Shine (Frida Album)

Shine (Frida Album)

Shine is the name of Anni-Frid Lyngstad's second post-ABBA solo album. It was first released in September 1984 and has since been re-released several times, mainly in the digitally remastered form in 2005 with bonus tracks. Shine is included in The Frida Boxset. The promotion videos and clips from this album are included in the 31⁄₂ hour documentary Frida the dvd. Shine was the follow-up to Frida's 1982 album Something's Going On.

Recording began on February 1, 1984, at the Studios de la Grande Armée, Paris, France. Producer was the only 29 years old Steve Lillywhite, at this early age, already known for his work with Peter Gabriel, Rolling Stones and U2 amongst others. The lead single from the album was the titletrack, "Shine". In some countries "Twist In The Dark" and "Heart Of The Country" were released as singles. Shine reached the Top 10 on the album charts in Sweden, Norway and Belgium, and the Top 20 in the Netherlands.

At the time of recording both Something's Going On and Shine, Lyngstad wanted to distance herself from the "typical ABBA pop-sound" and try new directions. Lillywhite managed to give Lyngstad an even more modern and complex soundscape than Phil Collins had done on her previous album. In Frida - The DVD, when speaking about Shine and its failure to recreate the success of its predecessor, Lyngstad herself says "that maybe this album became a bit too modern for its time".

Shine features songwriting contributions from musicians such as the late Kirsty MacColl, Simon Climie — of Climie Fisher fame, and Pete Glenister - Alison Moyet's co-writer and producer. The Shine album is also unique because it saw the debut of Lyngstad as a songwriter in both "Don't Do It" and "That's Tough", the latter also features her son Hans Fredriksson as co-writer. (Frida also wrote "I Don't Wanna Be Alone," during this period). The track "Slowly" was written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA. This song is also the last song written by the ABBA-composers to be recorded by either of ABBA's female vocalists to date.

Shine has never been officially released in the United States, but was issued in Canada by WEA. Phil Collins was to produce again, but as Genesis formed part of his other commitments, producer Steve Lillywhite took over his role.

Shine is Lyngstad's last English language studio album to date.