In 1968 he released his first solo album, a "literary record" called Valtakunta which featured songs composed to the texts of such poets as Pentti Saarikoski, Jarkko Laine, Tuomas Anhava and Hannu Mäkelä; interpreted by the vocalists Vesa-Matti Loiri, Eero Raittinen and Seija Simola.
Later on Raninen went to work in Discophon where he wrote lyrics for many Finnish musicians, such as Seija Simola, Carola, Tauno Palo, Vesa-Matti Loiri, Monica Aspelund, Heikki Kinnunen, Arja Koriseva, Erkki Liikanen and the Soitinmenot-ensemble.