Something's Going On

Something's Going On
Studio album by Frida
Released	September 1982
Recorded	February 15- March 31, 1982 Polar Studios, Stockholm
Genre	Pop
Length	43:42
Label	Polar Music Epic (original UK/Ireland/Israel/Italy release) Atlantic (Original United States release) Universal Music (2005 reissue)
Producer	Phil Collins
Frida chronology
Frida ensam (1975) Something's Going On (1982) Shine (1984)

Something's Going On is the first solo album in English by Swedish recording artist Anni-Frid Lyngstad (Frida), who is also one of the four members of the group ABBA. Her previous albums had all been recorded in Swedish.

Recorded during the final months of ABBA activity, in 1982, Something's Going On was first released in September that year, and has since then been re-released several times, mainly in 2005 in remastered form with bonus tracks.

Featuring a much edgier and rock-oriented sound than that of ABBA's music, the album was met with good reception both by critics and the public, with sales in excess of 1,5 million copies, making it the best-selling solo record of any of the ABBA members to date.^[1]

The promotional videos from the album are included in the 3¹⁄₂ hour documentary Frida - The DVD.

History

In 1982, Frida felt it was time to record a solo-album again, this time in English and aimed at the international market. ABBA were spending less and less time together. Going through her divorce from Andersson, Frida had heard Phil Collins' "In The Air Tonight," and then "listened to the album (Face Value) non-stop for eight months." As Collins himself put it in a TV interview: "Frida and I had something in common as far as our divorces were concerned. We were both the injured party." Polar Music approached Collins, asking if he would be interested in producing Frida's new solo album. He accepted the offer, thus making this his second album to be recorded in the Polar Studios, the first being Genesis' Duke (1980).

Polar Music sent out invitations to publishing companies around the world, announcing Frida's plans and asking for songs suitable for the project. The response was overwhelming; more than 500 songs came into the Polar Music offices in Stockholm. Among the composers who made it to the album's final tracklist were Bryan Ferry, Stephen Bishop, Rod Argent and Russ Ballard. The Giorgio Moroder/Pete Bellotte composition "To Turn The Stone" was originally written for Donna Summer's 1981 album I'm a Rainbow - a double set for Geffen Records which for various reasons would remain in the archives until 1996. Frida also asked Per Gessle, later of Roxette, to set Dorothy Parker's bittersweet poem "Threnody" to music. A re-interpretation of the Face Value track "You Know What I Mean" - a song especially close to her heart, both musically and lyrically - was also included. The song "Here We'll Stay" had previously been recorded and performed by singer Sonia Jones for the UK pre-selection for Eurovision Song Contest 1980 . On the album, it was recorded as a duet with Phil Collins although he wasn't credited. When it was decided to release the song as a single in 1983, Collins declined to be associated with the track, and Frida re-recorded the song as a solo version.

Recording

Recording began in the Polar Studios, Stockholm, on February 15, 1982 and continued until March 31. Earth Wind & Fire's horn players (the Phenix Horns) - also an important part of the Face Value album - came to Stockholm for a two day visit. Strings, orchestra, and harp were later recorded at Sir George Martin's Air Studios in London in the attendance of both Martin and Paul McCartney. Produced at a time when most commercial recordings still used only analog technology, the album was one of the few to be both digitally recorded and mixed.

At the time of recording Something's Going On Frida wanted to distance herself from the "typical ABBA pop sound," (according to Lyngstad herself). She wanted to break away from being associated with the group and make a fresh start both as an artist and as an individual. The new songs, new musicians, and new producer gave Frida a new identity. Collins' production and especially his unique gated drum sound heard throughout the album as well as the rough and raw guitar riffs of the lead single "I Know There's Something Going On" made it perfectly clear this was no lightweight ABBA record. All backing vocals were sung by Frida and Phil. The album closes with their duet "Here We'll Stay."

Swedish Television, SVT, documented this historical event, by filming the whole recording process. From day one in the studio to the releaseparty when the album was completed. The result became a one hour TV-special, including interviews with Frida and Phil, Björn & Benny from Abba, as well as all the musicians on the album. This documentary is included in Frida - The DVD.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]

In the autumn of 1982 Frida unveiled the results of these recording sessions by releasing the single and video "I Know There's Something Going On." An extensive promotion tour of Europe and the United States followed. In Europe, Frida went to all the major countries and performed both the single and other songs from the album on major TV-channels. The album received positive reviews by critics. Billboard wrote: "ABBA's auburn-haired songstress makes a bold solo-project a stunning success" and Mark Coleman described the album in the third edition of Rolling Stone Album Guide as a "sharp, rock-oriented, delightfully eclectic album". Audiences around the world also accepted the new, rockier sound and both the album and its lead single soon started climbing the charts; the single became a #1 hit in France (where it spent five weeks at the top), Belgium, Switzerland and Costa Rica, and reached the Top 10 elsewhere throughout Europe. It also became a huge success in Australia and South Africa - it peaked at number 5 on both charts. In the United States, the single reached a respectable #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #9 on Radio & Records airplay. The single was heavily promoted on MTV. The single sold some 3,5 million copies and Frida as a solo artist did in fact far better on the charts than any of the ABBA-singles of 1982. The album sold 1,5 million copies worldwide, making this the best-selling solo project of any of the former ABBA members to date.^[3] A notable exception to its success was in the UK, traditionally a hugely popular market for ABBA, but the single never got into top 40. The album, however, was a top 20 hit (peaking at #18). "I See Red" was released as a single in South Africa but did not fare as well as its predecessor, and did not reach the official Top 20 national charts.

Track listing

Side A:

1. "Tell Me It's Over" (Stephen Bishop) – 2:52
2. "I See Red" (Jim Rafferty) – 4:33
3. "I Got Something" (Tomas Ledin) – 4:04
4. "Strangers" (Jayne Bradbury, Dave Morris) – 4:06
5. "To Turn The Stone" (Pete Belotte, Giorgio Moroder) – 5:26

Side B:

1. "I Know There's Something Going On" (Russ Ballard) – 5:29
2. "Threnody" (Per Gessle, Dorothy Parker) – 4:17
3. "Baby Don't You Cry No More" (Rod Argent) – 3:02
4. "The Way You Do" (Bryan Ferry) – 3:38
5. "You Know What I Mean" (Phil Collins) – 2:37
6. "Here We'll Stay" (duet with Phil Collins) (Tony Colton, Jean Roussel) – 4:10

2005 remaster bonus tracks

12. "I Know There's Something Going On (Single Edit)" (Ballard) – 4:07
13. "Here We'll Stay" (Solo Version) (Colton, Roussel) – 4:11

Personnel

• Anni-Frid Lyngstad - lead vocals, backing vocals
• Phil Collins - drums, backing vocals, percussion Prophet 5
• Mo Foster - bass guitar
• Daryl Stuermer - guitar
• Peter Manning Robinson - keyboards, horn arrangements, string arrangements
• Don Myrick (The Phenix Horns/Earth, Wind & Fire) - saxophone
• Michael Harris (The Phenix Horns) - trumpet
• Rahmlee Michael Davis (The Phenix Horns) - trumpet
• Louis Satterfield (The Phenix Horns) - trombone
• Skaila Kanga - harp
• The Martyn Ford Orchestra - strings
• Martyn Ford - conductor, strings
• Gavyn Wright - leader, strings

Production

• Phil Collins - producer
• Hugh Padgham - sound engineer
• Hans Gunnar "Paris" Edvinsson - assistant engineer
• Digitally recorded and mixed at Polar Music Studios, Stockholm Sweden
• Strings and harp recorded at AIR Studios, London England
• Henrik Jonsson - mastering
• Leif Mases - mastering
• Yves Poyet - cover illustration
• Anders Hanser - photography
• Dick Nilson - album design
• Thomas Johansson - album coordinator
• Stig Anderson - executive producer

Sources

• Carl Magnus Palm: Bright Lights - Dark Shadows, Omnibus Press UK 2001, ISBN 0-7119-8389-5
• Carl Magnus Palm: ABBA - The Complete Recording Sessions, Century 22 Limited UK, 1994. ISBN 0-907938-10-8
• TV documentary: Frida - Something's Going On, SVT 1982. Included on Frida - The DVD, Universal Music 2005.

Charts