My Colouring Book

After releasing I Stand Alone in 1987, Fältskog went into an unofficial retirement, withdrawing from the public eye and ceasing the creation of new music.{{Cite web |last=Demalon |first=Tom |title=Agnetha Fältskog Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/agnetha-f%C3%A4ltskog-mn0000600920#biography |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=AllMusic |language=en}} For the next ten years, she refused to sing or play music, stating, "I was tired… I didn’t feel there were any challenges in music for me."{{Cite web |last=Elliott |first=Mark |date=2019-04-19 |title='My Colouring Book': A New Chapter For ABBA's Agnetha Fältskog |url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/my-colouring-book-chapter-abba-agnetha-faltskog/ |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=uDiscover Music |language=en-US}} In 1996, she published her autobiography As I Am, accompanied by the compilation album My Love, My Life. Three years later, Mamma Mia!, the musical based on ABBA songs, premiered. Its enduring success and popularity ultimately helped draw Fältskog out of retirement to record My Colouring Book.

The new album featured the participation of a full orchestra and was co-produced by Fältskog with Swedish musicians Anders Neglin and Dan Strömkvist.{{Cite web |date=2004-01-28 |title=Agnetha, la rubia de Abba, graba para Warner su primer disco en 17 años, 'My colouring book' |url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2004/01/28/cultura/1075309908.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20040227221310/https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2004/01/28/cultura/1075309908.html |archive-date=2004-02-27 |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=www.elmundo.es |language=es}} According to The Observer, she spent four years gathering a vast collection of rare records and reissues to aid in its creation.{{Cite web |last=Hoggard |first=Liz |date=2004-04-25 |title=Agnetha Fältskog: My Colouring Book |url=https://www.theguardian.com/observer/omm/reviews/story/0,13875,1197431,00.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20211203002237/https://www.theguardian.com/observer/omm/reviews/story/0,13875,1197431,00.html |archive-date=2021-12-03 |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=The Guardian}}

{{Album reviews

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{Cite web |last=Eder |first=Bruce |title=My Colouring Book |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/my-colouring-book-mw0000477113 |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=AllMusic}}

| rev2 = The Guardian

| rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}

| rev3 = The Observer

| rev3score = {{Rating|3|5}}

}}On 16 April 2004, Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian gave My Colouring Book four stars, stating that Fältskog had a "a vulnerability that gets under the skin of a song," and that her "soaring sentimentality" evoked Cillia Shaw and Sandie Shaw in their "mini-skirted pomp."{{Cite news |last=Sullivan |first=Caroline |date=2004-04-16 |title=Agnetha Faltskog, My Colouring Book |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2004/apr/16/popandrock.shopping |access-date=2024-10-07 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} Sullivan concluded that, as a mix of standard and obscure songs, the album proved that ABBA's "sense of melodrama" was not only the work of "the bearded one." That same day, however, Andy Gill of The Independent described the album as "lacklustre and uninspired", claimed that its "best" tracks were "characterless," while the worst bordered on the "emetic," and found that it "reeked" of "lazy opportunism."{{Cite web |last=Gill |first=Andy |date=2004-04-16 |title=Album: Agnetha Faltskog |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-agnetha-faltskog-56170.html#expand |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220707114431/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-agnetha-faltskog-56170.html#expand |archive-date=2022-07-07 |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=The Independent}}

Two days later, Kitty Empire of The Observer remarked that time had not diminished Fältskog's "perfect voice," noting that the singer could still infuse certain lines with "unutterable pathos."{{Cite news |last=Empire |first=Kitty |date=2004-04-18 |title=Agnetha Faltskog, Jessica Simpson, The Zutons |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2004/apr/18/popandrock.thezutons |access-date=2024-10-07 |work=The Observer |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712}} Although she acknowledged that the album was not flawless, as it could not "escape a pall of cheesiness," she concluded that not even "the over-egged productions" could "blight" her charms." That same day, Mark Edwards of The Times expressed disappointment at his prediction that My Colouring Book would be a "low-key" release, as Fältskog voice was still an "impressive pop instrument," and the album had "some great songs."{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Mark |date=2004-04-18 |title=Agnetha Faltskog: My Colouring Book |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/agnetha-faltskog-my-colouring-book-x50bw6hdb6h |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=The Times |language=en}}

On April 20, Michael Osborn of BBC News observed that the album's lack of new material helped Fältskog retain her "mysterious, elusive air after years of seclusion."{{Cite news |last=Osborn |first=Michael |date=2004-04-20 |title=Review: Agnetha Faltskog's solo album |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3625657.stm |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20180405033302/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3625657.stm |archive-date=2018-04-05 |access-date=2024-10-07 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} He described the album's lead single, "If I Thought You'd Ever Change Your Mind", as a "delicately-wrought" song that reflected the album's "old-fashioned sense of song recording," but ultimately called Fältskog's "heavily masked return" a "missed opportunity" to "recapture ... hearts." Five days later, Liz Hoggard wrote a separate review in The Observer, noting that the "1960s mask" allowed "the reclusive Fältskog to tackle some fairly dark stuff." She portrayed the singer as a "misunderstood princess in the tower" and concluded that with the "anthemic" "What Now My Love?" "she might finally have the strength to leave the castle after all."

In a retrospective review, AllMusic's Bruce Eder said that Faltskog's voice retained the "simple purity of tone and expression" that she had brought to ABBA, even when the production did not "parallel" anything the group had done.{{Cite web |last=Eder |first=Bruce |title=My Colouring Book Review |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/my-colouring-book-mw0000477113#review |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=AllMusic}} He also praised the sound as"excellent" and the playing as "impeccable." On the album's 15th anniversary, Mark Elliott wrote on uDiscoverMusic that My Colouring Book revealed a "softer, more fragile timbre" in Faltskog’s voice, which bathed the album in "a warm, nostalgic haze." He highlighted how, at first listen, it seemed like a more "personal" album than anyone would expect.

It was announced that around 500,000 copies of the album were sold worldwide.{{cite web|url=https://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/music/abba-s-agnetha-f%C3%A4ltskog-returns-with-her-first-album-of-original-material-in-25-years-1.323446|title=Abba's Agnetha Fältskog returns with her first album of original material in 25 years|work=The National|accessdate=31 October 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171031042002/https://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/music/abba-s-agnetha-f%C3%A4ltskog-returns-with-her-first-album-of-original-material-in-25-years-1.323446|archivedate=31 October 2017|url-status=live|first=Nick|last=Levine|date=May 9, 2013}} During 2004, the album went silver in the UK for sales of over 60,000,[http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx BPI - searchable database - Agnetha Faltskog] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115055129/http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx |date=2013-01-15 }} while in Fältskog's home country of Sweden, during its first week of release, a high 64,000 copies were sold. My Colouring Book also reached #6 in Germany in May 2004.

{{Track listing

| total_length = 42:07

| title1 = My Colouring Book

| length1 = 3:27

| writer1 = {{hlist|Fred Ebb|John Kander}}

| title2 = When You Walk in the Room

| length2 = 3:36

| writer2 = Jackie DeShannon

| title3 = If I Thought You'd Ever Change Your Mind

| length3 = 3:15

| writer3 = John Cameron

| title4 = Sealed with a Kiss

| length4 = 2:34

| writer4 = {{hlist|Gary Geld|Peter Udell}}

| title5 = Love Me with All Your Heart

| length5 = 3:11

| writer5 = {{hlist|Rafael Gastón Pérez|Sunny Skylar}}

| title6 = Fly Me to the Moon

| length6 = 2:49

| writer6 = Bart Howard

| title7 = Past, Present and Future

| length7 = 3:12

| writer7 = {{hlist|Arthur Butler|Jerry Leiber|George "Shadow" Morton}}

| title8 = A Fool Am I

| length8 = 3:32

| writer8 = {{hlist|Flavio Carraresi|Alberto Testa|Peter Callander}}

| title9 = I Can't Reach Your Heart

| length9 = 2:39

| writer9 = {{hlist|Ted Murry|Benny Davis}}

| title10 = Sometimes When I'm Dreaming

| length10 = 3:15

| writer10 = Mike Batt

| title11 = The End of the World

| length11 = 2:35

| writer11 = {{hlist|Arthur Kent|Sylvia Dee}}

| title12 = Remember Me

| length12 = 3:05

| writer12 = Chris Andrews

| title13 = What Now My Love

| length13 = 4:49

| writer13 = {{hlist|Gilbert Bécaud|Pierre Delanoë|Carl Sigman}}

}}

Adapted from European CD release.{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Agnetha-F%C3%A4ltskog-My-Colouring-Book/release/1105064|title=Agnetha Fältskog – My Coloring Book|date=19 April 2004 |publisher=Discogs|accessdate=15 April 2017}}

Musicians

• Agnetha Fältskog – lead vocals, backing vocals (1, 3, 4, 5, 9, 11, 13), vocal arrangements (3, 4, 5)
• Anders Neglin – Rhodes piano (1, 6, 9, 12), harmonium (1, 4), orchestra bells (1, 2, 5, 9, 11), string arrangements and conductor (1-10, 13), grand piano (2-13), Hammond B3 organ (2, 4, 12, 13), horn arrangements (2, 3, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13), keyboards (3, 5, 8, 13), castanets (4), Wurlitzer electric piano (5, 11, 12), violin arrangements (7), Farfisa organ (11)
• Magnus Bengtsson – guitars (1, 2, 5, 12, 13), acoustic guitar (6), mandolin (12)
• Lasse Wellander – acoustic guitar (1, 6, 8, 9, 12), guitars (3, 5, 7, 13), electric guitar (8)
• Johan Lindström – pedal steel guitar (1, 5, 6, 13), guitars (4, 7, 11, 13), Omnichord (7), electric guitar (8), Vox Jaguar organ (11)
• Johan Granström – acoustic bass (1, 6-9), bass guitar (2-5, 11, 12, 13)
• Dan Strömkvist – drums (1-9, 11, 12, 13), percussion (1-9, 12, 13), vocal arrangements (1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 12), BGV arrangements (2), additional keyboards (4, 8, 9), horn arrangements (11)
• Jörgen Stenberg – bass drum (6), additional orchestra percussion (8)
• Wojtek Goral – tenor saxophone (2, 11, 12), bass clarinet (2), baritone saxophone (11, 12)
• Anders Wiborg – bass trombone (2, 8, 12)
• Per Larsson – trombone (2, 8, 12)
• Urban Wiborg – trombone (2, 8, 12)
• Joakim Agnas – trumpet (2, 8, 12)
• Leif Lindvall – trumpet (2, 8, 12)
• Jesper Harryson – oboe (3)
• Johan Ahlin – French horn (3, 7, 8, 13)
• Magnus Franzén – French horn (3, 7, 8, 13)
• Christian Bergqvist – violin solo (7)
• Svea Strings – strings (1-10, 13)
• Andreas Hansson – string conductor (1-10, 13)
• Christina Wirdegren-Alin – string contractor (1-10, 13)
• Karl-Johan Ankarblom – music copyist (1-10, 13)
• Johanna Nyström – backing vocals (1, 3, 5, 8)
• Patrik Lundström – backing vocals (2, 4, 8)
• Sofia Tretow – backing vocals (2, 5, 7)
• Linda Ulvaeus – backing vocals (2, 5, 7)
• Sarah Dawn Finer – backing vocals (4, 5, 8, 12)
• Britta Bergström – backing vocals (5, 8)
• Carl-Magnus Carlsson – backing vocals (12)

Production

• Agnetha Fältskog – producer, arrangements, concept, liner notes
• Anders Neglin – producer, arrangements
• Dan Strömkvist – producer, arrangements, engineer
• Janne Hansson – engineer
• Alar Suurna – mixing
• Christofer Stannow – mastering
• Jimmy Backius – photography
• Destrito – design

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{{certification Table Top}}

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{{certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|type=album|title=My Colouring Book|artist=Agnetha Fältskog|award=Platinum|relyear=2004|certyear=2004|refname=swedensales|accessdate=October 5, 2020}}

{{certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|title=My Colouring Book|artist=Agnetha Fältskog|award=Silver|relyear=2004|certyear=2004|refname=bpi|accessdate=October 5, 2020|id=4454-3683-2}}

{{Certification Table Summary}}

{{certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|type=album|title=My Colouring Book|artist=Agnetha Fältskog|award=|relyear=2004|certyear=2004|nocert=true|salesref=|salesamount=500,000|accessdate=October 5, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}

{{reflist|2}}

• [https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/my-colouring-book-chapter-abba-agnetha-faltskog/ 'My Colouring Book': A New Chapter For ABBA’s Agnetha Fältskog] at uDiscoverMusic
• [https://abbasite.com/articles/the-agnetha-faltskog-solo-albums/ In Focus: The Agnetha Fältskog Solo Albums] at the official ABBA website

{{Agnetha Fältskog}}

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Category:2004 albums

Category:Agnetha Fältskog albums

Category:Warner Music Group albums

Category:2000s covers albums

Category:2000s concept albums