I Stand Alone (album)
Encyclopedia
I Stand Alone was the third of Agnetha Fältskog
's 1980s post-ABBA
solo albums, released in November 1987. This album, produced by Peter Cetera
, would be her last for 17 years.
, the former singer and bass guitar player with American rock band Chicago
. He duetted with Fältskog on the track "I Wasn't the One (Who Said Goodbye)", (No.93 Billboard Hot 100
and No.19 Adult Contemporary in the U.S.) The co-producer of the album was Bruce Gaitsch, with whom Fältskog was in a relationship with at the time.
The musical style of the album was very different from the European sounds of Faltskog's previous two albums, and reflected the West Coast American influences of the producers. The album became Sweden
's best-selling LP of 1988, where it remained at No.1 for eight weeks. It also reached the Top 20 in Norway
and Belgium
, and No.22 in the Netherlands
, but fared less well on charts elsewhere, only reaching No.47 in West Germany
, No.72 in the United Kingdom
, No.93 in Japan
and No.96 in Australia
.
Fältskog also made several promo videos for singles from the album, including "The Last Time" and "Let It Shine". When the third single, "I Wasn't the One (Who Said Goodbye)", appeared on the U.S. Billboard Chart in April 1988, Warner Music asked her to make another video immediately. Although it was a duet with Peter Cetera, he did not appear in the video.
Album track "Love in a World Gone Mad" was a cover version of a song by British pop group Bucks Fizz
, from their 1986 album Writing on the Wall
.
For the cover of the album and promotional interviews, Fältskog appeared with a "new" spiky blonde hair look. Fältskog made a very rare trip on an airplane to Los Angeles
to record the album. After it was completed, she never flew again due to her much-publicised fear of flying
. She did, however, admit that the flight was worth it.
Side Two
Agnetha Fältskog
Agnetha Åse Fältskog is a Swedish recording artist. She achieved success in Sweden after the release of her début album Agnetha Fältskog in 1968, and reached international stardom as a member of the pop group ABBA, which to date has sold over 375 million records worldwide, making it the fourth...
's 1980s post-ABBA
ABBA
ABBA was a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1970 which consisted of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Agnetha Fältskog...
solo albums, released in November 1987. This album, produced by Peter Cetera
Peter Cetera
Peter Paul Cetera is an American singer, songwriter, bassist and producer best known for being an original member of the rock band Chicago, before launching a successful solo career...
, would be her last for 17 years.
Overview
Recorded in Los Angeles I Stand Alone was produced by Peter CeteraPeter Cetera
Peter Paul Cetera is an American singer, songwriter, bassist and producer best known for being an original member of the rock band Chicago, before launching a successful solo career...
, the former singer and bass guitar player with American rock band Chicago
Chicago (band)
Chicago is an American rock band formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. The self-described "rock and roll band with horns" began as a politically charged, sometimes experimental, rock band and later moved to a predominantly softer sound, becoming famous for producing a number of hit ballads. They had...
. He duetted with Fältskog on the track "I Wasn't the One (Who Said Goodbye)", (No.93 Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and No.19 Adult Contemporary in the U.S.) The co-producer of the album was Bruce Gaitsch, with whom Fältskog was in a relationship with at the time.
The musical style of the album was very different from the European sounds of Faltskog's previous two albums, and reflected the West Coast American influences of the producers. The album became Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
's best-selling LP of 1988, where it remained at No.1 for eight weeks. It also reached the Top 20 in 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...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, and No.22 in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, but fared less well on charts elsewhere, only reaching No.47 in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, No.72 in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, No.93 in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and No.96 in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Fältskog also made several promo videos for singles from the album, including "The Last Time" and "Let It Shine". When the third single, "I Wasn't the One (Who Said Goodbye)", appeared on the U.S. Billboard Chart in April 1988, Warner Music asked her to make another video immediately. Although it was a duet with Peter Cetera, he did not appear in the video.
Album track "Love in a World Gone Mad" was a cover version of a song by British pop group Bucks Fizz
Bucks Fizz (band)
Bucks Fizz are an English pop group who achieved success in the 1980s, most notably for winning the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Making Your Mind Up". The group was formed in January 1981 specifically for the contest and comprised four vocalists: Bobby G, Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and...
, from their 1986 album Writing on the Wall
Writing on the Wall
Writing on the Wall is an album by British pop group Bucks Fizz. It was released in 1986 and featured the comeback single "New Beginning ". It was the first album to feature member Shelley Preston and their only album released on Polydor Records...
.
For the cover of the album and promotional interviews, Fältskog appeared with a "new" spiky blonde hair look. Fältskog made a very rare trip on an airplane to 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...
to record the album. After it was completed, she never flew again due to her much-publicised fear of flying
Fear of flying
A fear of flying is a fear of being on an airplane , or other flying vehicle, such as a helicopter, while in flight. It is also sometimes referred to as aerophobia, aviatophobia, aviophobia or pteromerhanophobia....
. She did, however, admit that the flight was worth it.
Track listing
Side One- "The Last TimeThe Last Time (Agnetha song)"The Last Time" is the first single from Agnetha Fältskog's third English solo-album I Stand Alone, released in 1987. "The Last Time" was released as both 7 and 12 inch singles, as well as a 3 inch CD...
" – 4:12 (Robin Randall, Judithe Randall, Jeff Law) - "Little White Secrets" – 4:04 (Ellen Schwartz, Roger Bruno, Susan Pomerantz)
- "I Wasn't the One (Who Said Goodbye)" – 4:10 (Mark Mueller, Aaron Zigman)
- "Love in a World Gone Mad" – 4:08 (Billy Livsey, Pete Sinfield)
- "Maybe It Was Magic" – 4:07 (Peter Brown, Pat Hurley)
Side Two
- "Let It Shine" – 3:58 (Austin Roberts, Bill LaBounty, Beckie Foster)
- "We Got a Way" – 3:50 (John Robinson, Franne Golde, Martin Walsh)
- "I Stand Alone" – 4:48 (Peter Cetera, Bruce GaitschBruce GaitschBruce R. Gaitsch is an American guitarist, composer, and producer. He is best known for working with notable musicians such as Richard Marx, Chicago, Peter Cetera, Madonna, Agnetha Fältskog and many others as a session musician and songwriter...
) - "Are You Gonna Throw It All Away" – 4:52 (Diane WarrenDiane WarrenDiane Eve Warren , is a US songwriter. Her songs have received six Academy Award nominations, five Golden Globe nominations, including one win and seven Grammy Award nominations, including one win. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001...
, Albert Hammond) - "If You Need Somebody Tonight" – 3:32 (Diane Warren, Albert Hammond)
Production
- Produced By Peter Cetera & Bruce Gaitsch
- Engineers: Britt Bacon, Rick Holbrook
- Mixing: Rick Holbrook
- Mix Assistant: Karen Siegel
- Mastering: Wally Traugott
Personnel
- Drums: John "J.R." Robinson
- Percussion: Robbie BuchananRobbie BuchananRobbie Buchanan is a Canadian keyboardist, songwriter, arranger, and producer.Buchanan began playing the piano at the age of 6. He acquired his first paying gig as a pianist at the age of 12 playing 6 nights a week in Dawson City, Yukon Territory. While still a teenager, Buchanan joined a band...
, Paulinho Da CostaPaulinho Da CostaPaulinho da Costa is a Brazilian percussionist born in Rio de Janeiro, considered one of the most recorded musicians of modern times. Playing over two hundred percussion instruments, he has participated in thousands of recording sessions, Grammy Award-winning albums, hit songs, soundtracks, radio... - Bass: Neil StubenhausNeil StubenhausNeil Stubenhaus is an American bass guitarist.-Career:He started his musical training playing drums and switched to bass guitar at the age of 12. He studied at the Berklee College of Music where he graduated in 1975...
- Keyboards, Synthesizers: Robbie Buchanan, Bruce GaitschBruce GaitschBruce R. Gaitsch is an American guitarist, composer, and producer. He is best known for working with notable musicians such as Richard Marx, Chicago, Peter Cetera, Madonna, Agnetha Fältskog and many others as a session musician and songwriter...
, Randy Waldman - Synth Programming: Bruce Gaitsch
- Guitars: Bruce Gaitsch
- Saxophone: Dave Boruff
- Harmonica: Tommy Morgan
- Backing Vocals: Kenny & Peter CeteraPeter CeteraPeter Paul Cetera is an American singer, songwriter, bassist and producer best known for being an original member of the rock band Chicago, before launching a successful solo career...
, Linda Harmon, Darlene Koldenhoven
External links
- I Stand Alone Agnetha Fältskog official website entry
- [ "I Stand Alone" personnel and production credits at allmusic]