I Know Theres Something Going On Lindstrm Remix I See Red Frida

I Know There's Something Going On Lindstrøm Remix Album: Something's Going On reissue LP
I See Red Album: Something's Going On (1982)
by Frida

Frida is Anni-Frid Lyngstad from the band Abba. When Abba folded in 1981, Frida launched a solo career, explaining that she finally had a chance to spread her wings and sing with more power on her own. Something's Going On was her first English-language album, and this track proved to be her only hit.

Something's Going On is the third solo album and her first album recorded entirely in English. Her previous two albums had been recorded in Swedish. Recorded in early 1982 during the final months of ABBA, the album was released on 10 September of that same year.

Produced by Phil Collins with Hugh Padgham, the album featured a harder-edged and more rock-oriented sound than the music she had previously recorded with ABBA, and it included Collins' distinctive gated reverb drum sound. The album was met with a positive reception by both 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. The album has since been re-released several times, including a 2005 remastered version that contained several bonus tracks. Promotional videos from the album are included in the DVD documentary titled Frida – The DVD.

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 fellow band member Benny 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 at 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. Elvis Costello (who submitted a song called "I Turn Around") was one of the many who had their work rejected. Among the composers who made it to the album's final track list 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 the 1980 Eurovision Song Contest. 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, Frida re-recorded the song as a solo version.

Recording began in the Polar Studios, Stockholm, on 15 February 1982 and continued until 31 March. 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 George Martin's Air Studios in London in the attendance of both Martin and Paul McCartney. Produced at a time when most commercial recordings 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 had 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, musicians and producer gave Frida a new identity. Collins' production and especially his 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", contrasted with the sound of an ABBA record. All backing vocals were sung by Frida and Collins. The album closes with their duet "Here We'll Stay".

Swedish Television, SVT, documented the whole recording process from the first day in the studio to the release party after the album's completion. The resulting footage became a one-hour TV-special which included interviews with Frida and Phil Collins, Björn & Benny from ABBA, as well as all the musicians on the album. It was directed by Stuart Orme and executive produced by Phil Collins' manager, Tony Smith.

Audiences also accepted the new, rockier sound and both the album and its lead single soon started climbing the charts; Something's Going On reached No. 1 in Sweden and was a Top 10 success in several other European countries. It was also a Top 20 hit in the UK, peaking at No. 18. With sales in excess of 1.5 million copies worldwide, Something's Going On is the best-selling solo album of any of the ABBA members to date.

The single "I Know There's Something Going On" side 2 track 1 reached No. 1 in Belgium and Switzerland, and was a Top 10 hit throughout most of Europe, as well as in Australia and South Africa (peaking at No. 5 in both countries). It also proved a success in the United States, reaching No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 9 on Radio & Records airplay, with the track's video being heavily promoted on MTV. The song was the 20th biggest-selling single in the US for 1983.

Lindstrøm's remix and dub version are also out via Smalltown Supersound. The Something's Going On reissue—available in an edition of 2,000—comes with a re-mastered CD, a DVD featuring a documentary and more, a 7" featuring "I Know There's Something Going On" and "You Know What I Mean", a booklet with liner notes from Frida, and a hand-signed art card.

"I See Red" side 1 track 2, is a song written by Gerry Rafferty's brother, Jim Rafferty. "I See Red" was first recorded by Anni-Frid Lyngstad of ABBA, under the name "Frida" for her first English-language studio album, Something's Going On. Lyngstad's version wasn't released as a single aside from South Africa where it didn't chart, although subsequent cover versions by other artists such as the Irish folk group, Clannad, included on their album, Magical Ring, resulted in a moderate success. Clannad's version was the follow-up single to their breakthrough hit "Theme from Harry's Game". Gerry Rafferty himself also recorded a version on his 1992 album, On a Wing and a Prayer.

This song was released as a single in South Africa in December 1982, where 4 months earlier, Frida's hit single "I Know There's Something Going On" was released in the same territory. The single was coupled with "I Got Something", written by Tomas Ledin. In the sales-based charts, Lyngstad's version did not fare well. However, on the 702 Radio Top 20 charts, "I See Red" rose up to #15 in South Africa.

Alongside with "I Know There's Something Going On", "To Turn The Stone" and "Here We'll Stay", "I See Red" had a music video directed to promote her album Something's Going On. The promotional video features Lyngstad lip-syncing to a montage between pinball machines, a group of acrobats dancing, and balls in a contemporary-styled stage. Stuart Orme directed the music video for Lyngstad's version.

In February 1983, Clannad released the song as a single which later appeared on their album Magical Ring. Clannad's version charted at No. 81 in the UK Charts.

In 1983 the song was covered by Estonian singer Velly Joonas under the title "Stopp, seisku aeg" ("Stop The Time"). It was not until it was released in 2015 as a single, gaining a surprise global cult popularity.

In 1992, Gerry Rafferty covered "I See Red" for his album, On a Wing and a Prayer.

Anni-Frid Lyngstad – lead vocals, backing vocals
Phil Collins – drums, backing vocals, percussion
J. Peter Robinson – keyboards, horn arrangements, string arrangements
Daryl Stuermer – guitar
Mo Foster – bass guitar
The Phenix Horns:
Don Myrick – saxophone
Michael Harris – trumpet
Rahmlee Michael Davis – trumpet
Louis Satterfield – trombone
Skaila Kanga – harp
The Martyn Ford Orchestra – strings
Martyn Ford – conductor
Gavyn Wright – concertmaster