Fra Lippo Lippi (band)
Encyclopedia
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
.
, Norway in 1980 by bassist Rune Kristoffersen
, drummer Morten Sjøberg and keyboardist Bjørn Sorknes. 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.
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
.
On September 2009, Sørensen released Våge, his first solo album and his first-ever work in Norwegian
. An English version is in the works.
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
band from Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. They had several hits in the 1980s, such as "Shouldn't Have to Be Like That
Shouldn't Have to Be Like That
"Shouldn't Have To Be Like That" is a single by Norwegian New Wave group Fra Lippo Lippi, released from their third album Songs in 1986.In 2005 the song was remixed and released by Molella under the title "Lost Love"....
", "Everytime I See You
Everytime I See You
"Every Time I See You" is a single by Norwegian New Wave group Fra Lippo Lippi, released in 1986. The song appears on the re-release of their album Songs, which was re-recorded and remixed for the international market, after Virgin Records signed the band to a worldwide contract...
" and "Light and Shade
Light and Shade (Fra Lippo Lippi album)
Light and Shade is the fourth studio album by Norwegian pop rock group Fra Lippo Lippi. It was recorded in Los Angeles, California and produced by Walter Becker ....
", and recorded a new album as late as 2002. The band name is derived from Robert Browning
Robert Browning
Robert Browning was an English poet and playwright whose mastery of dramatic verse, especially dramatic monologues, made him one of the foremost Victorian poets.-Early years:...
's poem
Fra Lippo Lippi (poem)
Fra Lippo Lippi is an 1855 dramatic monologue written by the Victorian poet Robert Browning. Throughout this poem, Browning depicts a 15th century real-life painter, Filippo Lippi, who faces the conflict of a religious life committed to the Church or a life of leisure. The poem asks the question...
about the Renaissance painter Filippo Lippi
Filippo Lippi
Fra' Filippo Lippi , also called Lippo Lippi, was an Italian painter of the Italian Quattrocento .-Biography and works:...
.
History
Fra Lippo Lippi was founded in NesoddenNesodden
Nesodden is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Follo. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Nesoddtangen. The parish of Næsodden was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
, Norway in 1980 by bassist Rune Kristoffersen
Rune Kristoffersen
Rune Kristoffersen is a Norwegian best known for being the founder and bassist of the pop rock band Fra Lippo Lippi.- Background :Rune Kristoffersen spent the eighties playing bass in Norwegian pop outfit Fra Lippo Lippi, signed to Virgin Records and had an album produced by Walter Becker from...
, drummer Morten Sjøberg and keyboardist Bjørn Sorknes. 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
In Silence
In Silence is the 1981 debut album by Norwegian group Fra Lippo Lippi. The dark punk sound of the album was heavily influenced by bands such as Joy Division and The Cure....
under Uniton Records. In 1982, Per Øystein Sørensen
Per Øystein Sørensen
Per Øystein Sørensen is a Norwegian singer and songwriter, best known as the vocalist of the New Wave/synth pop band Fra Lippo Lippi.- Biography :...
came on board as the band's lead vocalist for their second album Small Mercies
Small Mercies (album)
Small Mercies is the second album by Norwegian group Fra Lippo Lippi and the first to feature new lead vocalist Per Øystein Sørensen. In contrast to the New Wave sound of the band's debut album In Silence, the addition of Sørensen gave Small Mercies and the band's further recordings a more...
.
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
Songs (Fra Lippo Lippi album)
Songs is the third studio album by Norwegian pop rock group Fra Lippo Lippi. Originally released in 1985 by the band's own label, Easter Productions, Songs received favorable reviews and sold around 5,000 copies without any means of promotion....
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
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
. 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
Everytime I See You
"Every Time I See You" is a single by Norwegian New Wave group Fra Lippo Lippi, released in 1986. The song appears on the re-release of their album Songs, which was re-recorded and remixed for the international market, after Virgin Records signed the band to a worldwide contract...
". In 1987, the band recorded and released their follow-up album Light and Shade
Light and Shade (Fra Lippo Lippi album)
Light and Shade is the fourth studio album by Norwegian pop rock group Fra Lippo Lippi. It was recorded in Los Angeles, California and produced by Walter Becker ....
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, CA
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, with the producing aid of Walter Becker
Walter Becker
Walter Carl Becker is an American musician, songwriter and record producer. He is best known as the co-founder, guitarist, bassist and a co-writer of Steely Dan.-Career:...
. Shortly after the album's release, they were dropped by Virgin Records.
The band's popularity in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
prompted them to tour the country in 1988. In Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, their shows sold out six times over two weekends.
The band continued to record and release further albums independently, starting with 1989's The Colour Album
The Colour Album
The Colour Album is the fifth studio album by Norwegian pop rock group Fra Lippo Lippi and the first release after the band severed their ties with Virgin Records....
. A live album titled Crash of Light
Crash of Light (album)
Crash of Light is a live album by Norwegian pop rock group Fra Lippo Lippi. It was originally prepared for the band's revived record label Uniton Records, but was never released in Norway due to legal problems with their distributor...
was released in the Philippines in 1990. In 1995, the band released their first compilation album The Best of Fra Lippo Lippi '85-'95
The Best of Fra Lippo Lippi '85-'95
The Best of Fra Lippo Lippi '85-'95 is a compilation album by Norwegian pop rock group Fra Lippo Lippi. It covers the band's musical career from their 1985 album Songs to their 1992 album Dreams, plus the new songs "Everybody Everywhere" and "If You Were in My Shoes".Many of the songs were...
. 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
The Virgin Years - Greatest Hits
The Virgin Years - Greatest Hits is a compilation album by Norwegian pop rock group Fra Lippo Lippi released exclusively in the Philippines. Unlike the 1995 compilation The Best of Fra Lippo Lippi '85-'95 , this album contains the original recordings of songs from the band's albums Songs The Virgin...
featured tracks directly licensed from Virgin Records.
In 2002, Kristoffersen retired from the band to focus on his record label Rune Grammofon
Rune Grammofon
Rune Grammofon is a Norwegian record label founded in 1998 by Rune Kristoffersen. Rune Grammofon's reputation for lovingly issued experimental electronic music, jazz, and improvised music by Norwegian artists has grown over the years with its artists being featured heavily in magazines such as The...
, and the band released In A Brilliant White
In A Brilliant White
In a Brilliant White is the seventh studio album by Norwegian group Fra Lippo Lippi; this time, with vocalist Per Øystein Sørensen as the sole member...
.
On September 2009, Sørensen released Våge, his first solo album and his first-ever work in Norwegian
Norwegian language
Norwegian is a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is the official language. Together with Swedish and Danish, Norwegian forms a continuum of more or less mutually intelligible local and regional variants .These Scandinavian languages together with the Faroese language...
. An English version is in the works.
Former Members
- Rune KristoffersenRune KristoffersenRune Kristoffersen is a Norwegian best known for being the founder and bassist of the pop rock band Fra Lippo Lippi.- Background :Rune Kristoffersen spent the eighties playing bass in Norwegian pop outfit Fra Lippo Lippi, signed to Virgin Records and had an album produced by Walter Becker from...
- Bass guitar, keyboards (1978–2002) - Morten Sjøberg - Drums (1978–1985)
- Øyvind Kvalnes - Keyboards (1984–1985)
- Bjørn Sorknes - Keyboards, guitar, vocals (1978–1981)
Albums
- In Silence (1981)
- Small MerciesSmall Mercies (album)Small Mercies is the second album by Norwegian group Fra Lippo Lippi and the first to feature new lead vocalist Per Øystein Sørensen. In contrast to the New Wave sound of the band's debut album In Silence, the addition of Sørensen gave Small Mercies and the band's further recordings a more...
(1983) - SongsSongs (Fra Lippo Lippi album)Songs is the third studio album by Norwegian pop rock group Fra Lippo Lippi. Originally released in 1985 by the band's own label, Easter Productions, Songs received favorable reviews and sold around 5,000 copies without any means of promotion....
(1985) - Light and ShadeLight and Shade (Fra Lippo Lippi album)Light and Shade is the fourth studio album by Norwegian pop rock group Fra Lippo Lippi. It was recorded in Los Angeles, California and produced by Walter Becker ....
(1987) - The Colour AlbumThe Colour AlbumThe Colour Album is the fifth studio album by Norwegian pop rock group Fra Lippo Lippi and the first release after the band severed their ties with Virgin Records....
(1989) - Crash of LightCrash of Light (album)Crash of Light is a live album by Norwegian pop rock group Fra Lippo Lippi. It was originally prepared for the band's revived record label Uniton Records, but was never released in Norway due to legal problems with their distributor...
(Live, 1990) - DreamsDreams (Fra Lippo Lippi album)Dreams is the sixth studio album by Norwegian pop rock group Fra Lippo Lippi.When their 1989 album The Colour Album generated mediocre sales , the band parted ways with their Swedish label The Record Station and were considering breaking up. Instead, they decided to write songs for a new album...
(1992) - In a Brilliant WhiteIn A Brilliant WhiteIn a Brilliant White is the seventh studio album by Norwegian group Fra Lippo Lippi; this time, with vocalist Per Øystein Sørensen as the sole member...
(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)
- The Distance Between UsThe Distance Between Us (song)"The Distance Between Us" is a song by Norwegian New Wave group Fra Lippo Lippi, released as a B-side to their 1986 single Shouldn't Have to Be Like That. The song also became a huge success in the Philippines. It is from their third album Songs....
(1985) - Shouldn't Have To Be Like ThatShouldn't Have to Be Like That"Shouldn't Have To Be Like That" is a single by Norwegian New Wave group Fra Lippo Lippi, released from their third album Songs in 1986.In 2005 the song was remixed and released by Molella under the title "Lost Love"....
(1986) - Everytime I See YouEverytime I See You"Every Time I See You" is a single by Norwegian New Wave group Fra Lippo Lippi, released in 1986. The song appears on the re-release of their album Songs, which was re-recorded and remixed for the international market, after Virgin Records signed the band to a worldwide contract...
(1986) - Come SummerCome Summer (Fra Lippo Lippi song)"Come Summer" is a single by Norwegian New Wave group Fra Lippo Lippi, released from their third album Songs in 1986....
(1986) - Light and Shade (1987)
- AngelAngel (Fra Lippo Lippi song)"Angel" is a single by Norwegian New Wave group Fra Lippo Lippi, released from their fourth album Light and Shade in 1987....
(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)
- Later (2002)
- Story Of A Broken Heart (2002)
Compilations
- The Best of Fra Lippo Lippi '85-'95The Best of Fra Lippo Lippi '85-'95The Best of Fra Lippo Lippi '85-'95 is a compilation album by Norwegian pop rock group Fra Lippo Lippi. It covers the band's musical career from their 1985 album Songs to their 1992 album Dreams, plus the new songs "Everybody Everywhere" and "If You Were in My Shoes".Many of the songs were...
(1995) - The Virgin Years - Greatest HitsThe Virgin Years - Greatest HitsThe Virgin Years - Greatest Hits is a compilation album by Norwegian pop rock group Fra Lippo Lippi released exclusively in the Philippines. Unlike the 1995 compilation The Best of Fra Lippo Lippi '85-'95 , this album contains the original recordings of songs from the band's albums Songs The Virgin...
(1997) - The Early YearsThe Early Years (Fra Lippo Lippi album)The Early Years is a compilation album by Norwegian pop rock group Fra Lippo Lippi, consisting of the band's first two albums - In Silence and Small Mercies ....
(2005) - Re-release of In Silence and Small Mercies - The Best of Fra Lippo LippiThe Best of Fra Lippo LippiThe Best of Fra Lippo Lippi is a compilation album by Norwegian pop rock group Fra Lippo Lippi. This album is basically a reissue of the band's 85-'95 compilation, but with a slightly different track order, the song "Angel" replacing "If You Were in My Shoes" and the addition of the live version of...
(2005) - The Essential Fra Lippo Lippi: Essence & RareThe Essential Fra Lippo Lippi: Essence & RareThe Essential Fra Lippo Lippi: Essence & Rare is a compilation album by Norwegian pop rock group Fra Lippo Lippi released in the Philippines by EMI.-Track listing:# "Angel"# "Crash of Light"# "Home"# "Light and Shade"# "Crazy Wisdom"...
(2005)
External links
- Fra Lippo Lippi's official website
- Fra Lippo Lippi discography at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...