Frida
ENSAM
"Länge, länge
leve kärleken vår bästa vän, Fernando"
Frida
ENSAM
Frida -Frida Ensam November 1975 Available on Swedish Cd.
This was only Frida's second studio album and her first album for the Polar label. It was recorded during ABBA's heady early days at Frida's behest. It is a very good album, that shows off Frida at her most confident and enthused. This album shows off Frida's vocal range and versatility .Of Frida's solo work perhaps only DJUPA ANTETAG is better and only because FRIDA ENSAM is marred somewhat by a lack of original material. But on some days (on Tuesdays usually) I think that FRIDA ENSAM is better...
FRIDA ENSAM when translated to
English, means-Frida Alone,
but Benny produced, Björn,Benny,and the ABBA band
play on this album.
ABBA manager Stig Anderson was executive producer. The
only ABBA person who is missing is Agnetha. Aggie was otherwise
occupied with her own solo album. Frida and Agnetha each released
Swedish language solo albums in late 1975. Both FRIDA ENSAM and
Aggie's ELVA KVINNOR I ETT HUS took a long time to be recorded
because of the time demands of ABBA.FRIDA ENSAM was recorded between
February 1974 and October 1975. This was the longest time taken
to record any ABBA related recording took prior to the recording
of Chess in 1983-1984...
The arrangements of the songs are as well thought out as the ABBA records of the period,. The choice of material is quite varied. Most of the songs seem to be covers of previously released songs with the exception, of course, of the original Swedish version of "Fernando" which made it's debut here. (Frida's version was released slightly ahead of the English language ABBA version)."Fernando" is the only B&B song on the album. The Swedish lyrics (actually written by Stig) reflect the theme the song had in its earliest versions-it was more of a love song, less of a freedom song. That perhaps, explains why the "linga lange"( Swedish) chorus actually seems different than the "If I had to do the same again I would my friend" chorus in the English version, even if you dont understand Swedish.
Two of the song choices were certainly not the light jazz of Frida;s early career-"Liv Pa Mars'" ( a spectacular version of David Bowie's "Life On Mars") and "Wall Street Shuffle"(a 10CC song)." Life on Mars" was drawn from Bowie's HUNKY DORY album. Some of the other songs were more akin to her pre-ABBA song selection but are given a much more effective presentation by the increasingly tight ABBA band.
The album is uniformly excellent but some of the highlights include the ethereal "Hey Hey..' chorus in "Aldrij Mej" , the emotional end of "Ett Live I solen" and Frida's high singing on Var Är Min Clown ("Send In the Clowns) '. The low point is probably a Swedish version of "The Most Beautiful Girl In the World".
The front cover of this album featured Frida in a highly alluring but yet tasteful pose in a darkened room. Her hair is the medium long, dark straight hair of the Arrival era.
This is one of the most sucessful Swedish markert albums by a ABBA solo artist. It went to #1 in Sweden and sold over 100,000 copies. This album is a must have for Frida fans. It was first reissued on CD in 1991 and again with bonus tracks in 2005.
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2. Jag är mig själv nu 3. Som en sparv 4. Vill du låna en man 5. Liv på mars? 6. Syrtaki 7. Aldrig mej 8. Guld och gröna ängar) 9. Ett liv i solen 10. Skulle de' va' skön 11. Var är min clown 12. Man vill ju leva lite dessemellan( non-album a-side) 13. Ska man skratta eller gråta (non-album b -side) |
| Track listings: |
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SIDE ONE Fernando (Swedish version) SIDE TWO -all songs performed in Swedish |
| Album details: |
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* Released on Lp (Scandinavia only) November 10, 1975 * Produced by Benny Andersson * Engineered by Lennart Karlsmyr & Michael Tretow. * Recorded in Stockholm, Sweden February 1974- October 1975 |
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It's only ABBA music but we kinda
like it, except, maybe, perhaps that video with the snot nosed
kid !
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