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.[1]
| The Colour Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1989 | |||
| Recorded | Rainbow Studio, Oslo, Norway | |||
| Genre | New Wave, synthpop, pop rock | |||
| Label | The Record Station BMG (distribution) BMG Pilipinas (Philippines) | |||
| Producer | Johan Ekelund and Fra Lippo Lippi | |||
| Fra Lippo Lippi chronology | ||||
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"Count on Me", "Love Is a Lonely Harbour", and "Mother's Little Soldier" were released as singles to promote this album.
Production
editThe album was recorded in Rainbow Studio in Oslo and mixed in Stockholm. The band desired to leave behind the American expression of the previous album and cease the use of "synthetic instruments".[2] Among others, it entailed the use of a string quartet rather than a synthesizer.[3] The goal was to make "advanced pop" for "serious listening", not background listening.[4]
Sales and charts
editAccording to Natt og Dag, the album had sold 3,500 copies in Norway as of 1 February 1990.[5] The album did not chart in the Norwegian VG-lista, unlike Fra Lippo Lippi's previous output Songs and Light and Shade.[6]
Despite a successful tour to promote the album in the Philippines, The Colour Album did not do as well as the band's two previous albums. The band parted ways with The Record Station in 1990 and was considering a breakup, but decided to write songs for a new album instead.
Reception
editNorway's largest newspaper VG gave a dice throw of 4, stating that the album was more accessible than the previous record, but had inferior melodies to Songs.[7] The trend newspaper Natt og Dag published a positive review,[8] whereas the music paper Nye Takter published by Arbeiderbladet gave the album 4 stars and called it melodic, pleasant, charming and "technically perfect".[9] Aftenposten also wrote a favorable review, praising the variation, with some songs having international hit potential and others being "sophisticated" pop. The album contained several moods, good melodies and a personal touch.[10]
Several other critics underlined that Fra Lippo Lippi had returned to form since their previous output.[11][12][13][14][15] In Drammen, both Drammens Tidende and Fremtiden gave a dice throw of 5.[16][17]
However, some still criticized the album and the band for lacking identity.[18][19] Østlendingen gave 3 stars as the reviewer found the album to be middle-of-the-road.[20] Tønsbergs Blad only gave 2 stars, calling it "somewhat tame" and "monotonous at times".[21]
Track listing
edit- "A Little Rain Must Fall"
- "Mother's Little Soldier"
- "Under the Same Sun"
- "You Bring Me Joy"
- "Love Is a Lonely Harbour"
- "Count On Me"
- "ABC"
- "Childhood Days"
- "Into the Blue"
Personnel
edit- Rune Kristoffersen – bass
- Per Øystein Sørensen – vocals, keyboards
with
- Per Lindvall – drums, percussion
- Henrik Janson – guitar, cello
- Tore Elgarøy – guitar
- Lasse Hafreager – accordion
- Nils Petter Molvær – trumpet
- Knut Riisnæs – saxophone
- Bendik Hofseth – saxophone
- Arild Stav – clarinet, flute
- Carl Anders Sponberg – violin
- Atle Sponberg – violin
- Stig-Ove Ose – viola
- Marit Klovning – cello
- Bjørn Kjellemyr – acoustic bass
- Matts Alsberg – acoustic bass
- Per Hillestad – drums, percussion
- Berit Lohne – backing vocals
- Mauro Scocco – backing vocals
References
edit- ^ Skogstad, Knut (1989). "Flere sanger om lys og skyffe". Puls (in Norwegian). No. 10. pp. 24–25.
- ^ Neset, Tore (8 November 1989). "Ribbet Lippo Lippi prøver seg igjen". Dagbladet (in Norwegian). p. 45.
- ^ Bakke, Asbjørn (8 November 1989). "Fra Lippo Lippi i lyse farger". Nye Takter (in Norwegian). Arbeiderbladet. p. 19.
- ^ Ekern, Yngve (7 November 1989). "Pop-duo med ny tro på seg selv". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 52.
- ^ Holmér, Stig (1990). "Det store rock-oppgjøret". Natt og Dag (in Norwegian). No. 1. pp. 25–32.
- ^ "Fra Lippo Lippi". Norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ Album review by VG 8 November 1989
- ^ Album review by Stig Holmér, Natt og Dag no. 5, 1989, p. 36
- ^ Album review by Jan Omdahl, Nye Takter/Arbeiderbladet 15 November 1989
- ^ Album review by Tor Marcussen, Aftenposten 6 November 1989
- ^ Album review by Ole Jacob Hoel, Adresseavisen 8 November 1989
- ^ Album review by Geir Nødset, Bergens Arbeiderblad 14 November 1989 (3.5 stars)
- ^ Album review by Frode Bjerkestrand, Bergens Tidende 17 November 1989
- ^ Album review by Øyvind Lien, Oppland Arbeiderblad 18 November 1989
- ^ Album review, Nordlys 1 December 1989
- ^ Album review by Lars-Erik Nygaard, Drammens Tidende og Buskeruds Blad 1 December 1989
- ^ Album review by Johnny Andreassen, Fremtiden 21 November 1989
- ^ Album review, Stavanger Aftenblad 11 November 1989
- ^ Album review by Liv Jørgensen, Dagbladet 15 November 1989 (3 stars)
- ^ Album review by Per Magnussen, Østlendingen 17 November 1989
- ^ Album review by Thor Johan Hallin, Tønsbergs Blad 24 November 1989