Entertainment news and discussion on TalkFuse.
The 1977 album Björk recorded when she was 11
Björk's very first release was a self-titled album made in 1977, when she was just 11 years old, long before she became known internationally as an avant-garde pop icon with the Sugarcubes and later as a solo artist. The record came about after a recording of her singing was played on Icelandic radio and caught the attention of a local label, leading to a full album deal for the young Reykjavík schoolgirl. It stands as a curious footnote in her career, showing that her musical talent and public profile were evident from childhood, decades before albums like "Debut" and "Homogenic" made her a global name.
The album, titled simply "Björk", consisted largely of cover versions of popular songs of the era reworked with Icelandic lyrics, alongside at least one composition contributed by her stepfather, guitarist Sævar Árnason, who also played on the record. Released on the Icelandic label Fálkinn, the album proved a surprising commercial success at home, reportedly going gold in Iceland. It remains a little-known but genuine part of her discography, illustrating just how early her singing career began.
In short
- Björk recorded her debut solo album aged just 11, in 1977.
- The record featured Icelandic-language covers plus a track by her stepfather.
- It was a commercial hit in Iceland, reportedly achieving gold status.
Explained simply
Björk is an Icelandic singer who later became known internationally with the band the Sugarcubes and as a solo artist. Before that, she grew up in Reykjavík, Iceland’s capital, where she was already singing as a child.
A recording of her singing was played on Icelandic radio and brought her to the attention of Fálkinn, a local record label. The label released her first album, which included popular songs of the time translated into Icelandic, as well as a song contributed by her stepfather, guitarist Sævar Árnason.
The album was a commercial success in Iceland, though it is less familiar than the work that later made Björk an international name. It offers an early glimpse of a career that began years before her best-known recordings.