by Lennart Zetterberg
Michael B. Tretow—usually known as Micke—was a comic studio genius, a wizard of sound engineering, and a creative soul, best known for recording ABBA’s albums.
But Micke did so much more; he created jingles, radio themes, and offbeat sketches featuring his own sound effects and distorted voices. He was also a talented musician and composer.
In 2001, Micke suffered a stroke that resulted in memory loss. He passed away in the spring of 2025 at the age of 80.
This book recounts Micke’s early history and career—from his youth in Norrköping and his own amateur recordings to the professional studio work where the iconic ABBA sound was born.
Micke also worked with many other artists—particularly during his early years at Metronome, where he recorded a wide range of musical genres and mastered the fundamentals of his craft.
As a freelancer with his own studio, Micke created several memorable projects and recordings—not least "Den makalösa manicken" (The Incredible Contraption) from 1986, which just kept on going...
Micke was undoubtedly a unique individual who spread joy, known for his creativity and gift for entertainment. The book includes various anecdotes and accounts of the playful antics he was known for.
The book also aims to share some technical insight into Micke’s studio work. It is richly illustrated with photos ranging from his youth to later studio shots, and concludes with a discography listing all the known recordings he made.
About the Author
Lennart Zetterberg is a freelance writer who also worked professionally as a sound engineer at Sveriges Radio for 30 years. Alongside this, he has written for various trade publications about music studios and engineers/producers, and has authored non-fiction books on audio, video, and computing.
Bokinfo
In Swedish
96 pages
Soft cover, 170 x 240 mm
Weight: 255 gr
ISBN: 9789153192602
Note: This publication has a soft cover and is 96 pages long.