song: Bruce Beck and Brian Bennett
Lyrics: Valur Óskarsson
Arrangement: Bragi Þór Valsson
Singing: Bragi Þór Valsson
Vocals: Smaladrengirnir
Drums: Ragnar Þór Ingólfsson
Bass and guitars: Daníel Brandur Sigurgeirsson
Clarinet and keyboard: Bragi Þór Valsson
Accordion: Stefán Arason
4 – Whiskey on the Way. The author himself usually introduces this song as an originally composed Irish folk-song. Sure sounds like one!
Song and lyrics: Daníel Brandur Sigurgeirsson and Ragnar Örn Emilsson
Arrangement: Daníel Brandur Sigurgeirsson, Ragnar Örn Emilsson and Bragi Þór Valsson
Singing: Daníel Brandur Sigurgeirsson
Vocals: Smaladrengirnir
6-string guitar and mandolin: Daníel Brandur Sigurgeirsson
12-string guitar: Ragnar Örn Emilsson
Fedóg Irish tin whistle: Bragi Þór Valsson
5 – SMS. Our attempt at a Justin Timberlak-y kind of pop song.
Song: Daníel Brandur Sigurgeirsson and Bragi Þór Valsson
Lyrics: Valur Óskarsson
Arrangement: Daníel Brandur Sigurgeirsson and Bragi Þór Valsson
Singing: Daníel Brandur Sigurgeirsson
Vocals: Smaladrengirnir
Drums: Hannes Pétursson
Bass and guitar: Daníel Brandur Sigurgeirsson
Guitars: Ragnar Örn Emilsson
6 – Agnus Dei. Educated readers might know that Agnus Dei means “Lamb of God”. Bragi’s father wrote the words to this song after seeing a news report about a small town priest who had a pet lamb. The little animal followed him everywhere he went like a dog. Then the musical nerds that the band members are came up with the title Agnus Dei. Well, it seemed funny at the time!
Song: Smaladrengirnir
Lyrics: Valur Óskarsson
Arrangement: Smaladrengirnir
Singing: Óskar Þór Þráinsson
Drums: Hannes Pétursson
Bass: Daníel Brandur Sigurgeirsson
Guitar: Ragnar Örn Emilsson
Piano: Hugi Þórðarson
Clarinet: Bragi Þór Valsson
Accordion: Stefán Arason
7 – Baby Face. A Barbershop standard
Song: Benny Davies
Lyrics: Harry Akst
Arrangement: Dave Stevens
Singing: Smaladrengirnir
8 – Cotton Fields Back Home
Song and lyrics: Huddie Ledbetter
Arrangement: Bragi Þór Valsson
Singing: Árni Johnsen
Vocals: Smaladrengirnir and Stefán Arason
9 – Java Jive
Song: Ben Oakland
Lyrics: Milton Drake
Arrangement: Jend Dalsgård with slight changes by Bragi Þór Valsson
Singing: Smaladrengirnir
10 – Yodel Blues
Song: Bragi Þór Valsson
Lyrics: Valur Óskarsson
Arrangement: Bragi Þór Valsson and Daníel Brandur Sigurgeirsson
Singing: Bragi Þór Valsson
Vocals: Smaladrengirnir
Drums: Hannes Pétursson
Bass: Daníel Brandur Sigurgeirsson
Guitars: Ragnar Örn Emilsson
Piano: Hugi Þórðarson
11 – Róninn á Hlemmi
Song and lyrics: Daníel Brandur Sigurgeirsson
Arrangement: Daníel Brandur Sigurgeirsson and Bragi Þór Valsson
Singing: Hugi Þórðarson
Vocals: Smaladrengirnir
Bass and guitar: Daníel Brandur Sigurgeirsson
Guitar: Ragnar Örn Emilsson
Accordion: Stefán Arason
Album recorded and mixed at the FIH studio, Laugarneskirkja church and Hljóðriti in November 1998, October 2000 and July 2001. I Got Rhythm recorded live at Icelandic National Radio TV in February 2001.
Recording engineers: Jón Skuggi, Valgeir G. Ísleifsson and Ari Dan