Fra Lippo Lippi (band)

Fra Lippo Lippi is a new wave band from Norway. They had several hits in the 1980s, such as "Shouldn't Have to Be Like That", "Everytime I See You" and "Light and Shade", and recorded a new album as late as 2002. The band name is derived from Robert Browning's poem about the Renaissance painter Filippo Lippi.

History

Fra Lippo Lippi was founded in Nesodden, Norway in 1980 by bassist Rune Kristoffersen, drummer Morten Sjøberg and keyboardist Bjørn Sorknes.^[1] Two years prior, the group was rehearsing under the name Genetic Control. They released a 4-track instrumental EP that year.

In 1981, Sorknes left as the band was writing songs for their debut album. The band, which then consisted of the duo of Kristoffersen and Sjøberg, recorded and released In Silence under Uniton Records. In 1982, Per Øystein Sørensen came on board as the band's lead vocalist for their second album Small Mercies.

Just as the band were preparing a follow-up album, Sjøberg and keyboardist Øyvind Kvalnes departed at the prospect of giving up their day jobs for the uncertain careers as professional musicians, leaving Kristoffersen and Sørensen as the only two members. Songs was released that year to positive reviews, and 5,000 copies were sold in Norway without the aid of singles or promotion.

Months after Songs was released, the band was signed to Virgin Records. Songs was re-recorded and remixed for the international market in 1986. This version of the album also included a new song titled "Everytime I See You". In 1987, the band recorded and released their follow-up album Light and Shade in Los Angeles, CA, with the producing aid of Walter Becker. Shortly after the album's release, they were dropped by Virgin Records.

The band's popularity in the Philippines prompted them to tour the country in 1988. In Manila, their shows sold out six times over two weekends.^[1]

The band continued to record and release further albums independently, starting with 1989's The Colour Album. A live album titled Crash of Light was released in the Philippines in 1990. In 1995, the band released their first compilation album The Best of Fra Lippo Lippi '85–'95. Selected tracks originally from Songs, Light and Shade and The Colour Album were re-recorded. Two years later, another compilation was released in the Philippines. The Virgin Years - Greatest Hits featured tracks directly licensed from Virgin Records.

In 2002, Kristoffersen retired from the band to focus on his record label Rune Grammofon, and the band released In a Brilliant White^[1] which contains mostly Sorensen's works and was initially produced and released only in the Philippines. The first single "Later" became a hit in the Philippines even before the album was released, hence EMI Philippines (now Polyeast Records) decided to produce a full-length album with it. This project was spearheaded by Darrell James Laxamana of EMI Philippines who acted as the Project Manager. It also features a collaboration single "Wish We Were Two" featuring Per Sorensen and Kyla. This album was also released in Norway eventually, following releases over other countries in Asia.

On September 2009, Sørensen released Våge, his first solo album and his first-ever work in Norwegian. An English version titled Master of Imperfection was released in 2012.^[2]

Personnel

Current members

• Per Øystein Sørensen – Vocals (1983–present)

Former members

• Rune Kristoffersen – Bass guitar, keyboards (1978–2002)
• Morten Sjøberg – Drums (1978–1985)
• Øyvind Kvalnes – Keyboards (1984–1985)
• Bjørn Sorknes – Keyboards, guitar, vocals (1978–1981)

Discography

Albums

• In Silence (1981)
• Small Mercies (1983)
• Songs (1985)
• Light and Shade (1987)
• The Colour Album (1989)
• Dreams (1992)
• In a Brilliant White (2002)

Singles

• "In Silence" (1981)
• "Tap Dance for Scientists" (1981)
• "Now and Forever" (1982)
• "A Small Mercy" (1982)
• "The Treasure" (1983)
• "Say Something" (1984)
• "Leaving" (1985)
• "Shouldn't Have to Be Like That"/"The Distance Between Us" (1986)
• "Everytime I See You" (1986)
• "Come Summer" (1986)
• "Light and Shade" (1987)
• "Angel" (1987)
• "Beauty and Madness" (1988)
• "Some People" (1988)
• "Count On Me" (1989)
• "Love is a Lonely Harbour" (1989)
• "Mothers Little Soldier" (1990)
• "Stitches and Burns" (1990)
• "Thief In Paradise" (1992)
• "Everybody Everywhere" (1995)
• "Later" (2002)
• "Story of a Broken Heart" (2002)

Compilations

• The Best of Fra Lippo Lippi '85–'95 (1995)
• The Virgin Years – Greatest Hits (1997)
• The Early Years (2003) - Re-release of In Silence and Small Mercies
• The Best of Fra Lippo Lippi (2005)
• The Essential Fra Lippo Lippi: Essence & Rare (2005)

References

External links

• Fra Lippo Lippi's official website
• Fra Lippo Lippi discography (Discogs)
• Fra Lippo Lippi discography (blogspot)