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Wrap Your Arms Around Me
1983 studio album by Agnetha Fältskog From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Wrap Your Arms Around Me is the seventh studio album, and first English-language album, by Swedish singer and ABBA member Agnetha Fältskog, first released on 30 May 1983 in the Netherlands, followed by an international release a day later, by Polar Music Records, and 8 August in North America, by Polydor Records. Following the break-up of ABBA in late 1982, she met with record producer Mike Chapman in London, known for his work with Blondie. He began collaborating with Fältskog to take role by coming up with the album title and produced it thereafter. As with post-1979 ABBA releases, recording for Wrap Your Arms Around Me took place at Polar Music Studios in Stockholm, Sweden, where Fältskog collaborated with songwriters and ABBA studio musicians to complete the album. The recording lasted for a span of three months during that time.
The album marked a significant step in Fältskog's solo career, resulting in a shift in musical style from the pop-oriented sound of ABBA to a more adult contemporary and soft rock aesthetic that established Fältskog's conventional sound following her later solo albums until I Stand Alone. The stripped-back approach accesses theme implications of ballad-tempo driven by an energetic, introspective sensibility, following as a pre-cursor to album-oriented rock, while retaining elements similar to Europop. This eventually helped secure Fältskog's reputation as a solo artist, growing more independent from the ABBA clout. Despite limited international chart-topping success compared to ABBA, the album remains an important part of Fältskog's musical catalogue, marking a new chapter in her career.
Following its release, the album became a commercial success across continental Europe, topping the charts in Sweden and Norway. However, it had only modest success overseas in North America, including United States and Canada, charting at 102 and 79, respectively. Four singles—"The Heat Is On", "Wrap Your Arms Around Me", "Can't Shake Loose", and "Man"—were released throughout various countries to promote the album. It has gone to attain sales certifications in Netherlands and the UK. It has sold more than 2.5 million copies worldwide.
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Background
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Agnetha Fältskog, one of the members of the Swedish group ABBA, had ventures of success in Sweden with her solo career since the late 1960s, primarily containing Swedish-language lyrics. Then 17 year old Fältskog signed with a small record company, Cupol – which saw five albums being released in that particular label, with one while in the group.[2] She had met Björn Ulvaeus in 1968, one of the members in Hootenanny Singers, along with Benny Andersson. Ulvaeus and Andersson first formed the group as "Björn & Benny" in 1970, but later became a quartet, when Andersson's partner and then-wife, Anni-Frid Lyngstad joined, while Fältskog joined at the same time. She eventually married Ulvaeus in 1971, and the four members, later named "ABBA", rose to international prominence releasing eight albums through Polar Music. Fältskog further gained attention based on her role as Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar musical production, enabling her as an actress in the later years.[3]
By 1979, ABBA's popularity grew at its peak, but the group started to show some tensions, eventually leading to the breakup of both couples.[4][2] The divorce and the perceived fame had resulted Fältskog to go to a psychiatrist, realising that being "really crazy to reach that stage" while being in the group seemed "nonsense".[5][6] By the end of 1982, the last leg of the promoting tour for ABBA's The Singles: The First Ten Years have been concluded in Stockholm.[7] There was no official announcement made involving the break-up of the group, though the collapse of both marriages and inactivity have been contributed to this.[2][8] Fältskog reminisced that before the group's demise, she subsequently was offered actress positions, alongside her prominent advocacy against drugs.[9] Commenting on the breakup, Fältskog stated, "I am very proud of what ABBA achieved, but for all of us, it's time to move on... at this point, all of us are going to concentrate on our solo projects."[10]
Each member of ABBA had already embarked on solo careers by the time the group paused its activities – while Fältskog, who remained under a recording contract with the Polar label by the group's management team, recorded a duet with Tomas Ledin's Never Again.[2] At the same time, Polar Music's general manager and head of artists and repertoire, Stig Anderson, who managed ABBA throughout its entirety, arranged a contract with Polydor Records for releases across North America. In the UK, Fältskog remained with Epic.[citation needed]
To look for a producer, Fältskog was first heavily inspired by Barbra Streisand's Guilty album that she contacted Bee Gees singer/producer Barry Gibb as the first in line to produce her upcoming album. However, Gibb insisted on producing it in Miami, but Fältskog refused to leave Sweden at the time.[11] Although Gibb was interested, he first had to cooperate on a film.[12] Aided with Gibb's production time constraints for the next two years, Australian producer, Mike Chapman, who heavily worked with Blondie and Smokie, was chosen to produce it instead.[13] Fältskog had previously met Chapman in London, who agreed to take part in producing her album,[1] which came during the news that Blondie already had been disbanded.[14] Other well-known producers which Fältskog wanted to work with were Giorgio Moroder and Quincy Jones.[12]
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Composition and production
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The recordings were originally planned to take place at Polar Music Studios in Stockholm in mid-1982, but were postponed to late November due to her time being in need to record four new songs for ABBA. The majority of the album's writing and composition had been completed during the summer of that year.[15] Following the group's presumed demise, she entered the studio on 20 January 1983 to continue recording her release.[1] She aimed to create her first english studio album with a distinct sound away from ABBA while recognising that her voice would remain a defining characteristic.[10]
In an interview, Fältskog stated that "Mike Chapman and I both chose the same songs from that huge selection, we were on the same page from the start ... I especially wanted a record with cheerful, varied music, alternated with a more solid or romantic number. I enjoyed the freedom you enjoy as a soloist."[16] Fältskog was particularly impressed by the band Smokie, selecting them as background vocalists for one of her singles. In addition to collaborating with Smokie, she primarily worked with Swedish musicians, many of whom were touring members who performed with ABBA throughout the group's career. Reflecting on her creative process, Fältskog explained in an interview, "Frida deviated from that. She used foreign musicians, but I didn't want that." She expressed a strong preference for collaborating with familiar individuals, stating, "I preferred to work with people I know. That makes me feel more comfortable. And Mike Chapman thought it was fine, so why not? He thought they were good enough. The album was recorded in our own Polar Studios in Stockholm. I also found that much more pleasant. I like a familiar environment."[16]
For approximately three months, Fältskog and Chapman chose the songs from no fewer than four-hundred submitted cassettes, which she claimed that she had only listened to three-hundred of the tapes. To clarify, Fältskog "wanted to be fair" with the selection, "so when I chose the songs with Mike and Stig ... we didn't look at the authors. We picked nearly the same songs—considering how we did it, it's surprising that Russ Ballard and David Clark Allen have each songs on the record." Eventually, the selection was narrowed down to about twenty songs, only twelve were selected.[17] The completed compositions were created by Chapman, Russ Ballard, and Agnetha Fältskog, along with contributions from emerging composers who had yet to gain recognition.[16] Chapman commented in an Anders Hanser film, "I knew I've been seeing her perform for many years as a member of that group. I knew she was a very capable singer, a vary capable performer. I had no problems at all and understanding her capabilities, knowing what she was going to be able to do. I knew she was a great singer. And I also knew that our personalities would get along just fine. And I think I've been proved to be right."[18]
"The Heat Is On" was a cover originally recorded by Noosha Fox, then was re-arranged for Manfred Mann's Earth Band's version titled as "On the Run". The song was chosen as the lead single for Wrap Your Arms Around Me. "Can't Shake Loose" was written by Russ Ballard, who also wrote "I Know There's Something Going On", the only US hit by Fältskog's fellow ABBA member, Frida. Ballard also has writing contributions to "I Wish Tonight Could Last Forever". Other composers have contributed to this extent of the album: "Shame" and "Stay" (David Clark Allen), "Once Burned, Twice Shy" (Dan Tyler and Richard "Spady" Brannan), "Mr. Persuasion" (Susan Lynch and Larry Whitman), "To Love" (Jill Brandt and Randy Goodrum) and "Stand by My Side" (Guido & Maurizio De Angelis. David Cowles). The song title was penned by Chapman and American famed songwriter, Holly Knight. "Man" was the only song on the album written by Fältskog herself, in contrast to her pre-ABBA 1960s recordings in Swedish, which were mostly self-written. She noted that, at the age of 32 or 33, she found it increasingly difficult to write her own songs, particularly when beginning with a single line and the rest, it became more challenging. "There, it's four people, and you can take just one-quarter of the credit. Of course, we're used to success at this point, and it makes you spoiled. The expectations are very, very high. But I don't mind," Fältskog stated.[17] The album's strings were provided by the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra.[19]
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Album cover
English fashion photographer Gered Mankowitz shot the album cover and all the single covers based on her album. Mankowitz said of this shoot, "Agnetha was being produced by Mike Chapman who I had worked with a great deal in the 70s; and he asked me to come to Sweden, where they were recording, to shoot this cover. Agnetha was charming, very sexy, and photogenic – we had a lovely session together. When I got home to London, there was a huge bouquet of flowers waiting – a thank you from her, and a sweet and thoughtful gesture!"[20] David Costa created the stylized cover while Lolo Murray does the makeup for the photo shoot.[21]
In comparison, the original CD cover featured a different typeface, with the text predominantly presented in mixed uppercase letters. In contrast, the vinyl edition utilized an all-lowercase font. The 2005 reissue restored the typography to match the original font used on the vinyl release.[citation needed]
Release and promotion
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As the recording had been completed, a TV special, "The Heat Is On" had been filmed in April 1983[22] and was premiered on the 4 May. There, Fältskog performed new material for her upcoming release—particularly her current lead single and others.[23] Internationally, the promotional campaign started on 6 May 1983 in the Netherlands, where she was invited to perform at the ANWB Gala which is organized to celebrate the association's centenary anniversary.[24] Fältskog performed "The Heat Is On" and "Shame"[24] as well as being interviewed.[16] Fältskog was delighted with the interest the Netherlands showed in her first English-language solo album, following its release.[16]
Fältskog hoped to capture her own solo success in the United States compared to ABBA's sales in the European market. She commented over her plan to crossover promotion in the adult contemporary and pop charts stating, "I just wanted to find a good producer, choose good songs and make a record that everyone would enjoy."[10]
Reissue
Wrap Your Arms Around Me received an expanded reissue on CD in 2005, featuring five bonus tracks, "It's So Nice to Be Rich"/"P&B" and "Never Again". On 28 July 2017, it was re-released as part of a reissue collection of solo albums from the members of ABBA in 180 gram black and pink vinyl.[25][26]
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Commercial performance
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Wrap Your Arms Around Me debuted at number one in the Swedish chart on 14 June 1983, selling around 100,000 copies in the first two days since its release, making Fältskog's first album to top the chart. It was proclaimed Sweden's fastest and best selling album of 1983 in the territory.[27] It topped the chart for two weeks and placed a total of twelve weeks,[a] before dropping off by mid November, before it subsequently re-charted in January 1984. It has sold 350,000 copies in Sweden since its release.[28] It also peaked at number one in Norway for a cumulative of five consecutive weeks.[29] By the year end in 1984, it has sold more than 1,200,000 copies since its release.[30][31]
In the United States, the album debuted at number 176 on the Billboard 200 on 17 September 1983, and at number 48 on the Rock Albums chart on 8 October 1983.[32] A month later, it peaked at number 44 on the Billboard Rock Albums and number 102 on the main Billboard 200 chart, spending for a total of eleven weeks on that chart while it only charted four weeks on the rock chart.[32] It also debuted at 169 in the US Cashbox chart on 1 October 1983, and peaked at 125 on 5 November.[33] This was Fältskog's solo only appearance on the Billboard 200 chart until A (2013) reached number 186.[34] The album peaked at number 79 in the Canadian chart.[35] In the UK, it debuted at number 23 on 5 June, then peaked at number 18 the following week, with a cumulative total of 13 weeks spent on the UK Albums Chart,[36] and during its eleventh week in the chart, it was certified platinum by the BPI in that respective country, selling over 300,000 copies.[37] Following its 2017 reissue, it charted at number 26 in the UK vinyl albums chart.[38] The album charted in eleven countries. Since its debut, it has sold an estimated of 2,500,000 copies worldwide, according to Fältskog.[39]
Singles
The album's lead single and cover, "The Heat Is On", was released on 3 May 1983,[40] and charted for a total of 9 countries. The single peaked at number one in Sweden, becoming Fältskog's fourth and first English single to top the chart. It also peaked at the top of the charts in Norway, while it charted at number 35 in the UK.[41][42] Elsewhere, it peaked at number two in the Netherlands and Belgium.[43][44] The following next single and title track, "Wrap Your Arms Around Me", was released on 22 July[45] throughout Europe (except Sweden), where it charted in 7 countries, and again peaked at number one in Belgium.[46] It also charted at number forty-four in the UK.[47] "Can't Shake Loose" was released on 13 August in the US[10] and proved to be more successful in North America, debuting at number 78, then peaking at number 29 on the US Billboard Singles chart, staying for 15 weeks.[48] The song peaked at number 23 in Canada.[49] WBAX's program director, Paul Christie, commented that the song "has more hooks than a tackle box", viewing it as a "universal appeal" to become an worldwide hit.[50] It was the only single to be released in the States taken from Wrap Your Arms Around Me. On the contrary, the song had minimal impact in other countries, where it only charted at number 63 in the UK and number 76 in Australia.[51][52]
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Critical reception
Upon its release, the album received favorable reviews from music critics.
Joe Viglione from AllMusic retrospectively gave the album four out of five stars and wrote that songs like "The Heat Is On" and "Shame" were "much more refined than a lot of the dreck the major labels were issuing at the time" and that the album is "a healthy serving of charming melodies". He mentioned that the composition, "like the album, is a real gem".
The contemporary review from People magazine was also favorable, the author wrote that the record is like the ABBA albums "smooth, upbeat, relentlessly bright and on the sterile side". He concluded that fans of ABBA will not dislike the record and people who dislike the group will not like it any better.
Andrew Slater of USA Today stated that Wrap Your Arms Around Me "sounds tailor-made for the adult contemporary radio, retaining much of the sunny eroticism of ABBA without imitating he group's distinctive pop style."[10]
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Track listing
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Personnel
Adapted from the album's liner notes.[58]
Musicians
- Agnetha Fältskog – lead vocals, backing vocals
- Smokie (Chris Norman, Alan Silson, Terry Uttley) – backing vocals
- Berit Andersson – backing vocals
- Maritza Horn – backing vocals
- Diana Nunez – backing vocals
- Rutger Gunnarsson – bass guitar
- Lasse Wellander – guitars
- Per Lindvall – drums
- Peter Ljung – piano, organ, synthesizers
- Åke Sundqvist – percussion
- Kajtek Wojciechowski – accordion, saxophones
- Mats Ronander – harmonica
- Ingegerd Fredlund – harp
- Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra – strings
Production
- Mike Chapman – producer
- Michael B. Tretow – engineer
- Rutger Gunnarsson – string arrangements
- Gered Mankowitz – photography
- David Costa – album design
- Lolo Murray – makeup artist
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Charts
Certifications
Release history
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Notes
^ a: Since its inception in 1975, the Swedish Sverigetopplistan chart published album rankings over a two-week period till 1993. Wrap Your Arms Around Me reached number one for a total of four consecutive weeks and spent 24 weeks on the chart, despite the shift away from the two-week publication format.
References
Bibliography
External links
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